Chapter 461
I found myself staring blankly at the table, watching my grandmother’s back in the kitchen.
Something was off. I felt like I had eaten enough for two meals already, yet food kept appearing endlessly.
‘Is this magic?’
For a moment, that thought crossed my mind. A magic that makes food never shrink, what a miracle that could wipe out the concepts of starvation from this continent. No wonder Trixie’s grandmother is such an impressive master mage.
After gazing at her for a while, I diverted my gaze back to the food. While elves are often seen as extreme vegetarians, my grandmother had prepared a feast including meats, fish, vegetables, and everything in between. Living off just grass can’t be good for one’s health.
That might be why I was feeling a bit dizzy. It felt like I had rented the entire buffet for just the two of us.
“Why the long face? Is the food not to your liking?”
“No, it’s delicious.”
Due to the rising fullness in my belly, my eating pace had significantly slowed. Still, thanks to my grandmother bringing out more food, I was forced to keep pushing my fork around.
“Whew, I’m glad to hear that. There’s still plenty, so eat to your heart’s content.”
“…Yes, thank you.”
As I thanked my grandmother, who sported a warm grin, I reluctantly took some less filling salad.
It was painful. To think I would suffer from food torture like this. And to make matters worse, it was a kind-hearted food torture filled with affection.
‘Is Trixie holding up okay?’
I barely managed to swallow the salad as I glanced at Trixie. Since arriving at my grandmother’s house with Clarice as our guide, she had been enduring this food torture for nearly an hour without pause.
I could handle cramming food in, but was Trixie really keeping up in her state?
‘What the heck.’
As I watched Trixie, I noticed something strange. She was bringing food to her mouth but didn’t seem to be chewing or swallowing at all.
It felt like my common sense was in shambles as I looked closely and soon uncovered the source of the bizarre situation.
‘…Magic?’
This was real magic. Each time Trixie moved her fork, I could sense a subtle flow of mana, confirming my suspicions.
Trixie was delaying the consumption of my grandmother’s affection for later. Since she couldn’t eat anymore, she was using a storage spell to stash the food away.
‘Crazy.’
I felt a mix of envy and bewilderment. It wasn’t something I should be thinking about while desperately eating, but couldn’t she just say she was too full instead of going through all that trouble?
After noticing my gaze, Trixie, who was method acting, quietly turned her head away to avoid eye contact.
It seemed she recognized that her behavior was odd.
*
It wasn’t until after about two hours of dining on my grandmother’s boundless love that I could finally receive it all. It was so excessive that it nearly brought tears to my eyes.
“This is plum tea. It’s good for digestion, so it’s perfect to have after a meal.”
“Ah, thank you.”
When she thoughtfully prepared tea, I almost burst into tears. Such attention to detail, even in serving a digestion-friendly drink.
But if she was aware that her love was so heavy that I needed help in digesting it, couldn’t she have just lightened it up a bit? Too much love can easily turn toxic.
Of course, I wouldn’t dare mention that out loud. I couldn’t be that ungrateful child ruining an elder’s joy.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t prepare more. I’ve been eating less as I age, and it confuses me how much young folks eat these days.”
However, while drinking the plum tea cautiously, I flinched at my grandmother’s words, which seemed to imply her disappointment in not being able to serve us more.
‘What a blunder.’
Only then did I realize my critical mistake. I couldn’t refuse my grandmother’s sincerity and ended up stuffing myself, which stirred her feelings instead.
After all, just as we wanted to please our grandmother, I’m sure she wanted to treat her granddaughter and grandson-in-law splendidly. The more empty plates we had, the more her sense of duty would ignite, prompting her to start cooking more on the spot.
When we first arrived at my grandmother’s home, there was just the right amount of food prepared. In a normal setting, we should’ve eaten that and called it a meal. But it had turned into a chicken game out of mutual consideration.
Food torture stemming from familial warmth… What a novel experience I had never heard of before.
“It’s fine. We usually eat less anyway, but it’s just so delicious that we couldn’t help ourselves.”
“Is that so? If that’s the case, I’m relieved.”
Caught speechless due to cultural shock, Trixie quickly spoke up.
Fortunately, Trixie’s words seemed to bring relief to my grandmother, but when she implied that Trixie had overdone it, I felt a slight twinge of resentment. I was the one who overindulged here, while Trixie just used magic to cope.
This is why being a humble swordsman is tough. If I had walked the path of a noble magician, I wouldn’t have to endure such hardship.
‘Children should be raised to be mages.’
Of course, I wouldn’t force them into magic, but if they wished to be mages instead of swordsmen, I’d gladly support it.
As a parent, I just want my children to be happier.
*
Seeing Kal sip tea with a troubled expression stirred various emotions in me.
There was regret over the sheer volume he’d eaten, gratitude for how he had endured to accommodate my grandmother.
‘I didn’t have to eat everything.’
Kal was well aware he had surpassed his usual meal size. It would take a lack of intelligence or absence of common sense not to know the amount of food his partner consumed under the same roof.
Some might deem it foolish that a noble enjoyed fine dining and yet wouldn’t firmly state they were full. Still, I didn’t think so. Kal was usually sharp and perceptive. If he was showing foolishness for my flesh and blood, I could only feel joy.
…It was an awkward position for him to be the only one using a magical cheat while I was limited in how much I could eat. I believed he would understand.
“Eun-in, Eun-in.”
“Did you finish? Did you finish?”
While internally apologizing to Kal, the door swung open, and the fairies floated in.
Their appearance brought a gentle smile to my face. They had shown fondness for us since we arrived. They would dangle from Kal’s hair, perch on his shoulders, and flutter around him, just like animals welcoming their long-lost owner.
Sadly, they had been chased away by my grandmother, who told them not to bother the guests, but it seemed they had been waiting by the window and showed up immediately after our meal.
“Wow, you ate everything!”
“Yay!”
“You finished it! You finished it!”
As Kal replied, he was instantly ambushed by the fairies.
It was a wondrous sight, no matter how many times I saw it. Seeing a human, not an elf or priest, adored by fairies was rare even during the time the World Tree thrived.
However, considering the Northern Heretics’ influence, it would be hard to regard Kal as merely a commoner. He was perhaps in-between a priest and an ordinary person, I guess?
“Can you save the World Tree now?”
“World Tree! World Tree!”
“I want to live at our house!”
“Okay, but please don’t pull my hair…”
Kal muttered tiredly as he gently stood up to collect the sword he had set on the floor.
‘Divine Artifact.’
I unwittingly gazed at the sword. It was hard enough to find a divine artifact from the Dawn Sect, and one imbued with the energy of nomadic faith was even rarer. If I had my way, I would love to research it thoroughly as a mage.
But I held back. Though I was still half an elf, I did have some elven blood in me. I wouldn’t want to delay the elves’ heartfelt wishes on my own accord.
“How about taking a short break? It’s not urgent.”
“It’s fine. Transferring energy isn’t that hard, and I don’t know how long it’ll take, so it’s best to do it quickly.”
Even as my grandmother worriedly urged Kal, who was being pulled away by the fairies, he shook his head with a faint smile.
Her voice was filled with subtle excitement, considering she had personally witnessed the burning of the World Tree and likely shared similar longings for it as the fairies. She was just trying to hold herself back.
I felt thankful and proud of Kal, who willingly moved to accommodate such a grandmother.
*
As soon as I stood up, feeling the yank on my hair from the fairies, I realized I had a flawlessly gifted body free of baldness. If I lost my hair due to such external shocks, that would be the greatest injustice!
Moreover, I noticed the kitchen table was piled high with desserts. If I didn’t escape now, I’d end up in more food torture.
– You’ve finally arrived…?
Upon standing before the World Tree, the voice of the Eternal Blue Sky welcomed me, still tinged with the sound of death.
‘Are you still tired?’
– I’m fine. Just need a boost of energy to feel better…
That statement stirred even more sympathy. It felt reminiscent of someone clearly sick, saying they’d feel fine after taking medicine.
– I only need that energy, just that energy. Everything will work out once I have it.
No, now that I think about it, it felt like a gambling addict waiting for a huge score rather than someone sick.
‘So, what do we do now? Do I just stick it in the tree?’
To save the little remaining dignity of the Eternal Blue Sky, I quickly diverted the topic. After all, they said they only needed a boost of energy, so I should hurry and wrap it up.
– Just stick it nearby but be careful not to damage the roots.
‘Got it.’
I swiftly planted the divine artifact in the ground at a depth and distance that would keep the roots unharmed… This should be enough—
– Thank you, child blessed by the sun and sky.
Suddenly, a voice I had never heard before echoed in my head.
– Your willingness to give up your own for the sake of my children, the lost and pitiful ones, has drawn my attention even in my diminishing power.
– Uh…?
Following that unfamiliar voice, there came the dull tone of the Eternal Blue Sky.
– Of course, my only permission is to watch. My reappearance in this world is a matter for the future. However, your dedication has hastened that future, and I now have the strength to express my gratitude.
The more soothing that voice became, the clearer my muddled head became, and I realized who the voice’s owner was.
The mother of the elves and the one who bestowed the World Tree upon the continent.
Among the divine rank, she was revered as the god of trees.
‘Constantina?’
– Yes, that is the name I am called.
I was taken aback. I expected contact with Constantina once the World Tree resurrected, but I never imagined it would happen now, even before the resurrection was complete.
– I am the mother of all elves and fairies, the friend of the spirits, and the god of trees embracing this entire continent.
Then, after a moment of silence, Constantina resumed speaking in a voice laced with laughter.
– And as one who has received grace from you, I would like to offer you a small reward.
– Huh? Wait, just a moment!
With the urgent voice of the Eternal Blue Sky, I felt a faint warmth around my shoulder.
– Right now, I may only leave a trace due to my lack of power, but in the future when we meet again, great divinity shall blossom. I look forward to that day.
With those final words, the voice that had been ringing in my head vanished.
– Why, why does everyone target what’s mine…!
And thus, only the cries of a god lingered behind.
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