Ariella stepped forward.

"I brought them here to repay their kindness."

"Repay?" Abel asked.

"The branch of the World Tree…"

At this, Ariella’s father, Abel, paused for a moment before letting out a humorless laugh.

"Ha! I didn’t expect to hear that from you."

His face grew colder.

"You left the village without a word, and now you’re making promises like that? Do you realize just how thoughtless and reckless you are?"

Ariella lowered her head.

"...I want to meet Grandfather."

Abel snorted.

"How earnest."

He turned to look at Leon.

"So, you came here because you were told you’d receive a branch of the World Tree?"

Leon nodded.

"Yes."

"You said you saved Ariella from slave traders?"

As Leon nodded again, Abel rubbed his chin, his expression as cold and impassive as ever.

"What made you help a member of a different race you barely knew?"

Leon explained everything that had happened openly. He had avoided doing anything that might raise the elves’ suspicions.

He’d been promised a reward and saved the elf, bringing her here as agreed. There had been no ulterior motives.

Of course, Leon knew by now that not everything in a magician's life would proceed smoothly or according to plan.

Leon detailed his connection with Erika, how he ended up rescuing Ariella, and the promise of the World Tree branch he was supposed to receive in return.

Abel’s gaze naturally shifted to Erika. She met his gaze, visibly tense.

"And how did you end up becoming acquainted with Ariella?"

"I’d prefer to discuss that in more detail separately."

"Hm, seems you have your own matters to address."

Abel shook his head as he pressed a hand to his temple.

Just as he was about to say something else, sounds came from outside.

Abel’s face hardened. He seemed to know who it was, just from the sounds.

Moments later, a male elf entered through the door.

"Ariella’s here?"

The voice was both serious and lighthearted, almost like someone anticipating a long-awaited gift.

The newcomer was a male elf with silver hair pinned up neatly. Though he looked young, he carried an aura of age and wisdom, exuding a gravity similar to Abel’s.

However, there was a strange flippancy to him that didn’t quite fit, and Leon tilted his head in slight confusion.

"My granddaughter. Shouldn’t you have come to see your grandfather first if you’ve returned?"

"Grandfather..."

Ariella’s voice softened, carrying a warmth and hint of affection that hadn’t been there before.

"Ah..."

Abel closed his eyes and slowly looked up at the ceiling.

A deep sigh reached Leon’s ears.

‘So, this is Meisen, the Elven King? It's hard to guess the ages of elves.’

As Leon pondered this, Meisen approached Ariella and embraced her warmly.

"Oh, where have you been all this time… Do you know how worried I was?"

His voice carried unmistakable warmth and concern.

"I’m sorry..."

"At least you’ve returned safely. That’s what matters."

"Actually... I was nearly captured by slave traders."

"What!"

Meisen’s expression hardened, and he gripped her shoulders tightly.

The look on his face was uncannily similar to Abel’s.

"Slave traders... What do you mean?"

"I was traveling in human cities and almost got caught. These people saved me."

"Saved you? So you didn’t actually become a slave?"

"No, they rescued me before that could happen."

Meisen nodded thoughtfully, and finally let out a short laugh. The weight in his expression vanished, replaced by a light-hearted demeanor.

"Heh."

He turned to Leon, eyes meeting his.

"Is it you?"

Their gazes locked, and for a moment, Leon felt as though he was being drawn in.

‘…!’

The sensation was familiar to Leon.

It felt like the time he had faced a transcendent mage in Astelia. Back then, it was like standing before a massive sun, but this time, it was more like confronting an immense wall.

His mind wavered.

However, this time, instead of panicking or resisting recklessly, Leon calmly endured. Fighting back with mana would only increase his chances of getting caught up in the pressure.

Leon understood what this sensation was: a mere illusion created by the opponent’s intense will and magical aura.

Just as Grious would press down on his students with mana, this transcendent mage’s pressure was merely of a higher caliber.

Gradually, the overwhelming pressure faded.

Finally, the invisible weight lifted entirely.

"Haah..."

Leon let out a deep sigh as the pressure dissipated.

He wiped the sweat from his hand.

Noticing his surroundings again, Leon reached out to steady Ria, who was about to collapse beside him.

Although Leon was the one who had faced Meisen, his powerful aura had affected everyone around him as well.

Meisen tilted his head briefly before speaking.

"A capable one, aren’t you?"

Leon sensed a sharpness hidden beneath his flippant tone.

‘They really are related,’ he thought, noting the similarity to Abel’s behavior toward him.

Facing the pressure of a high-level mage twice was indeed exhausting.

Yet, being in the heart of a foreign elves’ village, caution was paramount. And, after all, arrogance was an expected trait in the ruthless world of high-level mages.

‘I didn’t expect to get my reward so easily anyway…’

Leon masked his hardened expression.

Standing before a transcendent mage, this was only natural.

Meisen, observing Leon’s restraint, suddenly let out a hearty laugh.

"Ah, I understand the need for caution. It’s not every day a human enters our village."

"…"

There was a hint of shamelessness in his tone.

Meisen’s flippant attitude seemed unfitting for a king, yet it was difficult to read his true intentions. It was unlikely he had pressured Leon merely to intimidate him.

But before Leon could decipher his intentions, Meisen spoke again.

"In any case, I must thank you for saving my granddaughter. You must have a reason for following her here… What is it that you want?"

At these words, Abel flinched and interjected.

"My lord…"

Meisen held up a hand to silence him.

"Enough, Abel. I’m sure you’ve already lectured her enough. Really, what is it about such a lovely girl that bothers you so?"

"..."

Abel opened his mouth as if to say something, but Meisen continued.

"Besides, this isn’t simply a matter concerning my granddaughter. Our clan was put at risk, and we received aid. Ignoring that would be not just improper but a disgrace. Now that they’re here, they won’t be turned away."

With that, Meisen turned his gaze to Leon.

"Tell me."

"I was promised a branch of the World Tree by Ariella."

"A branch of the World Tree…? My granddaughter is certainly bold."

Despite his words, Meisen nodded readily.

"Will one branch of the World Tree be enough to satisfy you?"

Leon pointed to Erika beside him.

"That was my agreed reward, but my companion here has her own matter to discuss."

Only then did Meisen’s gaze turn to Erika.

Erika, who had barely composed herself after enduring the mana pressure, took a deep breath as all eyes focused on her and spoke.

"I am a mage from the Sigrinel School in the human city."

Meisen nodded, slowly taking her in.

"Hm… I see."

Seeing that the Elven King was listening attentively, Erika continued, explaining the current situation of the Sigrinel School, her connection with Ariella, and her cautious proposal for an alliance.

Meisen folded his arms, seeming to ponder her words before finally speaking.

"An alliance… Even though you saved my granddaughter, that’s not something I can decide immediately. You must be exhausted after dealing with slave traders and traveling this far; perhaps you should rest here for a day before we discuss further?"

Erika thought for a moment and nodded.

"...Very well."

With no other choice if she wanted to secure the alliance, Erika accepted.

Satisfied with her response, the Elven King turned to Leon.

"As for you, follow me."

With that, Meisen gave an order to Abel.

"Prepare the branch of the World Tree. Gather the elders here and wait."

Abel reluctantly bowed his head.

"Understood…"

His face tightened, but he nodded.

Erika, along with the elf who had brought them, began to descend from the tree. She looked back at Leon, as if wanting to say something, but followed the elf in silence.

Leon exited the office with Meisen, and Ria and Zirka followed behind. Meisen enveloped them in his mana and lifted them into the air.

They quickly rose above the forest, heading toward the World Tree.

As they flew, Meisen spoke to Leon.

"Do you know why I pressured you as soon as I saw you?"

"...Didn’t you say it was because it’s rare for a human to enter the village?"

Meisen shook his head, chuckling.

"No, that kind of youthful vigor doesn’t suit me anymore."

He fixed his gaze on Leon.

"There’s a certain ominous aura about you… Are you, by any chance, carrying an artifact of the Dark Lord?"

"..."

Leon froze momentarily.

He possessed only one item related to the Dark Lord.

The magic sword.

It was the sword the Dark Lord had favored, the very one that had absorbed his core upon his death.

As Leon’s expression stiffened, Meisen smiled.

"At first, I thought the aura was emanating from you. But on closer inspection, I realized that’s not the case. You do possess something of his, don’t you?"

Leon hesitated.

Meisen was the first to discern the nature of the sword, even without Leon having drawn it from his dimensional pocket.

Not knowing how Meisen would react, Leon carefully turned toward Ria, slipping a hand inside his robe to reach the orb hidden there.

If things went poorly, he might need to retreat into the orb. In fact, against a transcendent mage, it might be his only option.

However, Meisen shook his head.

"No need to be so wary. If you had harbored dark mana within you, we wouldn’t be floating together like this."

"...How can you be so sure?"

"Do you know much about the World Tree?"

"I know it’s imbued with holy power."

Meisen nodded.

"The sacred magic our mother wielded flows through it. As her descendant, it’s only natural I can recognize the Dark Lord’s artifacts."

Leon thought carefully before asking.

"Then… would the branch of the World Tree allow me to control the magic sword?"

"Heh, so that’s what brought you here."

Meisen seemed to understand Leon’s intentions perfectly.

He paused his levitation magic and looked at Leon intently.

"Come to think of it… it’s easy to forget you’re human. Achieving that level of skill at such a young age is impressive… And to have the Dark Lord’s sword…"

Meisen’s voice trailed off thoughtfully.

"You certainly have the qualifications. But…"

He fell silent, lost in thought, then suddenly asked an unexpected question.

"Are you truly human?"