Chapter 65: Those Who Can Never Be Forgiven (16)

Today, my steps felt unusually light.

Though the snow still blanketed the ground, causing my feet to sink with every step, there were no mountains or lakes in sight.

The relief of walking along relatively flat terrain without having to circle around obstacles filled me with happiness.

I couldn’t help but feel grateful to Ariel for guiding us.

The easier the journey, the chattier the group became.

Kaellia, for one, couldn’t seem to stop talking.

Most of her stories were nonsensical and impossible to follow, but what caught my attention was Laura’s silence.

Laura, the mage of the beastkin, was often synonymous with shamelessness.

Even if the disaster of the warrior’s inability to control his mesmerizing gaze wasn’t her fault, her constant attempts to seduce him were insufferable.

Yet today, she was uncharacteristically subdued, showing no interest in any seductive antics.

Curious about her sudden change in demeanor, I took a moment to ask her what was wrong.

Her response was vague—she said she wasn’t sure herself.

I wondered if something had happened the previous night, but there were no noticeable signs, and Laura herself insisted nothing was wrong.

In any case, since she wasn’t clinging to the warrior today, there wasn’t much to worry about.

As long as I avoided the “stabbed ending,” that was enough for me.

Honestly, it was a relief to see her being quiet and reserved for once, rather than muttering under her breath or giving me pointed glares.

“We’re almost there,” Ariel announced.

“Wow…”

“This is the sacred land of the Elves…”

“Isn’t the tree enormous?” Kaellia said proudly.

Before we knew it, the World Tree came into view.

The sacred land of the Elves, devoid of even a simple checkpoint, seemed protected by the barrier that caused all non-Elves to wander aimlessly.

Although some of the Elves spotted us and cast wary glances, Ariel’s presence ensured we faced no trouble.

As we reached the center of the forest, the enormous branches of the World Tree stretched across the sky, overshadowing everything below.

The snow gathered beneath it sparkled in a myriad of colors, reflecting the light in dazzling hues.

Both the warrior and I couldn’t help but let out murmurs of awe.

Kaellia, overjoyed by our reaction, enthusiastically began explaining everything around us.

Her cheerful, carefree demeanor might have seemed excessive, but it was endearing to see someone so unburdened by worry.

“All Elves are born from the World Tree!” she exclaimed. “It’s like our mother.”

“…It didn’t always look like this, though,” Ariel added quietly.

“Huh?”

Ariel’s comment turned the conversation to the past.

While Kaellia spoke with pride about the Elves’ culture and the World Tree, Ariel’s expression was tinged with sadness.

He recounted a time 300 years ago when this land had been a lush, green forest instead of a perpetually snowy wasteland.

The World Tree, while not a heroine in the story, also bore the blessings of the gods.

It distributed vitality across the entire continent and erected barriers that prevented the demons from interfering with this world.

However, as the demonic energy grew overwhelming, the demons launched their invasion, catching the unsuspecting Elves off guard.

The forest burned, and the World Tree came close to destruction.

The Hero’s Party, with the help of Kaellia and the unyielding stone, entered the White Mirage Forest to secure the World Tree’s seed.

Though the sight of a snowy forest ablaze was odd, the flames were conjured from demonic energy, making it a feasible artistic liberty within the game’s narrative.

“Long ago, this forest and the World Tree were bathed in vibrant green. That was 300 years ago,” Ariel said wistfully.

“Do you know why it changed?” I asked cautiously.

Ariel sighed and shook his head. “I don’t. All we know is that it happened during the war, and humans had something to do with it. That’s why you should be careful.”

“Humans…?” I asked, taken aback.

“You’ll understand soon enough,” Ariel replied cryptically. “Though I believe it’s an unfounded assumption.”

I had hoped Ariel might know more, but his answer was vague. The idea that humans were somehow responsible for the forest’s transformation puzzled me, but I had no opportunity to press further.

“Ariel, thank you for guiding them here,” a voice called from ahead.

An elderly Elf with a wooden staff approached. Ariel gave him a small nod before departing, but not before whispering in my ear, “Don’t get your hopes up.”

The elderly Elf introduced himself. “I am Mateis, and I serve as a representative for Her Majesty. Since you didn’t come here without reason, let’s get straight to the point.”

Once inside a quiet chamber within the tree, Mateis’s sharp tone filled the air. The warrior clenched his fists, sensing the tension. We had no time to waste, so we accepted the Elf’s blunt approach. After all, we hadn’t expected a warm welcome or a celebratory feast.

“We came here on the guidance of Selene’s final words,” the warrior began.

“Selene…” Mateis murmured, his eyes narrowing. “A name I have not heard in a long time.”

From his reaction, it was clear that Mateis, having lived for so long, had once met Selene.

“The Five Heroes… Now, only Selene and Her Majesty remain. To hear her name from a human… So, what were her words?”

“She said that only the life of an Elf, the breath of a dragon, and the courage of a human could restore the Holy Sword.”

The warrior hesitated for a moment, glancing at me before falling silent. Was he hiding something from me? Or was he simply embarrassed that we had come all this way for what might seem like a mere power-up item?

“Elven life…” Mateis said with a bitter smile. “Humans never change.”

Though his expression softened, there was no mistaking the bitterness in his tone.

The atmosphere grew heavier as Mateis explained the Elves’ history.

They were the firstborn of the gods, tasked with nurturing the world and protecting the World Tree.

During the war against the Demon King, they had taken the lead.

However, the war left them with a withering World Tree and a queen corrupted by demonic energy.

With little strength remaining, Mateis declared that they could no longer lend the power of the World Tree to humanity.

The tension was palpable. It wasn’t just Mateis—most Elves likely believed that humanity’s over-reliance on the World Tree’s vitality during the war had hastened its decline.

The blessings of life, which enriched the lands and stabilized the climate, were now all but depleted.

What should we do? The warrior was still too weak to defeat the Demon King.

This lewd RPG world demanded that the hero grow stronger by deepening his bonds with heroines and exploiting their powers.

But with the magic crystal absorption rates low and only Natalia and Laura as allies, our options were limited.

As I wrestled with these thoughts, Mateis finally spoke again.

“The first Saintess, Lina, once told me, ‘When the World Tree begins to lose its strength, offer prayers alongside the Saintess.’ Before asking the Elves for help, perhaps humanity should first extend its hand.”