The interior of Nidhogg was tidy. But too tidy, one might say.


    There was nothing but the hull made of roots.


    “Isn’t there supposed to be at least basic facilities?”


    “They are there. They’re just hidden most of the time. People can board, and cargo can be loaded, but there’s no need to have them out all the time.”


    “Usually, that’s why passenger ships and cargo ships are separated.”


    “Hoho, Nidhogg isn’t an ordinary ship, you see?”


    Elisha, shrugging her shoulders, reached out to the massive wall-like hull.


    Magic gathered at the tips of her slender fingers, soon transforming into well-refined water magic.Pushing this magic, which seemed about to drip like droplets, into the hull…


    <em>Kugung.</em>@@novelbin@@


    With a heavy sound, the roots of the hull wriggled, and from within, a thick tree trunk rose.


    A single red fruit formed on the rapidly growing tree trunk.


    Elisha, snatching and biting into this fruit, continued with a satisfied expression.


    “Like this, if you think of what you want while using well-refined water magic, it pops out. Though it’s only possible with what’s already prepared.”


    “Eeehhh…”


    Futuristic technology, huh? I knew from the staff’s behavior earlier that not just anyone could board, but… was this even reasonable?


    While staring nkly at the fruit tree sprouting from the hull, something suddenly entered my mouth.


    “Eub?”


    Elisha had given me a piece of the fruit she was eating.


    As I bit into it, sweet juice spread across my mouth. Oddly, the aftertaste was slightly sour, which made it feel even fresher.


    “Tastes good, right?”


    “Yeah.”


    “It’s a fruit called Elshasha, which you can only eat on Nidhogg.”


    “Elshasha sounds simr to your name, Elisha.”


    “Oh? Maybe that’s why you’re enjoying me so much.”


    “…”


    A sex joke at this timing?


    I managed to swallow the piece of Elshasha only after pounding on my chest, which had choked on the jest, and Elisha giggled at the sight.


    “How do you like it? Do you like it?”


    “…I like it very much. I like it so much that I want to pick and eat another one.”


    “I’m d you like it, but you shouldn’t eat too many. They’re incredibly high in calories. Eating just three can sustain you for the whole day without needing any other food.” ????Ｎ??Ё?


    “It doesn’t feel like it would fill you up that much, though?”


    “That’s why they’re usually used as emergency rations.”


    Did Ca, who was touching the Elshasha branch curiously, get startled by something Elisha said? She screamed and fell.


    “Hieek! Bad tree…!”


    Holding the trembling Ca in my arms, I looked around.


    The door of the hull closed after we boarded, but Nidhogg still showed no signs of moving.


    “But you said it would move as soon as we had the leaf of the World Tree. Is there a problem?”


    “Hmm. Maybe it got upset because you said you’d brew it like tea to make medicine?”


    “Really? So, it’s not just a leaf but has its own consciousness?”


    I looked at the leaf of the World Tree with a new sense of wonder.


    It was just the size of a palm, but the life force emanating from it was astonishing.


    It wouldn’t be strange if it really was alive.


    With a hopeful heart, I tapped the tip of the leaf and whispered.


    “Hey, are you crying?”


    “…You. That’s notforting; that’s teasing.”


    No way. I was genuinely trying to form a connection.


    While I was reeling from the shock, Iris, who had approached unnoticed,ughed and said,


    “Didn’t I tell you repeatedly? Comforting from the Master isn’t reallyforting. But, oh well… no need to worry. Elisha was just joking a bit. There’s another reason it’s still stationary.”


    “Is that so?”


    I red at her, but Elisha had already lifted Iris up, hiding behind her.


    What’s this teacher shield?


    Now, Iris, who offered no resistance when lifted, continued speaking while iling her legs in the air.


    “Since the moment we entered, the signal was sent. By now, the route adjustment should beplete.”


    “Route adjustment?”


    “There are paths stretching to every corner of this vast Great Forest. Since we might need to make stops here and there, it’s naturallyplicated. But since we have only one destination, they’re setting up the quickest path to Yggdrasil.”


    So… in a way, it’s like switching from a local train to an express?


    “Why bother with that…? Wouldn’t it be more efficient to just follow the set route?”


    “Moving the roots is the same either way, so there’s no real difference. Moreover, aren’t we esteemed guests who need to be transported as quickly andfortably as possible?”


    “Ah.”


    Now that I thought about it, that made sense.


    “There might also be things we need to prepare for on our end. Securing the carriage, setting up necessary facilities, and such.”


    “So, we’re waiting for that time?”


    “Exactly. Once preparations are done, just touch anywhere on the hull and wish to depart with a bit of magic.”


    Iris exined that if the route adjustment wasplete, it would depart immediately; otherwise, it would emit magic again if more time was needed.


    “Okay. Let’s start by bringing out the amenities. We don’t know how long it’ll take, but Yggdrasil is deep in the Great Forest, right? We won’t get there in just a few hours.”


    “Hmm. It’ll take about three days.”


    “Is that so? Anything you rmend?”


    “For most things, Helena’s carriage would be morefortable, so let’s start by getting some snacks and drinks. What Elisha brought out was just fruit for energy replenishment. We’ll also need some entertainment.”


    “Oh. Sounds good. If there’s anything you rmend, let’s bring that out first.”


    “Leave it to me. Elisha, let’s go over there.”


    “Yes, Teacher.”


    Iris, still dangling, gave instructions to Elisha.


    It didn’t take long for the empty Nidhogg to fill up.<hr>


    <em>Gggeuuk.</em>


    With a strange sound, Nidhogg began to move. We all gathered around the table set up in the center to watch.


    The liquor stored in Nidhogg was an added bonus, each of us having a ss.


    “It’s impressive.”


    “It’s only natural, being technology imbued with the essence of Alfheim. Though it might disappear now.”


    “They’re just going to get rid of something this good? Why?”


    “It’s not about getting rid of it. It’s about it bing unusable.”


    “???”


    Confused by what this meant, I tilted my head, and Elisha, beside me, gave a wry smile and exined instead.


    “It’s a simple story. You know what happens to elves who have lost spirit magic, as you’ve heard from Teacher, right?”


    “It’s like losing the backbone of elven society, isn’t it? They’re managing somehow with the remaining spirit stones and elemental magic now…”


    “Spirit stones will eventually be depleted, and elemental magic isn’t efficient enough to fully rece spirit magic.”


    It wasn’t that elemental magic was inferior to spirit magic. It was just a matter ofpatibility.


    Though they shared somemonalities, allowing for some substitution…


    The power of nature used directly by spirits and the elemental magic based on the fundamental elements of the world were distinctly different forces.


    “The same goes for Nidhogg. It was originally made to connect this vast Great Forest as one. At first, only High Elves or the rich could use it, but the n was to increase the numbers until everyone could use it…”


    “So, because spirit magic was banned, it was abandoned?”


    “Pretty much. It was only operated for important asions. The problem is…”


    “The problem is that ces like this aren’t just one or two?”


    “…”


    Elisha nodded silently.


    I see. I didn’t really grasp it just from hearing about it, but seeing it firsthand, I understand now.


    If they’d put all their eggs in the spirit magic basket to this extent, Alfheim could really fall. There was a reason why Elisha and Iris were so serious about elemental magic.


    Perhaps because the atmosphere had gotten heavy, Iris, with a cheerful voice, snatched my ss.


    “Don’t worry too much. It’ll be fine for at least another 100 years. Look now. Originally, controlling Nidhogg required the power of tree spirits, but now we can at least send signals using water magic like this. We’ll definitely find a way eventually, whether it’s me or Elisha who figures it out.”


    After saying this, Iris brought the half-empty ss to arge leaf nearby.


    <em>Drip, drip.</em>


    A milky liquid flowed from inside the hull, running down the leaf into the ss.


    “So, for now, let’s have a drink. Or rather, drink as much as you can.”


    “What kind of liquor is this? It seems different from the one before.”


    “Hmm. As you know, elves have keen senses, so once they open their eyes to carnal desires, they can easily get addicted. Hence, the custom to value chastity even more.”


    “I know that well from nightly checks. No need to remind me.”


    “Think about it. For women, feeling more is good for themselves and pleases their partner, but what about men?”


    “Huh.”


    Thinking of elves turned into premature ejactors—no, experts in quick shots, I felt pity well up inside me.


    Iris, seeing my shocked face, gave a subtle smile.


    “Therefore, traditional elven liquor contains many ingredients good for stamina.”


    “Surely not this liquor too?”


    “Why not? This is called ‘Psyche’s Tears,’ a very high-ss liquor. Naturally, its effects are potent.”


    As soon as Iris finished speaking, I downed the full ss in one go.


    Contrary to the refreshing aroma clearing my head, a fiery heat poured down my throat and into my stomach.


    Surprisingly, that heat spread from my stomach down to my lower regions.


    <em>Wow! This is a magic elixir!</em>