The Swordmaster Who Returned After 1,000 Years

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]

Chapter 127

Three days later, at the Fairy Tower.

Kaylen, arriving on a drake alongside Eldir, was warmly welcomed.

“Your Majesty, you’ve arrived.”

“There are quite a lot of elves gathered here.”

“They heard of the newly crowned king’s reputation and came hoping to at least catch a glimpse of you.”

Irene spoke as she glanced toward Eldir as well.

“There are many who want to see you too. Who would’ve thought the drunkard of the tower was actually a Sword Master?”

“Heh. Does this mean I get to enjoy some popularity again?”

“Do you really want that? Then I’ll introduce you. If you agree to meet them, I bet they’ll line up.”

Eldir looked at his wooden sword, Melvria, and chuckled.

“You know I have no interest in that. Even if you compare a hundred elves, they’re nothing compared to Melvria.”

“…I also feel sorry about what happened to Sister Melvria, but shouldn’t you at least consider continuing the family line?”

“Sigh… The elves have really been influenced by humans. Does that even make sense? And Irene, if it’s about continuing the family, shouldn’t you be the one bringing home a husband?”

“Ugh… I’m just too busy with work!”

“Everyone’s busy, but they still find time. You old maid.”

Watching the siblings bicker, Kaylen spoke up.

“Save the family argument for later. Let’s get going.”

“Hoho. I must have shown you an unsightly scene. I’ll guide you. Meanwhile, Brother, go enjoy the popularity you couldn’t before.”

“No, I’m coming too. I should at least greet them.”

Irene shot a glare at Eldir before turning around and personally guiding Kaylen.

The underground chamber where the Mana Suit Guardian was kept.

The place Irene led Kaylen to was precisely that chamber.

[Irene, you have brought him.]

A gentle voice resonated from the light shining onto the Guardian.

It was a slightly different voice than before.

The tone was now steady, lacking fluctuations, giving off a rigid, feminine impression.

[I heard you founded the Meier Kingdom. Heir of the Dragon Sword God… Huh?]

The previously firm voice trembled, returning to Deluna’s tone.

The light streaming onto the Guardian flickered.

[Ern…?]

For the first time, the ever-composed will of the World Tree showed hesitation.

Irene and Eldir exchanged glances.

Why is it reacting this way?

[Ern. It’s you, isn’t it?]

“Will of the World Tree, this is His Majesty Kaylen, King of Meier. His appearance has changed significantly, but…”

[That can’t be. That can’t be true.]

“We have witnessed Kaylen’s transformation firsthand. After absorbing the Fire Mana, his appearance changed.”

[…]

The will of the World Tree remained silent for a moment before commanding the two elves.

[My children, leave us for now.]

“Understood.”

As the two elves stepped outside in obedience to the World Tree’s will,

the voice changed completely back to Deluna’s.

[Ern. It really is you, isn’t it?]

[After our last meeting, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking. No matter how direct a descendant he may be, could he truly inherit the Six Sword Path? And could he resemble our ancestor’s gestures to such an extent? Even the name Deluna… Did he really leave that behind for his descendant?]

“Isn’t it more likely that a descendant would inherit it rather than the Grand Emperor Ernstine reviving after a thousand years?”

[Ern… I think the chances of someone inheriting the Six Sword Path are even lower than you coming back to life. You taught it to so many of your children, yet not a single one could master it. Even Baldrix, who had the talent for swordsmanship, couldn’t.]

[And besides, how could a descendant possibly mimic the way you made me fall for you… A man who had four wives? It has to be you, Ernstine.]

The will of the World Tree, now certain, referred to Kaylen as Ern.

Her voice grew increasingly vibrant as she continued speaking.

[Hurry, answer me, Ern…]

Kaylen let out a faint smile.

As expected, with this changed appearance, it was difficult to deceive her.

“…Yeah. I figured it’d be hard to fool my own wife’s eyes.”

[So it really is…!]

“That’s right, Deluna. I am Ernstine.”

Ssssshh—

The light streaming down into the underground chamber gathered together,

forming the translucent figure of a woman.

Her dazzling golden hair and beauty were enough to overshadow even the elves.

She was the High Elf, Deluna.

[Ern. Ern. Ern…!]

Deluna rushed toward Kaylen.

But her body passed right through him.

Like a ghost, she had no physical form.

[Ah… Am I an idiot…?]

“Deluna. You’re as clumsy as ever.”

[No! I just got a little too excited, that’s all!]

As Kaylen chuckled at her response, Deluna moved closer to his face.

[It really… is you, Ern.]

“Yes.”

[What happened? When I heard you had disappeared, I was so shocked inside the World Tree. I thought you would live forever.]

As a Grand Sword Master, Ernstine had never aged.

It wasn’t strange that Deluna had believed he would live indefinitely.

Kaylen shrugged.

“I don’t know either. I abdicated the throne to Caius and went to sleep,

but when I woke up, I was in a descendant’s body.”

[So even you don’t know the reason…]

“Yeah. I still don’t understand.”

Even now, with the Six Swords still incomplete, Kaylen only needed an hour or two of sleep each day.

And even while sleeping, his senses remained sharp, allowing him to detect the slightest changes.

If that was the case now, his former body—Ernstine’s—had possessed even keener senses.

He had no idea how this had happened.

[Ern… I’m sorry…]

“For what?”

[Our child… Melvria… I had no choice but to let the Helmeier family take her…]

“…I figured as much. Deluna, you always put the World Tree before your own family.”

Deluna had left the capital, abandoning her young daughter Melvria,

believing that saving the World Tree took precedence.

Kaylen had watched his daughter cry, searching for her mother.

At the time, he had resented Deluna for it.

Did she sense that lingering resentment even now?

Right in front of Kaylen, Deluna, who had been gazing at him with sparkling eyes, soon looked dejected.

[…That’s right. I was a terrible mother and a terrible wife. But I couldn’t abandon the duty of a High Elf. The fate of our entire race depended on it…]

“So, you ran away in the middle of the night without even saying goodbye?”

[Because if I saw your face, I wouldn’t have been able to leave.]

Kaylen let out a sigh.

At this point, what was the use of resenting Deluna for leaving him?

The only thing that still weighed on his mind was his daughter, Melvria.

“…Did Melvria forgive you?”

[Melvria… doesn’t know I’m here. The High Elf Deluna has long since become part of the World Tree’s will.]

“I see. So she didn’t even know you were in the World Tree.”

[No… Until you spoke my name in that body, I had simply been drifting inside the World Tree, having lost all sense of self.]

When Kaylen had heard the voice of the World Tree’s will and called out Deluna’s name,

that was when she had regained her identity.

[I was going to let everything fade again and merge back into the World Tree’s will…]

Deluna gave a bitter smile.

[But the World Tree is telling me to become independent.]

“Independent?”

[Ern, do you know why the World Tree has called for you?]

“No. I only heard that it was something important.”

[The World Tree wants to plant its roots on the surface. Staying buried deep underground like this has made its growth far too slow.]

Crackling.

At the center of Deluna’s ghostly, translucent form,

a green light gathered and condensed into a single point.

A ball of light, about the size of a fist.

From within it, an overwhelming life force radiated.

[The World Tree has commanded me to become its seed and take root on the surface.]

“Deluna. Are you saying you’ll become a new World Tree?”

[Yes. But only as the World Tree that appears on the surface… I will be a presence that breathes vitality into the true form of the World Tree below.]@@novelbin@@

So, the underground World Tree was the main body,

and the one growing on the surface would simply be a branch.

Kaylen had a question.

“Can’t it just take root on the surface? Why does it need my permission?”

[It needs to be planted at the heart of this kingdom’s capital, Alzass.]

“The center of Alzass… That would be near the royal palace.”

[Yes. That’s why the kingdom’s approval is necessary.

Bormian previously refused this request, saying that having the World Tree near the royal palace would be burdensome.]

That was the official reason, but in reality, it was likely because Dark Skull César feared it would be difficult to control.

Thinking this, Kaylen asked Deluna,

“If the World Tree takes root, what benefits will it bring to the kingdom?”

[You are aware that this world is under the dominion of the Demon Realm, correct?]

“Yeah. The moon looks strange.”

[As expected of you, Ern. You’ve already noticed that much.

If the World Tree takes root on the surface, it will block the red moon’s mana invasion.]

Kaylen’s eyes widened in surprise.

Preventing mana invasion?

‘I was struggling to find a solution to the problem of the corrupted wheat…’

If the World Tree were to take root, it would at least offer some resolution.

“How is that even possible?”

[The very reason I intend to take root on the surface is to prevent this from happening.]

Deluna smiled softly as she spoke.

[While the new World Tree acts as a barrier, the main body must continue to grow and fulfill the elves’ long-cherished wish.]

“The elves’ long-cherished wish?”

[Th-That… is difficult for me to explain…]

As Deluna lowered her head apologetically, Kaylen lost interest in the matter.

“Well, whatever. If it can stop the red moon’s mana absorption, that’s more than enough.”

[Then, may I take root in the capital?]

“Hmm. But I also have my own reasons for coming here.”

[And what would those be?]

Kaylen took out the wheat and seeds and began explaining the matter concerning the nameless Grand Mage.

Deluna reached out her hand.

[Let me see them.]

Would she even be able to hold them in her current ghostly state?

Despite his doubts, Kaylen handed her the wheat and seeds.

A flash of light emanated from Deluna’s body, and the objects vanished.

She closed her eyes and remained silent for a moment before speaking again.

[…I thought it was solely due to the red moon, but this itself is also a problem.]

Her expression turned grave.

[Ern, the soil of this land is slowly transforming into Demon Realm soil. The World Tree believed this was purely the red moon’s influence, but judging by this wheat and these seeds, their impact is just as significant.]

“So it’s not just interfering with mana absorption?”

[No. More than that, it’s altering the soil itself to resemble that of the Demon Realm. Preventing mana absorption is merely a secondary effect, not the primary goal.]

It seemed they intended to completely reshape the land into a Demon Realm colony.

Kaylen clicked his tongue.

[Fortunately, if the World Tree takes root on the surface, it can suppress this transformation as well.]

“Is that so? Then we absolutely must plant the World Tree in the capital.”

[Truly? Thank you. However… once the World Tree is fully established, it may draw the attention of the Demon Realm. Are you prepared for the consequences of the red moon losing its mana absorption?]

“It’s fine. That’s something we’ll have to accept.”

With a Demon Realm commander already held captive,

a confrontation with the Demon Realm was inevitable.

In that case, it was best to build up as much power as possible before the battle began.

With the World Tree, the kingdom’s strength could grow at a much faster rate.

“I will accept the World Tree’s proposal.”

[Thank you, Ern. Then, I’ll be relying on you until we reach the capital.]

[Translator - Kiteretsu]

[Proofreader - Kyros]