“…….”
A massive leaf hung high above me.
This enormous leaf, which I had never seen in my life, was brought by Rune for me.
It is wide and sturdy enough to adequately cover at least one person.
I’ve heard that the elves use this leaf as an umbrella when it rains─.
The thickness of the leaf is quite substantial, effectively blocking out sunlight.
“Wow…!! This is indeed the World Tree that Rune mentioned!”
“It’s really emitting something….”
“How fascinating.”
I am currently admiring the World Tree alongside the children.
Thanks to this large leaf brought by Rune, we managed to reach this place without much danger, but.
In truth, what I was worried about was not just the intense sunlight.
“How about it, Levynia? The World Tree is truly magnificent, isn’t it?”
“…….”
I simply nodded slightly in response to Rune’s question.
Although a faint smile was maintained on my face, beads of cold sweat forming around it revealed my anxious heart.
“So, the aura that seems to be steaming out around the World Tree is the divine energy, right?”
“Yes, that’s right. That is the divine energy protecting our village from the forces of evil.”
“Wow….”
“In ancient times, this World Tree was said to bestow not only divine energy but various powers as well. Although I’m not entirely sure what those powers were.”
Rune proudly answered with a very satisfied expression in response to Aizen’s question.
Despite all the children being in awe at the divine energy emanating from the World Tree, I, alone, was secretly engaging in a desperate yet lonely battle, fully embracing that energy.
No matter how much I have the heart of a human, the fact that my race is a Demon Tribe does not change, proving that.
The divine energy of the World Tree made me feel as if I were being crushed under a tremendous pressure.
“Levynia? Why are you sweating so much?”
“…It’s nothing. Please don’t worry about me, just finish explaining about the World Tree to the children.”
In short, as soon as I got near the World Tree, I was continuously taking damage from an unknown attack.
Rune’s words about protecting the elves’ village from the forces of evil were not just empty rhetoric after all….
“H-Hey, is it because of the divine energy of the World Tree that you’re in pain?”
I thought I was doing a good job hiding my expression, but it seems I couldn’t deceive Rune, who appeared rather perceptive despite her appearance.
Her quietly whispered words, filled with worry, pierced right through to my innermost feelings.
“It seems I won’t be able to stay here for long….”
“Oh, I thought you’d be fine since you were walking around the village so casually….”
“Yes?”
“It’s usually the case that just coming near the village, both monsters and even decent Demon Tribe members would be frightened by the divine energy.”
“R-Really…?”
“Yes. But since you, Levynia, seemed completely fine, I thought you couldn’t feel the divine energy at all.”
The fact that I, who could live peacefully even in a church, was feeling such discomfort and pain indicates that the divine energy of the World Tree is indeed tremendously powerful.
Still, well, as long as I don’t get too close, I should be fine.
I thought it would be better to quickly finish observing the World Tree and go back.
“As long as I don’t get any closer, I’ll be fine. It’s not extremely painful, so you don’t have to worry too much.”
“Really?”
“Yes. It’s really fine….”
While I was trying to reassure Rune, who was genuinely concerned for my well-being, the dot damage I had been suffering from the World Tree inexplicably began to weaken.
Eventually, the dot damage completely disappeared.
I waited a bit, wondering if it was a temporary situation, and even tried getting closer to the World Tree again, but.
To my surprise, nothing happened to me; there was no pain at all.
“…Huh?”
At that moment, when I tilted my head in confusion, a voice I found quite familiar rang out urgently behind me.
“W-What are you doing right now?!”
The owner of that voice was the Elder of this village, whom I had met briefly in the morning.
The Elder, who was sweating profusely and taking deep breaths, looked pale as if something big had happened.
Behind the Elder stood numerous elven soldiers, all armed with bows, indicating they were not ordinary guards, but special soldiers ready to respond to a critical situation.
“What’s going on all of a sudden?”
“Weren’t you supposed to avoid coming here at all costs, because you planned to destroy the World Tree?!”
“Yes?”
“I sent Rune to build a good relationship, and yet, you stab me in the back like this….”
The Elder’s words were utterly perplexing.
I hadn’t done anything, yet I was suddenly receiving an absurd misunderstanding.
“What do you mean?! Why would we destroy the World Tree?!”
“What a strange old man you are! Apologize to the Nun, quickly!”
“Slander is bad.”
In the unexpected situation, the children who had been admiring the World Tree rushed to my side.
However, it seemed that the elven soldiers began to draw their bows at me.
In response, the children also unhesitatingly took out their weapons and readied themselves.
“What’s this all about?! What have we done to warrant this?!”
“We’ve even taken down Demon Tribe members before!! If you underestimate us, you’ll get hurt badly!!”
“We’re really strong.”
Instead of being scared by the children’s fierce show of bravado, the Elder merely frowned in disbelief.
“What on earth was your purpose for approaching the World Tree…?”
“As you can see, we were engaged in field study.”
“…Field study?”
“Yes. The children wanted to see it.”
“Do you think we would believe such nonsense…?”
“Why wouldn’t it make sense?”
“Those children are not meant to be taken for that purpose.”
The Elder dared to say things in front of the children, but I maintained my composure.
Because—
“That guy is still framing Levi till the end!!”
“What does he think of our Nun?! I won’t forgive him!!”
“Bad Elder.”
The children were not the type to be easily swayed by such words.
“It’s alright, Rune. Don’t be too scared.”
If anyone should be worried, it should be Rune, who is unexpectedly caught up in this situation.
Unlike the children, who have endured various experiences, it seemed Rune had never encountered such a hellish scene before.
She also lacked the strength to fight back.
“H-Hey, did this happen because of me? Is this because I guided you all the way to the World Tree…?”
“No, it’s not particularly because of Rune; it’s just that I’m not liked.”
“Yes…?”
“You might have guessed it roughly. That I would refuse the proposal. So, you created this situation under the pretext of a plausible reason.”
It didn’t take much to figure out the Elder’s intention.
He seemed to have tried to use Rune as a sacrifice to fortify his relationship with me.
But when the atmosphere during our first meeting wasn’t good, it appeared he hastily revised his plans.
At that moment, he seemed to have heard that I was approaching the World Tree somewhere and tried to drive me out of the village for a seemingly valid reason.
“It would have been better if you’d just asked me to leave without all this.”
Along with that line, I slowly turned my head back to the Elder.
“If you had asked me to leave like that, I would have done it long ago.”
“Why do you jump to conclusions without even trying? Despite how I appear, I’m quite understanding.”
“Hah, a Demon Tribe with a wide understanding….”
At the Elder’s remark, the children began to fume once again.
“Why are you calling Levi a Demon Tribe—?!! The reason Levi’s skin is abnormally pale is because she doesn’t get much sunlight!!”
“Don’t talk about the Nun when you know nothing about her!!”
“Judging a person by their appearance is bad.”
Seeing the children react like this made me think I wouldn’t have to worry about them being swayed easily anymore.
For someone hiding their identity, this was an extremely satisfying situation.
“What on earth are those kids saying….”
“P-Please stop—!!”
At that moment, the atmosphere between the Elder and me was reaching a breaking point.
Suddenly, Rune, who had been trembling like a aspen tree and was at a loss, squeezed her eyes shut and began to shout towards the air with all her might.
“These people were just admiring the World Tree… It’s not at all what Elder thinks….”
“How would you know that?”
“If that were the case, you would have done it a long time ago. But you didn’t….”
“Hmph, that’s only because it isn’t night. Vampires can’t use their powers during the daytime.”
However, the Elder did not flinch at Rune’s heartfelt words.
It seemed related to her young age, but more than that, the stubbornness clearly evident in the Elder’s demeanor played a large role.
“Tch, I thought you liked children, so I sent Rune….”
“…What?”
“Are you saying that just Rune is not enough to satisfy you?!”
The Elder’s tone of voice shifted to a passionate one, and I took a moment to close my mouth, hardening my expression.
It appeared that the Elder had no intention of hiding the fact that he tried to use Rune as a sacrificial pawn.
“Since the children are listening, please refrain from speaking harshly.”
“What is it that you want…? Do you want more children other than Rune?”
“I’ve already asked you to tone down your harsh words.”
“Alright, I understand. We have made a mistake. It’s my fault for seeking your assistance without understanding my circumstances.”
“……”
“If you want, I’ll prepare as many as you want! I’ll keep passing the children to you until you’re satisfied!! So, please, just let it go and leave this village….”
“Please stop—.”
As I furrowed my brow in irritation at the Elder, who was agitated and saying anything recklessly, I managed to utter those words quietly.
For some reason, my voice, itself, was amplified, echoing solemnly throughout the entire forest.
Finally, the Elder, who was watching the scene right in front of him, and even the children began to look at me with blank stares.
The atmosphere shifted suddenly, thick with tension that was stifling.
─────────────
【Levynia Fallen Grace】-[Guardian]
[Race] Vampire
[Level] 87
[Active Skills] Bloodsucking, Blood Mist
[Passive Skills] Rapid Regeneration
─────────────
Eventually, a status window appeared.
The word “Guardian” written abruptly next to my name.
It was too brief a moment to comprehend anything.
But I could certainly tell that something unusual was happening.
“Since you’re rushing me, I guess I have no choice. I must hasten the plan according to your wishes.”
Due to the not-temporary but continuously grandly echoing voice.
“Under the will of the Goddess Paelia, I shall cleanse this place completely.”
