Vol 5: Chapter 69
The ancestors of the elves were nomadic people. The world was devastated and the clan was on the verge of death.
It was the Life Dragon Kurtus Vita who saved them.
The dragon bestowed the elves with a forest. The forest brought a dwelling place and food to the elves, and repelled foreign enemies who tried to invade.
Kurtus Vita continued to preserve the forest, but despite the increasing number and prosperity of the elves, the dragon grew weak. As he weakened, the forest’s ability to repel foreign enemies weakened, but at that time the elves had grown strong enough to defend themselves.
It was their turn to help Kurtus Vita—the King of the elves, a High Elf, supplied mana to Kurtus Vita by singing the Chant.
Kurtus Vita fell asleep for a long time, but trees grew where he slept, and now it has grown into such a giant tree.
That is what Yuri-san said.
「We don’t know what kind of state Kurtus Vita is in anymore, but if there is a tree here that is connected to Kurtus Vita and it can provide mana to the saviour of our clan who is sleeping underground, then it is our duty to continue to offer the Chant to them, right?」
So that is the duty of the High Elf royal family, huh.
(……However, as I suspected…)
I kept looking at the dark red light that kept pulsing, and confirmed it with【World Ruler】.
(This is not part of Kurtus Vita.)
It has an angular shape, a strange light, and a heartbeat. There is no mistaking this.
It is a skill orb.
And in addition to that, it is a skill orb that someone has remodeled.
「Yuri-san, this is…」
「It’s kind of warm to think that this is a part of Kurtus Vita’s body… the one who protected our ancestors. Looking at it reaffirms that we, the High Elves, must continue our duty.」
「…………」
I could not say it.
I could not tell her the truth I saw.
We stayed there for a while, but contrary to Yuri-san, who had a warm look, I was highly uncomfortable.
**
Why is there a skill orb in such a place?
Is it possible to remodel a skill orb?
Even【World Ruler】could not analyze what kind of skill orb it was originally.
I could not organize my thoughts. I was silent all the way until we returned to the High Elf mansion. His Majesty Sylvis had already returned to work, and he had granted me permission to stay the night, so I decided to indulge in his hospitality for today.
For some reason, only Asha, Matvey-san, and Yuri-san had dinner together. None of the other siblings were present. As expected, their relationship does not seem to be good.
Matvey-san and Yuri-san immediately broke into a quarrel with each other, so it seems that they are not on good terms either.
「Fuu…」I exhaled.
After dinner, Asha and I moved to the room given to me. Asha brewed tea for me. The fragrance was a bit prickly, but the tea was good for the body.
「This is the first time I have seen Yuri onee-san talking like that.」
「……Huh?」
「Matvey-san and his twin were always somewhat awkward with each other. Perhaps something happened during the years I was not here… or maybe because of Reiji-san’s presence, they have changed too.」
「Me? That’s not possible.」
「No. It is possible. Anyone would be moved by Reiji-san’s enthusiasm… I was moved too.」
Asha said with a downcast look and a shy tone. She was so incredibly cute!
「It makes me happy to hear that. I… am just trying to live to the best of my ability.」
No one ever told me that back in Japan. Thanks to【World Ruler】’s assistance, I could learn a great many things if I simply put in the effort, so I spared no effort in studying and practicing. I, originally, liked studying as well.
「What did you discuss with His Majesty, Reiji-san? If it’s something difficult to talk about, you don’t have to tell me…」
「…………」
I wondered if I should tell Asha about it. His Majesty the King and Yuri-san treated the World Tree as a “closely guarded secret” of the Life Dragon Kurtus Vita, and I don’t know how much Asha knows.
This is a very sensitive subject.
It will have a deep impact on many elves….
「——Reiji-sama, are you there?」
When I was at a loss for an answer, there was a knock on the door and a maid entered. She was a little surprised because Asha was there, but she immediately regained her composure.
「His Majesty the King has requested your presence.」
「…Understood.」
I stood up.
「Asha, let’s pause this conversation for now.」
「Of course. I will be waiting for you.」
Looking at Asha who answered honestly like a sensible child–
「I am always making you wait, aren’t I?」I said.
「Yes, but it’s not a pain to wait. Considering the years it took for me to be able to speak… not at all.」
**
The King’s private room was not so different from Asha’s room. The elves live in harmony with the forest, so they probably do not desire excessive decoration.
「Well, then… Can you tell me what you saw?」
The only people in the room were me and His Majesty. There were about a dozen Secret Service people in the hallway, but they should not be able to hear our voice if we are not too loud.
「…Remodeled skill orb.」
His Majesty should be able to understand those words——as expected, His Majesty nodded.
「Your Majesty, did you send me there knowing I would see through it?」
「Yes.」
「Why… Yuri-san didn’t seem to know that.」
「It is knowledge inherited only by successive kings. It is not a single skill orb, but a combination of multiple skill orbs… The kings have been conducting research for generations. There was no other means of converting mana into vitality in order to keep Kurtus Vita in the ground alive.」
「I’m not too familiar with it, but isn’t it a taboo to modify skill orbs?」
The word “sin and blame” that His Majesty said earlier seemed to indicate that the modification of skill orbs is not an act which he was proud of.
「As you say. It is a matter of modifying skill orbs which make up the world. Therefore, I try to involve myself alone… Of course, I cannot conduct the research by myself, but the world is vast. Some people, knowingly or unknowingly, conduct remodeling experiments on skill orbs.」
Thesis-like papers were placed on the table. The moment I saw it, my heart jumped to my throat.
The author’s name was “Hinga”.
