Chapter 72

Core (2)

When you browse the gallery, you often come across all sorts of interesting things.

There are completely pointless shitposts, and then there are posts that are surprisingly insightful.

What I mean is that sometimes you can easily find exactly the information you're looking for, while other times something completely bizarre pops up instead.

On top of that, the gallery isn't divided into different categories. There's only one giant gallery, so the sheer amount of content is overwhelming.

'Homonyms make searching even more of a pain.'

I searched around for information about cores.

Just in case, I tried searching for "Guardian core," but nothing useful came up.

The most useful information I could find was that cores were an extremely rare material with exceptional magical value.

In particular, a core itself was essentially a massive concentration of mana, making it useful in all sorts of ways.

'Do I have no choice but to give this to Allfather or Starlight Princess?'

Either way, it was nothing but a headache for me. It was even huge.

Apparently, the average Guardian's core was about the size of a fist, while the one I'd killed had a core nearly the size of a basketball.

They said the larger the core, the stronger the Guardian, so I'd been pretty lucky.

'Wouldn't I have died if it had been any kind of Guardian other than an orichalcum one?'

Orichalcum Guardians had the characteristic of being highly sensitive to mana.

That had worked as both an advantage and a weakness, allowing me to barely scrape out a victory.

I stared blankly at the core, which had lost its glow, and scratched my head.

'I should just ask.'

One thing was certain: I had almost no use for it.

It wasn't like I could absorb it like an elixir or carry it around like a crystal orb.

I couldn't even play ball with the thing. It was so hard that I felt like I'd break a bone if I kicked it.

Granted, it was nice and round, so Wonmo would probably have fun rolling it around, but at that point I'd rather just buy him a soccer ball.

Title: I Want to Get Rid of This Core

Wild Grylls

(Photo of the core with a hole through its center)

I don't think I have much use for this thing. Does anyone need it?

└ Heavenly Demon: What can one do with that?

　└ Wild Grylls: I'm not really sure either. The dwarf said it's basically like fuel.

　└ Heavenly Demon: This Lady does not believe she has any particular need for it.

　└ Wild Grylls: Okay.

└ SwordMaster: It's easiest to think of a core as a top-of-the-line battery.

　└ Wild Grylls: What use would it have for me?

　└ SwordMaster: Expensive trash?

　└ Wild Grylls: ;;

└ Allfather: I don't believe I have any particular need for it either. I've already mastered everything there is to research regarding cores, so it would serve little purpose for me.

　└ Wild Grylls: Would it be useful to me?

　└ Allfather: Probably not. You have no machinery to power, nor can you use magic, so it would essentially be a burden.

　└ Wild Grylls: What about carrying it around and absorbing mana from it whenever I'm running low? Doesn't seem like a bad idea.

　└ Allfather: Perhaps if it were smaller, but its size would make that difficult. Still, it isn't a bad option. You would need to have it repaired first, though.

　└ Wild Grylls: If I have to get it repaired too, I'd rather just give it away.

└ Starlight Princess: I recently replaced the energy source in my laboratory, so I don't think I need it either. If I'd known this would happen, I would've waited a few more days. What a shame.

　└ Wild Grylls: That's unfortunate. I guess cores are surprisingly useful?

　└ Starlight Princess: They are portable concentrations of mana, after all. Considering how much mana appliances like refrigerators consume, they're quite useful.

└ Let's Grow Trees: Excuse me! If you don't need the core, would you be willing to trade it with me?

　└ Why are you here?

　└ They pop up every now and then.

　└ What kind of nonsense are they about to start spouting this time? ;;

That was roughly the consensus.

It was a good item, but its uses were limited.

People said things like, "If you're going to pay money just to use that thing as a battery, you're better off not buying one at all."

It was the very definition of something too valuable to throw away but too troublesome to keep.

That only made it even harder to get rid of.

'Maybe putting it up for auction really is the best option...'

That was what I was thinking when Let's Grow Trees made an offer in a cheerful yet polite tone.

But why all of a sudden?

Honestly, the offer from Let's Grow Trees was completely unexpected.

'They do leave comments every once in a while.'

Let's Grow Trees was a fairly famous registered user.

Infamous, to be precise.

Judging purely from the information circulating around the gallery, they were an elf overflowing with an imperialistic mindset.

An elf who openly justified territorial invasions, though I could never tell whether they were serious or just joking.

'Should I say they're the complete opposite of the head mod?'

They were both energetic, but their popularity among the users, their ways of thinking, and pretty much everything else were complete opposites.

Maybe because of that, I almost found myself approaching them with prejudice, but I forced it down.

Whatever else they might be, they were still a registered user interested in trading for the core that had become nothing but a burden to me.

└ Let's Grow Trees: Ah! I understand immediately. All right! In that case, how about some smoking tobacco made from World Tree leaves?

　└ Wild Grylls: Smoking tobacco? You mean cigarettes?

　└ Let's Grow Trees: Yes!

　└ Wild Grylls: I'm willing to trade, but what can you offer? If it's something like wood or seeds, I'll pass.

└ Let's Grow Trees: How about a sapling from Alvenheim?

　└ Wild Grylls: I'm literally surrounded by trees ;;

　└ I seriously want to punch this bastard right in the solar plexus lol.

　└ It's not even that they have no conscience. It's like they were born without one.

　└ Typical elf lol.

Surely they weren't being serious.

I desperately hoped this was just an act.

The gallery was overflowing with people who played exaggerated characters.

If this wasn't an act, then that was a serious problem in its own right.

I was dumbfounded that they could so shamelessly suggest trading cigarettes for a core.

I wasn't particularly worried about the smell. I'd already been smoking food, so cigarette smoke wasn't exactly going to be the end of the world.

But the sheer confidence with which they proposed exchanging cigarettes for the core went beyond absurdity and actually made me curious.

└ Wild Grylls: You're offering them pretty confidently, so I guess they're good?

　└ They are good. They're one of Alvenheim's signature specialties.

　└ Would you believe me if I told you they're cigarettes that are actually good for you? They're better for you than most medicinal herbs.

　└ Wild Grylls: Where the hell do cigarettes that are good for you exist?

　└ Let's Grow Trees: Right here!

└ Let's Grow Trees: Well, I suppose it can't be helped. How about a bow, then?

　└ Wild Grylls: I already have a crossbow. I don't think I really need one.

└ Let's Grow Trees: Didn't you say before that your people were skilled archers?

　└ Wild Grylls: Not every elf is good with a bow, right?

I really couldn't trust this.

Compared to Earth, this world's civilization wasn't as advanced.

A few specific fields occasionally matched or even surpassed Earth's, but there were still plenty of shortcomings.

And even on Earth, hadn't it taken a long time before the harmful effects of cigarettes became widely known?

They might have been made from World Tree leaves, but that didn't exactly inspire confidence.

'They just sound like luxury cigarettes to me.'

When I searched the gallery, that was more or less how people treated them—as luxury cigarettes.

Every now and then, there were claims that they helped with mana cultivation methods or internal energy cultivation methods, or that they could be burned as incense instead.

But the gallery was overflowing with completely unsubstantiated claims like that, so I ignored all of them.

Either way, for someone like me whose priority was survival, a luxury item like cigarettes would just become another burden.

More importantly, if I'd been a smoker, I could've simply bought them from the auction house myself.

└ Wild Grylls: Rather than things like that, I'd prefer something that could actually help me survive.

└ Let's Grow Trees: Then how about gloves?

　└ Wild Grylls: What kind of gloves?

└ Let's Grow Trees: World Tree Gloves! They're made from silk produced by silkworms raised on World Tree leaves.

　└ Wild Grylls: Are they good?

　└ Of course they're good ;; They're made from the World Tree, for crying out loud???

　└ This bastard's been stuck in the forest so long he doesn't know a damn thing about the outside world lmaooo.

He might actually be in a better place than this guy, lol.

Apparently, the gloves weren't merely good—they were rare as well.

I listened to an explanation of their performance.

They were lighter than any ordinary gloves, supposedly so comfortable that you could barely tell you were wearing them, while also being extremely durable and difficult to tear.

The most remarkable feature, however, was their regenerative ability. As long as you supplied them with mana, they could repair a certain amount of damage on their own.

'These are good.'

For someone like me who constantly used his hands, they seemed extremely useful.

I just hadn't mentioned it until now, but my hands were currently pretty battered.

Chopping wood, starting campfires, cleaning fish, handling charcoal, practicing swordsmanship, and so on.

With all the different things I did, there was hardly ever a time when my hands were completely fine.

I did have the gloves the dwarf had given me, but those were closer to mass-produced work gloves.

On top of that, they were designed for rough work such as combat and construction, making them difficult to wear for tasks requiring precision.

'In a way, my hands might be even more important than my feet.'

Deciding that this was a good deal, I accepted Let's Grow Trees' offer.

The core was practically a burden anyway, so I had no reason to hesitate about getting rid of it immediately.

Still, since this person had helped me out a lot, I figured I'd at least humor them a little.

[Let's Grow Trees has registered the trade items.]

[Let's Grow Trees: Thank you for the wonderful trade! Is there anything else you need?]

[Wild Grylls: Nothing in particular right now. But these gloves really are good, right?]

[Let's Grow Trees: I can guarantee it on the pride and honor of the elves!]

[Wild Grylls: Thank you. By the way, what are you planning to do with the core?]

[Let's Grow Trees: I can't tell you the details, but it'll let me plant trees a little more efficiently!]

An imperialist mindset combined with environmental activism.

What kind of bizarre combination was that? It was like candied dog meat on a stick.

[Wild Grylls: Do you really like planting trees?]

[Let's Grow Trees: Yes! To plant the beautiful trees of Alvenheim all across the world! That is my goal!]

[Wild Grylls: From what I've heard, people seem pretty strongly opposed to that... Are you sure it's okay?]

[Let's Grow Trees: There's absolutely no need to worry!]

That's exactly why I'm worried.

What in the world were elves like in this setting?

Usually, elves were symbols of elegance and nobility, but this one was basically a walking public nuisance.

Of course, everything I knew came from gallery rumors, so I shouldn't be prejudiced.

Still, when the first elf I'd ever traded with was like this, it was hard not to feel suspicious.

[Let's Grow Trees: Thank you so much for agreeing to the trade! May the blessing of the World Tree be with you!]

[Wild Grylls: Thank you.]

Well, they seemed like a nice person, so I decided to leave it at that.

I ended the trade with Let's Grow Trees and checked the items I'd received.

"Huh?"

But this person had sent me some weird extras too.

And not just one or two.

I could overlook the luxurious-looking bow.

I could even overlook the smoking tobacco, though I had no idea why they'd included it.

But the sapling with shimmering blue-green leaves was harder to ignore.

A sapling carefully planted in a pot.

'You've got to be kidding me.'

Did they seriously give me this because they wanted me to plant it?

I could practically feel their determination to get another tree planted.

The bow and smoking tobacco were probably bribes to sweeten the deal.

Still, they'd properly included the gloves, so I had no complaints.

'Fine. I'll plant it. Nature can take care of growing it afterward.'

I checked the gloves Let's Grow Trees had given me.

Their overall appearance was...

'...Aren't these just cotton work gloves?'

They looked like ordinary work gloves without the red rubber coating.

The only differences were that they were much whiter and the fabric looked softer.

I silently stared at the strangely familiar gloves before putting them on.

"Not bad."

They were extremely comfortable.

They were also highly breathable, enough that I could feel even the faintest breeze against my skin.

It didn't seem like I'd have to worry about sweaty hands anymore.

I wanted to test their other properties too, but I decided to save that for later.

'They gave me three pairs.'

I'd heard they were incredibly expensive and rare, yet this person was surprisingly generous.

Next, I checked the smoking tobacco that was supposedly made from World Tree leaves.

At a glance, they looked more like cigars than ordinary cigarettes.

'They gave me a lot.'

There were five in total, all stored inside a small wooden box.

The box could be repeatedly opened and closed, and it even had what appeared to be a compartment for ashes.

The final item I examined was the beautiful bow, which looked exceptionally refined.

I grabbed the string to test its draw weight.

Tug!

"Huh?"

But the draw weight was far stronger than I'd expected.

The string barely moved.

It reminded me of the first time the dwarf gave me the crossbow.

"Graaaaaah!"

Only after shouting and putting my whole body into it did I finally manage to draw the string all the way back.

My physical strength should've improved considerably since I first received the crossbow, yet this was still incredibly difficult.

What kind of person used this bow?

Especially Let's Grow Trees—what kind of elf were they?

'Aren't archers supposed to be agility builds?'

Or was the person who normally used this bow simply a monster?

I was confused.

It would probably take me a very long time to become proficient with this bow.

And by the time I could use it properly, just how accustomed would I have become to living here?

Hoping that day would never come, I turned my head.

There sat the sapling, carefully preserved in its pot.

Fine.

I might as well plant the damn thing.

Posting proof wasn't exactly difficult.

***

Title: Got Another Pet

Wild Grylls

(Photo of a surprisingly cute sapling)

Let's Grow Trees gifted me this adorable sapling. Thank you.

└ Heavenly Demon: What kind of plant is it?

　└ Wild Grylls: No idea. I just took whatever they gave me.

　└ Heavenly Demon: It seems suspicious, but it is rather pretty.

　└ Wild Grylls: It'll probably take forever to fully grow.

└ SwordMaster: Since an elf gave it to you, surely it isn't anything strange.

　└ Wild Grylls: Are there strange plants too?

　└ SwordMaster: Of course. Carnivorous plants exist, after all.

　└ Wild Grylls: D-d-damn.

└ Passing Dwarf: This bastard got something weird from a knife-ear, lmaooo.

　└ Wild Grylls: What's weird about a sapling? They helped me out, so I should at least do something like this for them.

　└ Passing Dwarf: Fair enough. The Forest of Four Seasons is neutral territory anyway, so nobody can interfere with it.

└ Still, that damn elf is persistent as hell lol. They actually managed to get it planted.

　└ Should I call that perseverance, or just sheer spite? ;;

└ Knife-ears are surprisingly stubborn bastards, lol.

└ And yet there's someone who actually broke the iron stubbornness of those elf elders?

└ Looking at stuff like this, the Elf Queen really is crazy too, lmao.

"Heh. Excellent."

Golden hair that shimmered as though it had been woven from strands of pure gold.

A beautiful face and pointed ears—the defining features of an elf.

Green eyes that seemed to embody the lushness of a forest itself.

And finally, despite the elegant dress she wore, it could not hide the voluptuous curves of her body.

"With this, a tree of Alvenheim has finally taken root in the Forest of Four Seasons as well."

An elf was openly expressing her satisfaction.

Despite her mature appearance, there was something fresh and girlish about her demeanor, creating a dangerously alluring charm.

Knock, knock, knock.

[Your Majesty. I have answered your summons.]

"..."

"Is that what I should say?"

Someone knocked and spoke from the other side of the door.

The elven woman closed the gallery window and answered softly.

"Come in."

Her voice was gentle and crystal clear.

Once permission was granted, the door slowly opened, revealing another elf.

"You've arrived."

"Yes, Your Majesty. But may I ask why you summoned me?"

"It is time to lay the foundation for our great cause."

"Pardon?"

The elf's eyes widened at the Queen's incomprehensible words.

The Queen then looked down at the round sphere resting on her lap.

It was the core she'd just obtained through her trade with Grylls.

The mark where a sword had pierced through its center still remained.

The Elf Queen looked at the core, smiled deeply, and spoke again.

"Prepare the experiment immediately. We now have our energy source."

"B-But the elders—"

"..."

"N-No, never mind! I'll begin immediately!"

The elf cut themselves off and hurried out of the room.

It was practically an escape.

The Elf Queen watched them leave with a satisfied smile before quietly proclaiming,

"Make Alvenheim great again!"