Interlude – World Tree

Kardrasil.

It’s not easy for a human to set foot here. Even if you offer countless Farnium to the Elves, or if you’re lucky enough to save injured Elves. No matter how much favor you’ve done them, Kardrasil is a place you can’t enter without the World Tree’s permission. A sanctuary exclusive to Elves, forbidden not only to humans but to all living things.

As if to prove it, there was no gate leading to Kardrasil, only a wall. A massive wall surrounded Kardrasil. The thorns embedded here and there to prevent climbing the wall showed the Elves’ fanatical obsession. I swallowed hard at the sight of the barrier beyond. Shuriel seemed calm, perhaps because she had been here once before.

Guided by the Elven Knight, we traversed the streets of the Garkina district.

At a slightly quickened pace.

As the district that suffered the most damage, the scenery of the streets was utterly brutal. This became more severe as we approached the wall. An Ain whose head burst open after falling while trying to climb the wall. An Ain split in two by an Elven Knight, spilling its guts. There were so many corpses that if you stepped on something while walking, there was a high probability it was a piece of intestine.

I clicked my tongue, removing a piece of intestine stuck to the sole of my shoe. Even the mind of an Arch Mage couldn’t eliminate the revulsion. On the other hand, Rania showed no reaction to this carnage, as if the emotion of disgust had been removed.

This was due to the non-aggression pact between the Elves and the Ains. The Elves did not interfere in the growth and development of the Ains as long as they didn’t touch the World Tree.

Of course, it was a different story when crazy Ains like now charged into Kardrasil. The Elves killing the Ains was self-defense. At least, that’s what the Elves thought. Therefore, they take no action in this situation. The World Tree was protected. The Elves’ job was done.

“Stop. We will enter through here.”

We passed through the mountain of corpses and arrived in front of the wall. There was no door there. But I didn’t bother pointing it out. I’d been through too much to nitpick over ‘just’ this. The Elven Knight carefully placed his hand on the plaster-colored wall.

“I’m not doubting the Earth Mother-nim, but I’ll give you a few warnings in case something happens.”

A blue line extends up and down from where his hand is placed. The line rises to about the height of an adult male, then stops and begins to split to the sides.

“First. Never. Start a fire. Only the Fire Spirit can handle fire here.”

Ssuk. He puts his hand into the wall. He inserts it deeply, like inserting a key into a lock, then makes a fist and turns it once. Then, with a buzzing sound, the wall begins to crack. The door opened. The door to Kardrasil, the Elves’ sanctuary, finally opened. For humans.

Only blue light could be seen beyond the door. The Elven Knight walked fearlessly into the blue light. I followed him into the door, and cheom-beong. I could hear the sound of falling into water. It was cold. At the same time, it was cozy. He spoke to us, who couldn’t open our eyes in the bright light. It was the second warning.

“Second. Don’t refuse any favors if you can help it. The favors towards you are favors towards the Earth Mother-nim.”

The second warning was an unexpected remark.

He explained calmly.

“You are enviable beings to us Elves. You are enviable beings and recognized ones at the same time. You can enter the Earth Mother-nim’s abode with human bodies, which even Elves dare not tread. Don’t forget that your actions represent the Earth Mother-nim.”

I understood.

In summary, it meant that they were projecting the World Tree onto us. It was funny that they were showing such excessive favor just because we were called by the World Tree, but I didn’t bother trying to understand even this.

“So, our refusal doesn’t just end as a simple rejection.”

“Please. The rumors are already widespread.”

Elves act like psychopaths when it comes to matters related to the World Tree, but they are basically altruistic. They were so kind that I wondered how such a kind race had survived. I suddenly thought that the World Tree’s incomprehensible commands might be guiding them on the right path.

Go to the river and drink water.

Give the bow and arrow to the third person you meet.

Stand on the main street for three minutes.

The ‘World Tree’s commands’ that Rania had heard were of unknown intent, but they always led to results that were helpful to the Elves. If you bowed your head to drink water at the river, an arrow would fly over your head, or the Elf who received the bow and arrow survived an attack. It was that kind of thing.

“To be honest, I don’t know how to treat you either. Humans who killed Demons and saved Kardrasil? The Earth Mother-nim’s representatives?”

Elven Knight.

The command he received was 「Barhaiya district. In front of the ruined inn. Guide the three lights to me.」

…It was.

“Light. It’s light.”

His voice becomes intense.

“The Earth Mother-nim has never called anyone light. Our Elves called the Earth Mother-nim leaves, and the Ains called her beasts, but she called you ‘light’. Above all. The Earth Mother-nim has never referred to ‘herself’. She always gave commands indirectly, but ‘Guide them to me’…”

At that moment.

The light was lifted, and a new ‘world’ greeted us. A pure white petal brushes my cheek. I barely managed to calm my eyes, which were still blinded by the light, and was finally able to witness the true appearance of Kardrasil.

The scent of nature spreads to the tip of my nose. My heart pounds. The fresh smell of grass. The sound of flowing water. Even the clear air that purifies the mind and body just by standing there. There was no place that wasn’t green wherever I looked. I could feel in my bones what the word ‘overwhelmed’ meant.

“…I’m sorry. That’s all for the introduction. Now, everyone. Welcome to Kardrasil.”

I only crossed one barrier.

I.

Shuriel and I.

Were overwhelmed by nature.

“This is. Really. Um. Beautiful.”

“Heo-eo….”

Only Rania among the three of us. Stood her ground as if she was used to it. She smiled brightly, holding my hand tightly.

“Friend. Follow me.”

Rania no longer hesitated. This is Kardrasil. The Elves’ territory. She knew every place here.

I said, looking at the flowers blooming everywhere I stepped.

“Lily of the valley. Pretty.”

“You can pick it.”

“Really? You’re more open-minded than I thought. Then just one…?”

I bow my head and pick a lily of the valley. A unique, pure scent wafted around. I showed the picked lily of the valley to Shuriel.

“Want to smell it? Um. Did I choose the wrong words?”

“No thanks. It’s not my thing.”

“Then not the flower. The smell. Want to smell it?”

“…Cut it out.”

What a boring person. I tightened my loosened chest and walked again. Rania didn’t seem to understand what I had done. She was pure.

On the contrary. The Elven Knight chuckled as if he understood.

“Rania seems to be better at guiding. I’ll step down now.”

Before leaving, he called Rania and gave her a stern warning.

“Rania. You are also one of the three lights called by the Earth Mother-nim. Keep that in mind. Never. Disgrace the Earth Mother-nim.”

“Okay. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Like that. He disappeared with the wind. The Elven Knight disappeared in the blink of an eye. Only trampled grass remained in the place where he had stood.

* * *

Kardrasil’s ‘residential area’ maintained a mild climate 24 hours a day. Neither hot nor cold, just a lukewarm temperature. It was a scenery that contrasted with the outside, where the smell of blood lingered.

What was a little surprising was that they were actively using wood. I thought the Elves lived as nature intended.

But they lived more ordinary lives than I thought. The foundation of the land was also laid, and the design was not inferior compared to humans. Wooden buildings harmonized with nature. Just looking at it felt like my eyes were being purified.

―Really, humans?

―Even that red-haired magician? She looks like an Elf?

―Her hair is red. Her ears aren’t long either.

And. As soon as we arrived at the residential area, we had to receive the Elves’ great attention.

It couldn’t be helped. If it was an Elf called by the World Tree, they had seen it several times, but this time it was a human. Not only was it the first time a human had entered Kardrasil since the construction of the barrier, but they were also stepping on the World Tree’s land, so they couldn’t help but be surprised.

Thanks to this, Rania was able to escape this explosive attention. She was an Elf, after all. She received envious glances, but she wasn’t directly touched.

But.

“I’ve never seen a human that the spirits like this much! Even the Elder-nim can’t command this many spirits….”

I.

Was suffering from spirits, not Elves.

At least fifty. That many spirits were sticking to my body and rubbing against me. The surrounding Elves were amazed. It wasn’t that my vision was obscured because they were sticking to my face, but it was truly embarrassing because the spirits that couldn’t find a place were sticking to the wrong places.

“Haa-euh, eut.”

“Are you okay…?”

“I’m okay, ayo. More than that, let’s go. Get dressed first. Let’s go.”

Spirits or whatever.

There was something I had to do before meeting the World Tree.

First of all, I had to change my clothes.

It was a ceremonial dress called ‘Harnish’, and it was a dress that you had to wear to meet the World Tree. Elves also wear it as everyday clothes. Rania, who was chatting with the Elves right now, was also wearing Harnish.

“…You wear this as everyday clothes?”

“Yes? Yes!”

In the case of men’s clothing, there were no particular features, but in the case of women’s clothing, it was a bit daringly exposed.

A skirt that extended long to the back like a bird’s tail. But the front was short enough to barely pass the thighs. To wear this, you would naturally have to take off your garter belt, so your bare legs were exposed as they were.

The top was a crop top that showed the navel. To be exact, the fabric that came down to the navel was translucent. The overall design was more classic than modern.

“Hmm. Do you have any Elves among your ancestors?”

“…I’m human.”

The Elf girl who finished the coordination couldn’t close her mouth and was busy admiring. Frankly speaking, she was prettier than an Elf. Even I, who was sure of my self-objectification, could easily overwhelm the surrounding Elves.

I finished preparing to meet the World Tree and went outside. Shuriel, who had already changed her clothes, was standing in the yard.

“Shuriel. I’m all dressed too.”

“What took you so l….”

“Heu. Your eyes are so honest.”

“…Shut up.”

As soon as I came outside, the spirits stuck to my body. It took some time because they would fall off on their own if I licked up the Mana. I shuddered at the sensation of the spirits digging into my chest and rubbing against me.

“Haa-euh, heu.”

“Why are you doing that since earlier?”

“Spirits. Can’t you see them?”

“I can’t see them.”

Who knew that spirit affinity would hit max from the start. It seemed even worse because Kardrasil was a treasure trove of nature. The Mana I unconsciously emitted was so delicious―

“Haa, heuik?!”

Between my underwear.

The spirits came in.

“Hey! Are you okay?”

“D, don’t touch me― heuik, heuk!”

I sat down on the ground as it was, and the spirit crushed on the floor was startled and tried to escape. But that struggle. Strangely stimulated my lower body and made me feel strange. My face turns bright red.

“….”

The Elves’ eyes are drawn to me.

‘…Shibal.’

I felt like I was going to become a spirit hater from today.