#220. The Last Forest (2)
—
The white butterfly that had left Grine’s fingertip fluttered away between the trees.
“Let’s go.”
At Grine’s words, the group resumed their journey.
The forest was almost excessively vast, and there was no sign of their travel ending soon, but there was no room for boredom or weariness.
Everywhere they looked, it was a landscape of green.
Each step was a continuation of wonder and awe.
They didn’t even think of using enhancement magic to walk faster or run.
After walking like that for about an hour—
“We’re here.”
A wide clearing appeared.
The underbrush was neatly trimmed to ankle height, and towering trees were sparsely scattered across the space.
Elves with pointed ears could be seen here and there, tending to injured animals or watering plants, each engrossed in their own tasks.
The profound stillness of the air felt not just reverent, but almost religious.
Veronica’s voice grew softer.
“This is… the elves’ village, right?”
“That’s right. If you look closely, the vines around the giant trees form stair-like structures, and there are doors at the base of the trunks. Those are the homes where the elves live.”
“Did they remodel the trees themselves?”
In response to Ray’s question, Grine lightly shook her head.
“Elves don’t impose artificial changes on the forest. Here, the trees themselves moved and created living spaces for the elves.”
“It’s been a while.”
At that moment, someone approached and spoke.
The woman was tall like Grine and had a face full of deep, bark-like wrinkles.
It was said that elves aged extremely slowly.
…She must be far older than she appeared.
But what surprised Ray even more was something else.
‘I didn’t sense her approach.’
Even if he had been less on guard since it wasn’t enemy territory, he had completely failed to notice her presence.
It was as if a nearby tree had suddenly spoken.
Seeing the venerable woman, Grine bowed her head politely.
“It’s been a while, Mother.”
“I’m relieved you returned unharmed. So, I hear you’ve found a new home. I didn’t expect such good news so soon. It fills me with joy.”
Mother.
The woman’s smile mirrored Grine’s like a reflection in a mirror.
But how did she already know about the new settlement?
Veronica, puzzled, soon spotted the white butterfly resting on the woman’s shoulder and let out a small gasp.
Though the exact method was unclear, it seemed the butterfly had conveyed the general news.
“Has Karon returned yet? Or has there been any word from the forest?”
“There’s been no special news. From your question, I gather you haven’t found him outside either. Are you very worried?”
“…He is my husband, after all.”
“Nothing bad will happen. Karon is a remarkably adaptable child. But these people here are…?”
Veronica flinched as the woman’s gaze turned toward her.
She wondered if the forest elves might harbor hostility toward humans… but the woman’s gentle smile soon put her at ease.
“They greatly helped in finding the new home. They wished to meet the World Tree of the Last Forest, so I brought them with me.”
At Grine’s introduction, the woman nodded.
“Welcome, little seedlings. My name is Gwendel.”
There were no other introductions regarding her status or age.
The boy and girl realized that this was the elvish way of introduction.
“I’m Ray.”
“And I’m Veronica.”
The group followed Gwendel toward the center of the village.
Unlike the dwarves, none of the elves showed particular interest in the group.
Each was focused on their own work, and even if they made eye contact, they only offered a light nod.
Veronica whispered to Ray,
“Maybe they don’t realize we’re human…? Or maybe I’m so pretty they think I’m an elf…?”
“I don’t think that’s it.”
Judging by the emotions he sensed through the vessel, it seemed they simply lacked strong curiosity about visitors.
‘And the emotion that takes up the most space in their vessels is…….’
Green mana — a sense of belonging.
The very feeling Ray was currently seeking to strengthen the mana of his gemstone.
Creak—
Gwendel opened a door at the base of a giant tree trunk.
The hallway beyond was bright as daylight, illuminated by countless fireflies, and at the end was a small room.
At the center stood a round table.
Around it were gathered various animals—birds, mice, foxes, and more—and a middle-aged man with a weathered face.
“So, guests have arrived. Let’s postpone the meeting for now.”
At his words, the animals scattered, disappearing through the hallways and holes.
Grine’s and the man’s eyes met.
“I’m back, Father.”
“You’ve done well. It sounds like there’s much to hear. Come, sit.”
The group sat around the round table.
A brief round of introductions followed.
“Nice to meet you, young seedlings. My name is Gant.”
“I’m Ray.”
“And I’m Veronica!”
Though Gant bore all the marks of age, his eyes remained sharp and piercing.
He gave the impression of an ancient tree that had stood in place for eons.
Grine calmly recounted everything that had happened in the outside world.
Her impressions while traveling through the human sectors.
How she came to meet Ray’s group.
How they planted the World Tree beneath the Sky Island.
And how, with the boy’s help, they were able to accelerate the World Tree’s growth.
“…Considering that it hasn’t even been a full year since it was planted, its growth potential remains limitless. I believe it’s more than sufficient as a new settlement site.”
Grine’s argument was clear and logical.
The lazy elf who once lounged at the back of the bus eating jerky was nowhere to be seen.
“Hmm….”
“Oh my….”
Throughout her story, Gant and Gwendel showed a range of emotions—surprise, shock, and awe.
At the end, Gant turned to Ray and spoke with a polite tone.
“I don’t doubt Grine’s words. She’s neither one to lie nor has any reason to. However, the claim that a human—handling a quantity of life-stone mana beyond normal limits, something even most elves struggle with….”
“You’re asking for a demonstration, right?”
“—If it wouldn’t be too much trouble, yes. That is my request.”
Ray received the green gemstone from Grine.
He surveyed the room.
A subtle tension filled the air.
Though she didn’t show it outwardly, Gwendel’s vessel was full of immense curiosity and doubt.
“…….”
Ray took a breath and closed his eyes.
He focused on recalling objects of intense mystery to heighten his curiosity.
Rainbows, the Sky Island, the Doctor, Sector 25.
Muckred, the Azure Dawn, and more…
Then, from outside his consciousness, he heard voices.
—Ray, wait. That’s too much….
—Ray-nim? That’s enough already….
‘Ah.’
Ray instantly realized he had failed to regulate the output.
When he opened his eyes, the green mana erupting from the gemstone had already flooded the room.
Creak! Crackle! Crackle!
A few seconds later—
“…….”
“…….”
“…….”
The room was completely overgrown with vines and leaves sprouting from the walls.
Gwendel pressed her forehead against a vine and spoke quietly.
“Could you… let us breathe a little?”
At her words, the vines slithered and twisted, hugging the walls as tightly as possible.
While fixing her appearance, Gwendel said,
“It’s truly astounding. Even more remarkable is that you haven’t even used your full power yet. At this level, it’s equivalent to the combined efforts of all the elves in the village. What do you think?”
“I agree. It’s beyond miraculous. I’ve never seen life-stone mana respond so obediently—almost as if they were old friends.”
Though praises followed, Ray remained calm.
By his own standards, he still wasn’t fully mastering the gemstone’s mana.
Objectively, however, it was a phenomenal ability, and Veronica felt proud on his behalf.
“We can conclude, then, that the white seedling’s ability is genuine. Since the World Tree has already achieved sufficient growth, we can positively consider the relocation….”
“There’s one more thing I must tell you.”
Grine interrupted Gant.
“And what would that be?”
“We must share the settlement with the dwarves.”
Gant’s face stiffened instantly.
“I’m not sure I understand what you mean.”
“Exactly as I said. We used the dwarves’ technology to help grow the World Tree. They, too, need the World Tree to prevent the land’s contamination. If we cooperate, we can create a much better environment for all.”
“Are you referring to the dwarves of Rael Row?”
“Yes.”
“Then you must have witnessed firsthand how they think.”
“I understand your concern. You mean to say that dwarves pursue artificial constructs—harming and exploiting nature when it suits their needs. But I believe there’s much we can learn from them too.”
Their voices grew louder.
To Ray, it seemed elves had a deep sense of belonging and strong internal bonds.
But at the same time, it meant they had very low acceptance of other groups.
“That’s why you get called an old stump! And honestly, your beard isn’t cool at all! It just looks like dirty roots!”
“W-What! How dare you say that to me!”
It didn’t seem like this argument would end easily.
Just then—
“Looks like this might take a while?”
Gwendel spoke to Ray.
…Was mind-reading hereditary?
Ray nodded.
*
*
*
Leading Ray and Veronica toward the World Tree, Gwendel spoke.
“They’ve argued often since she was young, and it hasn’t changed with time. Maybe it’s because no matter how much body and heart grow, the bond between father and daughter remains unchanged. Hmm… Though, they haven’t raised their voices like that in a long while. Perhaps it’s the ripple effect you young seedlings have caused.”
“Ripple effect?”
At Veronica’s question, Gwendel smiled warmly.
“A seedling contains the possibility to become anything as it grows. And in stirring that potential, it naturally influences its surroundings in some way.”
“I see! I don’t really get it, but I see! So… are we seedlings because we’re young?”
“Fufu, not just because of your age.”
It was said that “seedling” was a metaphor the elves used for humans.
Humans, with their rapid adaptability and changeability, were the most unstable but also the most full of potential among all races.
“In a way, you could say that humans are always seedlings with limitless growth ahead.”
Grine had once called humans “flames,” borrowing the dwarves’ expression.
And now.
According to Gwendel’s elvish expression, humans were “seedlings.”
“Seedlings…! I’m a seedling…!”
Veronica, evidently liking the metaphor, kept muttering it softly to herself.
Ray shifted the topic.
“Gwendel, what do you think about coexisting with the dwarves?”
After a brief moment of hesitation, Gwendel smiled brightly and said,
“Mm, I don’t dislike dwarves. I’ve met them in person and had my own experiences. It’s just that whenever I think of them, I feel nauseous and a strong sense of discomfort wells up inside me.”
“…….”
That’s what most people would simply call ‘disliking’ them.
Ray became certain that the elf before him was Griné’s biological mother.
As they continued their conversation, they arrived before the World Tree.
“It’s huge…!”
“…It really is big.”
Though the World Tree that Ray had rapidly grown was similar in height, when it came to the range of branches and leaves that spread across the entire forest, there was simply no comparison.
It was truly overwhelming and majestic.
“You said you came to speak with the World Tree, right? Communicating with plants is something only elves can easily attempt… but may I hope you’ll surprise us once again this time? Still, it won’t be easy.”
While Gwendel was explaining—
“…….”
The boy was already approaching the trunk of the World Tree as if drawn to it.
“Because for the past several months, the World Tree has remained silent.”
With the voice sounding from behind him, he pressed his palm against the trunk.
—Hello.
He greeted it.
At that moment, the boy felt as if his consciousness was being sucked away somewhere.
