Ch.346Gift (1)

This is my second visit to Alfheim. I’ve frequently traveled to Helium thanks to my long-standing friendship with Cecilly, but not to Alfheim.

While Cecilly is a Princess with fewer restrictions on her activities, Arwen is the Queen of a nation.

No matter how much Cyris acts as a messenger, she is literally a messenger, not a slave. Even now, she would deliver books from the holy land if I asked.

So visiting Alfheim, especially as Xenon rather than an ordinary person, is bound to feel awkward.

Even with Helium, I’ve only ever visited under the guidance of Cecilly or Gartz Balack, never as Xenon.

This alone is enough to give me mixed feelings, but Alfheim added pressure on top of that.

“So… who are you again?”

“I am Beatrice Starseeker, Warchief of Alfheim. I oversee the Alfheim Guardian Forces.”

A woman with long, magnificent golden hair tucked behind her ears and aurora-like green eyes that shone clearly spoke to me.

Her high, clear voice was very impressive and carried a sense of goodwill. I looked at the elf who had greeted me.

As expected of elves who are incarnations of beauty, her appearance was stunning, and wearing light white armor revealed her slender figure.

Judging by the sword at her waist, I assume she primarily uses a sword. I wonder if her swordsmanship is as dazzling and elegant as her appearance.

“And this person is…?”

“Warchief Has Stormhope. He oversees Alfheim’s Magic Forces.”

A man with glossy light green hair tied in a ponytail greeted me in a polite tone.

Unlike the elf woman introduced as Beatrice, this elf wore only a light robe. Wearing round glasses, he presented an intellectual appearance.

His gentle smile at the corners of his mouth was especially exquisite. Despite his strong features, he was so beautiful I initially mistook him for a woman.

I looked back and forth between the two introduced as Warchiefs and greeted them with a somewhat dazed expression.

“N-nice to meet you. As you know, I’m Issac Dukar Mayshall. Known as Xenon, who’s writing the Biography of Xenon. But are you two really Warchiefs?”

“Yes, that’s correct.”

“Though inadequate, I hold this excessive position.”

Beatrice answered confidently while Has responded humbly. I could immediately tell their personalities.

Looking at the two, I couldn’t help but laugh rather than feel confused. These two had been escorting me since I departed for Alfheim.

At that time, we were teleporting quickly as a precaution, so there was no opportunity for introductions, but after arriving in Alfheim, I learned their identities.

“Warchief is the position I’m thinking of, right? The one only the most skilled among soldiers can hold?”

“Yes.”

“That’s true, though there’s no limit to magic.”

Unlike Beatrice who gave concise answers, Has always responded humbly. I nodded and inwardly chuckled.

As I asked, in Alfheim, the position of “Warchief” can only be held by those with the most outstanding skills in their field.

Being military positions, they require not only martial prowess but also leadership, command ability, political acumen, popularity, and more. All these factors are considered before one can become a Warchief.

If you want to understand what they are, I’ll give you a simple analogy. If ordinary knights are “tactical” weapons, Warchiefs rise to the level of “strategic” assets.

That’s how formidable the status of Warchiefs is, both domestically and internationally, and they dispatched two of them to escort me.

Considering there are only 5 Warchiefs in Alfheim, they’ve devoted more than a third of their military power to me. Just for escort duty.

‘But they all look so young…’

Currently, we’re waiting in a space for distinguished guests after passing through immigration. Once preparations are complete on Arwen’s side, we’ll head straight to Yggdrasil.

We could go to Elodia, Arwen’s residence, but we’d have to walk slowly. We’re not going straight to meet Arwen.

Alfheim needs to present me with a gift at the national level, so I need to make an impression on the citizens.

From what I’ve heard, the gift isn’t even initiated by Arwen but voluntarily by the citizens… in many ways, this reminds me of elven communism.

I looked back and forth between the man and woman introduced as Warchiefs. Perhaps because they knew I was Xenon, their gazes were far from ordinary.

One’s eyes sparkled like engraved stars, while the other’s were filled with curiosity. They’re not ordinary people but Warchiefs, which makes them somewhat intimidating.

Additionally, I felt awkward, so I carefully opened my mouth. It might be slightly rude, but I needed to resolve my curiosity first.

“Um… this might be a stupid and rude question, but may I ask?”

“We can accept any question from Xenon.”

“I’d like to have a conversation.”

That’s a relief. I’ve already built up goodwill with the elven race, so there shouldn’t be any issues.

After organizing my thoughts briefly, I spoke in a careful voice.

“Maybe it’s because I’m human, but it’s difficult for me to guess your ages. Seeing that you’re Warchiefs, you must be quite old…”

“I’m not that old. Next year, I’ll be exactly 250 years old.”

“I’ve been in this position for a while, having witnessed 651 springs.”

“…”

They each answered according to their generation. Beatrice, a new generation elf, answered normally, while Has used the grammar typical of old generation elves.

The period that distinguishes between new and old generation elves is the racial war 300 years ago. Beatrice didn’t experience the racial war, while Has did.

I looked at Has, who could be in history books, with surprised eyes, setting aside Beatrice. Elves, like a certain manga race, maintain their youth for a long time, with aging slowly beginning from 800 years.

Also, old generation elves are mostly stubborn traditionalists, but Has didn’t seem that way.

“It’s really hard to guess an elf’s age.”

“That’s not something Xenon should say.”

“Pardon?”

What’s this about? I looked at Has with round eyes. It was a statement I couldn’t understand at all.

Then he smiled kindly, making me sufficiently flustered.

“It’s even harder to gauge Xenon’s age. My physical and spiritual ages match, but yours don’t, do they?”

“Uh…”

I don’t know what misconception he has, but surprisingly, he’s piercing through to my essence. Plus, there’s underlying goodwill.

Having only seen old-fashioned elves like Phiren, I thought old generation elves didn’t like me, but apparently not.

Flustered, I rolled my eyes around before responding smoothly. However, I couldn’t prevent a drop of sweat from rolling down my cheek.

“That’s an interesting thought. Why do you think so?”

“Having spent hundreds of winters, I felt that Xenon has experienced a broader world than I have. Back then, they said it was just imagination, but who would dare to imagine such things? Seeing demons not as devils but as people, and directly criticizing the corruption and incompetence of the Senate.”

Well. At this point, I’m speechless. If you think about it, even fantasy novels require significant cultural development, not to mention web novels.

Even I was culturally shocked by playing a space war game in my previous life, so how much more would people in this world be?

I didn’t refute Has’s words but dismissed them with a bitter smile. Has seemed to have made up his mind and nodded with a subtle smile.

“S-so, can you tell me what we’ll do when we meet Arwen at Elodia?”

To break this situation, I needed to change the subject. I hastily directed my question to Beatrice instead of Has.

She widened her eyes slightly at my question but soon answered with a raised corner of her mouth.

I had noticed it earlier, but despite her pure voice, there was a sense of boldness.

“Since it’s a gift prepared by our Alfheim, we’ve made arrangements, but we plan to grant whatever Xenon wishes.”

“Can I visit the holy land?”

The holy land, known as the First Library, is a place with vast collections of books. For a bookworm like me, it’s literally a “holy land.”

Until now, I’ve been receiving books through Cyris, but I thought I might now be able to enter proudly, so I asked.

“Of course. Besides, the Queen’s…”

“Ahem. Ahem. Sir Starseeker?”

“Ah!”

Beatrice almost made a slip of the tongue, but fortunately, Has stopped her. It was slightly disappointing, but since it seemed to be a secret, I decided to let it go.

Besides the holy land, there’s something I’m most curious about. It’s famous as a “sanctuary” that even Arwen can’t pass through without permission.

So, after gauging the situation, I carefully asked.

“Then… can I approach the World Tree?”

“The World Tree… you say?”

“Yes.”

The World Tree, a sacred tree that grew from a seed given by Hirt, the goddess of nature, to the elves during the demon war.

Those with even a hint of evil cannot approach it, and even a single drop of its dew can be an ingredient for elixirs—a precious tree.

Even after 3,000 years, it continues to grow, now large enough to cover an entire city.

I recall that during my first visit to Alfheim, it defied all sense of perspective.

However, without the permission of the priests who guard the World Tree, even Arwen can’t enter or exit this holy place. So I expected it to be difficult…

“Of course. The priests would gladly grant permission to Xenon.”

“Really?”

“Yes. You saved the roots of the World Tree from corruption; if they didn’t permit it, the citizens wouldn’t forgive them.”

That’s a relief. I’ve wanted to go close and see it once, and today that wish seems to be fulfilled.

Of course, I have no intention of picking up fallen leaves or collecting dew from the World Tree.

I just want to see it once. Everyone has a desire to visit a famous tourist spot at least once, right? It’s exactly the same.

“That’s good. Have you two ever been to the World Tree?”

“I haven’t.”

“I’ve visited for research purposes, but even then, I only observed from a distance or picked up fallen leaves; I’ve never gone close.”

Even these two Warchiefs haven’t been there. I didn’t stop there and asked another question.

“What about other races besides elves?”

“At least during the hundreds of springs I’ve witnessed, there haven’t been any. Even renowned scholars have never approached it. Xenon will probably be the first.”

“The first…”

To be the first among humans. Just imagining it makes my heart flutter.

Even visiting the library, the holy land that all scholars desire, is exciting, let alone the World Tree.

‘But they say a soul resides there…’

I hope it doesn’t reject me because it was violated by demons and even exploded in the book. Such a silly thought suddenly crossed my mind.

“Well. It’s time now. Let’s depart.”

“Yes. How long does it take to walk to Elodia?”

“It won’t take too long.”

“That’s good.”

I thought it was good until then.

“…What is that?”

“It seems people have gathered to see Xenon.”

Until I saw with my own eyes the street split like the Red Carpet, no, like Moses’s miracle.

It was a scene I had seen at the academy. People crowded on both sides, with knights blocking the way to prevent them from rushing in.

Moreover, this isn’t a special institution like the academy but the capital. The center of the capital is clearing a path for me.

Fortunately, since I haven’t shown myself yet, it’s calm, but I can imagine what will happen the moment I take a step.

“Do we have to go through there?”

“Yes, so the citizens can see with their own eyes that they’re giving gifts to Xenon. Don’t worry about attacks at all.”

“No, that’s not what I meant…”

It seems Arwen intends to make me die of embarrassment. But I can’t just ignore it and pass by.

I closed my eyes tightly and took a step forward. And then…

“It’s Xenon!”

“Where? Where?”

“There! The one with red hair!”

“Wow!!”

Along with applause, powerful shouts began to pierce my ears. Simultaneously, my face turning red was the natural progression.

‘…I’m still not cut out for this.’

How did people called heroes walk through such paths? I’m a homebody by nature, so even walking through such a path is embarrassing.

“Why don’t you wave your hand once?”

“Yes! Everyone came to see Xenon!”

“…”

Just you wait, Arwen.

*****

At that time, Arwen, who was waiting at Elodia…

Zap!

“Eek?!”

“Your Majesty?”

“Ah, it’s nothing. I just felt a sudden tingling sensation…”

She couldn’t help but be startled by the unexpected tingling sensation in her body.

‘What is this? My feeling is somehow…’

Strangely, her face felt like it was turning red, making her tilt her head in confusion.