End Process (4)

“You’re saying this is a tree seed?”

I couldn’t help but let my true feelings slip out in surprise as I received something larger than my fist, with some complex pattern-like engravings on its surface.

The elves murmured upon hearing this. They seemed surprised that I, a High Elf, reacted as if seeing the World Tree seed for the first time.

“I’ve never seen a World Tree seed before. I’ve never even seen a World Tree itself.”

“The World Tree is certainly known to have appeared after the collapse of the Primordial Tower. It was like a guardian deity that safely protected us elves during that chaotic period that could be called hell. That means… could it be!”

Arno, who had given me the seed, muttered to himself and then opened his eyes wide. He had realized which era I had lived in.

“Are you truly a Primordial Elf who lived in the mythical era?!”

“Yes. I lived in the mythical era, and closed my eyes at the point when the mythical era was ending. And I recently opened my eyes again.”

I revealed that I had lived in the era they call the mythical era, as there was no particular reason to hide it. At this, the elves’ surprise grew even greater.

It’s understandable, as not just a moderately older adult, but an ancestral figure from the beginning of time had arrived.

Moreover, the mythical era is a forgotten, truly mythical era with almost all records lost and little remaining properly.

It wasn’t unreasonable for these aged gentlemen to have their eyes sparkling.

‘Did I speak unnecessarily?’

Predicting the bothersome questions that would pour out, I regretted it for a moment.

I would have to say something, but I couldn’t bring myself to tell the truth.

Like other races, the elves have lived with great pride for the past 10,000 years.

It’s a pride that could degenerate into arrogance, but I thought their identity and pride, built over a long time, were worth it.

It was impossible to tell such people that their ancestors were actually ordinary humans, and that they were an artificial race created by entering the tower and changing both race and gender.

“P-Please tell us. What kind of race were we in those times? Please let your distant descendants know of your greatness once again!”

As if enchanted by something, the elf elders all bowed their heads at once. Thinking that what I had expected had come, I sat quietly and squeezed my eyes shut.

I felt like I was going crazy at the thought that the moment I say something, it would be known as if it were real history.

“…That era was an era of harmony. There was almost no difference between races. We didn’t antagonize humans like the current elves do. We just all mixed and lived together. Then the tower appeared.”

I tried to speak based on facts as much as possible. It was a fact that there was no racial conflict, as even those who entered the tower and became different races were all once human.

Instead, there were many other conflicts.

“After that, it’s similar to what has been passed down. Everyone tried to conquer the tower together, but failed, and the end times came. Those who survived eventually rebuilt the current era over a long time.”

“All races living as one… Is such a thing really possible?”

“That would depend on the situation and environment. But I can say this one thing for certain: It’s not engraved in your souls that you must antagonize others. You can join hands with them anytime if necessary.”

Still, it seemed I could use this opportunity to neutralize the anxiety and hostility prevalent among the elves. They looked quite shocked at the statement that it wasn’t inscribed in their genes that they must antagonize other races.

It had been a custom and teaching passed down for ages. It wasn’t unreasonable for them to think it was natural. Moreover, they were individuals over hundreds of years old.

Changing their way of thinking wouldn’t be easy.

“How would it be possible for me to mingle freely with humans? Because that’s how we did it in those times.”

“Th-Then please tell us just this one thing. Who was the leader of the forces? Humans and elves have different lifespans from the start. For elves to follow a human king…”

“There was no king, and representatives were usually elected by vote.”

Wondering how to answer this, I just told the truth in response to an elf elder’s urgent question. Thinking about it, the act of voting might be unfamiliar except for citizens of free cities who elect mayors from among candidates.

“Then wouldn’t humans who bear children in droves have too much of an advantage?!”

“W-Well… to begin with, our country’s birth rate was much lower than you might think…”

Of course, what I was saying was close to lies, so sometimes sharp questions came in and flustered me, but they never doubted me. There was no way to prove it anyway.

“Now, everyone, restrain yourselves. I understand you have mountains of questions, but now is not the time for that.”

Fortunately, before my tongue got tied, Elnar stepped in to mediate. Thanks to this, the elf elders’ barrage of questions ended, and I wiped away the cold sweat that had started flowing without my notice.

There was a time when I casually told my companions about the time I lived in, claiming it was from the mythical era, but when it actually had such a big impact, I couldn’t take it lightly.

“Now it’s time to examine the World Tree seed.”

Only now could I examine the seed again, which I had set aside for a moment. Just looking at it calmly, it was nothing more than an old seed that gave no feeling.

“Honestly, I don’t know anything. So you’re my hope.”

Taking the seed outside, I whispered quietly to the spirits. What the spirits didn’t know was pretty much the same as what I didn’t know.

Leaving a word asking for their help, I carefully placed the seed on the ground so that the earth spirit could examine it.

Then the earth spirit immediately began to move the ground, preciously taking the seed into the earth. For now, all we could do was watch.

“–, —?”

And not long after, the earth spirit told me something. My eyes widened at hearing it. It wasn’t that there was no way to revive this World Tree seed that was thousands of years old.

“Is that really true!?”

“It seems so. But they say it can’t be awakened by ordinary methods. Special power is needed.”

I calmed the surprised elves by adding that there was a condition. The earth spirit said that even with its power, it couldn’t germinate this seed, and that the help of water was needed.

And it had to be very special water. Hearing this, I bit my lip.

“The earth spirit keeps talking about special water, but honestly, even if it’s special water, I’m not sure what that means? Do you know anything about special water? I don’t know much about history after the mythical era either.”

“I-If you’re talking about special water…”

When I urged the elves, they started looking at each other. It seemed they didn’t know much either.

Well, they’ve lived isolated from the outside world for quite a long time, so it’s not like they would know much.

“Special water. Could it be true holy water?”

The one who offered even a guess was not the elves, but the human who had been keeping his mouth shut, Patrick. When all the elves’ gazes suddenly focused on him, he hiccupped without realizing it.

“Ahem! It’s just something I’ve heard while wandering around doing adventurer work.”

“What’s true holy water? Tell me.”

As he stammered in embarrassment, I became interested and urged him. Holy water, at least the name sounded like something.

“As you know, the Order of Light is a very old integrated order that encompasses races and factions. There’s a legend passed down there. It’s about the miraculous power that the first saint is said to have created. The Order is still striving to recreate that holy water, and its replicas are the holy water currently spread throughout the continent.”

Patrick explained what he knew to the elves at my urging.

This was something I was hearing for the first time too. I thought I had learned a lot about this world, but it was indeed a misconception.

“High Elf, this is just a baseless legend of humans.”

“Are you going to keep saying things like that? I told you there was no such thing in the old days.”

Angry at the elder who was trying to dismiss it before we even started, I thought we should at least look for this holy water, which was our only clue.

If we could grow the World Tree, a divine tree with the power to counter the erosion, the end process, it would be worth the investment.

“True holy water, how do we get it?”

“I don’t… I don’t know well either. We probably need to ask someone from the Order.”

Patrick, watching his manners, answered my question respectfully. We need to meet someone from the Order, he said. I nodded at that.

That much wasn’t a difficult task.

“Let’s go right away. It’s the only way now. The fate of this world depends on it. Are you free?”

Having decided on a course of action, I turned to look at the elves. At my question asking if they were free, the elders couldn’t answer.