The seed left behind where Hirt had vanished was extraordinary. Not only was it much larger than an adult man’s fist, but its appearance alone was anything but ordinary.

Can you imagine a seed shining as brightly as gold? Most people wouldn’t believe it unless they saw it with their own eyes.

Moreover, the sheer size of it made it seem more like a fruit than a seed, and its toughness was enough to withstand being struck with a hammer.

As someone who enjoys mythology and history, I immediately recognized the description.

A seed larger than a man’s fist, radiating golden light, and strong enough to remain unscathed even when struck with stone.

This matched the legends of the World Tree’s seed—a gift from Hirt to the elves. Every mention of it in records described it just as this seed was now.

In other words, the seed Hirt gave me was likely another World Tree seed.

‘But… how do I grow this?’

While mythology recorded that the seed had been planted, it never detailed how to cultivate it.

Should I treat it like any other plant—bury it in the ground, water it, and provide nutrients? But this wasn’t just any plant; it was likely the seed of the World Tree.

I couldn’t approach this lightly, nor was it clear who should be responsible for nurturing it. Planting it in the Myshal Estate was a given, but I couldn’t even begin to fathom the impact this would have.

This was the seed of the World Tree—a legendary tree that played a pivotal role in driving out demons 3,000 years ago.

Even to the long-lived elves and demons, this was an ancient legend. And now, I was holding that seed in my hands?

I could almost hear the sound of my reputation skyrocketing—beyond the skies and into the cosmos. Surely, this would come with endless embellishments and titles.

When Zenon’s Biography released a new volume, I could somewhat predict the public’s reaction, but with this World Tree seed? Impossible. I had no idea what news might come flooding in.

‘Still… who’s going to take care of this?’

Leaning against the enormous trunk of the World Tree, I pondered. The issue was so overwhelming that I hadn’t yet returned to Elodia, even after Hirt’s departure.

In my hands was what looked like a golden coconut, though the comparison was purely aesthetic. It glittered like gold, and its size required me to hold it with both hands.

‘She gave it to me to grow, right?’

I looked up at the towering World Tree. Over 3,000 years, it had grown to a size capable of overshadowing an entire city.

Would this seed grow to a similar scale in the Myshal Estate? That would be a bit of a problem—our estate wasn’t exactly large.

Of course, Hirt must have considered this, so the likelihood of it growing to the current World Tree’s size was slim. But still, it was the World Tree.

A singular, precious tree in the entire world. Just imagining its presence in our estate was dizzying.

“Hm…”

Deep in thought, I glanced to my side. Arwen was fast asleep, leaning against my shoulder.

Unlike me, Arwen didn’t have an abundance of divine power and must have been mentally exhausted.

I decided to sit down and rest while also thinking about the seed. With the World Tree nearby, there was no concern about intruders.

‘She’s beautiful.’

Watching her sleep peacefully, Arwen looked truly stunning. Her long lashes and silver-gray hair, swaying gently in the breeze, added to her ethereal charm.

As the epitome of elven beauty, she was flawless. I reached out and gently tidied her hair.

‘She said she was dragged around by her attendants today to prepare for meeting me.’

Considering how she wore a sensual dress and even applied makeup, which was unlike her usual self, it was clear she had gone to great lengths.

On top of that, meeting Hirt must have drained her even further. Her fatigue was entirely understandable.

I decided to wait quietly until her rest was complete. After all, she would need her strength for the night to come.

“Chirp! Chirp!”

As I tended to Arwen’s hair, a small white sparrow landed on my finger.

Not only that, but several other birds residing in the World Tree began to approach me—canaries and various other species I couldn’t identify.

The birds, remarkably unbothered by my movements, perched around me as if I were their natural roost.

When the white sparrow approached earlier, I chalked it up to Hirt’s will. But now, after receiving her blessing, I realized it was something more.

‘She said I would have the blessing of pure nature, didn’t she?’

The blessing of pure nature.

I didn’t fully understand what it entailed, but it was a blessing bestowed by the Goddess of Nature herself.

The birds’ complete lack of fear in approaching me was likely one of its effects.

While the scope of “nature” was vast and ambiguous, I was certain it would have profound effects. There was no need to overthink it.

“Hmm?”

As I played with the birds, I suddenly felt a gaze upon me.

Turning to look, I found Arwen awake, her silver-gray eyes fixed on me.

Still groggy from sleep, her gaze held a dreamy quality, though it also carried another unspoken depth.

“You’re awake?”

Smiling warmly, I greeted her. Her dazed expression was unbearably adorable.

Arwen blinked a few times, then blushed deeply and murmured, “I must have inconvenienced you. My apologies.”
“It’s fine. I was resting too.”
“Ahem. Ahem.”

At my easygoing response, Arwen cleared her throat awkwardly and began inching away.

Perhaps she didn’t want to be a burden, as she slowly moved her shoulder away from mine.

But that didn’t last long—I shifted closer until we were pressed together again.

“W-What are you doing?”
“Let’s stay like this. Why so shy all of a sudden?”
“But… you were just blessed by Hirt…”

Ah, so that’s why she was hesitating.

It made sense. Receiving a blessing from a deity of Hirt’s stature was no trivial matter.

Even Kate, who received blessings from Luminous, was given intense care from the church. And I had been blessed by a deity even higher than Luminous or Mora.

Not to mention, Hirt had directly gifted me the seed of the World Tree—something that would elevate my standing beyond comprehension.

But none of that mattered to me. Divine blessings wouldn’t change who I was.

If anything, they made me bolder. I wrapped my arm around Arwen’s slender waist.

‘She’s so petite.’

Her waist was as delicate as it looked, but her mature curves made the contrast even more pronounced.

“Eek!”

My bold move startled Arwen, her body stiffening in response.

When she finally leaned into me, I looked into her blushing face and said softly, “You’re not going to leave me hanging now, are you?”

“I… I… That’s not what I meant…”

“Then what is it?”

“…You’re insufferable,” she muttered, her face a deep shade of red as she pouted. Her adorable reaction brought a smile to my lips.

I kept my arm around her, not letting go. At first, she remained tense, but as time passed, she began to relax.

Meanwhile, the birds continued to flutter around us, creating a picturesque scene.

“Isaac.”
“Yeah?”
“Hirt said you were from another world, didn’t she?”

Arwen asked while looking at a canary perched on her finger. Since Hirt herself had confirmed it, I had no intention of denying it.

Nodding, I watched as Arwen gently waved her hand, letting the canary take flight.

The bird soared upward, disappearing into the infinite expanse surrounding the World Tree.

“So… how did you come to this world? I won’t ask about the world you came from, but I’d like to know how you got here.”

“It’s nothing extraordinary. It was because of the demon worshippers.”

“The demon worshippers?”

“Yes.”

At my calm explanation, Arwen’s eyes widened in surprise.

I briefly explained how the demon worshippers had made a mistake during a summoning ritual, causing me immense harm, and how the gods had subsequently brought me here.

“That’s… unbelievable…”

Arwen’s expression showed a mix of disbelief and amazement.

For now, I decided to let her imagine whatever she wanted.

What mattered at the moment was something else entirely. Pointing to the golden seed between my legs, I asked, “So, what do we do with this? Do you know how to grow it?”

“Hmm… According to ancient records, the World Tree’s seed was nurtured by priests, as it grows by consuming divine power.”

“Divine power, huh… So if I plant it in our estate, will it grow on its own?”

“With the temples of Luminous and Mora established, the land should be sufficient. But the bigger question is, who will care for it?”

“I… might have someone in mind.”

The thought of relying on Kate crossed my mind, but leaving her post was out of the question. Both she and Adelia were crucial after the threat posed by the demon worshippers.

Which meant I needed someone else. Someone I could trust implicitly.

‘Maybe… Musk?’

Musk could act as a middle manager of sorts—overseeing the priests and ensuring no one tried anything foolish.

Of course, since this was the seed of the World Tree, tampering with it seemed unlikely. Still, it was better to have someone trustworthy in charge.

“For now, let’s take it slow. There’s no rush, right?”

As I said this, I gently tightened my hold around Arwen’s waist.

Blushing slightly, she smiled softly and nodded.

“Isaac…”
“Yes?”
“When… do you plan to accept your gift?”

Her shy yet brave words carried an endearing sweetness.

“I’m ready anytime.”
“Isn’t it a bit early?”

The sun was still descending, and there was plenty of time before nightfall.

Plenty of time to visit the sanctuary or present the “gift” I’d prepared.

But Arwen seemed to have her reasons. She shook her head, explaining, “It’s because of the traditions of my people. Preparing for this sort of thing takes an absurd amount of time. At least a few hours.”

“A few hours? What could possibly take that long?”

“It takes an hour just to cleanse oneself in the Spring of Life. Add the other customs, and it’s over three hours.”

“And you’ve already done all that?”

She nodded, which explained her earlier exhaustion.

After thinking it over briefly, I made my decision. There was still plenty of time, after all.

“Alright.”
“Then…!”

“I’ll come accept my gift.”

There was plenty of time left in the day, and the night promised to be long.

Arwen’s face lit up with joy at my agreement.

But that joy didn’t last long.

Smack!

I stole a quick kiss, catching her completely off guard.

Frozen in shock, her body went stiff, her expression one of pure disbelief.

Smiling mischievously, I stood, brushing off my clothes.

Before heading back to Elodia, I glanced over my shoulder and said playfully, “I’ll be looking forward to it.”

“…Ahhh…”

And just like that, before giving her gift, Arwen was utterly defeated.

***

From then on, as Arwen mentioned, the typical and overly meticulous customs of the elves followed.

First, an hour was spent bathing in a place called the Spring of Life. Afterward, various other minor traditions took up another two hours, totaling three hours wasted on rituals.

It became painfully clear why the elves had such low birth rates. At this rate, they’d exhaust themselves before even getting to the main event.

Thankfully, my stamina was above average. Otherwise, I might have passed out before even receiving the “gift.”

Dressed in only a robe and undergarments, I made my way to Arwen’s chamber to receive the long-anticipated gift.

“You’ve… come?”

“Wow…”

And that’s when I realized what kind of “gift” it was.

“I’m sure you’ve figured it out by now… I am not only the Queen of Alvenheim but also the symbol of Alvenheim itself.”

And how bold and suggestive that gift was.

“Alvenheim offers itself… to you.”

Facing Arwen, clad in nothing but crimson lingerie, I understood.

“I offer you Alvenheim itself as a gift.”

The realization hit me like a storm.