For Sale. Fallen Lady. Never Used.

Naturally, carriages were meant for well-paved roads, not suitable for forest paths.

“Don’t worry. This Great Southern Forest is so vast; do you think we would run all the way to Yggdrasil, the capital?”

In the spacious carriage, which was larger than most high-end accommodations, Iris, who was leisurely reading Fafnir’s magic book while being served by Pamela, spoke up.

Good heavens. Who would see her as a slave?

Well… even though she was technically a slave, to Pamela, Iris was still a noble High Elf, a great Tower Master, and a trustworthy superior.

Since she wasn’t forced into this role, I just took it in stride and asked back.

“If not on foot, is there a special way to move within the Great Southern Forest?”

By the way, in H&A, they didn’t explain the exact method of travel. It just had a loading screen, and then we were in Yggdrasil.

Although Fafnir’s soul fragment provided some inspiration, H&A was ultimately made by an ordinary game company.

No matter how detailed the scenery in my head might be, they would skip over parts that were tedious or not fun.

Traveling from the outer edges of the Great Southern Forest to Yggdrasil was one such case.

On a regular road, you might encounter bandits or, very rarely, monsters. There were monsters that escaped from a collapsed dungeon, descendants of some that survived the Great War, or those that escaped from a collector’s display.

Additionally, you could meet special merchants to buy items not available through normal means, encounter wandering bards singing praises of the protagonist’s deeds, or enjoy unique events with your party in scenic spots.

Travel itself was a form of content due to the various experiences it offered.

But the Great Southern Forest was an exception.

With the World Tree’s influence palpable, elves patrolling with their eyes wide open, and areas out of sight filled with unusually strong flora and fauna, it was a rugged terrain.

The scenery was beautiful, but no matter how much you wandered, it was hard to come across any significant events.

That was why H&A’s developers cut out the travel content within the Great Southern Forest.

And that was why I had no clue about how to move inside this forest.

Even though elves moved nimbly in the woods and received buffs from the World Tree’s blessing within the forest, they wouldn’t run through this vast forest, right…?

There must be something. There had to be… but what method could it be? Honestly, it was exciting to encounter an unknown setting after so long.

Maybe my eager gaze was too much for her. Iris flinched for a moment but then continued after a light cough.

“Ahem. It’s simple. If it’s not just us moving but the forest itself that moves with us, wouldn’t that work?”

“???”

After pondering for a while, I cautiously spoke up.

“Iris… trees can’t move. Well, they can, but they’re too slow to carry us around.”

“…Stop looking at me like I’m some child lost in a fairy tale. The forest really will guide us.”

After looking around for a moment, Iris gestured towards the village getting closer, or rather, towards what was more like a theme park for foreigners.

“We have to pass through there anyway. Just go and show anyone the leaf of the World Tree and say you’ve been invited to Yggdrasil.”

“Fine. But if it’s nothing special, I’ll carry you on my shoulders while we talk to Chancellor Milone.”

“Wh-what if it’s the opposite, Master?!”

“I’ll praise you.”

“?”

“What more do you need?”

“……”

Iris pouted her lips as if to say that wasn’t enough… but what could she do?

If she didn’t like it, she should have been the master.

---

“Oh! You were the guests of the World Tree! Come this way! You can go directly to Yggdrasil through the Path of Roots!”

Initially, the elven woman greeted us with a fake smile and a typical fairy-like demeanor, thinking we were tourists, but she subtly showed contempt when she noticed I had slave elves with me…

However, her attitude completely changed when I showed the World Tree’s leaf.

Her smile became genuinely welcoming, and she nodded as if understanding there must be some reason, then guided us to the center of the village.

In the center was a tree larger than any other tree house. We didn’t head towards the house above but to a hidden path leading underground.

Once we cleared away the undergrowth, a wide path revealed itself, allowing us to proceed with the carriage without dismounting.

Following the elf from the folk village, we descended for a while until we came upon an open space.

A strange space entirely covered by tree roots. Although it was underground, the glowing moss attached to the roots provided light.

What appeared was the River of Roots.

A vast river-like path composed of hundreds, thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of intertwined roots. On this, a large boat made of roots was anchored.

“Wow… it’s sparkling, Master!”

“To think there’s such a facility underground. Junior, this isn’t fake, right?”

“Here, here. It’s not my first time, but it’s impressive every time.”

“Ahem.”

Admiration came out naturally, and Iris, puffing up with pride, started to nudge me with a penguin-like posture, her shoulders full of pride.

“What do you think, Master? Do you believe me now? There are such underground spaces in the major cities of Alfheim.”

“……”

“As you can see, if you get on that boat, the roots below will flow, quickly taking you to your destination. Ah, since it’s on the upper part of the roots encircling the deeper underground like a belt, you don’t have to worry about the path disappearing as it moves; it can circulate infinitely.”

“……”

“So? Do you believe me now? The forest moving us is right, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. You’re right.”

I hadn’t thought of this. A subway system operating like a moving walkway under the Great Southern Forest.

While I was staring blankly at the massive root-made boat, Iris now took my hand and shook it gently.

“Come on! Now praise me! We made a promise! Since I was right, you should praise me all day today! Ooh and ah at every little thing!”

“What? So, this is how we’re settling it?”

“Didn’t you decide that?! If there’s something else… Hmm? I might not need anything else…”

I’d provided more than enough for food, clothing, and shelter, lent her Fafnir’s magical compendium, given unlimited research support, and recently shared enlightenment to give her a hint for the next step.

Realizing she was being perfectly taken care of, Iris quietly stuck out her head.

“Just praise me then.”

“Sure.”

Of course, I wasn’t just going to pat her head and heap praise.

“Up we go.”

“Hic?!”

Lifting her light body, I hoisted her onto my shoulders, where she flailed about, but her resistance wasn’t enough to escape.

“Put me down! Isn’t this supposed to be a penalty for when you’re right?”

“A penalty? I’m giving you a ride as a form of praise.”

“Who would see this as praise?!”

“I do.”

Iris, unable to either pull my hair or hit my head, wore a distressed look.

However, when I promised to let her down once we reached Yggdrasil, she quickly calmed down.

…Though the elf guiding us seemed a bit taken aback by me carrying Iris on my shoulders, she diligently did her job.

Thud.

When something was manipulated in front of the large boat, a door opened smoothly. And it didn’t end there.

Roots grew from where we stood, connecting the platform to the boat.

From what I could see, it seemed they could adjust the door and path to fit any size.

This meant anything smaller than the boat could be transported. To think there was such a transport system in this era.

While I was marveling inside, the elf employee, as if her duty had ended there, stepped back and pointed at the root boat.

“It’s called Nidhogg. Normally, setting the destination is a bit complicated, but since you have the World Tree’s leaf, it should be fine. The great will within will handle everything.”

“Ah? So we just get on then?”

“Yes. There are basic facilities inside, but if you need a more detailed explanation…”

“It’s okay. I have many elves in my group; I’ll ask them.”

“…Understood.”

The employee nodded, looking at Elisha, who, despite being a slave, was clearly a High Elf with a robust build compared to the slender other elves, assuming she would know more.

Noticing this, Iris whispered softly.

“Me, I’m also a High Elf…”

Unfortunately, Iris’s mutterings were drowned out by the sound of the moving carriage, dispersing into nothingness.

*…Go for it! *

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