Episode 799 Standby (2)
As soon as the bizarre howling of the undead ceased, the citizens of Arrain returned to their daily lives.
As residents of a land without a master, I was used to war, but it was the first time the dead had invaded, so it was true that I was somewhat uneasy; however, it ultimately resulted in my trust in Eon deepening even more.
Now, the gaze directed at the Golem unit is filled with relief rather than fear.
Various races gathered together at Lord Arrein’s castle, which is developing at a speed that cannot even be compared to that of several years ago.
Hmmm.
Gharun observed the ivory sword, [Shaiol], and the sun spear, [Latir]. His gaze was worthy of the reputation of a legend.At that extraordinary aura, even Merquien remained silent, quietly munching on his snacks.
Blueprint.
[here.]
Alpha tossed the old papyrus.
Gharun, who was examining—or rather, trying to examine—the detailed structure of the sword and spear, suddenly frowned and shook his head.
“What is this?”“I told you it would make you dizzy.”“What is it… Ugh!”
Merquien felt a pang of curiosity creep in, followed by a headache. Of course, as soon as he took his eyes off the blueprints, his vision returned to normal as if nothing had happened.
Verden asked.
“What are your thoughts?”“It’s a strange thing.”
Gharun stroked his beard.
“Even with the same materials and technology, you couldn’t make anything exactly like these. An unknown medium forms the core. Since you called it a miraculous artifact, it must be related to divine power. But you killed a guy called the God of the Desert? Why does everything turn into a mess wherever you go? It’s not like it’s a natural disaster.”“I’m used to this now. So, what are your thoughts?”“Well, what you just said is all I can tell from the outside. There’s really nothing to scrutinize. Think about it. What would a dwarf know about faith? Don’t expect a theological approach.”
Merquien chuckled.
“You are short because you lack lofty faith.”“Unlike weak-willed races, dwarves need no such thing as a god. If there is anything truly worthy of being called a god, it would be my own hand.”
G’harun’s thick, rough hands hold the weight of centuries. Who could possibly disparage such unwavering pride?If there is a transcendent being among the dwarves, G’harun is that very being.
“It’s not that I’m not interested, though. Since you said it reacted momentarily when you grabbed it, it doesn’t look like complete junk. If I beat it up with that one-armed disciple, something will surely come out.”“I’m glad you’re interested. I’ll leave it to you.”“Very well.”
Gharun licked his lips as he gathered the Desert Divine Artifact and its blueprints.Although he did not show it outwardly, it seemed as though a sense of challenge had been stirred by the mysterious weapon that even his keen eye could not decipher.
Just then, Merquien cleared his throat slightly, drawing Verden’s attention.
“I confirmed that the sapling of life has taken firm root in the desert. It was worth the effort to help those humans I can’t even stand the sight of. Well done.”“Did you sense that?”“Of course. Even if we are far apart, Mother Nature is one.”
Merquien subtly averted his gaze.
I never imagined the sapling of life would grow so fast.
The sapling of life has already become a giant tree.
It is unexpected.
It is a size and influence that would take at least hundreds to thousands of years to reach, yet overnight it has come a few steps closer to full maturity.The land of the silent desert, where the source of magical power had been depleted, is gradually coming back to life.
What on earth is Verden?
Simply endless magical power and the purity of magical power could not be everything. Somethingof a much higher dimension…
What could the Great Mother be looking at?
The fact that Serendia, the guardian of the World Tree, asked Verden for the Sapling of Life was probably part of a grand picture.Merquien, who was trying to understand the will of the Great Mother, speculated so.
Next up is the topic.
“The World Conference is just a few days away. I heard the Clan Leader of the Red Volcano is attending; do you intend to go to Gargant with me?”“Hmph, it hasn’t been that long since I left the Red Volcano, and I’m talking about a reunion? If I show my face, that Arukul bastard will throw a fit, forgetting about the conference. It’s a waste of time.”“If that is your wish, I respect it.”
Verden nodded.
“The Elves haven’t made an official statement yet. Are you not planning to attend the World Conference from the Great Forest?”“We will attend. We just didn’t say anything because there was no need to announce it to humans in advance. If we show up on the day without notice, well, are you going to kick us out?”“That wouldn’t be possible.”
Verden understands the Elf race’s almost pathological hatred of humans. The reason is clearly evident just by looking up a few history books related to the race wars.
“However, the organizer of the world conference is personally acquainted with me. So, I’d like to hear about the schedule, even if briefly.”“……Well, if that’s the case.”
Merquien answered pretending to be defeated.
Serendia will come in person.
Beta reacted.
[Serendia.]
* * *
At the highlands of the Great Forest, at the summit of the World Tree—part of the World Tree and the largest tree on the continent—the World Tree’s guardians continued their discussion.
“To think a world conference where humans, beastmen, dwarves, and elves are gathered in one place. It is the first time since the racial wars of three centuries ago.”“To think a day like this would come again…….”
The emotion most administrators were expressing was a sticky sense of displeasure.While the human side suffered the most casualties in the process, as war is ultimately war, the number of elf casualties was by no means small.
Kin returning to nature against their will.
For the elves, who lived for hundreds of years on average and possessed extreme collectivist ideologies, it was a memory they could not forget until the very moment of their death.
The administrator, Enarien, showed slight anger.
“Only 300 years have passed, yet the human population has increased far more than before. If humans start their wickedness again, the elves will suffer even greater damage than the result of the racial war. We should have eliminated most of them back then, even if by force.”
The manager, Restorien, shook his head.
“That is hindsight. Had the peace treaty not been signed at the time, who knows how the situation of all the races would have unfolded.”“I agree with that.”
Manager Ailnason narrowed his eyes.
That transcendent being who was said to have traversed the continent alone was that threatening.
Humans named him the first adventurer.
He single-handedly stopped the battlefield where four races clashed and, through force, laid the groundwork for a peace treaty.
If they had to face a human army commanded by the first adventurer, whether they were beastmen, dwarves, or elves, they would have had to endure severe bleeding.
“The first adventurer must have surely run their course, but the number of transcendents born of humans has grown greater than it was then. That is…”“It might be a sign of a war of transcendents.”
Odiel, the former administrator, placed the World Tree Staff on the ground. He was the only elf among them who had experienced the War of the Transcendents 800 years ago.
“As everyone knows, it is Verden who is leading the changes today. The World Conference was planned as a result of his actions. Whether positive or negative, it is ultimately affecting the Elves.”
Odiel cast a sideways glance.
“Administrator, Serendia. You sprouted the Seed of Life, given one to each Administrator of the World Tree, and planted it in the Desert of Silence. Was it truly solely for the atonement of the Great Mother?”“It is just as I have already told you.”
Administrator Serendia continued in a low voice.
“The sapling of life that absorbed Verden’s magic has grown into a giant tree, restoring the desert to its original state. There is no longer any need for the Great Mother to worry about the War of the Great Split.”“It is certainly a cause for joy that Mother Nature is being restored. However, you must know what we are asking right now.”
The managers’ eyes were focused.
“What do you think Verden is to the Great Mother?”
Even after growing the sapling of life, there is almost no loss of magical power. No, judging by Merquien, it is safe to say there is none at all.Magical power of immeasurable depth, in a sense different from that of Oldark…
Even the guardian of the World Tree cannot communicate directly with it.One can only observe its will from close to its roots.
If there were an elf capable of interpreting the will of the World Tree in the first place, there would have been only one being truly called the guardian of the World Tree.
“That thought, too, is no different from the memories I shared with you. While the roots of Verden in the past were ultimately human, please do not confine the Verden of today to the category of mortals.”“…….”“Do you have anything else to say?”
In the silence, the other managers step back one by one.
Odiel also took a step back.
“We will conclude the meeting here. You must also prepare to head to the largest city ever built by humans. Take care. Administrator, Serendia.”
The atmosphere was a little more tense than usual, but it was only for a moment. Beneath the World Tree, elves love their own kind more than anything else.Within them, there is no element of conflict like that found in humans.
“Thank you. Administrator, Odiel.”
Serendia, the last to leave, descended the giant tree alone. Then, she stopped for a moment and looked down at the vast landscape of the Great Forest.
A pleasant breeze gently dampens her skin and hair. Between light and shadow, she became one with nature for a moment.
Eventually, it finished digging its roots and set foot on the fresh earth.
Sister Serendia.
Karans, the Guardian Elf, bowed slightly and approached. A magical power and presence of a completely different dimension from before surged from him.
“As you can see, the ceremony was completed safely. I have already adjusted as well.”“Thanks to the Great Mother.”
Serendia smiled.
“You have become stronger than I imagined. Verden would be astonished to see.”“Yes, if this power was given by the Great Mother, it will not be a burden to my brother. No matter what happens in Gargant, I will protect you, Sister.”
Karans, who was kidnapped to the Kingdom of Estria the year before last, was reborn as a higher being by receiving magical power from the World Tree.
It was a temporary power that could only be wielded until the World Tree’s guardian safely returned to the Great Forest, but for Karans, that was enough.
“I will leave it to you, Karans.”
The elves of the Great Forest decided on Gargant as their destination.
World Conference D – 15.
* * *
All the dwarf clan leaders of the volcanic region gathered at the Red Volcano. Each holding a barrel of liquor, they raised their voices to the brim.It was not a serious argument.Dwarves are a race with very loud voices, unlike their short stature.
Boom!
The Green Volcano Clan leader slammed his hand, which was matted with thick hair on the back, vertically down.The metal goblet was flattened.
“Red Volcano Clan Leader!!!!!!! To think you would mass-produce!!!!! What kind of outrageous talk is this!!!!!!!!!”“Let me say this first: I am not suggesting we disregard tradition. Calm down and sit down. I will explain it clearly so you can understand.”“Is this something to calm down about!!!!!”“Right on!!!!!”
Other clan leaders also rose up.
“Dwarves mass-producing?! And to think they’re even forming close ties with that Human Empire!! I had my doubts, but have you truly forgotten your traditions?!!!”“Please calm down for now…”“I should have known from the moment the Hammer of Integrity left! I cannot tolerate this. I cannot tolerate it! From today, our Golden Volcano will sever all trade with the Red Volcano!!”“Listen to me…”“No matter how much time has passed, I do not think it makes sense to disregard tradition like that. We will remain silent until you retract that opinion.”“Wait…”“I do not think that is enough! We must oust the Red Volcano clan leader! We cannot stand by and watch the Red Volcano fall because of a dwarf like this?!”“Wait, shut up.”“I agree, too! Bringing out Arkul immediately and bringing in G’harun is──”
Veins bulged on Arcul’s forehead.
“Shut up!!! You fucking tiny little bastard dwarf idiot morons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Bang!
Arkul overturned the table. Alcohol spilled and glasses tumbled.The Green Volcano Clan leader, failing to read the atmosphere, tried to babble again, but was grabbed by the beard and his head was slammed into the floor.
“These stubborn dwarves……! Do you know what the world situation is like right now?! Change after change, it’s not just continuous change, it’s pure chaos!”“That has nothing to do with dwarves………”“If you dare to spout such brainless nonsense about what that has to do with dwarves, I guarantee I’ll smash your mouth with a hammer first!”“……..
The audience fell silent.
Arcul let out a long sigh.
“As everyone knows, Dwarves are by no means a weak race. However, we are a people who absolutely must be prepared in advance. If an uncontrollable situation were to arise, we Dwarves would suffer great damage before any other race. Weapons unique to Dwarves! We must mass-produce them so that we can use them in time.”“But Dwarves only mass-produce goods when the race is in danger…”“That danger is approaching right now! It may not be visible, but it is certain! That is why I say we must not violate tradition!!”
Arkul’s expression was serious throughout,as if he were engaged in crafting.One of the clan leaders facing him cautiously asked
“Just what… danger is coming?”“I swear on my hand.”
Arcul bent his right arm halfway and held it up toward everyone.
“War will break out soon. A war that even the dwarves cannot escape.”
World Conference D – 14.
* * *
The Great Beastmen Tribe of the North Central Continent.
A meeting was held in a city inhabited solely by beastkin, home to all kinds of beastkin.The chieftains, ranking among the top six of all beastkin on the continent, took their seats, each displaying their distinct personalities.
“Human power has grown considerably since then. There are no just one or two transcendents. It would not be an exaggeration to say that this is truly the golden age of humanity.”“Sometimes weak, sometimes strong. That is the nature of humans. The only species with more variables than them would be the异형종 (Other-Types).”“Is the Master coming too, tsk.”“The one we must pay the most attention to here is this man named Verden. It is practically because of him that this World Council was convened.”“The Heavenly Sword next to Verden is also intriguing. After closely examining his actions prior to his disappearance, he was nothing short of a scoundrel.”
Rambling words centered on each person’s interests are exchanged.
It is barbaric andinstinctive.
This was the gathering of prisoners.
“What do you think about this, O King?”
and.
The one who ascended the throne, being the strongest among the beastmen, was also similar to them. The Beast King, seated on a massive throne, bared his ferocious teeth.A tail resembling that of a dragon crushed the hard floor.
I wonder how strong he will be.
Suin only cares about strength.
World Conference D – 13.
