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Chapter 189 - Sanctuary of the Elves. Elfo Sagrado. (2)

The seed soaked in blood didn\'t just bloom, it grew to fill the entire room.

There was only one case where this happened.

It was when the blood itself was special and acted as a catalyst.

And the most representative example of this was the blood of a dragon.

‘It’s not like it’s dragon’s blood or anything…’

No, could dragon’s blood even make the flower grow to fill a room?

Ash had never seen a dragon.

But he thought it would be difficult.

“There are no scales or anything.”

Ketal raised his arm.

Though it had wounds, clean skin was visible.

“I am human.”

“R-Really...”

Ketal denied it, but Ash couldn\'t stop using honorifics.

Stuttering, he said,

“Well... it\'s been confirmed. You may enter.”

“Oh. Is that so?”

Ketal smiled.

He followed Ash\'s guidance and entered the Sanctuary of the Elves.

“What should I do from here?”

“I will guide you.”

“Thank you.”

Ketal followed Ash\'s lead.

As he walked through the Sanctuary of the Elves, Ketal observed his surroundings.

The elven buildings were made of trees and giant leaves.

However, they didn’t look crude or barbaric.

Rather, they were neatly made with simple materials, giving the feel of modern trendy architecture.

And these buildings climbed up the trunk of the World Tree.

Between them, there were what looked like stairs or platforms.

A village surrounding and rising high along the tree.

It sounded like it would be very inconvenient to live in, but the World Tree was so massive that it didn’t really feel that way.

And not all the buildings were up in the trees.

There were small and large buildings near the base of the World Tree, where elves rested.

Young elves ran around playing in parks,

while adult elves strolled around.

Even older-looking elves walked leisurely.

Ketal watched them with a very happy face.

He strongly felt like he was in the midst of a fantasy.

As he looked at the elves’ faces, Ketal murmured in wonder.

“They look better than I thought.”

The Sanctuary of the Elves was currently under attack by evil.

A nearby village had been attacked and burned, a clear and direct threat.

But the elves’ faces were completely calm.

They seemed no different from usual.

“This is our sanctuary. Evil beings dare not invade here. And most importantly, we have our queen.”

Ash spoke calmly.

“The Queen of the High Elves, not just any tribe member. The rightful leader of the elves, who has made a pact with the Spirit King. As long as she is here, the dark magicians cannot invade the sanctuary.”

“I see.”

The followers of Kalosia said similar things, so it didn’t really resonate much.

But if the Elf Queen was truly a hero-level powerhouse, it made sense.

They said there was a huge difference between heroes and superhumans.

Ketal walked a bit more and approached the base of the World Tree.

The resting elves also noticed Ketal’s presence.

The elves screamed in fright.

“C-Come this way.”

“Y-Yes...”

The adult elves quickly took their children and climbed up the World Tree.

The middle-aged elves were no different.

In an instant, all the elves disappeared from the base of the World Tree.

“That’s sad.”

“...Please understand.”

Ash gave a bitter smile.

To the elves, Ketal was like a lion.

If one had power on Ash’s level, they could withstand the intimidation, but otherwise, it was difficult.

Of course, entering the sanctuary meant he had passed the test.

But even if a lion was safely controlled by a handler, it was normal to scream and run away if it was wandering around.

Especially if that lion wasn’t even on a leash.

“This is a bit troublesome.”

If he got close to them, they could overcome the intimidation, but since they hid as soon as they saw Ketal, there was no chance to get close.

If this continued, he might not be able to enjoy the sanctuary as he had hoped.

Just as Ketal was pondering, footsteps were heard from above in the World Tree.

Someone was quickly descending to the ground.

Ketal turned his head to look at the owner of the footsteps.

The person arrived on the ground.

Seeing their face, Ketal smiled brightly.

“Oh! Arkamis!”

“Ketal! You came!”

The maverick of the High Elves, Arkamis, shouted with a bright face.

* * *

Arkamis strode towards Ketal.

She was a High Elf.

She must have felt the strongest intimidation from Ketal among anyone here, yet there was no hesitation in her steps.

She arrived in front of Ketal in an instant.

With a joyful face, she exclaimed,

“You came! Ketal! You really came!”

“Did you think it was a lie? I am a person who keeps promises.”

“It\'s just a way of speaking. I didn’t expect you to come so soon.”

Arkamis smiled brightly, but she was inwardly anxious.

‘W-What if he doesn’t come?’

Ketal exuded a powerful intimidation to the elves.

Even if he came to the sanctuary, he wouldn’t be welcomed.

It was a very unpleasant experience to have others avoid you.

Arkamis had experienced enough of that unpleasantness outside the sanctuary.

Given Ketal\'s power, he would be treated well wherever he went, so there was no reason for him to come here and have an unpleasant experience.

Although it was unthinkable that Ketal wouldn’t come to the sanctuary, Arkamis, not knowing his intentions, felt very uneasy.

She even resorted to petal divination, something she had never done before.

But to think he would come so quickly.

The unease she had felt turned into elation.

She looked at Ketal with sparkling eyes.

“Ash, you guided him? Thank you.”

“N-No problem…”

Ash replied reluctantly.

‘…When I heard her speak, I thought nothing of it.’

But that gaze.

Wasn’t it like the gaze of a girl in love?

He looked at Arkamis with a curious expression.

But Arkamis didn’t care and only looked at Ketal.

“It’s awkward to talk while standing here. Will you come to my house?”

“That sounds good.”

“Great! Then follow me! Ash! Good work!”

“Understood.”

It was a clear dismissal.

Though he was losing his guest, Ash retreated obediently.

He couldn\'t refuse the words of a High Elf, nor did he have a reason to.

Arkamis smiled brightly and led Ketal away.

Ash watched them leave.

‘…When I heard Arkamis speak, I thought he was a peculiar human.’

Meeting him in person, he was more than expected.

A flower large enough to fill a room.

An intimidation so strong it made the elves run away.

‘I need to see the Queen.’

Ash started walking.

* * *

Ketal followed Arkamis up the World Tree.

The elves they encountered on the way up flinched and backed away at the sight of Ketal.

Then, seeing Arkamis, they looked at her as if seeing something very strange.

“What are you looking at!”

Arkamis shouted confidently.

The elves flinched and backed away.

“You don’t seem to get along well.”

“We don’t. Returning to the sanctuary after so long, they looked at me like I was a foolish princess. Who are they to judge me?”

Arkamis grumbled as she climbed the World Tree.

The World Tree was very tall.

And Arkamis was going beyond its middle section.

It took a long time just to climb.

“Your house is in a high place.”

“Because I\'m a great and mighty High Elf. I’m positioned higher than the other elves. It’s just tiresome and annoying to climb up.”

Arkamis scoffed.

Ketal laughed at her look of discontent.

Before long, they reached Arkamis’s house.

True to her title as a maverick of the High Elves, her house was far from the residences of other High Elves.

She turned around.

“Here it is! My house! Come in!”

“Excuse me.”

Ketal entered Arkamis’s house.

Looking around the interior, Ketal murmured,

“It’s not much different from a house in the Kingdom of Denian.”

In the center of the house, a cauldron was boiling, and catalysts hung on the walls.

It was the same structure as her previous house.

“Because it’s the optimal design I came up with. I remodeled it as soon as I got back.”

“Fortunately, you weren’t hindered.”

Arkamis studied alchemy.

But a High Elf learning the outside world\'s technology was not seen favorably by the elves.

Just seeing how Parco came to destroy the inside of her house showed that.

“There was some. The Queen kept complaining, but I said I’d leave again if she did. After a few days of fighting, she gave up. Parco supporting me made it a bit easier.”

“Oh. Parco must have granted my request.”

Ketal had asked Parco to help Arkamis.

Though he nodded, without any enforcement, he wasn’t sure what would happen, but it seemed he did listen.

“To grant a favor without compensation. I’m grateful. I should thank him later.”

“…He would prefer you didn’t visit.”

Arkamis said reluctantly.

Parco supported her simply because he feared Ketal’s retaliation.

He flinched every time he heard Ketal’s name, feeling pitiful.

Anyway, things worked out.

Arkamis led Ketal to a room and asked,

“So, how have you been?”

“I’ve been well. I helped the sanctuary of Kalosia. After that, I met mermaids while following the Inquisitor of the Sun God.”

“Inquisitor of the Sun God? Who is that?”

“There\'s someone named Aquaz.”

Arkamis, who had been excitedly asking questions, momentarily paused.

“…The genius Inquisitor?”

“Oh. Do you know of her?”

“She’s famous, so of course I know. I heard she’s young and beautiful… Is it true?”

“She’s certainly beautiful.”

Ketal nodded.

Aquaz was indeed very beautiful, comparable even to elves.

“…I see. You traveled with Aquaz. Hmm.”

Arkamis trailed off.

“…Was it just the two of you?”

“No, there was one more person. Why do you ask? You seem uncomfortable.”

Arkamis’s expression was strange.

She looked like she might be jealous, or perhaps worried.

“No, it’s nothing.”

Arkamis shook her head vigorously.

“This is your room. You must be tired from traveling, so rest.”

“Got it.”

After guiding Ketal to his room, Arkamis stepped out.

She clenched her fists as if making a decision.

* * *

Later that night.

Arkamis knocked on the door.

Ketal, who had been lounging around, spoke up.

“What is it?”

“Ketal, want to have a drink?”

Arkamis shook a bottle of alcohol.

“Let’s have a drink and talk about what’s happened. How about it? It’s elven liquor. Outsiders don’t get to drink this.”

“I’m in.”

Ketal quickly got up.

Elven liquor?

There was no reason to refuse.

He stepped outside.

“Arkamis?”

“Wh-What is it?”

“Your outfit is different from usual.”

Arkamis was wearing something similar to human lingerie.

Of course, it was only similar, with significantly less exposure.

At most, her arms and legs were visible.

But considering her usual attire, it was quite a change.

Arkamis spoke with forced nonchalance.

“These are comfortable clothes I wear at home.”

“For something like that, it’s quite ornate.”

“…It just looks that way; it’s actually comfortable. I wear it often.”

“Is that so? Didn’t you wear more ordinary clothes in the Kingdom of Denian?”

“…It’s a bit warmer here.”

“I see.”

Since Arkamis insisted, Ketal didn’t press further.

“Let’s drink.”

“Sounds good.”

Ketal smiled.

Arkamis turned around, clenching her fists tightly.

She looked as if she was aiming for something.