“Johann? Feels like it’s been ages since I last saw you…”
“I’ve been super busy.”
Sif looked at me as if she was worried, then quietly asked,
“…You’re preparing for war, right?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you okay? I mean, it’s not your war, is it? It’s the elves’ war.”
“…No, it’s our problem as a whole.”
It might seem like just an elf’s issue, but once the World Tree is taken… the repercussions will spread throughout the continent.
The Status Window obediently spat out information related to that. I don’t know who or what the Status Window is, but at least it doesn’t seem to want to see this world consumed by those outsiders.
“I see… Johann, please don’t get hurt?”
“Don’t worry about me, just stay quiet at home with Sandulbaram. Prepare to flee. If it feels risky, get out of there immediately. The Queen said she’ll organize a refuge force, so join the evacuation.”
“Okay.”
It’s hard to feel completely at ease, but that’s something the elven leadership has to figure out.
What I need to focus on is taking care of those monsters in the World Tree completely.
That’s the preparation, and that’s the plan.
I finally spoke to Sif one last time.
“…If I don’t make it back… no, that’s unnecessary.”
“Please come back! Don’t get hurt!”
“Of course. Don’t forget who I am.”
I had come out of hell alive and well, so why should I die now? I had no intention of dying. If worse comes to worst, I might even think of abandoning the elves and running away. Being called a coward doesn’t matter if I stay alive.
“Well then, I’ll be off.”
“…Yeah. Go well.”
Sif wiggled her hands gathered at her chest, then came toward me with an excited look on her face.
“Johann, bend down for a moment. I have something to tell you.”
What could this be about? I silently bent down to bring my ear closer to Sif’s serious gaze.
What is she going to say? Right as curiosity sparked in me, my body tipped sharply, and Sif’s face came closer.
“…This is all I can do for you. Stay strong. And don’t die.”
“…Yeah. I won’t die, I promise.”
The soft touch on my cheek.
I nodded while caressing the cheek that touched my lips.
————-
“Oh my, you look like you’ve been struck by lightning.”
“…Is that so?”
“Haha, youth indeed.”
“Eh? What did you do, Rue?”
“Nothing much.”
I roughly ruffled Rue’s hair as she looked at me with a face full of curiosity and observed the guards participating in this battle.
The guards, standing in formation with discipline, looked as if they might slaughter the enemies before them at any moment. Must be because they’re the elite forces among the elves. I opened my mouth while looking at the elves holding the spear and giant shield I crafted.
“Have you gotten used to the weapons I gave you?”
“It’s not too hard to use. I’m not sure if a spear made from the World Tree will actually be effective…”
“It will work. Those monsters haven’t fully devoured the World Tree yet. The World Tree resists too. It knows it’s on the brink of death.”
The Bear Drummer who stood at the front answered my question. He must be the squad leader since he stands out enough. I shifted my gaze from him to the agile guards.
They stood with posture worthy of the title of elite soldiers, so it will depend on how well they hold their ground against the World Tree… but as guards, they should be more than capable. As long as they’re as capable as the Bear Drummer, they’ll be able to buy us some time. According to the information I obtained, they need to hold on.
The World Tree would likely lend us some strength as well. The Queen said, “The World Tree wants to expel them too.”
If it wants to survive, it will lend us its force or blessings. It better do that if it wants to survive. Though it would be even better if it gave them to me… whether it will is another question.
Should I at least say a prayer before we go?
If you wish to live, please grant me some power.
After hastily finishing up my irreverent prayer, I checked my equipment one last time. Bundled with the gear crafted from the World Tree and things I brought along, I felt like a walking armory.
I hope this works against those brats. I confirmed that the volatile reagents handed to me by Viola were securely tied at my waist and took a final look at the shovel. Made of mithril, it had no scratches, but who knows how this battle will turn out.
Due to the special environment of the branches of the World Tree, my crafting skill is nearly useless, so the items I’ve made until now will determine the success of this operation.
I just have to hope they function properly.
“Now, check if you’ve forgotten anything!”
The guards checked their weapons one last time at the Queen’s shout, and finally fidgeted with the goggles hung around their necks. The goggles I crafted throughout the day yesterday. Thanks to that, I could make goggles even with my eyes closed now.
“Are you all ready?”
“Ready!”
The voices of dozens echoed in unison.
“Today, we shall set forth to protect the land we’ve lived on and the World Tree that has bestowed us with the grace of life. Everyone, let’s return alive.”
“Yeah!”
As I heard the fragile cheers of the elves shout in one voice, I tightened the shovel on my waist.
Is it time to go?
“I’ll go at the front.”
“Then do so. Following your plan is the most efficient.”
Lucky that the Queen is flexible even though she’s ten times my age. If she had an overly authoritarian mindset, she wouldn’t have gone along with my plan.
Thus, we formed ranks and stepped onto the stairs leading up to the World Tree. It was unfortunate that the battlefield was in such a drastically uneven terrain. But since we can’t choose our battlefield, it’s unavoidable.
I swallowed my disappointment and spoke to Rue, who was on my back.
“Just like the day before yesterday, pretend to negotiate up ahead. I’ll be joining you this time, but… we need to call out its main body if possible.”
The Status Window mentioned it as a swarm. There has to be a main entity that directs those creatures. We must find and kill that main body no matter what.
If we kill the main body, dealing with the rest shouldn’t be that hard.
After walking for two and a half hours, we finally came to a stop.
“Rue. Get down.”
“Okay!”
Rue hopped off my back and trotted towards the branches. I had already told her what to do; now it’s just about executing her role correctly. I watched Rue’s back as she approached the contaminated area, hoping nothing goes wrong.
“…I hope it goes well.”
“…I know, right?”
It would be nice if we could kill it in one go, but if we can’t… it might take a while to fight. I quietly grasped the shovel hanging at my waist and extended it. Then, I took out the oil bottle and carefully began to coat the blade of the shovel.
“If I jump in, form a defensive formation immediately. Queen, please focus on defense as well. If we attack hastily, we’ll become one with them in no time.”
“I understand.”
“If you fail, what will you do?”
“Then I must die.”
I briefly answered the Bear Drummer’s question.
I will grit my teeth and chase after it to kill the main body.
That’s my job.
The only meaningful damage that can be dealt to those monsters comes from the Phoenix’s flames, and I’m the only one who can wield them.
Once I hung the oiled shovel back on my waist, I put on the goggles. My vision got a bit hazy, but at least it wasn’t completely obscured. This level of clarity shouldn’t cause major problems during a fight.
I should find additional means to counter mental pollution.
Or maybe redesign them to have a better field of view.
[Contractor! They’ve arrived!]
Fast.
Were they waiting for us too?
I glanced back at Rue’s direction. The atmosphere didn’t seem too bad yet. Rue was earnestly conversing with them, gesturing as she did.
[Contractor! I said what you told me to, and they’re waiting!]
Oh.
They’re surprisingly cooperative.
Maybe they don’t even suspect that we’re planning to backstab them.
Oddly enough, they seem to show a favorable attitude toward ‘Quartz’ as well. Since Rue, as the ‘Ambassador of Quartz,’ is trying to negotiate, they might actually think I’m planning to betray the elves and side with them.
“Well then, I’ll be heading out slowly.”
“I wish you good luck.”
I nodded quietly and approached the grotesque creature that seemed to mimic a human growing bigger in front of Rue.
[Contractor, that’s so ugly…]
Just ugly? Hasn’t the ex-Magic Book lost its touch? I looked at the gruesome creature that looked like it could come from a horror game and said,
“Do you understand my words?”
“Quo…■…Hwan…■■■…”
Ugh, damn. Just looking at it makes me want to retch.
What on earth is wrong with that ugly freak? I ran my eyes along the heads hanging all over and glanced at Rue. Looking at the back of Rue’s head was somewhat healthier for my mental state.
I spoke to the monster once more.
“I heard you were looking for me. So, what’s your message?”
I try to stall for time, acting as if I don’t know anything. I needed time to figure out its weaknesses.
“We… companions… that guy…■■■…”
Why on earth would I be a companion with these creeps? I’m just an ordinary human.
What in the world is the Quartz family doing to have these guys calling each other companions? Do they have a blood relation with those outsiders or what?
“They promised you safety in exchange for the World Tree. How about we team up and take the World Tree?”
I threw out the bait. It would be great if they took it, and if not, well, that’s that. The grotesque creature, seemingly lacking intelligence, opened countless mouths to let out an unsettling laugh.
“H…H…H…H… Our…■■…Quartz…indeed…■■…”
Disgusting.
“Rue, get behind me.”
“Okay!”
Rue, seemingly disgusted by its appearance, quickly stepped behind me and walked toward the guards. So, from a distance of about a meter, the swarm and I stared each other down.
“Hey, the Quartz family has a custom of sharing drinks when making promises. Remember that?”
“I don’t know…”
“Seems you’ve forgotten after returning for the first time. Either way, let’s drink to celebrate being companions.”
I handed over the reagent hanging at my waist. And I pretended to sip carefully from the only bottle that had water inside.
The grotesque creature awkwardly mimicked me and drank from the reagent. It must have spilled about a third of it, but who cares? It only matters that it drank it.
Luckily, it didn’t seem to notice what the reagent was as it must have been human-like. If it were a proper living being, it would have detected the danger of the liquid immediately and tossed it aside.
So, the build-up continues steadily.
I don’t know why it trusts the name Quartz so much, but currently, it’s a good thing. I finally triggered the catalyst.
“The World Tree is now… ours.”
“Ours! ■■! ■■■■■■■■■■!”
Countless mouths shouted in unison. I should have brought earplugs. I endured the terrible noise and grabbed two of the reagents hanging at my waist and swung them toward the grotesque creature.
The reagents shattered, and their contents stuck to the creature. The volatile liquid clinging to the grotesque creature seemed to realize my betrayal and glared at me with a face full of rage, but that was none of my concern.
I surrounded the shovel in flames and thrust it.
A simple motion. And… the most effective action.
“I hope it burns well.”
Burn bright.
Until you turn to ashes.
The screams filled with pain began to shake the leaves of the World Tree.
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