Chapter 72: Ritual of Proof Part 3

The third trial was also straightforward.

I immersed myself without hesitation in the silver water that was collected and flowed from the hollow part of the old tree. The water was bone-chillingly cold, yet refreshingly so. It felt as though the streams were piercing right through me and spreading purification throughout every corner of my veins. Ah, this is why bodies harboring corrupt powers crumble away. However, my case was different. Using purification as the basis of my strength, I felt my energy becoming more abundant.

"...!"

It wasn't just that.

"Huh!"

"Oooh!"

"That, that is..."

Sounds of astonishment came from all around the place. What's going on? Following the gazes of the people, I looked up. There…

-Whoosh…

-Pop! Pop! Pop! Pop!

Small buds resembling bellflowers and lilies of the valley were bursting open. With each burst, silver pollen floated on the wind and twinkled in the moonlight.

"Th-The guardian tree is blooming...!"

"Isn't this the kind of thing that happened on the Queen's coronation?"

"I'm not sure how many centuries it has been."

"It's beautiful, so beautiful...!"

The elf elders continually marveled at the sight. I felt the same, but my reason for admiration was slightly different.

I can feel the purification power inside me…

For some reason, the magic that had pooled in my core was swirling and changing its nature.

The purification power is infusing into my magical power.

Unless you were a race born with God's blessings like the elves or a priest, it was almost impossible for your magic to have purification power.

I heard that some people actually gain enlightenment through this trial. Was that true for me too? Or was this the blessing of the guardian tree?

Anyway, so far I have only been able to grow plants with the purification power under the blessings of Lynshaka, but in the future, it will be possible to share my purifying power with plants that have already grown.

This will make dealing with demons much easier too.

I closed my eyes comfortably, savored the still unfamiliar flow of magical power, and then slowly rose from my spot.

The surrounding elves were still staring at me with their mouths agape.

"…Well, how about that? It seems like a sufficient proof, doesn't it?"

"..."

"Perhaps, is it still not enough? Should I drink the water?"

"That's enough."

Blanche still looked at me with a cold face. He then raised one hand and spoke to the other elves.

"There was no trace of corruption in him."

The murmuring among them quickly subsided.

"…. I will conclude the Ritual of Proof."

Silence fell for a moment. It seemed like they had already decided that I was a druid who practiced witchcraft in their heads. They had been so certain, and now that a clear conclusion had been reached, they must have been bewildered themselves.

"The 'Ritual of Proof' is beyond doubt..."

"So, what happens now?"

"Wasn't it said to be a reliable accusation?"

"If this person is an innocent Druid..."

I watched the murmuring elves and when my eyes met Blanche's, I smiled broadly. Behind me, the blossoms on the old tree were fluttering.

"Now, it's time to keep our promise."

Blanche's face crumpled.

***

"...So, what will we do now?"

Only the elves could cause the flowers on the guardian tree to bloom.

The coming-of-age ceremony for the elves took place beneath the guardian tree. A young elf reaching adulthood would pray day and night for a week under the guardian tree while coaxing a single flower to bloom from the tip of a branch. This flower contained the purification power of the guardian tree, and it was customary to make it into an ornament to be worn for life. Such was the importance and symbolism of the guardian tree's flower.

And yet that profoundly important flower had bloomed in the possession of a foreigner.

As someone said, the only time flowers were in full bloom like this was long ago at the queen's coronation ceremony.

Faced with this hard-to-accept reality, the elders remained silent. Some appeared uneasy, others excited, while others were lost in contemplation. Time passed like this in this state.

Finally, it was Grand Elder Blanche who broke the silence.

"The druid has been proven not to have used corrupt magic."

"Indeed, had he used such magic, he would have perished by now."

"Furthermore, the soldiers who were with Darion on his ship also reported that they saw no use of corrupt magic."

"If he had summoned the Kraken using demonic power, surely someone would have noticed."

"Lastly, there's Darion's testimony. He referred to the Kraken as 'friend'."

"What…?"

"…Friend?"

The murmuring continued. It was to be expected. There was no human who could dare call the Kraken, a creature known to swallow whole islands, a "friend". Even if summoned by demonic powers, controlling it was mostly impossible. But "friend"? The elders exchanged puzzled looks.

Blanche paused to survey their faces before speaking in a serious tone.

"…. I think it was a mere coincidence that the Kraken wiped out the sea goblins and that the druid has some mental issues."

"There's some logic to that."

"That could be possible."

Everyone seemed to accept that the issues with Theodore's mind were to blame.

"Moreover, by blooming the flowers of the guardian tree, hasn't he also proven something about his 'lineage'?"

"It wasn't just one or two flowers either."

"I never thought I'd see such flowers bloom in abundance again before dying."

"It was quite the spectacle."

"Just as Darion of the Sylvanus family said, I'm worried that he really has ancient elf blood mixed in."

"If that's true, why worry? It should rather be considered a fortunate event…"

"We don't know what impure blood might be mixed in; it's not so simple to call it a fortunate event."

"But given what he has achieved, we must acknowledge it to some extent…"

Just as they were concluding that Theodore was a descendant of ancient elves, someone opened the door of the council hall.

"…What's the matter?"

"Th-that is…"

The messenger who seemed to have run hurriedly caught his breath and approached Blanche to whisper something in his ear.

"…What?"

It was shocking news.

"It's confirmed. The High Priest has already verified it."

"...."

Blanche's face contorted fiercely. Judging by his expression, the elders sensed something serious had happened and quietly waited for his next words.

"…Jayer has taken his own life."

Jayer.

He was one of the three elves Theodore had met at Katharina's banquet, a noble elf with wealthy parents.

The news that Jayer who had accused Theodore had killed himself was particularly troubling for Blanche.

"No, why?"

"Does this mean Jayer framed that druid?"

"It seems highly likely now."

"My goodness…"

The elders sighed deeply. However, Blanche did not sigh over Jayer's death, nor did he show pity; instead, he clenched his teeth.

Jayer was a man who had never lacked anything, thanks to his privileged background. Did he really orchestrate such a major incident just to frame a single druid, even to the point of sacrificing his own life?

It was inconceivable.

But…

"…It appears the 'Crows' might have been involved."

"The Crows?"

"Them?"

If the Crows were involved, it made sense.

Jayer was a young elf. He was perhaps too inexperienced to have been sent outside the confines of Lysette. Blanche clenched his teeth in frustration. It hadn't been long since they had dealt with elves who had contacted the crows and fallen into corrupt powers, and now this was happening again.

Blanche placed a piece of the "Black Worm" he had received from a messenger on the round table. The elder elves could not hide their disgusted looks.

"He was found dead with this ingested."

Sighs filled the air once more.

The elves were also aware of the existence of the Black Worm. It was often found in particularly malevolent creatures that appeared in the "Dark Forest".

"Does this mean Jayer was under the influence of the Crows?"

"Perhaps."

"Why would the Crows target a druid though?"

They used their vast and profound knowledge to search for answers within the information they had.

"…. Could it be because he's really a descendant of the ancient elves?"

A murmur from someone sparked realization among several elders, and soon the theory that Theodore was a descendant of the ancient elves was accepted as fact.

"If he is a descendant of the ancient elves, everything makes sense."

"The blooming of the guardian tree too."

"Perhaps that's why the crows are targeting him…"

"Then isn't this a grave matter?"

Blanche listened to all the words exchanged by the elders and after a long pause, he finally spoke.

"If he truly is a descendant of the ancient elves."

"...."

"There could be value in using him."

"...."

Realizing what Blanche was implying, all the elders fell silent.

The Elf Queen who had not shown herself for a long time lay in a deep slumber in the innermost part of the maze-like royal palace.

With the World Tree withering, the Queen asleep, and no new elves being born, it was in a way…

An "opportunity".

An opportunity to forge a new era.

If they can change Lysette little by little while maintaining the Queen's life with the blood of this outsider…

Much would change.

The elders who shared this thought exchanged silent glances.

***

"Achoo!!!"

Ah, why such a sneeze now? I found myself sneezing repeatedly inside the carriage heading to Darion's mansion. Is there a lot of dust here? What's going on?

Anyway, I'm so glad I passed that ritual without any trouble. I honestly felt uneasy since I spoke to Demarcushel just before. I feared that the hand that had touched the scroll might burst into flames.

Phew, if I had made a deal with that creature, I would have been incinerated on the spot.

I exhaled a breath of relief and stared blankly out the window.

The blooming of the guardian tree or whatever it was…I hadn't seen that coming either.

The sight of those haughty elf elders staring at the guardian tree with vacant expressions was something I would never forget for as long as I lived.

The problem was, I didn't even know why the guardian tree reacted like that …

Is this really a good thing, or is it bad?

I knew entering Lysette would be difficult, but I never imagined things would get tangled up like this.

"Well, maybe it's all right for now…"

With no idea what the future held, I found myself idly rambling on.