Book Eater

Chapter 114: World Tree’s Reward (3)

Everyone was much more relaxed after getting drinks. The magicians opened up, and the high elves were engaging and friendly. Alucard was engaged with a Yellow Tower magician on mushroom growing, while Lumia’s ears were pricked curiously as she hopped between interesting topics. Nala was still half dozing, but she would occasionally ask about topics that interested her.

But Alisa was the most interactive and energetic.

“Hey, why are you wearing a mask today? Were you expecting a masked ball or something? Or is it for another reason?”

“It is because of a personal matter.”

“I see. Then can you show it to me? Or tell me why! My curious nature won’t let it go until I find out.”

“It looks like it.”

“Eek.”

She nattered on with a stoic Orta. Interestingly, their conversational attitude made them equally difficult to approach, so the area around them became quiet. Moreover, there were many high elves for the magicians to talk to, and the main character of this banquet was sitting somewhere else.

Theo, the young man who led the mission against the legendary monster Laevateinn and created the opportunity for this mission to Elvenheim… he deserved to be at the center of this banquet.

... By the way, what is this?

However, Theo was in an unexpectedly difficult situation.

On his left, there was Ellenoa...

“Theo! This fruit called Zaoyan is delicious. It is a rare fruit from the northern forest, but this is a famous delicacy of Elvenheim, so you definitely can’t miss it.”

“T-Thank you.”

And on his right, there was Sylvia...

“Theo, take a bite of this. I sprinkled some spices on it, so it is much tastier.”

“W-Wait a minute.”

“What? Oh, is it because of the skin? I’ll peel it in a second!”

There was no room for Theo to interject. He didn’t know who started it, but the competition became increasingly fierce as food started piling up in front of him. He couldn’t bring himself to refuse either, so Theo kept on chewing. Soon enough, empty bowls were stacked in front of the three people, and the weight of his stomach was becoming increasingly dangerous.

Uhh, how long do I have to eat...?

Theo started desperately looking for a way out. Was the heavens turning a blind eye to him?

Fortunately, he spotted Vince sipping from a cup nearby. The moment that Vince felt Theo’s gaze on him and was about to ask what he needed...

Vince heard someone’s voice from behind him, “Oh, my, are you drinking wine?”

The high elf, Lumia, who had been standing on the outskirts, approached Vince. She was a high elf, a survivor of a species from the myths, and an existence normally hard to meet. As a magician and one of the delegates, he had no choice but to respond to Lumia instead of paying attention to his disciple.

“Ah, yes. It’s an interesting but refreshing taste.”

“That’s a relief. The wine is made from the grapes that my tribe grows, and it is highly appreciated for its fragrance and flavor. Would you like to try another kind?”

“Oh, it would be an honor.”

“Huhu, I should be the one saying that. Come this way.”

Vince moved away without thinking as Theo looked at his back with a devastated expression. Simultaneously, Lumia turned back to look at Theo and gave him a strange smile.

Why?

Then a whisper entered his mind through Ratatoskr from Lumia.

- Well, try it yourself.

Huh?

She didn’t say anything else as she led Vince away.

Theo’s escape route had disappeared. There were two bowls set before Theo, filled with more food that he couldn’t eat. He was starting to consider activating Battle Song to accelerate his metabolism.

Then a stupid idea emerged in his head. “... Alcohol.”

He didn’t enjoy it very much, but his eyes caught an unopened wine bottle. It was an Elvenheim specialty that wasn’t made anywhere else. Theo couldn’t understand why they made it since it wasn’t quite a wine, but it was commonly sold as an elf specialty.

Ellenoa was the first one to notice his attention on the bottle.

“Oh, do you want a drink? I don’t know the taste of it, but this wine is well-known in the forest. Perhaps Theo will enjoy it.”

“Hrmm… If you say so.”

“Yes, then have a drink.” As she nodded, a fragrant scent emerged from the mouth of the bottle.

Ellenoa poured a cup for Theo and for herself before putting the bottle down. Indeed, there was no cup for Sylvia.

The subtle action caused Sylvia to mutter in a low voice, “... Why aren’t you giving any to me?”

Ellenoa cocked her head and replied, “Based on the standards of the human species, aren’t you not allowed to drink until you experience your coming of age ceremony?”

“I’ve had my coming of age ceremony already! It was this year!”

Maybe it implied that she looked young. Sylvia glared at Ellenoa, took the bottle, and poured wine into her cup. She was a little rough, so the wine nearly sloshed over the rim of the cup.

Then without waiting for a toast, she poured the contents into her mouth.

Gulp.?

Sylvia quickly finished the drink and turned triumphantly to the two people.

“... Hua.”

She fell face down onto the table.

***

Typically, the body of a magician was stronger than that of ordinary people, so they were more resistant to harmful substances such as alcohol. It wasn’t backed by scientific study, but the high density mana flowing through their bodies was well known to have an ameliorating effect on toxins.

Therefore, Theo couldn’t help feeling surprised when Sylvia was drunk after one glass.

He sighed slightly and muttered, “Ah, I’m glad I decided to drink water instead...”

“Ahaha.” Ellenoa heard his words and laughed awkwardly.

She hadn’t expected this either. Now the two of them were left alone. Since Sylvia, the biggest obstacle, had self-destructed, Ellenoa could achieve her purpose without any interference. She immediately used the pretext of a walk to spend some time alone with Theo.

Regardless of whether he knew why she asked him on a walk, Theo looked at the ground spread under his feet and exclaimed, “By the way, it is amazing to see. I never expected the banquet to be in such a high place.”

“Is that so? I reacted in a similar manner when I was first brought up here. There was a large tree in my hometown, but it didn’t soar to the height of the clouds.”

.

“I never thought I could touch the clouds like this...”

The clouds around his fingertips scattered like a torn spiderweb, leaving his hand damp. He looked like an amazed child, causing Ellenoa to warmly gaze at him. They were about to enter a place without the ability of a high elf.

“Please stay within three steps of me.” Ellenoa moved slowly forward.

The closer they got to the world tree, the more the high elves could exercise a power akin to their ancestors and open a space door or jump small distances without using a knot hole. The foundation of this phenomenon was different from magic, but the result was similar.

Theo’s keen senses noticed the change quickly. “Ah.”

It was similar to the Shukuchiho method used by the White Tower Master. He followed a few steps behind Ellenoa, and their position suddenly changed.

Theo kept track of the changes. It wasn’t so difficult when looking at the height of the clouds, the perspective of the landscape, and the density of mana. The problem was that the changes didn’t happen just once or twice.

‘The banquet hall is three hundred and fifty meters below… No, it just changed to five hundred meters. Then we went down by a hundred meters...’

It was very fast. Theo marveled at the rate of change as the map in his head was destroyed. They had gone up and down so many times that he didn’t know where he was now.

After five minutes of walking cautiously, Ellenoa slowed and stopped. When Theo saw the destination, he spoke carefully, “This is...?”

The two of them had stopped in front of a shabby cabin. The cabin’s planks of wood were so rotten and the pillars were so old that it wouldn’t be strange if the cabin collapsed immediately. It was too shabby compared to the magnificence of the world tree.

However, Ellenoa seemed to be rather solemn in front of it as she looked at Theo.

“This is a place where you can’t enter or leave unless you have the consent of a high elf.”

In such cases, the majority of high elves had to agree to let the person enter. As Ellenoa stared reverently at the cabin, she explained to Theo that this cabin contained the history and wisdom of the elves for thousands of years.

Then she gazed into Theo’s eyes with a serious expression as her golden eyes shone brightly beside her pale green hair. “Theo. For the second time in the history of the elves, you have been recognized as a visitor of the Fountain of Wisdom.”

“Fountain of Wisdom… this cabin?”

“Yes. It was called a different name during ancient times, but it is now a legacy of a forgotten era. In the history of the human race, there were a few records of when they dealt with it in the Age of Mythology.

Theo gulped as he understood the value of this rundown cabin.

The Age of Mythology was an era when humans hadn’t yet become masters of the continent. It had been thousands of years ago when gods, demons, dragons, and ancient species walked the world. Meltor collected artifacts and relics more enthusiastically than any other kingdom, but even they hadn’t been able to find any traces from that period in time.

Even if there was only one book or scroll in that cabin, it might be worth dozens of libraries in this age. However, Theo’s surprise was only beginning.

“I brought Theo to this cabin because a wise man foretold your coming.”

Theo was stunned. Who would the elves refer to as ‘wise,’ and how could they have predicted this situation?

The appearance of the legend ranked grimoire, Laevateinn, as well as the powers of Andras and Meltor… This moment had occurred as a result of numerous interlinked events. Theo had no choice but to be astounded.

Then Ellenoa dealt the heaviest blow. “The wise man who predicted Theo’s visit was the first of his kind in the world, the first human to make a contract with an elemental ruler.”

No way.

The words entered Theo’s ears and he stared at her.

“Myrdal Herseim, the great elementalist, said that he left something for you in the Fountain of Wisdom.”