Chapter 460
When visiting an elder, it’s only polite to come bearing gifts. Especially if that elder happens to be your fiancée’s grandmother and a leader of her kind.
However, the problem was figuring out what to give as a gift.
‘If I choose something based on human standards, it’ll be a disaster.’
I rummaged through the pile of jewelry and fabrics in the storage and let out a sigh.
Even though grandmother had recognized me as her grandson-in-law, she still harbored uncomfortable feelings towards humans. After all, how many decent humans versus horrible ones has she seen in her lifetime?
And the horrible ones? Not just any nasty human but a specific one—Apels. Given that Apels had a whole nation that even disliked fellow humans, it was no wonder that my elf grandmother bore deep psychological scars. For that reason, bringing a human-made gift would be problematic.
‘The things at home were all handmade.’
And the handmade furniture that filled her home? I wasn’t sure if that was just a hobby or a firm refusal to use items made by humans, but let’s just assume it’s the latter. That’s safer.
‘Tea would be good.’
After much brainwracking, I finally landed on a safe conclusion. Since my grandmother also enjoyed tea, perhaps that would be fine? Sure, humans were involved in the cultivation process, but it might have a lower emotional barrier than mass-produced goods.
“So this is what you chose?”
“Yup.”
I excitedly showed the gift to Trixie, who blinked at me with a perplexed expression.
After several awkward mouth movements, she cautiously spoke up. “This isn’t tea; it’s wine.”
“Well, one could think of it as fruit tea, right?”
At that, Trixie’s mouth closed again. Her eyes suggested she was pondering whether I had eaten something rotten or gone mad.
Yeah, I know. What I’m holding isn’t tea but alcohol. I’m not some lunatic mistaking a deer for a horse.
‘This is the best option I have.’
Even though Trixie’s glare felt like daggers, what else could I do? The decent quality tea leaves available were produced by humans using methods that built a great wall between nature and their touch. The more I thought about it, the less courage I had to give it to my grandmother.
But this wine was fine. It was produced in the Duchy of Servette and made using a relatively eco-friendly method.
‘Surely she’d like something from her granddaughter’s territory.’
Especially since it’s related to her granddaughter, I thought she might overlook a hint of human scent.
And besides, alcohol is often referred to as rice tea. So, if I call it fruit tea, doesn’t that mean it kind of falls under the tea category?
“…But wine is a legitimate gift, right?”
Finally, it seemed Trixie came around to my way of thinking, lightly nodding and murmuring.
I knew I could count on Trixie to understand.
*
For a deity, time is a light and vague concept. What does a day mean to someone who can live forever? What significance does a month hold? Only if years fly by quickly do they feel, “Oh, the world has changed a bit.”
However, not now. I had never awaited each day with such longing throughout my existence.
I was even feeling a bit regretful for being a sky god. If only I were the god of time, I could have sped things up until the weekend, right?
‘Not that I could do it, though.’
It was a pointless daydream. Perhaps accelerating or reversing time for living beings or buildings was feasible, but meddling with the world’s time would require a reckoning that even the gods wouldn’t attempt. Other deities would have swooped in to smack me upside the head for even thinking about it.
Ah, but at this point, Enen was the only other deity around.
‘That bastard.’
No matter how many times I thought about it, my teeth ground in annoyance. My only divine peer, who was now a damned honorary priest, took advantage of me when I was vulnerable, then turned around to start grasping at what belonged to others, being the greedy fiend he was.
When I was still adjusting to my divinity, I was treated more kindly. Even when I had a big ol’ head, they respected my identity and didn’t pick fights. I never expected such a turncoat betrayal from them. To stab me at my most vulnerable point, no less!
‘I raised a lion cub.’
I felt a lump in my throat. I cradled him in my arms when he was born, and now the sun god had consumed the sky.
I knew. The honorary priest was only made a blessed being because of the children who followed Enen. He wasn’t one to provide systematic names or titles to his followers.
Still, for some reason, I held a grudge against Enen. That bastard better have a rough time dealing with his new, annoying little gods from now on.
“Heavenly Aunt, Heavenly Aunt.”
“Crying? Are you crying?”
– Of course! It feels like I might!
Meanwhile, the fairies buzzed around me, noticing my gloomy mood.
How pathetic. They might be perceptive, but they sure lacked consideration. If only Constantina had given them proper home training, this wouldn’t have been an issue, especially since the World Tree burned.
‘If only… if only I could get her resurrected soon…’
I focused on my thoughts, letting the fairies’ chatter wash over me.
Once the honorary priest arrives, I just need to transfer the divine energy from the artifact into this tree. If I fully absorb that energy, I could shorten the expected one-year resurrection period to as little as one year maximum— and with some luck, it could be even faster.
Then everything would wrap up. With the World Tree resurrected, Constantina would resume her influence over the continent, and the elves and fairies would look to her, not me.
“Come on, Aunty! Tell us the story! Tell us the story!”
“Yeah! The story, the story!”
Once it happened, these chaotic days would finally be over.
– That story?
“About when you were with Mom! The old days!”
“Tell us! Tell us!”
Sighing at such bold demands, I reflected on how at one point, I’d shared my stories with those kids back when I’d just settled into this tree. However, I never imagined that would come back to bite me.
Yeah, I was foolish. How could I possibly share tales of my daughter, in front of my kids that miss her so dearly?
‘When will the weekend finally come…’
If only someone could just seal me away until the weekend arrives.
*
I packed a whole bunch of Serbete wine to bring to grandmother.
I had obtained permission from the wise Duke managing the Species Protection Zone; yesterday, I personally contacted them to get the okay for my visit.
In the midst of my honeymoon, I had made arrangements to travel all the way to the western edge of the Empire and sought the fiancées’ approval for visiting Trixie’s grandmother.
Additionally, I ensured that I’d carry the divine artifact to assist the resurrection of the World Tree.
Perfect. All preparations were complete, and I could now head to see grandmother with a light heart.
– Wait… huh?
The moment I set foot in the elf’s living quarters, I heard the voice of the Eternal Blue Sky that sounded ready to crumble.
‘What happened?’
It was confusing. Just a few days ago, the Eternal Blue Sky was thrilled at the prospect of my visit. Now, that joy-filled voice had vanished, replaced with one soaked in despair and fatigue.
What on earth could’ve happened? Did Enen strike the World Tree with lightning or something?
– The fairies… they kept asking when you were coming since I told them your arrival would hasten the World Tree’s resurrection…
‘Oh dear.’
Hearing that, I quickly eased my worries. It was poetic justice, to say the least.
Even I, who had only briefly encountered the fairies a while back, felt I needed to be cautious about what I said in their presence. How could the Eternal Blue Sky, who had spent so much time with them, not know this? Perhaps with the weekend getting closer, the excitement simply got to their head.
– I just told the elders and the World Tree that a treasured guest would arrive… and made a mistake right at the end…
‘But I came as promised, so isn’t that what matters? If I’d been late, that might’ve been disastrous.’
– Had you not come today, I would’ve just run away from World Tree and all…
The sincerity was comical enough to make me chuckle.
Once today’s transferring the energy was done, the Eternal Blue Sky wouldn’t have to worry about the agony, anymore.
“Hey, kids!”
From a distance, I saw a familiar elf waving wildly as they ran towards me.
It was an elf I recognized; if memory serves me right, her name was Clarice. I recalled her as the one who guided me during my last visit to grandmother.
“It’s been a while, Clarice.”
With Clarice approaching, Trixie respectfully bowed her head to greet her.
No matter how dignified the Duke may be at over 120 years of age, once entering, they revert to being a child; the elf residential area is quite extraordinary.
This time, Clarice guided me toward grandmother’s residence. I didn’t truly need the guidance since I had been there once before, but it seemed like Clarice wanted a chat with her friend’s daughter while remaining quiet—
“Hey, I heard you got married recently?”
“Uh, yeah.”
…Oops. Unfortunately, I found myself included in Clarice’s area of interest.
I instinctively glanced at Clarice’s expression. I knew the elves were already aware of my multiple fiancées, but there was no way I’d confess, “I wed someone else first! Trixie is second!” in front of Trixie’s dear friend. That’d be bonkers!
“So, you’re getting hitched to Trixie, right?”
“…Yes, that’s correct.”
To my relief, Clarice did not seem fazed by the whole first and second issue. She simply beamed at the news that Trixie’s wedding was imminent.
“Um, I shouldn’t be the one to say this since I’m not family, but… will you be getting married here?”
After a moment, her smile changed to slight awkwardness, but I did not feel negative about it.
‘So they do regard her like family.’
I could see that the elves in the Species Protection Zone genuinely considered Trixie as one of their own.
Of course, Trixy’s lineage as the elder’s child was significant, and she already had friendly conversations with other elves. However, I had been worried the mixed bloodline might act as a chain at crucial moments. There are even novels that specify how only pure-blood elves can receive the World Tree’s blessing and fairy gifts.
“If the elves can’t leave the protection zone, it’s only natural that we should do it here.”
With that, I readily confirmed with joy. I promised I absolutely would if the elves wished it.
When I exchanged glances with Trixie, she too smiled subtly, nodding in agreement.
“Thank you. Since I couldn’t brighten my friend’s wedding, I just wanted to make sure this one would be a lively celebration.”
At those words, Trixie’s smile grew even brighter.
Seems like the grandmother I’d yet to meet was quite a well-respected figure.
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