Despite the invitation, Theo was forced to take a few days of rest.
Nobody had been killed or seriously injured in the fight against Laevateinn, but it had been a physically and mentally intense battle. Their Circles had been pushed to the limit, not to mention the mental and physical exhaustion. Only the Red Tower magicians, who were active elsewhere, weren’t affected.
Vince sat beside Theo’s body and said with a smile, “It was unavoidable, but I can’t help feeling ashamed that I had it easier than my disciple.”
“Wasn’t it also difficult for Master?”
“It was nothing compared to what you went through.”
The Red Tower magicians had reluctantly been excluded in the battle, since fire magic would have been meaningless against the legend ranked grimoire, Laevateinn. Even the master level Veronica wouldn’t have been able to help, let alone 6th Circle magicians.
Therefore, Orta had instructed them to capture the group which brought Laevateinn into the Great Forest. The Red Tower magicians’ frustration at not participating in the historic fight had been directed toward the unlucky arsonists. The arsonists had been blinded by money and ended up dealing with the war mages of the Red Tower, the famous elite troops of Meltor.
Of course, there were a few who had tried courageously to resist, but they were quickly reduced to gruesome lumps of charcoal.
It was a worthless battle.
Vince gazed at the ceiling thoughtfully. “I’ve been thinking about it for a bit, and I think it is a good idea to try spells of other attributes. At this age, I realized that I am still immature and there are many profound paths.”
“Ha, haha…”
Theo had no choice but to nod. Vince had entered the 6th Circle in his 50s while studying ancient languages, and now he wanted to learn spells of other attributes? Theo wondered if Vince would only sleep three or four hours a day. Having a curious heart which didn’t know how to stop was also a trait of a magician.
The two of them took the chance to have a private conversation. The serious conversations had taken place over a few nights, and now they were just waiting for people to come and get them.
The elves had been preparing a ‘festival’ along with the evacuated ents and dryads in the aftermath of the battle. The magicians who were stuck in their rooms hadn’t realized yet. But it didn’t take long for someone to knock on their door.
Edwin appeared at the door and spoke while bowing, “As my parents have ordered, I have come to collect the both of you.”
***
Like the last meeting, the elves guided the whole group together. However, the difference from that time was Edwin’s attitude toward the delegation, apart from Theo. Previously, the elves had been very polite. That aloofness was now a gentle friendliness.
Theo guessed the reason and nodded inwardly.
It seems like the fact that we destroyed Laevateinn was announced. If this were human history and not the history of Elvenheim, things wouldn’t flow so smoothly.
It was a cynical thought, but not wrong. Unlike the elves who prioritized returning favors over themselves, humans generally took care of themselves first. If this had happened in a place like the Austen Kingdom, they might have sent Theo as bait instead of providing support troops. Then once it was over, they would probably try to claim Theo’s work in defeating Laevateinn as their own. As such, it was hard to find a country which would publicly declare and treat foreigners as saviors.
However, the pleasant mood didn’t end there.
[Wait… a… minute… ] A hollow voice rang out.
Loud footsteps preceded the entrance of an ancient ent of the eastern forest. Little boys and girls, who seemed like fairies, sat on the branches and laughed while chatting.
The ent I saw last time… and the dryads as well?’ 𝒷𝒹ℴ𝓿𝓁.𝓬𝓸𝓂
Theo remembered their unfriendly attitude and wanted to step back.
However, the ent leader spoke up, [Great… person… you…]
“… Me?”
[… Inde… ed.] The answer was confusing, but the ent suddenly bowed to Theo.
The tree branches descended a few meters, so he couldn’t call it anything else.
[Sorr… y. And… forest… protecting… thank you.]
Then the dryads on the branches started speaking in a talkative manner.
[Thank you! Thank you!]
[Thank you and my apologies! I’m sorry and thank you!]
[Apples are delicious!]
[Sweet potatoes are delicious!]
There were many words Theo couldn’t understand, but he could recognize their sincerity. It seemed ents didn’t share the human trait of using words as weapons.
Theo smiled and reached out to a branch before his eyes. “I was also rude at the beginning, so I’m sorry.”
[… Me… as… well.]
“Yes, then let us reconcile.”
The ent paused for a moment before extending its finger like branches. It was a moment when two different species shook hands. After a moment of quiet communication, the two forest species returned to the eastern forest, while Edwin took the lead again.
Once again, a large knot hole greeted them. The White Tower Master’s interest in space doors was piqued once more as he stepped forward first and asked, “Can we pass through like last time?”
However, Edwin just stepped aside with a mysterious smile. The knot hole before them was humming and crying out.
“Yes. But the road doesn’t lead to the same place as last time. It is a good experience, so I think it is better for you to just enter than to hear it from me.”
“Hmm, I see.” Orta stroked his chin briefly before stepping in without any hesitation.
The sight of the white robe being swallowed by darkness was the same as before. Theo didn’t know what was beyond it, but he walked forward with a strange sense of anticipation. He wondered what Edwin would call a ‘good experience.’
.
The moment his entire body passed through the knot hole…
Huuuuong!
A brisk wind caused his red robe to flap. Theo felt like it was a wind he wouldn’t be able to find on the plains. Yet it had a tinge of freshness to it. Theo took a deep breath while his heart beat faster. Then he felt a strange familiarity and recalled the Miller Barony.
Is this place… a mountain?
This was similar to the wind he’d once felt when he climbed to the top of a hill in his childhood. Theo moved his hands reflexively and looked around. He was expecting a good view reminiscent of his distant memory.
Then his eyes and mouth opened wide at the same time.
“… Wow.”
The scenery that appeared was ridiculous.
He could only admire the world before him. White clouds floated at eye level, close enough for him to trail his fingers through them. The scenery below his feet truly made it seem like he was looking down at the ground from heaven. Was this the point of view that inspired priests to call on their gods?
Theodore Miller was literally walking above the sky. After a quick attempt at using magic to calculate the height, an amazing answer emerged.
…Eleven kilometers above the surface?!’
He calculated it again and again, but the result didn’t change. Orta, who had arrived first, gave him a similar answer.
“Eleven kilometers, or to be more exact, ten kilometers and eight hundred and twenty-four meters. If it wasn’t for the power of the world tree, it would be natural to freeze to death at this height. Breathing would be immensely difficult, but we seem to have avoided that problem.”
“I see… um?”
As people climbed a mountain, the air became thinner, making it hard to breathe. However, they had no problems breathing despite being at such a high altitude above the surface. It was possible due to the power of the world tree, an existence with the power of life.
Theo was shocked as he belatedly realized the meaning of the words. “W-World tree?! Tower Master, then this place…!”
A gentle voice confirmed their guess. “Yes, that is correct.”
The clouds parted around Lumia as the rest of the group arrived. Her smile was bright and her green eyes shone as she answered their questions.
“This is one of the branches of the world tree as well as a place you can’t enter unless we open the way for you.”
“The world tree, here…?”
“… What a ridiculous size.”
The ground beneath them, which was dozens of meters wide, was just a branch? As the magicians admired this fact, Lumia waved her arms toward the clouds. The clouds which blocked the rest of the path were removed, revealing the banquet hall.
The rest of the four high elves sat there.
“What the, you came too late!” Alisa grumbled as she had already eaten something.
Meanwhile, Ellenoa waved when she saw Theo. Naia was sleeping with her face on the table as always, while Alucard’s expression was somehow less dour than usual. Instead of being a national event, this was like a normal banquet, and Lumia recommended that they sit anywhere.
“Today’s banquet isn’t just between Meltor and Elvenheim, but an event to celebrate the saviors of the forest. So don’t distinguish between statuses and sit anywhere.”
“B-But…”
“Come on, it isn’t so hard. Please think of us as friends from now on.”
It wasn’t possible to refuse after hearing that. The delegation were forced to casually sit around the table, and Sylvia quickly took the seat to the right of Theo. Once everyone settled in their seats, Alucard decided to assume the role of host and opened his mouth.
Perhaps it was due to the mood, but his voice was a little more excited than usual.
“Then, I will now start the festival. The parent tree has blessed this meeting, and I hope we can change from distant neighbors to friends by its end. Just as you saved us from a crisis, we won’t sit back if you are ever in danger!”
“The grace and blessing of the world tree and its offspring. Meltor will treasure this covenant.”
As they lifted their cups, the voices of the high elves and humans joined as one.
“Cheers!”