Chapter 146
Franz arrived at the Great Forest, densely packed with towering trees.
As internal combustion engines had yet to develop, the air in this world was quite clean, but the air in the Great Forest was on a completely different level.
To the point where just breathing it in made him feel his body grow healthier.
It made him realize that sick patients didn’t recuperate in the forest unnecessarily.
As he was walking along the path like that, a voice suddenly echoed in his head.
[Our baby is here…!]
The owner of the rather excited voice was none other than the World Tree.
Both the Goddess Luan and the World Tree seemed to be proving to be different from what he had expected over time.
Unlike gods, they were ordinary and lighthearted.
Well, it wasn’t something he necessarily needed to care about.
'I was a bit late because I had various things to take care of. I apologize.'
[Apologize? It’s commendable enough that you didn’t forget and came to visit.]
'Have there been any problems in the meantime?'
[There haven’t been any major issues since that day. Thank you for worrying.]
Franz was more wary of his workload increasing than actually worried about her, but he didn’t particularly reveal it.
Either way, it was up to her how she accepted it.
[However, with your personality, I doubt you came just to see me…]
'I suppose I must have seemed that heartless.'
He said that, but she wasn’t exactly wrong.
If it had been just to have a conversation with the World Tree, Franz wouldn’t have come to the Great Forest.
[You came to see our child.]
'…I won’t deny it.'
[But the child is currently out…]
At the World Tree’s words, Franz stopped his steps.
Talk about bad timing; why did she have to be out the very day he came to visit?
He had made time to visit amidst his busy work schedule, so this was going to throw off his plans.
[W-wait, are you seriously thinking of just turning back?! W-what about me?!]
'…I am not that heartless a person.'
He did consider just going back, but that didn’t seem polite to the World Tree.
Since he had made the trip all the way here, he also thought he might as well exchange greetings with the Elves.
It wasn’t something he had wished for, but he was in the position of Grand Chieftain, after all.
[I-I never thought that. Anyway, what a relief.]
He could hear the World Tree letting out a sigh of relief.
It seemed she had been quite lonely without anyone to talk to.
Conversing with the World Tree as he walked, Franz arrived at the Elf Settlement before he knew it.
“Grand Chieftain-!”
An Elf who lightly jumped from a tree approached Franz with a bright smile.
They had definitely exchanged names at some point, but he couldn’t remember his name.
Then again, they only met very occasionally, so it was a given.
“Ah, have you been well?”
Since, as the Grand Chieftain, he couldn’t show the disgrace of not even knowing a tribe member’s name, Franz played along appropriately.
He just didn’t have to mention the name, after all.
“I’ve been well, thanks to you. What business brings you here today?”
“I came to see Hera, but it seems she’s away.”
“You already know. I recall her saying she was going to meet the Hero.”
For what business would Hera seek out Yuna?
Was something else about to happen?
Franz soon shook his head to erase such doubts.
He could just ask her when they met later, so there was no reason to worry about it now.
“To have come here even knowing the Chieftain was absent means…”
“Wouldn’t it be a shame not to say hello after coming all this way?”
“Grand Chieftain…!”
The Elf looked at Franz as if deeply moved.
Though Franz, who didn’t even know his name, only felt his guilt grow.
While walking and having a short conversation with him like that, Franz entered deep into the settlement.
The passing Elves cast glances at the foreign presence, and as soon as they realized it was Franz, they immediately changed direction toward him.
“Grand Chieftain, it’s a pleasure to see you.”
“It’s been a while. Have you been well?”
The number of nameless Elves gradually increased.
Accordingly, the beads of sweat on Franz’s forehead also increased.
He was definitely regulating his temperature with magic, so why was he sweating so much?
“Since you liked the fruit wine during the festival, we have prepared a lot of it. You can take as much as you need.”
“…Haha, then I’ll take just a little.”
Having drunk fruit wine and behaved so disgracefully toward Hera, it naturally remained a bad memory.
But that was entirely his own problem for failing to control himself.
There was no way the fruit wine was at fault, so there was no reason to refuse.
He had occasionally thought of it since he only ever drank regular wine, so it worked out well.
“Master Doongsil-doongsil-!”
Along with the cheerful voices of young children, small Elves rushed at him.
“Yeah, have you been well?”
“Yeah, we’ve been doing well.”
Snap-.
As Franz snapped his fingers, the children’s bodies floated into the air, trapped in a transparent sphere.
It was obvious they were going to ask him to do it anyway, so he beat them to the punch.
Kyahaha - the children laughed as if they were having fun, and the adults struck up unfinished conversations.
It was only after being pestered by the Elves for a long time that Franz could resume his journey.
After walking past the trees for a while, a massive tree that was more than just a tree stood before his eyes.
The World Tree’s voice was heard in his head.
[Did you enjoy exchanging greetings?]
'Yes, though being welcomed was a bit awkward…'
Franz answered like that and sat on a suitable stump nearby.
The warm sunlight shone down, and a cool breeze blew, tickling his cheeks.
[I heard from Luan that you are gathering the holy relics. I wonder if it might be difficult or bothersome for you.]
'Well, it would be a lie to say I don’t feel that way at all, but it’s still manageable.'
[Thank you for working hard for the sake of the world.]
'Am I the only one working hard for the sake of the world?'
The World Tree he was conversing with right now, the Goddess Luan who was likely watching this from somewhere, and even the farmers who were just ordinarily farming were all working hard for the sake of the world.
There was merely a difference in methods.
So there was no reason to hear such words.
Afterward, Franz had a brief conversation with the World Tree before getting up.
There was no particularly special conversation. They had just talked about their daily lives.
If he had to pick something out of it, it would be that the World Tree gossiped about the Goddess.
Other than that…
'She did press me about when I was going to marry Hera, though.'
Saying she wanted to see a child while she was still alive or something.
It was such an absurd remark that he appropriately ignored it and moved on.
In the first place, a being that lived eternally saying such a thing was a contradiction.
Well then, since his business here was finished, it was time to go to the Esteban Ducal Residence.
Since she said Hera went to meet Yuna, he would be able to see both of them if he went there.
Snap-.
As he snapped his fingers, a magic circle was drawn beneath his feet, and the surrounding scenery soon changed.
He had moved from the forest where trees grew densely to the front of a massive mansion.
But come to think of it, wasn’t it a bit impolite to visit so suddenly like this?
He felt he should have at least contacted them.
'Still, well, it is nominally my house, after all…'
Thinking there wouldn’t be a big problem, he took a step forward.
“Lady Yuna, you’ve return… E-eh?”
The first to greet Franz as he opened the mansion’s door was a servant with light brown hair.
He was sure she was said to be the second daughter of a nearby baronial house.
Because he had personally paid attention to the process of hiring servants, he remembered it clearly.
“D-Duke Esteban?! I apologize for not recognizing you!”
The servant widened her eyes and hurriedly bowed her head.
“No, it’s fine. I came without any notice, after all. More importantly, it’s been a while.”
Because he was still not used to the title of Duke Esteban, Franz scratched his head for no reason.
Well, it was still a hundred times better than being called a saint, though.
'Is Yuna out?'
Judging by the reaction she showed when he opened the door and came in, it was reasonable to assume Yuna was not in the mansion.
Franz’s magic detection was also proving that. Neither Hera’s nor Yuna’s magic was inside the mansion.
If so, there was no reason to stay here any longer.
“Keep my visit today a secret. I’ll come visit officially later.”
“S-secret…! Understood…!”
The servant nodded with a resolute expression, as if she had heard some national secret.
Franz gave her a casual wave and slipped out of the mansion.
Then now he had to find where Yuna and Hera were.
That wasn’t a very difficult task.
As Franz lightly stepped forward, an invisible wave spread out from beneath his feet.
The wave reached out to find Hera and Yuna’s magic, and he was soon able to locate the two of them at a nearby lake.
Come to think of it, she had said she wanted to raise fish in a pond.
Turning his head to look at the mansion’s garden, a plausible pond had newly appeared.
At that, Franz let out a 'Pfft-' chuckle and snapped his fingers.
It was time to go meet Yuna and Hera.