Chapter 228 – 228. Resurrection of the World Tree (1)
Ugh
The place where Illyana transferred through teleportation was the Forest Corridor, a meeting place where the Elf Queen and elder elves gathered to discuss important matters in the village.
“You are…”
Illyana, who appeared along with a magic circle that appeared from the floor with a sudden wave of magic power, strode towards Regina without any delay.
At that one-sided action, an Elven Guard elf stopped Illyana and shouted.
“What happened all of a sudden!”
“…”
“It’s okay.”
Regina did not stop Illyana from approaching her without any response.
With her queen’s permission, the elven guard elf who stood in the way of her Illyana was forced to step aside to let her Illyana pass.
Illyana, who finally arrived in front of Regina, opened her mouth.
“I need help.”
“… What help do you need?”
“I will contribute to the restoration of the World Tree.”
“… !”
“What… !”
“How can that be possible for you!?”
At Illyana’s sudden words, many elves looked shocked and asked.
Restoring the power of the World Tree is currently one of the most important issues for the elves.
The tree, which had blessed the village of the moon for a long time, was gradually losing its power, and the reason why the spirits could not be born was a problem with the World Tree.
The elves couldn’t understand why he was saying that humans, not even elves, could solve the elves’ problems.
“You said you wanted to help us solve our species’ current problems. Then what do you want in return?”
“I want you to help her husband.”
“… Teacher?”
Regina, who was already aware of Illyana’s relationship with her Eun-hyeon, twitched her eyebrows at the mention of her Eun-hyeon’s name.
“The situation at the Dark Elf headquarters is very serious.”
Illyana briefly explained the situation during the battle between Eunhyeon and the Elven Guard elves.
“Mmm, curse…”
“Not only the teacher, but also the Elven Guard elves…”
Understanding Illyana’s intentions, Regina nodded her head.
“But how are you going to restore the power of the World Tree?”
“Actually, this is a method close to gambling for me too. I can’t predict what the outcome will be. All I can offer are theories and methods.”
“You can’t blindly try an untested, uncertain method!”
Several elves nodded their heads with serious expressions at the remark of the young elf, who expressed his disapproval of Illyana’s proposal with an uneasy look on his face.
As it is the sacred tree that protects this village and is the only tree, it is inevitable to deal with it very carefully.
It is not even cherished for decades like human beings, but hundreds of years of life and worship as a sacred being, so the hesitation and prudence add up, and it is a decision that should never be made lightly.
Illyana opened her mouth as she turned her head to look at the elves expressing their concern and disapproval.
“Do you think I am making this suggestion lightly?”
“That…”
“I am just like all of you. Just as your people are risking their lives on the battlefield and fighting fiercely, my husband is also fighting alongside your people there.”
“…”
“Putting aside my husband’s story, if the power of the World Tree intervenes in this fight, the chances of the elves on the battlefield now being in danger will be reduced. Am I wrong?”
“Fit… It is.”
Being interrogated by Illyana’s question, the elf nodded to her with a puzzled expression.
“Great.”
When many elves showed signs of hesitation, it was Regina, who had the highest decision-making authority in this place, who voiced the decision.
“Hey, my queen!”
At Regina’s statement of consent, many elves were startled and called out to Regina, but not a single one of the elves objected to the decision.
That much, Regina’s decision as the current elven queen in the village of the moon had her authority.
“350 years ago, then I couldn’t do anything.”
“…”
She recalls the time when she was young, had no strength, and had to be protected only by her mother, the previous Elf Queen, and many elves, Eun-hyeon.
At that time, many elves risked their lives to save one of her own, and her own existence was put on hold, and her Eun-hyeon lost Sylvia, who had been with her for 10 years.
Moon Village has been restored, and peace and stability have been restored after a long time, but the struggle against the Dark Elves 350 years ago has become Regina’s duty and responsibility to bear for the rest of her life.
“I am not taking a gamble on restoring the power of the World Tree to save her teacher. It is for the sake of my fellow countrymen who are risking their lives on the battlefield with you right now.”
Regina, who was sitting on her throne, slowly rose to her feet and slowly approached Illyana.
“For the elves, the world tree is a sacred being that bestows blessings upon our birth and end throughout our lives. But.”
She then turned her head and looked around at the elves gathered in her hallway.
“To me, you are as precious as the world tree.”
“Ah…”
Upon hearing Regina’s remarks, the elves made puzzled faces.
“All the Elven Guard elves out on the battlefield are your family.”
Unlike humans, the number of elves is very small.
Currently, the total population of the elves living in the Moon Forest is only a little over 2,000.
The elves, the members of the less than one hundred Elven Guard, are the children, daughters, parents, and friends of the elves attending the meeting here, in the Forest Corridor.
“Can you bear it if you lose your people who are on the battlefield right now?”
Elves are not afraid of sacrificing their lives.
However, that is the position of the elves risking their lives, and from the standpoint of the remaining elves, they have no choice but to accept the sacrifice and miss it for the rest of their lives and live a long life.
It is not much different between humans and elves that they must feel longing and sorrow for their children, lovers, parents, and friends, and keep in their memories the image of the person who went up to heaven first.
“If we lose those who are fighting on the frontlines anyway, we may or may not be able to respond to another threat that may come our way.”
Even if the crisis that came to the village of the moon 350 years ago and even now is resolved, it may come again in the future.
At that time, in preparation for that moment, can we prepare ourselves fully by raising new elves as warriors and restoring them from the beginning?
It is impossible to guarantee whether or not we will be able to receive help from the World Tree, which is gradually losing its power.
‘Then this is the crossroads of choice.’
After looking around all of her elves, Regina turned her head back to Illyana, her eyes shining with a determined look on her face.
Seeing her expression, Illyana remembered what Belldandi had said about her in the past.
-… Do not be ridiculous. I value you more than the prosperity of the race or the future. I am with you… Keugh!?
At that moment, it was not only Eun-hyeon who was blaming herself there.
‘This elf is the same.’
Carrying the lives of his own people who were willing to give up their lives for his own sake, at the same time, he had feelings similar to guilt in a corner of his heart.
In some ways, Regina had a very similar sense of responsibility and guilt to Eunhyun.
The situation is very similar to that of the past.
Besides, even trying to make a different choice than in the past.
“Then I will bet on the relationship between this person and the teacher.”
“…”
After Regina’s persuasion and speech, many elves were at a loss for words at the queen’s words and put on a blank expression.
Regina, who said that not only the world tree, but also their own future was precious, made some elves look moved by her candid confession.
“… I will follow.”
After struggling, the other elves rose from their seats following an elder elf who got up from his seat.
Before long, many elves held their breath and shouted at the same time.
“””I follow the Queen’s word!””
Regina looked at Illyana, nodding her head at the sight of the elves swearing her heartfelt allegiance.
‘… Charisma is no joke.’
Reminiscent of Diane, the queen of the Kingdom of Pernias, who was of a similar status to her, Regina exuding coercion as a ruler on a different level, even Illyana stuck her tongue out into her.
“How are you going to proceed with the restoration work?”
“In front of the World Tree, please gather as many elves as possible.
“The elven people… ?”
“I plan to gather the magic of the elves and deliver that power directly to the World Tree.”
“That is… Is it possible?”
“You polluted the land through a curse over a long period of time, and through that, you found the cause of the World Tree’s power being reduced. Originally, after Hyuni dealt with the Dark Elves, he planned to restore the power of the World Tree through this method.”
If the cause and process were found, it was not too difficult to deduce the solution by inverting the process and cause.
I had already talked with Eun-hyeon and looked for various methods, and I had already thought of that method.
“The amount of mana required to restore the power that was being cut down is impossible with me or Hyeoni’s power alone. That’s why I want all the elves to lend their strength.”
No matter how much magic power Illyana possesses compared to Eunhyun and other humans, she cannot compare to the total amount of magic power possessed by over a thousand elves.
Besides, Illyana wanted to save as much of her own mana as possible to restore her World Tree.
‘Because I need to restore my strength and go to Hyuni again.’
It would be a mistake to use up all the remaining mana in a situation where there might be another battle.
“All right.”
Regina nodded her head in agreement.
The fact that the elves who are receiving the blessings of the World Tree are working together to restore the power of the World Tree to its original form has a very meaningful meaning for the elves as well.
“I’ll take Alice right away and head for the World Tree.”
Illyana, who was teleported to Alice’s house again, explained her situation to Alice, who was startled by her appearance, and asked for her help.
“… All right. I will cooperate.”
“Thank you.”
“No. It’s a natural thing. Because this is the town where her husband and I live. Furthermore…”
Alice grabbed the hem of her own skirt and smiled as she shifted her gaze to her own daughter, who was hiding behind her and glancing up at her Illyana.
“It’s also Eris’ home.”
The elves describe the village itself as a large ‘house’.
The family relationship between elves who do not die even when they grow old and live a long life is very complicated.
For some, the relationship between parents and children, for others, the relationship between brothers and sisters or siblings, and for others, the relationship between lovers and friends is intertwined in various ways.
It is formed as a huge fence called the blessing of the world tree and considers the space itself to enjoy life within it as a huge house.
There is no way Alice, who has accepted her elf as her husband and entered the enclosure, will not refuse Illyana’s request for help in restoring the power of her World Tree.
Rather, it was surprising to Alice that Illyana, who had no connection with the elves at all, had made such a proposal.
“Rather, Illyana-sama is more amazing.”
“Heh, say that in front of Hyun.”
Illyana snorted at her and replied calmly.
“He needs to know more about how hard I am working for him. How could a woman like me fall from the sky?”
“Whoops.”
Though thinking that her Eun-hyeon might already know enough about that, Alice did not put the words out of her mouth and smiled and nodded her head.
“Then let’s go.”
“Yes.”
