As we passed by, just like yesterday, countless High Elves were gathered in groups, passionately debating and wooing one another.
Now and then, several High Elves glanced our way, but with Elcia around, they didn’t start any trouble.
Of course, the hostile glares directed at me from the High Elves were still there.
[Looks worse than yesterday.]
‘No, these incest dwellers are just ridiculous.’
After walking the distance we had yesterday, we finally arrived at the gigantic tree in the center.
“Elcia, what is this place?”
“It’s called the World Tree!”
“……That name reminds me of something unsettling.”
‘Lona, are you happy over there?’
[Somehow, that name seems to bring unease.]
Suppressing those thoughts, we followed Elcia’s guide.
“Husband! Get on this elevator!”
“……The World Tree is a bit trendy.”
[Installing an elevator inside the World Tree…]
‘Well, it’s an elf’s place, so I suppose comfort is key.’
[Indeed, as you say, climbing up must be quite a hassle.]
‘At least it’s not coated in concrete like the Great Wall.’
Contrary to the name ‘World Tree,’ a relatively modern elevator was installed inside.
Naturally, we boarded the elevator in silence, as we had no intention of rejecting the conveniences of civilization.
The elevator had only two buttons related to the floors.
One for the button to return to where we boarded.
The other was for going up to the World Tree.
The elevator moved continuously without a break, and I began to feel a slight pressure in my ears.
When we finally reached our destination after ascending, we gasped at the sight that unfolded before us.
“Oh.”
“How beautiful.”
“…Not bad.”
Even Hyeji, who usually grumbled, expressed her honest feelings.
Countless branches and turquoise leaves filled our view.
And amidst them, the entire view of the Forest of Elves came into sight.
“This way!”
Elcia stepped forward to lead us.
Right next to us was a staircase that led inside the World Tree, and we slowly began to ascend the steps.
Even though we were inside the World Tree, glowing green lights, like fireflies, illuminated our path.
Seeing this, Jeong Ahyeon asked Elcia, seemingly surprised.
“Elcia, is this the blessing or power of the World Tree? Or fireflies?”
“No! They are LED bulbs!”
“……”
Jeong Ahyeon wore a look of disbelief.
“Elcia, if you’re going to use LEDs, why not install an escalator too?”
“The World Tree told me that the inside is sensitive, so I was told not to install moving things!”
“…This is driving me crazy.”
[If an escalator were installed, what would we call it? A vibrator? A dildo?]
‘Wow, damn, that’s a tough one.’
As I felt like I was walking inside someone’s body, I was getting increasingly uncomfortable and started banging on the walls as I moved up.
Take that. For real, fisting.
With each time the wall seemed to twitch, I hit it harder.
After a while of this, we reached a wider chamber.
Besides the pulsating green core inside, it looked like a desolate space, empty of anything else.
Seeing the green core beating like a heart, I really felt that the World Tree was a living entity.
“Elcia, what is that?”
“That’s the core of the World Tree!”
“Can it burn? Will it not burn?”
“…Hyeji, please don’t argue with just burning or not burning.”
Just as Hyeji was seriously contemplating this, we heard a telepathic voice from the World Tree.
“Welcome.”
The voice was very androgynous, neither male nor female.
Unlike us, who were flustered and did not know where the voice originated from, Elcia knelt down naturally, with her eyes closed, and her hands clasped.
It was a posture that could only be described as a perfect example of how to greet the World Tree.
Then the World Tree transmitted another telepathic message to us.
“My child Ershiana. Have you made your decision?”
“I’m sorry. I haven’t made a definite decision yet.”
“Remember this. By the end of today.”
“Yes, understood.”
The World Tree spoke to Elcia in a kind yet hurried tone.
Responding to the World Tree, Elcia answered respectfully without a hint of hesitation.
However, it seemed that her voice carried a mix of complicated emotions.
We quietly observed Elcia in this moment.
Just as we were doing this, the World Tree’s telepathic voice turned toward me.
It felt like there was a hint of anger in it.
“Is this the one whom my child holds in esteem as her husband?”
‘Look at how the damn thing is speaking. Ready to die, huh?’
[Right from the start, it’s just a piece of sh*t.]
“What? What do you want?”
“I have something to discuss with you separately, so touch the core.”
“And if I refuse?”
“You must.”
Suddenly, countless wooden thorns began to rise from all around us.
Though they were made of wood, the tips were sharp like blades, ready to stab us at any moment.
‘The Thorn Womb of the World Tree? That’s something even Setta wouldn’t imagine being possible.’
[Humans are creatures of possibility. Do you really believe that?]
‘……Now that I think about it, that’s ambiguous.’
Elcia maintained her earlier position right where she was.
Even as the thorns approached, it seemed she was already accustomed to it.
In contrast, Hyeji and Jeong Ahyeon were tensed, glaring at the thorns.
“The welcome seems very rough.”
“Make it a Fire Womb.”
Hyeji grinned viciously, pulling out a soy grenade.
At the same time, white creatures began to manifest around Jeong Ahyeon one by one.
Since Hyeji was there, it was certain we would win if we fought, but Elcia was too exposed to the World Tree’s threat.
Fighting was not a good option here.
‘The damn thing is designated Elcia as a target while calling itself my child, huh?’
[For something claiming to be a mother, it’s quite pathetic.]
In this critical situation, I stopped the two and said to the World Tree, “Shut down the loop, I’m gonna touch it.”
“Finally, you should have said so earlier.”
The moment the World Tree’s words ended, the threatening thorns that had been about to stab us eased up.
Removing the tension from Hyeji and Jeong Ahyeon, I approached the core of the World Tree.
I was genuinely curious, so I reached out to the dynamically pulsing green core.
In that instant, my vision darkened, and consciousness faded away.
*
“What the hell, damn.”
I was standing as if I was still reaching for the core of the World Tree.
However, the scenery around me was completely different from earlier.
A world filled only with white.
I couldn’t tell the distance, nor was there a shadow, and I had no idea where I was.
The only reason I assumed I was standing was the feeling of something beneath my feet.
[Are you okay?]
‘For now, yeah… But where is this place?’
[It seems to be someone’s consciousness world.]
I checked my condition just in case.
My limbs moved normally, and my clothes were the same as before.
Even the pain I felt when hitting my face confirmed that.
Physically, I was fine.
And when I tried to activate the magical power tattoo this time…
“You’ve come.”
Although there was nothing before me, a large translucent green sphere suddenly appeared in front of me.
It looked like a small sun covered by a green filter.
And above the green sphere, numbers I often saw from other people were floating.
While I glared at it suspiciously, I heard a telepathic voice once again from the green sphere.
“This time, for you specifically, I shall show you my form.”
As the green sphere emitted a bright light, it began to shrink in size.
Before long, as the light faded, where the sphere had been standing, a small elf child appeared.
They were nude, yet the private parts were not rendered, and the face was beautiful, but whether male or female was very ambiguous.
Their hair was also a vague bob, which only further emphasized the androgynous image.
The only commonality with the previous sphere was that their entire body was still a translucent green and that there were still numbers floating above their head.
Resting their hands on their hips, the being smirked at me and said,
“To think I would take on such a form because of a mere human child. Be grateful.”
“So, who are you, kid? Where is this place?”
“My world of consciousness.”
“But why are you talking casually? Bring your parents here.”
The child smiled mockingly as they replied.
“You still can’t recognize me? This is why you short-lived creatures are inferior.”
“Who the hell are you, you bastard?”
“I’ll only explain this once.”
The green child crossed their arms, looking at me.
Though they were clearly smaller than I was, their gaze felt as if they were looking down on me.
“Let me reintroduce myself. I have many names. But the most representative one—”
“Stop dragging it out and hurry up. If you delay the story, it’ll be your responsibility.”
“……I am the World Tree.”
“You should have said so earlier.”
‘But why is the World Tree acting up so much?’
[Isn’t it because you gave it a reason to?]
‘What did I even do?’
At that moment, it felt like a hint of anger began to seep into the World Tree’s voice.
“And.”
“And?”
Suddenly, the World Tree began to grind its teeth, fiercely glaring at me.
“Which inferior dog dared to call me ‘just a big tree’?”
“Oh, damn.”
‘How the hell did that thing find out?’
[……You were definitely in the wrong here.]
‘This is seriously annoying, for real.’
