Chapter 4
「I can see it, but it's far away, isn't it?」
「Because the World Tree stretches up to the clouds. No one knows its exact height.」
Half of the people in the world have seen the World Tree with their own eyes.
That's how enormous the World Tree is.
「...What if I burn it all with my magic!? Would that be a peaceful solution?」
「Your thinking is too radical! Plus, Jet Black would escape, right!?――You see, as the name suggests, the World Tree is a tree rooted in the world, and if it withers, it could cause the entire world's foundation to collapse. So even if the dungeon collapses, the World Tree itself might remain intact, you know?」
The roots spreading across the ground are massive and extensive. If they were to disappear, the world would be swallowed into those hollow spaces.
Even a large mountain would sink into the ground.
Taking advantage of the benefits of nature was not the only reason humans took them from the elves at key points in the world.
The elves possessed the power to potentially destroy the world if they wished.
「When traveling around, I've realized that this world is huge. I can't do anything on my own, and I think that every time.」
「Right, there's only so much one person can do.」
Humans can't live alone.
Mars and his companions know this well.
In such a world, Jet Black is an outsider, all alone, attempting to fight against the world.
It may sound noble to be solitary, but Mars still thinks it's lonely.
「As long as we can enter without any obstacles...」
Lilia says with a frustrated expression.
The area around the World Tree—the former elven territory—is currently under the control of human nations.
If an elf, especially a former royal, were to come to such a place, it would undoubtedly be assumed that they have a motive other than dungeon conquest.
There is a high possibility of being misunderstood as someone who has come to regain power and reclaim their territory.
That was the first major hurdle they faced this time.
「It's time to use money. If we keep piling up bribes, we'll manage somehow. It's a sad thing, but it's a trump card in a way.」
「Even shops that reject me and Nemu instantly change their attitude when we offer money...」
「It's straightforward, though-nyaa?」
「I hate that simplicity.」
Mars chuckles bitterly. Bribery is rampant in this world. Perhaps in his previous world, which Mars is unaware of, was the same.
「I still don't really understand money... Merfolk used to have barter trade.」
「If it works, I think that's the best, but it's difficult in human society. They always overestimate the value of what they have.」
In the case of Sion and the other merfolk, they have limited resources to begin with.
Since their main form of exchange is bartering food, direct barter with other types of goods is difficult.
The value varies depending on the situation and even differs in each person's mind.
It becomes a source of disputes, so it would be more peaceful to have exchanges based on a unified concept of money.
「It's amazing that you can buy anything with the money found in the dungeon. It's no different from exchanging it for a pebble.」
「Indeed, there's not much appreciation for it! It's like you can get it just by risking your life a little!」
「No, isn't that lack of appreciation a problem!?」
Mars thinks it has an appropriate value, considering the risk of death, but Hazuki doesn't seem to think so.
The perspective on life and death among the people in this world is slightly different from Mars'.
Death is closer in proximity. There are many births and deaths. Therefore, they seem to have developed resistance to death.
Even when it comes to matters related to death, they accept it surprisingly easily.
Perhaps it's because Hazuki comes from a family of grave keepers and has lived alongside death, but she has a particularly strong tendency in that regard.
She may be underestimating herself, which is why she recklessly ventures into the dungeon.
Her unusually strong sexual desire may also be a result of living alongside death.
The instinct to leave offspring quickly has ingrained itself in her.
Mars noticed it from their very first meeting, but Hazuki is a bit of an odd girl.
She calls herself a genius on one hand, yet she lacks an abnormal amount of self-confidence on the other.
Well, Mars finds those aspects of Hazuki interesting and lets out a smile.
「Treasure your life, okay-nyaa?」
Lying sprawled on the carriage floor, Nemu said in a slightly exasperated voice.
「Huh, isn't this turning into a regular sermon!?」
「I think it's better to do that, too.」
Sion gently strokes Nemu's ear as they lie down and agrees with a somewhat sad expression.
「Pervert.」
「That's not relevant right now, is it!? I didn't make any seductive remarks, you know!?」
「Geez... well, your face looks like a pervert.」
「Lilia-san, you're so blunt!」
Everyone chatters and the atmosphere inside the carriage livens up.
Thinking that it's better than having a serious atmosphere, Mars cracks the whip on the horse.
They don't know if they'll be able to infiltrate the dungeon, but if necessary, they'll break through forcefully.
If it comes down to balancing the world, a little crime doesn't matter.
「This is at a level where it's too big to make sense...」
Mars muttered to himself while looking up at the sky.
When considering it within the scope of the World Tree, it goes far beyond imagination.
The circumference of the World Tree is unknown. It should be circular, but even that curve is elusive.
A gigantic wall that extends up to the clouds. Mars' impression was close to that.
There was a solemnity to the overwhelming sense of oppression, making a single human being feel insignificant.
It's not unreasonable for elves to have a nature-oriented faith.
It's hard to believe that something like this could naturally exist.
The carriage should be getting closer, but the scale of the World Tree is so enormous that there are few points of comparison, and the sense of distance is difficult to grasp.
「W-Well, even my magic wouldn't be able to burn all of this...」
「Did you actually intend to burn it...?」
Lilia, who had her ears covered with a hood, let out a deeply disappointed voice.
Nemu and Sion were crouched down and hiding in the carriage's cargo area.
「Keep yourself ready to fight at any time, in case it turns into a battle.」
The area beneath the World Tree is different in atmosphere from ordinary cities and labyrinthine cities; it's built in a somewhat imposing manner, like a frontline base.
There is only one giant gate as an entrance, while other parts are covered by high walls.
It resembles a fortress.
「That wall was built by our royal family. It has a considerable thickness, so breaking through it by destructive means is difficult.」
Lilia said with a nostalgic tone.
It seems they took over the place that used to be the Elf Kingdom.
The wall must be longer than the circumference of this World Tree, and the thought of it becomes overwhelming.
It's beyond comparison to the Great Wall of China. The elves were able to build such a wall precisely because they have long lifespans.
It's more efficient to take over than to build from scratch. It would take several generations for humans to create something similar.
「So, our only choice is to go beyond that gate. It's unlikely they'll let us through easily. It would be troublesome if we were inspected. Maybe Hazuki-chan and I could climb that wall, but...」
Except for Hazuki, everyone is of a different race.
Moreover, if there's an elf like Lilia, they definitely won't be allowed in.
The bribe was intended to prevent inspection of the cargo area.
「Don't worry. There are hidden paths known only to the royal family and those connected to it. Although they haven't been used in the end... I believe they still exist.」
「In that case, let's go that way! I'll rely on your guidance!」
「Yes. First, could you make a sharp turn to the right? The entrance is hidden in a seemingly empty place.」
"Roger!" Mars raised his voice and steered the carriage in the direction away from the city.
Lilia took off her hood with a rustling sound, and Nemu, who was in the cargo area, quickly removed her hood too, exposing her large ears to the wind, showing a blissful expression.
They simply can't stand hiding and sneaking around.
「Being buried underground, no wonder it can't be found.」
「Yes. It was originally dug from a narrow part of the World Tree's roots that had decayed.」
Mars and his companions explore the empty grassland.
At first glance, it was just plain grassland.
「Nemu doesn't think there's anything beneath here-nyaa? It sounds hollow-nyaa.」
「As expected from Nemu-chan! Oh, I found rather a rare insect!」
Nemu discovered a hollow space from the echoing sound at their feet.
On Hazuki's fingertip was a ladybug, a common sight anywhere.
It seemed like she had been lazing around and admiring flowers.
Since there were hardly any flowers in the desert, only cacti, Hazuki would get excited when she saw flowers.
「Insect carcass.」
「Eh? Are you saying that to me by any chance!?」
「Just consider it a kindness that I'm not ignoring you completely.」
Covering her face with one hand, Lilia let out a heavy sigh.
「I've got no idea.」
Mars tried stomping his foot, but it was no use.
「There are hidden stairs in this vicinity. They are usually covered with lids that open from the passage side, which is from below. Look for any places that feel odd.」
「If Hazuki-nyan walks around casually, she might find it-nyaa.」
「A trap sense!? W-Well, I'll give it a try, though... Ah!」
*Tap tap*, Hazuki tapped her toes on the ground a few times.
「...Did you actually find it?」
「This place feels different from the others... It seems to be a flat stone slab.」
「...It might be safer for future adventures if I keep some distance from you.」
Hazuki brushed aside the grass at her feet and removed the surface soil, revealing an obviously man-made rocky surface.
「It's huge... Lilia, can I break this rock slab?」
Mars didn't know where to find a place to open it. If it was a staircase below, he thought breaking the rock slab would be a good idea.
「Let's do that. I don't have any particular attachment to it, after all.」
「Thanks. Then everyone, please step back a bit.」
Mars activated "Body Enhancement" and took out a giant hammer from the "Treasury of Dreams"
Then he swung it with full force onto the ground.
The impact was neither too strong nor too weak, and the rock slab hiding the staircase cleanly split in two.
Mars was cautious because if the shockwave spread too wide, the passage could collapse and block their way.
「OOhhhh! It's really a staircase! To see the secret passage of the royal family with my own eyes, it's so exciting! I thought it only existed in stories!」
「A place where the servants would stop pursuers and bid a sorrowful farewell to let the royal family escape-nya!?」
「Right, right!」
「Are you two reading dangerous books or something!?」
Hazuki and Nemu liked to read the book so-called light novels.
The two of them shared the book as it was an item that would have cost over a million yen per copy in Mars's previous life.
Everyone peered into the darkness.
Mars vaguely thought it resembled a dungeon.
「Please be careful. To prevent outsiders from entering, the interior is constructed like a labyrinth. And of course, there are traps, so be cautious, Hazuki.」
「Okaayy!」
Hazuki's reply was so cheerful that one couldn't help but wonder if she truly understood.
Nemu was also getting excited.
It might be like going on a pilgrimage to a sacred place.
The group entered the dark path.
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