Ch.128128. Alfheim

“Isn’t it about time you told me?”

Just as I had seen when first entering Albheim, there were no ‘buildings’ here. Shops, inns, blacksmiths… all the things that should naturally exist in human cities were nowhere to be found in Albheim.

“Are you perhaps upset?”

Though there were no buildings, the lush trees spread throughout Albheim served as the elves’ dwellings. Like Lindveil’s magic tower, the interiors of these trees were more spacious and comfortable than they appeared from outside. Where the base of the trunk should be, there was a wide-open entrance, and up a spiral staircase was a rather large room.

How could a tree remain alive when its insides were hollow? To that question, the elf who had guided me here explained that it was thanks to the blessing of the Life God.

Rex couldn’t quite understand it, but he didn’t particularly care.

At least the room’s amenities were better than he had expected. The elves reject cultural exchange and still insist on living in the forest. So he had secretly assumed their lifestyle would be primitive, but surprisingly, everything necessary was present.

A bed and a table. A soft blue-green light seeped from the ceiling, illuminating the room. A basket on the table contained fresh fruits. What caught his eye most was the window.

“It’s high.”

Even Lindveil’s magic tower wasn’t as tall as Albheim’s trees. The panoramic view of Albheim from this height was more magnificent than any landscape he had ever seen. Beyond the giant trees stretching to the horizon stood the World Tree, rising solitary and majestic. Despite the distance, he couldn’t capture the entirety of the World Tree in his vision.

The leaves extending from the World Tree’s branches obscured the sky. The main body of the World Tree pierced through the clouds, reaching even higher. Rex leaned absently against the railing, staring at the World Tree, then smirked and muttered:

“You are upset.”

Still, there was no answer. Right now, Rex was alone in this room, while the rest of his companions were resting in their assigned rooms. Of course, Rex wasn’t a madman muttering to himself when no one was around.

“You’re really sulking. I know you can hear me, but how long are you going to ignore me? Despite your size, Lord Kaordics, you’re surprisingly narrow-minded.”

[I am…! not narrow-minded.]

“Oh, you’ve finally decided to talk?”

As Rex raised the corner of his mouth mockingly, Kaordics retorted in a displeased voice.

[…You are truly an insolent vassal. Not only do you fail to revere your god as a vassal should, but you dare mock me with that glib tongue of yours.]

“Mock you? That’s an exaggeration. It was you who kept ignoring me in the first place. You didn’t answer no matter how much I tried to talk to you all the way to Albheim. How frustrated do you think I was? Besides, I didn’t say anything particularly offensive. Lord Kaordics, you are narrow-minded.”

[That’s…! Didn’t you disobey my restraint first? I told you not to get involved with Albheim, and on that very day, you immediately set off for Albheim? That itself is evidence that you didn’t listen carefully to my words.]

“If you had told me why I shouldn’t go, maybe I would have understood. But why should I obey when you just tell me not to go without any explanation?”

He meant it sincerely. Apart from Kaordics’ concern for Rex, he never revealed the secrets he kept hidden. If he wouldn’t tell him, Rex had no choice but to find out for himself. Honestly, Rex couldn’t understand why Kaordics was so averse to Albheim.

“I know that Albheim rejects humans, and that there’s an Apostle of Life that I can’t match. But couldn’t we just avoid situations that might provoke conflict? Besides, Lady Charlotte and Lord Alvar are here too. With those two around, even if the Apostle of Life tries something, we can escape safely.”

[You… know nothing. Your growth rate is astonishingly fast, even to me, but this is still a burden impossible for you to bear. For now, avoiding it is the best option.]

“Come on, you need to tell me what this burden is so I can decide whether to avoid it or not.”

Rex beat his chest with an exasperated expression.

“Are you going to beat around the bush again and end up saying nothing, like before? I should have known better than to expect anything different.”

[…You’ve changed, my vassal. It seems like just yesterday you were trembling in fear of me.]

“A lot of time has passed. Four years ago, we rarely saw each other, which made you feel more distant. Now that we can talk every day, I’ve come to see you as someone closer, more intimate.”

[Yes. That’s how humans are. What is but a fleeting moment to me is enough time for humans to change beyond recognition. Indeed… perhaps I cannot shield you forever. Maybe I was too arrogant.]

Kaordics murmured in a gloomy tone, then added with a heavy sigh:

[My opinion remains unchanged. I believe you should not get involved with Albheim. However, since you desire it so much, I will tell you a few things.]

Rex asked with wide eyes:

“Really? That’s quite a big decision, unlike you, Lord Kaordics.”

[…Hearing that makes me want to change my mind. Please, just listen quietly. I do not wish to violate my divine dignity, but if you keep being flippant, I might say something harsh without meaning to.]

Rex closed his mouth.

[When you saw Kaiserion’s portrait in the imperial palace, you heard a voice, didn’t you?]

Go to Albheim.

There is no time.

[That was indeed Kaiserion. Though his specter lies motionless in the mental realm, I believe the voice was Kaiserion’s. And then, the name that followed. Elisis. She is someone I know. Elisis is the name of the woman in that portrait.]

A crudely painted portrait. It was drawn by Kaiserion himself before his ascension to godhood. Though faded with age to the point where the original form was unrecognizable, some general features remained.

Snow-white silver hair and emerald-green eyes as vivid as gemstones.

“…A high elf?”

[Yes.]

Kaordics confirmed with a bitter smile at Rex’s murmur.

[Elisis was a princess of Albheim who lived five hundred years ago. Kaiserion had a special relationship with her. Though they never formally married… they were lovers.]

Suddenly, Tiara’s explanation came to mind. The tale of Kaiserion. Until he abdicated the imperial throne, he looked at Elisis’s portrait three times every day.

[Sadly, they could never be together. It was during the Great War, and there was an insurmountable wall between Elisis, the elven princess, and Kaiserion. Kaiserion wanted to disregard it and embrace Elisis, but Elisis ultimately chose to follow the duty given to her.]

Kaiserion accepted Elisis’s decision and respected her choice. As seen in the vision, Kaiserion’s power was unparalleled. If he had wanted to take Elisis by force, he could have done so easily. He didn’t because his love for Elisis was greater than his own desires.

[That love became poison.]

However, the pain of losing his lover festered as time passed. Kaiserion suffered. He regretted letting Elisis go. The emperor who had conquered the continent, who could have had any beauty he desired, lived his entire life as a bachelor.

Thus, yearning for his lover and gazing at her portrait, one day he ascended and vanished from this world.

[I suspect that the instruction to go to Albheim… might be due to that longing.]

“I don’t understand.”

Rex tilted his head and replied.

“What duty was given to Elisis that made them part? No matter how closed off Albheim is, they don’t block all exchanges. Even Lord Alvar came to Albheim to deliver the emperor’s message. The Empire and Albheim may be distant, but not so far that they can’t visit each other. At least once every few years…”

[They made a covenant. Elisis placed a covenant preventing Kaiserion from ever returning to Albheim, and Kaiserion agreed.]

“…Why go that far?”

Kaordics was silent for a moment, then murmured:

[The elven princess… is born with an inescapable duty. When she fulfills that duty, she falls into an eternal sleep.]

For a moment, Rex couldn’t understand the meaning of those words. No. He knew. It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand. He didn’t want to understand. Rex’s expression hardened. His chest grew cold. His calm breathing became rough, and his heartbeat began to race.

[There are no exceptions.]

Kaordics’s words drove the point home. Rex gritted his teeth and gasped for breath.

“Then…!”

[Elin. As long as she is an elven princess, she too will follow that duty.]

Kaordics said in a bitter tone. This is why he didn’t want to tell him. He swallowed his words and looked down at Rex with sorrowful eyes. Rex didn’t notice Kaordics’s reaction. In the real world, not the mental realm, he couldn’t see Kaordics. Kaordics could only observe Rex unilaterally.

Even if this were the mental realm, Rex wouldn’t have noticed Kaordics’s expression. He had no room to observe others. Rex clenched his fist, his lips contorting.

When he had asked if she was happy to be back home.

At last, he could understand the meaning behind that wistful smile Elin had shown.

***

“This is as far as outsiders are permitted. Beyond here is a sacred area within Albheim, and if you ignore the warning and approach, we will have no choice but to punish you according to Albheim’s laws.”

Rex stared at the ground with a blank face.

“While the sacred area where the World Tree stands is not permitted, you can explore most of Albheim. King Elturas has graciously shown much favor to the princess’s friends. Opening such a wide area to humans who are not envoys is unprecedented in Albheim’s long history, so please do not repay this kindness with transgression.”

Rex nodded vaguely at the stern warning. The elf glared at Rex with a dissatisfied face, then turned around and walked away.

“The World Tree is always strictly guarded as a sacred area, but security has been further strengthened now. Even I, who am guiding you now, dare not approach it. In fact, receiving outsiders at a time like this is a considerable burden for Albheim. So, really, do not approach the World Tree. If you’re curious, just observe it from afar. You can see the World Tree well enough from here.”

“Chatter, chatter, how noisy. My ears are about to go deaf. Do we look like fools who can’t take care of ourselves? We understand perfectly well after being told once.”

Charlotte snapped with an irritated face. The elf clicked his tongue and muttered quietly.

“…Humans really have no manners.”

“What did you say?”

“Well, we must hurry. King Elturas has personally left the World Tree where he resides to welcome you. We cannot waste the busy king’s time, so let’s move immediately.”

Charlotte shook her head with an incredulous expression.

“Elves really have no manners.”

Unlike the elf who had muttered under his breath, she sneered loudly. It was meant to be heard. But the elf showed no reaction and silently continued walking. Charlotte, who had been watching with sour eyes, turned to look at Rex.

“Still, I understand.”

“…Pardon?”

“Looking at you now, even I, who am not an elf, feel quite concerned. Did something happen? Until just now, you were grinning like an idiot, but why are you suddenly fidgeting like a dog that needs to relieve itself?”

Rex looked up. A hardened expression, with cloudy eyes. It was obvious he hadn’t properly heard what Charlotte had just said. Charlotte bluntly spat out:

“I don’t like it.”

“…This isn’t something for you to worry about, Lady Charlotte.”

At those words, Charlotte’s brow furrowed. Though she had been restraining herself lately, her hand moved faster than her thoughts. Smack! Her palm sharply struck Rex’s backside.

“Not something to worry about? I must have, neglected you, all this time. To glare at me, and talk back like this! Fine. You’ve done, nothing wrong. It’s all because, I left you alone, that you’ve become, so insolent!”

Between her halting words came fierce slaps. Smack! At the stinging pain, Rex hurriedly covered his buttocks with his hands and shouted:

“I’m, I’m sorry! Lady Charlotte, how old am I that you’re spanking me? No, no, no, I said I’m sorry! Chloe, why are you just watching? Stop Lady Charlotte!”

“Rex… this is your fault. I… um… I’m sorry, but I thought you’d lost your mind for a moment.”

Chloe glanced at Rex with a look of disdain. Despite Rex’s loud protests, Charlotte didn’t stop her spanking. Only after venting her anger for quite some time did Charlotte finally dust off her hands and speak.

“That should be enough to educate your mind a bit. Have you reflected?”

“…Yes.”

Rex replied in a dejected voice. It felt pathetic that at eighteen, he still had to be spanked. If he had voiced that thought, Charlotte’s anger, which had just subsided, would flare up again.

Charlotte frowned and said:

“It’s a sensitive age emotionally, so it’s not strange for you to be moody. However, I cannot tolerate disrespectful attitudes toward me. If you don’t want another spanking, don’t speak to me like that again. And stop acting all high and mighty by yourself. A kid who’s barely grown up acting like he’s seen it all…”

“I don’t think I was acting high and mighty, was I?”

“What?”

“I’ll keep it in mind.”

Rex scratched his head with an awkward smile. Charlotte didn’t scold him further. She stared at Rex with narrowed eyes, then turned around to follow the elf.

“King Elturas is waiting inside, so please enter with proper etiquette.”

“What about Alvar? Is he there too?”

“Yes. He has already completed his audience and is waiting here.”

“I see.”

When the elf answered promptly, Charlotte nodded briefly and placed her hand on the door handle.

The door opens.