Episode 170. Elf meeting and eve
As usual today, the elves began to gather at the Rastilia conference hall.
It must have been tiring of the meeting that had been going on for several days already, but the elves, who had nothing to do and rarely went out of Rastilia, didn’t have this much contention.
“Is Elder Hougen here?”
“What kind of greeting is this all of a sudden?”
“Well, I heard the sudden news. I’ve heard that the human invited now is at Elder Hougen’s house.”
As soon as he sat down, Hougen nodded lightly to the elder of the Maretio family who asked him while looking at him.
“so?”
“Hoo. See if it’s true? I was just curious. Whether the news is true or not.”
From the moment the gunfire had already opened, the eyes of the elves gathered in the meeting were all focused on Hougen.
However, there were only a few families with a higher status than the Kraxia family who could speak carelessly to Hougen.
“now. Let’s recall this agenda once again. Should humans be brought into the world tree according to the oracle, or should the oracle be ignored… ….”
“Ignoring you! We’re not ignoring it, we’re worrying about it. Even though it’s an oracle, isn’t it absurd to have a human step into the World Tree!”
“What’s the difference between ignoring it? Are you saying that the world tree takes precedence over the oracle in the first place? The World Capital is, after all, a sacred object given by Tapio. What matters is Tapio and us elves, not the World Tree. The real message has been passed on.”
“Without the World Tree, there would be no Rastilia and no elves after all! To be honest, I have a hard time believing that an oracle has come down. An oracle handed down after a few hundred years is said to guide humans to the World Tree?”
“Ugh! Are you making fun of our high priest!”
Voices rose immediately, and in the middle of shouting, someone changed the target.
“Elder Hougen, didn’t you personally experience that human being? I heard that something unpleasant happened because of that person yesterday. Is it right to guide such a human to the World Tree?”
Once again, the eyes of the elves focused on Hougen.
Since he had expressed a neutral position so far, the eyes of those who looked at him were bound to be intense.
“No matter how many times humans have been invited to Rastilia, they have never set foot on the World Tree.”
Hugen’s words brightened the faces of the opposition.
“you’re right! How dare a human like you step into the World Tree!”
“After talking, he quickly revealed his purpose.”
“also! When you talk, you can see human nature, right?”
“okay. Human nature is greed, no greed.”
Let’s talk this far, and the people in favor of it were also shaken.
Neutral Hougen was not the kind of person who would make up something that hadn’t happened, so the impression of the invited humans was bound to deteriorate.
“Did you hear? Even Elder Hougen, who has met humans in person, opposes humans being ushered to the World Tree.”
“When did I object?”
“yes?”
“I just said he was greedy.”
“That’s that… …Aren’t you of the opinion that you are against it?”
The young high-ranking elf, who had been talking cheerfully, asked stupidly without realizing it.
Hugen didn’t care about his reaction and continued.
“Human greed is mostly negative. It’s a form of taking from someone else to get something. That’s why we hate humans.”
“Elder Hugen?”
“But that greed sometimes becomes the basis for trusting the other person.”
“What do you mean?”
“I have already explained the problem of the World Tree to him. In the first place, that was the only reason an oracle was given, so I just said it. Then the guy said. that you can solve the problem yourself. Instead, they wanted a reward for solving the problem. What a man who is faithful to his desires.”
After Hugen’s words, the faces of the elves hardened.
If it had not been for Hougen, he would have been angry right away.
“Human beings dare….”
However, some elves eventually couldn’t hold back their anger and shuddered.
To them, the world tree is more precious than life.
It was only natural that people would feel disgusted with the world tree as if it were an object of negotiation.
“I was angry at first too. But after thinking about it for a while, he was a human in the first place. Even if they weren’t considerate of us, that’s their nature. I didn’t want to become something inconsiderate like him, so I’ve been thinking about the human side. The answer was simple.”
“What could it be?”
High Priest Hegriu, who opened his mouth after a long time, asked, and Hugen said with a calm face.
“We will stop using him. He’s a human, not an elf. It’s a good problem to see if this problem can be solved and then solve it.”
“But adding humans to the World Tree….”
“Humans have never entered the World Tree. never after that.”
“…I don’t understand what you mean, Elder.”
“Now this issue is a story that only those of us gathered here know. If we keep quiet, no one will know.”
Hougen’s cold face shone bleakly.
“Irrespective of the circumstances, it’s enough to handle his disposition quietly.”
* * *
Amir came early in the morning.
Hugen had already left for a meeting, so I was the only one in the house.
“I apologize on behalf of what happened yesterday. Those who caused the accident are currently under investigation, but it seems likely that it will be classified as a simple hate crime.”
It was to be expected.
I don’t know why Foram or Seir are traitors yet, so I don’t know why they’re trying to stop me.
“it’s okay. I wasn’t even hurt.”
Rather, he wanted to look around since he had come all the way to Lastilia.
Since I had succeeded in persuading him in my conversation with Hougen the day before, I thought that entry to the World Tree was only half possible.
If you visit the World Tree, you will no longer have business, so you won’t be able to leisurely wander around Rastilia like you are now.
“Is Amir accompanying me?”
“yes. It’s also part of the Wind Knights’ job… ….”
Amir, who was silent for a moment, put on a slightly apologetic expression.
“Others have a hard time dealing with people of other races….”
“I understand.”
It’s more accurate to say that it’s hard to deal with, but to look down on.
It’s not called the noble of the forest for nothing.
I didn’t care what the elves thought of me.
Instead of worrying about such non-productive work, you should think about how to make good use of this opportunity.
“I’ll leave for now.”
I’ll have to go out so I can see things and get something.
Right now, what comes to mind is taking something that can only be obtained here and going out and rolling it.
‘What would you like?’
When I went outside, the escorts who were waiting greeted me.
It seems that the escorts were chosen with people who are at least friendly to humans, as such an incident happened yesterday.
“Where can I direct you?”
“Aimir, I have a question for you.”
“Say yes.”
“Do all the elves in Rastilia live on their own?”
“I try to do that, but in reality it is impossible. There are exchanges with other tribes around the Great Forest.”
“You don’t trade with humans?”
“I don’t do it directly, but there are other races that trade with humans, so I tend to trade with them.”
Does this smell like money?
One of the issues I’ve been thinking about lately is the question of money.
Actually, I didn’t care until now, but after hearing about the war tax from Greta Morhaime, whom I met a while ago, I couldn’t help but think about it.
In addition, considering the gradually growing episode, the more money, the better.
‘Because I also have reinforcements.’
I don’t know how much it will take to strengthen all my undead to 20.
Fortunately, Amy is making a troupe and seems to be managing it well, so I think if I help her a little, she won’t have to worry about money.
“Aimir, is there a place that grows tea nearby?”
“If it’s tea…. Are you referring to the tea you drink?”
“yes.”
“Yes, but would you like to visit a tea plantation?”
“yes. I would like to look around a bit.”
The easiest thing to think of was, of course, the car of the elves.
It is easy to store and manage and expensive, so if you can take it with you, it will be a big money.
However, you can make a lot of money only if you can trade steadily. You won’t be able to earn enough money to affect my situation simply by filling the space expansion backpack.
‘If trade is possible, you’ll be able to buy the Cromwell estate that Amy talked about right away… ….’
Amir seemed a little puzzled when I said I was going to the tea plantation, but he obediently guided me.
After receiving her guidance and visiting the place where tea is grown, I was surprised at how much larger it was than expected.
“We drink tea 12 times a day. Drinking tea is the only pleasure.”
“Is that so.”
It was understandable to think that they lived longer than humans and lived only in the city of Rastilia.
Still, they have a different disposition from humans, so even if they live like that, they’re fine.
When I asked the elf who grew the tea, the price of the tea leaves was almost free.
It is said that it is like a daily necessities, and as long as there is a world tree, it grows on its own without needing much maintenance.
‘The more I listen, the more I pull. How can I not?’
After stopping the corruption of the World Tree, if you are recognized for your contributions, then let’s ask for permission to trade.
I think that’s enough to listen to.
As a result of visiting the tea plantations and Amir’s recommendation, the day passed quickly.
There were elves who looked at me badly from time to time, but I lightly ignored those gazes.
“Thank you for today.”
“no. I’ll come out early tomorrow morning too. Have a good night’s sleep.”
Amir, who took me to Hougen’s residence, waved his hand and disappeared with the escorts.
Thinking it was not a bad outing, I went to Hougen’s house and found Hougen already there.
“Sit down.”
As soon as I saw it, I got tired of the sound, but for now, I sat across from him as he said.
“How did the meeting go?”
“Convinced.”
Since he said it casually, of course I thought it was not yet, but looking back on it, I thought I had heard something wrong, so I asked again.
“Are you saying you got permission?”
“okay. The date is tomorrow. Get up early and get ready.”
Hougen stood up from his seat after those words.
I thought it would take at least a few days, but it seems that Hougen had a bigger say than I thought.
As Rastilia is huge, there are many places I haven’t looked back yet, but I suddenly left for the World Tree.
I’m sorry but I couldn’t help it.
And on the contrary, it could have been a good thing.
Yuyamuya, it was more of a loss if you dragged out your time and eventually collapsed.
‘root.’
Where I should be heading is the root.
The corruption of the World Tree began at the root.
And that’s because of something I’ve always been paying attention to.
‘I didn’t expect to see you this early.’
It was none other than the sinful ‘gluttony’ that was corrupting the World Tree.
