Chapter 115 - Damn Reincarnation

Forest

Even as the lady of the main household, Anisilla could not control that audacious adopted son. He had grown too much. Perhaps she could have when he was a child newly adopted into the family, but Eugene was an adult now.

Anisilla had seen reality clearly for a long time. Her own children, the twins, were certainly exceptionally gifted. Without Eugene, she might have thought her children geniuses, as so many mothers did. But having seen him firsthand, she simply could not think of the twins that way.

Fortunately, the boy had no ambition to become family head. In fact, he recoiled at the very idea. That meant she must not make an enemy of him. Ever since his adoption, Anisilla had worked to maintain a cordial relationship with Eugene. She had soothed Cyan, who had been caught up in childish pride and immaturity, and reined in the curious, mischievous Ciel so she would not provoke Eugene too much.

Anisilla herself had made the same effort, and Cyan and Ciel had grown close to Eugene. Though they shared scarcely any blood, the three had become siblings.

Cyan had turned his inferiority complex into a desire to improve. Rather than hate Eugene for surpassing him, he admired him and wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Ciel was much the same. She did not feel as inferior as Cyan did, but perhaps inspired by both boys, she never neglected her training. And yet she was conscious of Eugene in a different sense than Cyan was...

To Anisilla, their relationship was wonderfully peaceful and satisfactory. Eugene would not become family head after all. Ciel, too, had chosen to join the Black Lion Knights rather than compete with her own brother for the position. Though it pained Cyan to have the others yield to him, he was working to become someone worthy of leading the family.

Anisilla did not want to ruin that ideal arrangement. What if she needlessly acted difficult and that audacious boy changed his mind?

"... Ahem."

Anisilla cleared her throat and fidgeted with her hand. The crushed fan dangling from it looked pitiful.

"Their circumstances are truly... tragic."

It was well known that elves were persecuted for their natural beauty and enduring youth. Honestly, Anisilla felt sorry for them too. They died of demonic sickness, which afflicted only elves. Unable to return home, they wandered the forest, only to be hunted down by hunters and natives and sold into slavery.

'... Well... taking them in can't hurt. Wouldn't it even enhance Lionheart's standing?'

Anisilla quickly searched her memory. As far as she knew, no family anywhere on the continent sheltered so many elves.

"... Is there anything I should help with...?"

"I won't trouble you, Lady Anisilla."

He had already troubled her plenty. She tried to see things positively, but that could only go so far. There were just over a hundred now, but wouldn't their numbers keep growing?

Even more awkwardly, she could not employ those elves like members of the main household. They would simply be living in the forest.

In the end, she accepted it. She had no choice.

There was so much she wanted to ask. She had heard why he had gone to the Great Forest of Samar without telling anyone, even concealing his identity. He had gone to find the elves' domain, where Senya the Wise was said to have secluded herself. Why had he taken on something so important? And with only one companion?

That companion, moreover, was Kristina Rogeris, a candidate for sainthood from the Holy Empire. Kristina now stood naturally beside Eugene, making Anisilla all the more confused. He had gone to Black Lion Castle for his coming-of-age ceremony, so why had he suddenly gone to the Great Forest of Samar to find Senya the Wise? Alone with the saint, no less?

... She did not press him. Swallowing the sigh threatening to escape, Anisilla nodded.

"... Even so, I cannot offer no help at all. First, I'll summon workers to put up buildings in the forest. Until then..."

"There are plenty of spare rooms in my annex, aren't there? They can stay there until then. If they find that uncomfortable, well, they can fend for themselves in the forest."

"... And their meals?"

"I'll tell Nina to take care of them."

Seven years ago, Nina had only just finished her apprenticeship. Now she oversaw all the annex's attendants.

'... So the family has to feed and support them after all?'

Did he even realize? Annex or otherwise, everything that happened on this estate ultimately went through Anisilla.

Of course, Eugene knew that too.

'Well, this family has more money than it knows what to do with.'

He did not consider it a big deal.

* * *

"What a splendid forest."

After Anisilla left, Siknard spoke. He looked around Lionheart's expansive forest and nodded.

"The trees, the soil—everything is well tended."

"It's a forest, after all."

"I particularly like the absence of that unpleasant smell."

"Unpleasant smell?"

"The smell of blood," Siknard answered with a smile. "It was always in the air in Samar's forest. Screams were common too. But this place is lovely and peaceful."

Naturally. This forest belonged to the main family's estate; there were no barbarian tribes fighting over territory here. No monsters, either. Various animals roamed freely, but there were no predators numerous enough to destroy the forest's ecosystem. Winter had left the branches bare, yet the forest remained peaceful and beautiful.

"And rich in mana."

Siknard turned to look deeper into the forest.

"That's Lionheart's spirit vein."

"... Was it always here?"

"They say our founder, Lord Vermouth, created it."

As he spoke, Eugene gave Siknard a pointed look. Be careful what you say. He had reminded him dozens of times before they arrived.

Siknard knew Eugene was Hamel. That made it all the more important to watch his words.

"... Hmm... I see."

Our founder, Lord Vermouth. Siknard's lips twitched at Eugene's wording. Had they been alone, he would have teased him for it, but he could not do that now. The other elves were here, and so was Kristina.

"Let's pick a site first."

Eugene led the way into the forest. He had thought anywhere would do, but that was not the case.

["Go a little deeper."]

'Are you sure?'

["Yes. The spirits of the World Tree want somewhere deeper, more densely wooded, and brimming with life."]

Tempest's voice echoed in his head. Sensing the spirits of the World Tree dwelling in the saplings, he told Eugene where they wished to be.

["This should do. The wind likes this place."]

"... This is..."

Looking puzzled, Eugene surveyed his surroundings. Nearby was Lionheart's spirit vein, which he had visited at thirteen when he first began learning to use mana. Gazing at the distant cabin, he ran his hand over the hilt of Wynnyd at his waist.

'It's close to the spirit vein. Does that mean something?'

["It likely does. As I told you before, primal spirits can be considered another form of mana."]

The spirits of the World Tree were fundamentally primal spirits. Listening to Tempest, Eugene tried to become conscious of the wind, but felt very little.

That was only natural. Wind existed as part of nature. Even the greatest spirit summoner could not perfectly control formless primal spirits.

They merely drew out primal spirits through spirits that had taken forms such as wind, earth, water, and fire. Samar's natives and the elves, born and raised in the forest, received the aid of primal spirits through the blessings of spirits, but that was merely receiving help, not controlling or dominating them.

["The spirit vein here did not form naturally. Vermouth created it himself. That is why its mana is artificially distorted."]

Impossible though it seemed, Vermouth had done it.

["Hmm..."]

Tempest became a current of wind circling Eugene.

["Hamel. As you know, the mana held by that artificial spirit vein is not infinite."]

Mana existed everywhere in the world, but spirit veins contained overwhelmingly vast quantities of it.

Those quantities were not infinite. Training with mana in a spirit vein allowed rapid progress, but stay too long, and its mana would be depleted. That was why Lionheart's spirit vein was so strictly managed.

["If you plant the World Tree's saplings here, that spirit vein will become more complete."]

'You mean it'll have more mana?'

["It should."]

Eugene knew spirit veins were useful. But the further one's mana training progressed, the less benefit they offered. A core could not be developed simply by increasing the amount of mana.

'That would be true of an ordinary spirit vein.'

Eugene recalled the World Tree he had seen in the elves' domain. There had been almost no mana in the domain itself, but inside the World Tree, mana had been more abundant than anywhere he remembered.

"I'm glad I brought them."

"What do you mean?" Siknard asked at his sudden mutter.

"Imagining all of you living happily in this forest after all the shit you've been through makes even my heart swell."

That was his cover story. Siknard and the other elves looked deeply moved.

Eugene summoned wind to roughly level the uneven ground. Then he dug holes in the spots Tempest designated and planted the World Tree's saplings and branch.

'... Nothing's happen—'

Just as he was about to demand an explanation, Eugene lowered himself with a startled look and ran his hand over the earth.

A gentle warmth suffused the dry, cold soil. A faint tremor. The sound of the saplings' roots reaching deep underground. Their branches stretched vigorously outward, and their leaves grew more vibrant. The branch he had broken directly from the World Tree swayed gently too.

"Ah...!"

The elves cried out at the sight. They heard the forest rejoicing. Siknard and the other elves born in the domain saw the immense World Tree in those small saplings and that branch. Some were so overwhelmed that they began to cry.

"... Indeed."

Kristina murmured in admiration, clasping her hands before her chest.

"This is truly something one could call a miracle."

"Not a miracle bestowed by your god."

"Yes, I know that as well. But being guided here was ultimately God's revelation... Not every miracle is bestowed by the God of Light, yet light dwells in every miracle."

Eugene glanced sideways at the brightly smiling Kristina and shook his head.

'The mana isn't increasing right away.'

["In time, the spirit vein will change as well."]

'It won't mean much if it takes too long.'

["You needn't worry about that. You cannot feel it, but the primal spirits dwelling in this land are responding to the World Tree..."]

'Are there more spirits of the World Tree now?'

["Yes. Before long, this estate's forest will become more beautiful and vibrant than any other on the continent. The elves will live here, tending the soil, the trees, the flowers, everything in the forest, and mingling with the spirits of the World Tree. Fairy trees will gradually multiply, and as their numbers grow, the entire forest will become a spirit vein."]

'...'

["The forest will become a spirit vein, and Lionheart's spirit vein will contain far more mana than before."]

'Then we won't need to hire more foresters or gardeners.'

["... What?"]

'You said it yourself. The elves will tend the forest. I'm human too, so I thought telling them to earn their meals might be a bit much... But if they're going to do the gardening themselves, that's more than enough to pay for their food.'

["... Hamel..."]

'What? I'm right. Do you know how big this forest is? You can't just leave it alone because it's a forest. There's pruning every season, grafting, all sorts of work. If the elves take care of that themselves...'

Tempest fell silent without another word.

"All right, listen up."

Eugene gathered the deeply moved elves together.

"We've secured Lady Anisilla's permission and planted the trees."

He spoke as casually as he pleased to Siknard, but he could not address all the other elves that way.

"I'm sure I don't need to tell you this, but you mustn't leave the estate. If you really want to go out, tell one of the family's attendants beforehand. I won't forbid you from going, but if someone starts trouble outside, it'll be a headache for everyone, won't it?"

Hunting elves was illegal, and public safety in the capital, Seyris, was excellent. Still, there was always the possibility.

"I'll arrange for a Lionheart knight to accompany you when you go out. The attendants will supply anything you need. And if—just if—any of you don't want to live here and want to leave in search of freedom, please raise your hand."

Not a single elf did.

"Well, I expected as much. I don't mind what you do in the forest, but you see that cabin over there? Don't go near it. Absolutely not."

Eugene pointed toward the spirit vein, emphasizing his words.

"I'll be angry if you do. And one more thing. Living in this forest, you'll encounter Lionheart's knights, attendants, and other servants often. You mustn't look down on them or pick fights just because they're human."

"Do you really need to say that?" Siknard asked, giving Eugene a sideways look. "Perhaps back in the old—"

Eugene returned the look. Siknard cleared his throat and continued.

"... Ahem. Three hundred years ago, elves took their sense of superiority for granted, but that is no longer the case. Our circumstances have become harsh."

"That doesn't apply to every elf, does it?"

"... But the elves here might fear humans; they certainly won't look down on them."

"Hmm... Fair point. All right. Next... Workers will probably come tomorrow to start building your village. Where would you like to stay until it's finished?"

Siknard took the lead in gathering the elves' opinions.

"... Most wish to stay in the forest, but a few said they would go to the annex."

"Really?"

"Eugene, is that annex where you live?"

"I live there... and so does my father."

"The elves who used to be attendants say they want to repay your kindness by serving you."

"Serving me...?"

Eugene looked dubious. Ten elves stepped forward, including the one-footed Narissa and the one-eyed Levera.

"You used to be an attendant?"

"S-something like that."

"Do you know how to clean?"

"... I do know how."

That was a lie. Narissa had lived in a mansion as a slave, but she had never cleaned. Still, she would surely manage if she tried. Filled with baseless confidence, she clenched her fists.

"What about cooking?"

"I believe I can learn."

Levera had never cooked before.

"I'm confident in my ability to eat."

That was not a lie. During her years of abuse as a slave, Levera had eaten all manner of filthy, horrifying things, vomiting and suffering to satisfy her master's sadism.

"... Hmm..."

They wanted to become attendants to repay his kindness, and he had no good reason to refuse. Training apprentice attendants was not his job anyway.

'Nina will take care of it.'

It was none of his concern.

* * *

The desert warrior Raman Shulhob had spent the past few months struggling with his identity.

For the men of the desert, a beard was a symbol to display proudly. Those of the lowest class could not grow one. In Nahama, the greater one's authority, the fuller and finer one's beard.

Raman's former master, Tairi Al-Madani, emir of Kajitan, had sported a thick beard. Raman's could not compare, but his own beard had been quite handsome. Applying perfumed oil and combing it every morning had been one of his small pleasures...

That proud beard had been shaved off on his first day at Lionheart. Now that he was in Kiel—no, at Lionheart—he had to obey Lionheart's rules.

Ironically, it was not his new master, Eugene, who enforced those rules upon him.

It was Nina.

The woman overseeing the annex's attendants would not tolerate Raman's beard. The reason was simple: it did not suit his butler's uniform. Raman insisted that he was a warrior, but to Nina, the only warriors were the knights appointed to the main family.

But they could hardly make Raman a knight of the main family. That was outside Nina's authority, and Eugene had no intention of knighting him either.

In the end, Raman became a butler. He trained when he could, but spent most of his days in the annex handling the chores Nina assigned him.

The source of his identity crisis was... that he found the work unexpectedly enjoyable.

The elder master, Gerhard, was cheerful and kind. Nina scolded Raman, but she also looked after him in various ways to ensure he wanted for nothing. The other attendants, who had been wary of him because he came from Nahama, had relaxed somewhat upon seeing how hard he worked and now treated him warmly.

He had never experienced this sort of life in Nahama. It was pleasant and peaceful here. No sandstorms, no rivalry from other warriors, no suspicious plots...

But Raman had not relinquished his pride in being Eugene's trusted follower. Though he lived as a butler in the annex now, someday he would return to being a warrior and follow Eugene. Eugene had never once promised him such a thing, but Raman held fast to that resolve.

Had Eugene not saved his life several times, not merely once? He had to repay that kindness somehow.

"..."

Raman stood motionless, looking at Eugene. No—at the ten elves behind Eugene. Lovely elves. There were both men and women, but elven men were as beautiful as their women.

"... You truly are remarkable, Lord Eugene."

After a moment's silence, Raman nodded in admiration.

"A harem of elves. Even my former master, Tairi Al-Madani, had only one elf in his harem—"

"What the fuck are you talking about?"

Eugene kicked Raman in the shin as he spoke. Raman let out a short scream and clutched his aching leg.

"They'll be working here starting today."

"Y-yes?"

Startled, Raman raised his head.

"Then what will become of me?"

"What about you?"

"If they work in this annex, will I become a warrior again and follow you, my lord?"

"You keep spouting nonsense."

Eugene stared at Raman in disbelief.

"You said you wanted to come with me, so I brought you. That's all there is to it."

"You saved my life twice, my lord. As a warrior, I wish to repay that kindness..."

"With your current abilities, you're no help to me at all. So if you want to repay me, work hard here."

Raman felt no humiliation at those words.

'I will work to become someone who can support my lord.'

He renewed his resolve to fulfill his duties as a butler without neglecting his training as a warrior.