Ch.350Hirt (3)

I posted the adult version of Arwen on the notice board!

*****

A seed lay on the ground where Hirt had disappeared. Much larger than an adult male’s fist, its appearance was far from ordinary.

First of all, would you believe that the seed shines like gold? An ordinary person would hardly believe it.

Moreover, it’s so large that it looks more like a fruit than a seed. And it’s hard enough to be used as a hammer.

In fact, there is a source for this description. As someone who loves mythology and history, I couldn’t possibly not know.

Much larger than an adult man’s fist, emitting a golden light, and so hard that not even a stone striking it would leave a scratch.

The World Tree seed that Hirt gifted to the elves. Whenever that seed was described, these words always appeared.

In other words, this seed that Hirt presumably gifted to me is very likely to be a World Tree seed, but…

‘How do I grow this?’

In mythology, there are only records that the seed was planted, but nothing about how it was cultivated.

I wonder if I should plant it in the ground and give it water and nutrients like other plants, but this is presumably the seed of the World Tree.

It’s not something to take lightly, and who would grow it is another issue. It’s already decided that it will be planted in Mayshall territory.

I just can’t even begin to grasp how significant the impact will be. This is the seed of the World Tree, which only appears in mythology.

That seed grew into the World Tree and played a major role in driving out demons, and that was some 3,000 years ago.

It’s a legend so ancient that even long-lived demon folk and elves consider it a distant tale, yet I received that seed?

I could hear the sound of my reputation piercing the heavens and breaking through to space. I’ll surely be stuck with some ridiculous titles.

When the new edition of Biography of Xenon was released, I could somewhat predict it, but with the World Tree seed, it’s completely impossible. I wonder what kind of news will follow.

‘And who’s going to grow this anyway?’

I pondered while leaning against the broad trunk of the World Tree. The issue was so significant that I didn’t return to Elodia even after Hirt disappeared.

Right now, I’m holding what appears to be the World Tree seed (coconut?) in my hand. It’s not a metaphor—it really looks like a coconut in appearance.

The funny thing is that it shines like gold. And it’s large enough that even I, with my big hands, need to hold it with both hands.

‘I suppose she gave it to me to grow it?’

I looked up at the World Tree. A sacred tree that has grown steadily for 3,000 years to the size of a city.

Would it grow this large if planted in Mayshall territory? That would be a bit problematic. Our territory isn’t that big.

Of course, Hirt must have her reasons, so it’s unlikely to grow like the current World Tree. But a World Tree is still a World Tree.

A precious tree that’s the only one of its kind in the world, and if it’s planted in our territory… just imagining it made me dizzy.

“Hmm…”

After much deliberation, I glanced to the side. Arwen was sound asleep, leaning on my shoulder.

Unlike me, Arwen doesn’t have abundant holy power, so she must have consumed a lot of mental energy.

I sat down to rest while thinking about the seed. Being under the World Tree, I didn’t have to worry about anyone approaching.

‘She’s beautiful.’

Arwen, with her eyes closed in deep sleep, was truly beautiful. Long eyelashes and silver-gray hair fluttering in the breeze.

I reached out to manage her hair, which exemplified elven beauty.

‘She said she was led here and there by her attendants to meet me today.’

Judging by the sensual dress she wore and the makeup she applied, which was unlike her usual self, it’s certain.

In such a situation, she met with Hirt and consumed mental energy, so she must have accumulated fatigue.

So I’ll quietly wait until her fatigue is relieved. After all, she’ll accumulate more fatigue tonight.

“Chirp! Chirp!”

While managing Arwen’s hair, a white sparrow landed on my finger.

Not only that, but several birds residing in the World Tree approached me one by one.

Besides the white sparrow on my finger, various birds including canaries. I don’t know bird species, so I can’t explain them separately.

Anyway, those birds didn’t fly away even when I moved, treating me as comfortably as if they were in their own nests.

When the sparrow approached me, I thought it was Hirt’s will and let it pass, but after receiving her blessing, my thoughts changed.

‘You said there would be a blessing of pure nature, right?’

A blessing of pure nature.

I’m not sure what it means, but it’s a blessing directly bestowed by the goddess of nature.

The fact that birds approach me without any wariness must be part of that.

Nature is too vague in its scope, but as vague as it is, it will show great effectiveness, so I don’t need to worry about it separately.

“…Hmm?”

While playing with the birds, I suddenly felt a gaze from the side.

When I turned my head, Arwen was already looking at me with her silver-gray eyes revealed.

Her eyes were dreamy from just waking up, but there was another kind of dreaminess included.

“Are you awake?”

I smiled brightly and greeted her warmly. How can she be so cute even when spacing out?

Arwen blinked her eyes and then blushed, answering shyly.

“…I’ve been a burden. I’m sorry.”

“No, I was resting too, so it’s fine.”

“Ahem. Ahem.”

When I treated her warmly, Arwen awkwardly cleared her throat and slowly moved away from me.

Perhaps to avoid being a burden even now, the shoulders that were touching gradually moved apart.

But that didn’t last long. I moved my hips to stick close to her.

“Y-you?”

“Let’s stay like this. Are you getting shy now?”

“B-but you received from Hirt…”

So that’s what it was about. Well, it’s natural for her to react that way since I received a blessing from a deity of higher rank than Luminus and Mora.

Even Kate was intensively cared for by the church after receiving grace from Luminus, and I received a blessing from the goddess of nature, who is higher.

Moreover, I was directly bestowed with the World Tree seed, so the rank itself is different.

But it’s all meaningless. There’s no reason for me to change as a person just because I received a blessing from a deity.

Rather, I might become more bold. I wrapped my arm around Arwen’s waist as she hesitated.

‘It’s so thin?’

Her waist looked very slender from the outside, but I felt it vividly when I embraced it. With such a thin waist, her mature hips stood out even more.

“Eek!”

Meanwhile, Arwen was startled by my bold action. I could feel her body stiffening through my arm.

When she was close to me, I looked at her face and said:

“So, you’re not saying you won’t come now, are you?”

“Ah… T-that’s not it…”

“Then what is it?”

“…You’re really mischievous.”

Arwen, who had been using formal speech, blushed and grumbled softly. Even her grumbling was so cute that I couldn’t help but smile.

I kept my arm around her waist for a while. Arwen initially stiffened her body but gradually relaxed as time passed.

Meanwhile, birds circled around us or landed on our bodies, creating a scene like a painting.

“…Issac.”

“Yes, tell me.”

“Hirt also said it. That you are a person from another world.”

Arwen asked while looking at a canary that had landed on her finger. Since Hirt herself confirmed it, I had no intention of denying it.

When I nodded, she gently waved her hand, sending the canary flying away.

The canary that soared into the sky soon flew towards the World Tree, whose height was immeasurable.

“Then why did you come to this world? I won’t ask what kind of world you came from. But I’m curious about how you came here.”

“It’s nothing special. I came here because of demon worshippers.”

“Demon worshippers?”

“Yes.”

Arwen’s eyes widened at my calm answer, which contained not a hint of falsehood.

I roughly explained while poking at a sparrow that was fluttering in front of me.

“Demon worshippers messed up a summoning, and I suffered greatly. So the gods called me here.”

“Great suffering… I see…”

I wonder what misunderstanding our Elf Queen is having now. I glanced at Arwen, who had hardened her expression and fallen into thought.

I refrained from saying I experienced death because she might misunderstand, but it seems that has led to a strange direction.

Either way, she’ll misunderstand, so there’s no need for additional explanation.

What’s important now is something else. I pointed to the seed safely stored between my legs and asked.

“But what should we do with this? Do you know how to grow it?”

“Hmm… I’m not sure if it’s accurate because the records are too old, but it’s written that the World Tree seed was grown by clergy. The World Tree grows by consuming holy power.”

“Holy power… So if we plant it in our territory, it will grow on its own?”

“Since the churches of Luminus and Mora have been established, the land itself shouldn’t be lacking. The problem is who will grow it… Do you have someone you can trust?”

“I do have one person…”

I could ask Kate, but that would create a vacancy. After being directly threatened by demon worshippers, Kate and Adelia’s positions cannot be left vacant.

So I need to entrust it to someone else, but there’s no one particularly suitable except for family.

However, father is busy in his own way, and mother can’t leave her place as she’s raising Lilly.

Then, someone trustworthy…

‘…Should I ask Mr. Musk?’

Not asking Musk to grow it directly, but more like a middle management concept.

Whether anyone is doing unnecessary things, and whether the clergy are working properly.

Of course, since it’s presumed to be the World Tree seed, no one would do foolish things, but a trustworthy person should be placed.

“Let’s think about it slowly. It’s not urgent right now. Right?”

As I said that, I tightened my arm around Arwen’s waist.

Arwen was embarrassed by my smooth attitude but nodded with a gentle smile.

“…Issac.”

“Yes.”

“May I ask… when you plan to receive the gift?”

Arwen, who seemed timid but gathered courage, said to me.

“I… am ready anytime.”

“Isn’t it too early?”

The sun that was hanging in the middle of the sky is gradually descending, but there’s still a lot of time before night falls.

During that time, we could visit the sacred place to read books, or I could give her the ‘gift’ I prepared.

But Arwen’s thoughts seemed different. She shook her head and gave a somewhat reasonable reason.

“It’s because of our elves’ old-fashioned traditions. It takes unnecessarily long to prepare. Just the preparation will take at least a few hours.”

“A few hours? What takes that long?”

“It takes an hour to cleanse the body in the Spring of Life. Including other minor customs, it would take more than 3 hours.”

“Have you done all that?”

Arwen nodded at my question. So that’s why she was so tired.

I pondered what to do and made a decision without delay. There’s plenty of time anyway.

Moreover…

“Alright.”

“T-then…!”

“I’ll go receive the gift.”

Time is abundant, and the night is long.

Arwen beamed with a bright expression when I willingly agreed.

But that expression didn’t last long.

Smooch!

Because I stole a kiss from her lips by surprise.

Arwen froze in that state, not knowing what had happened.

I looked at her and smiled, then got up from my seat and dusted off my bottom.

Just before returning to Elodia, I said to her in a smooth tone:

“Then I’ll be looking forward to it?”

“Ahhhh…”

Arwen sank gloriously even before giving the gift.

*****

Afterward, as Arwen said, the elves’ old-fashioned customs continued.

I spent an hour washing in a place called the Spring of Life, followed by various minor customs that wasted a full 3 hours.

Thanks to this, I fully understood why elves have such a low birth rate. They collapse before even getting to the main event.

It’s fortunate that my basic stamina is more robust than others; otherwise, I might have passed out before receiving a proper gift.

Anyway, heading to Arwen’s “chamber” wearing only a gown and underwear…

“Y-you came?”

“Wow…”

What that gift is.

“As you might have guessed… I am the Queen of Alfheim, and the symbol of Alfheim itself.”

And how lewd and sensual that gift is.

“In our Alfheim, to you…”

Meeting Arwen in red lingerie.

“I will gift Alfheim itself.”

I realized.