Chapter 211: Elf Training and Additional Rewards, and Growth

“Lord Rex, I have a request.”

Having finished providing blacksmithing techniques to the Dwarves, when I stepped outside the workshop, Sharaza-san came to me with a somewhat formal demeanor to make a request.

“A request… is it?”

“Umu. Actually, I would like you to teach us how to make the Elixir you made for us the other day.”

“Sure.”

“No, I understand. When it comes to Elixir, it is an item called legendary even among us Elves. It is a fact that asking you to teach us how to make it is beyond impudent… Wait, EEEHH!? It’s fine!?”

“Yes, it’s fine.”

“Th-That is highly appreciated, but is it truly alright? It is an Elixir, you know? A legendary medicine, you know!?”

How exaggerated, over a mere Elixir.

“It’s fine. It’s not particularly something to hide, either. But why so suddenly?”

Sharaza-san and the others should be dedicated to their roles as warriors. Why did they become interested in medicine-making, which is outside their expertise?

“As Lord Rex and your party already know, the people of the village are survivors of the Great Calamity in the past. At that time, the adults who knew the era were completely wiped out, and only inexperienced youths survived. Because of that, we lost much wisdom and many techniques.”

If I recall correctly, the White Calamity going on a rampage was the cause.

“And now, this monster invasion. This time, the situation took a turn for the better due to the cooperation of Lord Rex and your party, but you are humans with short lifespans. It is not guaranteed that we will be able to borrow your power in the same way next time. Therefore, we wish to reclaim even a little of the lost wisdom and power!”

I see, so they thought everyone should learn as many techniques as possible for times of emergency.

And they figured that the ones who should do that are the young Elves who are currently learning and will bear the future of the village.

Hmm, they’re really thinking well about their juniors and the village. As expected of the Warrior Chief!

“If that’s the case, I will gladly cooperate!”

“That is appreciated. You have my truest gratitude, Lord Rex.”

Sharaza-san bowed their head deeply to me to convey their gratitude.

“And there is one more thing I want to ask. I want you to teach us how to fight.”

“How to fight, too?”

“Umu. The power of Lord Rex and your party far surpasses ours. Therefore, I believe that if we learn your fighting methods, we will be able to fight the monsters even after you leave.”

I understand what Sharaza-san wants to say, but I don’t think there’s anything I can teach Elves, though.

“But I can’t teach you spirit magic, you know?”

Right, when you talk about Elven combat, it’s spirit magic.

Forming a contract with spirits imperceptible to ordinary humans and wielding their power.

That is precisely the greatest power of the Elves, but since other races cannot use spirit magic, there’s no way I can teach it.

“I understand. But I believe there are fighting methods that can only be taught exactly because you are of another race.”

“Fighting methods that can only be taught exactly because I’m of another race…”

I see, so that’s how it is.

The main force of Elven combat is spirit magic.

But exactly because of that, when they become unable to use spirit magic, Elves are greatly weakened.

Sharaza-san wants me to teach them fighting methods that don’t rely on spirit magic for when such a situation arises.

As expected of Sharaza-san. They thought they wanted the young warriors not to become overly reliant on the strength of spirit magic, and to acquire power they could rely on besides spirit magic in times of emergency!

Hmm, as expected, Sharaza-san is good at raising people.

A great instructor! Truly a person—no, an Elf—who cares about their subordinates!

If that’s the case, I have to cooperate!

“Understood. Leave it to me!”

“Ooh, you will cooperate! You have my gratitude! Ah, right. I forgot to mention it, but please rest assured as we will prepare separate rewards for the Elixir production method and the training.”

“No, if it increases everyone’s survival rate, it falls within the scope of the job.”

“No, we have already received more than enough favors regarding the Dwarves and the World Tree’s fields. We cannot burden you any further. Our Elven pride will be lost if we do not pay proper compensation.”

This person is truly scrupulous.

But exactly because of that, they give a favorable impression.

“Understood. If that’s the case.”

“Regarding the additional reward, please take whatever you desire from the materials that can be gathered from the World Tree. Also, if Lord Rex wishes, we will preferentially provide materials obtained from the World Tree even after the request is finished.”

“Is that okay?”

“Ah, I do not mind. Because we possess no money from the outside world. We wish to pay with materials instead.”

Materials from the World Tree, huh.

From the World Tree, you can obtain the majority of materials besides those originating from monsters, but in exchange, the production volume of each individual material is low.

Moreover, since this World Tree is still small, that’s even more true.

So if they provide that as a reward, won’t Sharaza-san and the others have to cut down considerably?

…Hmm, then I guess I should give fertilizer not just to the fields, but to the World Tree itself.

If I do that, not only our rewards, but the amount Sharaza-san and the others use can be sufficiently secured as well… That’s it!

◆ Sharaza ◆

It happened in the middle of the night.

RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE!!

“Wh-What is happening!?”

Surprised by the sudden tremendous shaking, I jumped out of bed, grabbed my weapon, and immediately rushed outside the house.

“Captain Sharaza!!”

My subordinates, who had similarly rushed out of their houses, hurriedly came over to me.

“What on earth is happening!?”

“I do not know. But first, establish contact with the ground fort. Monsters might attack taking advantage of this earthquake.”

“Yes, sir!!”

My subordinates hurriedly went to establish contact with the ground.

The earthquake was still continuing, and everyone in the village was also hurriedly rushing out of their houses in a panic.

“What’s happening!?”

Turning my gaze towards the voice, I saw the figures of Lord Rex‘s companions, Lady Liliera and the others.

“I do not know. It seems an earthquake is occurring, but this is the first time we have experienced an earthquake like this.”

“An earthquake Elves are experiencing for the first time, huh. It’s scary because we don’t know how the monsters will act.”

“Warrior Chief! We have established contact with the ground fort!”

“What is the state of the monsters?”

“They say there are no signs of monsters attacking at the moment.”

“I see. But we cannot let our guard down yet. There is a risk of houses collapsing from this earthquake. Guide the villagers and evacuate them to a safe place.”

” ” “Yes, sir!!” ” ” “

The earthquake continued after that, and we spent the night with our feelings of anxiety mounting.

And when dawn finally broke, we witnessed an outrageous sight.

“Th-The ground is far!?”

Yes, the ground had become surprisingly far from the branch we were on.

“What’s this? Does a World Tree grow this easily?”

We were not the only ones surprised; Lady Liliera and the others were also bewildered by this sight.

“No, that cannot be true. At least the World Tree in my memories does not undergo such rapid growth!”

Yes, this is a first in the hundreds of years I have lived.

I thought about the reason the World Tree suddenly grew gigantic.

“What on earth is the cause? What is the cause that made the World Tree suddenly begin to grow? Something that could bring about such a dramatic change… Ah!”

At that moment, the face of a certain young man came to mind.

And it seems I was not the only one who pictured that sight; Lady Liliera and the others also turned their gazes towards here with pale faces.

“I have someone in mind who caused this situation, but…”

“What a coincidence, so do I.”

“I can think of someone too.”

I see, so that is how it is after all… But why on earth would he do such a thing…

As I was agonizing over being unable to understand his motive, the door to the house serving as the inn we lent to Lady Liliera and the others opened.

“Yaaawn, I’m still a bit sleepy.”

It is Lord Rex. It seems he had been sleeping until now.

“Lord Rex, I have something I want to ask you.”

“Ah, good morning, Sharaza-san. What do you want to ask?”

“W-Well, about that…”

I hesitated slightly.

Is it alright to say something that doubts Lord Rex, who has been doing his utmost to protect this town?

To begin with, could a single human do anything to a massive existence like the World Tree?

Kuh! Eeei! I am the guardian who protects the village! What am I to do if I do not ask here!!

“L-Lord Rex! What were you doing last night? Do you know anything about this situation regarding the World Tree!?”

Please! Let him be innocent!

“Yesterday? I was giving fertilizer to the World Tree yesterday.”

But Lord Rex ruthlessly and easily confessed that he was involved in this matter.

“Ooh, it got quite big.”

On the contrary, he was innocently rejoicing that the World Tree had grown.

I-I do not understand! What Lord Rex is thinking!

“So Rex was the cause after all.”

“Hey, Rex-san. Why did you make the World Tree grow?”

Lady Liliera and the others asked Lord Rex for the reason without hesitation.

W-What on earth kind of tremendous reason could there be?

“Ah, that? It’s for Sharaza-san and the others’ reward.”

” ” ” ” “Reward?” ” ” ” “

Our reward? What does he mean?

“When you asked me to train the Elves yesterday, you said you would pay the reward in materials, right?”

I certainly did say that.

“Furthermore, you promised to provide materials to us preferentially.”

Ah, we had that conversation too.

However, Lord Rex continued.

“But with this immature World Tree, it can’t refine a significant amount, so if you provide materials to us, the amount the people of the village use will disappear. Therefore, I thought that by making the World Tree larger and increasing the harvest of materials, even if you provide materials to us, you could secure enough for the people of the village to use.”

I see, so that is why you made the World Tree larger… huh.

“Wait, is that aaaaalllllllll!?”

Eh!? You made the World Tree grow for a reason like that!?

Is there no more amazing reason!? Like, you intentionally made it grow to protect the village from monsters or some important reason like that!?

You achieved the great feat of making the World Tree grow for a reason of merely that magnitude!?

“Is that the only reason?”

“Yes, is that all?”

Yes! It truly wasn’t a big reason at allllllllll!!

In this way, Lord Rex ended up making the World Tree grow in the blink of an eye.

…Ah, I am grateful that he thought of us. I am, but… how am I going to explain this to the elders.

I wonder if they will believe me if I explain the situation.