Book Eater

Chapter 387: Forest that Leads to the Future (2)

Theo didn’t say anything more as Naia stared up at the sky with a blank expression. Theo and Ellenoa left Naia and started climbing the world tree for a walk. The wide and round branches at the top of the world tree cut them off from the world on the ground. They passed through the knothole that connected to another space, and the two people reached the clouds.

“This place...?”

It was a place that Theo was seeing for the first time, despite having come to the world tree several times. Ellenoa walked a few steps ahead of him before slowing down.

She shyly held Theo’s hand. “The top of the world tree. There is only one person other than Theo allowed to access this height.”

Theo half asked, “If admission is controlled... there must be something special about this place.”

“Yes, there is quite a symbolic meaning,” Ellenoa said, pointing above her head. “Do you see over there?”

“This...” Theo trembled when he saw what she was pointing at. The world tree had green leaves no matter what the season was, but there was something hanging from the tree that he had never seen before. Instead of a bud, something with a roundish shape was hanging there.

“Fruit?”

There was a fruit on the world tree, Yggdrasil. Theo had once received a seed of the world tree and given it to Mitra, but he didn’t recall there being any fruit. It wasn’t comparable to those of the Age of Mythology, but the fruit of the world tree was like an elixir. Of course, most of them didn’t have seeds and the efficacy wasn’t as good. However, the fruit was even better than advanced potions.

“Yes, it will take another eighty years for it to ripen. This isn’t a place that can be exposed to outsiders.”

“I see. Now I know why the path was so twisted.”

The fruit wasn’t as effective when it was unripe, but that didn’t matter to those who were blinded by greed. It was right to hide it beyond the reach of other eyes.

There are at least four or more branches leading to the wrong place. Isn’t it much more difficult than a labyrinth?

It was insignificant for a transcendent who could freely read and write space and time, but this would stop everyone else. The only magician in this age who could access this road besides Theo had to be a person who could read the space a whole level higher than Orta.

In other words, this was the perfect place to enjoy themselves. It meant she was ready to talk.

Ellenoa sat on a stump that looked like a chair and called out to Theo, “Theo.”

Theo sat down and faced her.

“Ella,” he used his nickname for Ellenoa. “Do you remember my promise?”

.

“Yes, of course. I remember every word.”

“... Dmitra’s Saintess, the one who revives the world tree. It is a burden I put on you, Ella. A set of shackles that bind you to the world tree until you fulfill that role.”

“Theo—” Ellenoa tried to say something, but Theo held up a hand to stop her. He knew it was inevitable, and she did as well. Unlike Ellenoa who casually accepted the role, Theo felt really guilty. He wanted to free her sooner, even if he couldn’t reverse what had happened. Thus, Theo had made a promise to himself and Ellenoa... for them to get married on the day these shackles were released.

“I’m sorry, Ella. I have something to say to you.”

Ellenoa’s face grew pale. She couldn’t stop the words that followed as Theo declared, “I have to break this promise.”

“... Ah, ahhh...!” Water filled Ellenoa’s eyes. Her lips, which were always curved in a gentle smile, opened with shock. Her natural beauty seemed to shatter, causing a stone to fill the chest of anyone who saw it. Even Theo, who had spoken, wasn’t an exception.

“Ella.”

He carefully grabbed Ellenoa’s hand, and she held onto him like it was her last strand of hope. Then she started crying, “I-I don’t want to... Theo, promise, you promised...”

“Ella.”

“Rejection, sob, Theo... dore, I...!”

“Ella, just wait and relax. Yes?” Theo was surprised by the reaction that was bigger than he had expected and pulled Ellenoa into his arms. The green hair buried in his chest moved several times, and his chest became moist. Ellenoa was crying as if the sky had collapsed.

Theo took a deep breath before whispering in a sweetly affectionate voice, “I’m not going to leave you.”

“... L-Lie, sob...”

Theo felt a bit of regret because of his mistake. In retrospect, his words had caused a misunderstanding. He wanted to fix it, but Ellenoa shook her head, not wanting to listen to him. She could only choose partners once, and she didn’t want to be rejected twice. Theo inevitably chose shock therapy.

“Ella.” He pulled off the two hands that were covering her ears. “Let’s get married.”

“S-Sob... Yes, eh?”

“I can’t wait until then, so let’s get married right away.”

Ellenoa removed her face from his chest, revealing wet eyes and a wide open mouth. The shock therapy turned out better than expected.

“Are you saying this sincerely?”

“Ella.” Theo smiled and corrected his mistake. “I broke my promise because I proposed before your duties finished.”

“Ah...”

“Ella, I need a connection with you. I want to feel our bond anytime and anywhere.”

Ellenoa stared blankly for five whole minutes before her white complexion became rosy again. She had only just realized that Theo had proposed to her. To think he wanted to get married right away? Ellenoa wasn’t immune to this approach and blushed.

She reached out her hand in a different way. “P-Please wait a moment...”

The world tree responded to the high elf’s will and moved its branches. It was a branch where the fruit that needed eighty years to ripen hung. Ellenoa didn’t hesitate to pluck the fruit. Maybe the fruit was already loose or Ellenoa’s power was greater than he thought, but the fruit burst and the fragrance covered her palm.

Ellenoa handed a piece to Theo and explained why she took the fruit, “We elves don’t place a great deal of emphasis on marriage like humans, and a big ceremony isn’t required. For us, it isn’t unusual for two different genders to come together to continue the bloodlines.”

“It is a wedding but not a wedding.”

“Yes, if two hearts are brought together, there is no need for formal rituals. Thus, we will have a very simple wedding ceremony.”

That was why Ellenoa had plucked the fruit.

“Two people will share one fruit, writing each other’s names with the seed before splitting it in half. An elf’s wedding requires planting the two seeds in a precious place.”

Theo was convinced but asked Ellenoa about something he still didn’t understand, “Must it be the fruit of the world tree?”

“...”

“Ella?”

“... I-It was nearby. Yes, I am selfish.” Ellenoa, who always seemed selfless, was currently overflowing with greed. She had learned she wasn’t special, but everyone wanted their wedding ceremony to be a bit more special. That’s why the atmosphere was playful. The two people faced each other and slowly put the fruit in their mouths. Theo’s blue eyes and Ellenoa’s green eyes filled with unknown colors.

... It feels good.

Maybe it was due to the neural network Ratatoskr that they shared, but both Theo and Ellenoa felt their emotions cross the boundaries of their bodies and mixed in each other’s minds. It seemed like Theodore Miller changed into Ellenoa, and Ellenoa changed into Theodore Miller. Maybe it was a prank by the world tree on the lovers who dared to use it in an act of affection.

“I love you, Ella.” Theo was surprised by the words that slipped out.

“Yes, I love you too. Theo.”

Honest words flowed out of Theo’s mouth, and there were more than ever before. The fruit wasn’t large and the seed was on Ellenoa’s side. She carved her name on the surface of the seed and placed it in Theo’s hand. Theo wrote his name next to hers. The seed was broken into two, and they each took a piece. With that, the cozy wedding ceremony came to an end in just a few minutes.

Theo placed the seed in his pocket and wondered where to plant it.

The backyard of the Miller manor.

The world tree could no longer be born. Even if a bud emerged from the seed that was split into two, it would be nothing more than a small tree. Nevertheless, it would be born with the power of the world tree to protect lives and enrich the soil. He hoped that his family would be a bit more secure.

“The night has deepened.”

Ellenoa nodded shyly. “Yes, shall we go down?”

“Let’s go down my way. I know where Ellenoa’s room is, but where am I sleeping?”

“...”

“Ella?”

She held the treasured piece of seed and spoke in a soft voice. Theo could barely hear it.

“N-Now Theo is my husband.”

Less than one minute after the relationship changed, Ellenoa’s face reddened as she tugged at Theo’s collar. “I-I mean... You have to stay in my… room?”

In response to the courageous request of the new bride, Theo embraced her. Just like Ellenoa’s, Theo’s face was hot. The memories of the days when he rescued her from the Austen warriors who pretended to be slave merchants and from Superbia emerged again.

“... Let’s go.” He firmly held Ellenoa as he cast a familiar space movement spell.

Moments later, only the lonely sound of wind flowing through the branches of the world tree remained.