The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 232

“Ah, the mirror dimension gates are the same. To construct and stably maintain subspace beyond a completed mirror, the presence of an ancient spirit is essential, but currently there is no one who can summon such spirits. Your Majesty knows well where the few remaining spirits are working, don’t you? It would be difficult to exclude even a single spirit from their current duties.”

Summoning ancient spirits was also only possible for the World Tree’s ancient guardian. The elder didn’t want to crush the young King’s enthusiasm with just a few words, but there was no other choice. Someone had to play the villain—they couldn’t let Cassis’s mind be cluttered with false hope.

Now that it had come up, the elders found it truly disappointing when they thought about it.

Where could you find a King who distributed and used his abilities as evenly and well as Cassis? It had been nearly eight hundred years since the World Tree had designated its own guardian, so if only it had given more power to help him step forward as an ancient guardian… how wonderful that would have been.

Cassis, having heard the elder’s counsel, slowly nodded his head.

“I see.”

“I apologize for objecting before even formally raising the agenda, but my opinion is that there is no possibility of realization.”

“What if it were possible?”

Just when they thought he would give up obediently, the young King somehow ended up challenging the elder’s words. Only then did the elder feel puzzled and hesitate.

“…Has Your Majesty perhaps found some clue regarding the restoration of those two techniques?”

“It’s not a result I can present immediately, but it might be possible soon.”

Exclamations burst forth continuously from the assembly.

“Oh!”

“Truly befitting His Majesty the King. How practical and rewarding it would be if pilgrims longing to trace old memories overflowed to Macriss with the sky stairs restored, and if we placed mirror dimension gates in the castle?”

The elder who had been questioning the King’s words until now forgot his reverence and stared piercingly with blue eyes. Not a trace of falsehood flowed in those deep and tranquil eyes.

It was true.

Only then did a smile spread across the admiring elder’s face.

“Your Majesty…! What with the nymph’s life extension matter you mentioned last time, and now multiple occasions for celebration coming to Jupiter through Your Majesty’s grace, I cannot help but be amazed.”

“I am not remarkable—it’s all thanks to the World Tree.”

While it was common for elves to humbly attribute good outcomes to the World Tree’s merit, Cassis’s tone was particularly emphatic. As if it truly was the World Tree’s doing. However, the elders were already overwhelmed with thoughts of restoring the sky stairs and using the power of mirror dimension gates to bring those they missed back to the castle, and were busy spouting flattering words.

“How could that be? Your Majesty is the one who protects the World Tree!”

“That’s right.”

“If restoration of the sky stairs begins within this year, we’ll select someone to supervise separately, so please watch over it well, elders. Let’s also gradually inform the castle residents.”

“This has turned out wonderfully!”

Besides the elders, Laocon’s face also bloomed with beaming smiles. Until now, Nike, the winged nymph, had frequent business trips going to Macriss to tend to the old sanctuary, but wouldn’t her time increase once the stairs were restored? The time he could spend with her…

He almost wanted to openly speak about solidifying his relationship with Nike right here in this meeting, but someone with glaring eyes flashed through his mind.

It was the lovely Nike. Whether angry or shouting, she was nothing but adorable in Laocon’s eyes.

—What’s already known can’t be helped, but leave it alone for now.

—Why, Nike. Don’t tell me…! Are you doing this because you’re embarrassed to meet with me?

—Embarrassed? Me? You’re talking nonsense like a unicorn eating raw meat. It’s not that! Anyway… I have something in mind.

Nike never told him what that something was, but Laocon was thrilled to death anyway. Whether his colleague was busy grinning or not, Iel stared intently at the King’s profile.

Restore techniques lost in ancient times? By what means?

The King who declared he could accomplish what even the Senate, filled to the brim with distinguished elders, deemed impossible.

Cassis’s face, having made such a tremendous declaration, was only peaceful, and from his firmly closed lips, one couldn’t even dare imagine falsehood. Iel also believed the King without a shred of doubt, like the elders. Cassis would surely fulfill the words he himself had spoken.

But to make such claims without revealing what tools or evidence he had to actually realize them? How he would accomplish those things was completely unimaginable…

Suddenly, an old voice crossed through Iel’s mind. Naturally, it was Cassis’s.

—Nymphs must be protected.