Ch.348Hirt (1)

True to her name as the Goddess of Nature, Hirt granted me permission through natural phenomena.

The direction of the wind, and birds simultaneously taking flight toward the World Tree. It was a scene straight out of a movie, and I couldn’t help but genuinely admire it.

When the Goddess of Nature herself grants permission, would any creature dare refuse? Naturally, the priests guarding the World Tree easily granted permission as well.

They too had witnessed the phenomenon and understood Hirt’s intentions. When I provided additional explanation, they looked at me with surprised eyes.

“For Hirt to respond in such a manner is extremely rare—no, almost unheard of except during the Demon War! Are you truly unfazed by this?”

“This is the first I’m hearing of it, so it doesn’t really register. By the way, did this happen during the Demon War?”

As Arwen and I walked toward the World Tree, she exclaimed dramatically. I responded calmly, not fully understanding the significance of the phenomenon.

According to her subsequent explanation, Hirt had only responded in such a manner when handing over the World Tree’s seed during the Demon War.

Apart from that, there are records of her controlling animals, including monsters, to fight against demons when humanity was in danger. I had read about this in books too.

‘Was it difficult to control all animals?’

I pondered this while Arwen muttered something beside me.

According to records, Hirt, true to her title as Goddess of Nature, delivered the World Tree, but aside from that, she hadn’t provided much help.

As mentioned earlier, she controlled some animals to aid humanity, but the assistance was minimal.

Especially goblins, orcs, ogres, and other creatures classified as monsters—they actually joined forces with the demons. They were modified to create even more grotesque beings.

Orcs’ skin turned red, making them more ferocious, and goblins, already intelligent, became even smarter and more vicious.

Ogres were the most remarkable—according to records, they could withstand direct elven magic without flinching.

Fortunately, they’ve now retreated into nature and are rarely seen, but they’re known as creatures you must flee from if encountered.

‘Father of All Things…’

Suddenly, I recalled what the demon worshipper had shouted before taking his own life. The Father of All Things, contrasting with Hirt, the Mother of Nature.

Currently heading toward the World Tree, I didn’t have the capacity to think deeply about it, but visiting the holy land later to search for records might not be a bad idea.

If my suspicions are correct, it would make excellent material. Not for the Biography of Xenon, but for a sequel…

Poke! Poke!

“Hmm?”

While walking lost in thought, I felt something pecking at the crown of my head.

Snapping back to reality, I looked up but saw nothing. Only the clear sky above.

Perhaps I had imagined it? I blinked and raised my hand above my head. Something landed on my index finger.

“Chirp! Chirp!”

When I lowered my hand, a small, adorable sparrow was chirping. I was momentarily surprised, then smiled gently.

Was this Hirt’s way of telling me to stop overthinking and just head to the World Tree? Meeting such a cute bird warmed my heart.

“A sparrow. They’re usually wary and avoid people.”

As I watched the sparrow tilting its head and fluttering its wings, Arwen spoke beside me.

She alternated her gaze between me and the sparrow with curiosity.

“Do they avoid elves too? I heard elves are friendly with animals.”

“I don’t know where you heard that, but it’s a misconception. While we are close to nature, that doesn’t mean we’re close to animals. We hunt animals for meat and establish ranches too.”

In typical fantasy, elves have a strong nature-friendly image, but this world is slightly different. They are nature-friendly, but not vegetarians.

Elves enjoy meat and establish ranches for food. Moreover, they sometimes harm nature to build villages.

Unlike humans who multiply indiscriminately, they pray and make offerings to Hirt.

The image of elves being nature-friendly probably stems from the perception that they are chosen by the gods.

“So there are no cases of communicating with animals? I’ve heard occasional mentions of druids.”

“Hmm… that’s ambiguous to assert. If you call someone who communicates with dogs or cats a druid, I have nothing to say, but raising predators like lions is truly difficult. In that sense, beastkin might be closer to druids than we are.”

“I see.”

I understand what she means. While raising animals might be possible regardless of race, truly communicating with them is difficult even for elves.

With one exception: beastkin, who embody animal traits. They can understand animal instincts, making communication easier.

After learning various facts from Arwen, I shifted my gaze back to the sparrow. When our eyes met, it tilted its head.

“Arwen.”

“Yes?”

“This bird looks like you.”

“W-what?!”

When I showed her the sparrow and said it resembled her, Arwen was greatly flustered. I wasn’t joking; I meant it sincerely.

Its overall white body, small and precious appearance—it truly resembled Arwen’s image.

It’s cute too. Moreover…

“W-what do you mean? I-I don’t understand.”

“Just that it’s cute. Its behavior too.”

“Ugh…”

Her ears flicking up and down resembled the sparrow flapping its wings.

I smiled faintly at Arwen, who was blushing and embarrassed, then raised my hand.

As I raised my hand, the sparrow flapped its wings vigorously and flew upward.

Flutter!

“Chirp! Chirp!”

“…You’re not leaving?”

“Chirp!”

And it settled back on top of my head. I was slightly bewildered but let it be because it was cute.

‘It’s really far, though.’

I looked ahead, past the sparrow. The World Tree appeared to be right in front of us, but the path seemed endless.

Teleportation magic is strictly prohibited, as if the journey itself is considered a pilgrimage. So we have to travel on foot.

That’s why we had to exit through the back of Elodia and continue walking. The problem is that the distance is terrifyingly long.

I knew the distance was no joke when I ignored the perspective, but I never imagined it would be this far.

The area surrounding the World Tree is all vast plains, making it feel even more distant. The only consolation is having a companion, so it’s not boring.

I glanced at Arwen, who was fanning her face to calm down.

She seemed to have calmed down enough for conversation.

“Arwen.”

“W-what is it?”

Arwen’s voice trembled due to my surprise attack earlier. Her ears continued to flick up and down, reflecting her emotions.

I smiled warmly at her embarrassment, then gently extended my hand.

Arwen looked at my outstretched hand with a puzzled expression.

“Shall we hold hands while walking?”

“W-what?”

“How about holding hands while we walk?”

When I suggested it again, Arwen’s face, which had just calmed down, turned red again.

With her fair skin, it was quite noticeable and somewhat amusing how often she blushed.

She alternated her gaze between my extended hand and my face, then cautiously reached out.

Small but slender fingers like jade. Due to her small build, her hands were small too, but the proportions were perfect.

Slide-

“Haah…”

When our hands finally intertwined, Arwen exhaled a breath she had been holding. Not stopping there, we interlocked our fingers, feeling each other’s touch.

Arwen’s hand was soft and tender like a baby’s. Unlike Marie’s, the size difference was significant, and my hand almost completely covered hers.

“It’s big…”

Arwen murmured in wonder, looking at my hand covering most of hers.

Her silver-gray eyes sparkled curiously, like a child discovering a new toy.

With her appearance and behavior, despite being much older than me, she felt like a younger person.

I felt Arwen’s hand wriggling slightly, then smiled gently and quietly asked.

“Has Arwen ever held hands with another man like this?”

“Yes. I often did this with my father in human society. Father always held my hand, saying we must never be separated. It reminds me of those times.”

“Besides your father?”

“You’re the first.”

Arwen answered and placed her free hand on top of mine.

Fascinated by my large hand, she gently caressed it, touching the protruding veins—actions that subtly stirred my heart.

I wanted to take things further, but given Hirt’s request to come quickly, I couldn’t delay any longer.

So we continued walking toward the World Tree, hand in hand.

The wind blew refreshingly, making our hair flutter, and birds, including the sparrow on my head, chirped.

Slide-

As the pleasant atmosphere continued, Arwen began to subtly press against my body.

She released our interlocked fingers and grabbed my arm. Not stopping there, she subtly pulled it toward her chest.

I felt the sensation of her chest—not small by any means, despite being less than some other women—transmitted through my arm.

“…You.”

“Yes?”

“If you hadn’t been here… would I have truly become like Elisha from the book? I wonder about that.”

Elisha, as everyone knows, is the Elven Queen from the Biography of Xenon, Xenon’s mentor, and Kayre’s lover.

A couple who couldn’t confess their feelings and met a tragic end.

Hearing Arwen’s question, I pondered seriously rather than being bewildered.

‘It’s not impossible.’

Thanks to the Biography of Xenon, the Second Demon War was postponed by thousands of years, and all futures changed positively.

Naturally, Arwen’s fate would have changed similarly.

Especially since she had just ascended to the throne, she would have faced the Second Demon War. She would have undoubtedly experienced hardships no less than Elisha.

But this is a future that won’t happen now. No one knows what will become of her.

Moreover, I’m not a prophet or a regressor as she might think.

I am from another world, but one completely unrelated to this one.

“I don’t know either. The future can’t be easily predicted. You might have become like Elisha, or you might not have.”

“…”

“But things have definitely changed for the better. The demon worshippers were exposed, and the contamination of the World Tree’s roots was prevented.”

I said, looking at Arwen. She had just turned her gaze to me.

“Don’t you think you can stop worrying about that now?”

“…”

“Instead of worrying about such a future, consider what future will unfold from now on. Don’t you agree?”

“…Pfft.”

Arwen laughed lightly at my response. Then she smiled gently and said.

“I think I spoke foolishly. Asking you such a question. I feel silly.”

“So have you decided what to do now?”

“Aren’t we already doing it?”

Arwen answered clearly. Her response without any hesitation suggested she had made up her mind.

In response, I stroked her hair. Her hair, shining like the Milky Way, felt good to touch.

She didn’t seem to mind either, pressing her face against my arm to savor the warmth. As a result, her chest pressed more firmly against me, but I didn’t flinch, having grown accustomed to it.

“Issac.”

“Yes, tell me.”

“I’m truly glad you were born into this world.”

“I feel the same way.”

Though born into this world due to a demon worshipper’s mistake, it’s still much happier than my previous life.

Incidentally, I’ve dealt a big blow to the demon worshippers while connecting with beautiful women—could there be a happier life?

We continued walking slowly toward the World Tree, arm in arm. The World Tree, which had seemed so distant, gradually came closer.

By the time we had almost reached the World Tree.

[You’ve finally arrived.]

As I stood with my mouth open, looking at the World Tree large enough to cover an entire metropolis, a beautiful voice resonated in my mind.

Judging by the voice alone, it seemed to be a woman’s. But what mattered was whose voice it was.

Startled, I looked around, and the voice resonated in my mind once more.

[Look up, please.]

At those words, I slowly raised my head. The World Tree stretching high into the sky came into view, but something else caught my attention.

Shaaaaa-

Light, neither bright nor dark, began to gather slowly in one place. The light took form, gradually transforming into a “figure.”

Arwen and I stared blankly at the phenomenon. I couldn’t tell where the light was coming from, but the phenomenon was extremely surreal.

Eventually, as the light that had formed a figure began to dissipate, it revealed its identity. The first thing visible was the hair.

Reminiscent of nature’s colors, light green hair sparkled like stars.

The eyes were the same. Green eyes, as if they had captured stars, shone beautifully.

And above all…

‘…She’s tall.’

Voluptuous breasts and a golden-ratio figure. The fact that only vital parts were barely covered by leaves didn’t matter.

Being a transcendent being, it didn’t evoke any impure thoughts. But the size was the issue.

She was tall. Very tall. I’m not referring to any inappropriate part, but her height.

I had to look up at her, so she must be at least 3 meters tall. I stared at the woman, unable to close my gaping mouth.

Meanwhile, the woman looked down at me with her star-filled eyes and began to crouch. It felt like watching a mountain shrink.

Finally, having roughly matched my eye level, she smiled gently and said.

“At last we meet, child.”