The Possessor Mistook the Genre for 20 Years

61 – The Elf Slave Invited to the Festival.

『To my old friend and future master, Franz.

The sky is beautiful without a single cloud, and the lush greenery is refreshing.

Although our first meeting was not pleasant, I believe we have forged a strong bond through overcoming hardships and trials together.

…omitted

I am thinking of holding a festival to strengthen the friendship among the elves and to pray for the recovery of the World Tree.

I know you are busy, but if possible, I hope you can come and enjoy the festival with us. It is the wish of not only me but all the elves.

If you cannot come, many elves will be sad. Among them, I will be the saddest.

The festival is scheduled for the day after this letter arrives, so please keep that in mind.

I will end here.

Hera, the elf slave of the Tower Master.』

Hmm-.

Franz’s expression was not very good after reading the letter to the end.

There were more than a few points to argue about.

First of all, from the very first line.

I can somewhat understand calling me an old friend.

It’s been nine years since the hero party was formed.

At this point, we might not be childhood friends, but we can be considered old friends.

But the next part is the problem.

Future master Franz, I understand the intention, but was there a need to write it in the letter?

And Hera is not the type to use such flowery language.

She is one of the few people who can communicate simply and honestly.

Seeing her write a letter like this, someone must have influenced her from the side.

Chief, humans like to write a lot of unnecessary words-, they must have said.

Haah-.

Franz sighed and neatly folded the letter, placing it in the drawer.

‘In the end, they’re asking me to attend the festival.’

Having saved the elf tribe twice, and even the World Tree once, they must feel indebted to him.

What was it they said?

Elves give, but they do not owe-, was it?

He fully understood their sentiment, but he disliked crowds and being the center of attention, so he was reluctant to go.

However, if he continued to accumulate debts like this, there was a real possibility that Hera might drag other elves into slavery.

So, even if he was a bit reluctant, going might prevent a bigger incident.

“What does it say…?”

Arian, the one who brought the arrow letter, asked.

“They’re having a festival in the Great Forest and want me to attend.”

“In the Great Forest?”

“Yeah, I helped them with various things before, so they want to repay the favor.”

He thought he could rest a bit leisurely until the party at the Frigia Duchy, but what was this situation?

Of course, it was very rare for a human to attend an elf festival in the Great Forest. It was truly unprecedented.

But to Franz, it was just a bothersome task. He thought it would be much more beneficial to just laze around in his room.

“Is anyone else going to the festival…?”

“Well? I don’t know. It wasn’t written.”

Come to think of it, did Justia receive a letter too?

Since they saved the World Tree together, it was quite possible.

He should go ask her later.

“Why do you ask?”

“No particular reason. Just curious.”

“Really?”

Franz let it pass without much thought.

She might have been just curious.

“Then I’ll go back to work.”

Arian left the tower lord’s room to return to her duties.

Soon after, Franz also left the tower lord’s room and headed to the Saint Serpia Cathedral.

It was to ask Justia about the letter.

Franz, who arrived at the cathedral via teleportation, met Justia.

“An arrow letter…! Listen to this! I opened the window this morning, and suddenly it flew in and stuck to the wall?!”

Justia poured out her passion about the arrow letter.

Well, it would be quite surprising if it flew in as soon as you opened the window.

Anyway, you received the letter.

“Are you hurt?”

It didn’t seem right to get straight to the point, so Franz asked out of courtesy.

“Oh, no. I’m not hurt.”

Justia answered in a much calmer tone.

Fortunately, after venting once, she seemed to feel somewhat relieved.

“Are you going to the festival?”

“It seems difficult. Today happens to be the Day of Atonement, so I have to listen to confessions until midnight.”

I thought it might be good for her to take a break since she works as a saint every day, but if there’s such a big event, it would be too much.

It was just unfortunate that she had to listen to the believers’ confessions until midnight.

By the way, the Day of Atonement sounds like a day when blood might physically splatter.

“Franz, are you going?”

“Well, I was invited, so I should go, right?”

“Then please give my regards to Hera. Also, tell her I’m sorry I can’t go. And if you could, let me know how the World Tree is doing.”

What is she making me do, if that’s the case, why don’t you go yourself?

…I thought for a moment, but soon erased it from my mind.

After all, the person who has to work until midnight would be more tired.

“Okay, I’ll do that.”

“Are you leaving now?”

“I should.”

“Then wait a moment.”

What is she going to make me do again, telling me to wait?

Franz thought so.

Justia clasped her hands in front of her chest and murmured softly.

“May the blessing of the gods be with you.”

At the same time as her short prayer, a golden divine light briefly flashed.

Franz, feeling puzzled, asked.

“What did you do?”

“It’s just a blessing. It doesn’t really have any effect.”

If it has no effect, why do it at all?

Even as he thought that, he felt strangely good about receiving the blessing.

It felt like everything would go well somehow.

After that, Franz exchanged a brief greeting with Justia and returned to the tower.

‘Shall I get to work now.’

Because the clerks had become so competent, there were only a few documents he had to handle himself, but work was work after all.

It was while Franz was reading the documents.

Arian came into the tower master’s room holding a few documents.

“I didn’t see you earlier, did you go out?”

“Oh, I just went to meet Justia.”

“Oh… you met the Saintess…”

Arian showed a sly smile.

Come to think of it, they didn’t seem to get along very well last time either.

Was there something between the Duke of Frigia and the Goddess Church?

It would be nice if they got along, but it wasn’t something to worry about too much.

After all, they would hardly ever meet.

“I asked Justia if she was going to the festival, but she said no. Something about a Day of Atonement.”

“Oh, right? It was the Day of Atonement? That’s very good. If you have sins, you should wash them away immediately.”

Arian’s expression suddenly brightened.

Does he have a personal grudge against the Saintess?

Why is he happy to hear about the Day of Atonement?

Franz couldn’t understand Arian’s behavior at all.

And it was better not to think about actions he couldn’t understand.

Thinking too deeply would just be annoying.

“What are you going to wear to the festival?”

“I’ll just throw a robe over this.”

It wasn’t a gathering of nobles, and they were elves, so there was no need to dress up.

If you think about it, they were dressed more comfortably.

“Then I’ll pick out a robe for you.”

Really?

I could just go in something casual.

But since it was she who bought the robe, I swallowed my words quietly.

She must have put some thought into it, so saying it wasn’t necessary felt wrong.

In the end, Franz had to stay with Arian for a while longer.

* * * * *

The next day.

“I’m off.”

Wearing the robe Arian had chosen, Franz left the tower with her seeing him off.

Snap.

As Franz snapped his fingers, everything except him changed.

The towering mage tower vanished without a trace, and before he knew it, giant trees stood before his eyes.

He had arrived at the edge of the Great Forest.

He could go straight to the World Tree, but he held back, knowing that elves had a habit of shooting arrows when startled.

Well, they do deliver letters with arrows, so it’s only natural they have such habits.

Thinking this, Franz stepped towards the center of the Great Forest, the World Tree.

‘Yes, this is the Great Forest.’

Last time, the branches were twisted grotesquely due to the influence of dark magic, but now they stretched out straight.

They were truly proper trees.

It’s a shame Justia couldn’t see this sight.

She hadn’t seen the beautiful appearance of the Great Forest.

The first thing she saw was the grotesque form twisted by dark magic, which was just unfortunate.

How long had he walked, enjoying the fresh scent of grass?

Before he knew it, he was close to the elves’ dwelling, and the giant World Tree was right in front of him.

[The little human who saved me.]

Suddenly, Franz felt a voice echoing in his mind.

It was like receiving a telepathic message.

But nothing was detected by the mana detection.

There was no wizard anywhere to send a telepathic message.

That means…

Franz’s gaze turned to the giant tree in front of him, the World Tree.

[Yes, it’s you. World Tree. You saved me, didn’t you?]

…What is this?

The tree was talking.