Episode 160 The Aftermath of the Capital Invasion (4)
As the envoy finally arrived at the forest on the outskirts of the Elven Kingdom in the Enamel Continent, the non-human races exchanged brief greetings and parted ways to their respective countries.
'Come to think of it, the Elven Kingdom is also located in the center of the continent, a transportation hub, making it perfect as a gathering place.'
It really sounded like High Elves were a means of transportation.
But they were the leaders of an entire race.
"Huff, huff— Th-this is harder than I thought. It's this difficult even with Lord Rapori's help… How did you even cross the sea with this…"
Cecily, who had operated the 'Forest Path' with Rapori for practice, repeatedly wiped her sweat and groaned.
The others had just walked through the forest path, but she had to listen to Rapori's teachings about it the entire time, sticking to his side.
She learned the theoretical aspects, such as how to use energy, on the way to the Ion Continent, and on the way back, she even practiced actual operation by subtly helping him guide the path.
And after entering the continent, she even completed a practice session where she took the lead…
"Even I'm like this after doing it for a short time, but to think you maintained it for so long. Lord Rapori is truly amazing!"
"Hahaha, it takes some skill. You'll get used to it quickly, Lady Cecily."
Cecily smiled faintly at his consolation and then looked at the World Tree towering in the distance, speaking in a sentimental voice.
"It feels strange. The first time we crossed the sea, I awakened, and the second time, it's Harris. It feels like there's a jinx. Who will it be next time? Uhuhu."
"Ah! It's my turn next! I'll reserve it!"
Shapiron's eyes gleamed as she seized the opportunity and intervened.
It seemed like she was quite frustrated that she had been overtaken by Harris, whom she considered a rival, even though she didn't show it.
And so, the envoy began their journey towards the World Tree after a brief conversation.
They walked towards the giant tree that defied perspective for several days.
Harris realized that his cultural invasion plan had been a half-success, seeing the changes in the music genres in the various villages they encountered along the way.
'…Amazing. They absorbed it and created a completely new genre. Should I consider it a success since I influenced them?'
As expected of a race that was serious about music.
It was a satisfying result, as his goal was to acquire Karma in a different way.
'Finally.'
But that wasn't an important issue right now.
He had finally arrived.
At the base of the giant tree that soared majestically as if to support the sky, the World Tree.
"Ah!"
And Harris…
《The World Tree gazes upon its child.》
Was able to sense the World Tree's presence more clearly than ever before.
He couldn't even feel a fragment of the Main God because he was too vast, but the World Tree wasn't at that level.
Of course, he was still immeasurable.
Its trunk soared high into the sky as if reaching for the universe, its branches, which seemed to cover the world, bore stars instead of fruit, and its roots grasped the planet he was standing on.
An overwhelming presence that induced awe.
Compared to that, he was just a tiny mite clinging to a tree.
Wheeeeng—
Harris, who had been overwhelmed by the awe-inspiring sight, realized that a small, fist-sized red fruit was right in front of him.
Along with the spirits of various colors that were supporting the branch it was hanging from and swirling around him.
It was a scene he had already seen once before.
He took a deep breath, and refreshing air filled his lungs.
Back then, he could only enjoy this fulfilling air while watching Cecily's awakening ceremony from afar…
But Harris took the 'World Tree's fruit' and brought it to his mouth without hesitation.
Crunch—
'Ah!'
He thought he had only taken one bite, but the entire fruit had already gone down his throat.
The high-density energy contained in the fruit instantly spread throughout his body, and every part of him, from head to toe, started to change under its influence.
And the final destination of the energy that circulated throughout his body was his eyes.
He felt a piercing pain in his eyeballs.
When the entire process was over, he was able to fully understand why the ritual of becoming a High Elf was called 'awakening'.
It was as if a filter had been removed, and the world unveiled a layer of its veil.
《The individual meets the conditions and grows. You have acquired the special skill "Stargazer".》
《The individual meets the conditions and gains enlightenment. The skill "Spirit Summoning" evolves into the special skill "Call of Nature".》
It wasn't just that his vision had widened.
He could perceive the surroundings as if from a third-person perspective, and the world he saw was much more dreamlike than usual.
Like the scenery he saw through the 'Forest Path'… no, even more so.
'"Stargazer"… So this was the core of the various abilities the High Elves showed.'
The ability to travel through the Forest Path, transcending space, the ability to bestow blessings on others, the ability to detect targets through the forest.
They were all miracles performed by borrowing the World Tree's power through this skill.
Wooong—
At the same time, a short but intense will of the World Tree shook his mind.
It was much clearer than what he had felt from the Main God, but it was also something he couldn't define with specific words…
But Harris could instinctively grasp its meaning.
-I will watch over you, my child.
There was no further direct communication after that brief message, but he could clearly feel that a ley line was firmly connected between him and the World Tree.
<Individual Information>
- Individual Name: Harris
- Race: High Elf
- Common Traits: "Mind Hub", "Persona", "Super Recovery", "Clear Mind"
- Individual Traits: "Chosen of the World Tree", "Assimilation with Nature", "Stargazer", "Call of Nature", "Fairy Archery", "Harmony of Melody"
- Special Notes: Awakened as a High Elf, a priest of the World Tree, and can now borrow its power through the ley line. Natural energy and affinity have increased dramatically, and all spirits are on the verge of evolution. Receives infinite love from all plants and animals.
Perhaps because of the aftereffects of the sudden change,
He felt his strength draining and his mind becoming hazy, and he slowly closed his eyes.
"Harris's awakening ceremony is over…"
"Carefully move him inside…"
And so, finally,
Harris, who had come to this world as an illegitimate child unknown to the World Tree, was officially adopted and registered in the family register.
____________________
"Whew—"
Riley Carte Azeria, the Fifth Princess of the Azeria Empire, a beautiful woman with bright blonde hair and blue-green eyes, sighed for the umpteenth time as she strolled through the garden.
It had already been over a week since she was kidnapped by the Immortal King and imprisoned.
'The environment is cleaner than I expected, and the treatment isn't bad.'
The residential area she was in had several small lodging buildings built around a large garden.
It was quite unexpected for her, who had imagined a prison-like environment, and the lodging building assigned to each of them was spacious enough for her to live alone comfortably.
'And for some reason, the guards seem to be considerate… at least towards me.'
She didn't know what they were doing outside, but whenever she saw Andrew, the man who was treating Crown Prince Simon like a slave, he looked exhausted…
And the woman in charge of her, Lilith, was taking care of her meticulously, as if she were her maid.
Of course, there was a distance because she was a guard, but she was practically an angel compared to the man who was constantly tormenting Simon as if to vent his stress.
'Well, he deserves it. Should I consider myself lucky?'
But she couldn't be happy just because of that, considering her current situation.
No matter how good the treatment was, she was still a prisoner without freedom.
All she had done so far was walk around her assigned residential area, argue with Simon when they encountered each other, and quietly meditate and practice magic alone.
'It's a perfect environment for training. I've been neglecting it, using being busy as an excuse, so it wouldn't be bad to try it seriously again. …I have nothing else to do anyway.'
She had learned it as a hobby since she was young, but she had some knowledge of magic.
She was the one who first taught Isea the basics of magic, so it was only natural.
'Of course, she quickly surpassed me. Wasn't it a bit too much for her to surpass what I learned in several years in less than a month?'
She was still stuck at the beginner level, while Isea had already become an Archmage.
As she grumbled, thinking of Isea, the princess put on a small smile and closed her eyes tightly.
The only reason she was able to maintain her composure in this situation was because she trusted Isea that much.
She didn't know when she would be able to leave this place, and she might even end up worse than dead because of the Immortal King's whim.
The only thing that kept her going in this desperate situation was…
'As long as I'm alive… Seah will definitely come and rescue me.'
But she couldn't do anything but wait.
Riley buried her face in her knees, overwhelmed by the feeling of helplessness.
The Emperor, who prioritized choosing a successor through competition over his love for his children.
Her mother, the Fourth Consort, who had passed away early, leaving only Riley in the world, the Empress and the other consorts who saw her as a thorn in their side,
And her siblings, who had been fighting fiercely for the throne since they were young.
'Seah… sister.'
Her closest family was like this, and her maternal family, a small viscount family on the outskirts, was too busy being wary of everyone to even protect her.
It was the same for the servants who attended to her, so she couldn't help but be distrustful of the people of this world.
'…I should have called her sister sooner. Why was that so difficult?'
The only person Riley had felt true familial love from in such an environment was Isea.
Honestly, she had brought her in like a pet at first…
Wooong—
As she was feeling sorry for herself in a corner of the garden,
Lilith, the princess's guard, appeared through the 'invisible door' in the center of the residential area.
Dragging a seemingly unconscious man by the back of his neck.
"Sigh— It seems like Andrew is bullying His Highness the Crown Prince again. Honestly…"
She glanced at Riley and then, not caring, immediately raised her magic power and summoned him.
"S-… no, Sister Lilith! Did you call me? What's going on… Huh? Who's that?"
Andrew, who had been tormenting Simon and forcing him to clean the lodging, approached her, swaggering, and then his eyes widened as he saw the unconscious man and he rushed towards him.
Unlike his usual tired appearance, he was looking at the man with a curious expression, repeatedly scanning his clothes.
"They said he suddenly appeared next to the castle. He ran inside when the undead nearby tried to attack him. It should have been impossible to teleport in this area…"
"Sis! I'm sure of it! This person is from the same world as me!"
Unfamiliar clothes and protective gear, including a bulletproof vest, that were rarely seen in this world.
He excitedly spoke, seemingly ignoring her words…
'Same world?'
Riley's ears perked up as she awkwardly eavesdropped on their conversation from the corner.
"Ah, I thought so. His Majesty also seemed to have guessed it, as he ordered us to manage him separately here. Anyway, he's a valuable sample, so he won't be able to escape if we lock him up here."
"Haha— This is interesting, a sudden new recruit. And he had to fall in this place of all places… Hehehe."
Andrew started to chuckle with a sinister smile, as if he had a bad idea, but his laughter didn't last long.
"Ah, right! Andrew? You don't have to come here anymore. I was going to tell you that."
"Huh? What about my current task…"
"Whew— I'll be in charge of this side from now on. So you can just focus on what you were doing before."
"Uh, uh, th-then my working hours…"
"Since you don't have to work here anymore, that'll be entirely up to Olivia, right?"
His face instantly turned pale, as if he had heard something he shouldn't have.
"N-no! Please let me work here, Sis! I'll really die if I go there!"
"It can't be helped, it's His Majesty's order. Ah, and your lodging from now on is in that area, not here, so don't get confused."
"Y-you mean… where those scary guys are…?"
Andrew desperately pleaded, and Lilith shook her head, as if there was nothing she could do.
But Riley's curious gaze was fixed on the unconscious man.
'An otherworlder… like Seah…'
It was surprising that Andrew, the guard, was an otherworlder, but what interested her right now was the black-haired man who seemed to have just been transferred here.
Come to think of it, his attire and the situation were similar to when she met Isea.
Of course, back then, it was the garden of a noble family where her maternal family was located, but this time, it was near the Immortal King's base.
'Thinking about that, that guy is really unlucky. To think his first experience is in a place like this.'
Riley looked at him with a sympathetic expression, as she knew about interdimensional transfer through Isea.
Isea would have also been in trouble if it hadn't been for her offer, but this was much worse.
"Your Highness? You must have heard about the situation, but this man will also be staying here from now on."
"Ah!"
Lilith, who had approached her at some point, quietly spoke.
"…You don't know how long you'll be here either. Wouldn't it be nice to have someone to talk to besides His Highness the Crown Prince?"
"······."
"Ah, come to think of it, this man revealed his name first— what was it again?"
Lilith thought for a moment and then glanced down at the man who was still unconscious in her hand.
A black-haired young man with a gentle appearance, slightly droopy eyes, and a similar race to Isea.
"…Hesperon, was it? Well, you can hear the details from him directly. I should take this man to his lodging."
It was the moment Hesperon, an awakened one from Earth who had just been transferred to another world,
Became a prisoner of the Immortal King.