Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

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Although we couldn’t communicate through spoken words, the Elf Woman and I managed to convey our intentions through simple gestures.

It was body language.

The Elf Woman smiled gently and beckoned me. As she walked ahead and turned back to gesture, it seemed she was signaling me to follow.

I strolled through the forest behind her. A refreshing breeze brushed against my cheeks. As the wind danced through the trees, the movement of the leaves scattered brilliant green light everywhere.

Saaah—

The trees swaying in the wind produced a soothing sound. Occasionally, the chirping of birds blended softly with the melody.

My lingering wariness melted away, and my heart felt light. The vibrant life surrounding me brought comfort, and closing my eyes made me feel as if I were floating in the sky.

It seemed the Nightmare liked this place too. It joyfully trotted along by tapping the grass and dirt beneath its feet.

I tilted my head back to gaze at the massive tree, the World Tree. Towering high, it was adorned with numerous wooden buildings hanging off it like ripe fruit.

Yet strangely, there was no sense of awkwardness. It felt completely natural, as if those buildings were meant to be there all along.

Along the way to the World Tree, a wide lake spread out. Thick vines growing on the path acted like a bridge, leading to the other side of the lake.

As a cool breeze ruffled the lake’s surface, wide ripples spread out.

As I started to cross the thick vine bridge, more elves revealed themselves from various spots around me. From small children to the elderly, their sparkling eyes were filled with warm kindness and curiosity.

I waved at the elves, especially the children. Their smiles stretched from ear to ear as they waved back in response.

The kindness of humans is a familiar feeling. However, the warmth from elves—their existence fading from human memory—was a unique experience.

Thus welcomed by the elves, I crossed the bridge and set my steps toward the towering tree.

The path from the ground up was supported by thick vines, and as I climbed higher, I found a path made of sturdy branches.

Not all elves were flying elegantly through the air as I had seen in the forest with the seed. Only a few danced in the wind, while most walked along the ground normally.

Now and then, some elves approached to speak. Naturally, I couldn’t understand them as our conversations didn’t sync.

Before long, I arrived at the largest building constructed atop the World Tree. It was a massive temple made entirely of wood, and a dim light emanated from inside.

The Female Elf motioned to me, urging me to enter the wooden temple.

As I stepped into the grand temple, I witnessed a rather astonishing sight.

Thin wooden branches stretched out from everywhere into the air. These branches connected to a female elf’s body.

The source of the gentle light was the female elf linked to the wooden branches. She sat with her eyes closed on a chair, and as I approached, she began to open her eyes softly.

“니будь…”

I couldn’t understand the initial words. However, the following words were in a language I recognized as human.

“Seris… I have been waiting for you.”

“Y-you know me?”

I was flabbergasted by the female elf’s words. Rather than joy at speaking with someone who could communicate, I was startled that she knew my name without me telling her.

“The wind tells a lot of things.”

The female elf said this as she raised her left hand, connected to the wooden branches.

A faint breeze gathered in her delicate palm. It was the same wind that had wildly tickled my cheeks and tugged at my hair earlier.

As I stared at this sight, I suddenly remembered a promise I made long ago in the forest. I pulled out a small seed and handed it to the female elf.

“Um, please take this. I’ve brought what I was asked to deliver.”

The female elf merely stared at the seed I offered without extending her hand. Bewildered, I tilted my head in confusion as she spoke.

“Did you really come all this way just to deliver this seed?”

“Yes.”

“Even though no exchange was promised…?”

“Yes.”

“I might not provide any reward in return for this seed. Are you truly acting without hesitation?”

“Um… I might feel a little regretful, but…”

As I said this, I turned back to look at the open entrance of the temple, where the view of the scenery was visible in one glance.

The vast forest and the surrounding billowing white clouds. The sparkling clear lake truly was beautiful.

Coming all the way here to find the elves, who have now become legends, was purely my own will. It meant I hadn’t come looking for any special reward.

So, I had no regrets about my actions.

“I consider my knowledge of a world unknown to me as a reward.”

“You are…”

“I’m an adventurer.”

In the future, just like other adventurers, I wanted to toast with many people, reminiscing about this day.

Back then, I had traveled to many places.

I wanted to say that the legends were real.

It wouldn’t matter if someone didn’t believe me. Even without a way to prove what happened today, every memory I gathered on the way here wouldn’t turn false. Those experiences would become small stars and light up my world even more.

I turned and approached the female elf to hand her the seed.

“Can I ask you something I’m curious about?”

The female elf appeared taken aback by my question.

But soon, she smiled brightly, holding the seed tenderly in her hands, and replied.

“Of course.”

“What is your name?”

“Eres… I am Eres.”

Eres… As I rummaged through my hazy memories, I recalled that ‘Eres’ meant wind in the elven language.

I pulled a small notebook from my bag and began asking Eres the questions I was most curious about.

“What role does the seed I brought serve?”

“It is a seed of the World Tree that supports this forest. You could call it the core of a spirit filled with countless possibilities and abundant life.”

“What is the name of the whale that is flying with this forest?”

“That child’s name is Raben.”

“Why does Raben carry the elves’ forest? If it’s a difficult question, it’s fine not to answer.”

“It was a sort of trade. We needed a place to live away from dark mages and demons, and Raben could provide such a place.”

“What did you offer in exchange to Raben?”

“At that time, Raben was sick. The illness that consumed its great body was gnawing away at Raben’s life span, and we could supply life energy to prevent the disease from worsening.”

“Is your condition related to Raben?”

Eres nodded. I tossed out numerous trivial questions besides that. I asked everything from whether elves really didn’t eat meat as humans knew to whether hybrids could exist between elves and humans.

Eres answered all my queries without any signs of discomfort.

I closed my book and nodded my head. Since all my curiosities were satisfied, further questions seemed meaningless. Of course, one final question remained.

“Eres.”

“Yes?”

“Do the elves plan to not show themselves in this world again?”

“Seris. The passing years have become a high wall. Just as we are erased from human society, we too are forgetting humans.”

“Hmm…”

“Of course, the wall that has built up will one day crumble. If only more time passes. But that is not now. If the seeds scattered on the ground return here…”

Thus, after a long conversation, I was about to pull the reins of the Nightmare to return. Just then, Eres, who had been looking at me, spoke up.

“Seris. Please come a bit closer.”

I tilted my head in curiosity as I stepped closer. She then reached out her hand toward me.

At that moment, thin wood began to sprout from Eres’s hand, intertwining and forming the shape of a small bow.

“Seris. We elves are not a race that forgets kindness. This gift symbolizes the bond between you and us elves and is the key for you to return here.”

“A key…?”

“When needed, just once. Place that bow into the ground. Then, a path will open.”

I nodded in a dazed manner as I slung the short bow Eres gave me over my shoulder.

“I’ll make good use of this gift.”

“Are you planning to leave now?”

“Oh, yes.”

“Then I shall open the path of wind for you.”

Eres raised her hand as she spoke. Winds from the surroundings began to converge toward her hand, revealing a fierce storm outside the temple.

It was a long path of wind that stretched beyond the white clouds.

It seemed they wanted me to ride that, but would it be safe?

As I pulled the reins of the Nightmare, I approached the wild storm. The fiercely swirling wind did not spill out around; it flowed only along the long path downward.

I looked back and waved at Eres.

It was a farewell of sorts.

Eres gazed at me, smiling weakly, then closed her eyes while sitting in her chair. From behind her, many wooden branches began to emit green light.

I jumped up the path of wind with the Nightmare. The strong storm, carrying the Nightmare and me, swiftly began to flow downward.

I passed through the shimmering green forest to face the massive whale, Raben. Its enormous eyelids flickered through the clouds as if bidding me farewell.

The rough wind caused the Nightmare’s mane and my hair to soar into the air.

I flew past the white clouds under the darkened night sky. And soon, a snowy land spread out before me.

On the vast expanse of white snow, small lights twinkled. I could see people wandering through the forest, holding campfires or lamps.

It was definitely Celyon and the party members. I pulled the reins of the Nightmare and soared toward them.