Chapter 64
Franz headed towards the World Tree with Hera. It seemed the World Tree was about to prove something.
“Franz, if that was a joke, I hope you’ll retract it now…. After all, the World Tree is a sensitive topic for elves. W-well, it doesn’t concern me. If you, my Master, say a tiny sprout is the World Tree, I’d believe it, but my kin…”
Hera still couldn't believe that Franz had conversed with the World Tree.
Yes, that much was understandable. He had honestly expected her not to believe it.
But did she really need to say what she said after that? He wasn't angry, and there seemed to be no reason for her to rush to make excuses.
Our child is quite zealous, isn't she? But please understand, she's trying to repay you somehow.
Yes, I'm trying my best to understand.
He had already agreed to accept her as a slave, so he had no intention of going back on that.
But she wasn't a Slave yet, was she? She had said she would become a Slave only after all the elves were saved, so she wouldn't become one, at least while he was alive.
But why was she already acting like a slave? It wasn't a money loan, so why was she trying to *borrow* slave treatment?
Even with a hundred concessions, he still couldn't understand Hera's thoughts.
Tell the child to raise her hands above her head.
“Hera, the World Tree says to raise your hands above your head.”
“Hands? Palms up?”
Hera tilted her head and raised her hands above her head.
Yes, palms up is fine.
“Palms up, it says.”
“Hmm, alright.”
Hera nodded.
And so, Hera stood stiffly before the World Tree, her hands raised above her head.
After a short while, *tap—*, a leaf fell onto her palm.
*Could that really be the proof…?*
Naturally, Franz couldn't help but question it. Proof should be something undeniably clear, but this was an ambiguous situation that felt both like proof and not.
However, it seemed to be a little different for Hera.
“Oh…? Why is it a new sprout…?”
Hera lowered her hand and stared at the leaf, her eyes wide.
Then, she showed the leaf to Franz.
“Franz, look at this…! A new sprout! It’s a new sprout…!”
“Why is that…?”
It was indeed as she said. The leaf was enormous, befitting the name World Tree, but its soft, pale green color clearly marked it as a new sprout.
But what was so special about that?
As Franz pondered this, Hera continued.
“The World Tree never drops new sprouts. Never.”
“Really?”
“That’s right. But for this to have fallen into my hand precisely…”
Hera trailed off, turning her head. Her gaze landed on the colossal ancient tree, the World Tree.
“I-it’s really true…?”
Hera’s eyes were filled with a complex mix of surprise, awe, and joy.
It was the first time he had seen her look so happy.
Not even when they subjugated the Demon Lord had she been this ecstatic.
[Child, is that enough now?]
Thank you for saving me.
He hadn't expected such a simple thing to serve as proof, but since it was a good outcome, he decided not to dwell on it.
The only problem was that Hera seemed a little *too* excited.
“Franz, could you tell me again what the World Tree said?!”
“It said thank you for protecting it. It said it survived thanks to you.”
“Thank you, truly thank you. Franz, you really are…”
Hera spoke in a voice that sounded on the verge of tears, stepping closer. Her sparkling green eyes held only Franz. Franz was momentarily flustered at the distance where he could see her eyelashes.
[Oh dear, I'm sorry, but I don't have hands, so I can't cover my eyes, can I?]
*...It's a tree, but it has eyes?*
Isn't that quite rude?
It's a joke. And it's not like that, so don't misunderstand.
Franz sighed inwardly, then reached out and gently tapped Hera's head. It was the highest praise Franz could offer. This was enough of a reward for her, who wished to be a Slave.
“Good job.”
He didn't forget to add a few words, just in case. He felt he had treated her sufficiently like a Slave; surely she was satisfied?
“I-I suffered, but what did I do well…?”
Hera’s gaze, which had been fixed on Franz, slowly dropped, eventually settling completely on the ground.
Her ears, peeking out from her hair, were flushed red and kept twitching.
She's embarrassed.
Indeed, receiving praise could be embarrassing. Franz understood her feelings perfectly.
“Hera, shall I give you a Doongsil-doongsil ride too?”
Seeing her like this for the first time, Franz felt a mischievous urge.
In response, Hera raised her bowed head, revealing wide, surprised eyes.
“W-what do you mean…!”
“Oh, the little kids liked it.”
“I don’t particularly like being confined like that…. Ah, no, that’s not right. Anything you do for me is good. Please, do it for me too.”
This wasn't what he intended. Hera actually accepting it left him flustered.
“Come on, quickly. Give me a Doong, Doongsil-doongsil or whatever it is.”
Hera spread her arms towards Franz as if asking for a hug.
Franz scratched his head, looking troubled. After all, giving a ride to a grown adult, and the Chieftain at that, was quite awkward. He also worried that if other elves saw it, they might gossip.
Oh my, both of you are quite excited, aren't you? Are you doing this on purpose for me to see?
Why would we do it on purpose? I'm dying of embarrassment here.
[Then shouldn't you have kept your mouth shut?]
That was a valid point, leaving him speechless. He couldn't take back words already spoken. Moreover, with Hera looking at him with such anticipation, what else could he do?
*Tap—*.
Franz had no choice but to snap his fingers.
“Oof?!”
A Transparent Sphere formed around Hera then floated into the air.
At the same time, Hera let out a strange exclamation.
“Oh, oh, Franz…! I’m floating now…!”
Hera smiled like a bright child.
Was floating in the air really that enjoyable?
It seemed Hera would love amusement park rides.
Well, there was no chance of returning to reality, let alone an amusement park.
By the way, he thought the World Tree had promised to repay him for saving it….
The children were playing so sweetly, and I forgot too.
*I told you, we're not like that...*
Well, never mind that. Both of you, come a little closer.
He really didn't like how it was trying to gloss over things.
But since there was nothing he could do, he just let it go.
*Being in a relationship with Hera….*
He had never thought about it, so he wasn't sure, but considering her recent behavior, it didn't seem too bad.
Except for her acting like a slave, that is. But if you took that away, she wouldn't be Hera.
Franz lightly shook his head, clearing his thoughts. It was an impossible assumption from the start, so there was no reason to think about it.
“Hera, the World Tree says to come a little closer.”
“Huh? Then I should get down…”
Hera’s voice held a subtle hint of regret.
It seemed she really enjoyed being confined in the sphere and floating in the air.
“I’ll give you another ride next time.”
“R-really?!”
“Yes, so let’s just go for now.”
“Alright…!”
Hera nodded in response, and Franz lowered her to the ground.
The two then approached the World Tree a little closer.
[Could you wait a moment? I'll prepare a gift for you now.]
A gift…?
As Franz pondered this, the World Tree’s trunk began to writhe, and then something popped out. A wooden staff and a bow emerged from the trunk.
*Are these the gifts?*
That's right. Take them.
Once the World Tree gave its permission,
“Hera, it says to take these. They’re gifts.”
Franz said, picking up the staff placed before him. It looked quite sturdy, yet it was as light as a feather. And the blue orb at the tip of the staff was truly beautiful. More than anything, he felt an unbelievable power holding the staff in his hand. It seemed several times stronger than the short wooden stick the Princess had.
I'd be crazy not to accept this.
Franz immediately extended the staff forward and cast a spell. A red Magic Circle appeared at the tip of the staff, and then a small fireball materialized.
It was 1st Circle Magic, Fire.
Pew—.
The small fireball, launched from the Magic Circle, shot towards the sky. And not long after,
KABOOM—!
It exploded with an enormous roar.
[O-oh, you startled me…!]
*…I apologize.*
He had thought it would be powerful, but he never imagined it would be *this* much.
If he had had a weapon like this earlier, he could've dealt with the Demon Lord by himself.
No, he would've blown up the Demon Lord's Castle along with him.
“Franz, this is truly incredible. With this, I feel like I could hit enemies even outside the Great Forest.”
Just as the staff Franz received was extraordinary, the bow Hera received was equally impressive.
As the two were delighting in the gifts from the World Tree,
“Chieftain…! A problem has arisen; you need to come quickly!”
“All right! I’ll be right there!”
Hera, responding to the urgent elf’s words, immediately bowed her head towards the World Tree.
“World Tree, thank you. I will use this to protect the elves and the Great Forest.”
You are indeed kind. Where else would I find such a child? How do you like her?
Well, she *was* kind.
Hera had always been kind, actually. She just had a strong animosity towards Humans.
“Franz, I have something to attend to, so I’ll be going first. We’ll postpone Doongsil-doongsil for a bit.”
“All right, go on.”
Hera hurried off towards the Elf Settlement, where festival preparations were in full swing.
She still didn't forget Doongsil-doongsil, though.
He was so dumbfounded that a chuckle escaped him.
Thank you. I'll use it well.
Yes, please cherish our child too.
*I told you, we're not like that...*
He didn't know why it kept trying to link them that way, but it wasn't true, anyway.
Franz sighed inwardly and headed towards the Elf Settlement.
Later, as evening fell. Franz, sitting on a tree stump and eating, heard something outrageous from Hera.
“Franz, would you consider becoming the Chieftain of the elves…?”
…What in the world was that…?
It seemed Hera had gone a little strange.