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The four-day closed meeting of the Fairy King has finally concluded.

The result was okay.

“The Fairy King has summoned you to the Fairy Palace today.”

“Just by myself?”

“Yes.”

“Let’s go together.”

“….”

The Fairy King’s knight glared at me with sharp eyes, but I paid no mind.

Just then, Ophelia, fresh out of the bath, walked out, looking all soft and fluffy. She had gotten so used to life in the Great Forest that she had even stolen Elf Traditional Clothing from Erwin. Of course, since she was a different size than Erwin, the clothes were baggy, making it quite awkward to look anywhere else.

Ophelia tilted her head, a light coming to her face as she glanced at the Fairy King’s knight.

“What? Are they going to give us a branch?”

“It seems so.”

“Please don’t refer to the Branch of the World Tree as some ordinary branch.”

“Then what else would you call it? Did they gild it or something? No, right?”

At Ophelia’s question, the knight gritted his teeth, clearly trying to stifle his anger.

“Hey, Elliot, I actually want to grow a bonsai.”

“Well, why not ask for a seedling while we’re at it?”

“….”

If I said any more, the knight might draw his sword.

In the end, I headed to the Fairy Palace with just Ophelia.

Just in time, Arlon was waiting for us right at the entrance of the courtyard.

“Hero, the Branch of the World Tree holds a greater significance than you might realize.”

“What do you mean?”

“It means you are recognized as the Great Fairy’s champion in the Great Forest. It’s akin to appointing a position higher than that of a Commander or Knight Captain. You are shamelessly asking for such a high position.”

This was a story that hadn’t been mentioned in the game.

No wonder the knights who guided us earlier had such unkind gazes—it must have been because of this.

Well, whether I was a champion or not didn’t matter. After all, even if I received the Branch of the World Tree, it wasn’t like I would use it.

“This is the root of the World Tree.”

In the basement of the Fairy Palace, there was a massive iron door topped with a stone statue looking down at us.

Indeed, this was the awe-inspiring level of Elven civilization that had endured for eons.

The Fairy King placed his hand on his chest and said to the statue,

“This is the god of the Elves. A being of a different caliber compared to the gods you believe in.”

“I don’t believe in gods.”

“….”

“…What?”

Arlon looked at Ophelia with a bewildered expression at those words.

A saintess being an atheist—it would sound absurd to anyone unaware of the situation.

“Well… it’s complicated.”

“I won’t ask any further.”

As I explained, the Fairy King clicked his tongue and clapped his hands. Simultaneously, the jewel embedded in the middle of the door lit up, and slowly, the door creaked open.

“It’s the first time in my life that two humans have entered the roots of the World Tree. You should feel proud. You are the most outstanding among the three heroes I have met so far.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment.”

Responding casually, I stepped onto the roots of the World Tree.

It was a space that hadn’t been depicted in the game.

Yet, in this world, it was meticulously crafted.

The underground chamber where the World Tree had laid its roots was filled with dozens and hundreds of gigantic wooden pillars, and I could feel a dense mana concentration.

If one trained magic or spirit magic here, they would quickly achieve high levels.

“Wow, it smells like dirt.”

“Ophelia, that’s rude.”

The Fairy King was glaring at her intently.

He seemed to be trying to calm down as he took a deep breath and spread his arms to introduce the place.

“This is the root of the World Tree. I’ll present you with a branch near the roots specially for you.”

“What’s the difference?”

“It’s vastly different. The core of the World Tree resides within these roots. Naturally, the nearby roots will also contain greater magical power.”

The Fairy King averted his gaze, and indeed, in the middle of the room, a glowing brownish-yellow seed was floating in the air.

Ophelia gazed at the core with sparkling eyes and said,

“Elliot, can I take that?”

“Don’t say foolish things!”

Even the magnificent Fairy King couldn’t let Ophelia’s nonsense slide.

“No matter how much a human hero you are, if you continue with such reckless words, you may lose your head! Bringing two humans here, especially a heretical girl who uses the dirty arts of humanity, is already shocking treatment. Know your place!”

“Dude, quit chirping so much.”

“What did you say?”

“Huh? What did I say?”

Ophelia tilted her head cutely.

Even I found it disgusting, so I could only imagine how furious the Fairy King was.

He took a deep breath, rolling a pebble in his hand.

“Anyway! Pick a branch. If the World Tree recognizes it, that branch will be imbued with power.”

“…Hmm.”

Ophelia looked around at the smaller branches, contemplating.

“I guess the bigger one’s better?”

“Too much of anything is no good. Choose a size that you can wield comfortably.”

“Well, I should have at least practiced picking a sword.”

“Should I pick for you?”

“Please do.”

Before examining the branches, I wanted to gauge Ophelia’s height, so I picked her up. Grasping her flailing arms, I compared them to mine.

I even compared the sizes of our hands.

They were indeed small.

Well, considering her petite build, it couldn’t be helped.

I didn’t expect much from her reach.

“Hey, put me down before I kill you.”

“Ah.”

Ophelia, lifted high, glared at me with a flushed face.

*

“Lady Eldisia. How much longer do you plan to wait? It’s already late at night.”

“Until those humans come out.”

Outside the Fairy Palace.

The Deputy Commander of the Elvendell Capital Knights, Eldisia, could hardly hide her discomfort.

She simply could not understand the Fairy King’s decision.

She was already furious that humans were tramping around the Great Forest, and now he intended to take them to the roots of the World Tree to give them a branch?

This was a treatment that hadn’t been offered to any hero before.

Naturally, dissatisfaction had arisen among the elders, and Eldisia, representing the younger generation, was equally angry over this matter.

“How do you plan to reverse what the Fairy King has sanctioned?”

“I’m thinking of issuing a challenge.”

“A duel, you say?”

Among the Elves, dueling was a de facto taboo.

However, challenging an outsider to a duel was not restricted.

Eldisia, having trained her sword for over a hundred years, might not be on par with the chiefs, but she had hopes of victory against a hero who didn’t use a mark.

“…But the hero has triumphed over that Sword Saint in their mock battle. No matter how good you are, Lady Eldisia…”

“It’s fine. This is Elvendell. The Elves’ power is amplified here. If I also use spirit magic, I have a chance.”

She dismissed the concerns.

Knowing that their superior was quite stubborn, her subordinate fell silent after that phrase.

How long had passed? The hero and the saintess finally emerged.

And then.

“…Huh?”

The Branch of the World Tree was prominently stuck at the saintess’s waist.

“How dare you, human heretic, think to take… the Branch of the World Tree…?”

It didn’t matter who wasn’t a hero at this point.

Challenging the saintess to a duel would compel her to appoint a substitute.

After finalizing her thoughts, Eldisia stepped forward and opened her mouth.

“You villainous humans! Do you dare try to take the Branch of the World Tree?”

She had prepared that line with great effort, but upon hearing it, Hero Elliot and Saintess Ophelia tilted their heads in confusion, exchanging looks.

The first to react was the saintess.

“Wait, are you talking to me?”

“Indeed! Dare you, a mere human summoner, claim the title of the Great Champion?”

“The Fairy King granted it to us!”

“Don’t refer to His Majesty like that!”

“…Are you trying to make my ears bleed? Can’t you say it quieter?”

“…Ugh.”

Eldisia grit her teeth.

Just as expected, these humans were utterly vicious.

Eldisia flung her gloves at Ophelia’s feet.

“I challenge you to a duel! Saintess Ophelia Meredein, step up to receive my blade!”

At her shout, the knights standing by erupted in cheers.

Bolstered by their cheers, Eldisia also felt her confidence rise.

She turned her body towards Hero Elliot, who was watching the spectacle beside Ophelia, and shouted.

“Hero Elliot! As the saintess’s champion, take the stage in the duel!”

“…Huh.”

The hero let out a snicker as he checked the reactions of Eldisia and those around.

The saintess still seemed puzzled.

“Elliot, did this girl just challenge me to a duel?”

“It seems so.”

“But why are you the one being told to fight?”

“Well, I suppose she thinks you’d choose me as your representative.”

“Does she see me as a fool, that Ear Demon?”

Upon hearing that term, Eldisia’s face turned frigid.

Indeed, they were not heroes meant to save the world. The Fairy King had fallen for their silver tongues. Eldisia gripped her sword tightly.

“So, you mean to challenge me to a duel?”

“That I do.”

“What are the rules?”

“The use of marks is prohibited. But you may use spirit magic or other forms of magic.”

At Eldisia’s proposal, the saintess nodded and then looked to the hero.

“Well… it seems fine?”

“It looks that way.”

“Is it okay to do?”

“Aren’t you confident?”

“Actually, I am.”

What happened next was something Eldisia had not anticipated.

Saintess Ophelia, holding the Branch of the World Tree, walked steadily forward towards Eldisia.

Thinking the hero would step in for her, Eldisia was taken aback, blinking in surprise.

“Don’t roll your eyes.”

The saintess said.

“Ah, and don’t open your mouth. You stink of Ear Demon.”

She wore an expression of wicked glee, one hard to fathom for someone of her age.

“So, now I just fight, right?”

“….”

No matter how strong Eldisia was, that smile instilled an inexplicable sense of dread.

 

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