Novel Full Chapter 207 : Chapter 207
Chapter 207. I Wish They Would All Just Get Lost (2)
Let’s turn back time a little…
Right after Patrick came out of the World Tree.
Patrick was startled for two reasons as soon as he came out of the World Tree.
One was the trace of battle felt in the distance.
He didn’t know the detailed situation, but he could tell that he had to run over there immediately.
And the other thing was…
“What? What’s going on here?”
Even the great Patrick couldn’t help but be flustered.
The World Tree emitted light from its entire body and radiated power, and immediately after, the light quickly faded and the entire tree began to wither.
The World Tree was withering away quickly, as if it had exhausted its final strength.
Patrick sensed that this was no ordinary matter and quickly reached out his hand to the World Tree.
He was trying to do something by forcefully injecting Qi, whether it worked or not. But…
[It’s alright.]
The World Tree pushed away Patrick’s Qi and conveyed its will to him.
[I told you, right? I am not a god. I am just a single tree created at the beginning of time.]
“But if you’re gone, the Elves will be in trouble, won’t they?”
To Patrick’s urgent words, the World Tree replied.
[I am just a single tree. When the time comes, I will wither and return to the earth. But….]
“……”
[It is enough that I was able to leave a seed before withering. My children will live on with the new World Tree as their pillar.]
Only then did Patrick understand.
He understood the identity of what he had received from the World Tree a moment ago.
“You want me to plant your seed?”
No further answer was heard.
All the life force within the World Tree had vanished.
Before his eyes, only the ancient tree that was once the greatest in this world existed.
***
“And so, that’s how I came to possess the seed of this World Tree.”
Patrick said so and showed the golden seed shining brightly on his palm.
A light the size of a small walnut shining brightly in his hand.
This was the seed of the World Tree.
The seed to grow the next World Tree.
It was the hope the World Tree left behind for the Elves.
“Oh… ooooh…”
“Ah… aaaah…”
“O World Tree…”
That brilliant and noble hope was shining resplendently in the hands of Patrick Schneider.
In the hands of Patrick Schneider.
Matthew, who had finished grasping the situation, smiled contentedly and thought.
‘The Elves are doomed.’
Matthew sincerely felt sorry for the Elves.
***
Patrick became the World Tree.
How great a tragedy and what a grim future this would bring for the Elves was a matter for later…
The important thing was that right now, the Elves had a focal point.
They, who had been like a disorderly mob until now, immediately went to Patrick and pleaded earnestly.
“So, you’re asking me to lead you all, is that right?”
“Yes. That is correct, Mr. World Tree.”
“Please lead us as one.”
“It is something only you, Mr. World Tree, can do.”
The surviving elders of the Elven race came before Patrick as a group and spoke, bowing their heads respectfully.
At that sight, Patrick smiled contentedly and said.
“Well, it is true that leading people and guiding them onto the right path is my specialty and hobby. It would be correct to say that I am a perfect expert.”
That was perfect nonsense, of course.
Then and now, there was only one path this guy leads.
The Path to Hell.
Dragging both allies and enemies into it had been his specialty since his days as the Radiant Dragon Great Master.
His companions, who were listening from the side, pondered how they could save the Elven race in this dire crisis.
‘What do we do? If it goes on like this, they’ll be horribly ruined.’
‘And it’s not like that guy would let go of the power he’s gotten his hands on.’
‘Poor Elves, they’ll be squeezed dry until they run out of money.’
But just then…
“But unfortunately, I must refuse.”
Surprisingly, Patrick refused the Elves’ offer.
His companions stared at him with surprised eyes, and Patrick shrugged and said.
“I have too much to take care of right now. To look after the Elves as well would be impossible unless I had two bodies.”
At Patrick’s words, his companions were horrified.
“What? Is he crazy?”
“I considered numerous possibilities, but I never imagined this one.”
“Is he an imposter?”
“Princess, try pulling his cheek.”
“Why? If you’re going to do it, do it yourself.”
“I’ll die if I do it.”
At his companions’ whispers, Patrick glanced at them and then said.
“Even if I have inherited the will of the World Tree, I am fundamentally human. It is impossible for me to lead you all. Therefore…”
Patrick bowed his head respectfully and said.
“I’m sorry, but I must decline your offer. Please understand.”
A polite but firm refusal.
At that, it was the Elves who became desperate.
“O World Tree, are you abandoning us?”
“You are the World Tree. Please lead us.”
“Please… I beg you…”
“If you are going to abandon us like this, then please take my life instead.”
The Elves were truly desperate.
The time while the World Tree was dying had been like hell for them.
Now, a new World Tree had descended to their side to free them from that hell, but the World Tree was rejecting them?
There is nothing as cruel as giving hope and then taking it away.
In this moment, their despair could not be expressed in words.
To such Elves, Patrick chuckled and said.
“If I were to lead you all, I would have to spend the rest of my life in this Evergreen. But I have my own home, and I have work to do there.”
“Ah… in that case…”
“O World Tree…”
To the pitying elves, Patrick said firmly.
“Therefore, I cannot stay here for your sake.”
“Excuse me, but the World Tree’s home is…”
“Ah, before that, let’s get the titles straight. I’m not the World Tree, I’m Patrick. Understood?”
“Yes. We understand, Sir Patrick.”
“And to continue what I was saying… My home is, well…”
Patrick took out a map from his bosom and spread it before the elders.
“It’s a small fiefdom in the Kingdom of Atronia, located in the southeast of this continent. It’s the Fiefdom of Viscount Schneider, a small fiefdom facing this Great Forest.”
“The Great Forest.”
“That treacherous place…”
Even the Elves showed reluctance at the mention of the Great Forest. But Patrick pretended not to hear and continued.
“I will return to my home and develop the Great Forest so that my people can live comfortably without being tormented by the threat of monsters.”
“You intend to develop the Great Forest?”
“I must. I have already made many preparations for it. I have collaborated with the Tower of Truth, and I have also received official approval from His Majesty the King.”
“……”
“Therefore, I must return to my home and do what I have to do. I hope you Elves will understand my position.”
Patrick politely refused in this manner, explaining the necessity for him to leave the forest.
And seeing Patrick’s polite demeanor, Matthew thought.
‘What kind of scam is that bastard trying to pull now?’
Matthew, an expert in Patrick-ology, had a hunch.
An unnecessarily polite and courteous tone.
A subtle insertion of situational explanations.
Above all, a story within the bounds of common sense was coming out of that devil’s mouth.
This was a habit of Patrick’s that usually came out when he was trying to scam someone.
And Patrick said.
“Then I shall leave the forest in the near future. I pray for the future prosperity of the Elven race.”
And the moment Patrick actually stood up from his seat.
“We will help you, Sir Patrick.”
One of the Elven elders shouted.
At those words, the other elders’ gazes focused on him, and the elder who spoke said with a determined expression.
“We will also join in to help with Sir Patrick’s will to develop the Great Forest. When it comes to matters of the forest, there is no race that can match us Elves.”
Then the other elders hurriedly stepped forward and said.
“Are you mad? Do you not know what kind of place the Great Forest is?”
“Are you saying you will lead our people into that land of death?”
At the surrounding elders’ words, the one who had spoken retorted with irritation.
“Then are you saying we should just send him, who holds our World Tree, into that dangerous land?”
At that, the expressions of the surrounding Elves changed.
When Patrick, who had become the World Tree, said he was leaving them, their despair was so great that they hadn’t thought about what came next. But on second thought…
“Even if it were not the Great Forest but the Demonic Realm, is not the side of the World Tree the place where we Elves should be? Am I wrong?”
At those words, the hearts of the other elders were swayed.
“There is a point to what you say.”
“Even if it were a place worse than the Great Forest, we must follow.”
“That’s right. This is the duty of our race.”
At the Elves’ words, the assertions of the Elves who wanted to follow Patrick and immigrate to the Great Forest grew in number.
At that sight, Patrick waved his hand as if troubled and said.
“This is troubling, kuku… I mean, I am troubled.”
It seemed like a strange sound was mixed in there…
Patrick looked at the Elves with a genuinely apologetic expression and said.
“I have nothing to give you, yet you say you will help me for free. I don’t know how I can ever repay this kindness. How can you burden me with such a great debt?”
‘Wow…’
‘Woooow…’
‘Wooooow… that bastard.’
His companions clicked their tongues.
Right now, that devil was actively using his position as the World Tree to draw out the high-quality manpower of the Elves for free service.
And what was most surprising was…
“It’s alright. We will help you.”
“No, please let us help. We do not need any compensation.”
“That’s right. For Sir Patrick, nothing is too difficult.”
That this was working.
The good-natured sucker Elves were actively stepping forward, rolling up their sleeves, saying they would gladly help that devil.
If a real devil were here, they would stand up, applaud, and offer praise, saying, ‘Watch and learn. That is what you call brainwashing.’
Patrick looked at the Elves with a moved expression and said.
“Will you really help me?”
“Of course.”
“Just give us any command.”
Look at these suckers getting hooked so enthusiastically.
Patrick took out a handkerchief and wiped his tearless eyes, saying.
“I understand. In that case, I too will do my best to accept you as residents of my homeland and help you settle down.”
It was subtly decided that the Elves would immigrate near the Schneider Fiefdom.
“From now on, the Elven race will be true brothers who live alongside our Schneider Fiefdom as neighbors.”
“Sir Patrick!”
“Ooh… thank you.”
“We will follow you to the end.”
It was the moment the final puzzle piece of the Great Forest development plan that Patrick had envisioned was put into place.
***
Having succeeded in gaining the cooperation of the Elven race, albeit with many ups and downs, Patrick decided to first reorganize the Elven race’s system.
The first thing to do was….
“There will be many times when I am too busy to be by your side. Therefore, you need a representative who can lead you even in my absence.”
This was it.
Then, one of the elders spoke.
“Then shall we create a Council of Elders like before?”
“No. That is not it.”
‘Are these humans… no, Elves, crazy?’
Patrick recalled the Council of Elders he had seen briefly before.
It was a complete mess.
That dreadful political scene of a disunited group, where there wasn’t even a hint of reaching a consensus, and everyone just endlessly asserted their own opinions.
To create that again would be madness.
It might have been different for humans, but given the passive nature of Elves, it was better to make the power structure somewhat monopolistic.
Therefore….
“What you all need is a king.”
Patrick said bluntly.
But the Elves who heard this showed their disapproval.
A king.
A king of the Elven race.
They had never even thought of such a thing.
“Sir Patrick. In the long history of our Elven race, there has never been a single being who could be called a king.”
“That’s right. That is too radical a proposal. We don’t even know if it would suit us Elves.”
“Even if we were to decide on a king, we wouldn’t know who would be suitable.”
Patrick refuted the elders’ concerns point by point.
“Everything has a first time. To put it bluntly, the current situation where the World Tree has withered and its seed, which promises the next one, has been passed to me, a human, is also probably without precedent.”
“Umm….”
“That’s…”
As the elders were at a loss for words, Patrick seized the opportunity and pressed on.
“And I have already decided who should be the king.”
“Is that really true?”
“Yes. After all… if we were to decide officially, it seems like it would take a long time.”
To be honest, Patrick’s true intention was, ‘I can’t trust you guys with this because it would take an eternity,’ but he put it as indirectly as possible.
“For now, let’s temporarily trust the person I have designated. If he does wrong, we can just pick another one later.”
When Patrick went this far, the elders became rather curious.
Who on earth was he planning to recommend?
Receiving the gazes of all the elders, Patrick looked intently to one side.
The place Patrick was looking at was none other than….
“Me…. me?”
Elione, who had the strongest feelings for Patrick among the Elves.
‘Aah…. so this is how he drives the nail in.’
‘Wow, that bastard…’
‘Poor Elves.’
His companions noticed Patrick’s wicked plan.
Right now, Patrick’s reputation among the Elves was sky-high, but among them, Elione was on another level.
Elione was the kind of person who, if Patrick ordered, ‘From tomorrow, all female Elves will wear miniskirts,’ would answer, ‘Yes, I understand,’ without a second thought.
“So it’s a wicked plan to set up a perfect puppet and create a puppet regime to control the Elven race.”
“A devil, indeed.”
“He’s not even human.”
“That’s why he’s a devil.”
Leaving his companions’ whispers behind, Patrick approached Elione. And then he extended his hand.
“You shall become the king of the Elven race, Kirios.”
“Kirios?”
“What?”
“Really?”
Patrick’s choice surprised not only the Elves but all his companions who were watching as well.
Conceding a hundred times, if it had been Elione, it would have been somewhat understandable.
She held the glorious position of an Elven Knight and was a special Elf who had even received a branch of the World Tree.
If such a person were to become the queen of the Elven race, it would have been somewhat understandable.
But Kirios?
Kirios, who had been standing blankly behind Elione, came to his senses and spoke.
“Are you in your right… mind? Sir Patrick.”
“Oh, using formal speech, are we?”
“…If it weren’t for the World Tree, I’d really…”
He was the hateful human who had stolen his precious sister’s heart, but he was also the human chosen by the World Tree.
So Kirios’s feelings toward Patrick were very conflicted.
Patrick paid no mind to that and said with a chuckle.
“You once gave up spirits and dedicated yourself to the path of Aura in order to take sole charge of the military power to protect the Elven race.”
“Well, that’s…”
“And in this conflict as well, you stood at the forefront more than anyone, bravely wielding your spear, shedding blood, and fighting. Even while overcoming near-death experiences.”
“……”
“You have the heart to sacrifice yourself for your race and the courage to fight at the forefront in any crisis. Well, you still have many shortcomings, but I think you will become a good king.”
“No, what are you…”
Patrick said to the flustered and frantic Kirios.
“There’s no need to be perfect from the beginning. You can’t be, anyway.”
At Patrick’s words, which lacked his usual flippancy and playfulness, even Kirios could not carelessly retort.
Patrick said to Kirios.
“However, this is a job that someone has to do.”
“……”
“For the sake of your race.”
“……”
At Patrick’s words, Kirios could not answer and hesitated.
Just then….
“Homage to the king.”
Elione was the first to move.
She took a step back from her own brother and respectfully bowed her head.
And starting with her….
“Homage to the king of our race…”
“Homage to the one chosen by the World Tree…”
“Homage to the brave king…”
The elders bowed their heads.
And following them, countless Elves bowed their heads.
There was no uniformity in their pledge.
There wasn’t even a minimal, plausible procedure.
But every Elf present sincerely bowed their head, acknowledging the birth of their king.
The final hesitation within Kirios slowly faded as he heard their pledges.
And Patrick delivered the final blow.
“Now, only your choice remains.”
“Sir… Patrick.”
“For now, just give it a try. If you just do whatever comes your way, you’ll get the hang of being a king.”
At those words, Kirios hardened his resolve and spoke.
“I understand. I…”
He looked at all the Elves who had bowed their heads to him.
Now, he had to lead them.
Because….
“I will become the king.”
Because he was the king of the Elves.
Kirios Evergreen.
The name of the first king to appear in the long, long history of the Elven race.