Chapter 22 : The World Tree forest

There are two locations in this world referred to as “Great Forests.”

One of these Great Forests was the ‘Demon Lands’, where my mansion was hidden.

And the other…

“Don’t you want to visit yourselves? It’s the homeland of the elves.”

…Was the World Tree Forest, the homeland of the elves.

The Demon Lands were called a ‘Great Forest’ because of the vast, impenetrable ‘forest’ that stretched endlessly.

The World Tree Forest was a Great Forest because of the ‘Great Tree,’ the World Tree itself.

“…I-I’m sorry. P-Please don’t abandon me. I’ll fix whatever is lacking, so please…”
“Huh?”

Sylvie suddenly started trembling and tearing up, as if she had misinterpreted my suggestion to go to the World Tree Forest.

Hmm.

Did she think I was going to release her into the wild… or rather, the forest?

“No, no. It’s not like that. I mean, let’s go together.”
“Yes?”

“I want to test out the skill… I mean, the magic I recently acquired. But the elves are exclusive towards other races. I thought it would be alright if I went with you.”
“Ah, oh! I-I understand. I’ll prepare the elves right away.”

“Yes, yes. Take your time. We’re not in a hurry.”

I already knew the way to the World Tree Forest. I knew the coordinates, so I could teleport right in front of it anytime.

And so, it was decided that we would visit the World Tree Forest together with the elves.

The next day, all the elves living in the mansion gathered in the courtyard.

“…There are quite a few of you.”
“Yes. They’ve all received your grace, Master.”

“Were there this many elf slaves for sale in the Magic Kingdom?”
“It seems the merchants, hearing that you were buying elves at high prices, brought all the stock from the Empire as well.”

“Hmm? Isn’t s*ave trading of long-lived races prohibited by law in the Empire?”

While the Empire allowed slavery to some extent, it was limited to certain beastkin with shorter lifespans than humans.

Trading slaves of long-lived races, those with longer lifespans than humans, was prohibited.

The Empire’s founder was a long-lived being, and since long-lived beings lived longer than their owners, managing them was difficult. It was a ‘Don’t use slaves if you can’t guarantee them a minimum standard of living until they die’ kind of policy.

“There are black markets everywhere.”
“I see.”

“Since you were buying them at higher prices than the black market, the merchants dealing in elf slaves wouldn’t have risked operating in the Empire.”
“Well, black markets exist because of money, after all.”

After this brief conversation…

…We headed to the World Tree Forest.

The World Tree Forest. The southwestern Great Forest was a coniferous forest densely packed with towering trees that seemed to reach the sky.

It contrasted with the southeastern Great Forest—the Demon Lands—where the trees near my mansion weren’t that tall.

“One step further, and we’ll be in elven territory. It’s protected by magic, so the guards will come as soon as we cross.”

I said so and stepped forward.

The forest’s barrier activated, sending a signal to the guards.

I could have entered secretly without touching the barrier, but I was a mage, not a thief. I had no intention of sneaking in.

A moment later…

“Halt. Human. This is the land protected by the Mother World Tree. If you come any closer, I will aim for your head.”

Along with an arrow flying towards my feet…

…Came the typical elf guard’s line.

“That line hasn’t changed in hundreds of years…”

I stepped back.

Sylvie and the other elves stepped forward in my place.

“Hmm? Fellow elves visiting with a human. That’s unusual.”
“…Um, greetings. I am Sylvie. Could you please show us the way to the village?”

“Fellow elves are always welcome, but… what is your relationship with that human?”
“He is our… Master.”

“What?”

The elf guard’s eyebrows furrowed at Sylvie’s words.

They looked disgusted.

“A man who enslaves elves? I cannot grant you entry. Turn back.”
“Our Master isn’t a bad person. He took us in when we were abandoned at the s*ave market and provided us with food, treatment, and shelter.”

“He’s still a lowly human who treats elves like objects. If you don’t leave immediately, even if you are fellow elves—”
“Apologize.”

“What?”
“Our Master is not a lowly person. Apologize immediately.”

“Hmm.”

The elf guard looked at Sylvie for a moment, then smirked.

“I called him lowly because he is lowly. What can a mere s*ave like you do if I don’t apologize?”
“…Master.”

“Yeah, Sylvie.”
“May I have a moment to ‘persuade’ this impertinent elf?”

“Huh? Sure.”

I was thinking of using a hypnosis skill if persuasion failed, but…

Sylvie suddenly stepped forward alone, facing the guard.

And then…

Mana gathered in Sylvie’s hand. A clear manifestation of magic.

“You dare threaten a guard—”
“Shut up.”

The startled guard nocked an arrow at Sylvie, but it fell short, unable to pierce the wind generated by the powerful flow of mana.

The guard tried to imbue the arrow with a spirit and shoot it again, but…

“Gah?!”

Sylvie’s magic was faster.

“Oh, it’s the Invisible Hand. When did she learn that?”

The magic Sylvie used was an elemental magic that created a giant hand of wind.

The giant hand, like the hand of a titan, grabbed the elf guard.

The overwhelming difference in power made it clear that the elf’s body would be crushed if they resisted.

Sylvie smiled at the terrified elf guard.

“I’ll educate you properly until you learn your lesson.”

When I first brought Sylvie to the mansion, I allowed her to study the magic books in the library.

It was before the Network Magic Tool was completed, and all she could do in the mansion was read.

‘She studied quite diligently.’

Of course, magic wasn’t something you could learn and use just by reading books.

And Sylvie wasn’t a prodigy with exceptional talent.

The reason Sylvie could learn and use magic so quickly was because of the skills ‘Heart of the Swarm’ and ‘Information Lifeform’ that I had active in the mansion 24/7.

‘Sharing consciousness with an Archmage must have made learning magic as easy as eating cake.’

Heart of the Swarm connected our souls, and Information Lifeform allowed for efficient use of various spiritual resources through the connected souls.

While connected to me through Heart of the Swarm…

…Sylvie was practically a genius with the talent and experience of an Archmage.

This was also why my classmates at the academy were called the golden generation.

‘Well, it’s a meaningless talent if you don’t learn it yourself. Sylvie worked hard.’

Around the time I reached that conclusion…

…Sylvie’s ‘education’ session ended.

The guard, battered and bruised, stumbled towards us, prostrated themself, and bowed their head.

“I-I apologize for my rudeness…”
“Ah, it’s fine. I expected as much. More importantly, I’d like to see your elder. Could you guide us to the village?”

“Understood…”

And so…

We entered the forest, guided by the staggering guard.

“The scenery here hasn’t changed at all.”

Giant trees that could hardly be called plants anymore, and houses built into the knots of those trees.

We arrived at the elven village.

“This is the assembly hall where the elders decide on the policies of our tribe.”
“Ah, thank you for guiding us.”

I strode towards the tree knot indicated by the guard.

As I entered the assembly hall, the elven elders gasped in surprise.

“A-A human? Why is a human here—”

And then…

One of the elves waved their hand and called out in a welcoming tone,

“Caliph!”

Caliph.

That was the name I used before the Great War… when I was a mercenary.

I looked at the elf who called out my nostalgic name.

Unlike most long-lived beings, they had some wrinkles, and their beautiful blonde hair had turned white… but I could still recognize their familiar face.

“It’s been a while. How have you been, Salien?”
“My goodness, you haven’t changed at all! It’s been almost—1,000 years!”

“Ah, has it really been that long?”
“Is it right to be alive and not visit for so long? I’m a bit hurt.”

“I lost the token you gave me. The guards didn’t seem to like me.”
“Ahaha. That’s so you.”

The other elven elders looked back and forth between Salien and me in confusion.

Salien, noticing their gazes, chuckled and introduced me,

“Everyone, this is my old friend—Caliph. A very powerful mage.”
“I’m not that powerful.”

“Don’t be so modest! The, uh, Network Magic Tool that’s been causing such a stir these days… you made that, right?”
“Huh? How did you know?”

“You’ve been talking about wanting to make the internet since our party days!”
“Aha.”

“W-Wait a moment. Elder Salien. Caliph… are you referring to the Caliph, the hero’s companion?”
“Yes, yes! It’s been a long time since I’ve heard that story too.”

For the record, Salien and I were companions of the first hero who sealed the Evil God.

“I wonder how that hero is doing?”
“He seems to be getting along well with the newly chosen hero. Although He’s in the form of a sword now.”

“That’s good! How’s the new hero?”
“Well, He’s going through a lot.”

“Haha!”

After briefly catching up…

We got down to business.

“So, Caliph, what brings you here? And with so many young elves, too.”
“I want to see the World Tree—the Mother Tree.”

“The Mother Tree? Hmm… You’re not planning anything bad, are you?”
“Of course not.”

“Alright! I’ll take you to the Mother Tree.”
“E-Elder Salien? Taking a human to the Mother Tree… you can’t decide on such an important matter on your own—”

Salien took my hand and led me forward.

Seeing this, one of the elders was startled and tried to stop Salien.

Salien narrowed her eyes and glared at the elf who tried to stop her.

“Hmm? Abel. How long have you been an elder?”
“I-It’s been 200 years.”

“Aha. You’re young. That’s why you don’t know who Caliph is.”
“…The companion of the hero who sealed the Evil God, right?”

“Well, that’s not wrong, but…”

Salien grinned mischievously and asked Elder Abel,

“Who do you think created the barrier that protects the Mother’s Forest?”
“Pardon?”

“The Grand Magic that protects this entire forest. The magic that’s been here since you were born from the Mother’s fruit, who created it?”
“That… I don’t know.”

“Caliph here created it.”
“What?”

“Do you really think Caliph came to me for ‘help’ to see the Mother Tree?”
“What do you…”

“He’s just being polite. He could ignore all the barriers and magic… no, he could completely disable them and come in, but since we’re the hosts here, he chose the more troublesome method. Do you think we could stop him if we wanted to?”
“…”

“Be grateful every day that he’s kind. If he were even slightly malicious…”

Salien smiled brightly, patted my shoulder hard, and declared,

“—this continent would already be destroyed.”
“If you know that, then stop hitting my shoulder.”

“Haha!”
“Well, I don’t have a hobby of destroying nature.”

Because nature was precious.