Published: July 3, 2025
Ryo effortlessly created a 300-meter-long ice bridge, allowing the kingdom delegation to cross safely.
"Okay, Ryo, make sure to erase the bridge completely."
Hugh said this after confirming that everyone had crossed.
"Huh? Is that alright? There are still delegations from other countries coming after us..."
"Well? I don’t know, do I?"
Perhaps he still harbored resentment for being forced to take the lead due to the schemes of the former emperor and former king...
Well, with the power of the Empire and the Alliance, they could certainly create a bridge using earth mages, but maybe he wanted to make them struggle a little.
"Buy some time and in the meantime, we’ll establish a trade agreement that favors the kingdom more than the Empire and the Alliance."
It was definitely not a personal grudge from Hugh or a reflection of his small-mindedness.
It was a decision made for the sake of the country!
"Those old geezers, the former emperor and former king, are underestimating us. They should suffer a little!"
...Probably, it was for the sake of the country.
Even after crossing the ice bridge, the delegation continued to move.
Those in Room 10, along with those in Room 11, which they were responsible for, were maintaining the rear guard of the delegation just like before the crossing.
However, among them, the two priests, Eto and Zeek, were walking while looking around, holding something in their hands.
Naturally, Ryo found the sight curious.
"Eto, Zeek, what do you have in your hands?"
It seemed he was more intrigued by what they were holding than their fidgeting.
What they held appeared to be a booklet bound with thread, containing dozens of sheets of paper.
"This? This is a summary of the places the delegation will be visiting. The kingdom has a tradition of creating these kinds of documents and distributing a portion to each party when sending out a large delegation over long distances. They said it’s a tradition dating back to the time of the ancient King Richard, come to think of it."
"It seems to be called 'Travel Itinerary.'"
Eto and Zeek answered while showing the booklet.
"Travel Itinerary..."
What an un-fantastical term...
There was a faint scent of a reincarnator... or rather, Ryo had decided long ago that King Richard was definitely a reincarnator... and that premonition had turned into conviction.
It felt like a school trip booklet...
"So, with that Travel Itinerary in hand, what were you looking around for?"
"Well, according to this, we should be able to see the 'World Tree' soon. It's supposed to be a gigantic tree that pierces the heavens, so I thought it would be obvious to spot it, but I can’t see it."
"Indeed, there are many trees lining the sides of the road, but it’s strange that we can’t see the World Tree," Ryo said, and Eto and Zeek responded that they found it odd not to see the World Tree.
By the way, the other four swordsmen seemed to have no interest in the World Tree at all.
Seeing the contrast between Eto and Zeek and the other four, Ryo began to deeply contemplate the reason for the existence of intellectual curiosity...
As Ryo looked around, he saw quite a few adventurers holding booklets and looking around.
They were probably trying to spot the World Tree as well.
However, it seemed they couldn’t find anything resembling it.
"Could it have withered away...?"
Ryo muttered.
Generally, when people refer to the 'World Tree' on Earth, they mean Yggdrasil from Norse mythology.
In Wagner's "The Ring of the Nibelung," in the fourth part, "Twilight of the Gods," Act 1, Scene 3, the god Odin makes a spear from the branches of the World Tree, which ultimately causes Yggdrasil to wither.
A World Tree that withers due to the acts of gods.
What a symbolic scene that is!
"Humans are foolish, but so are the gods..."
Ryo shook his head slightly and continued speaking to the side.
"Nils too..."
"Yeah, Ryo, choose your next words carefully."
Nils, walking next to Ryo and having heard the part about "humans being foolish," said while placing a hand on his sword.