Ch.277Verdant Archipelago. Belka (1)

“Wow. It’s truly magnificent.”

“Indeed, just as you said. The expression ‘magnificent’ is quite fitting.”

I stood with Simon, gazing at the thirteen enormous World Trees visible from the front of the bridge.

The massive World Trees, one growing on each of the thirteen coral islands forming the archipelago, conveyed in the simplest and clearest way possible why they were called “World Trees.”

These colossal trees, not artificial constructs made by humans but natural growths that had reached the extreme limits of what nature could nurture, were so enormous in scale that they made the Sky Warden, a massive aerial warship exceeding 230,000 tons, look like a dwarf’s ferry boat.

“There’s a stereotype that Wood Elves are just country bumpkins…”

“But seeing World Trees like these makes you think the Wood Elves’ choice to remain in the forest wasn’t wrong at all.”

I nodded at the elven sisters’ words.

This was magnificence beyond what words like “amazing” or “incredible” could adequately express. This must be what the stubbornness and determination of those who remained in the forest looked like.

“My goodness… I’m starting to lose my sense of reality… The ports along the coastline look like toys…”

“Hahaha… Indeed they do. It’s truly surreal. If they devoted themselves to growing such World Trees instead of raising armies… I suppose that would be a worthy reason.”

Simon sighed softly as the Sky Warden gradually approached the massive shadows.

“Ah! What a shame! If I were thirty years younger, I’d climb each one of those World Trees!”

“Simon…”

His cry, as the only truly elderly person in our party, echoed throughout the bridge.

My wife and I were young immortals, the elves had no lifespan limitations at all, and the dwarves were physically in their late twenties to early thirties, so his lament was understandable.

Considering that Simon’s fundamental reason for joining our party was his burning sense of adventure, it was no exaggeration to say that his body was holding his spirit captive.

And at that moment, I realized what I needed to take from this Belka Archipelago.

“Simon…”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s just an old man’s senile ramblings…”

“No. Thanks to you, I now know what I’ll be taking from this archipelago. This is solely for you, Simon.”

“…Oh. Surely… you don’t mean what this old man is thinking?”

I silently smiled as I looked at Simon.

He wasn’t just playing the role of a sage for show, so he must have already figured out what I intended to take.

The other party members had already caught on, so it would have been strange if he hadn’t.

Even the soldiers on the bridge were whispering among themselves, guessing the answer I had mentioned… the answer was all too obvious.

Wood Elves live in forests, and forests are nature itself.

And what is the most precious thing that comes from nature?

The Elixir. The immortality potion.

Why couldn’t Wood Elves be discriminated against despite being at the bottom of the elven caste?

Because they were protected by mortal races through the steady supply of Elixir.

The immortal races would never understand the unfathomable obsession mortals have with transcending death.

“After we defeat the pirates, I’ll search this entire archipelago to find the Elixir for you. This is both a reward for you and an apostolic grant to a sage. So don’t try to politely refuse. You don’t want to die yet either.”

“Victor…”

Simon’s eyes welled up at my words.

Naturally, even a sage cannot freely obtain precious items like the Elixir.

When even nobles born with royal blood often die natural deaths unable to obtain a single vial of Elixir, it would be impossible for a mere sage without connections to acquire one.

But I am an apostle.

When I, who dares to spread the gospel of the Sun, say “Give me the Elixir,” the Wood Elves must comply.

That was the power of divinity and the natural order for those under its rule.

“Sky Warden propulsion system output decreasing. Entering Belka Archipelago airspace in ten seconds.”

And regarding this matter… I had absolutely no intention of compromising.

*

As we entered the airspace, flocks of migratory birds appeared from somewhere and began to envelop the hull of the Sky Warden.

The soldiers, traumatized by birds, were terrified, but Simon calmed them down.

“Remain calm. It’s merely a welcome greeting. I sense magical energy, so they appear to be familiars. Probably controlled by druids.”

“Is… is that so?”

“Yes. The birds wouldn’t deliberately crash into a steel mass rather than riding the wind… well, the possibility is very low. Anyway, there’s no need to worry, so no need to shut down the engines.”

“Understood. We’ll continue moving then.”

“Hmm.”

Having a spellcaster around is incredibly convenient.

Being able to detect magic in advance can provide a significant strategic advantage.

The Sky Warden thus entered beneath the canopy of the World Trees.

To think that even such a massive warship could be overshadowed by trees… How strange it feels.

I wanted this intense experience, but at the same time, I felt complex emotions about seeing our beloved warship treated as something so small… Is adventure always this ambivalent?

As we moved deeper inside, the flocks of birds gradually began to fly in formation ahead of us.

“They want us to reduce speed. Stop the engines.”

“Understood. Engines stopping.”

Whirrrr…

As the engines stopped, the Sky Warden, which had been moving forward with slight inertia, came to a complete halt.

Whoosh! Whirrrish!

“!”

At that moment, branches extending from the World Trees attached themselves to the upper armor, and then spread roots sideways, completely immobilizing the vessel.

“Don’t panic. They’re functioning as mooring towers. World Trees typically harbor spirits, so they won’t harm us.”

“I… I see.”

Once they confirmed we were completely secured, the birds that had been hovering nearby gathered in front of the bridge and gradually began to take on a human form.

-Welcome, great forces of the Sun. I am Erebes Crimsil, the chairman of this Belka Archipelago, a Wood Elf.-

And then, a voice began to be heard through magic.

-First, regarding your arrival here…-

“Silence.”

-…I apologize. Was there some offense…?-

“Do you dare to play magical tricks before an apostle blessed with divinity and ‘inform’ me? Or are you so audacious as to think there’s no need to meet face-to-face with the Sun’s apostle who has been pushed aside by the Four Great Gods? How dare you use dark arts to hide your appearance before an apostle!”

-….-

When I thundered at them, the birds briefly formed a surprised expression, then quickly hardened their faces.

-I apologize for failing to observe the proper etiquette in receiving an apostle. Great One, I am at the palace on Palaxive Island. If you would come there…-

“You still don’t seem to understand your place. How dare you command someone who sits on the apostolic seat to come and go? Even a mere city-state observes proper etiquette when dealing with an apostle, yet you have been sheltered under this World Tree’s canopy for so long that you think you can issue ‘orders’ to a great being?”

-Great One, please set aside your anger… I never intended to look down upon you…-

“Then come to me yourself and prove your innocence! You may be the caretakers of your World Trees, but under the sun, you are merely waterers of what are ultimately just tall shrubs. Do you not know this? Your people who follow such a weak leader, one who lacks the strength to defend their own country and relies on an apostle’s dignity, are truly pitiful.”

-…Very well. I shall come to you personally. Please wait for me.-

“You’ve made a wise decision. Come quickly. I shall be waiting.”

As the long tirade ended, the flocks of birds finally dispersed and flew up above the canopy.

Really. I don’t know what they think an apostle is.

Is it so difficult to understand what it means to be blessed with divinity?

I am the Sun and the Sun is me. That is the essence of an apostle, and that is why all people kneel before an apostle.

Because we are the representatives of the gods and the earthly executors of divine punishment.

“I’ve realized the power of verbal lashing.”

“They brought it upon themselves. To think they would try to welcome me with druids’ cheap illusions without even granting me an audience. It’s utterly displeasing…”

“Well, meeting in person is the proper etiquette after all.”

Nowhere in the world would anyone greet an apostle with such vulgar responses as forming faces with pigeons.

The Lorelei Federation was truly exemplary. They welcomed me grandly and always maintained proper etiquette in communications.

But to not only embed tree roots into an apostle’s ship but also try to make do with migratory birds…

“I’m very displeased… I will definitely extract that Elixir.”