“So, could you please tell me quickly while I’m still being nice. Where is Eve?”
The banquet hall was engulfed in shock at Jonah’s words from his improvised throne.
Even the old elves who remembered the era when Eve ruled, not to mention the younger ones, were taken aback.
After all, it wasn’t just anything; it was the power of the World Tree making its presence known again.
It just happened to be buried on the first floor, known to have no layer guardians, so the traces of the World Tree’s power had been unable to continue its existence.
What they thought was the entirety of the World Tree’s legacy—Eve being the last daughter and the final queen, with her two powerful innate abilities, and remnants of half-realized power from some ancient artifacts…
Was just that. Until now.
“Wha, what…?”
A dazed voice slipped from Rosemary’s lips.
While all the elves were shocked, it was undoubtedly Rosemary who was the most astonished.
This was partly because she was one of the few elves who genuinely served the World Tree in this era, but more so because the owner of the power was Jonah, creating a greater disconnect.
Who could have imagined that a boy, who seemed like a crazy psychopathic rattlesnake, would wield the power of the World Tree?
Yet, Rosemary couldn’t deny the fact that the boy in front of her possessed the World Tree’s authority.
No, it was likely the same for any elf.
Even if their minds denied reality, the genes of the elves who had served the World Tree in the Great Forest for so long screamed out.
The God has returned.
Every single cell trembled, and their souls rejoiced.
Natural worship, engraved in their very instincts, made heavy breaths escape; how could they deny it?
Moreover, the power Jonah displayed was no ordinary power.
The ability to dominate surrounding plants and make them grow at will. And atop his haughty expression rested the Crown of Thorns.
“Basilieus…”
The name of the first king from the elf founding myth, who obtained powers after overcoming the trials of the World Tree.
That ability to uncontrollably grow plants in the midst of the Great Forest resonated with the power to dominate all things.
How many elven lords challenged the trials and lost their lives to obtain the power named after the first king, Basilieus?
Basilieus was not only the strongest prowess of the World Tree but also the symbol of the royal authority of the Elven Forest.
And that power was now resting on a human boy’s head.
Most instinctively bowed their heads in reverence.
Even the water spirit maintaining the waterways of the banquet hall felt the overwhelming power Jonah exuded and prostrated itself before the throne.
But it had been too long since the elves lost the World Tree. Also, it had been far too long since they chased after gold, not gods.
So it wasn’t strange that some began to ignore the cries of their instincts to bow their heads.
“I can’t… I can’t accept this! A human cannot be the king of elves!”
Clang!
A male elf hurled the cup he held and exclaimed that.
Struggling to keep his trembling legs steady, he called out boldly, he was a capable elf, merely 20 years older than Rosemary, leading a massive merchant guild.
He was one who took pride in his abilities and had such grand ambitions, always looking up.
A ruthless businessman who crushed any competitors who underestimated him just because he was a man.
One of the ‘annoyingly troublesome guests’ that Rosemary had to befriend yet circumspect of. But…
“No, who said anything about wanting to be king? If you know where Eve is, just say it!”
Jonah retorted, annoyed. At that moment, soft soil broke open, and thick roots sprang out, grabbing the ankle of the defying one and lifting him upside down.
“Gah!”
His clothes naturally flipped due to gravity. Thus, the proud elf’s belly was exposed for everyone to see.
“D-don’t look!”
Where did that boldness go? The elf panicked and clutched his clothing, cradling his stomach.
Watching the challenger get hung up without mercy made Rosemary realize her intuition wasn’t wrong.
‘Ah! He wasn’t just a crazy psychopathic rattlesnake; he’s a crazy psychopath rattlesnake who’s received the power of the World Tree!’
Amidst the silence filled with fear and admiration, Rosemary gazed at Jonah again.
Sitting on the throne, propping his chin with knights and mages flanking him, the human boy was… small and beautiful yet the fiercest tyrant of all.
*
“Why is everyone so quiet?”
“……”
“……”
“……”
I just subdued a guy babbling nonsense, yet the atmosphere feels weird.
“Goodness, did I say something difficult? …No, I see. You’re surprised that I suddenly asked where Eve is? I get it. Then let me explain from the beginning.”
I crafted a wooden cup using Basilieus’ power, manipulating another branch to bring in a glass of sparkling wine.
Clink.
“Drink is for adults.”
“Hmph.”
But it was immediately snatched away by Lydia.
In the end, I poured a sweet drink made of strawberry juice and honey, taking a sip before speaking.
“I wanted to apologize to Eve for some mishap and had prepared a few gifts, but then she just vanished one day? I even spread rumors that would certainly get a response from Eve, but it’s been days with no contact.”
“A rumor, you mean…”
“That the new king is searching for the youngest daughter of the World Tree to welcome his companion…?”
“Yet didn’t you just say you weren’t planning on acting like a king?”
I chuckled in response to the whispering voices.
“Not planning to act like a king means I’m not looking to run the Elven Forest, but I want the treatment befitting of one.”
“Pleasure without responsibility…”
“Complete trash…”
“Why would the World Tree…”
The murmuring intensified. It seemed they felt a pang of sorrow mixed in there, but it wasn’t especially important.
That sorrow didn’t imply they intended to kick me out for not acknowledging me but stemmed from the realization of having to treat someone like me with respect.
After letting them laugh enough, I continued speaking.
“Amidst that, I heard from a friend that those attending this banquet would likely know Eve’s location.”
Pointing at Rosemary with a gesture, the gazes of those around shifted toward her.
Startled, Rosemary’s complexion turned pale as she shook, but in the end, she would surely be grateful.
I nodded, chuckling inwardly.
The image of Eve, pretending to be discreet and laying low, crossed my mind.
Her thinly opened eyes curved, and a barely perceptible smile graced her lips, her voice laced with confidence as though she knew everything.
However, there was also a sharp edge under that mystical aura, an important factor as well.
I smirked, a grin of delight at how much I relished this chaos.
“So? Does anyone know about Eve? If you speak now, just like I said initially, everything will end without incident.”
Surely, by now, they’d feel something similar to Eve?
I’d already shown my strength and symbolism, and my close relationship with Eve was clear.
Now, all that’s left was for someone quick on the uptake to reveal Eve’s information…
While I waited a moment, a middle-aged lady stepped forward.
“Excuse me, may I have a word?”
“Sure, but… may I know who you are?”
“I am the organizer of this banquet and the mother of Rosemary, whom you referred to as a friend.”
“Aha? So you’re the Cradle Association head?”
“Indeed, that’s one way to refer to me. You may also call me Tuberose casually.”
Her demeanor was polite yet perfectly composed.
Unlike the clumsy Rosemary, she exuded a coldness that felt like she wouldn’t bleed if pricked with a needle.
“Alright, Tuberose. Please, go ahead.”
“Thank you. First, allow me to greet the new son of the World Tree. Though our races differ, we are nevertheless grateful for showing us a trace that we thought we lost long ago.”
“Yes, same here. Nice to meet you.”
“Now, regarding the trace of Eve you seek… to be honest, none among us would know it precisely.”
“Why?”
“She has shown her face here and there seeking help from other elves, and it is true that her last destination was our Cradle Association. We also know she was preparing for a long journey through items she had prepared… but as for where that destination lies, I dare not ask or answer. We can only speculate it might be the Elven Forest.”
“Hmm.”
So Eve seemed to have headed toward the Elven Forest, but they didn’t know exactly where she was at this moment.
Well, if it’s that, I could just send a letter to the Elven Forest to make contact ahead of time.
At that moment, I let out a sigh at the rather anticlimactic outcome.
For some reason, the young spirits prostrating at my feet—no, Lemon and Apple—suddenly shouted as if they were having a seizure.
“Don’t be fooled by Black Jonah!”
“That’s a lie! Back when my parents were around, they said stuff just like that!”
“Hmm?”
Now that I think about it, the reason Lemon and Apple were outcasts in elven society was due to their parents being criminals. Naturally, those parents had been executed.
So I couldn’t just brush off their reactions toward the Cradle Association’s name; I began watching Tuberose closely once more.
“Jonah. Now that the queen has left, the elves of Pangrave must not be swayed by the words of such scum.”
Tuberose asserted with polite yet firm displeasure and innocence.
Still, there was a strange sense of discomfort surrounding her.
Normally, I’d never have noticed, and even now, with Basilieus extending my senses to the limit, it wasn’t something easily perceivable.
Had I not been observant due to Lemon and Apple’s outburst, such an oddity would have easily slipped by.
The moment I noticed it sent a chill down my spine, as if ice had been poured down my back.
The feeling of scattered puzzle pieces in my mind snapping into place was a bonus.
Still glaring at Tuberose, who confidently asked for me to trust her, I spoke up.
“You, you little brat. Where’d you get those eyes?”
“……”
They didn’t match the color of Eve’s eyes, nor did they bear any signs of being pieced together from someone else’s. Still… I felt a faint power in Tuberose’s eyes that resembled Eve’s eyes of truth.
Not withdrawing my question, I continued to glare, and Tuberose let out a deep sigh.
Then she spoke to Rosemary, who was relatively near me.
“We have no choice. It’s a bit early, but I have to expedite the plan. My daughter. Come here… or else you might get dragged into this too.”
Snap!
As if on cue, upon Tuberose snapping her fingers, the doors to the banquet hall swung open, and five suspiciously robed men and women entered.
From the entrance onward, a familiar yet unsettling power enveloped the entire banquet hall.
“Distorted divine power…?”
Those bearing vivid red hearts glowing in the center of their chests focused their blazing gazes on me.
“We will reclaim the power. All is for the goddess.”
“All is for the goddess.”
“All is for the goddess.”
“All is for the goddess.”
In truly chilling unison, I reflexively drew the Unicorn Dagger.
“Are you hand-in-hand with One Who Devours the Twilight?!”
It seemed Lemon and Apple were right.
Tuberose must’ve received her upbringing on odd numbers.
