76 – World Tree -7

I got used to life here little by little.

It was a bit inconvenient that most of the facilities were arranged for elves, but the energy of life emanating from numerous trees made it tolerable for quite a few things.

Eirin called us three days after arriving at the World Tree.

“You’ve waited a long time. I don’t know if that’ll be enough, but I’ve found places where the remains of the Phoenix might be.”

“The places… are they?”

“I’ll explain the details again. Even with the knowledge of the elves, it’s something that can’t be certain of its existence…”

I felt it from the moment I heard the story, but no matter how much I think about it, it’s strange.

It couldn’t be a normal situation for such a precious material to be used for the return of a hero who should have been there.

There was a mountain of questions to ask, but I couldn’t help it right now. Asking Eleanor didn’t even make me think she knew anything.

“First of all, I found a place where phoenixes were often seen. It must have been a few hundred years ago, but they are divine beasts too. Unless there is a special reason, they won’t move easily.”

It’s a bit distant, but it’s better than no clue at all.

Because I didn’t think it would be easy from the beginning. Even if he met a group of phoenixes, he had to find out how to find their bodies and, if he had to kill them, how to kill them.

“And, we also confirmed the tradition of those who were ‘buried with the phoenix’.”

“that…”

“Occasionally, there are records of some of the greatest heroes or elementals being buried with their companions. Most are huge wolves or bears, but if you go up in thousands of years, there are also phoenixes.”

Does this go all the way to robbery? I felt the need to check once again what I could give up for my return.

“I’ll explain the details slowly. But before that, can I borrow Nerwen for a moment?”

“Are you borrowing Nerwen?”

“Because I have to get permission from the owner.”

I didn’t know you would talk about it so openly. I grimaced.

“It’s just that she cooperates for a while. By agreement of interest.”

Celiana Eleanor expected to be surprised, but unexpectedly they were calm.

“I’m really sorry for the hero, but… Nerwen has caused us great damage.”

“So what do you mean?”

“It’s not what I promised you at first, but I think you’ll have to do one little thing. I’m really sorry that this happened.”

“Because of Nerwen’s fault, me?”

“It’s a pity. We didn’t want to burden the hero either…”

“It doesn’t matter. I’ll have to listen to the details, but I’ll do it if I can.”

I never thought that I wouldn’t want anything from the beginning. Rather, it was irritating to use Nerwen as an excuse.

“Thank you. Then, I’ll have to take Nerwen now.”

“Is it because of her treatment?”

I have no intention of taking Nerwen with me in that state.

“Treatment, is she perfectly normal now? She’s in a natural state, as she was born, without any external pressure.”

It’s so natural, I thought ‘Is that so?’ I almost believed it.

An elf’s condition would be best known by the same elf. Unlike Nerwen, who was unstable when he just came to the capital, he was able to manage both combat and daily life now.

“Is that so?”

But when he turned his head for a second and looked at Nerwen’s face, he knew right away that Eirin was wrong.

That’s not normal.

/////

When their eyes met, Nerwen trembled with anxiety.

I wasn’t afraid to hear that it was incurable.

It’s sad, but she was content with the current situation.

“I-I’m fine. Listen to the diagnosis from the elder…”

“I don’t think so.”

His cold eyes pierced her heart.

“You said. There might be a demon lord involved, something trying to intervene in your mind.”

“that…”

not. No longer did Nerwen loathe him.

At some point, the smell was buried in my memory, and I couldn’t even feel it unless I tried to recall it.

It could also be due to the increased time spent with him. In fact, he didn’t even know he was addicted to him until the journey was over and he completely separated himself.

However, it was more than that.

I don’t know what caused it, but Nerwen was in love with him.

“This is a sensitive issue. It seems a bit difficult to disclose to the outside world.”

“I’m the victim. More than Nerwen, I’m a victim of that curse… or something. I need to know who did it and why it happened.”

I am afraid of getting treatment.

I don’t know what kind of magic or curse caused the present Nerwen to have these feelings.

In the worst case, he may have been deceiving everyone, and enchanting the elves by obtaining a hidden secret art.

But even so, Nerwen did not want to go back.

The sense that there is something more important than you. Just looking at it warms the heart, and a state of happy imagination blooms.

I didn’t want to forget this.

Only when he goes back to his original state will Nerwen live a life for himself.

As if she was born as a champion of the World Tree, she protects the community and other elves and arrogantly puts other humans down.

“I can do anything as long as it’s a reward.”

“It doesn’t matter. Just let me know, and get Nerwen back to normal.”

“This is her ‘natural state’.”

Nerwen felt like Eirin was defending her.

He told me that the girl at the warriors party who despised and insulted him was a fake Nerwen, and that now, when I was very nervous and lowered my head at his words, it was the real Nerwen.

“If you’re unhappy with her, I can make some adjustments.”

“I don’t need it. I just take Nerwen with me because I need a guide. I already have enough.”

“Then I’ll prepare another elf. Of course, they won’t be stronger than Nerwen, but two or three of the best warriors will be useful enough to compare with her.”

An alarm bell rang in Nerwen’s mind. Will it be abandoned like this?

Even if I was abandoned by him like this, if I somehow pursued him, I wouldn’t die. In this state, just stepping on his back would give him enough scent to find the opposite s*x.

However, I won’t be as happy as I am now.

“Is that so…”

He closed his eyes for a moment. Even that figure felt so beautiful to Nerwen.

I knew that it was a heart that would not be reciprocated. The mistakes she had committed were too great for her to reveal her heart to ask him to respond to his love.

Even if he only released each and every one of Nerwen’s contempt that he had stored in her memory, she would have no choice but to turn her back without saying anything.

“Nerwen personally… did me wrong. So she made her own promise to do ‘whatever’. But what are they?”

“The oath of the elves is absolute. Even if it has no magical effect on the outside, it is never broken inside. If you want, I’ll make the elves who follow you swear by that oath as well.”

“Why should they do such a thing?”

Because we had different thoughts, we had no choice but to give different interpretations even when we heard the same words.

Contrary to Enerel’s intention to explain why Nerwen deserved to follow him, Eirin was listening to the reliability of ‘the elves following him’.

“Because I need it.”

“It’s strange. Elves I’ve never seen face to face even swear to help me like that.”

But when Nerwen heard that, he thought it wasn’t all that bad.

I know he hates her.

I feel it every time our eyes meet. He feels her presence and every time he closes his eyes, he sees the thoughts running through his head.

If other elves came along to help him, at least that wouldn’t happen.

Like when you pet Ceres’ hair, or when you chat with the Holy Sword, you’ll be able to spend it comfortably.

“All right. I need to find out. I’ll follow Nerwen and hear what’s going on.”

And he felt strange.

The elf treats him well to a degree, this is severe.

It doesn’t make sense to be angry with Nerwen for stealing it, but rather to give other elves instead of Nerwen. There is no kindness without reason.

“No. Among the elves, unless you are very special, this is a place you cannot enter before becoming an elder.”

“When Nerwen first said he would do anything to me, he definitely promised something.”

“what…”

“Then, no matter how I use her, I’ll restore her first. If it’s not a healing wound or a curse that can be lifted, at least you’ll hear why.”

At the uncharacteristically strong attitude, Nerwen sweated.

His purpose was unknown. If it was for her sake, he would say it was fine, but even to himself, there was little chance that he would move purely for Nerwen’s treatment.

After a while, Eirin nodded.

Her body was still full of soft embrace, but not as much as her expression.

“Okay. I’ll invite everyone to the world tree.”