As befitting her title as the goddess of nature, Hirt granted me her permission through natural phenomena.

The wind shifted directions, and birds simultaneously took flight, heading toward the World Tree. It was like a scene from a movie, leaving me genuinely awestruck.

When the goddess of nature herself gives permission, who among her creations could refuse? Naturally, even the priests safeguarding the World Tree allowed me through without resistance.

They, too, had seen the phenomenon and understood Hirt's will. When I explained the details, they stared at me in astonishment.

"Hirt granting permission in such a way is exceedingly rare—no, it’s almost unheard of except during the Demon War! How can you remain so unfazed?"
"Well, I’m hearing about this for the first time, so it doesn’t really sink in. By the way, you said something similar happened during the Demon War?"

As Arwen and I walked toward the World Tree, she spoke excitedly, unable to contain her amazement. I responded calmly, still not entirely grasping the significance of what had occurred.

According to the explanation that followed, Hirt’s direct response in such a manner had only happened once before—when she gifted the World Tree’s seed during the Demon War.

Aside from that, there are records of her controlling animals, including some monsters, to help humanity during times of peril. I had read about that in books as well.

"Must’ve been tough controlling all those animals," I thought to myself, glancing at Arwen, who was muttering something beside me.

Based on the records, Hirt, as the goddess of nature, gave the World Tree to the elves but didn’t provide much direct assistance otherwise.

As mentioned earlier, she controlled specific types of animals to aid humanity, but even that was on a very limited scale.

Notably, creatures like goblins, orcs, and ogres—classified as monsters—actually sided with the demons. They were modified to produce even more grotesque variants.

Orcs developed red skin and became more ferocious, while goblins, already intelligent, grew even more cunning and vile.

Ogres were the most terrifying of all. According to records, they could withstand elven magic head-on without much trouble.

Thankfully, they’ve retreated into nature and are rarely seen today, but encountering one is a surefire sign to run for your life.

"The Father of All Things…"

Suddenly, I remembered the words shouted by a demon worshiper just before he took his own life. The Father of All Things, a concept that starkly contrasted with Hirt, the Mother of Nature.

Though I was too preoccupied with heading to the World Tree to dwell on it, I made a mental note to visit a sanctuary later and research the records.

If my guess turned out to be correct, it could make for an excellent story—not for Zenon’s Biography but for a sequel…

Poke. Poke.

"Hm?"

While lost in thought, I felt something lightly poking the top of my head.

I snapped back to reality and looked up, but there was nothing there—just the clear blue sky.

Had I imagined it? I blinked a few times and raised my hand to my head. When I did, something settled onto my fingertip.

"Chirp! Chirp!"

Lowering my hand, I found a small, adorable sparrow chirping at me. I was momentarily startled but soon smiled warmly.

Was this Hirt’s way of telling me to stop overthinking and just head to the World Tree? Seeing such a cute bird instantly lifted my spirits.

"A sparrow? They’re skittish creatures that rarely approach humans," Arwen remarked, watching the bird curiously.

She alternated her gaze between me and the sparrow, her expression filled with wonder.

"Even elves? I thought elves were naturally attuned to animals," I asked.

"I don’t know where you heard that, but it’s a misconception. While we are attuned to nature, that doesn’t mean we’re particularly close to animals. We hunt them for meat and even raise livestock. We’re not so different in that regard."

Fantasy often portrays elves as deeply in harmony with nature, but in this world, the reality is slightly different. While they are indeed nature-oriented, they’re not vegetarians.

Elves enjoy meat, establish farms, and even alter the environment to build villages. However, unlike humans who expand recklessly, they offer prayers and hold rituals to honor Hirt.

The image of elves as nature’s chosen likely stems from their association with divine favor.

"So, do elves ever bond with animals? I’ve heard stories of druids appearing occasionally."
"Hmm… That’s hard to say definitively. If bonding with a dog or cat qualifies as being a druid, then perhaps, but raising wild predators like lions is an entirely different matter. In that sense, beastkin might be closer to druids than we are."
"Ah, I see."

I understood what she meant. While anyone could raise an animal, truly bonding with them, as druids supposedly do, was a feat even elves found challenging—except perhaps for beastkin, who have an innate connection to animal instincts.

As I processed this new information from Arwen, I turned my attention back to the sparrow. The little bird tilted its head, meeting my gaze.

"Arwen."
"Yes?"
"Doesn’t this bird remind you of yourself?"
"W-What?!"

When I pointed out the resemblance, Arwen became flustered. I wasn’t teasing; I genuinely meant it.

Its petite, delicate frame and white feathers evoked an image strikingly similar to Arwen.

It was undeniably cute. Above all…

"What… What do you mean by that? I don’t understand."
"I mean you’re cute. Your mannerisms remind me of this bird."
"Ugh…"

Her ears twitched up and down, resembling the sparrow’s flapping wings.

Watching Arwen’s flushed face, I chuckled softly before raising my hand.

The sparrow flapped its wings energetically and took off, only to circle back and perch on my head again.

"…You’re not leaving?"
"Chirp!"

Bemused but charmed by the sparrow’s persistence, I let it stay.

"The World Tree is still far away, huh?"

Looking ahead, the World Tree appeared close, yet the path stretched endlessly.

Since reaching the World Tree was treated as a pilgrimage, teleportation magic was strictly forbidden. Walking was the only option.

Exiting the Elodia palace and heading straight out was the sole route, and it was a dauntingly long one.

The vast plains surrounding the World Tree made it feel even farther. At least I wasn’t alone, which made the journey less tedious.

I glanced at Arwen, who was fanning her flushed face with her hand.

As she seemed to have calmed down a bit, I decided to strike up a conversation.

"Arwen."
"W-What is it?"

Her voice wavered from my earlier “attack,” her ears still twitching, reflecting her emotions.

Smiling warmly, I extended my hand.

"Shall we walk hand in hand?"
"W-What?"
"I think it’d be nice to hold hands."

When I repeated the suggestion, her face turned red again, her pale complexion making it even more noticeable.

After hesitating briefly, she cautiously reached out her hand.

Her fingers were slender and delicate, like fine jade. Though her hand was small due to her petite frame, its proportions were flawless.

As our hands intertwined, Arwen let out a soft sigh of relief.

"You have such large hands…"

She murmured in awe, her silver-gray eyes sparkling like those of a curious child.

Despite being much older than me, her demeanor made her feel younger.

I chuckled softly and asked, "Have you ever held hands like this with another man?"

"Yes. My father often held my hand when we ventured into human society. He insisted we never be separated. It brings back memories."
"And besides your father?"
"You’re the first."

She added her free hand atop mine, gently exploring it, tracing the veins and marveling at its size.

While part of me wanted to take things further, I remembered Hirt’s summons and resisted.

Hand in hand, we continued toward the World Tree. The cool breeze tousled our hair, and birds chirped overhead.

As we walked, Arwen gradually leaned closer, slipping her arm through mine and pulling me slightly against her.

Though modest compared to others, her figure was still noticeable, and I couldn’t ignore the sensation as she pressed against my arm.

"Isaac…"
"Yes?"
"If you hadn’t been here… would I have ended up like Elisha from Zenon’s Biography?"

Elisha, as everyone knows, is the elven queen from Zenon’s Biography and the lover of Xenon’s mentor, Cair.

Their tragic romance ended in heartbreak, with neither confessing their true feelings.

Her question caught me off guard, but I took it seriously.

"That’s not impossible," I replied thoughtfully.

Thanks to Zenon’s Biography, the second Demon War was delayed by thousands of years, and many futures had shifted for the better.

Arwen’s fate likely changed as well. As a newly crowned queen, she might have faced immense hardships during the war, much like Elisha.

But such a future no longer existed. No one could predict what might have been.

"I don’t know," I admitted. "The future is never certain. You might have become like Elisha, or you might not have."

"…"

"But what’s certain is that things have changed for the better. The demon worshipers were exposed, and the corruption at the World Tree’s roots was stopped."

I turned to her, meeting her gaze.

"So why not stop worrying about what could’ve been and focus on the future instead?"

A soft laugh escaped her lips as she smiled warmly.

"I feel foolish for asking such a question. Thank you, Isaac."

She rested her head on my arm, and I gently stroked her hair. Her silken locks shimmered like starlight, soothing to the touch.

"Isaac…"
"Yes?"
"I’m so glad you’re part of this world."
"Me too."

Despite being born due to a demon worshiper’s mistake, this world was far better than my previous life.

And with that, we continued toward the World Tree, the distance gradually closing.

At last, as we neared the towering World Tree, a voice echoed in my mind—an elegant, feminine tone.

 

[You’ve finally arrived.]

As I stood there, mouth agape, staring at the colossal World Tree—large enough to overshadow an entire city—a beautiful voice resonated in my mind.

Judging by the tone, it was likely a woman’s voice. But who it belonged to was far more important.

Startled, I quickly glanced around, searching for the source of the voice. It echoed in my mind once more.

[Look up, child.]

Following the instruction, I slowly tilted my head upward. The towering World Tree stretched endlessly into the sky, but something else caught my eye.

Shwaaah—

A gentle light, neither too bright nor too dim, began to coalesce in a single spot. That light gradually took shape, transforming into a distinct figure.

Both Arwen and I were mesmerized, unable to look away. We couldn’t discern the source of the light, but the phenomenon unfolding before us was undeniably surreal.

The light, now fully formed into a figure, slowly dissipated to reveal its identity. The first thing I noticed was the hair.

Soft green locks shimmered like starlight, reminiscent of the colors of nature itself.

Her eyes were the same—green and luminous, as if they held entire constellations within them.

And above all…

‘…She’s enormous.’

Her body was breathtakingly proportioned, with a voluptuous figure that exuded divine grace. Only the most critical areas were modestly covered by carefully placed leaves.

Being in the presence of such a transcendent being quelled any inappropriate thoughts. Yet her sheer size was astonishing.

Tall. Immensely tall. Not in any questionable way, but her height was extraordinary.

She was so tall that I had to crane my neck to look up at her, and she easily exceeded three meters in height. Staring up at her, I couldn’t even think to close my gaping mouth.

Meanwhile, the towering woman gazed down at me with eyes that shimmered like stars. Then, she slowly crouched, lowering herself to my level. It was as if a mountain was shrinking before my eyes.

Finally, with her gaze aligned with mine, she smiled warmly and spoke.

“At last, we meet, my child.”