Chapter 48: The World Tree (8)

 

The transformation in Arwin was evident to everyone.

 

Her tangled emotions unfurled in the most unexpected manner.

 

“Arwin! Get down!”

 

Once, she even tried climbing the World Tree.

 

Below, she saw the frantically charging Ascal, the other elves staring at her in shock, and the elders gazing up at her with stern expressions.

 

“Arwin! Didn’t I tell you to get down? The World-”

 

“-What did I do?”

 

Arwin coldly retorted.

 

“Did I cut the World Tree? Did I set it on fire? I’m just climbing it to get a distant view.”

 

“You could’ve had that from the observation deck!”

 

“What I choose to see and from where is up to me.”

 

Arwin felt a sense of relief looking at the elders turning various shades of red.

 

She never thought that hurting someone could be this satisfying.

 

“Besides, I do worry about the World Tree.”

 

Arwin continued climbing the World Tree, shouting down.

 

“It must live long out of spite, at least. Otherwise, the pain of 110 years would be meaningless.”

 

It wasn’t until she had climbed to a height where she could no longer hear Ascal and the elders that she regained her peace.

 

From such a height, she looked out upon landscapes she hadn’t seen in 120 years.

 

Free from her duties, the mere thought of which direction to travel first brightened her mood.

 

From then on, Arwin stopped thinking twice and did everything she wanted to.

 

As long as it felt liberating, she didn’t care what she did.

 

She burst into the room where the elders were having a meeting, recklessly using her powers.

 

“...Arwin, we’re in a meeting. Leave.”

 

“I don’t want to~”

 

Whenever the elders spoke to her, Arwin would hum in reply.

 

She would toss documents stacked on the desks to the floor and arbitrarily extinguish lit candles with a puff.

 

The elders’ immense patience only made it more enjoyable for Arwin to act out.

 

Arwin regretted not behaving this way sooner.

 

At night when everyone was asleep, she roamed about loudly singing songs and trampled over well-maintained flowerbeds on deserted streets.

 

The fall of Arwin, who was born with a blessed lifespan, was a shock to everyone.

 

But whether they were shocked or not, Arwin didn’t care.

 

She just continued her journeys as she pleased.

 

Yet, she didn’t miss undergoing the sacrificial ritual every 15 days.

 

That pain still tore her apart, but enduring it became easier than before.

 

Ever since she adopted a resentful mindset, it became more bearable.

 

Ascal and the elders were disheartened by this change in Arwin.

 

“Arwin. Let’s have a moment to talk.”

 

Approaching the exhausted Arwin who was lying in bed engrossed in her reading, Ascal spoke.

 

Only moving her eyes, Arwin looked at her father and then refocused on her book.

 

“...From now on, the ritual will be only once a year-”

 

At that, Arwin threw the book in her father’s direction.

 

She couldn’t actually throw it at him, but she could express her feelings.

 

“And what difference would that make now?”

 

Arwin snapped back in an outburst.

 

At times, controlling her emotions became challenging.

 

It was evident there was a problem, considering elves typically didn’t have such vast emotional swings.

 

“...Arw-”

 

“I’ve already suffered for more than a hundred years. If you wanted to say such things, you should have said them before I became like this...! If you could’ve changed based on my feelings, you should have done so already...! Ha, and once a year?”

 

Arwin scoffed.

 

“Couldn’t you just say I don’t have to sacrifice at all?”

 

“...For the sake of the other elves, we must adhere to the rules-”

 

“Just go away. I don’t want to hear it.”

 

Arwin retorted sharply.

 

“I will continue the ritual every 15 days. Only then do I feel you pretenders won’t have any hold over me. I’ll do my duty and then leave... Don’t dare block my path in the future.”

 

It was sheer stubbornness.

 

Arwin’s actions at the time were much more intense.

 

But considering the emotional tumult she was in, it was perhaps unavoidable.

 

She succumbed to her feelings, became more wild, and lived for herself.

 

She had long grown tired of making sacrifices.

 

She gave up all that she had to learn and uphold as the elder’s daughter.

 

What the common elves thought of her was none of her business.

 

Yet, there were times when even this Arwin’s emotions would calm down.

 

After undergoing the sacrificial ritual and focusing on recovery, she didn’t have the strength to engage in any exploits.

 

So, she just had to lie still in bed... and when night came, the surging emotions were unbearable.

 

She didn’t want to be this way either.

 

She wanted to be an elf worthy of everyone’s expectations.

 

She wanted to be a daughter her father could be proud of.

 

She wanted to be the noble that all the elves looked up to.

 

She wanted to be a good person...

 

But she had no excuses.

 

She chose to fall apart, and she chose to maintain this lifestyle... but at the same time, it was heartbreaking.

 

Thus, Arwin secretly cried endlessly when no one could see her.

 

She cried softly throughout the night.

 

It was a side of her that no one knew.

 

Even when she closed her eyes, tears would flow endlessly, soaking her pillow.

 

Arwin grew fearful of her own warping personality.

 

To prevent herself from going mad, she continued her wild behaviors.

 

The disparity between who she had wanted to be and who she had become was agonizing.

 

And whenever she felt this pain, there was always one thing she thought of.

 

She always imagined a world beyond this territory.

 

In the future, she believed she could forget these painful times.

 

She desired to experience the outside world she had only seen in books.

 

Without anyone to lean on, Arwin cherished this hope alone.

 

Whether others viewed her as a broken mind... or even if she genuinely was, she had no doubt that she could one day find happiness on her own.

 

The span of hundreds of years won’t disappear. Living for so long, she believed the future she desired would eventually come.

 

****

 

Arwin had now reached the age of 170.

 

She was 30 years away from achieving elfin adulthood.

 

However, just like her, the Celebrien territory was facing a crisis.

 

They could no longer handle the approaching monsters.

 

That day, Arwin, as usual, attended the elder council meeting on her own accord and listened to the discussions.

 

The elders no longer commented on Arwin’s escapades that had been ongoing for over 50 years.

 

“Gallias. This is the last time.”

 

“Again? You said that last time too.”

 

The elf swordsman, Gallias, who was over 450 years old, showed his displeasure at the elders’ proposal.

 

Arwin looked at this unusual elf.

 

Obsessed with swordsmanship, ever since reaching adulthood, he had been immersed in it for 250 years.

 

For an elf who valued their life above everything, getting engrossed in such a dangerous art was unusual.

 

A single mistake in this field could cost one’s life.

 

Any sane elf would not fall for swordsmanship.

 

As a result, not many elves in the Celebrien territory knew how to wield weapons.

 

Initially, elves were far from fighting.

 

Gallias said,

 

“Why are you only pressuring me? You said you’d reach out to Mares last time.”

 

“We can’t get in touch with Mares. We don’t know where he’s gone.”

 

“Sigh... Regardless, this really won’t work this time. You said there won’t be any soldiers accompanying me this time, right? They’re all terrified? This means I’m on my own... but I can’t do it alone. So, what changes if you request?”

 

“But if anyone is proficient with a sword, it’s you-”

 

“-Even for me... if I’m alone, it’s impossible. You know that.”

 

“...”

 

“Break through hundreds of monsters alone and subdue two boss monsters? I’m telling you it’s impossible. Does a woman exist who can get pregnant on her own? I too want to protect the World Tree. But alone, I can’t make any difference.”

 

Gallias expressed his stance.

 

“We need an army. Ask other families for help, hire mercenaries, or persuade other elves to take up arms. I will only join the battle when I am sure of victory.”

 

In truth, if they were pushed to the brink, all the elves would take up arms to protect the World Tree.

 

But if there was any opportunity left to vent their frustration or shift the burden of fighting onto someone else... that was the way of the elves. They wouldn’t budge an inch.

 

Everyone cherished their centuries-long lives.

 

It was unfair to die without fully experiencing the lifespan they were given.

 

Arwin felt the same.

 

Her life was more important than anything else, especially given the sufferings she’d already endured.

 

“Ascal has already left to seek help. We’re asking you because we can’t find aid anywhere else. We don’t have the resources to hire mercenaries anymore…” The elder spoke.

 

The elves, reluctant to bear the burdens of fighting, had already exhausted the resources available to hire mercenaries.

 

“....Haah.”

 

Gallias heaved a deep sigh. No one could give a proper answer.

 

Once again, Arwin felt disgusted towards the elders.

 

Again, they were forcing sacrifices onto others.

 

Arwin, repulsed, stood up and knocked off the hat from the head of the elder who was just speaking.

 

-Tak.

 

The hat fluttered down to the ground.

 

“Hey...Arwin, now is not the time for such antics.”

 

Arwin let out a faint laugh.

 

A lot had changed in the past 50 years.

 

Until recently, the elders felt sorry seeing her broken state. But now, after 50 continuous years of her antics, they found her bothersome.

 

They no longer tried to correct her, nor did they take any action.

 

They left her be.

 

She was treated as a burden. Yet there was an atmosphere where no one could say anything, as she dedicated her life to the World Tree.

 

In truth, Arwin might have intentionally exaggerated her actions to make a point.

 

She couldn’t endure without expressing how hard it was for her.

 

-Click.

 

The door to the meeting room opened.

 

“Ascal!”

 

The elders, surprised by the entrance, stood up.

 

Arwin also looked in the direction of the newcomer, her father.

 

“So, what did Blackwood say? Will they send support?”

 

“No, they’re also in a tough situation.”

 

“If the World Tree falls, the world will end... How could-”

 

“-However, I’ve learned of an unusual mercenary group.”

 

Everyone’s attention was drawn to Ascal, and he began to share the information he had gathered.

 

“There’s a mercenary group that takes noble as payment. They seem to be eyeing the situation after the war.”

 

“Noble?”

 

“Yes. Ner Blackwood... that is, the youngest daughter of the Blackwood family has been sold off. It seems Blackwood has been suffering from monster hordes recently, and they managed to survive with their support.”

 

Arwin remembered the name Ner.

 

A few years ago, she was a young werewolf tribe member who had visited the territory. Her white tail was impressive, making her a memorable figure.

 

The fact that this child had been sold to humans made for an intriguing story.

 

“What’s the name of the mercenary group?”

 

“It’s called Red Flames. I heard the vice-captain there is quite skilled. The eldest son of the Blackwood family mentioned that this person might be on par with Gale.”

 

Gallias snorted.

 

“There’s no swordsman on par with Gale, elder. Even I feel like I would need decades more training to surpass Gale.”

 

“I gave a similar reply as well. Nonetheless, it’s an interesting story, isn’t it?”

 

The elders exchanged glances at his words.

 

Soon, a question arose.

 

“... If they’re willing to accept someone of Celebrien rank, who among us would voluntarily...sacrifice themselves to humans?”

 

There was a hint of disdain in the way the word ‘humans’ was uttered.

 

A sudden impulse flashed across Arwin’s mind.

 

She wasn’t of age yet, but given this desperate situation, there might be an opportunity.

 

She might be able to escape this tiresome territory sooner than she thought.

 

And so, the words impulsively leaped from her lips.

 

“... I’ll do it.”

 

Silence descended upon the meeting room.

 

It seemed that no one could tell whether her words were sincere or just a jest.

 

To lend credibility to her statement, Arwin added, “...In exchange, please let me go.”

 

Arwin wondered if her past actions and experiences might serve her well today.

 

After all, they had all treated her like a burden.

 

Her heart was racing as it never had before.

 

An opportunity to escape the territory, bypassing 30 years in a single moment, had presented itself.

 

Marrying that human might be a sacrifice, one she hadn’t given to the World Tree in terms of lifespan.

 

A chance to venture into the outside world had appeared.

 

Arwin wouldn’t miss this opportunity that had come after 170 years.

 

She wasn’t keen on marrying a human either.

 

It was uncertain what experiences awaited her with that race that was considered uncivilized by many.

 

A future of pain and suffering might be awaiting her.

 

But the World Tree was even more repugnant to her.

 

No matter what pain she might experience, the agony relayed by the World Tree would be even more unbearable.

 

Ascal spoke cautiously, “...Arwin, if you marry a human, you need to understand that you might be bound to him for 60 years.”

 

But Arwin had assumed that to be the worst-case scenario.

 

The man was a mercenary.

 

Perhaps she could escape sooner.

 

...Perhaps she could pave a quicker way out herself.

 

In any case, the fact that she could leave the World Tree 30 years earlier was most important.

 

“I understand,” Arwin replied.

 

“You might have to share your husband. Do you know about the humans’ practice of polygamy, right?”

 

Even that didn’t matter to Arwin. She wasn’t searching for someone to love.

 

“...If I stay, the World Tree will die, right?”

 

She then voiced words that shook the elders.

 

“...”

 

The decision of the elders didn’t take long.

 

After the decision was made, Arwin asked Ascal, “What’s the name of that human?”

 

With a look of regret and sorrow, Ascal replied, “...Berg.”

 

– – – The End of The Chapter – – –