Chapter 235
—Being with you, I feel like I can understand a little of the hearts of the Panus brothers, who wished to live with a human. So, if you’re willing, I’d like to.
It was a raw and aggressive confession. So much so that I felt my face flush hot without realizing it.
“I’m sorry.”
—A rejection, as expected.
“I’ve never thought about it……. My answer would be the same even if it wasn’t Vita, but another elf.”
—It’s fine. Rejection is also one of the natural answers.
Vita truly seemed unfazed. Thanks to that, I, too, quickly calmed down as if I had never been flustered.
* * *
The next day, Isaac and Reno came to visit me. Unlike me, who had no external injuries at all, they had bandages wrapped around various parts of their bodies.
“Are you okay?”
“We just got minor scratches. Don’t worry.”
Reno said with a smile. Isaac also didn’t particularly deny it. But their words were unbelievable.
‘Even wrapped in bandages.’
If it were truly minor scratches, they would have just applied some medicine and left it at that.
“How is your body? You even vomited blood…….”
“I’m also…… fine, except for feeling a bit weak.”
“They said you wouldn’t be fine.”
“Who?”
“Duke Yelpen told us.”
Ugh, Killis……!
“He said he knows from his own experience with internal injuries that it feels like large needles sweeping through all your internal organs. So you absolutely need to rest.”
It wasn’t wrong, but he didn’t need to say it.
“Your Highness, this.”
“……?”
“I felt I had to deliver it to you, so I brought it.”
What Isaac offered me was a bracelet split in half.
“We survived thanks to Your Highness.”
“Isaac is right. True to a royal treasure, it enveloped not only us but everyone. Thanks to it, everyone was safe.”
“You heard that from Killis too?”
“Yes.”
I took the bracelet. The completely severed bracelet seemed unusable even as an ornament.
‘So it really was single-use.’
I definitely don’t regret using it to save Isaac and Reno. Still, I can’t help but feel a little disappointed.
‘Should I put it in the inventory for now? Since it’s said to be made of dragon scales.’
It had already served its purpose, but it might come in handy somewhere if I kept it. I don’t know if it would be the case here, but dragon scales are often treated as rare minerals.
After that, the two talked a bit more, then left, telling me to rest further. My condition was definitely better than yesterday, but it still wasn’t great today, so I ate the food Vita brought me and then dozed off in bed again.
Thus, it was the third day since I arrived at the Elven Village.
I finally left my room. The place arranged for my lodging was cozy and nice, but lying down for two whole days made my body stiff.
‘My mana too, well…….’
I recalled the system window I had checked before coming out. It still showed ‘Insufficient’ with a message of 15%.
It felt quite new to see ‘Insufficient’ after always seeing ‘Normal’ or dangerous levels close to mana going wild, but that was all.
As I stayed, I realized that the elven village didn’t have a distinct day and night. It was always moderately dim yet bright, and subtly illuminated.
‘Is it because we’re inside the World Tree?’
It’s mysterious, but I wonder if it would be hard to settle down completely.
—Human.
“……?”
I turned around at the familiar yet unfamiliar voice to see Natura standing there.
—You were very ill, but you seem to be fine now?
“I…….”
I cautiously opened my mouth, looking at Natura approaching me.
“I don’t understand what you’re saying.”
—Hmm? The words, ah! It seems it’s time to sprinkle the essence of the World Tree again.
Like me, Natura seemed to realize that our words weren’t getting through. He gestured to me.
—Follow me, human.
I couldn’t understand him, but…….
‘He wants me to follow him, right?’
Following him as he strode ahead, we eventually reached a tree stump in front of the temple.
‘It’s already filled quite a bit.’
The essence, which had been completely scraped clean from the bottom to lure the Nex, was now considerably full. It would still take a long time to be completely full as before, though.
As I carefully sprinkled the essence, Natura spoke to me again.
—Now we can understand each other again. Are you feeling well?
“Yes. I’m fine now.”
—That’s a relief.
Natura touched his nape, then opened his mouth.
—Listen, I have something to tell you.
“Me?”
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