Chapter 336 – Cycles of Life (5)

“It was nice to meet you.”

“Me too. The circulating life.”

“Oh? Isn’t the tone too rigid? I want you to call me mom next time, son.”

“… Yes?”

The circulating life that said so sent us back to the middle layer with a mischievous smile.

The complexly entangled roots disappeared and the door opened. Beyond that, we were greeted by Milone and Nariel, who looked no different from the last time we saw them.

We talked for quite a long time, and even received gifts and blessings, but this is it. It seems that the flow of time is really applied differently.

“You are here.”

“Uh? Uh huh?”

Milone with a grave expression. As if in contrast to her, Nariel’s surprise spreads across her face.

“Why is that, Her Highness the Queen? Do you have any problem…”

“Oh no! Not a problem. Rather, it’s a good thing! Duke Lindelheit. Have you received the protection of the Lord of Life that circulates?”

Nariel immediately realizes that she is sensitive to the divine power as much as she is favored by the circulating life.

… Needless to say, I feel like I’m being treated like a son.

“That’s right, I’m very thankful that the circulating life took good care of me, and bestowed blessings on me saying that it would help me in the upcoming battle.”

“Battle… That’s why other people’s expressions are so spleen.”

“Uh, um. That… Yeah, that’s pretty much it. Ahaha.”

Was my acting too strong? After Tallulah’s careless act, everyone seemed to be unable to relax their expressions.

Roughly, I can understand how you feel. I just teased him a little as usual, but seeing him suddenly move on made it a big shock.

In particular, Elisha couldn’t take her eyes off me at all.

… I’m sorry. I’ll have to take care of it properly later saying it’s okay.

Resolving that inwardly, she asked Milone.

“Could you lend me an alchemy workshop separate from the room we will be staying in?”

“There is an excellent alchemist in the party, so there is a place vacated in advance. Likewise, we have prepared a private training room, so you can use it freely.”

Oh my god. I prepared all this in advance.

The conversations I had with the circulating life after that, and how to strike the ugly army of prosperity across the Great Grove.

We went down the middle floor while talking about work. We headed to our lodgings, guided by Edda, the scribe of Milone, who was waiting on the lower floors.

A large room that is sufficient for the whole group to live. Among them was the family of Familan, who came first and cast simple life magic such as soundproofing and ventilation.

Since we were the only ones on the upper level of the World Tree, I wondered where he was and what he was doing, and he was here.

“Good work…”

“Good job. Next, I’ll take care of it from this side, so stop going in. Do you have a separate room?”

“Yes? Yes…”

It was Familan’s family who had been watching this side for a while, but after confirming that Iris’ momentum was unusual, they quickly left.

Clap.

At the same time, a metallic sound was heard.

Faye, who had quietly fallen behind, locked the door as if she had waited.

Women surrounding me blocking my way out. The first among them was Elisha, who had created an unusual atmosphere a little while ago.

“You.”

“Uh… ? What’s wrong all of a sudden?”

“I’m sorry earlier.”

“Did you care about that? Things like that happen, too. It’s okay, Elisha, don’t worry about it either.”

She shook her head and smiled, but somehow Elisha’s expression only got worse.

She then spoke with a determined expression, as if she had promised something.

“I am… Don’t forget that we are your family.”

“Yes?”

“Today I will read you a storybook until you fall asleep.”

“… No, my age is a fairy tale.”

“It may be difficult now, but after this job, let’s eat homemade food together. Please make time to go shopping together.”

“That’s it, anytime…”

“It would be nice to travel. We’re going to look around suitable travel destinations together. A place like the Great Grove Entrance Village would be good, and a magnificent place like Krasius Grand Valley would be good. If the time is right, you can go to see the festival of the Levantine Empire or the Meister Festival of Nidavellir.”

“Elisha… ?”

“Professor Iona is here, so I can go anywhere in no time. If she doesn’t like that, it’s not bad for her to go leisurely in Miss Helena’s carriage.”

Calmly. Elisha just continued her words in a calm tone, as if making an appointment tomorrow, not something in the distant future.

“Have you ever fished by the river? It’s not a big deal, but it’s more fun than you think. I’ll tell you how. Let’s catch it together.”

“I plan to look up at the stars together at night. I want to tell you about the constellations and the stories related to them.”

“It’s quite pleasant to take a nap under the right shade. If you were by my side, it would be perfect. Would you feel the same when I’m by your side? If you have a chance, try it.”

“After we go out, we go home together. And while we eat dinner, we talk about what happened that day. Good things, bad things, strange things… Everything.”

At this point, no matter how much I am, I have no choice but to know what Elisha is trying to say.

Elisha is just trying to bring back her experiences that she would have if I had grown up normal.

I have a family too, that I am not alone anymore, that I am not alone, that I will always be by your side.

I don’t know if I’ll ever see them again, but there are families who are still alive on Earth.

It wasn’t very good, but it wasn’t bad either. At least it was enough to call it family.

I can’t tell anyone now.

“…”

So I couldn’t say anything. She didn’t know exactly what to say or what words would suit this heart.

Guilt, gratitude, affection. In addition, countless emotions that cannot be defined by language are mixed like a whirlpool.

As if being pushed by Elisha’s transparent gaze looking at me, or being caught up in an inner torrent, the place I arrived at was a memory of the not-too-distant past.

“… Thousand years.”

“Yes?”

A hundred years old is a word that elves promise eternity, who live a ridiculously long time.

“Here is an oath that will not fade even after a thousand years.”

“Ah.”

She returned her faint smile to Elisha, who looked blank after she had spoken her words first.

“We will be together in every moment, Elisha.”

“…”

I can’t tell you all the truth, but maybe I won’t be able to tell you all the time.

Even so, it was sincere that there was no lie in the heart that this promise would last forever.

Only then did Elisha, whose expression relaxed, smile and said.

“You’re a human who can barely live for 100 years and still say that?”

“Well, how are you? If anything, ask her stepmom to do something for you.”

The average lifespan of elves is about 300 years. However, when it comes to high elves, they live twice as easily. And that without the wear and tear of the soul.

Of course, even high elves have their limits, so going beyond that is a bit difficult… Anyway, the important thing is that there is a way to stably extend the lifespan of circulating life.

After defeating all the evil gods one day. If I ask you to do something, won’t you do something?

Still, I saved the world, so I’m sure I’ll do that.

In response to my optimistic answer, Iona sighed and slumped.

“Ugh. Then, did the plan to turn Yandel students into vampires before their lifespan ended?”

“… Were you thinking about that?”

“You know, you know. I know that? Strictly speaking, vampires are undead and don’t have a lifespan? Both body and soul stop at the point of becoming a vampire!”

“I heard that if you live that long, your ego will be buried in enormous memories and you will go insane… ?”

“Yep. So, you just need to erase your memory regularly.”

She continued her words with her hands clasped close to her chest, as if Iona had become the girl of her dreams.

“A Yandel student who is about to die at the end of his life span one day. But thanks to me, he became a vampire and continued his life. At first, I’m happy to be with others, but… Conversely, over time, you will see people passing away at the end of their lives.”

“Professor?”

“Of course, everyone must have been happy until the last moment. A Yandel student would make it that way. But what about the Yandel students left behind? How does it feel to let go of all the people you love?”

“Yeah… “

“Don’t worry! Don’t worry! Professor Iona will always be by Yandel’s side!”

“What the hell?”

“When the future is far enough into the world when the most glorious kingdoms fall, people turn their backs on their faith, and everything we know no longer exists… I don’t think there are many memories left by Yandel students. Only one! Except for me, who has been with me for such a long time! This will be me too!”

“…”

“Even if we forget everything else, we will remember as clearly as we do. I only have Yandel students, and Yandel students only have me, and I will continue to live. Until one day the end of this world comes. … Isn’t that really romantic?”

No. It’s kind of scary.

Iona giggled at my pale face and added her last words.

“Joke joke! It was a vampire joke!”

“…”

Saying so, Iona’s eyes were shining with a mysterious bloody color.

Joke… Right?