Chapter 139: Elven Village (4)

[Friend of the World Tree]

Rank: Special

Description: A title given to the one who has become a friend of the World Tree, Luteria.

Effect: +10 to all stats, Dignity effect on Elves applies at three times the usual rate, +150 Nature Affinity (This effect remains even when title is unequipped).

[Legendary Healer]

Rank: Special

Description: A title given to one who has healed a legendary being.

Effect: +15 to all stats, increases healing skill effectiveness by 30% (This effect remains even when title is unequipped).

Each title had effects that left Kai’s mouth hanging open. Of course, it was rare for a Special-rank title to not be a good one, but the ones he had just acquired were certainly among the best of them.

The Elven Village... I didn’t even go through the same hardships as in the kingdom of the merfolk, yet I received even greater rewards.

Kai, feeling particularly pleased with this fact, smiled warmly at Luteria. "Luteria, thank you for the generous rewards, which far exceed my actions."

“Isn't your tone a bit too formal between friends? You can stop with the formalities.”

"

Haha

, how could I possibly do that when addressing you..."

“And you should consider those rewards as an advance payment since you’ll need to prepare for war against the Church of Muldine from now on.”

“I must have misheard you. What did you just say?” Kai asked, naturally dropping his formal tone.

Then Luteria clasped its hands behind its back, nodding, and explained, “Now that I’ve regained my control over the forest, I can clearly sense that the Church of Muldine has infiltrated the village of the dark elves.”

“Can’t you use your power to drive them out?”

“I wouldn’t have been caught off guard and poisoned in the first place if it were that simple.”

“

Ah

, I suppose that’s true...”

That part was understandable, but he couldn't understand the part about war.

Me, leading it?

He felt like receiving a draft notice when he had no intention of joining the army!

“I’m kind of taken aback about this war against the Church of Muldine... Are you saying I just need to drive them out of the forest?”

“That’s not all. Their army is on the way. Originally, they would’ve drained my power, corrupted my children, and secured control over the forest.”

“Oh?”

As Kai listened to Luteria's words, he re-read the past system logs once more.

The Withered World Tree and Corrupted Elves quests were erased.

In other words, the original scenario likely involved the World Tree withering, the Church of Muldine seizing its power, and corrupting all the elves into dark elves!

Ha! Those Muldine bastards sure came up with a ridiculous scenario.

Thanks to Kai, that future had vanished without a trace, but that also meant that war was inevitable. He understood what Luteria meant.

“But Luteria, I can’t fight the Church of Muldine alone...”

“That’s why I’m calling you my friend. There isn’t a single elf who would ignore you now.”

“Oh...!”

The Friend of the World Tree title effect, which tripled the Dignity stat against Elves, would certainly help him manage the elves.

So... this really does mean I’m expected to lead the war, huh?

The scale of the battle was beyond anything he had ever imagined. He swallowed hard at the thought, feeling the intense pressure and anxiety building up inside him.

Wait, this might actually be an opportunity.

A player leading NPCs into battle against another force was an achievement no player had ever accomplished before. Most players could only participate in wars as low-ranking soldiers for noble households, so the potential rewards were beyond his imagination.

“How long until the Church of Muldine forces arrive?”

“Three weeks at most. But I would like for you to resolve this before they enter the forest...”

“I’ll do my best.”

From Kai's perspective, fighting within the forest was more advantageous. It would allow him to leverage the elves' strengths in battle.

But this is war. It’s completely different from fighting just a few hundred players like with the Black Bees.

At that time, he had been exhausted just from the mind games between Sting and Seol Eun-Yeong. But now, he had to take on that kind of leadership himself!

Kai's eyes sparkled.

Study. Studying is the only way to survive!

Kai always sought to learn what he didn't know and took lessons even from enemies.

As he rekindled his passion for learning, Luteria said to him, “My friend, could you take me outside? It would take me half a day to walk out of this tree on my own...”

"Of course."

Kai placed the small replica of the enormous tree, Luteria, on his palm and walked out.

As he stepped outside, the expressions of the waiting elves brightened.

"Look! The red poison mist is gradually disappearing!"

"The surrounding trees and sprouts are no longer groaning in pain!"

"Look over there, the human has come out!"

"Wait a minute, what’s in the human’s palm... Is that Luteria?!"

"Our Mother!"

The entire elf clan was thrown into a frenzy!

The elf queen, with a pale expression, rushed forward and knelt down. At the same time, all the other elves, about a thousand of them, all dropped to their knees.

"Our Mother, please reprimand us for our shortcomings."

“My daughter, raise your head. This incident was not your fault but the fault of those blinded by greed.”

"But..."

“Thanks to my friend Kai here, my body is fully healed, so do not speak of this matter any further.”

As soon as Luteria finished speaking, the village fell into a brief silence.

Then, all the elves erupted in shouts.

"Whaaaat?!"

"F-Friend?!"

"The World Tree, revered even by dragons, calls a mere human its friend?"

"That means..."

"

Ahem

." Kai flashed a smile at the elves who were staring at him in shock. "From today on, you can call me Kai, Luteria's best friend. Pleased to meet you all."

***

A festival was held in the Elven Village, Luteria. It was a celebration of the recovery of their Mother and the reason for their existence, the World Tree Luteria!

"...But this festival is different from what I imagined."

There was no dancing or singing. It was simply a calm gathering where they shared delicious food and drinks while conversing. This was the traditional way the reserved elves celebrated! Moreover, the vegetarian diet of the elves didn’t quite match Kai’s love for meat.

Well, it is tasty though.

The fruits and vegetables grown by the elves were exceptional, rivaling the taste of meat.

As Kai observed the elves chatting and laughing, someone approached him.

"Kai."

"Oh, Corporal elf."

It was Elduin, the chief warrior of the elves, identified by the three yellow stripes under his eyes.

Elduin slightly tilted his head at the strange title Kai had given him before saying, "Corporal... I don’t quite understand what that means. I have come to speak with you, along with this young one."

Elduin persisted in speaking politely to[1], who had become a friend of the World Tree. Even though Kai said it wasn't necessary, he insisted that it was the rule and stubbornly refused to bend his will.

Then, behind him, Luna quietly emerged. She hesitated for a moment and then looked up at Elduin with a pleading expression, which quickly earned her a scolding.

"

Tsk

. Luna."

"

Ugh,

I know..." With a pitiful expression, she nervously glanced at Kai before bowing her head deeply and saying in a barely audible voice, "S-Sorry... and thank you..."

"Luna! When apologizing, do it properly! Make sure the other person can hear you!"

"...I'm sorry for attacking you! And thank you for saving Luteria!"

She quickly offered her apology and thanks like a rapid-fire machine gun, then covered her face with both hands and ran off. Her speed was comparable to that of Usain Bolt!

As Elduin watched her with a regretful expression, he clicked his tongue and bowed his head. "Allow me to apologize on her behalf. Please forgive the rudeness from earlier."

"Oh, that’s okay, I’ve already forgotten about it... though I’d appreciate it if you could drop the formal tone."

"That is not possible. Luteria is like a god to us. As her friend..."

It was something Kai wasn’t used to, but what could he do if that’s what Elduin wished to do.

Shrugging, Kai sipped on the wine made by the elves and said, "Luteria mentioned that a war would soon break out."

"I have also been informed. The warriors of our elven clan will be your sharp spear against the wicked Church of Muldine."

"...But the number of elves isn't particularly large."

The entire tribe barely exceeded a thousand members. Moreover, there were elderly elves who were no longer active and children who had yet to grow up.

"...Even so, all elves, both men and women, are capable of fighting. The number of warriors is over seven hundred, more than half of the total population. It's not a small number."

"However, numbers are always relative. The key is how many forces the Church of Muldine will bring."

"No matter how many the enemy brings, the elves who protect justice will not be intimidated."

"Well, in that case, thank you."

After Kai gave a smile and sent Elduin away, he fell into deep thought on his own.

... No matter how I think about it, this doesn't make sense.

From the start, the scenario dictated that the elves were supposed to be destroyed. Naturally, at this point, there shouldn’t be any player capable of waging war against the Church of Muldine.

However, Kai had already instilled hope in them. At this stage, it wasn’t something he could just walk away from, even if it seemed impossible.

I need to prepare thoroughly.

Kai resolved himself as he watched the rainbow-colored fireflies adding to the village's mystique.

***

"Kai, please accept the garment left by the previous apostle," offered Elania.

"This is Nike..."

Kai looked at the garment held by Elania with an expression that was difficult to describe. The robe was entirely white, made of an unknown fabric that rippled continuously like a waterfall. Just looking at it evoked a sense of mystique!

"Shimizu, who favored this garment, was nicknamed Guardian."

"Guardian?" Kai asked back.

"Yes. Shimizu was known to specialize in greatly enhancing the strength of all allies by harnessing the power of this garment."

"That means..."

This relic was equipped with buff skills!

Kai's eyes sparkled as he took the garment without hesitation, muttering to himself, "Item appraisal."

[

Holy Pauldron Nike]

Grade: Eternal Legendary

HP: +30

Holy Power: +70

Dignity: +20

Defense: 1415

Magic Defense: 1841

Damage to Demons/Undead: +30%

Holy Power Regeneration: +150%

Ignores durability loss.

Skill Hymn of Angels available.

Can communicate with Shimizu's thoughts.

-A cleric garment favored by Shimizu the Guardian.

The highest level of holy power constantly surrounds the garment, greatly aiding in the recovery of Holy Power.

*This equipment grows with its wearer.

Requirement: Level 200, Solaric Cleric class.

Durability: Infinite

"

Wooooow

..."

None of the other details mattered. The fact that the item was classified as Legendary made Kai shudder with excitement.

A Legendary item!

Aside from the statue he saw when he became a Solaris Cleric and the poison Akasha’s Judgment, this was the first Legendary item that he, no, any player, could equip!

However, he suddenly noticed the premodifier at the front and tilted his head.

Wait a minute, what’s Eternal Legendary?

Of course, it didn’t take long for that question to be answered.

"...The equipment grows?"

Kai’s eyes widened.

In other words, with this one item, he wouldn’t need any other equipment until the game eventually shut down, excluding some special circumstances!

Of course, I can't equip it yet because of the level restriction...

But once he could, another Special Title would surely follow! Moreover, with Kai's current stats, he could rapidly level up to the mid-200s if he dedicated himself to hunting without distractions.

This garment is a jackpot. I’ve never seen an item better than this.

The Legendary status alone was impressive, but Eternal Legendary was on another level!

Kai, thinking of it, pulled out another holy relic from his inventory. It was the holy ring kept by the merfolk!

"Item Appraisal."

[

Holy Ring Petra

]

Grade: Eternal Legendary

HP: +15

Intelligence: +30

Holy Power: +50

Attack Power: +30

Spell Power: +30

Defense: +450

Magic Defense: +500

Damage to Demons/Undead: +20%

Effectiveness of all skills consuming Holy Power: +30%

Ignores durability loss.

Skill Eternal Rest available.

Can communicate with Cherantia’s thoughts.

-A ring that Cherantia of Rest always wore on her finger.

Simply wearing the ring once owned by Cherantia, the high cleric, would earn the respect of NPCs in the Solarian Church.

*This equipment grows with its wearer.

Requirement: Level 200, Solaris Cleric class.

Durability: Infinite

"As expected."

It seemed that all the relics used by the previous Solaris Clerics were of the Eternal Legendary grade!

Now, if I could just get my hands on the weapon of Patrick that the dwarves have... The Holy Sword Prius...

Kai’s ultimate dream of solo playing, something he had vaguely imagined while soloing, dominating the game single-handedly, was now within reach.

... Interesting.

Storing the two relics carefully in his inventory, Kai looked at Elania and Luteria. "Let's hold the starting ceremony in about two weeks. I have a place I need to visit first.”

“Friend, what are you going to do in such an unstable situation?”

Smiling at Luteria’s question, Kai gave a brief reply, "...War preparations."

1. In the Korean raws, Elduin consistently uses the -? -nim honorifics when addressing Kai ☜