Chapter 63
Franz's steps halted at the sudden sound of the World Tree's voice.
*'A tree is talking?'*
He already knew the World Tree was an extraordinary tree. It often appeared as a truly magnificent entity in subculture.
Even Franz, who had personally fought the World Tree, felt the same way. From the rays emanating from its flowers to its infinitely regenerating vitality, no matter how he thought about it, it was hard to consider it an ordinary tree. Its very name, 'World' Tree, spoke volumes. It had to be that magnificent.
But he didn't know it could talk.
If an animal had spoken, it would have more or less understood and accepted it. After all, it has brains and can think in its own way.
But a tree is different. Since it has no brain, it naturally shouldn't be able to think, so he wondered how on earth it had spoken.
[Child, it seems you're having very disrespectful thoughts.]
Franz was momentarily stunned by the World Tree's words, as if it had read his mind.
*'It must be my imagination...?'*
Even if it could talk, there's no way it could read thoughts....
[If you are within the Great Forest, reading thoughts is also possible.]
So it said.
Since it had given him an answer even though Franz hadn't spoken aloud, the fact that the World Tree could read thoughts was undeniably true.
*'That's a bit scary.'*
They say humans feel fear of the unknown, don't they? Since it was his first encounter with a Transcendent Being like the World Tree, it was only natural to feel fear. Most of all, the fact that it could see right through his thoughts was unsettling.
[I didn't mean to scare you. I apologize.]
*'It's all right.'*
The World Tree had merely stated the facts, so there was no way it was at fault. Rather, it could even be seen as kind, in that it honestly answered the questions Franz had.
*'But for what purpose did you speak to me...?'*
Franz was inwardly uneasy. Every time something unexpected happened, annoying incidents occurred.
And this time, the World Tree itself had spoken to him. Just thinking about an incident of that scale made his head spin.
Fortunately, Franz's worries proved to be unfounded.
[I merely wanted to express my gratitude, so you don't have to worry too much. After all, I wouldn't assign tasks to the benefactor who saved me, would I?]
*'Ah, my apologies.'*
Since he had never had his thoughts read like this before, he ended up having unnecessary thoughts. It was needlessly embarrassing.
Anyway, since the World Tree itself had given a definitive 'no', Franz could breathe a sigh of relief.
*'But I didn't really do anything.'*
[You don't have to be humble. I see everything, so I speak.]
It wasn't humility; he really hadn't done anything special. Although he had used magic to fight, it was merely the equivalent of a light stretch. His fingers tingled a bit from snapping them too much, but that much could be overlooked.
Honestly, Yustia did all the hard work. When the purification was complete, her entire body was drenched in sweat.
[I don't know what 'stretching' is, but I understand that you didn't exert much effort.]
*'Yeah, well...'*
Rather than not exerting effort, it was closer to deliberately holding back. If he had used too powerful magic, the World Tree itself might have been harmed.
[Thank you for being considerate.]
*'...'*
Franz stopped thinking. Because the World Tree kept reading his thoughts, needlessly embarrassing situations kept occurring.
Anyway.
*'Please give your thanks to Yustia or Hera later.'*
[Unfortunately, that's impossible. Honestly, I spoke to you with a half-doubtful heart. Usually, people cannot hear God's Voice.]
*'Is that so?'*
[Perhaps the Goddess's little one might be able to hear, but that child is already receiving the love of another god, isn't she?]
Hera would really like it if she heard praise from the World Tree. Well, he could tell her separately later. Though he didn't know if she'd believe him.
As Franz walked, conversing with the World Tree, he arrived near the Elf Settlement.
“Who goes there—!”
This time, the voice came from outside, not from within his head.
Franz turned his head in the direction of the voice and saw an Elf drawing a bowstring from atop a tree.
“Oh, you’re...!”
Fortunately, it seemed his face was recognized, and the Elf lowered his guard and descended from the tree.
Franz lightly bowed his head in greeting.
“A pleasure to meet you.”
“My apologies for not recognizing you. You are, Sir Franz, correct?”
“Yes, that’s right.”
He never thought the day would come when an Elf other than Hera would call him by name. Living life, he certainly had many strange experiences.
[If you're talking about strange experiences, isn't the World Tree calling your name the strangest?]
Of course, that was true, but separate from that, with voices coming from both inside and outside simultaneously, it was so complicated it was killing him. His thoughts felt like they were about to spill out of his mouth.
“The Chieftain gave orders to escort Sir Franz directly to the village upon his arrival.”
“Ah, yes. Then let’s go right away.”
[Oh my, are you ignoring my words and answering that Elf's instead?]
“It’s not that...”
Franz ended up blurting out what he should have kept in his head.
At that, the Elf tilted his head.
“Pardon?”
“...It’s nothing.”
The Elf nodded his head and resumed his steps.
Franz sighed and followed him.
[My apologies, that prank was a bit much. It's because I met someone I can talk to after a long time. So, will you understand?]
*'Understood.'*
He never expected the World Tree to apologize.
No matter what, he couldn't block the voices flooding into his head, so Franz could only hope the World Tree would be patient.
Franz followed the Elf and soon arrived at their settlement. Traces of when it was eroded by demonic energy still remained in various places, but the situation seemed much better than back then.
“Oh my, it’s a Human.”
“Isn’t that the person who saved the Elves before?”
At the appearance of the short-eared Human, the busy Elves' gazes turned towards him. Perhaps because he was with an Elf, fortunately, it didn't feel particularly hostile. They merely seemed curious.
“Please wait a moment. I will speak to the Chieftain right away.”
The Elf who had been guiding him left Franz's side after saying that.
Franz, left alone among the many Elves, found their gazes burdensome and needlessly looked around.
Had he ever missed Hera this much? I miss her. I wish she'd come quickly and save me.
Just then.
“It’s Doongsil-doongsil Oppa!”
“It really is—!”
Small Elves appeared from somewhere and, with agile movements, hugged both of Franz's thighs. Even if they were small, Elves were still Elves, it seemed.
By the way, when would they change this 'Doongsil-doongsil Oppa' title? It wasn't a particularly bad feeling, but since he had a name, he wished they'd use that instead.
“It’s Franz.”
“Franz?”
“Yes, my name is Franz.”
“Doongsil-doongsil Franz...!”
That darn Doongsil-doongsil just wouldn't disappear. He should just give up. It would be faster than expecting it from young children.
“It’s our festival! The Chieftain said there’d be a festival!”
“Did Doongsil-doongsil Franz come for the festival too?!”
“Yes, I came for the festival.”
Did they even know what a festival was that they liked it so much? Broad smiles bloomed on the children's faces.
If he hadn't saved them that day, they would surely have been trembling on the cold ground. Franz felt a little proud of having saved the Elves.
[Thank you for protecting our children.]
*'Well, Hera did all of that too.'*
If the status window hadn't ordered it, if Hera hadn't asked, he wouldn't have saved the Elves. All he did was simply move as instructed.
Snap—.
Thinking that, Franz snapped his fingers. Then, a Transparent Sphere formed, enveloping the little Elves.
“Wow—! Doongsil-doongsil—!”
“It’s the Doongsil-doongsil festival—!”
As the sphere floated in the air, the Elves rolled around and giggled.
He had only thought of the little ones as annoying, but seeing them like this, he realized they seemed cute after all. This must be why everyone gets married and has children.
It was while Franz was playing with the little Elves like that.
“Franz...!”
Among the Elves, only one person called him Franz by name.
It was Hera. As if she had run all the way, she was panting.
“Did the children bother you or cause any trouble...?”
“Not really? I’m just playing with them because I want to.”
“If that’s the case, then that’s a relief...”
“More importantly, why did you run so fast? You could have just come slowly.”
“How could I walk when my Master has arrived? I should run even if I’m in the middle of work.”
...?
Franz felt as if he had been hit on the head with a hammer.
How on earth did she come up with such an answer? He was worried that her brain might have been enslaved too.
But the important thing was that he wasn't the only one who heard those words.
[Are you thinking of enslaving our children...?]
*'They said they wanted to become slaves on their own.'*
Your Honor, I am innocent. I'm telling you, she said she wanted to become a slave on her own.
Fortunately, the World Tree said nothing more after that. He didn't know if that was a good sign or a bad sign.
“Oh, right. The World Tree asked me to tell you its thanks.”
“Wh-what are you talking about? You mean you talked to the World Tree?”
Hera's eyes widened. She even stammered, so she seemed quite surprised. Indeed, since she had conversed with the god the Elves worshipped, it was a natural reaction, if anything.
“Well... it happened. If I call it now, it’ll probably appear.”
“Fr-Franz, your joke is too much. No matter what, the World Tree...”
It seemed Hera simply couldn't believe it. Honestly, it was hard to believe. Since it wasn't even an animal, but a tree that spoke, that was even more so.
[Didn't I say I wasn't a tree, but a god? More importantly, it seems you don't believe me, so come with him before me.]
Seeing that it asked them to come forward, Franz thought it seemed to want to prove something. Franz immediately relayed that to Hera.
“The World Tree is asking us to come forward for a moment.”
“L-let’s go for now.”
Hera's expression was still full of doubt. But since the World Tree would take care of it itself, it didn't really matter.
Soon, the two arrived before the World Tree.
“Th-that’s really true...?!”
Hera was startled and surprised at the World Tree proving itself.