Chapter 146: Eve Nirvana Yggdrasil

The terror that One Who Devours the Twilight tried to instigate ended in failure.

Now all that remains is to find out Eve’s whereabouts from Tuberose.

“Hoo.”

I released Basilieus while letting out a deep sigh.

Even the slight euphoria that remained faded, and all that was left was exhaustion as if I might collapse at any moment.

Suddenly my vision blurred and my body wobbled, but.

-■■■!

-▲▲▲?!

Out of the blue, a cool sensation could be felt on my shoulders and sides, supporting my body.

Wondering what it was, I turned my drowsy head and saw a few small, trivial creatures of watery mass clinging there.

“…Ah, spirits?”

Though I was too out of it to notice in time, these are the subservient ones that were at the front when I first sat on the throne.

Looks like they were working to manage the waterways of the banquet hall…

“When I was fighting hard, what the hell were you all doing to show up only now?”

-▲▲▲!!

A blob of water squeaks in discontent. Its wildly thrashing appearance looks quite aggrieved.

“Well, it wasn’t exactly a situation for you to interfere. You’re lesser spirits, aren’t you?”

They aren’t spitting out water to create a river, but making existing water flow to look like a river. I should have noticed when two of them clung on for that.

These guys are baby spirits. And considering the host of this banquet is Tuberose…

“Could you possibly be the traitor’s contract spirit?”

-■! ■■-!

-▲▲! ▲?

The two squawk vigorously. I still don’t know what they’re saying, but their genuine intent to deny is clear.

“Alright. Alright. So you’re not, right? Then help me out a bit. I’m fine now, but my temperature has been rising a bit since earlier.”

No matter how much the thorn armor protected me, I fought while being enveloped in Phoenix flames. The flames didn’t touch me directly, but the heat was close enough for me to feel them. 𝑅

I even moved my body wildly in that heat, squeezing out every ounce of my mental strength.

The moment the tension relaxed, my head was spinning as if I had suffered a heat stroke.

“So, just throw some water on me.”

-■■■!

-▲▲▲!

Those fellows, almost as if asking to be entrusted, wobbled once and soared above my head. Then, as if spitting saliva, they disgorged water.

Chwaak-!

“…Is this the best you can do?”

-▲▲▲….

“No, well. Anyway, it’s fine now that it’s gotten cooler.”

As I chuckled with a slightly clearer head, the water spirit immediately mounted my shoulders.

I don’t know if I’m just imagining things, but I can feel a strong goodwill towards me from both of them.

Perhaps the Avatar of Love or Basilieus might hold great significance for the spirits.

Or maybe it’s simply because they didn’t want to be tied up with Tuberose as traitors and get executed.

“Swoosh. Don’t fall off and stay properly attached.”

Anyway, the fact is that they helped me, so it’s a bit unfair for them to suffer disadvantages by being tied up with Tuberose for no reason.

I looked at Tania, who had become a tree for a while along with two spirits clutching my hair with their small, sluggish hands.

Honestly, if she realized that I was receiving the Goddess of Love’s favor, like the Iron Arm bitch I first faced, she would understand that she was wrong.

But Tania, on the contrary, tried to take away the Goddess’s blessing from me and usurp that favor.

I should be careful when using the Sanctuary or the Goddess of Love’s Power in front of One Who Devours the Twilight.

She might become obedient to me like Karen the Inquisitor… But if I’m unlucky, she could instead go into a rampage.

“Let’s go now.”

I said it almost as if speaking to myself, “Let’s go,” and exited the tree-covered area.

…As usual, eyes were inevitably fixed on me.

However, this time, their nature was somewhat different from the usual worship.

Yes. To put it precisely…admiration? And a bit of desire?

“Huh?”

I thought they had suddenly become a group, but then I realized when I saw the puddle on the floor from the water the spirits had just scattered.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

In it, I saw…the decadent beauty that I usually had to struggle to portray was naturally overflowing.

Hair soaking with a liquid that might have been water or sweat. Similarly, the expensive suit I had borrowed also clung to my body due to the dampness.

Along with the dark circles staining my eyes and my gaze drooping from fatigue.

This could be useful next time!

Whispering a silent cheer, I slowly headed towards the empty throne.

The once unified pseudo-World Tree had already been consumed to defeat Tania, but…at least the chair remained in its original place.

As I ascended to the high seat, Lydia and Benny followed me from both sides as if they had been waiting.

“We were waiting.”

“What is this… We were dragged here for a party, and it’s a mess.”

“Thank you both. I’ll make sure to repay you later, so could you help me a bit more?”

“Yeah. Just give the order.”

“Order? Miss Lydia, is that your fetish?”

“…Don’t treat a knight’s duty the same as Benny’s forte.”

“Ah-ha? Playing knight, huh? That’s fine, but I don’t have any masochistic tendencies?! Of course, Jonah is now completely soaked and does evoke some strong imaginations, but it’s common sense to have such thoughts internally!”

Benny was grumbling, making statements as if she couldn’t trust me at all, but still diligently followed me, as if deciding to help.

Thus, we arrived at the throne. Sitting back on it once more, I lightly crossed my legs.

Then, Lydia forcefully struck the floor with her greatsword.

Thud!

Perhaps taking this as a signal, both the healthy elves and even those who weren’t, all knelt on one knee, showing as much respect as they could.

…I didn’t expect them to go this far.

So this is how power affects people, I guess. For a moment, a chill ran down my spine. Specifically, about half as much as when I pull a 4-star in gacha…?

I nodded satisfactorily, then called Lemon and Apple, who continued to pretend to sprinkle and not sprinkle potions on Tuberose while actually spraying them and harassing her.

“Lemon, Apple. Bring that traitor here.”

“Ah! Could we not do it just a little more…?”

“Stop talking nonsense and take her away, steadfast Lemon. The enemy will be repaid by Sir Jonah on your behalf, a steadfast one.”

Apple, who struck Lemon on the back of her head with a loud ‘bang!’ sound, dragged the blind and limp Tuberose along.

Honestly, given her condition, I thought she was dead, but she was still alive.

I smirked, raising the corners of my mouth, and tilted my head.

“Tuberose. Your pathetic plan has come to an end. How about you tell me where Miss Eve is? Then I’ll grant you a swift death.”

“Huh, haha! This is absurd. To think that my plan to make the elves great once again is coming to an end in the hands of no one else but of someone who has inherited the power of the World Tree.”

“What bullshit are you talking about? You’ve only been a nuisance to the elven race. Even without my intervention, the Cradle Trading Company would collapse, and what do you think would happen if the Cradle Trading Company, which adheres to an elf preferential employment policy, fell due to such an unfortunate incident?”

“That’s the case, now that I have failed. If I had succeeded, the elves would have enjoyed glory comparable to…no, even greater than before the War of the Fallen Gods.”

“No, joining hands with the One Who Devours the Twilight and stripping Miss Eve’s power has nothing to do with the glory of the elves.”

“There is.”

Tuberose, though stabbed with a dagger and unable to see ahead, exudes a pressure that feels like she’s looking straight at me at this very moment.

“Of course, there is. Elves have long lifespans, and their youth also lasts for a long time. The wisdom and wealth they accumulate during that period are at a level that can’t even be compared to other races.”

“Yeah, yeah. On top of that, they generally have good talents in magic, aura, spirit arts, alchemy, and various other things as a bonus. I know that too. But so what? Why can’t beast-human hybrids, who fight well, dominate the world? The number of humans are also many, so why?”

Everyone knows the answer.

World affairs aren’t that simple. Each race, having survived the War of the Fallen Gods, has its own areas where it excels.

After facing the threat of extinction several times, it’s never easy to determine superiority among the races that have survived until the end.

However, it seems that Tuberose is convinced that elves are the most outstanding race and deserve to enjoy glory.

Even in the face of my sneer, even in her moment before death, that broad continues speaking with an unwavering voice.

“The greatest moment for the elves isn’t when they’re under the protection of Mother World Tree, nor when they’re under the guidance of the Queen of Eternity, Eve. It’s when the entire race unites as one!”

“Huh?”

“I respect the nobility of the two. I can offer as much praise as I want for such feats. …But the World Tree rests in eternal slumber, and Queen Eve has stepped down from the throne. Money may inject vitality into us, but it doesn’t guide our direction. We needed a new center, a new unity. If possible, I wanted to be that.”

I can roughly understand.

After siphoning the Power from Eve, it likely brought about a miserable death that enraged all the elves.

There, Tuberoses with powers like Eve appear.

As the successor of Eve, crying out for Eve’s revenge, she was probably planning to ascend to the position of the next queen and unite the elves once more.

I don’t know what she intends to do by uniting them like that, though.

“Jonah. Child chosen by another World Tree. Legitimate King of the Elves. You might think I have failed. But that’s not the case. Starting today, the elves will begin to unite around a new King. It’s unfortunate that I cannot ascend to that position, but ultimately, the elves will become one.”

“…You’re truly a retarded bastard.”

As I let out an exasperated sigh, the broad who had been giggling with a bloodcurdling voice suddenly straightened her back.

Then, she shouted in a deep voice as if the entire banquet hall was about to drift away.

“Even if a knife is stuck in my neck, I can’t reveal the location of that bitch Eve! Ancient beings belong in ancient times! Try to stop me if you can!”

Of course, the elves’ reactions were intense. Anger so fierce it made my skin tingle, even though I wasn’t directly involved.

They would tear Tuberose to pieces right here if I only gave permission.

Tuberose, who must know this better than anyone, smiled contentedly and whispered so softly that only I could hear.

“The queen is in the cellar of the Trading Company. She shouldn’t be seriously injured yet, so don’t worry. And if possible, please tell my daughter Rosemary that I’m sorry….”

“Shit. Troublesome.”

I interrupted Tuberose’s words and stood up.

The audience suddenly fell silent. Slowly, deliberately making clicking footsteps, I stood before Tuberose as if to show off.

And without hesitation, I drew the Unicorn Dagger and plunged it into the broad’s neck.

Pook!

“Glug!”

I whispered softly into the ear of Tuberose, who was dying with a satisfied expression.

“The age of elves will never come. Because I will make it that way.”

“…?!”

I extracted the Dagger, which was stuck in Tuberose’s neck, to the side while Tuberose’s eyes contorted in anger.

Splash!

Blood spurts out like a fountain. I covered myself with it and continued speaking while stepping on Tuberose’s head, who was still struggling for breath.

“The glory is enjoyed by the half-elves.”

“…?!”

Tuberose was shocked in a different way than just before. That was her end. And then.

“Sir Jonah declared that he would take everything from the elves…!”

“The elves are all ripe for the picking! They’re all so shiny!”

“Ah! Shut up you girls!”

Next to Tuberose, after hearing all this, I had Shadow quietly calm the chaotic Lemon and Apple.