Chapter 62
『To my old friend, and Future Master, Franz.
It is a beautiful season, with a cloudless sky and lush, vibrant greenery.
Though our first meeting was not ideal, I believe we have forged a strong bond of friendship by overcoming hardships and adversities together.
[...]
I plan to hold a festival to foster camaraderie among the Elves and to pray for the World Tree's recovery.
I know you are busy, but I would be grateful if you could come and enjoy the festival with us. It is not just my wish, but the wish of all Elves.
If you cannot come, many Elves will surely be saddened. And I will be the saddest among them.
The festival is scheduled for the day after this letter arrives, so please keep that in mind.
I will conclude here.
From Hera, the Magic Tower Lord's Elf Slave.』
Hmm.
Franz's expression wasn't particularly good after reading the letter to the end. There were more than a few points he could pick apart.
Starting with the very first line.
He could more or less understand being called an 'old friend.' After all, it had been nine years since the Hero's Party was formed. At this point, even if they weren't childhood friends, 'old friends' was probably accurate enough.
But the next part was the problem.
*Future Master Franz?* He understood the intention, but was there really a reason to write that in a letter?
And Hera wasn't the type to use such flowery language. She was one of the few people who preferred to get straight to the point.
Seeing her write a letter like this, it was evident that someone must have influenced her. *'Chieftain, humans love to write a lot of unnecessary words,'* he imagined them saying.
Haa.
Franz sighed, neatly folded the letter, and put it in his drawer.
Ultimately, they want me to attend the festival.
He had saved the Elf Tribe twice, and even the World Tree once, so they probably wanted to repay his kindness.
*What was it again? Elves give, but don't owe?*
He understood their sentiment perfectly, but he really disliked crowds and being the center of attention, so he was reluctant to go.
However, if he kept accumulating this debt, there was a real possibility that Hera might drag even more Elves back as slaves. So, even if he was a bit reluctant, going would prevent a bigger incident.
What does it say...?
Arian, the one who had brought the Arrow Letter, asked.
They're having a festival in the Great Forest and want me to attend.
In the Great Forest?
Yeah, I guess they want to repay me for helping them out with various things before.
He had hoped to relax a bit until the party at the Ducal House of Phrygia, but what kind of situation was this?
Of course, a Human attending an Elf festival in the Great Forest was an extremely rare occurrence. It was truly unprecedented.
But for Franz, it was just a bothersome task. He felt it would be much more productive to just laze around in his room.
Is anyone else going to the festival...?
Don't know? It doesn't say.
Come to think of it, did Yustia receive a letter too? Since they saved the World Tree together, it was entirely possible. He'd have to go ask her later.
But why do you ask?
No particular reason. Just curious.
"Really?"
Franz brushed it off casually. He might genuinely just be curious.
Then I'll go get to work.
Arian left the Magic Tower Lord's Office to attend to her duties.
Soon after, Franz also left the Magic Tower Lord's Office and headed for Saint Seraphia Cathedral. He intended to ask Yustia about the letter.
Franz arrived at the Cathedral via Teleport and met Yustia.
Arrow Letter...! You won't believe it! This morning I opened my window and it suddenly flew in and stuck into the wall!
Yustia poured out her agitation about the Arrow Letter. Indeed, it would be quite startling if it flew in the moment she opened the window.
So she did get a letter, after all.
You weren't hurt?
It didn't seem right to jump straight to the main topic, so Franz politely asked about her well-being.
Oh, no. I wasn't hurt.
Yustia replied in a much calmer tone. Fortunately, it seemed she felt somewhat relieved after venting.
Are you going to the festival?
It'll be difficult. Today happens to be the Day of Penance, so I have to hear Confessions until midnight.
He thought it might be nice for her to take a break from her daily work as a Saintess, but with such a major event, it would be impossible. It was simply regrettable that she had to hear the Followers' Confessions until midnight.
Day of Penance, huh? Sounds like a day of heavy burdens.
Franz, are you going?
Well, I was invited, so I guess I have to go?
Then please give my regards to Hera. Tell her I'm sorry I can't make it. And if you could, let me know how the World Tree is doing.
Why is she asking me to do all this? If she wants it done, she should go herself.
...He thought for a moment, then dismissed it from his mind. *Still, the one working until midnight is probably more tired.*
Alright, I'll do that.
Are you leaving now?
I should.
Then please wait a moment.
*What else is she going to ask me to do now?* Franz wondered.
Yustia clasped her hands in front of her chest and softly chanted.
May God's Blessing be with you.
Her short prayer was accompanied by a brief flash of golden divine power.
Franz, feeling curious, asked,
What was that?
It's just a blessing. It doesn't really have any effect.
*If it has no effect, why do it?* Despite thinking that, receiving a blessing made him feel strangely good, *a feeling that everything would go well.*
Afterward, Franz exchanged brief farewells with Yustia and returned to the Magic Tower.
'Time to get some work done.'
Thanks to his overly competent staff, the documents he had to personally handle amounted to only a few pages, but work was still work.
As Franz was reading the documents, Arian entered the Magic Tower Lord's Office with a few papers.
You weren't around earlier. Did you go out?
Ah, I went to meet Yustia.
Ah... you met the Saintess...
Arian offered a sly smile.
Come to think of it, they didn't seem to get along last time either. Did something happen between the Ducal House of Phrygia and the Goddess Church?
He hoped they would get along, but it wasn't something he needed to worry too much about. After all, they would hardly ever meet anyway.
I asked Yustia if she was going to the festival, and she said no. It was something about the Day of Penance.
Oh, is that right? It was the Day of Penance, wasn't it? That's wonderful. Sins should be cleansed right away.
Arian's expression suddenly brightened.
Does she have a personal grudge against the Saintess? Why is she happy about the Day of Penance?
Franz couldn't understand Arian's behavior at all. And it was always easier not to think about incomprehensible actions. *Thinking too deeply just makes things troublesome.*
What are you wearing to the festival?
Just this, with a robe over it.
It wasn't a gathering of nobles, and they were Elves, so there was no particular reason to dress up. If anything, the Elves tended to dress more casually.
Then I'll pick out a robe for you.
*Really?*
I can just wear anything.
But since she was the one who had bought the robe for him, he just quietly swallowed his thoughts. She was trying to be considerate in her own way, and telling her it wasn't necessary would be a bit awkward.
In the end, Franz was stuck with Arian for a while longer.
* * * * *
The next day.
I'm off.
Franz, wearing the robe Arian had chosen, left the Magic Tower, seen off by her.
Snap.
Franz snapped his fingers, and everything around him changed. The towering Magic Tower vanished without a trace, and giant trees now stood before Franz's eyes. He had arrived at the Great Forest.
He could have gone straight to the World Tree, but he refrained, as Elves seemed to have a habit of shooting arrows when startled. Indeed, they send letters with arrows, so that habit makes sense, he thought.
Franz thought as he stepped towards the World Tree, the heart of the Great Forest.
*'Yes, this is the Great Forest.'*
Last time, the branches had been grotesquely twisted by the influence of demonic energy, but now they stretched out straight. It was truly a properly grown tree.
Yustia should see this. It's a shame.
She had never seen the beautiful Great Forest. Her first sight of it had been its grotesque, demon-corrupted form, which was simply regrettable.
How long did he walk, enjoying the fresh scent of grass? Soon, the Elf Settlement was close, and the massive World Tree was right in front of him.
You are the small human who saved me.
Suddenly, Franz felt a voice echoing in his mind. It was as if he had received a Telepathic Message.
However, Mana Detection revealed nothing. There was no Mage anywhere who could have sent a Telepathic Message.
Which meant...
Franz's gaze turned to the colossal tree directly in front of him, the World Tree.
Yes, it is I, the World Tree. Did you not save me?
...What is this now?
The tree was talking.