Chapter 88

“Delicious!”

The World Tree picked up the macarons.

With a squirrel-like enthusiasm, it stuffed one or two into each cheek.

The insane sweetness on the outside, and the cushion-like cream in between were a perfect combination.

Unlike the outline of flavors remembered from before, the dessert experienced in its true form was absolutely divine.

“Mmm.”

As one disappeared, another quickly took its place.

It had already been hours since the World Tree settled deep within itself.

The first macaron it tasted post-incarnation was simply impossible to put down.

The World Tree stared intently at a pink macaron.

It was cute in size and had an endearing shape.

“Did the Head of the Gallery make this? It’s the cutest in the world…”

It was the best dessert, pleasing to the eyes as well as the palate.

The World Tree was a divine entity cherished by the elves.

In the elves’ books, the World Tree had always been perceived as a benevolent and colossal being.

In truth, the World Tree had tirelessly strived to understand the cultures of living beings over the ages.

“The speech of this century is fascinating. I feel like I’m getting addicted to it as I use it.”

The issue was that this century was the Gallery Century.

Having become addicted to the Gallery’s speech, the World Tree found itself speaking in the real Gallery’s tone.

Just as it reached for a new macaron—

-Swish!

“Hmm?”

From beyond the trunk, it heard something swoosh by outside.

The World Tree paused mid-reach and poked its head out curiously.

But nothing was visible.

“That’s strange, I’m sure there was something.”

It felt like it spotted something twitching out there at the end…

As the World Tree turned back, it thought it must have been mistaken!

“Shh.”

“Whoa!”

Something in black, wearing a mask.

That entity, having intruded into the World Tree’s inner sanctum, scooped it up in a bundle.

Before the World Tree could resist, it found itself being kidnapped.

*

Life is about timing.

What this means is, once you gain confidence, you must invest boldly.

“Hmm.”

The moment I broke free from the grip of “I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire.”

I seized that instant and executed my plan to escape the Abandoned Castle.

I dashed out of the room, running blindly down the long corridor for about five minutes.

Finally, I reached a place that looked like the main entrance of the Abandoned Castle.

“Head of the Gallery is free.”

With a spirited heart, I flung the door open!

-Whoosh!

Something leaped into my arms.

No, it was more fitting to say that something enveloped me.

“Where have you been?”

“I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire” looked up at me, her eyes wide.

Despite being smaller than me, she lifted me effortlessly, like a feather.

“Come on, let’s go back to rest.”

“Wah!”

Erzebet gently princess-carried me and tossed me onto the bed.

I dived onto the bed, forced back to where I started.

The first escape attempt had failed.

“I lost time for posting while escaping.”

Moreover, the vigilance of “I Will Not Die Even If I Am a Vampire” had grown even stricter.

In those eyes staring at me, I felt a determination not to let the blood pack escape.

Defeated, I reluctantly gave up and entered the concept posts.

If there were countless articles posted, concept posts were essentials for me to read.

As I was about to jump straight into reading concept posts without missing any, I noticed a strange article.

[Title: We Have Kidnapped the World Tree!]

“What’s this?”

The title seemed too weak to be clickbait.

It didn’t have the punch to claim a spot in concept posts.

Wondering how it made it to concept posts, I discovered the secret behind the many recommendations.

[Concept Post: We Have Kidnapped the World Tree!]

Author: Dark Happiness

(Green-haired girl locked in a frame)

Head of the Gallery, come to the negotiating table immediately!

If not, you will never see the World Tree again!

[Recommended 5231] [Not Recommended 4121]

– 1 point

– Who would trust this? Haha

– Not even during the early days of the Gallery did we see clickbait like this, Doom Joy…

– Dark Happiness) Call me by my proper name!

Of course, no one believed it.

That was until the IP of the World Tree, 137.7.32, showed up in the article’s comments.

– 137.7.32) (This article is recommended by the World Tree!)

– What? The real deal has shown up.

– Is that you for real?

– Does our World Tree look like a neighborhood kid? Haha

– Do you think the World Tree would get kidnapped by those low-level clickbaiters? Haha

However, the elves scoffed and turned away from the author.

Who was the World Tree?

An alive history book and the mana major shareholder supplying mana to all elves.

No one was someone that could be kidnapped by a few plotting individuals.

– 137.7.32) (That’s me and I just upvoted this, Head of the Gallery)

– ?

– Huh?

– (What situation is this??? Elf Con)

The problem was that it was true.

Soon, another new post appeared from the same author.

[Concept Post: I Will Prove I Am the World Tree!]

Author: Dark Happiness

(A kidnapper asking the green-haired girl for a favor)

(As the green-haired girl casts magic, the room is filled with plants)

We are not joking!

Head of the Gallery, come to the negotiating table immediately!

Do you not want to see the World Tree ever again!

– Wait, for real?

– How did you even kidnap it? Haha

– Then what about the World Tree in Elard?

“What’s going on, it’s real?”

How did they manage to kidnap it?

The response from the Gallery members in the concept posts erupted.

– (Elf porcelain Con holding its head)

– Where do you live?

– Whoa, the World Tree!!!

– Emergency! Emergency! Super emergency!!!

Especially the elf major who were devoted to the World Tree were in utter panic.

The World Tree had been kidnapped.

To put it more dramatically, it was the worst situation involving the fate of an entire race.

– We have to find the World Tree immediately!

– Scatter and report by region!

– I’ll go rescue it right now!!!

Naturally, the elves were furious and called for help from the Gallery…

– ? Why me?

– Haha, this is entertaining.

– The concept post was fulfilling. Dopamine recharge, good~

– (Is this for real? Dwarf Con)

Naturally, it was brushed off.

In fact, a buzz was forming to celebrate the World Tree’s kidnapping.

– 137.7.32, just listen to the kidnappers and stay healthy over there~

– 137.7.32) (Thank you, World Tree Con)

– We’ve been liberated, yay!

– Are you living in a house without pests now?

– Ugh, I’m so jealous; I want to move too.

– I won’t bring any housewarming gifts; I’ll just congratulate you.

– 137.7.32) (A cat with teary eyes giving a thumbs up)

For several centuries, the World Tree, which had suffered in the den of elves.

Unlike the Gallery’s usual pursuit of stimulation, a pure celebratory atmosphere had formed.

– This is just wrong!

– W-World Tree? You’re not abandoning us, right?

– 137.7.32) (New divine tree frame)

– 137.7.32) (Yay~! Con)

Among it all, only the elves felt confusion and bewilderment.

– Dark Happiness) No, this isn’t how it should go.

– Dark Happiness) Don’t you want to see the World Tree for a lifetime? Hurry and come to the negotiating table!

– ? World Tree?

– Dark Happiness) Anyway, cooperate!

Oh, and then there were the kidnappers.

“They should have chosen a better place to threaten.”

Of all things, they evolve the World Tree, who is a bright-eyed creature, and think to threaten it?

They must have picked the wrong target by a long shot.

“Have I seen disruption once or twice?”

I had never seen the nickname Dark Happiness before.

It seemed like they had just started infiltrating the Gallery and were now getting the taste of spicy life.

“But the mockery should end here.”

If it goes further, there’s a risk the newbie will get overwhelmed and leave the Gallery.

I decided to stop the pranks and try talking to the kidnappers.

– Head of the Gallery*) So what do you want?

– What, are you hoping for a gun or something?

The kidnappers attempting to threaten me looked to be following the same old script.

They either sought to monopolize the Gallery around me or wanted modern weapons supplied to them.

Naturally, I assumed that this was what the kidnappers wanted too.

– Dark Happiness) Give us triangular rice balls!

– Dark Happiness) We’ll give you time until dinner!

But the demands of the kidnappers were unexpected.

“Triangular rice balls?”

Are they talking about the triangular rice balls?

*

Years ago, I made an error in the quantity when purchasing triangular rice balls.

I only wanted to buy 10, but I mistakenly added a zero and ordered 100.

So, I put the surplus 90 on the marketplace, and they sold without a whisper.

“At that time, nobody on the Gallery responded.”

But on the Gallery, no one posted reviews about the triangular rice balls.

So naturally, I had forgotten, but those who bought them had become these kidnappers.

– Dark Happiness) Give us triangular rice balls!

“Since they asked for it, I might as well give them.”

To be pulling off a kidnapping of the World Tree just to ask for triangular rice balls.

I casually ordered about 10 and had them delivered.

– Head of the Gallery*) Okay.

– Dark Happiness) …For real?

The way they nervously typed that demanded was quite striking for someone who boldly asked for it.

[10 Triangular Rice Balls have been delivered!]

As soon as I had them delivered, the chat paused for a moment before a new reply from the kidnapper popped up.

– Dark Happiness) Th-Thank you!

They seemed capable in skill, yet they felt oddly naive and unfamiliar with the Gallery.

“I have a feeling I know why…”

From their nickname to the pointy ears I briefly saw in the frame.

As I began piecing together their identity, Pa-dak, the Full-Peel Elf, sent a message with the realization.

Full-Peel Elf: I’ve got it, I know who they are.

Head of the Gallery*: Oh, really?

Full-Peel Elf: They’re Dark Elves.

“Dark Elves?”

Dark Elves, aren’t they the race that the elves supposedly expelled in the past?

I had only heard of them vaguely, but I was surprised as they had never appeared before.

Just then, no more than a few minutes later, a new reply popped up.

– Head of the Gallery*) How does it taste?

– Dark Happiness) Well, I ate it. It was the best taste!

– Dark Happiness) Anyway! How could you fall for such an obvious demand, you foolish Head of the Gallery!

“What?”

However, it was Dark Happiness, whom I had thought was merely naive, revealing its true colors.

– Dark Happiness) There’s no way we’re returning the World Tree!

– Dark Happiness) We’re going to grow a new divine tree on our land!

Abandoning the elves’ homeland, Elard, and cultivating a divine tree on their own land, they dropped a bombshell in the Gallery.