The Possessor Mistook the Genre for 20 Years

63 – The Gift of the World Tree

Franz headed towards the World Tree with Hera.

It seemed the World Tree was going to prove something.

“Franz, if this is a joke, I hope you’ll retract it now… The World Tree is a sensitive matter for elves. Of course, I don’t mind. If you, my master, believe that a small sprout is the World Tree, then I will believe it too, but our kin…”

Hera still couldn’t believe that she had spoken with the World Tree.

Well, that much is understandable.

Honestly, I expected her not to believe it.

But did she really have to say that last part?

She wasn’t angry, so there was no need to make excuses.

[Our child is a bit extreme. But please understand, she’s trying to repay you in any way she can.]

‘Yes, I’m trying my best to understand.’

I’ve already accepted her as a slave, so I have no intention of going back on that.

But she’s not a slave yet, is she?

She said she would become a slave after saving all the elves, so at least while I’m alive, she won’t be a slave.

So why is she already acting like one?

It’s not a loan, so why is she trying to be treated like a slave?

Even if I concede a hundred times, I can’t understand Hera’s thoughts.

[Please tell the child to raise her hand above her head.]

“Hera, they said to raise your hand above your head.”

“My hand? With the palm facing up?”

Hera tilted her head and raised her hand above her head.

[Yes, as long as the palm is facing up.]

“They said with the palm facing up.”

“Hmm, got it.”

Hera nodded.

So, Hera stood in front of the World Tree with her hand raised above her head.

Before long, a leaf fell onto her palm.

‘Could that be the proof…?’

Naturally, Franz couldn’t help but be puzzled.

When it comes to proof, something must be clearly acknowledged, but this was an ambiguous situation that seemed like proof and yet not.

But it seemed a little different for Hera.

“Huh…? Why is there a new sprout…?”

Lowering her hand to look at the leaf, Hera’s eyes widened.

Then she showed the leaf to Franz.

“Franz, look at this…! A new sprout, a new sprout…!”

“Why is that…?”

Indeed, she was right.

The leaf was gigantic, befitting the name of the World Tree, but it was a tender light green, looking exactly like a new sprout.

But what did that even mean?

While Franz was still puzzled, Hera continued speaking.

“The World Tree never sheds new sprouts. Never.”

“Really?”

“Yes. But the fact that this fell right into my hand means….”

Hera trailed off, turning her head.

At the end of her gaze was the gigantic ancient tree, the World Tree.

“Is it really…?”

Hera’s eyes were filled with a complex mix of surprise, awe, and joy.

It was the first time she had shown such joy.

Not even when they defeated the Demon King had she been this happy.

[Child, is it done now?]

‘Thanks to you, I survived.’

I never thought something like this would prove it, but I decided not to worry about it since it was a good thing.

The only problem was that Hera seemed a bit overly excited.

“Franz, could you tell me again what the World Tree said?!”

“It said thank you for protecting it. Thanks to you, it survived.”

“Thank you, really, thank you. Franz, you are truly….”

Hera spoke in a voice that seemed on the verge of tears, stepping closer.

Her sparkling green eyes were filled solely with Franz.

Franz was momentarily flustered by the proximity, close enough to count the number of eyelashes.

[Oh my, sorry, but I can’t cover my eyes because I don’t have hands?]

‘…But you’re a tree, and you have eyes?’

[Isn’t that quite a rude thing to say?]

‘It’s a joke. And it’s not like that, so don’t misunderstand.’

Franz sighed inwardly and reached out to lightly tap Hera’s head.

It was the highest compliment Franz could give.

For someone who wished to be a slave, this should be a sufficient reward.

“Well done.”

He didn’t forget to add a few words, just in case.

This should be enough to treat her like a slave, wouldn’t she be satisfied?

“You, you worked hard, but what did I do well…?”

Hera’s gaze, which had been fixed on Franz, gradually lowered until it was completely directed at the ground.

Moreover, her ears, which protruded through her hair, were constantly flapping, red with embarrassment.

‘She’s embarrassed.’

Well, receiving compliments can be embarrassing.

Franz understood her feelings all too well.

“Hera, should I give you a ride too?”

Seeing her like this for the first time, Franz felt a mischievous urge.

At that, Hera lifted her bowed head and showed her wide-open eyes.

“Wh-what do you mean…!”

“No, little kids like it.”

“I’m not really fond of being confined… Ah, no. If it’s something you do, I like anything. Please, do it for me too.”

…?

This wasn’t what he had in mind.

Hera’s genuine acceptance left him rather flustered.

“Come on, quickly. Give me a ride too, whatever it is.”

Hera spread her arms towards Franz as if asking for a hug.

Franz scratched his head awkwardly.

No matter how he thought about it, giving a ride to a fully grown adult, especially a chieftain, was quite a troublesome task.

If other elves saw this, they might gossip unnecessarily.

[Oh my, both of you are so excited. Are you doing this on purpose for me to see?]

‘Why would we do this on purpose? I’m having a hard time too.’

[Then you shouldn’t have brought it up in the first place, should you?]

That was a valid point, so there was nothing to say.

It’s not like I can take back the words I’ve already spoken.

Besides, Hera was looking at me with such anticipation, so what could I do?

Snap-.

Franz had no choice but to snap his fingers.

“Ugh?!”

A transparent sphere formed around Hera and floated into the air.

At the same time, Hera let out a strange exclamation.

“Oh, oh, Franz…! I’m floating now…!”

Hera smiled like a cheerful child.

Is floating in the air that enjoyable?

It seems like Hera would enjoy riding rides at an amusement park.

Well, there’s no chance of going back to reality, let alone an amusement park.

By the way, I think the World Tree said it would repay us for saving it….

[The kids were playing so sweetly that I forgot.]

‘It’s not like that.’

[Well, that’s enough. Both of you, come a little closer.]

I didn’t like the way it was being glossed over.

But there was nothing I could do, so I had no choice but to let it go.

‘Being with Hera like that….’

I had never thought about it, so I didn’t know, but judging by her recent behavior, it didn’t seem too bad.

Except for acting like a slave.

But without that, she wouldn’t be Hera.

Franz lightly shook his head to clear his thoughts.

It was an impossible assumption, so there was no reason to think about it.

“Hera, the World Tree wants us to come a little closer.”

“Huh? Then I guess we have to get off….”

There was a strange hint of regret in Hera’s voice.

It seemed she really enjoyed being trapped in the sphere, floating in mid-air.

“I’ll let you ride it again next time.”

“R-really?!”

“Yes, so let’s just go for now.”

“Got it…!”

Hera nodded in response, and Franz gently lowered her to the ground.

Soon, the two of them approached the World Tree a bit closer.

[Could you wait a moment? I’ll prepare a gift for you.]

A gift…?

Franz was puzzled when he heard that.

The trunk of the World Tree began to wriggle, and soon something popped out.

What emerged from the trunk was a staff and a bow made of wood.

‘Is this the gift?’

[Yes, it is. Take it.]

With the World Tree’s permission,

“Hera, they said to take this. It’s a gift.”

Franz said as he picked up the staff lying in front of him.

It looked quite sturdy, but it was as light as a feather.

And the blue orb attached to the end of the staff was truly beautiful.

Above all, when he held the staff, he felt an incredible power.

It seemed several times stronger than the short wooden stick the princess had.

‘If I don’t accept this, I’m not human.’

Franz immediately extended the staff forward and used magic.

A red magic circle was drawn at the end of the staff, and soon a small fireball appeared.

It was a 1st circle magic, Fire.

Pew-.

The small fireball shot out from the magic circle and soared into the sky.

And before long,

BOOM-!

An enormous explosion erupted with a tremendous roar.

[Ah, you startled me…!]

‘…I’m sorry.’

I thought it was impressive, but I never imagined it would be this powerful.

If we had this weapon earlier, we could have dealt with the Demon King alone.

No, we would have blown up the Demon King’s castle along with him.

“Franz, this is unbelievable. With this, we could even hit enemies outside the Great Forest.”

Just as the staff Franz received was amazing, the bow Hera received was equally remarkable.

While the two were rejoicing over the gifts they received from the World Tree, an urgent voice called out.

“Chief…! There’s a problem, you need to come quickly!”

“Understood! I’ll be right there!”

Hera, responding to the urgent elf, bowed her head towards the World Tree.

“Thank you, World Tree. We will use this to protect the elves and the Great Forest.”

[You’re so kind. Where else could we find someone like you? Do you like it?]

Well, she is kind.

But Hera was kind from the beginning.

She just had a bit of hostility towards humans.

“Franz, I have some business to attend to, so I’ll be going first. Let’s postpone the celebration for a bit.”

“Alright, go ahead.”

Hera hurriedly ran towards the residential area where the festival preparations were in full swing.

Still, she never misses the celebration.

I couldn’t help but chuckle.

‘Thank you. I’ll make good use of it.’

[Sure, take good care of our little one.]

‘We’re not like that….’

I don’t know why they keep linking us together, but anyway, it’s not like that.

Franz sighed inwardly and headed towards the elves’ residential area.

Time passed, and it was already evening.

While sitting on a tree stump having dinner, Franz heard an unbelievable story from Hera.

“Franz, could you become the chief of the elves…?”

…What on earth…?

It seemed that Hera had become a bit strange.