"Ugh…"
A low groan slipped from his lips as he pressed a hand against his temple.
His head throbbed. His stomach churned.
The kind of discomfort he hadn't felt in a long time.
Slowly, he turned onto his side, reaching blindly toward the table beside the bed—fingers brushing against empty space as he searched for something out of habit.
…Nothing.
He froze for a moment.
"Oh…"
A dry chuckle escaped him.
"Right. I don't have my phone anymore."
He pushed himself up with a groan, rubbing his face as the dull ache refused to fade.
"Did I drink too much last night…?"
The sensation was oddly familiar.
A hangover.
When was the last time he felt like this?
Fourteen years ago… maybe.
Back when he was still that reckless kid back in the neighborhood.
His gaze drifted across the room. He stood up and made his way downstairs toward the kitchen.
He grabbed a cup of water and drank. Only then did he realize Blaze wasn't around.
"Blaze?"
He called out to the crimson manticore as he moved toward the living room where it usually slept.
"Blaze… yoohoooo."
No response.
He scratched his head.
Did it go outside?
He noticed a set of clothes on the table, but ignored them, heading outside to look for his companion.
He stepped outside and found Aerilyn in the front yard, spending time with Blaze and the fox.
"You're finally awake."
She was sitting on the grass with the fox in her arms.
"Sorry, you should've woken me up. Did you need me for something?"
He moved closer and lowered himself onto the grass, exhaling.
"I knocked a few times, but you must have been too tired, so I let you be," Aerilyn said.
"But I'm glad you found our village comfortable enough to lower your guard."
She smiled.
It was his first time seeing her smile since they met the day before.
His gaze lingered on her for a while.
"What?" Aerilyn frowned.
"Huh… I was just wondering, but you do know how to smile after all."
He let out a soft chuckle.
"If you don't want to die, keep your mouth shut."
"Hahah… sorry, I can't help it. You have a beautiful smile."
Lowered my guard, huh…
His fingers idly fumbled with the grass.
While it's true that he relaxed a lot, he was not completely defenseless.
They didn't know it, but Kagen was always watching—from within his shadow.
His gaze wandered, drifting up toward the massive tree.
The scenery was quite different from the almost magical imagery he witnessed when they arrived at night.
In the daylight, the village looked… normal.
But contrary to what he expected from a fantasy world, the houses were not that different from the ones he was familiar with—built from bricks.
He turned his attention back to Aerilyn.
"So… what brings you here this early?"
He asked, curious about the reason and wondering if she was just here to keep an eye on them.
"Eziel asked me to escort you to the elder."
She stood, carrying the fox in her arms, and walked into the house.
He followed from behind.
"I brought you some clothes, see if they fit."
"Ahh… those were for me?"
She nodded.
"I can't bring you to the elder looking like that."
She scanned him from head to toe.
Jade twisted his body, raising his arms as if to cover himself.
"Hey… where were you looking?"
She let out a quiet sigh.
"Just go get yourself a change of clothes."
She pushed him aside and walked toward the door.
"Wait… you rolled your eyes, didn't you? Hey?"
He raised his voice, but Aerilyn was already outside.
He glanced down at his clothes.
They were tattered and worn—clear evidence of how harsh his time in the wilderness had been.
He moved upstairs to change.
But somehow, he felt guilty. It felt like déjà vu—always on the receiving end without giving anything in return.
He had ores, but he doubted they held any value here.
He took off his clothes and changed into the new ones Aerilyn had brought.
It wasn't the cool-looking outfit he had imagined, but it felt soft and flexible.
They seemed tailored to allow free movement in battle.
I should really be thankful to my predecessors.
He gave the outfit one last look before heading downstairs.
As soon as he stepped outside, he struck a pose, showing off his new outfit as if asking, How do I look?
"That looks better."
She gave him a flat compliment.
"Heheh… thanks."
Acting shy, he scratched the back of his neck as he replied.
"You don't look like a beggar now."
She turned and began to walk.
"Hey."
He hurriedly followed behind, frowning.
After catching up to her, they walked side by side, with Blaze following them.
"By the way, do you have a market here?"
"Market?"
"Yes, I was thinking of selling some of my ores... just to cover my expenses."
"You don't have to do that; we can provide you with what you need while you're here."
"I know—and I'm thankful, but…"
He hesitated for a moment.
"I don't want to be a burden if I can help it. You've already provided me a place to stay."
"You can forget about that; money is useless here."
"Ehh… don't you guys' trade with the outside world?"
"We do, but most villagers prefer to barter with goods rather than use currency.
"ohhh..."
Somehow, he could understand what she meant.
The forest already provided the elves with everything they needed.
Trading with the outside world might just be a formality to them.
That said, that was a problem to him.
Selling is one thing—but where to buy what he needed was another.
He fell into deep thought, trying to come up with alternatives.
By then, they had already entered a narrow path that led deeper into the forest. The light dimmed beneath the dense canopy, shadows stretching between the trees as a faint breeze carried the scent of moss and earth. The only sound was the soft crunch of leaves beneath their feet.
After some time, they passed an uphill path—and a wide clearing opened before them.
The forest thinned, revealing an open space nestled at a higher elevation, as if set apart from the rest of the world. The air felt still… almost deliberate.
At the center stood a single tree—ancient, unmoving.
The view reminded him of something he had seen in a video game—except the tree at the center was not a cherry blossom. Yet it was familiar… a miniature version of Yggdrasil.
The space around it was quiet. Undisturbed.
Like a place meant for reflection… or training.
Off to the side stood a modest house, thin trails of smoke rising lazily from its chimney.
"We're here."
They approached the house.
Aerilyn knocked before pushing the door open, silently announcing their arrival.
He quietly followed her inside while Blaze stayed behind.
A strong smell of incense greeted them, which made him wonder if this was a shaman's hut.
"I've brought the visitor."
She informed the elder standing near the window overlooking the view outside.
The elder turned to welcome them.
"Thank you, Aerilyn."
"So… you're the new guy?"
He couldn't respond immediately—stunned by the elder's appearance.
He expected the elder to look— well, like an elder.
But the elder in front of him looked young—stunningly beautiful.
Though he knew elves were famous for their long lives, this was still unbelievable to him.
Was she really that old?
Or do the elves simply call her 'Elder' for another reason?
He snapped out of his thoughts and gave a slight bow, greeting the elder back.
"I'm Jade." He introduced himself, then added. "It's an honor to meet such a beautiful woman."
"Oh my, the boy knows how to please a woman, have a seat."
She gestured for him to sit.
Jade complied while Aerilyn moved to the kitchen.
The elder sat on the opposite side, facing him.
Without realizing it, his sweaty palms were already rubbing against his knees, as if trying to wipe away the nervous sweat forming on them.
"Uhm… Elder."
He cleared his throat before he continued.
Damn… why do I feel so nervous?
"Yes?" The elder prompted. "You can call me Erallienne."
"So, uhm… Lady Erallienne, the tree outside… was that part of the World Tree Yggdrasil?"
"Oh, you know your stuff. Yes—that was part of Yggdrasil... Its root, to be exact."
"The maiden gave me a brief explanation about the World Tree when I stopped by, so… I know a little."
"The maiden?"
"Yes," he nodded.
Erallienne remained silent for a moment before standing.
She walked to a drawer and pulled out a scroll.
"This is a painting of the World Tree, based on what Raul described."
She spread it across the table.
Jade leaned in for a closer look.
It depicted a massive tree, a white serpent coiled around its trunk.
"Yeah… this was the Yggdrasil I saw—though the serpent here seems larger than I remember."
"I see."
She hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"About the maiden… could you tell me more about her?"
"Of course, Lady Erallienne—but I don't know much about her either."
That's right… my appraisal didn't work on her.
So, I couldn't get any information about her.
He paused, thinking about what to say.
"I'm not sure what to tell you, but… I can tell you about our encounter instead, if that's alright." He offered.
"I'd be happy to listen."
Aerilyn returned from the kitchen with tea just as he was about to begin.
For the next few minutes, he shared his encounter with the White Serpent and the maiden... leaving nothing behind.
"That must have been an incredible experience," Erallienne said after hearing his story.
"More like a terrifying one."
He let out a soft laugh.
"Don't say that. Not everyone gets the chance to encounter such a being."
Her fingers traced lightly over the painting.
"That must be why Raul didn't mention anything about the maiden… he never met her."
"Raul? The owner of the statue in the plaza?"
"Yes… or as people called him—Raul the Dragon Slayer."
Wow…
The more he heard about his predecessors, the more amazing they became.
One became an Emperor, the other—a Dragon Slayer.
"They're… really amazing. Incredible individuals."
He picked his tea up and took a sip.
Erallienne smiled at him.
"Who knows… your name might be among them someday."
"Oh, absolutely… I'll be the greatest merchant this world has ever seen."
He laughed—not out of amusement, but at the sheer audacity of his own words.
"Interesting. You don't want to follow the footsteps of your predecessors?"
Jade hesitated, weighing his words carefully.
He stared at the tea as if trying to find an answer in it.
Nothing.
He exhaled.
"Even if I wanted to… I don't have the combat ability, nor the leadership or charisma to do so."
His gaze drifted over the painting before he continued.
"I was just lucky I met Blaze, who's kept me safe this whole time."
The elder listened to him without interrupting, letting him speak his mind.
He removed the pendant hanging around his neck and held it in his hands.
"And this… an artifact left by Elias, an otherworlder who never made it out alive."
At this point, he was half lying—half telling the truth.
And he felt bad about it, but he had a reason for doing so—a secret he must protect at all costs.
To be safe, he had already appraised the elder, making sure she didn't possess any skill that could detect lies.
Still, it was a risk.
The elder's clairvoyance skill—her ability to glimpse the future and communicate with spirits—could pose a threat.
"A pendant?" Erallienne asked.
"Yes… but not an ordinary one."
He put it back on and swiped his hands.
In just a moment, another version of him appeared—a perfect copy.
"It gives the wearer the ability to create illusions."
Erallienne nodded.
Even after his demonstration, the two women remained calm.
That told him, artifacts like his pendant weren't anything new in this world.
"Thanks to this—and the crimson manticore—I managed to survive."
He watched their expression carefully as he explained.
He wasn't sure—he couldn't read them.
But… they showed no sign that they had caught on with his lies—at least for now.
Erallienne finally spoke after listening to him patiently.
"I'm not sure if my words could even mean anything, but… I could see it somehow. Raul was the same when he arrived."
She leaned back, then she added.
"He was half dead when the patrols found him."
"Was that 300 years ago?"
"Yes, a young man… about your age."
Ahh… if that Raul was the battle addict who challenged the maiden…
Then it made sense.
He probably bulldozed his way out—challenging any monster on his path.
He couldn't help but laugh.
"That's... ridiculous."
The words slipped out before he realized it.
"What's ridiculous?" Erallienne asked, confused.
"Oh… I was just talking to myself." He said quickly.
"I was just reminded of something the maiden told me."
"About?" Erallienne prompted him to continue.
"A young man who challenged the maiden—well… probably the white serpent."
He clicked his tongue.
"She even compared me to him—called me a scaredy cat."
Erallienne laughed softly, while Aerilyn, who stayed silent all this time, shook her head.
"Being cautious isn't cowardice," Erallienne said.
"That's probably the reason you made it here in one piece."
He fell silent.
He couldn't refute it… couldn't deny it either.
Oh well…
Time passed as they continued talking.
After a while, Erallienne brought out a crystal ball and placed it on the table.
"Is this a fortune-telling device?" he asked jokingly.
"It's a magic item that can reveal an individual's skill."
"Ahh."
"I called you here so you could get a skill from Yggdrasil, but since you already got one. We're just going to check what it gave you."
She gestured for him to place his hands on the crystal ball.
Right then, cold sweat ran down his back.
He had tried so hard to hide his abilities… and now they were about to see everything.
His feet shook on their own as he hesitantly placed his hands on the crystal ball.
Soon, the ball glowed, and a translucent screen appeared with words written on it—his skill.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Verdant Rebirth:
Transforms the body into a living system that continuously heals, adapts, and evolves toward its healthiest state.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"Ehh!"
Only one?
That's strange.
How about my other skills?
Erallienne's gaze lingered on him for a while.
What?
I'm not in trouble, am I?
"For an otherworlder… You got a rather simple one."
Erallienne couldn't hide her surprise.
"Weak," Aerilyn added bluntly.
Jade glared at her, but she ignored him completely.
"You didn't have to be so harsh, you know."
She just waved him off.
Erallienne chuckled.
"Now, now… don't mind her. But… you do seem to lack ambition."
"True. He only wants money." Aerilyn added again.
He sighed.
"Do I? Can you tell that from my skill?" he tilted his head.
"It doesn't look bad to me, though."
"Right… Though… you don't seem to know the true ability of Yggdrasil."
"What do you mean?"
"It doesn't grant what you think you want… it grants what your heart truly desires."
She paused, then added softly.
"Your skill… shows who you are."
"My heart truly desires?" he muttered, half to himself.
His gaze returned to the translucent screen.
The more he read it, the more he began to understand.
Wait…
Did my past self… sabotage this?
Damn you… I could've gotten something way better.
"Do you understand it now?" Erallienne's voice broke the silence.
He nodded.
"Don't worry, I won't ask about your past," she assured him.
"Thank you,"
A bitter smile formed on his lips.
"Does everyone know about Yggdrasil's true ability?"
"No. Most only know it as a skill-giving tree."
"I see."
All the hairs on his body stood on end.
Only now did he fully understand why the maiden had asked him to make a wish upon Yggdrasil.
As much as he resented his past self for shaping his desires…
He was also grateful.
Because the skill he had received—
Was likely the reason he was still alive.