Chapter 117

Wendigo’s proposal was a natural step for Elhemina to serve the World Tree in this land.

Even if she vowed to serve with pure and personal intentions, it was inevitable that people would attach the label of the republic to her.

Now that the World Tree had become a member and important component of this land, control couldn’t be given to outsiders.

“… That’s right. I suppose you can’t entrust such an important task as serving the World Tree to an outsider.”

Elhemina nodded in agreement.

Not giving great authority to outsiders was common in the Elvenhome Republic as well.

Families and families, citizens and government didn’t hesitate even to rebel to gain more authority from each other, so it was natural.

However, understanding and suddenness were separate issues.

Wendigo decided to open a way out for Elhemina, who had to make a difficult choice.

“You must be surprised by the sudden proposal of a loyalty oath, but don’t think too hard about it. My requirements aren’t that many.”

“Could I know exactly what requirements you’re going to make?”

“First, the core would be passing on the know-how of managing the World Tree and performing management over several years.”

Whether elves liked it or not, no race could match elves when it came to the World Tree.

The elves were a race whose entire infrastructure was directly linked to the World Tree, so wouldn’t it be strange if they weren’t more knowledgeable about her than other races?

‘Putting aside the World Tree’s affection or interests.’

… Of course, they couldn’t know everything, but they must be well-versed in most information.

Naturally, since they were destined to live with the World Tree from now on, learning about the World Tree from elves would be the wisest choice.

Elhemina seemed to have expected this much, as she nodded readily.

“Rather, it seems natural that we should pass that on. We can’t neglect the World Tree.”

“Thank you. Next, I’d like you to help with diplomacy so we can continue our relationship with the Elvenhome Republic.”

“Uh… but I’m a priest, so I don’t know much about politics. Is that okay?”

Elhemina expressed reluctance at Wendigo’s second proposal.

While high-ranking priests inevitably performed tasks related to politics, most priests were completely ignorant of politics.

This was because in the past, priests fanatical about the World Tree tried to incite citizens to destroy the republic, so the council of elders and the government intentionally excluded priests from politics.

Naturally, Elhemina, who was only 110 years old, had never been involved in politics…

“I don’t expect you to play a big role in diplomacy. In the first place, Dario is likely to take on such tasks.”

“Huh? You mean me?”

Dario, who had been lying prostrate like an invisible man, raised his head in surprise.

It was a natural reaction, as it was essentially telling him to be a diplomat suddenly, but…

“Considering your skill with words, you’d be the most appropriate personnel. Do you not like it?”

“No way. How could I dislike it? I’m just wondering if I’m worthy of such an important task.”

Dario grinned and made excuses he didn’t mean.

How could he dislike having his abilities recognized at such a young age?

Imagining the times when no matter how excellent one’s abilities were, that damned bloodline and experience held one back, his chest swelled automatically.

Elhemina pointed at Dario, who was grinning while prostrate, and asked Wendigo:

“It might be a bit rude to say this, but… can we trust Dario? I mean, can such a frivolous man handle such a weighty task?”

“I understand what you want to say. Dario is indeed a man far from pride or dignity.”

“……”

Dario, who had suddenly been branded as a sycophant without pride, looked at Wendigo as if wronged.

It was true that in his immature past (not even a year ago), he had made mistakes without recognizing the king’s greatness, but now he had steel-like strong loyalty…

‘Well, I did misunderstand that His Highness had violated the World Tree, but that was offering loyal advice at the risk of my life as a faithful subject.’

… Dario prided himself on having loyalty as strong as iron, if not steel.

Of course, Wendigo also knew Dario’s loyalty to some extent, so he defended him.

“However, it’s also true that Dario can muster courage when needed and knows how to act flexibly with his social skills.”

“He certainly showed that side. Honestly, his expression of his views, though mistaken, was impressive enough to make me look twice.”

Dario, who had been listening quietly, smiled and rejoiced.

He didn’t care what his enemies thought of him, but he didn’t want to be misunderstood by those he wanted recognition from.

Having gained recognition from Wendigo and Elhemina, Dario looked around and opened his mouth:

“Ahem. I didn’t know Your Highness cared for me so much. In that sense, is it okay to get up now?”

“… Sometimes when he shows that side, I wonder if I’m being too lenient because he’s my man.”

“Ahaha…”

As Dario, who had already half risen, wagged his tongue, Wendigo sighed while holding his head, and Elhemina also laughed awkwardly at the utterly bewildering sight and refrained from speaking.

Tap tap!

When Wendigo silently tapped the armrest with his claw, Dario quickly sat down in the chair next to Wendigo.

He rubbed his palms together so hard they almost caught fire and flattered Wendigo:

“Today I felt once again how Your Highness has such a keen eye to find a gem even among piles of stones. So everyone should be loyal to the king…”

“Stop the nonsense and tell me what else we should demand from Elhemina.”

“Well… Actually, if Your Highness wishes, I think you could demand an Imperial-style oath.”

To Wendigo’s question, Dario discussed the simplest and easiest form of oath.

An Imperial-style oath literally meant assuming Elhemina as a kind of knight and imposing obligations on her.

It involved granting Elhemina land and property and having the authority to force obligations on her…

“I doubt how long Elhemina will stay in this land, and I don’t like Imperial-style oaths because they involve a lot of customary practices.”

“Well, it’s a relationship entangled with blood ties and bad karma since ancestral times. There are many strange precedents, so what can we do?”

Wendigo recoiled. Imperial-style oaths were nice in name, but they were often carried out haphazardly.

This knight fought bravely on the battlefield, so pardon him; that noble insulted me at the banquet three days ago, so hang him…

Lords who were like kings on their own lands often ignored the law, citing oaths as needed without distinguishing between public and private matters.

It was so severe that the nobles of the old empire ridiculed the empire’s oath as no different from signing on flowing water.

“Then wouldn’t it be enough to prohibit actions and words that would disadvantage Your Highness while serving you? You can make the price of disloyalty her life.”

“L-life?!”

Elhemina was startled and raised her ears like a rabbit, shouting at Dario.

Dario asked Elhemina as if it were obvious:

“If Elhemina doesn’t commit actions that would disadvantage His Highness, there’s no problem, so don’t worry about it.”

“Even so, life is…”

“Originally, most oaths are made with life as collateral. The reason many people still swear loyalty is that betting one’s life is just words.”

When Elhemina hesitated, Dario explained to her how powerless oaths were.

Most oaths specified that if one committed a wrong, they would pay the price with their life. However, no knight, noble, or even merchant cared about it…

“Not only is it unlikely to break the oath unless you make an outrageous mistake, but there are hardly any cases of proper punishment.”

Mistakes could be called misfortune, but those who deliberately ignored oaths were mostly prepared to run away from the start.

Naturally, if they left the territory and hid their names and identities far away, there was no way to find them.

“It’s also why nobles form blood ties with knights or families they absolutely need.”

“Then this oath?”

“Well, you can think of it as a very small token of faith.”

Elhemina’s expression brightened at Dario’s explanation.

What Wendigo had proposed didn’t contain anything particularly uncomfortable for Elhemina, and as Dario said, she judged that she wouldn’t lose her life as long as she didn’t make mistakes.

‘Well, it’s giving the right to take her head anytime if something suspicious is sensed.’

It was an incredibly cold-hearted measure, but Dario didn’t feel too guilty about it.

He believed Elhemina wouldn’t commit such sinister acts.

If Elhemina had been a suspicious elf to begin with, wouldn’t they have forced an oath with dozens of complex regulations?

It was all because they trusted her.

After brief consideration, Elhemina decided to take the oath.

“That kind of oath is fine. Actually, I wanted to serve the World Tree in this land too.”

“Are you really sure?”

Wendigo, feeling guilty about her naive attitude, advised her to reconsider.

However, Elhemina was resolute. She shook her head and then, like a girl in love, interlocked her fingers and recalled the beautiful scene.

The giant pure white tree that had sprung up in the wide clearing and the golden leaves shining like a brilliant sun.

And the beautiful figure of the World Tree that had directly incarnated there was truly…

“Ah!”

“What’s wrong?”

Elhemina, who had been grinning with a strange expression, seemed to recall something and looked around, flapping her arms.

Wendigo asked, puzzled by her strange behavior. Then Elhemina, her eyes shining, pleaded with Wendigo:

“I need a brush! I can’t remember the World Tree’s ecstatic figure by myself!”

“What… Do you really need to go that far?”

“Dario doesn’t understand because he’s not a priest! This is a rare event in history!”

It would be strange not to grant her request when she was asking with such a desperate expression.

Wendigo ordered the soldiers waiting outside to bring what she needed.

The soldiers, who seemed to have been listening to the conversation inside, returned with flushed expressions, hurriedly bringing not only brushes and paints but also carving knives and such.

Elhemina, spreading out a large drawing paper, wielded her brush with shining eyes like an artist in ecstasy.

Watching this, Dario whispered to Wendigo:

“She looks completely crazy.”

“Creators are often mad.”

When her brush strokes, bordering on madness, ended, she ran in and out, bringing necessary things and started sprinkling and painting them.

The materials included precious items like World Tree sap, bark, and leaves.

She stared at the completed drawing paper, then collapsed with a sigh:

“Ah… The World Tree was so much more than just this!”

“I-I think you’ve expressed it quite well already.”

Wendigo stuttered, bewildered. To his eyes, her work seemed sufficiently impressive.

The golden leaves surrounding the pure white tree at the center highlighted the World Tree’s figure in the middle of the painting.

The World Tree’s appearance she depicted was so surprisingly similar that it seemed like she had captured the living World Tree’s image as it was…

“I couldn’t capture even a claw’s worth of the World Tree’s beauty. I, I…!”

“You’ll be managing the World Tree in this land anyway, so you might be able to see it a few more times if you do well.”

“… That’s right? Surely that will be the case!”

Could there be eyes filled with deeper love than that?

Wendigo was certain it would be impossible even if he recalled a beloved lover.

He wasn’t sure if all World Tree priests were like this… but at least Elhemina clearly loved the World Tree too much.