episode_0124

Serena burned the arms of the elves one by one.

Divine power is not a force that burns demons— it is the power of the Goddess of Light, Serena, to burn those she considers enemies.

As a result. The stubborn bastards quietly submitted, clamping their mouths shut.

‘An obvious outcome.’

The reason those elf bastards believed they were a superior race stemmed from the Goddess of Light, Serena.

Sure, they had more magical power than other races, and their lifespans were longer, but— the most crucial factor was that they were the chosen race.

“She gifted us alone with the World Tree, our great mother. That’s why we’re the chosen race.”

That was the logic they armed themselves with, proclaiming their superiority.

But. That logic collapsed. It was utterly shattered once they saw divine power burning their own bodies.

Thanks to that, they fell silent.

“………” “Now you understand who’s above and who’s below, right?” “………” “Answer.” “………Yes.”

The elves responded, completely deflated.

“And you’re certain now that I’m friends with Serena, right?” “………Yes.”

They had no choice but to accept it. Divine power had burned every single elf, after all.

Of course, it was possible that the Goddess of Light, Serena, was angry at the elves for another reason— maybe because the so-called Guardians of the World Tree sat idly by while it died.

But. Thanks to Pina noona, that hypothesis was utterly dismantled.

Pina noona was also an elf who had done nothing while the World Tree perished. If the World Tree’s death had been the cause, then Pina noona should’ve burned the moment divine power touched her.

But. Pina noona was unharmed. She even showed signs of her wounds healing upon contact with divine power.

This proved that there were elves the Goddess of Light, Serena, did not designate as enemies.

So? Where did this difference come from?

‘There’s only one answer.’

They were elves who were favorable toward me. That’s the only explanation.

‘If my claim had been a lie, Pina noona would’ve been the first to burn.’

Pina noona had insisted that I was truly Serena’s friend. If that had been false, she would’ve burned under Serena’s wrath.

But she didn’t, did she?

Thanks to this very reasoning, the elf bastards had no choice but to acknowledge that I was truly friends with Serena.

As a bonus, Lia’s status as Serena’s real daughter was also confirmed.

“A lowly race like humans… becoming friends with the great Goddess of Light, Lady Serena… How on earth…?”

The real issue was that some were still spouting this nonsense. But this was a problem that could be fixed with proper education.

First, should I shatter their belief that humans are a lowly race?

“Hey.” “………Yes.” “Let me tell you one thing—Serena doesn’t call humans a lowly race. She calls them the race of possibility.” “Race of… possibility?” “Stat-wise, they’re a mediocre race averaging F~E rank, sure. But they’re also the race that produces the most A-rank heroes.” “If we had greater numbers, we would’ve been the race with the most A-rank heroes!” “Then why the hell didn’t you make more numbers?” “………” “Serena’s out there yelling at everyone to ‘restore the world by fucking like rabbits.’ So why didn’t you do it?” “………” “‘Sex is filthy? Lust is vile?’ Don’t make me laugh. You were all born from sex! How dare you hypocrites, the very products of sex, turn around and call it dirty?!”

This was the reason elves had such abysmal reproduction rates. They considered sex filthy.

Polygamy? They loathed the idea of sleeping with multiple partners. Even pure romance couples? They still called it disgusting.

As a result, even married elves often didn’t have children. If they did have sex, they hid the fact like some shameful secret. If pregnancy happened, illusions masked the growing belly. And when the child was born? They abandoned it somewhere in the forest.

So? What happened to those children?

‘The World Tree, pitying the abandoned, raised them herself.’

That’s why they called her the great mother.

Sure, some elves had parents, but most grew up seeing the World Tree as their mother and father. She was their true maternal figure.

‘Pina noona was one of them.’ Our Pina noona was also an abandoned child, raised in the embrace of the World Tree.

So. Pina noona’s parents are the World Tree. She has no others.

‘She once told me she had zero interest in tracking down the mother and father who discarded her.’

Because of this, even I don’t know who Pina noona’s birth parents are. And I don’t care to find out.

But.

There’s one thing I’ll say.

“You’re all trash.” “………” “You call yourselves noble, elegant, dignified—but you’re just deranged bastards who commit atrocities without a second thought.” “………” “You’re so vile even Serena calls you a filthy race.” “Ugh—!”

The elves’ faces twisted more violently than ever before. Being called trash by me bruised their ego, sure— but being called trash by the Goddess of Light, Serena? That was an entirely different matter.

Which is why. They had to change.

“Listen carefully. If you want Serena to acknowledge you as humans again—listen.” “……!” “If it weren’t for Pina noona, I’d have killed every last one of you. But for her sake, I’ll give you this chance. So listen.” “!!!!!!”

All the elves locked eyes with me.

A chance to be recognized as human again. A chance to quell Serena’s wrath.

Of course they’d cling to it. Refusing now would be like signing a collective suicide pact.

Even this group of moral failures knew to bow their heads here.

“Y-You’re… helping us?” “I’m not helping.” “………” “I’m just telling you how. The rest is up to you.” “Th… Thank you… If you teach us how, we’ll strive tirelessly until Lady Serena’s wrath subsides…” “Good.”

Finally, the elves bowed their heads and begged.

Sure, some were still trembling with resentment, but this much was fine.

‘My goal is to revive the World Tree—and leave behind those who’ll protect her.’

Reviving the World Tree required the elves’ labor, and safeguarding her needed their military strength.

That’s why I spared them.

Ideally, they’d reform their morals, breed like rabbits to boost their numbers, and actively hunt monsters to expand humanity’s territory—but eh. That’s just icing on the cake.

The bare minimum conditions for Serena’s forgiveness were:

1. Cooperate with the hero’s party. 2. Assist in the World Tree revival plan. 3. Swear to protect the resurrected World Tree with your lives. 4. Normalize relations with other races—not necessarily friendship, but at least cooperation. 5. Apologize to Pina noona for everything so far.

That’s it.

“6. Apologize to Cain too.”

Suddenly, Serena hopped onto my shoulder and added a sixth condition.

Well… Since she added it, of course it stays.

“Anything else?” “The rest can wait until the World Tree is revived… These six are already more than enough.”

Fair. Serena’s fury at the elves was rooted in me, after all.

She could tolerate everything else— but denying her bond with her one and only friend?

That, the Goddess could never forgive.

In essence, the sixth condition was the most critical.

So I said: “Apologize.” “W-We were wrong…” “More.” “We’re… sorry for doubting your words, Cain… nim…” “More.” “We’re sorry for attacking you suddenly…” “Be crystal clear. Say: ‘Serena and Cain are true friends. We’re sorry for doubting your friendship.’” “The Goddess of Light, Lady Serena, and Cain nim… are true friends… We apologize for ever doubting your bond…” “Hmph!”

Serena snorted loudly, closing her eyes with a vaguely satisfied expression.

“………”

She didn’t climb down from my shoulder. Instead, she curled up like a white furball and settled in.

Well… This much was fine.

Her small puppy body wasn’t heavy, and it wasn’t particularly bothersome.

Gently stroking her, I continued:

“First, we’re reviving the World Tree. Hand over its leaves.” “R-Right away!”

The elf village chief hastily retrieved an ornate box containing the World Tree’s leaves.

“Hmm…”

I opened it to inspect the contents.

They were genuine.

“Good. With these, we can bring it back.” “Y-You’re serious? You can really revive it?…” “You think I’d lie?”

The elves’ expressions brightened at my words.

Sure, the situation itself was humiliating— but they now had reason to believe my claim about reviving the World Tree.

Serena’s friend was here. Serena’s daughter was here. And even the power to resurrect the dead was present.

So. Reviving the World Tree wasn’t just a dream.

…With this realization, the elves brightened slightly and exclaimed:

“Wh-What should we do?!” “What should you do?” “Yes!” “You want the World Tree alive?” “Yes!” “Then go eat and sleep over there.” “Huh?” “I’ll need your labor later. Recover your strength first.” “If it’s labor you need, we can start right n—” “Not now. I’ll call you when preparations are done.” “Then the preparations—” “I’ll handle those alone. Having ‘help’ won’t speed it up. Just go eat.” “………”

The elves seemed desperate to assist, hoping to hasten the World Tree’s revival.

“No food, no revival.” “W-We’ll eat!”

A little threat made them compliant.

“Good… Now, shall we begin?”

World Tree Revival Project: ON

‘Heh… Once the World Tree’s back, everything else will fall into place.’

The World Tree was like a mother to Pina noona.

Sure, we could reach a happy ending without reviving it— but with it alive?

We’d get an even happier ending than the best prophecy RPG finale.

…But more importantly—

‘If we’re staying in this world, reviving the World Tree is the best move.’

The World Tree was a miracle plant capable of producing any fruit.

Apples, grapes—sure. But even rice, peppers, beans, watermelons—anything vaguely fruit-like could be grown.

It couldn’t create what it had never seen, but replicate anything it had? Easy.

Ingredients that didn’t exist in this prophecy RPG world— previously summonable only via the Holy Grail of Sacrifice—

Could now be mass-produced. Indefinitely.

‘Now that’s a win.’

And.

Using elf labor, we’d mass-produce red pepper paste, soybean paste, ssamjang, tofu—

Ah…

What a glorious plan.