I Picked Up the Hero Who Banished Me - Chapter 47



46 – [In the Elven Lands – 14]

It’s strange.

Truly strange.

I looked at the fallen trees of Elven Heim and thought.

‘The trees of Elven Heim are particularly influenced by the World Tree.’

Being the closest, the World Tree’s blessing should be powerful, and they shouldn’t fall just because they’re a little heavy.

Elves protect the forest, and the forest protects the elves – that was the greatest characteristic of Elven Heim. But now, the forest wasn’t fulfilling its role of protecting the elves.

This wasn’t a normal situation.

“Hmm.”

I picked up a broken piece of wood and examined it.

It had been a question since I entered Elven Heim.

The power of nature was disturbed.

Elven Heim was a place that should have had the most abundant natural power in the world, but that power was in disarray. . That’s not to say it was less than other places, it was definitely abundant.

It was just that compared to the name of Elven Heim, it was less and more chaotic, that was the truth.

‘It’s past the realm of hypothesis at this point.’

Something’s wrong with the World Tree.

It seems reasonable to interpret Titania’s not giving the World Tree’s sap as meaning she couldn’t, even if she wanted to. The problem is, the World Tree is like a sacred tree of nature, called a gift from the goddess.

If there’s a problem with that World Tree, it wouldn’t be easy to fix.

The world tree, a place where all the forces of nature converged, was said to have a problem, and I couldn’t imagine what it could be.

“…….”

I turned my head and looked at the world tree.

The trees here were incredibly huge compared to other forests.

Even amongst those trees, the world tree, seemingly reaching the sky, felt sacred, even divine.

‘Visually, it doesn’t look like there’s a problem. But unseen problems are often more serious.’

It might not be good to treat people and trees the same, but at least, just because something looks fine didn’t mean it was.

Rather, the issue was often hidden inside where you couldn’t properly see it.

Often, by the time you realized, it was already too late.

I took out my pocket watch and checked the time.

‘Livia and Sylvie said they were going to the training grounds.’

I was slightly worried about Livia’s condition, but she wasn’t so stupid she couldn’t check her own.

She’d know when to back off, and in the first place, it was doubtful anyone in Elven Heim could make Livia sweat or get nervous.

Well, maybe if she’s in bad shape, there might be someone.

“…….”

I wanted to try burning one down, just to see, but if I did, I wouldn’t be able to laugh it off.

These trees blessed by the world tree wouldn’t burn, but if they did, it would prove there was a problem with the world tree. However, that was too extreme a method, and it would be dangerous if they didn’t burn.

More than anything, burning the trees of the forest-loving elves would, at the very least, cause major problems.

‘Going directly to the world tree would be the fastest, but there’s a barrier, so I can’t get close.’

If there wasn’t a barrier, sneaking in at night would have been an option.

It was a very Livia-esque method, but if we weren’t caught, maybe it wouldn’t be so bad… but there’s a barrier, so if we forced our way in, we’d definitely be discovered.

The World Tree was a tree within the domain of faith, so getting caught was not something we could just laugh off.

Even Sylphie, a half-elf, had a strong feeling towards the World Tree, to the point she’d say, “That’s a bit…” It wasn’t so much the effect of education as it felt like something she was just born with.

“Hey, how long are you going to keep loitering?”

It sounded like an elven guard.

For an elf, his tone was rather flippant, and his expression was clearly saying he was unhappy.

There wasn’t any reason for them to be upset with me, so was it Livia or Sylphie?

Still, they were the ones who saved the kids, so they could be a little nicer.

Living in the forest, some elves just lacked social skills, sometimes so much you’d wonder if they were actually as old as they looked.

“What are you trying to do in Elvenheim, bringing a hero and a half-elf?”

“Yeah, you’re a nuisance. Just get out of here.”

“Is this the first time the tree has had a fall?”

At my question, their faces flushed red with anger.

“You little punk!”

“Stop it!”

A more diligent-looking elf intervened from behind the enraged elves.

“What kind of attitude is that towards the benefactors who saved the children! Is that how the guards of Elvenheim act?!”

“But, but…”

“Enough, go back to patrolling.”

He looked young, but you could feel the experience in his voice.

It was a gut feeling, but they had to be a pretty old elf.

Elves barely aged after a certain point, the wear and tear only hitting them suddenly near death, letting them live most of their lives looking young.

In other words, it was impossible to tell their age by their appearance.

Elves could roughly tell each other apart, but to my human eyes, they all looked like they were in their twenties.

Some even looked like teenagers.

“I apologize for their rudeness. They’re still young and don’t know any better. Please, forgive them.”

“…….”

*Young* ones, huh.

Still, they were probably a lot older than me.

But I generally didn’t get too worked up when kids were running wild.

It was when their parents acted shamelessly after their kids went nuts that I’d get annoyed, but if the parents were apologetic and seemed like they couldn’t do anything about it, then it was fine.

Kids could be kids, but you shouldn’t be.

That’s kind of how I thought.

“It’s fine. If it’s alright, could I ask a few questions?”

The elf hesitated for a moment, then spoke.

“Go ahead.”

“Is this the first time something like this collapse has happened?”

“As we live in the trees, it does happen sometimes. But something like this, where a building openly collapsed along with a branch, this is a first.”

“I see, have you noticed anything strange in the forest recently? Anything different from the usual?”

“Hmm, I’m not sure.”

It doesn’t seem like a lie.

So, that means there’s no noticeable change yet.

Or maybe, a noticeable change is happening right now in real time. If what’s rotting inside is now coming out, maybe the real danger starts now.

“Is there a way to see the World Tree?”

“…….”

Only for a moment, the elf frowned.

I understood it was a somewhat rude question.

The elf seemed to feel momentarily displeased, but soon straightened her posture and spoke with a sincere attitude.

“The World Tree can only be accessed with Titania’s permission. Otherwise, the World Tree’s barrier will not welcome anyone.”

“I see, so it’s impossible to enter without Titania’s permission.”

“Thank you for saving the village children, but I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t interfere too much in the affairs of our Elven Heim.”

“If those affairs are solely Elven Heim’s, I wouldn’t even think of interfering.”

So there is a slightly closed-off atmosphere after all.

Hmm.

Still, they weren’t someone without a sense of propriety.

Even if they personally disliked me, they kept to the rules, and answered my questions sincerely.

“…….”

I quietly focused, holding onto the bark of the tree.

The power of nature gathered at my fingertips, reacting to the tree bark.

Abundant natural power.

It truly possessed the power of a land of nature, yet it also felt faintly severed.

Like the power that was always supplied had somehow caused an issue, it had been blocked mid-flow, and in that blocked moment, the weight, too much for tree branches to bear, had caused the house to collapse.

‘Knowing just this much, I might be able to negotiate with Titania.’

The problem was, I didn’t know what the problem *was*.

If it were a simple issue, I could somehow manage with my power as a spirit mage, but if the problem was internal, even my power wouldn’t be enough.

Titania likely knew that I was a spirit mage, and the fact that she hadn’t told me directly might mean it was already a problem beyond what a spirit mage could solve.

But either way, I needed to hear the details from Titania, and if I could receive sap in exchange for helping to solve the problem, that would be the best outcome.

‘Getting Livia out safely is most important. I should avoid risks as much as possible.’

Above all, it was best not to antagonize Titania, who could wield all sorts of magic.

She hadn’t earned the title of hero in that long war for nothing, nor had she survived in Titania’s position until now.

From the moment I met her, I instinctively felt that antagonizing Titania would be a bad idea.

It’s something, but I felt something close to poison, and that reminded me of the Livia of the past.

That poison, as if touching it would immediately cause problems, was so fearsome that it was difficult to even approach it.

In my experience, people like that were often broken somewhere, and were not in their right minds due to a multitude of emotions.

“…Hmm.”

Did that person from earlier already leave?

Well, it can’t be helped.

There was more I wanted to ask, but I’ve gathered enough information.

Let’s try persuading Titania again tomorrow.

Tomorrow, I might have to say something too.

“You’re diligent, and your skills as a spirit mage are high, too.”

“……Huh?”

I was startled for a moment.

It was because the elven girl, who looked like a child, was looking at me and speaking.

“That body of yours, it doesn’t look ordinary.”

I was taken aback.

She was the first person to notice it immediately.

There were occasionally people who felt a strange vibe when seeing me fight, but she was the first to just observe and realize it straight away.

And that was enough for me to figure out who *she* was.

“What brings you here, Titania?”

“Being a queen is surprisingly boring, you know? I just came down for a stroll, but everyone tenses up and salutes. I suppose it can’t be helped, given my position.”

So, she pretends to be a child on purpose so she can wander around without feeling encumbered.

“Royce, wasn’t it?”

“That’s correct.”

“Would you converse with me for a while? It seems neither the Hero nor my grandson are around. …I’ll say it beforehand, this is a suggestion. You can refuse.”

I was silent for a moment at Titania’s offer.

A chance to talk one-on-one?

And she even seems… oddly sentimental.

Maybe, right now, I could hear information that I couldn’t have gotten before.

I wanted to increase the odds of healing Rivia, even by a little.

“Of course, it would be an honor for me to have the opportunity to speak with the leader of a nation.”

“Have you eaten?”

“No, come to think of it, I haven’t yet.”

I’d started the investigation before eating, and naturally, I ended up skipping a meal.

Titania hmmmed to herself, then said,

“That won’t do. You’re still at an age where you need to eat properly, skipping meals like that.”

It was awkward, her suddenly speaking like a neighborhood grandmother.

I think I’m past the age where I’m “still at an age where I need to eat properly,” though.

Titania pondered for a moment, then gave a small smile.

“Come with me, I’ll take you to a good restaurant.”

“Ah, okay…”

More importantly, is she really planning to go like *that*?