## Chapter 1125 – Elven Forest

The diplomat abruptly switched from a calm demeanor and began to rant maniacally about how beautiful and fundamental their World Tree was.

This is why I can’t bring myself to like these bastards, damn it.

They were genuine psychos. If they heard that Arbor Day was being removed from the list of public holidays, they would genuinely burst into anger and start planning a professional series of murders.

Even the diplomat who came for diplomacy was like this, so the average elf who makes up most of elven society would be even worse.

“Ah, I understand. I understand. I’ll go and see that beautiful World Tree for myself and make a judgment.”
“I couldn’t be happier to hear you say that.”

I praised the World Tree appropriately to lighten the mood, and the diplomat nodded with a pleased smile.

When talking to these guys, it seemed like I had to have a compliment ready for the World Tree. That’s the only way to cut off their pseudo-religious ramblings.

“By the way, just how much do you like the World Tree?”

Anyway, let’s just skip over that fanatical praise and bragging and make sure I know the basics before I go as an envoy.

“All elves with a normal mindset revere the World Tree.”
“Normal mindset?”
“Our elves consider all actions that bring prosperity to the World Tree to be sacred. Naturally, all elves can’t help but have such thoughts.”

To my simple question, the elven diplomat cheerfully continued to speak like a native explaining their culture.

According to her explanation, the state religion of the Elven Forest is the World Tree religion, and everyone is born with it as their faith.

Therefore, all members of society are devout professional fanatics.

In fact, there’s no way a newborn baby would have any choice. Everyone believes in the World Tree, so they just raise them as if they were born into the faith.

I already knew this much.

All elves are born, raised, and live in such a society, so there’s no way that deeply ingrained atmosphere will ever change. Moreover, they live for almost 300 years, which further solidifies this trend.

Living in such a closed society, believing in only one religion, naturally leads to similar ideologies among the members of society.

“That’s why elves have strong bonds. There is also very little discord between individuals.”

This is more than I thought.

“And… this is something that the human paladin will find out anyway, so I’ll explain it to you. The interior of the Elven Forest is completely unified.”
“Unified, huh. I see.”

The total area of the Elven Forest is comparable to that of the Karga Kingdom.

Many people believe that the elves who live in that vast forest live with their own kingdoms. Otherwise, they think that many nobles rule the area like human lords.

But as the diplomat revealed, that was not the case.

“Concepts like nobles that humans talk about are vague. Only the queen, who hears the voice of the World Tree, leads the country together with the elders.”

So it’s an absolute monarchy.

Given the nature of the race and the World Tree, the elven queen would have some power. Is it a world run by the queen and her elders and officials?

“So there are no nobles?”
“There are elves who have a lot of wealth or power, but there is no noble class with privileges like humans. The only one with privileges is the queen, who can communicate directly with the World Tree.”

In a kingdom, a noble is a class that has been granted privileges to facilitate regional defense and governance, similar to the concept.

Originally, the predecessors of these noble lords were a class of superhuman warriors, so they had no choice but to have privileges. As it has been passed down, it has become a little corrupted. There are too many descendants of nobles.

Is it because elves are powerful individuals?
That noble concept is vague.

In other words, is it a feeling of equality because everyone is so strong?
Humans can’t do that.

Anyway, only the queen, who can be said to be a priestess-queen, can know the will of the World Tree, so it seems that only she has privileges.

“The royal authority must be quite strong.”
“You might think so.”

Anyway, I was injecting common sense about the Elven Forest in my head in that way. I listen to the social structure and political system and simply organize them to build up my knowledge.

But the most important thing was, after all, the World Tree. To understand the elves, you have to understand this World Tree ideology.

“Our elves are beings that originated from the World Tree.”

Beings that originated from the World Tree, huh.

“Are you saying that not just conceptually… but physically?”
“Yes. All of the elves’ ancestors were born from the World Tree.”
“From something like a fruit? Or did they sprout from the roots?”
“To properly understand that, you would have to grab our scriptures and study them for a long time. For now… it would be difficult to explain that to a human paladin with no background knowledge.”
“I understand.”

How can those born from trees reproduce with humans?

I had a feeling that if I asked this, they might take it as a grave blasphemy and attack me as an irreconcilable enemy.

“It would be better to stop this conversation here. We know that our elves and humans have completely different religious systems. If we continue to talk, a fight might break out.”

Nevertheless, the diplomat was an elf with a sense of reason.

As if she didn’t want a fight to break out due to differences in religious views, she immediately cut off the conversation when it seemed like it was going to delve deeply into the World Tree faith.

“I have no intention of fighting over religion. I suppose the diplomat is thinking that way because she is considerate of us. I understand. Let’s skip this story.”

I just need to keep in mind that the elves cherish the World Tree very much and consider it to be the greatest value. In other words, it’s similar to revering a wise ruler or a respectable elder in a traditional Confucian worldview.

“After talking for a while, it seems that you still have the same personality as when you saved our elven warriors. You are qualified to go as an envoy. The World Tree loves such righteous people.”
“Hmm… the World Tree seems to be benevolent.”
“That’s right.”

But why are all the members of society dismemberment murderers?

For now, the World Tree seems to be a deity that communicates directly with the elves. Perhaps that giant tree is a medium that connects the real god in the heavens with the elves. But only the queen of the elves would know the truth.

I think this is all I need to know for now.

“Anyway, so you’re leaving for the Elven Forest soon?”
“If you wish, we can leave as early as tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow is too soon, so I’d like you to give me some more time.”
“Then I will leave the departure date to the paladin’s wishes.”
“Oh, thank you.”

Seeing that she was letting me decide the departure date, it seemed like she had a very relaxed personality. Is this because elves live for a long time?

“The preparations are a document outlining our kingdom’s position and…”
“A leaf from the World Tree. That’s all you need.”
“I understand. But I have a question.”

This is the most important question.

“The leaf of the World Tree. Can I bring people who don’t have it with me?”
“Hmm?”

The diplomat tilted her head for a moment.

“I have a few companions. I’m asking because I have to go with them.”
“Unfortunately… those who do not have leaves cannot enter the Elven Forest.”
“What?”

What the hell?

“So you’re saying I have to go alone?”
“I think that’s obvious.”

What the hell is this nonsense?

“No. When I first received this from that elf, I heard that I could bring my companions as a VIP.”

Surely not, right?

So you’re saying I have to leave my women behind and go alone? To that faraway place that I don’t even know how long it will take? I can’t do that. It’s not like it takes a week, it’ll probably take at least a month to go, and I’m hearing this ridiculous nonsense?

“I have never heard of such a thing.”
“So that person lied to me?”
“I wouldn’t say that…”

The diplomat frowned, as if she had never thought about such a thing before.

“How many people are in the group, and what positions do they hold?”
“There are seven people in the group, and they don’t have any particular positions.”
“That’s difficult.”

I’m the one who’s in trouble, you bastard.

“The only one who has been invited this time is you, the human paladin who has the leaf of the World Tree. It is, in principle, impossible and not permitted to allow other humans to enter.”
“That’s ridiculous.”

How dare these bastards lie to me like that… If I ever see them again, they’re dead.

“…”

I immediately sorted out my thoughts.

I already told the princess that I would go as an envoy. I can’t go back on my word. I have to keep my word.

I can’t go with them, huh.
If persuasion doesn’t work, I’ll have to go alone.

“Is it really not possible? I have the leaf of the World Tree.”
“That’s why the paladin was invited… Other humans were not invited. If those who were not invited could enter the Elven Forest, this procedure would not be necessary.”

That’s true.

“Is there anything you can do?”
“I’m sorry.”

I can’t say, “You came into our kingdom without permission, so why are you only giving us grief?”

“Haa. If there’s no other way, there’s nothing I can do. I guess it was a bit of a shame that I trusted the person who gave me this.”
“We will be sure to apologize for that on our side.”

The diplomat stood up and bowed in apology.

It seems like she knows that she has something to apologize for.

“It’s okay. Don’t worry about it.”

If it’s not possible, I can just use another method.

I’ll just have to go and come back as quickly as possible. They’ll be shocked because they thought they were going with me. They’re all women with delicate hearts, so they might cry.

Thinking about it makes my heart ache.

I’ll have to apologize properly.

“Then how long will it take to get there and back? If I can’t bring my companions, I’ll have to move as quickly as possible.”
“There are quite a few things scheduled…”
“Quite a few?”
“It is expected to take at least a month.”
“That’s too long. I’ll just have to deliver it as quickly as possible. This is unavoidable.”

I said, looking into the diplomat’s eyes, and she soon nodded as if she couldn’t help it. That was the end of the story.

* * *

After returning, I reported what happened at the meeting to Kadia, then went home to tell them this unfortunate fact.

“So, then! Does that mean I have to be separated from Kat for a month!”

Everyone sighed deeply and was shocked by my explanation.

“I’m sorry. But it’s a month, but I’ll just go and come back as quickly as possible. I’ll be back soon no matter what, so don’t cry too much.”

I said, patting Hilde’s back as she clung to me.

“No, but more than not being able to go… I’m more worried about having to send you to such a place alone. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I don’t think I’ll get backstabbed.”

Karin seemed very worried about me going alone.

“I originally thought that it would be okay if something happened because we were going together… but if you’re alone, it’ll be difficult to get out of the situation if something happens. I’m suddenly worried.”
“I’m more worried about the sister I’m leaving at home.”
“Why?”
“I just tend to worry when you’re not in front of my eyes.”
“Really.”

That’s how it is.

“Then take everything you can with you. I don’t want to be separated from you, but… if things have turned out that way, there’s nothing I can do.”

Risha said, taking out various artifacts.

I received them and put them in my bag.

“Thank you. I’ll be back soon.”
“I’ll take care of the Heart and Oracle, so don’t worry.”
“Hehehe, okay. I’ll be looking forward to it.”

This is starting to bring the mood down.

“Kat… is there anything we can do?”

Claudie looked sad, but there was nothing I could do.

“They said it’s not possible. I’m sorry, Claudie. Don’t make that face, I’ll be back as soon as possible.”
“It’s not Kat’s fault… Then be careful?”
“Trust me.”

Being forced to go alone caused a great deal of stress to strike my brain, but it’s just a matter of going and coming back quickly.