Chapter 113: Capital

"The inspection is complete. Let’s head into the city." The group climbed back into the carriage and continued forward along the road through the forest.

After about an hour, the trees finally parted.

"Wow..." Ethan couldn’t hold back a gasp.

Before him lay a magnificent city constructed from countless giant trees.

Leon’s voice carried a note of unmistakable pride. "Welcome to the royal capital of the Elven Kingdom — the City of Elves."

The elven race revered harmony, though the city was built entirely of living trees, it didn’t look haphazard in the slightest. Every tree and every building brimmed with the beauty of nature and balance.

Ethan and Pearl took it all in with open admiration as the carriage rolled onward.

"This is the center of the City of Elves — the Royal Tree."

"Is that the royal palace?"

"That’s right." Before them stood a tree of staggering size, far larger than any they had seen, countless thick branches extended from the main trunk, intertwining to form a network of treehouses, Elves occasionally poked their heads out from windows, peering down at them with curiosity.

"Welcome, Count Leon. And this is..."

"I am Ethan, and this is Pearl."

"Welcome to the City of Elves."

An elegantly dressed elf warmly received Ethan and his group.

He introduced himself briefly, then turned to Ethan and the others. "His Majesty is already waiting for you all."

"Alright. The Mana Grass—"

"Please leave it to us." Several elves stepped forward and began unloading the boxes from the carriage.

Ethan didn’t refuse the offer, he followed the elf toward the Royal Tree.

"Meow~ This is truly amazing~"

"Is it your first time here too?"

"I’ve never been here before, meow~" Pearl looked around excitedly, even though it had once traveled all over with Lady Witch, this was its first time at the Royal Tree.

Elara watched the two of them and smiled, turning to the elf leading the way. "Could I trouble you to walk a bit slower?"

"Of course." Thanks to her request, Ethan and Pearl had more time to admire the surrounding scenery.

As they walked, Ethan studied the trees.

’Just how were these grown?’ He had originally assumed the treehouses were built from felled timber, but a closer look revealed that every one of these trees was alive, their root systems were all interconnected beneath the earth, cultivating trees like this was no simple feat.

"Hahahaha, welcome, welcome."

A booming voice rang out from ahead. Ethan followed the sound and saw a burly elf standing beneath a giant tree.

Unlike the slender builds typical of elves, this one had an incredibly muscular physique, his entire body brimming with explosive power. At the sight of him, Pearl got scared and ducked behind Ethan.

"I am the King of the Elves, Regracio Vire!! You must be the last human!!"

"...Hello. I am Ethan."

"No need for formalities! Let’s get straight to the point!" Before Ethan could even react, Regracio continued on his own.

"Let’s go take a look at the World Fragment right now."

He was finally going to see the World Fragment. Obtaining it didn’t mean smooth sailing, but the first step was always the hardest. As long as he took that step, the rest would come easier. Ethan’s stride picked up.

"You want the World Fragment... is it because you wish to nurture the World Tree?" Regracio asked, slowly turning to look at Ethan.

"Do you know what is required to nurture the World Tree?" Ethan asked in return.

"Of course I know. The Vire family was once one of the families that guarded the World Tree. How could I not?"

’Even better.’ It seemed he could learn more about the World Tree from Regracio directly.

Ethan looked at him with anticipation. Regracio smiled. "After you’ve seen the World Fragment, we can take our time and chat."

"That works."

The two continued forward. Regracio stopped in front of a giant wooden door and pushed it open with force.

Creak—

The heavy door swung inward, revealing a spacious hollow within the tree. In the center rested a block of wood emitting a faint glow.

"Is that the World Fragment?" Ethan asked curiously, aside from emitting a faint glow, the piece of wood looked completely ordinary — like a common chunk of rotten timber.

Regracio nodded. "That’s right. This is the World Fragment representing harmony."

He casually picked it up and handed it over.

Ethan took the World Fragment and observed it carefully. Aside from the faint luminescence, there truly was nothing remarkable about it. He stored the Fragment in his bag. "I have the promised Mana Grass."

"I want ten carts."

The transaction was done just like that — so simple it was hard to believe. Ethan was very satisfied, but Pearl looked a touch indignant.

"Meow, you’re just giving the World Fragment to us just like that, meow?"

"It’s useless for us to keep it anyway. We might as well exchange it for the far more practical Mana Grass."

Regracio was right, rather than letting the World Fragment gather dust in a storehouse, it was better to exchange it for something more practical, Pearl was left speechless by the logic. Ethan smiled and said, "Since that’s the case, please tell me more about the World Tree."

Regracio sat on the floor and gestured for them to do the same, he pondered for a moment before speaking. "You should know that to make the World Tree seed sprout, you need World Fragments and a Fragment of Chaos, correct?"

"Yes. I’ve been collecting Chaos Fragment shards." Ethan took out the shards he had gathered so far.

Regracio looked at them and revealed a bitter smile, he knew that collecting these had cost Ethan no small amount of danger.

"A complete Fragment of Chaos can grant monsters immense power, if you truly assemble one, countless monsters will launch attacks against you."

"That... I’m already mentally prepared for." Ethan had heard about the terrifying effects from the elves in the Great Forest, it was said that a giant snake had once swallowed a Fragment of Chaos and transformed into a Wyrm, he kept his tone light, feigning calm.

But Leon and Elara were hearing this for the first time, both stared at him in astonishment, they knew he lived in the Great Forest — a place teeming with powerful monsters, if he truly provoked those creatures, the consequences would be unimaginable.

"Are you really going to risk your life to nurture the World Tree?" Regracio asked.

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Aren’t you curious?" Ethan smiled and patted his bag, now holding the World Fragment.

"Besides... I’m a farmer. Sowing seeds has always been my duty."

"...Hahaha, since you put it that way, what else can I say?" Regracio burst out laughing.

"Alright, I will give you some advice. The World Tree is a tree, yet it is not a tree."

"I’ve heard that the World Tree nurtured by the elves in the past possessed the form of an elf."

"Exactly. The World Tree is influenced by the one who nurtures it. You are human, so the World Tree you nurture will also take on a human form."

"I see."

"Also, the World Tree possesses the power to constitute a world. In the process of nurturing and protecting it, you will gain immense power yourself. Naturally, there will also be many people who will want to seize the World Tree."