Ch.139Alfheim (4)

If I were to choose the most beautiful city in the world, it would undoubtedly be Yggdrasil, the capital of Alfheim and the pride of the elves.

A land flowing with milk and honey, the first civilization, city of gods, standard of the world—Yggdrasil carries many titles and is both the pride and glory of the elves.

Three thousand years ago, during the war against demons, the gods themselves gave them a seed called the “World Tree,” which they have protected until now. Over time, it grew into a massive tree and became their symbol.

As a tree grown from a seed bestowed by the gods, it possesses various abilities. First is its mana that purifies evil energy. This purification ability is precisely why Alfheim remained safe during the demon war when the rest of the world was in chaos.

Demons’ flesh and bones would burn upon mere contact with this mana, and even the elves could borrow this power to successfully repel them.

Second is its healing ability. While the World Tree’s magical power exhibits a kind of divine force, its dew possesses tremendous healing properties.

It’s one of the key ingredients in “Elixir,” which is said to revive even those on the brink of death. Since only the caretakers know when and where the dew will fall, it commands an enormous price.

Finally, there’s the World Tree itself. It is the most sacred divine gift to the elves and serves as a temple. However, it’s not an ordinary temple—in human terms, only someone of papal or cardinal rank would be allowed to enter.

Even the Queen cannot enter freely, which shows how sacred they consider it. Humans have their own holy nation called “Sabre,” but even they are making tremendous efforts to set foot in the World Tree.

Thus, the World Tree is both a symbol and pride of the elves, and a natural fortress against demons. Moreover, since they can borrow its power in times of crisis, it also serves as their final line of defense.

“That’s really just one tree?”

“Indeed it is.”

“It defies perspective, doesn’t it?”

After going through the rather eventful immigration inspection, we arrived at Yggdrasil.

I couldn’t help but gasp in amazement, just like Marie who was standing beside me with her mouth wide open. What unfolded before our eyes was a beauty that even the word “spectacular” failed to describe.

While the various buildings harmoniously arranged alongside the wide road were beautiful, they paled in comparison to the giant tree standing at the end of the gradually narrowing path. The city and nature were distinct yet harmonious, creating a scene like a painting.

No, even a painting couldn’t capture this sight. The World Tree blended with the city without any awkwardness, showcasing the beauty of nature.

The sight of human civilization and massive nature becoming one was beyond refreshing to me.

“As you might have noticed, that tree over there is the World Tree. It grew from a seed that elves received from the gods 3,000 years ago. The saying that elves were chosen by the gods isn’t without reason.”

While I was admiring the city’s splendor, Rina explained the history of the World Tree. Though I already knew this as someone well-versed in history, hearing the explanation while seeing it firsthand made it feel new.

I was amazed by the majesty of the World Tree that had stood firm in one place for 3,000 years, and became newly aware of the existence of gods. Indeed, it would be impossible for anyone but a god to provide a seed like the World Tree.

After admiring the World Tree for a while, I lowered my gaze. Below the seemingly perspective-defying giant tree stretched a street as beautiful as the World Tree itself.

If the World Tree is a gift from the gods, then Yggdrasil is the first civilization built on earth. It lives up to its reputation.

If the capital where Halo Academy is located has a medieval European feel, Alfheim’s streets exuded an ancient Greek atmosphere. In fact, ancient Greece had a significant influence on European civilization, so it oddly fits.

The most noteworthy aspect here is the citizens on the streets. It’s natural that there would be many elves in an elven country, but it’s still fascinating.

In terms of my previous life, it’s like going to Europe and seeing Caucasians or Black people who weren’t commonly seen on the streets. Moreover, true to being elves, both men and women boasted brilliant beauty, making it a feast for the eyes.

While observing the citizens, I turned my gaze to the side. Marie, who was also busy looking around the streets, caught my eye.

“…Huh?”

As I stared at her, Marie seemed to feel my gaze and turned to face me. Her questioning eyes blinked.

I couldn’t resist her cuteness and gave her a warm smile while patting her head. It wasn’t just infatuation—Marie was as pretty and lovable as any elf.

“Marie, if your ears were longer, I’d believe you were an elf.”

“Really?”

“Of course.”

“Hehe.”

Marie hugged me and nuzzled her face against mine in response to my sincere compliment. The elves who witnessed our affectionate display gave us strange looks but were soon busy going their own way.

But some elves weren’t. Many not only whispered as they walked but also showed puzzled reactions.

This wasn’t because of Marie and me, but because of Cecilly and Gartz standing beside us. The reason, as expected, was because they were demons.

Unlike the elves who generally wore light-colored clothes, Cecilly and Gartz were dressed entirely in black, making them stand out even more. Add to that the nobility and dignity they exuded.

Some elves even showed expressions of displeasure, making no attempt to hide it. Those elves were likely from the older generation.

Since they clearly appeared to be important figures, they weren’t approached recklessly like by the immigration officer. If they had been ordinary demons, the outcome would have been predictable.

And Cecilly, who was receiving numerous piercing gazes…

“Achoo!”

She sneezed in a way that was adorably cute, unfitting for her mature appearance. She even sniffled. Her face was also slightly flushed.

She had started showing symptoms after arriving at Yggdrasil, and her condition was worsening. Not just her, but even her knight and Gartz were in similar situations.

He seemed to be enduring it like his stoic impression suggested, but he was sweating profusely. Both of them were sneezing frequently, with their conditions deteriorating noticeably.

Concerned, I called out in a careful voice.

“Noona, are you okay? Gartz has been sneezing a lot too…”

“I know. It’s definitely not a cold… Could it be because of the World Tree’s mana? Ugh.”

Cecilly sniffled and shifted her gaze towards the World Tree that seemed to be built above the city. Since only the two demons were affected while everyone else was fine, it made sense to lean towards that explanation.

In fact, the World Tree continuously emits mana that purifies evil, so it would have a significant impact. The symptoms were similar to allergies.

Perhaps the sacred energy emitted by the World Tree, being antithetical to demons, causes this reaction. Fortunately, they only showed allergy-like symptoms without anything more serious.

However, like a pollen allergy, continuous exposure would likely lead to more problems. Cecilly seemed to recognize this and spoke in a slightly nasal voice.

“…I think I’ll have to give up on exploring the streets. Let’s go straight to the inn.”

“That would be best. We were planning to go to the inn anyway.”

“Then let’s get going. I’ll lead the way. Cecilly, you made a reservation at the inn I told you about, right?”

“Yes, I did… Achoo! Ugh.”

As I thought earlier, her sneezing is really cute. With her sniffling, it was far from Cecilly’s usual image, but that made it even more charming.

“Pukuk!”

…And Gartz is unique. Though covered by his mask, he was sneezing while covering his mouth with his fist.

Anyway, we headed to the reserved inn without having a chance to look around. Many gazes were directed at Cecilly and Gartz on the way to the inn, but we were too busy going our way.

Unlike during the immigration inspection, we were surrounded not only by Gartz but also by numerous imperial knights. This meant that even elves would be immediately dealt with if they posed a threat.

In other words, unless someone was completely out of their mind, they wouldn’t pick a fight. Thanks to this, we could move more comfortably than before.

“Puchoo!”

With Cecilly’s sneezing as a bonus. Somehow, the redness in her face seemed to have subsided, but the itchiness in her nose was unavoidable.

“Can you bear it?”

“I think I’m getting used to it now. I’m using mana to activate a defense mechanism. It’s a bit annoying but… Achoo! Can’t be helped.”

“I’ve been thinking this for a while, but your sneezing is really cute.”

“Is that a compliment?”

It’s a bit ambiguous to call it a compliment. It’s cute, but it’s the sneezing that’s cute.

Cecilly smiled slightly when I kept my mouth shut and remained still, then she subtly moved closer to me. She linked her arm with mine and gently leaned her head against me.

The scent that stimulated my sense of smell, along with the soft sensation transmitted to my arm, almost made me lose my mind, but I managed to suppress it. I wasn’t sure if this was appropriate, considering we weren’t alone and Rina’s knights were also present.

“…Noona?”

“Stay still. I’m cold.”

“Ah… yes.”

What could I do when she said that? I looked at Cecilly, who was leaning on me with her eyes closed, with a somewhat awkward expression.

I hoped this would pass without incident, but our jealous girlfriend wouldn’t stay quiet. I took my eyes off Cecilly and looked elsewhere. Sure enough.

Marie was looking at me and Cecilly with sharp eyes, and our eyes met. Then she puffed up one cheek and turned her head away with a “Hmph!”

I’ll have to soothe her gently at the inn. For now, I should pay attention to Cecilly since her health isn’t good.

After walking for a while…

“This is the inn I reserved. What do you think? Isn’t it splendid?”

“Wow… it’s so pretty.”

“Elves really are different.”

We arrived at the noble-exclusive inn that Rina had reserved in advance. As Marie and Cecilly commented, the inn’s exterior displayed beauty born from simplicity rather than extravagance.

The walls were predominantly white, but with managed vines here and there, giving it a natural feel. At a glance, it looked like both a ruin and a man-made building.

What about the interior? I followed Rina as she entered first. Cecilly, who was arm-in-arm with me, and Marie did the same.

“Welcome. We are pleased to welcome you to the Star’s Haven.”

As soon as we entered, a pleasant female voice reached my ears. Turning my head, I saw an elf woman in neat attire greeting us.

Like the building’s color, the dress she wore was also white, and her curly blonde hair and refreshing smile naturally made one feel warm. She appeared to be an employee or the innkeeper.

Rina merely nodded at the elf woman’s welcome and got straight to the point.

“I made a reservation under the name Rina Urmi Christine.”

“Ah! The distinguished guests from the Empire of Minerva. I understand. You reserved one single room and one double room, correct?”

The single room would be used by Rina alone, and the double room was for Marie and me. After all, Marie and I were engaged.

Marie seemed pleased at the thought of sleeping and waking up with me in the same room, as she clung to me tightly. By the way, Cecilly had released her arm from mine as soon as we entered the inn.

“Yes. Where will the knights stay?”

“We’ve already arranged separate accommodations. The distinguished guests should go to the third floor, and the knights to the second floor.”

“Thank you.”

“And…”

The elf woman’s gaze shifted and fixed on Cecilly. Simultaneously, an indescribable atmosphere settled in the inn.

Could she also make discriminatory remarks like the immigration officer? Not just me, but everyone’s eyes were on the elf woman and Cecilly.

After a moment of silence, the elf woman’s heavily closed lips opened.

“Are you the Princess of Helium? Princess Cecilly Drat Isillia Vin?”

“…Yes, I am.”

“We sincerely welcome you to Star’s Haven and Yggdrasil. Princess, you can also go up to the third floor.”

Contrary to my concerns, the feared incident didn’t occur. It’s not that all elves have discriminatory views towards demons; it was just that the previous immigration officer was an idiot.

Moreover, from the elf’s perspective, Cecilly is a distinguished guest among distinguished guests, and turning her away could endanger her very existence. I don’t know her true feelings, but at least she’s being wise.

“Thank you… Achoo!”

“Oh, and we will deactivate the purification magic in the rooms where the Princess and her knight will stay. Being demons, you must be sensitive to the World Tree’s mana.”

She even showed consideration. She seems to have an open mindset like Kayre.

Afterwards, we moved to our respective rooms to unpack, and Marie and I stayed in the double room. Though called a double room, it was large enough to be a quadruple room.

“Wow~ It’s really soft! Issac, come lie down too.”

“In a bit.”

Unlike Marie, who flopped onto the bed as soon as we reached the bedroom, I started unpacking slowly. In truth, my luggage consisted of only a few books, so it didn’t take long.

Then I checked the time. It was exactly 5:20 PM. It would soon be time for dinner.

Since the speech was tomorrow, it would be unreasonable to go out today, and it would be better to stay at the inn.

‘As expected of a noble-exclusive accommodation, even the clock is luxurious.’

While I was looking at the clock and thinking that…

*Grab*

Marie, who had been lying on the bed, had somehow taken over my back. That was fine, but the action that followed was problematic.

What people commonly call “naughty hands”—Marie’s hands on my chest were slithering down like a snake.

At first, I flinched in surprise, but soon I could only sigh. Even so, it hadn’t even been five minutes since we arrived.

I grabbed Marie’s hands and sternly reprimanded her.

“No. At least after dinner…”

“But I’m hungry for something else?”

“… …”

This white fox in heat, I swear.

*****

“Phew. I feel alive now.”

In the single room right next to the double room where Issac and Marie were staying.

The beautiful blonde beauty, Rina, threw off her stuffy dress and changed into casual clothes. Though “casual” was just a more comfortable dress, the difference was still significant.

She then sat on the soft bed and looked around the room. The scenery of the inn in Alfheim, which could be called the birthplace of culture, came into view.

It seemed austere yet strangely splendid, with gardens placed here and there. Plus, the air seemed to purify the mind.

According to the innkeeper, they purify turbid energy through the World Tree’s mana, so it’s natural to feel at ease. It would be antithetical to demons like Cecilly and Gartz, but since they said they would deactivate it, there shouldn’t be a problem.

‘Issac and Marie must be over there?’

Rina turned her head to look at the wall. Beyond that wall, Issac and Marie would sleep together.

Perhaps tonight…

“… …”

As inappropriate thoughts arose, Rina’s face rapidly flushed, and she swallowed hard. Though she was told the rooms were soundproof, that was just her assumption, not a certainty.

Of course, as a noble-exclusive inn, they would have taken all precautions. But she had brought something for just such an occasion.

She took out an item she had kept hidden. It was a short cylindrical tube with holes at both ends like a straw.

Though it might look unremarkable, surprisingly, it’s an item imbued with magical abilities.

‘If I put this against the wall and listen, I can eavesdrop, and if I look through it, I can see through, right?’

Since it’s an item she borrowed from Leort after much pleading, its effect should be certain. The question is whether it will work in this inn, which is presumed to have thorough defenses.

Still, it’s better than not trying. Rina swallowed hard and turned her head towards the wall where the couple was staying.

She knew this was criminal, but Rina’s desire, fueled by her sexual curiosity, was too strong to resist. Whenever she saw Issac, those thoughts kept coming to mind, driving her crazy.

So, to satisfy her curiosity and to check if it was true, she brought this item.

‘I’m, I’m just testing it. Just testing.’

Rina wasn’t aware, but her face was as red as a tomato. Her heart was pounding as if it would burst, and even her breathing became rapid.

After alternately looking at the item and the wall for a while, Rina swallowed hard once more and put the item to her eye. She intended to check the x-ray ability first.

Issac and Marie would be busy unpacking, so there should be nothing beyond the wall…

“…?!”

What did I just see? Rina hurriedly removed the item from her eye.

Though it was semi-transparent, she clearly saw it. Familiar people on the bed.

And on that bed…

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Her mouth went dry, and her heart pounded as if it would burst any moment. With trembling legs, she slowly walked towards the wall.

Upon reaching the wall, she carefully put her ear against it. As expected, due to thorough soundproofing, she couldn’t hear anything.

What if she used the item? Rina placed the item against the wall and then put her ear to it.

“…!!”

She could hear. More clearly than before.

She focused more intently, straining her ear. The desired sounds gradually reached her ears and penetrated her mind.

Yes, this sound is definitely…

“…Haah.”

Rina let out the breath she had been holding. Simultaneously, she pressed her ear more firmly and moved her empty hand downward.

How much time had passed since then?

“Huh? Where did Rina go?”

“She said she was tired and resting. She’s going to eat dinner in her room?”

“Really?”

Rina didn’t show herself to the group that day.