Chapter 124: Runaway, Or….

Eve Nirvana Yggdrasil.

Compared to most elves who are called by simple names related to plants like Lemon, Apple, Lavender, or Mint Cacao, it’s quite a grandiose name.

And a complex name from the medieval era is, in itself, a symbol of authority and power.

An epithet to show that one is a special being different from others. That was the reason for the complex name…and Eve was no exception.

The last descendant of the World Tree, the Eternal Queen, the ancient monster who has been lurking for a thousand years, the shadow behind all the dark corners of the Pan Continent, and the historical forever single virgin.

There were countless phrases describing Eve, and each one was extraordinarily remarkable.

And indeed, Eve’s abilities were also extraordinary, so if she had set her mind to it, she could have turned the world upside down….

…With that thought, the blackening event was scheduled, and its start was her sudden disappearance one day.

The so-called ‘The Reunion with Eve was the Worst’. plot.

And now.

“Cr-crisis, Jonny Boy!”

“The Boss has run away!”

“What.”

Eve had really disappeared.

…Could it be because of what happened last time? Is Eve’s blackening my karma?

It felt like someone had hit me on the back of my head with a hammer.

Of course, Ellie, who didn’t know about Eve’s settings, only responded indifferently to the unexpected visitor who came early in the morning.

“Well, maybe she just went out for a bit. There’s no obligation to tell everyone where she’s going.”

“What Miss Ellie is saying is right.”

“But the Boss is a bit of a special case.”

Lemon and Apple exchanged glances for a moment before cautiously speaking.

“The boss hasn’t left Pangrave for the past few centuries.”

“But when I went to the store today, all the Boss’s important items were gone. As if preparing for a long journey.”

The two were clearly anxious, thinking something had happened or was about to happen.

Just as there are other kingdoms outside of Pangrave, the elves also have their own kingdom.

The Great Forest, where the World Tree once stood, was almost absorbed and destroyed by the Labyrinth, but under Eve’s guidance, they overcame all competitions and reclaimed their land.

The reason why Eve abandoned her kingdom and lives by running a magic shop that doesn’t sell well in Pangrave is simple.

Eve is no longer a queen.

Staying in Pangrave is proof that she has stepped down from the throne.

But, if she were to return to the Elf Kingdom again…

“A Queen’s return.”

The elves would gladly offer the vacant throne to Eve.

Ellie, who heard my muttering, flinched and asked.

“Wh-what? Jonah, did you know? How?”

“You know there’s someone watching my back. There are things you learn whether you want to or not.”

I shrugged and vaguely attributed it to the Goddess of Love. Strictly speaking, it’s a memory from my past life, but since it seems like the Goddess brought me here, it’s not entirely wrong.

Ellie, finally convinced, nodded.

“Well, if it’s her, of course, she’d know. By the way, Jonah. It’s not because I have any strange feelings…”

“Go ahead. If it’s you, Ellie, even a little strange feeling is fine.”

“You look quite handsome today?”

“Phew… How could you say such a thing! Follow me to the bed! Let’s settle this there! …is what I want to say, but actually, thanks to defeating Morgana this time, my Power has been strengthened. That’s probably why.”

“Ah.”

Strictly speaking, I received a new Power…but it also includes the enhancement effect of the existing Power.

Ellie, along with Lemon and Apple, with their mouths tightly shut nod absentmindedly.

Come to think of it, did I not tell the two that I am the Saint of the Goddess of Love?

No, I’m sure when I took out the fully upgraded Goddess statue in front of Eve and hinted, Lemon and Apple were also there.

“Hmm….”

I understood everything, seeing the two stomping their feet expectantly.

Indeed. Just as I figured out Eve’s true identity, they must be hoping that the Goddess would whisper Eve’s location to me.

With a wry smile, I spoke to the two who were anxiously awaiting my answer.

“First of all, this is a secret, okay? If you go around talking about this, it will only make it harder to find Eve.”

“Don’t worry. My lips are sealed.”

“If Lemon says anything stupid, I’ll kill her.”

Lemon, confidently patting her AAA-grade chest, and Apple looks at her sister with a resolute expression.

Lemon tried to distance herself from Apple in fright, but my answer came half a beat faster.

“I don’t know where Eve is either.”

“Ah…”

“Really…”

“But, I do know that if something goes wrong, it could bring great destruction to both Eve and all of Pangrave.”

“Are you sure?”

“What should we do?”

Like devotees desperately seeking salvation, Lemon and Apple looked at me with pleading eyes. However, I was neither a true saint nor a cult leader, so I couldn’t give them the answers they wanted.

“I don’t know either.”

I sighed deeply and continued speaking.

“I don’t know if this runaway is truly the beginning of the end, or where we need to go to find Eve. All I know is that there’s a foreboding possibility in Eve’s fate, and it’s quite a high probability.”

There were no given clues. If Eve had hidden herself of her own volition, it would be difficult to find her.

But the concern is real. It could be for other reasons, but…considering what happened just yesterday, it seems like she became despondent and gave up because of me.

Long ago, I vowed to retrieve all the seeds of disaster that I had sown.

And this is still a valid vow.

If I were the author, once the creator of the Pan Continent… I would want to take responsibility for this incomplete world.

After this gacha, I discarded all the plans I had organized in my head.

Until now, I had moved as inconspicuously as possible so that the Guild…more precisely, the Temple, wouldn’t detect my existence.

Given the circumstances, I’ll have to go all out, even if it means taking on some issues.

“Lemon. Apple. Although you’re treated as foreversinglevirginsandoutcasts among elves, you do know about the elf community of Pangrave, right?”

“Your words are too harsh…”

“It’s true that I’m a forever single virgin, but only Lemon is an outcast and loser.”

Lemony, suddenly hit, wore a sullen expression, while Apple subtly stepped back, offering her sister as a sacrifice.

I chuckled and nodded at the sight of the two.

“Anyway, if you know, spread a rumor in the elf community.”

“A rumor, you say?”

“It’s possible, but…what kind of rumor?”

I quietly closed my eyes. A moment of contemplation. But if it’s necessary, there’s no other choice.

“Say that the new king is looking for the youngest daughter of the World Tree to be his mate.”

Saying so, I quietly activated my power.

A Crown of Thorns settled on my head. At the sight, Lemon and Apple, with reverent expressions, murmured.

“Basilieus…”

“Symbol of the First King…”

They offered a clumsy salute and replied vigorously.

“Understood! We’ll spread the rumor everywhere!”

“Not just to the elves. We’ll make sure no one in Pangrave is unaware!”

“Yeah, yeah. Oh, just spread the rumors but don’t talk about my identity. Anyway, only Eve needs to find me, right? Those who need to know will figure it out somehow…but I don’t want to attract the attention of random people.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“I promise I won’t tell anyone that Jonah has some kind of relationship with the Boss!”

“……”

It’s not that kind of relationship. It’s more like she ran away after turning corrupt…

I wanted to correct them, but I couldn’t because Lemon and Apple, who had been brimming with enthusiasm after seeing my crown, had dashed off.

“Sigh.”

I let out a deep sigh and released my Power.

There was a sense of emptiness close to despondency, as the expanded cognitive abilities and omnipotence vanished.

Somehow, it feels like Basilieus’s power has gotten stronger… Ah, is it a bit different?

Basilieus is the Power of the World Tree. Unlike the still-living Goddess of Love, it is the power of a God who died long ago.

Naturally, there is no room for growth here.

I have a passive ability that accelerates my own growth and an active ability that accelerates the growth of plants, but…

Strictly speaking, the essence of these two is the same. The only difference is the direction of the power, but it’s rapid growth nonetheless.

When used in an active form, it consumes divine power to enhance its potency, but…

It’s just a matter of whether you swing your fist normally or with force.

The Power of a dead god cannot grow intrinsically.

However, it felt as though the power of Basilieus had strengthened without consuming any divine power.

Because the expansion of cognition and the sense of omnipotence felt when wearing the Crown had greatly increased.

However, this is not because Basilieus’s power has truly increased.

It’s just that I have become able to handle more power.

The significant enhancement of mental strength, one of the effects of the Avatar of Love.

Perhaps thanks to that, I am now able to fully draw out Basilieus’s power, which was previously adjusted moderately.

Even if I don’t know about other things, the power to expand senses can harm the owner if mishandled, so there must have been an instinctive safety mechanism.

Wow! As expected of a 5-star Power. A function that is already useful in actual combat has been discovered!

While marveling inwardly and nodding,

Ellie, who had turned pale white, creaked like a rusty tin doll and asked.

“Ma-, te?”

“Ah, the third mate. The first one is, of course, Ellie.”

“Ah.”

Only then did Ellie, who seemed relieved, pat her chest. But soon, realizing something was strange, she tilted her head….

“I’ll just go check on Benny for a moment! Let’s do our best today, Ellie!”

Before that, I succeeded in getting out of Fairy and Silver Coin.

…For some reason, I feel a sense of déjà vu.