Chapter 26: Demi-Humans (1)

Humans began to forge their own path.

Using the gifts I had given them as a stepping stone, very slowly, little by little. But surely.

The one I gave the crown to started enthusiastically leading people, and then began to merge surrounding human groups.

Sometimes through persuasion. Sometimes through force. The owner of the crown created an even larger group by merging other human groups.

It wouldn't be strange to see this as the birth of a primitive state.

Well, this did lead to food shortages, but they were somehow managing to fill the lack of food through farming learned from the Lizardmen, fishing using the thread I gave them, and exchanging obsidian needed by the Lizardmen for food.

On top of that, they were making pottery by baking clay in fire, and crudely making clothes by weaving leather with thread and needle. The sight of humans, though a bit slow, was definitely one of progress.

Hmm. Good. It seems I can reduce the gifts now. How nice it is to see them finding their own way.

At least it's good that I don't have to intervene.

Let's try to watch over the humans without interfering if possible. If I interfere with every little thing, it'll be troublesome for me and for the humans.

I'll only help with problems that humans can't handle on their own.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Time passes as I observe the humans like this.

Enough time for the owner of the crown to change several times. A world where humans have spread to every corner of the continent, to the point where places without humans are now rarer.

While looking around such a world.

「Mom. Do you have a moment?」

Yggdrasil's voice came from a nearby tree.

"Yggdrasil?"

「Yes. It's me, Yggdrasil. I have something I'd like to consult about, is it possible to talk?」

For Yggdrasil, who had been reflecting at its main body for a long time, to approach me... This is unusual.

Well, I do think it has reflected enough.

"What's the matter?"

「Well... Could you come to my main body? It would be quicker to explain if you come.」

"To your main body?"

A tree as large as a mountain. A huge tree located in the northwest of the continent. The largest tree among the plants that have been there since this world was created.

Such a Yggdrasil was calling for me.

Since the end of the Age of Dragons, it had been constantly reflecting at its main body, so I had been waiting... For it to call me. What could be happening?

Although puzzled, I flew towards where Yggdrasil's main body was.

"Why did you call me?"

「You came quickly, Mom.」

Well, crossing a continent isn't a difficult task for me.

It's something that can be done in minutes.

「What I want to consult with you about, Mom... Well, it's...」

Yggdrasil moved one of its branches to point towards its base, where a large number of humans were gathered closely together.

「These people have started gathering around me, and I don't know what to do.」

Yggdrasil's voice as it said this had a strangely flustered feel to it.

「I haven't reflected enough to face you yet, Mom... But these people keep gathering around me... I don't know what to do...」

Hmm. Is that so?

It seems this child still feels guilty towards me.

Well, I didn't get that angry, so its guilt must have grown that much.

Even though that anger has already dissipated.

"It's okay. You've reflected enough by now."

「But...」

"You don't need to blame yourself so much. Haven't you reflected enough?"

Yggdrasil didn't respond to my words.

"Let's put that matter aside for now, are you troubled because of those humans?"

「Huh? Ah, yes... It is troubling. Really troubling.」

To the extent of troubling Yggdrasil. What are those humans doing?

「They... have started worshipping me.」

"Hmm?"

Worship?

「At first, they were humans who came to the forest where I am to look for food, but when they saw me, they silently knelt down and bowed. Then they went back and brought other humans, and the new humans also bowed, and brought more humans... This kept repeating and...」

The number of humans around Yggdrasil's base easily exceeded several hundred.

"So you're saying you're troubled because of them. Then should I chase them away for you?"

「Ah, no! That's not it. It's not that kind of trouble...」

Yggdrasil hesitated for a moment, then said:

「Can I... take them in?」

What, did it call me just for this?

After the dragons made a mess, the children, especially Yggdrasil, felt a lot of guilt.

I never thought it would rely on me even for such a trivial matter...

"You can do as you like. You don't need to feel guilty about the past anymore. And haven't you reflected enough by now?"

「But...」

"A lot of time has passed since that incident. My anger has subsided now, so don't worry."

Honestly, Yggdrasil was largely caught up in it due to being swayed by the other children. It might even feel a bit unfair.

「The reason I'm hesitating isn't that. I've been watching you for years, Mom. I can tell at a glance whether your anger has subsided or not.」

Hm? It's not that?

「The reason I'm hesitating is... These humans are creatures that you especially cherish, Mom, so is it okay for me to take them in?」

"Hm?"

I especially cherish? Humans?

「You especially cherish them, don't you? Humans?」

Is, is that so?

I thought deeply. Did I especially cherish humans?

Of course, I gave them various gifts, made a crown for them, and paid special attention to them... Hmm...

Oh my, did I... show extreme favoritism?

No, wait, I didn't think I was showing favoritism? Was I actually favoring them?

Come to think of it, I never gave gifts or anything to the dragons, and instead they only caused me trouble and I ended up getting angry at them...

As for gifts to the Lizardmen... I fixed one spear, and taught them farming and fire... Hmm...

I showed extreme favoritism, didn't I?

No, I was originally human too. And I felt sorry for the humans who had just emerged from monkeys. So I ended up taking care of them in various ways... Hmm...

I should reflect. Reflect.

「Could it be, you didn't realize it?」

"I, I see..."

To think I was favoring humans... Hmm...

Indeed, blood is thicker than water.

"Anyway, it's fine for you to take in those humans. It seems they want to worship you too."

「Really? Then I'll take care of them! I won't make the same mistake again!」

Yggdrasil speaks confidently. The guilt has disappeared from its voice.

Although it said it wasn't, it must have been hesitating because I got angry.

Well then... Shall we look forward to seeing how the humans taken in by Yggdrasil will develop?

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Elves.

World Tree. Children of Yggdrasil. Guardians of the Great Forest and People of the Quiet Forest.

They are a Demi-Human race with beauty incomparable to humans and live much longer lives than humans.

With magical aptitude incomparable to humans and spirit affinity that allows them to converse with spirits. And with their agile movements and amazing archery skills, each of them is a scout, archer, and mage with formidable skills.

Most adventurers acknowledge their skills, and if you go on an adventure with an elf companion, that adventure is likely to succeed with high probability.

But even such elves had their drawbacks.

If you travel with them, you have to be careful even with a single tree branch.

You might think, just a single tree branch? But for them, who are people of the quiet forest and children of the World Tree, trees are no different from family.

From the moment an elf accompanies you, breaking a tree branch is no different from breaking a family member's arm.

Naturally, using tree branches to make a fire is also unthinkable, and saying you'll cut down a tree is like declaring a life-or-death battle with an elf.

Of course, not all elves are so inflexible. Especially those elves who are open-minded enough to become adventurers.

It's a task that requires consulting with an elf and getting permission after talking to the tree just to break one branch and make one piece of firewood.

If it's an adventure into the forest, you might have a comfortable adventure using an elf as a guide, or you might have a troublesome adventure suffering from the elf's nagging.

Other than that, we can mention their somewhat unique food culture. It's said that they, who consider trees as family, basically don't eat meals but sunbathe or eat meat.

You might wonder what on earth it means to fill your stomach with sunbathing... But since they themselves say so, and there are actually elves who spend a whole month without eating, only drinking water and sunbathing... It might be a kind of blessing bestowed by the World Tree.

Even scholars who studied the ecology of such elves concluded that they couldn't understand by what principle this happens.

Therefore, when adventuring with them, it's best to prepare mainly meat-based food if possible.

If you can't do that, you'll face an elf who drinks only water with slightly resentful eyes throughout meal times.

Anyway, despite such inconveniences, an elf will be a powerful companion worth traveling with.

Ah, of course, if you're a dwarf, that's a different story.

- From the Guide for Adventurers Exploring the World.

Chapter on Demi-Humans. Elf section.