83 – World Tree-14

I hated listening to the Holy Sword.

There was a big difference between her adventurous woman and me who didn’t want to travel.

If he had been able to meet her during the extermination of the demon lord, he might have enjoyed the conversation.

However, to me who was already exhausted, the holy sword’s lively voice was no different from noise.

It’s been a while since she opened her mouth.

– Stop it!

“Stop it… what?”

– The power of the warrior, I’ll tell you how to use it! Stop it now!”

After the fight with the Orc Lord, I had asked her about strength.

I couldn’t understand why I couldn’t use the power of a hero that Eleanor was able to use.

The Holy Sword seemed to know the reason, but he didn’t tell me. He said that the moment I heard that, it would become more difficult to use the power of the holy sword.

“Wasn’t that okay?”

I hurriedly raised my holy sword and took a defensive stance, but I didn’t think that I could block anything with this thin sword.

– On the contrary, turn around!

There was no time for a long talk. My feet moved without stopping, but I couldn’t stop the arrows of the white branches pouring down.

The number of arrowheads embedded in his body gradually increased. It wasn’t just me that was getting arrows.

Thanks to Celia’s divine power, it didn’t lead to a fatal wound, but I didn’t know how long I could endure it.

– I think it’s enough anyway, so I’ll just tell you now! The condition to activate the hero’s power is the desire to protect it!

“What?”

It wasn’t that I didn’t study about the warrior at all. That word was a bit odd.

There were people who became tyrants who suppressed the whole world with the power of heroes, and there were people who did all sorts of things.

– It has nothing to do with good or evil. Whether it’s the desire to protect one’s property or the desire to protect the world, whatever is fine.

It was hard to admit though.

Was this not enough? Was it not enough to fight in front of the Oak Road at that time, leaving countless civilians behind?

-That’s not the problem. First of all, it’s not a sword! What you pulled out wasn’t swordsmanship!

Certainly, it was a bit strange to be a swordsman.

something full of energy. Rather than a sword, it’s more like a giant board…

seemed to know

As she said, I raised my strength while holding the sword horizontally.

“Behind me, gather!”

The party members gathered behind my back without question. When the chase was cut off, I could see a white branch holding a bow.

I took a deep breath and poured the hero’s power into the holy sword.

If I had become a warrior, what kind of weapon would I have?

Holy swords were generally swords, but he knew that not all warriors wielded them.

What I pulled out was not a sword. There was no way there was such an inefficient form of swordplay.

It was just that something made with the power of the hero cut off the Orc Lord.

It was not a weapon for cutting.

A weapon that will stand at the forefront, glaring at the enemy in front of you, and protect the people behind you from any attack.

“Come out!!!”

Blue light radiated from the top and bottom of the holy sword. It was slowly taking shape, getting bigger and bigger.

The arrows of the white twigs hit the light and crumbled.

The shock was transmitted through my body, but at least the person behind me was not hit by the arrow.

A plate of light taller than my height. A huge guardian that will not be broken by any attack.

A huge plate of light centered on the holy sword caught the arrows pouring down like bullets.

Become a giant shield.

/////

Nerwen was looking at the shield in awe.

Every time I saw Eleanor’s sword, I thought it was beautiful. She entered the middle of the battlefield with unbreakable faith and slashed the enemy, and she had values that could not but be acknowledged.

Compared to that, this shield was a little cloudy. The jagged light was harsh, blurring and shaking with each arrow hit.

Nevertheless, the shield was beautiful.

“why…”

I couldn’t bear to admit it. The shield was to protect her.

It is impossible to create such a miracle simply out of hatred for Nerwen and not wanting to hug her.

she should be hated until he returns. If that was impossible, he had to suffer his hatred until the end of his life.

The present Nerwen who loved him could not forgive the past Nerwen who had hurt him.

But that shield is protecting her.

“Ugh…”

There were still open wounds from the arrows, but it felt like my heart was being torn apart to the point where I couldn’t feel it.

It shouldn’t be like this. She shouldn’t be forgiven just this much.

Perhaps, self-determination as it is is the right choice.

As long as the mother-to-be is gone, the elves will not be obsessed with him.

Nerwen no longer had to hurt him. All you have to do is pay a little bit for your sins and leave this world.

With that resolution, Nerwen pulled out the last remaining arrow from the quiver to insert the arrow directly into his heart.

“ah…”

However, I watched it again.

That shining shield of light. His will, which may falter and falter, but remain unbroken.

“…no way.”

I should have just died. He should have died during the journey, or had his throat cut during the commotion in the imperial palace.

However, her suicide now is a betrayal of him. It is an act that renders his will meaningless and defeats him in this fight.

“Tree Mother…”

Finally, put the remaining arrow on the bowstring, and pull the string with all the remaining strength.

Time seems to slow down. It was an arrow of a white tree branch that seemed impossible to catch up with, but at some point a pattern caught my eye.

Because of the arrows of the white twigs pouring down as if they would break the shield of light at any moment, there comes a moment when the shield becomes blurred for a very short time.

The moment comes when there is a gap in the shield.

“Haaaa!!!”

Nerwen’s arrow flew through that very brief space.

Quickly and delicately enough to touch the chest of the white twig.

/////

Dark red blood leaked from the mouth of the white branch.

The part that was still an elf starts screaming. This attack was undoubtedly dangerous.

“Amazing…”

It was an attack that should not have been hit.

For humans, victory or defeat could be determined by luck, effort, or something else. Peasants might be able to beat nobles, and nobles might beat royalty.

But to the elves, the order of power was absolute. A born leader cannot defeat a warrior at all costs, and a warrior born weak cannot defeat a warrior born stronger at all costs.

He already knew how strong Nerwen was. She didn’t have the ability to dig into that moment.

Like any normal human being, Nerwen has surpassed himself.

“Even so, I cannot give up…”

Forcibly blocking the flow of blood, the white twig gripped the bow again.

Victory cannot be guaranteed now.

I don’t know how long that shield will last. However, how much longer her body may last.

Engaging in an at-bat with a party that included a saintess was itself a no-win move. There was only a future that would win overwhelmingly, or drag on and lose over time.

Nevertheless, White Bough had no intention of turning his back on his duty.

I swore to fight to the death for the elves and for everyone.

“Then, it should make us want to give up a little.”

Enerel’s face was full of laughter. And next to it, there was a Farseer who was reciting an incantation like crazy.

/////

It wasn’t that I wasn’t prepared for an emergency. From the moment I entered the World Tree, I was prepared that things might not be solved easily.

One of the preparations was to forcefully bring all the party members.

Following Farseer’s words, ‘When negotiating with elves, you must be aware that you can damage them at any time.’

“He who cleanses the disgusting filth, prunes the clutter of excess and confusion, reveals the futility of false desires, and undoes corrupt changes…”

An unprepared wizard is as incompetent as an emotionless priest.

Compared to her true value, the fireballs fired by Farseer were nothing more than absurdly shabby skills.

The magic that had been prepared since entering the World Tree was about to finish.

“Now, manifest yourself here over my head…”

The elves started to panic. There were elves shooting arrows, but they faded in front of my shield.

The shield, which could not even penetrate the arrows of the white branches, was not shaken by the urgently launched attack.

“You will burn what exists before you!”

A great magic power moved. I feel so much heat that I can’t even open my eyes.

“…under.”

The elves tightly closed their eyes, but nothing happened.

It was just the little purple-haired wizard holding his right hand out in a fist.