172. Temple of the World Tree (1)
Elves are a race that worships the World Tree.
If humans are the children of Iros, the goddess of light, elves are the children of the World Tree. However, elves are not actually beings born from the World Tree, and according to mythology, it is.
Of course, a sick World Tree is not a good sign.
If the Amazon is the lungs of the earth, the great forest is no different from a place where mana is generated. It was as if the concentration of magical energy across the continent had decreased.
For a while, we were at a loss for words about the sick world tree. The one who broke the long silence and spoke was the warrior Lanter.
“Elder, I want to see the temple of the World Tree.”
Perhaps he wanted to investigate a little more as to what had happened. I was very nervous and wary of my surroundings.
As usual, the raid on Lerage will take place here.
I wondered if some kind of demon was ambushing me. However, there was no sign of an attack, let alone an attack. Given the circumstances, there was no clue that could be obtained from this place other than that the World Tree was sick.
“The temple is east of here. It will take a long time, will you be okay?”
“It doesn’t matter. I want to investigate a bit more how the World Tree came to be like this.”
At Lanter’s words, the elder nodded.
He seemed to think that an outsider might notice something he didn’t know.
“I understand. follow me I will guide you to the temple.”
We continued eastward through the hills as the elder led us. In the place where they reached through the forest, there was a village of elves, just like the ‘huge tree trunk’.
“This is the village near the temple, ‘Golden Tree’.”
The town lived up to its name ‘Golden Tree’, and a temple made of gold could be seen in the distance. We passed the village and headed there.
golden temple.
In the distance, I saw a huge temple made of gold, befitting a place with El Dorado as a motif. Numerous tree roots were entangled in the temple, revealing its golden majesty.
A place where a lot of blood was once splattered due to the feud between humans and elves. There, people with deeply pressed hoods were waiting for us.
“Elder, this is a place where humans are not allowed to approach.”
As I approached the entrance, a man in a brown robe blocked me. The other person pursed his lips as if he didn’t like something.
“Briel, step aside.”
“Haona… .”
“The alliance between the Empire and the Elves has been over 300 years old. And those behind me are guests from afar to contemplate this matter together.”
At the elder’s words, Gabriel stepped aside.
The reason why the temple guards distrust humans is probably because of the atrocities of human adventurers. It was a story from a very long time ago, but since elves are long-lived species, there was a high probability that they would remember this.
“All right. This is a temple dedicated to the World Tree. Strangers, please show your respect.”
I passed by Gabriel and our eyes met.
The fairy with long blue hair was expressionless. There was no emotion in it. It’s as if his life is all about protecting and protecting the temple.
“This is the golden temple… .”
Arthur looked around the temple with curious eyes.
Numerous pillars were placed in a long line, and wherever you looked, you could see a wall shining with gold.
However, the temple made of gold was luxurious rather than splendid or pious.
The naivety of elves in the fantasy world did not apply in this world. Lanter looked around the temple with a sharp gaze.
The temple looked no different except that it was made of gold.
However, a tree was placed in the center.
“What about this tree?”
“A tree planted with seeds from the fruit of the World Tree. ”
“okay. By the way, is there a reason why the temple was built here instead of near the World Tree?”
The elder laughed haphazardly.
“It is because of the trust. A long time ago, there was an oracle to build a temple in the eastern region.”
“okay.”
“By the way, warrior. Have you noticed anything strange?”
Lanter shook his head slowly. The answer brought a look of disappointment to the elder’s eyes.
“If anything comes to mind, I’ll tell you later.”
The tour of the temple ended without a hitch.
If it was a human temple, there would be a souvenir shop at the entrance, but there was no such thing here.
When I left the temple, the sun was setting in the west.
“You all worked hard. It’s getting late, so going back to the ‘great trunk’ will be difficult, so we’ll rest here today.”
After that, we headed to the assigned accommodation.
Anyway, I really can’t get used to it. It must be quite inconvenient to build a house in a tree like this.
Fortunately, there were transition seats installed on each floor, so moving was easy. After all, it seemed like everyone would become a gem together if there was a fire.
It was to the point where the elves who lived their whole lives in a place like this developed a sense of respect for them.
I returned to my room and sat down on the bed.
I still couldn’t figure out why the World Tree was drying up.
There was a time when I thought that the incident related to the great forest would be overlooked at the time of Mine Lellajie’s death.
But it wasn’t.
Either way, this episode doesn’t seem to have gone unnoticed. According to the original story, the Mine side’s goal is to control the World Tree, reduce the concentration of mana in this world, and fill the world with demons instead.
Even from their point of view, they probably didn’t want to give up on ruling the World Tree easily.
‘What the hell are you doing?’
Naturally, there was a high probability that the World Tree was drying up due to Mine-related events. If Mine appears again, will he be able to win?
With that feeling in mind, I slowly checked my skills.
——— Skill window
・Linchester swordsmanship―improved type―(Lv9)
Martial Arts (Lv7) Spiritual Art (Lv7)
Necromancer (Max) Elemental Magic (Lv6)
Mana management (Lv7) Physical resistance (Lv5)
· Cold resistance (Max) · Cold tolerance (Max)
·Fire resistance (Max) ·Lightning resistance (Lv6)
Poison tolerance (Lv8) Mental system tolerance (Lv6)
· Combat Super Intuition (Lv7) · Soul Harvest (Lv3) (New!)
・Magic Eye of Enchantment (Lv3) (New!)
—————————————————-
After the vacation ended, the level of various resistances, including martial arts and elemental arts, rose by one. Now, the level of combat super intuition had reached 7, and the newly acquired skills were two.
The ‘Soul Harvest’ obtained by killing Vassago and the ‘Enchanting Magic Eye’ obtained by killing Asmodeus are two of them.
The ‘Evil Eye of Enchantment’ that can manipulate others.
I learned this by obtaining a skill ball, but it seemed like there would be no use for it.
I’m not going to hypnotize anyone.
‘Soul Harvest’ was also an ambiguous skill to show anywhere. In the sense that it was just right to receive the gaze as repulsive as necromancy.
A warrior candidate who has learned to harvest souls at the highest level in necromancy.
‘Isn’t this going to become the Rich King?’
The interesting thing is that as soon as I learned both skills, level 3 was stamped. It was the same level as when he first learned necromancy.
Considering that the highest level is 10, level 3 is beginner level.
‘Anyway, something is definitely happening in this Great Forest… .’
At that moment, Ren’s voice was heard.
[Master, you seem worried.]
There was no need to deny it. Rien slowly emerged from the shadows.
“just… , I have an ominous feeling.”
[me too. It must be because of something related to the World Tree.]
I nodded.
[How about releasing at least two spirits and setting them up as watchers?]
“Not a bad way.”
Set it up as a vigil or watcher for the spirit king and higher spirits. It was something that an ordinary elementalist would be surprised to hear.
But anyway, I have plenty of magic power.
“Leen, there is something I want to ask you. Do you know anything about Mine?”
Looking back, Rien is a knight who was active 300 years ago. Because he protected the bridge from the undead army in Arvia.
[Mine? What kind of demon are you talking about?]
Now I have the feeling that I may have missed something greatly.
It was hard to understand that the Elves still hadn’t figured out the cause of the world tree drying up.
“No, it’s just that, do you know anything about the Mine that can dry up the World Tree?”
Lien shook her head slowly.
[Sorry, but I don’t know. Lord.]
Little did the Empire know about Mine.
All I know is that they use demonic energy in addition to the mana that humans use, and that they are the source of evil that comes to another world and wants to devour this world.
So, unless they were famous demons, almost nothing was known about their abilities.
“Is that so? Lien, do you know anything about the Great Forest?”
[I know about the Great Forest… .]
As if thinking of something, Lien exclaimed.
[Ah, come to think of it, it was during my time that some human adventurers began to invade the great forest for gold. When I was a knight, I heard such a story… .]
Lien murmured, as if recalling the distant past.
“okay? Can you tell me more?”
It was a familiar story. However, knowing the vivid experiences and history of a person who lived 300 years ago was a different law, and more than anything, I wanted to hear Lien’s story.
[At that time, the Great Forest sent a request to the Empire. I wanted to catch intruders who were aiming for gold and punish them severely. The Empire also announced a ban on entering the Great Forest because they did not want a feud with the Great Forest… . Since there weren’t only two adventurers who were blinded by one stroke of a fortune.]
An adventurer blinded by a stroke of fortune… .
It’s a familiar story. It was not much different from the story of those who were looking for Eldorado as in the Age of Discovery. A story of looting and exploitation.
[In addition, at that time, the status of adventurers was high. The Empire owed a lot to the adventurer. Because most of the people who raided the dungeon were adventurers.]
For instance, adventurers were like wandering vigilantes.
It’s because they fight monsters all over the continent according to their own interests. This is the story before the establishment of a hero group or academy.
[In the meantime, due to the massive invasion of the demon realm, all races of this land had to unite. That’s the Anti-Ma War.]
Lien’s tone was calm.
[The adventurer’s status has declined significantly in the war. In a war without benefits, adventurers either took refuge outside or took a passive attitude. However, there were those who fought against them, and we called them warriors.]
Luke Amos, Nadia, and Iniros.
With the three warriors as the main axis, war heroes were born.
[Well, as any lord would know, as a result of the decline in the status of adventurers during the anti-demon War, the Empire created a justification for trapping adventurers. After that, the oppression of adventurers began by executing all adventurers who trespassed on the Great Forest.]
And the warrior academy was established, and the role of adventurers was actually passed on to the warriors.
From then on, the negative perception that adventurers are futile was born.
[Well, anyway. Lord. But why are you asking this?]
“No, I was just wondering if I might be able to get some information about the Mine… .”
[But why does your lord think this incident is related to demons? It’s just that you seem so sure… .]
Why is that… .
In the original story, Mine tried to dominate the World Tree. of course… . I flinched when I tried to reply.
ah… .
Only then did goosebumps form on my forearms. So far I’ve been thinking based only on the information I know.
Because I thought it was right.
But that might have been a narrow-minded idea. This world, like the world I lived in, was completely one world.
There have been many lives here, and many struggles.
“Why am I… . Didn’t you think Mine did it this time too?”
Strictly speaking, I thought it was ‘only’ done by Mine. And most others probably thought so too.
“The mastermind behind this incident may not be Mine… .”
Then I saw something whizzing past the window.
I hurriedly opened the window.
A huge creature was flapping its wings there. A pair of huge, dull wings, glossy black eyes that glisten in the moonlight. And up to six legs in a hard shell.
It was a giant wasp.
