Ellie asked back with a blank expression.
“… What does it mean that the number of World Trees has increased?”
She didn’t even understand what I meant.
Because to the elves, the World Tree was a unique entity.
It seemed as if the very idea of it being copied had not occurred to her.
Ellie simply added:
“If the World Tree were to grow enough to overcome the curse, all problems would be solved. But that’s impossible. The balance has already been tilted.”
The World Tree of Elvenheim.
This tree, which now appears to be nothing more than a sapling, was said to have once been so large that it reached the clouds.
The World Tree, which had been gradually shrinking over the past few hundred years, is said to have shrunk to its current size while fighting the curse of Barnaul.
“Barnaul’s black magic cannot be cured even with our elves’ purification abilities. Unless we bring along a legendary druid… we have no chance of winning.”
“Hmm…”
Ellie is pessimistic about the fate of Elvenheim.
I didn’t add anything either.
It’s clear.
If we could copy the World Tree indefinitely, we could completely remove the curse that covered Elvenheim.
No matter how much strength is being lost, it means that right now, that one small sapling is competing with the curse that has enveloped the entire continent.
Indeed, it is a power worthy of the World Tree.
My heart was like a chimney wanting to swallow it all up…
There was one problem.
[The corresponding category does not exist.]
It was indeed the World Tree.
There were some plants in the logistics center, but they were nothing compared to the World Trees in Elvenheim.
If so, there was only one way left.
Using the save slots given at each subspace level.
Since Level 5 already accommodated the Japanese branch of the Chamber of Commerce, we had to go up to the next level to add new items.
‘… I don’t have money.’
The amount of magic stones required to reach Level 6 is a whopping 100,000.
On the other hand, the amount I have now is…
[There are 68,331 magic stones remaining.]
Because it was very lacking.
.
.
.
It was about time I came out again.
Beyond one side of the vine zone surrounding the World Tree.
I didn’t notice it when I arrived, but the space that looked like an empty lot caught my eye.
Elves gathered in groups of three or five.
They all had the same grave expression on their faces.
Enough to make the innocent smile in my memories fly away.
“What are you doing?”
“It’s target practice. Anyway… war is slated for a week later.”
In preparation for any potential invaders, the elves all raised their bows.
“Preparation!”
An elf gave a loud command.
Jiiiiiik…
The rest of the elves pulled their bowstrings taut toward the sky.
“Firing!”
Paaaaang!
An incredible force escaped the arrow.
Stab…
A sound that echoes around.
It was quite powerful at first glance, but there was something else that really surprised me.
“… There are no arrows?”
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“If you use arrows, their power will actually decrease. Instead, you gather energy converted from natural forces and fire it.”
The relationship between equipment and hierarchy.
Lancelot once explained it to me.
Unless it is a reinforced weapon, it loses its power the moment it leaves the user’s hand.
This is why most dimensional beings prefer melee weapons.
But the elves were an exception.
These proper archers abandoned their cheap tools and used their natural powers as weapons.
“It also helps protect the environment since it saves arrows.”
Ellie was whining, but goosebumps were running down my arms.
They are elves of at least 7th rank, and as high as 5th rank.
Given just one bow, it would not be difficult to unleash that level of attack.
It’s fortunate that the elves have peaceful personalities, but if they had decided to invade, the Earth would have fallen to the elves in an instant.
Her assertion that anyone who invades Elvenheim will die…
There was not an inch of exaggeration in those words.
This time, Ellie added:
“Actually, there was a skirmish on the coast yesterday too.”
“Yesterday?”
“Yes, but it seems to be a different species from you… a bit like a fish…”
“If it’s fish…”
There couldn’t be anything else.
Japanese fishermen.
Even though the Yushin Awakening Society was destroyed and Daichi gathered the Japanese Awakeners to begin a process of recovery, it seemed that remnants still remained.
Even so, they are no match for the elves.
That was when…
“Mr. Jeonggyeom, wait a minute…”
Yongsu Lee calls me from inside the subspace portal.
He brought me some news.
“Daichi came to visit me from Japan.”
“… Daichi?”
We were passing through Osaka on our way to Elvenheim.
It seems that the Awakened people in Osaka passed the news on to Daichi.
As soon as they allowed entry, Daichi opened a portal and appeared.
“… Mr. Jeonggyeom, it’s been a while.”
Despite his warm greeting, he had a rather gloomy expression.
After briefly asking for Ellie’s understanding, I continued my conversation with Daichi separately.
I asked first.
“It looks like there are still some fish left?”
“… How did you know?”
Daichi is startled.
The reason he came to see me was no different.
“I’ve mostly finished organizing. Now there’s only one thing left, Sapporo…”
The only gate portal left in Sapporo.
Coincidentally, it was located quite close to Elvenheim.
Although they no longer seemed particularly threatening, there was a reason why Daichi was struggling.
“They’ve taken the gate core and are holding out on the sea. I was thinking about releasing a demon head, but…”
The 7th-tier monster, Madugwi.
That was Daichi’s last resort.
But, he said, even that method was blocked because they had moved to the middle of the sea.
Moreover, the real problem was not the fishermen.
Because the giant monster that came over from the Sharit dimension was right there.
“… It’s a Kraken. It spews acidic ink nonstop… The surrounding sea has been polluted, making it difficult to approach.”
The Kraken, and the acid ink it spews.
The main culprit that polluted the Japanese waters and the coast of Elvenheim was here.
“Attack from a distance?”
“I tried it. I tried using the Sungchang that Jeonggyeom-ssi helped me with, but the repulsive force was stronger than I imagined…”
A force that doesn’t even allow for gender differences.
I have never encountered such a defense before.
Of course…
‘If you pour it out like crazy, how can you catch it…’
This time again, the range of only 500 meters was the problem.
That meant we had to get close, but it was hard to be sure whether the submarine would be able to withstand the acidic ink.
What was needed was simple.
‘A power that can penetrate high-ranking officials from a long distance…’
And that’s…
‘… It’s here?’
I looked at Ellie, who was waiting for me from a distance.
Elves with high ranks who can unleash long-range attacks with corresponding power.
Because that was the time when that strength was needed.
Moreover, that was not all.
‘… I just needed money…’
It’s a gate hack that has always brought in a decent amount of income.
Daichi was the one who asked for it first, but from my perspective, it was also an opportunity to obtain tens of thousands of magic stones.
The plan is to hunt the Kraken through the elves, level up with the magic stones obtained, and copy the World Tree stored in the subspace.
It was a good strategy for both the sister and brother-in-law, catching crayfish and digging a ditch, but there was one problem.
‘… I’ll have to convince the elves.’
Although they are innocent-looking elves, their isolation is beyond imagination.
They were the ones who didn’t send even a single piece of stone outside the continent.
Even if the goal is peace, would they be able to readily accept a request to come out and fight together?
Still…
“… What can I do if I try?”
The point is to clearly demonstrate that I can copy the World Tree.
And the task was to present it as Elvenheim’s new philosophy.
Not a single outstanding tree, but a group of small trees that can form a forest.
That Elvenheim should not be an isolated island, but a ‘hub’ that forms the Pax Fulfillment Center.
I went back to Ellie.
Then, based on the story he heard from Daichi, he asked Ellie for support.
I would like you to mobilize the elf archers to catch the Kraken in Sapporo.
As I expected, she expressed her discomfort.
“Outside? I don’t know about inside Elvenheim, but outside…”
We shared the same views on the Chamber of Commerce’s discord and the importance of peace.
Rather than just flatly rejecting her, Ellie began to explain why she had no choice.
“Absolute inviolability. This is what the Council of Galadon resolved when the Curse of Barnaul first covered Elvenheim. Nothing, including the Curse of Elvenheim, should escape. We elves are no exception to this.”
A death in utter isolation.
That was the will of the Council of Galadon, written when the curse of Barnaul was passed.
“There will be an ecosystem on Earth. The nature of our Elvenheim is enough to wither away under the curse. We also do not want to cause unnecessary damage to Earth…”
Ellie with a troubled expression.
I brought forward my plans to supply food to Elvenheim.
Then, leaving her alone as she struggled to continue speaking, he handed her a fresh, green vegetable.
Jiying.
[Domestic cabbage, price per head is 3,390 won.]
A whole head of cabbage appeared out of nowhere.
As if she had guessed something, she waved her hand…
“If you want to give it in return, put it back. I’m sorry, but there’s nothing we can do to help you.”
The shipments continued.
Chuck!
Chuck!
“Okay, wait a minute…”
Cabbage gradually piling up.
By then, Ellie’s expression also began to turn one of shock.
“How long will it last…?”
Chin!
After a long time, and probably hundreds of cabbages, I finally opened my mouth.
“Don’t think too much about just one thing. If you focus on it, it will just fester.”
Then he calmly refuted her words.
Elvenheim’s idea of not causing any harm to the Earth was half right and half wrong.
“It’s not just Elvenheim that can cause damage to the Earth. You’ve already seen how the surrounding oceans are polluted. There are dozens and hundreds of different threats coming from other dimensions, slaughtering the Earth’s ecosystem.”
“That…”
“The crucial thing is that this is not all I can offer Elvenheim. This is just a gift… There is a real price I would like to offer Elvenheim.”
Looking at the cabbages stacked neatly in layers, I added one last thing.
“The next thing that piles up here will be the World Tree.”
Only then did Ellie realize.
That I can copy things indefinitely.
The World Tree may not be unique.
That it would open a new path to Elvenheim.
Choaack!
Over a hundred K-class ships split the sea.
The destination is the sea of Sapporo where the Kraken is said to be.
Fortunately, it was not too far from the coast of Elvenheim.
The dragon head of the K-North Line boasting grandeur.
Next to that…
Wheeeeeek!
The elves’ blond hair fluttered.
I put aside my foolish laughter for a moment.
A high nose, slightly furrowed brows, and serious eyes.
The well-armed elves were waiting for the coming battle, climbing onto the sturdy roof of the K-North Line.
Looking forward to Elvenheim recovering and the bond with Pax FC becoming as tight as the roots of a tree.
In the distance, the shape of a living creature could be seen jutting out from the shoreline.
As if to prove its identity, the sea was dyed an even darker color.
Of course, the stench is so bad that it stings your nose…
Cheeeeeee…
Even the powerful acid component that melts the bottom of the ship.
One of the elves in the lead group shouted loudly.
“I’m starting to feel like I can’t stand it anymore.”
“It’s okay! You can go a little further!”
Ethan, who had been urging the elves, shouted again.
“Purification!”
The elves reached out to the sea.
Sitting on a fast-moving boat, I absentmindedly cut through the water with my outstretched hand.
So around where their hands rested…
Jiiing…
The sea, which had been dyed black, gradually began to regain its color.
It certainly prevented damage to the lower part of the ship.
How much time has passed?
We finally got a glimpse of the Kraken.
A heavy and blunt body, unusual for a mollusk.
The head and legs, which were like a stone or a lump of iron, were covered in rust-colored bluish-green and copper.
It looks like a giant anchor that has been placed deep in the sea for hundreds of years.
It had an overwhelming appearance that seemed like it would drag any approaching enemy into the depths of the water…
‘You don’t have to go near it anyway.’
The guy who had always had a distance advantage by using the polluted sea, but now it was the opposite.
He can’t attack us, but we are in a position to attack him.
That is, it was around the time when we reached a place within the elves’ shooting range.
“Surround!”
Elves centered around the Kraken.
The Kraken, sensing something, also began to move, but it was unable to escape the encirclement because the ships carrying the elves had widened the distance again.
Like that…
“Attack!”
Taaaaaang!
Swoosh, woosh, woosh!
Swoosh!
Dozens and hundreds of attacks containing the elves’ natural power began to fly.
Phew!
Ping!
An attack that sticks out like a bullet.
It penetrated the Kraken’s carapace, which was as solid as steel and could not be pierced even with a spear.
Woof woof…
The low, ringing scream of the Kraken.
The guy realized.
That the sea can no longer be his refuge.
Pogurrururururuk!
Bubbles rising along the water’s path.
Dripping dirty ink, the guy tried to escape towards the deep sea…
-???
[Truck Safety Net +1. Price is 20,930.]
The massive body was blocked by a reinforced, woven net of dozens of pieces.
It was indeed a Kraken.
Paaaaak!
Choaack!
It waved its rusty tentacles around, tearing at the net in front of it.
One sheet, two sheets, and three sheets.
But as the nets poured down like waves, layer after layer, the Kraken realized something was wrong.
Krrrrrrrr…
The tentacles were getting heavier one by one, and its vision was getting blurry.
What the guy saw in the end was…
Phew!
[Dimensional account ownership has been transferred.] [Existing depositor: ???, Balance: 46,721.] [You already have a dimensional account. The amounts will be added.] [The remaining magic stones are 115,052.]
The yolk of the gate core burst out by the shining window.
And…
Crunch.
It was an elf arrow that pierced its head along with pitch-black ink.
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