I stared blankly at the person in front of me.
Their long, sea-green hair was neatly arranged in a half-up style, with the bun resembling rice stalks.
Somehow, it made me think of a tiara.
And their appearance? Pure and delicate, yet showing a firm resolve—definitely not fragile.
It was an elven beauty that looked like it was painted, but it significantly surpassed the average of the so-called beautiful race.
However, the body below the chin wasn’t exactly elf-like.
It had been modified here and there for ease of movement, but it still resembled a dress more than the traditional elven attire.
Yet, the waist of the outfit, which should have been loose, was cinched with a corset. The resulting emphasized figure was no joke.
Even by the standards of women across the Pan Continent, who are open about exposure and take pride in their bodies, this one wouldn’t be outshone anywhere.
Compared to their refined face, the body truly lacked modesty.
Of course, it wasn’t nearly as extreme as Lydia, whom I had seen earlier, but for an elf, whose slender form usually dominated, this size was quite unusual.
No matter how low a libido and how passive the men of this world were, seeing such a figure would surely make them eager to strike up a conversation.
The only problem was that one element flipped the image of that beauty upside down.
“Hehe. My name is Eve Nirvana. Nice to meet you… or should I say it like that?”
With her crescent-shaped, always-smiling eyes, and a tone that raised immediate tension with just a simple greeting, she oozed a suspicious aura that transformed her beauty into something intimidating.
In fact, even Lydia, who had been all cheerful until just now, narrowed her eyes and grew tense.
…But I know. That was just a pure greeting.
There was no undercurrent of “I’m taking the lead” or “You’re meeting me for the first time, but I know you.” None of that at all.
The reason I’m sure is simple. Eve is a character I set up just like Ellie.
That question-like greeting stems from her having lived too long, often mixing up the faces of others.
And of course, she is probably the oldest existing mortal being.
In appreciation of the hospitality, I smiled back at her.
“Indeed! Nice to meet you too! You can call me Jonah! We met under unfortunate circumstances, but I hope we can be friends, Miss Eve!”
“Oh? If you’re a young friend like Jonah, you’re always welcome.”
Eve giggled as if she had just heard a funny joke.
You? With me? Are you serious? Those vibes were there, but she genuinely seemed to be happy about it.
While she now lived a quiet life, Eve was known, by those who know, to be a legendary… or rather, a historically significant being.
She was born from the last flower left just before the World Tree became part of the Labyrinth and fell into slumber.
Easily approaching 1,000 years old. And with another 1,000 years ahead of her, she was a mythological legacy.
That is Eve Nirvana Yggdrasil. …Though it seems she likes to hide the title of the last Yggdrasil.
Think about it. The current Pan Continent is a civilization that has been rebuilt after a previous destruction. Yet, there is a being who has been watching over it since its beginning? And with such a suspicious appearance?
Elves would surely go wild, saying, “The first daughter of the World Tree! A testament to the glory of elves!”
But from the perspective of other races, she could easily be misunderstood as a crazy shadowy figure manipulating the world.
With the elves in despair beginning to cling to capitalism and seizing the money of the continent, it got hard to deny.
And Eve still possessed the power left by the World Tree.
Since High Elves were created to serve as communicators between the World Tree and elves, her power wasn’t for brute force but for governance. That doesn’t mean it’s trivial.
Eve received two powers.
A body that never declines until her predetermined lifespan is over, and the Eye of Truth that sees through deception.
Yeah. What’s there to hide? I borrowed a little from the traits of the elves in old fantasy novels….
These days, it’s been criticized as generic, but honestly, I think the worldview back then was attractive.
That’s probably why it thrived. …Though I can’t shake off the feeling of fatigue from seeing it too much.
Anyway, because of these innate powers, Eve was regarded as a dangerous presence by those around her.
In fact, during the time when elves were despairing over the loss of the World Tree, she somehow led her kin as a queen.
Had it not been for Eve, it would have been hard for the elves to even endure until they opened their eyes to capitalism.
Though, even then, they might not have faced extinction… the decline of the race would have been inevitable.
With such ancestry and achievements, she could have reigned as queen until the day her lifespan ran out, but Eve did not do so. She believed from the start that she was merely a being to help the elves adapt to a world without the World Tree.
That was also the purpose for which the World Tree left Eve behind, and it was what Eve herself desired.
Just because she was born with the ability to rule doesn’t mean her personality was inherited. Eve’s true nature is that of a pastoral and modest old-world elf.
To put it bluntly, she might seem shadowy on the outside, but really, her hobby is having conversations with her succulent plants at home like a true outcast.
Thus, as soon as the elves sought a new hope in capitalism, she retired immediately.
Now she lives without a care, growing plants and enjoying the slow evolution of the world—pure harmlessness incarnate.
The reason I was truly delighted by what I just said was straightforward.
Those who don’t know Eve remain wary of her suspicious aura, while those who do are even warier.
It’s a life lived lonely for a millennium without friends or lovers. When someone genuinely meets her warmly, she can’t help but be excited.
It’s akin to a lonely elder taking a liking to a youth who plays well with them.
However, just because she is a character that I set up like Ellie does not mean she is someone I can trust unconditionally…
Unlike Ellie, who is a reliable ally that will never betray from start to finish, Eve’s role is that of a mid-boss.
A mid-boss that will initially form a close relationship and build emotional connections but eventually goes dark for some reason and ends up being tragically killed by the protagonist.
Imagine a half-squinted merchant with blood all over, whispering “I’m sorry” as their face, always smiling, twists in agony for the first time.
That was the kind of scene I wanted to create the character for.
…But maybe I shouldn’t have gone that way.
I should have just sketched a happy ending instead of focusing on the protagonist’s mental growth and all that.
However, that means that right now, before the darkening, there’s a chance to trust her. If I can prevent her from going dark, things should stay that way.
Given that I’ve only generally outlined the setting, I don’t know why she goes dark or how she tries to burn down the world, but…
If I can stop it, I want to.
This is the minimal responsibility I have as the author in this world turned reality and my unvarnished sincerity as someone who has fallen into a world with no one to trust.
To do that, I need to get close to Eve. I plan to observe closely to see if any issues arise and resolve them immediately if they seem dangerous.
Gathering my resolve, I sat opposite Eve and patted the empty seat next to me.
“Lydia, please join us too.”
“…I’m good. I’ll just stand. This is Jonah’s matter, so it’s best I don’t intrude.”
Still with her usual stoic expression. However, given her slightly stiff smile, she likely wasn’t ready to let her guard down just yet.
Lydia, despite being a skilled adventurer, wasn’t high-class enough to realize Eve’s identity, but…
Even without knowing, she could tell Eve was suspicious. She was undoubtedly prepared to act at any moment.
Though Lydia didn’t transmit those sentiments, Eve sensed that her words were a mere pretense and nodded slightly, sounding a bit glum.
“Oh dear. Is that the noble Lydia? I’m curious about how noble you are, so it’s quite disappointing.”
I wonder how long she can remain noble. (X)
I genuinely wish we could have talked more. (O)
“I see! Miss Lydia is a bit shy, huh? I’ll return as a guest later, so let’s chat in a more relaxed atmosphere then!”
“Sounds good. A life where you can look forward to the next is truly a beautiful thing.”
Do you think you’ll have a next life? (X)
Are you really going to come back? (O)
As I mentally translated Eve’s words and listened, Lydia’s expression grew progressively serious as our conversation continued.
On the other hand, Eve looked slightly thrilled, happy that I had never lied so far.
Her slits were curling deeper, and it was clear that she was playfully licking her lips with the tip of her tongue.
At this rate, Lydia’s misunderstanding might deepen to an irretrievable point. I needed to move quickly.
“As much as I’d love to chat a little longer with Miss Eve… it’s getting late, isn’t it? Unless you want to hold me here all night, shall we get to the point? You’ve been informed about the situation with Apple and Lemon, right?”
“Of course. …I’m truly sorry about how things turned out.”
I’ll kill you. (X)
I’m sorry. (O)
“The one who should be apologizing isn’t you, Miss Eve. And I’m not here to hear apologies.”
“That’s true. The best I can offer right now would be this amount… I hope it satisfies you.”
Get lost! (X)
This is all I’ve got! (O)
With a bright smile, Eve handed me a small pouch. When I opened it, I found a jumble of shiny coins inside.
Gold, silver, and copper all mixed together, making it hard to know the exact amount….
It was likely just a hasty gathering of the store’s cash—not something she brought to spite me.
Yet, if I count it all, it should be a fortune I’ve never laid my hands on before… though it might not even reach 46 gold.
In fact, 46 gold is a decent sum, but for someone who is the oldest elf and the first daughter of the World Tree, respected by her kin, it wouldn’t really cut it.
If she swung by the Cradle Association next door and said, “I used to be a queen, so just give me 46 gold,” no one would question it.
But Eve wasn’t like that. Unlike the recent elves who worship money, she, a relic of an earlier age, valued her plant-growing hobby more.
Having lived long, most of her saved money had gone towards her kin, and the little wealth she had left was used for a business, though lacking business acumen had led her to financial ruin for centuries… that’s the lore.
If it’s not truly urgent, she’s likely to refuse money offered to her. Otherwise, she wouldn’t be apologizing to me in this shabby store.
After some contemplation, I took just 2 gold coins and returned the money pouch as it was.
“This cash is enough for me. But how about I exchange the rest for something else? Would that be alright?”
“Well, I’d be delighted if you did… but the goods in my store are rather dubious, you know?”
Do you think you can handle it? (X)
I’m worried because some might be dangerous. (O)
With one hand on her cheek, Eve tilted her head, and I smiled slyly at her.
“Though I seem like this, I do have a discerning eye. If the benefits outweigh the risks, I’m willing to take on minor issues.”
Eve’s wares varied. Elixirs, equipment, magical devices, spirit stones, subcontractors, ordinary succulents, and so on.
It was aptly named a “jack-of-all-trades” shop that dealt with all sorts of items, but… most of them were just things she made as a hobby.
Consequently, items often diverged from their intended purposes, or they might have unexpected side effects. That’s likely why her business was struggling.
However, as I’d heard from the elven twins a little while ago, her products packed a punch. Essentially, their usability depended on how they were used.
For example… like that necklace hiding in Eve’s ample bosom.
I pointed towards her chest and asked, “How much for that?”
“Oh my?”
Eve ran her hand over her chest, flashing a meaningful smile.
…Something tells me I might be misunderstanding her?
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