Chapter 319: Elf and Yggdrasil

"Woods of Yggdrasil?..."

If Yggdrasil was here, then this must be Alheim. But I didn’t recognize this forest. Alheim was supposed to be surrounded by wide grasslands with a pleasant breeze flowing through them. I didn’t recall any eerie forest like this.

Even Yggdrasil itself felt... sinister for some reason.

"What? You’ve even forgotten about this forest?"

"Forgotten? Who wiped my memory?"

"It’s Yggdrasil. It’s a miracle you’re still alive, even if your memories are gone."

Yggdrasil stole the memories of elves? Was that even possible?

"Dairon... Mr. Dairon."

"Dairon is fine. What is it?"

"Right, Dairon. Why are you here?"

"Probably the same reason as you. I came to get the fruit of Yggdrasil."

"Fruit of Yggdrasil?"

"My son, Sairos, is afflicted with [Vimris Disease]. I led my subordinates here to find the cure."

Vimris Disease is a deadly illness exclusive to elves, and those who contract it die within months. It’s the only disease that can kill elves, a race known to live for thousands of years with resistance to illness and curses.

But by my time, Vimris Disease had been eradicated, and all elves had developed antibodies against it.

"So the patriarch of the Clindair tribe caught Vimris, and you’re here to get the Yggdrasil fruit to make the cure?"

That story made sense...

According to Dairon, his comrades had also come to the forest. But the monsters of the Woods of Yggdrasil had attacked them, leaving Dairon as the sole survivor. Upon closer inspection, I noticed his body was covered in wounds.

"Dairon, you lost all your comrades, but you’re still determined to get the Yggdrasil fruit?"

"Of course! My son will be the future of the elven tribe. I have to save him, no matter the cost! Besides... I can't let my subordinates' sacrifices be in vain."

His eyes burned with fierce determination. Even though he was alone, there was no trace of fear or hesitation in him.

"...I see. I don’t remember my past, but let me help you get the Yggdrasil fruit."

I could die here, return to my former world, but Leaffa's father—my father-in-law—was dying. I couldn’t ignore that. I had to help Dairon.

"I see... Then I’ll rely on your strength and luck, since you’ve made it this far despite your amnesia, Ernol."

"Yes."

After that, Dairon and I set off towards Yggdrasil. Along the way, I asked him many things about elves and Yggdrasil, using my "amnesia" as an excuse.

In this era, Yggdrasil was an existence that no one could easily approach. However, in my time, Sylph, the Spirit King and the personification of Yggdrasil, was a close ally of humans. If Sylph were here, I could probably negotiate for the fruit. But right now, she was in the process of being reborn.

For the next hundred years, while Sylph was being reborn, no race—elves included—could approach Yggdrasil. Ironically, it was also during this period that the fatal Vimris disease appeared.

"If you get too close to Yggdrasil, it steals your memory?"

"Yes. You’ll forget why you’re here, what you're doing... until the monsters attack. Some even forget how to fight, leaving them defenseless."

Y-Yggdrasil was that dangerous?! Was it really that kind of tree?

But it was growing just fine in my backyard...

Oh, I even gave one to Miu. Should I take it back?

"If it wipes your memory, how are you planning to find the fruit?"

"Yggdrasil sets a trial for those who seek the fruit. If you pass, you get the fruit. But—"

"If you fail, you lose your memory... Is that it?"

"Exactly. You probably failed once too."

Ah... so Yggdrasil's trials were like those of the Sphinx.

"Still, you're lucky. If you lost your memory, that means you made it all the way to Yggdrasil."

I see...

Dairon had lost his comrades in this forest. For the elves of this era, Yggdrasil was far beyond reach, and just reaching the tree was a huge accomplishment.

Apparently, I had made it that far. But with the excuse of amnesia, I could claim not to remember what the trial had been.

"Very well. I don’t recall anything about Yggdrasil’s trial, but I believe I can fight alongside you."

Even though the Evil God’s curse had forced me to transmigrate, I could still remember all the sword techniques I had learned as the Guardian Hero. I also remembered everything Tina had taught me.

This elf body seemed well-trained, and a mithril sword—the preferred weapon of elves—was hanging at my waist.

So I was confident I could fight.

The only problem was what kind of trial Yggdrasil would throw at us.

I couldn’t let Dairon lose his memory. After all, he was Leaffa’s grandfather.

I had to pass this trial, not just for Sairos, my father-in-law, but for Dairon’s sake too. He was crucial to the elves' future.

What kind of test would Yggdrasil have in store for us?

As I pondered, Dairon and I continued through the forest.

──＊＊＊──

"Ernol, you’re really strong."

The closer we got to Yggdrasil, the more powerful and numerous the monsters became. But they weren’t a problem for Dairon and me.

"You too, Dairon. You’re the strongest elf I’ve ever met."

Though not as strong as Sairon.

"By the way, Dairon, you told me all your comrades had been annihilated, but that’s not true, is it? You didn’t bring anyone with you in the first place, did you?"

There’s no way someone as strong as him would let his entire team be wiped out without saving them.

"Hm? Oh... Yeah, you caught on, huh? I came here alone."

...As I thought.

"Sorry. I figured you’d be more likely to help me if I said my comrades had died. I apologize for lying."

"It’s fine. I also have things I can’t tell you."

"I see... Is that related to your strength, Ernol?"

"Yes, it is."

At least he didn’t seem to doubt my amnesia.

"Can I assume you’ll continue helping me get the Yggdrasil fruit?"

"Of course."

"Thank you. This is a bit off-topic, but if we succeed, would you consider working for me? I may seem like this, but I am still the chief of my tribe. We could also provide compensation to Clindair. Besides—"

"You plan to unify the entire elven race, don’t you?"

"H-How did you know?!"

Sairos was the first elven king to unite all the scattered elven tribes and establish the Kingdom of Alheim beneath Yggdrasil. His name was recorded in elven history, known even to children.

And since I had married into the royal family of Alheim, I had studied their history to some extent.

"Call it a hunch. But I believe you can do it, Dairon."

Actually, I was certain he would. After all, I already knew how the future would unfold.

"If we succeed in getting the Yggdrasil fruit, I will ask one favor from you."

I needed to break this curse and return to my own time.

Even though I couldn’t rely on intuition right now, I felt that things would work out, and Dairon would help me when the time came.