Mother

After arriving at the mansion and meeting Riel’s brother, Lord Andrew, we headed to the reception room following the knight’s guidance.

Several people were already seated in the reception room.

“It’s been a while.”

Princess Aine, with her ever-confident expression, greeted us, and Commander Gareth, who was standing beside her, bowed his head slightly.

And across from them, a woman wearing white priest robes was sitting, but when we entered, she stood up and greeted us.

She seemed to be from the World Tree Church, but I didn’t feel the uncomfortable and suspicious feeling I usually felt from church missionaries in the north.

Someone was also sitting at a table set up by a window on one side of the reception room.

Long blonde hair, blue eyes, and characteristic elongated ears.

An elf beauty wearing thin clothing was staring intently into the cup of beverage she was holding.

“…An elf?”

Riel must have seen her too, as she muttered that.

Hearing Riel’s voice, the elf turned toward us and greeted us with a slight bow of her head.

And both Riel and I reflexively returned the greeting with a silent bow.

“It’s been a while since I’ve seen an elf.”

“Huh? You’ve seen an elf before?”

“Yeah. Back home a bit.”

Elves did live in the north, though they were few.

Though they were a small population, like a small village, they were one of the races that had adapted well to the harsh northern life.

“It seems Eve will arrive late tonight due to the distance, so let’s talk among ourselves first.”

When Princess Aine brought up the conversation, everyone sat around.

Seeing everyone seated, Princess Aine opened her mouth, looking at the priestess sitting in front.

“Well then, Priestess Alicia. It’s troublesome, but could you tell me the story you told me once more?”

“Yes. Of course.”

Saying that, the priestess called Alicia stared at Riel.

“…It will probably be a very important story.”

“…Huh, of all places, you went there?”

Commander Zenon of the Central Church’s Second Holy Knight Order wore a dejected expression.

They had looked for Priestess Alicia, who was said to have been sighted near the border, a bit away from Duke Grace’s territory in the western part of the kingdom, but according to sighting information, she had already procured a carriage and left.

Judging it dangerous to wander around the kingdom at a time when there was friction with the kingdom, Zenon reported this to Cardinal Gerald, but what came back was an order to catch and eliminate the apostate by any means.

Moreover, an additional order was issued to confiscate all possessions after eliminating the apostate and bring them back.

It’s ridiculous enough to call her an apostate, but to bring back all her possessions…

Isn’t this just robbery?

It was a mission he was really reluctant to undertake, but still, he couldn’t ignore the Cardinal’s orders.

In the end, Zenon took off his holy knight armor and wore different armor to disguise himself as a mercenary.

And selecting just a few of his subordinates who were also in disguise, he inquired around the kingdom for information about Priestess Alicia’s sightings and was able to find out her destination.

‘Duke Ignis’s territory, Brimton City…’

Unlike small villages or towns, by the time you reach the size of Brimton City, the inspections become quite strict.

Without preparing a fake identity, entering Brimton City was currently impossible.

“Damn it, they could have at least prepared a fake identity and ordered a search mission…”

Zenon stamped his foot, expressing his dissatisfaction with Cardinal Gerald, which he had only been keeping inside.

Several of Zenon’s subordinate holy knights were watching this scene, but they didn’t say anything.

This was because they too had many complaints about this mission.

“…There’s no way for now. Let’s go back and report.”

“Yes.”

After saying that to his adjutant, who was similarly disguised as a mercenary, Zenon turned and left the place.

His subordinates also followed, and the group of less than ten people left the vicinity of Duke Ignis’s territory.

All this without knowing that someone was secretly watching them.

“……”

“……”

Priestess Alicia’s words were quite shocking.

I was surprised when familiar stories like ‘Child of Yggdrasil’ came up, but what surprised me the most was what came after.

The World Tree that was already dying.

The ‘child’ chosen by the World Tree to create the next generation of World Tree.

Saint Bellia, who caused the World Tree’s death and usurped its power.

And Saint Bellia, who felt jealous of the ‘child’ chosen by the World Tree and persistently tormented it.

And the identity of that ‘child’ was none other than…

“Riel is… the Child of the World Tree Yggdrasil?”

“That’s what the World Tree said.”

I turned my head to look at Riel.

Riel was also surprised, with her mouth slightly open and eyes wide.

Priestess Alicia put her hand into her bosom and took something out.

“Lady Riel. This…”

It was a fist-sized orb that was slightly greenish, but closer to brown in color.

But perhaps because it was emitting a soft light, it felt strangely sacred.

Riel hesitated a bit, then swallowed hard and received the orb, holding it in her hand.

The orb was still emitting a soft light.

“Riel, are you okay?”

“Y-yes. I don’t think there’s anything wrong. Ah…!”

When Riel jolted and raised her voice, I was startled and put my hand on her shoulder.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“Ah… I’m fine. It just suddenly felt very warm…”

Riel stared at the orb in her hand.

Watching this scene, Priestess Alicia opened her mouth.

“The World Tree said that this is the seed of a new World Tree.”

“This?”

It looked more like an orb or a large pearl rather than a seed.

The color is somewhat similar to a seed, but I wonder if it’s a special kind of seed because it’s from the World Tree?

“It said to deliver it to Lady Riel, the child it had chosen.”

Hearing Priestess Alicia’s words, I thought about various things.

First, Allen was not the ‘Child of Yggdrasil’ as in the original story.

No, I think he wasn’t even in the original story.

In the original story, the concept of the child was just a child chosen by the World Tree Yggdrasil to receive blessings and protection. Nothing more, nothing less.

But the concept of the child that Priestess Alicia explained was completely different.

In reality, in this world, the concept of the Child of Yggdrasil is a child to whom the weakened Yggdrasil gave blessings and protection for the next generation of World Tree to be born.

The more that child feels positive happiness like joy, pleasure… love, the more power the next generation of World Tree gains—a kind of relay device.

I wondered why Riel of all people, but it wasn’t incomprehensible.

In fact, before Saint Bellia’s intervention, Riel reportedly had a happy childhood thanks to her caring family and loyal servants.

I felt that things were significantly deviating from the original story, but I didn’t expect such fundamental aspects to differ so greatly.

What on earth was the original novel?

As I was thinking that, Lord Andrew opened his mouth.

“I don’t understand everything, but… Priestess Alicia, there’s no harm to Riel, is there?”

“Yes. It only gains power from the happiness the child feels, and does not cause harm. …Above all, I can’t imagine that the loving World Tree would do anything to harm someone it calls its child.”

“…I see.”

Lord Andrew still looked at the World Tree’s seed in Riel’s hand with a suspicious expression, but he smiled as he saw Riel holding it preciously with both hands and looking at it.

“My happiness to this seed…”

Riel muttered, looking at the seed she was holding with both hands.

Happiness.

The standard of happiness differs for each person.

Some people are happy because they have a lot of money, some are happy because they have many friends, some feel happiness while helping others.

…In extreme cases, some even feel happiness watching others’ unhappiness.

Then, what makes Riel feel happy?

With such thoughts, I looked at the side of Riel’s face as she was staring at the seed.

Riel’s red eyes were looking at the seed, then her head turned and she looked at me.

Our eyes met.

“…Hehe.”

“…!!”

Riel smiled brightly.

I unconsciously became shy and lowered my head.

…Suddenly, I remembered the ‘forced confession’ incident that happened at the entrance earlier.

…How should I put it, I was thinking about confessing in a more romantic situation, but is this really it?

I felt like the soft light emitted by the World Tree’s seed in Riel’s hand had become a bit brighter.

I was now standing in front of a room on the upper floor of the mansion.

Phyllis was waiting behind me, and right next to the door, a knight under Princess Aine’s command was standing as if guarding the place.

“…I’m worried.”

“Come to think of it, Phyllis, you were acquainted with her too, right?”

“Yes. Madam Rachel was a very caring and good person.”

After Priestess Alicia’s story ended, we decided to discuss future countermeasures when Eve arrived, and based on Lord Andrew’s suggestion and Riel’s strong wish, we came to the room of the Duke and Duchess where Riel’s mother, Duchess Rachel Ignis, was staying.

That said, I’m an outsider, so I’m just waiting outside the door.

“If you’re worried, why don’t you go in too, Phyllis?”

“No. I’m already a servant of the Wentos family. I can’t go alone, leaving the young master behind.”

She’s still stubborn in these aspects, I should say.

After hearing Lord Andrew’s story that the Duchess’s inability to regain consciousness might be due to fairies, I thought about fairies.

I don’t know much about fairies.

I’ve only actually seen the Light Fairy that Allen summoned as his summon, and though some fairies that helped appeared in the original story, there weren’t very detailed mentions.

Fairies, the messengers of the World Tree…

It was said that they use powers that play tricks on the human mind, which makes them quite troublesome enemies.

Of course, there are magical tools that can prevent this, but such tools aren’t exactly cheap.

As I was racking my brain for a while, the door opened and Riel came out.

Seeing her gesture for us to quietly come in, Phyllis and I entered the room.

Indeed, it was a room lavishly decorated, befitting the Duke and Duchess’s room.

It might seem even more so compared to my parents’ room, who prefer outdoor activities.

On the bed decorated with gorgeous veils lay a lady with light brown hair.

Except for her hair color and age, she was a woman who certainly resembled Riel in appearance.

“Mother, this is Kyo.”

Riel spoke to her mother while firmly holding my hand with one of hers.

“When I was young, you worried if I could make friends because I was so timid, remember? I’ve made many friends. Emi and Senior Iris, and recently I’ve become close with Aria and Feris…”

Riel’s expression was slightly dark.

Looking at her mother, who couldn’t regain consciousness, must have made her quite depressed.

“I even have a lover now. I want to introduce him to you soon…”

Riel’s voice was slightly mixed with tears.

No, actually, tears slightly formed in her eyes, and Riel quietly began to sob.

Lord Andrew, standing beside Duchess Rachel, also had a dark expression.

I firmly held Riel’s hand, which was holding mine, with my other hand.

…Eventually, Riel’s sobbing gradually stopped.

“…I’ll come back.”

Riel said that and kissed the Duchess’s cheek.

Lord Andrew also followed and kissed the Duchess’s cheek.

Phyllis was also watching the scene with a slightly darker expression than usual.

Afterwards, we all tried to leave the room, with Lord Andrew leading the way.

That’s when it happened.

“…Riel?”

A weak voice from behind.

Hearing that voice, everyone’s movement stopped.

Riel turned her head back, trembling.

“Is that you… Riel…?”

“Mother!!”

Though still lying weakly, the Duchess had lifted her eyelids and was looking at us.

Riel rushed to the Duchess as if springing forward.