Game of the World Tree

【 MAGICALFIREARM 】

“Conducting test? Modifications?”

Taylor’s curiosity piqued upon hearing Nightingale’s words.

“It’s a weapon the Chosen Ones developed. They say it’s an improved version of the dwarves’ steam gun. The Chosen Ones seem quite obsessed with it and are very determined on improving it…” Nightingale explained.

However, after finishing her explanation, she shook her head and added,

“Though if you ask me…these kinds of weapons are just auxiliary tools. Personally, I think what truly matters is one’s own strength.”

She continued, her voice filled with pride.

“We elves are the children of nature. Compared to these dwarven weapons, I believe the bow suits us better. It’s said that a legendary elven archer can even take down a fully grown dragon with just a single arrow!”

Nightingale spoke with a very proud expression, evidebtly proud of her elven heritage.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Yet, before Taylor could respond, a stern and elderly voice sounded from behind the ashen-haired woman.

“Indeed, we Elves are the children of nature, but the knowledge of the Chosen Ones is no less miraculous. Stubbornly clinging to our old ways will only hinder progress. So, we must remain humble and strive to learn new things if we wish to grow stronger as a people.”

The voice continued, “Also, keep in mind, the dragonkind has also signed an alliance with our people. Even in hypothetical examples, one must speak with care.”

Hearing that, Nightingale froze, a guilty expression flickering across her face.

Taylor caught the shift in her demeanor, and for the first time, he realized that this seemingly aloof older elf wasn’t as rigid as he initially thought.

Curiosity compelled him to turn toward the source of the voice.

An elderly elf in ceremonial robes stood before them.

His age was pretty apparent, surprising Taylor.

In Taylor’s understanding, every member of the divine clan normally remained eternally youthful. Aging, according to legend, only occurred to them when a Divine Beings lifespans neared their final century.

Hence, there was no doubt in his mind that his older elf standing before them was a venerable elder.

Nonetheless, despite his apparent frailty, the aura he exude was still quite imposing, which is akin to an immovable mountain.

“Uh… Grandfather Samuel, I was wrong,” Nightingale murmured, sticking out her tongue.

Taylor noticed her playful gesture before Nightingale quickly straightened up and respectfully bowed toward the elderly elf.

“Also, good afternoon to you too, Lady Zero.”

Lady Zero?

Taylor blinked in confusion, his gaze shifting between the older elf and finally realizing that another person was standing alongside him.

The woman stood tall and composed, her black armored dress clinging to her form in a way that seemed to enhance her already imposing presence. Her eyes were an unsettling shade of violet-red, gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. 𝙍𝒶ɴốꞖÈ𝘴

Her hair shimmered like moonlight, a deep silver hue that contrasted sharply with the dark armor.

Her features were nothing short of flawless but her expression was seemingly devoid of warmth. It was as if her face had been carved from cold porcelain doll.

“Good afternoon,” she greeted Nightingale with a nod.

Her voice was serene and ethereal, which was very pleasant to hear.

However, Taylor wasn’t captivated by her beauty nor her voice…

What truly shocked him was that, he hadn’t even noticed her presence until Nightingale finally addressed her!

Taylor, a second-tier expert, which was equivalent to an intermediate Iron-ranker, had already undergone significant improvements to his senses after he underwent bloodline purification and became a half-elf.

Yet the odd thing was, he still hadn’t been able to sense the mysterious woman at all!

This could only mean one of two things:

—Either she possessed an extraordinary ability to mask her presence, or her strength far surpassed his senses and comprehension.

And judging from Nightingale’s reaction, Taylor suspected it was actually the latter…

Hence, if that was the case, then this woman named Lady Zero’s status must likely be exceptionally high!

Realizing this, Taylor discreetly glanced around.

He noticed that the previously scattered Chosen Ones in the vicinity were now quietly gathering in their direction, drawn to the presence of the enigmatic elven lady.

One by one, they made their way toward her, their expressions shifting to one of deep respect as they offered greetings. It wasn’t just the usual formalities either—they were all treating her with an intensity that bordered on reverence.

No… it wasn’t merely reverence, per se.

When the Chosen Ones had greeted Nightingale, there had been a slight hint of flattery in their expressions, a respectful recognition of her status. But with Lady Zero, their behavior was something entirely different altogether.

Their deference had transformed into something more extreme—sycophantic even!

Taylor was no stranger to such expressions.

After thirty years of labor—including his time working in the municipal office after retiring from his adventuring party—he recognized that look all too well.

It was the same look typical of those brown-nose bootlickers gave to please their superiors.

Taylor’s curiosity deepened.

…Who exactly is this Lady Zero?

“She’s Lady Zero, the strongest warrior among us elves,” Nightingale whispered to him.

“A true high-ranking expert and the closest divine envoy to the Goddess herself! As for Grandpa Samuel, he’s a Silver-rank Priest whose the acting overseer of the main temple in Florence.”

The strongest?

A high-ranking expert?

The envoy closest to Goddess!?

After hearing this, Taylor finally understood why everyone treated her with such reverence.

He’d read in the Sacred Codex of Life that divine emissaries or those labeled as ‘Godwardens’ were the eyes and hands of their respective Patron Deities here on the material realm.

Therefore, to be labeled as the “closest” to a deity was a testament of someone constantly under the Goddess’s gaze, which is a status reserved for those few elite belonging to the Church.

Moreover, Nightingale had also explained that devout believers could awaken the so-called ‘task system’, granting them the authority to issue tasks to the Chosen Ones.

The more devout the individual, the higher the tasks they could issue.

Henceforth, given Lady Zero’s exalted status, it was only natural that the Chosen Ones would flocked onto her.

Taylor quickly pieced these things together.

At that moment, Nightingale spoke again, addressing both Samuel and Lady Zero:

“U-Um…ahem, Grandfather Samuel and Lady Zero, what brings you here in Kenorland?”

“Ah, I have business with Lord Aél. Lady Zero happened to be traveling the same route,” Samuel replied then glanced at Taylor, his gaze softening as recognition dawned upon his face.

“Oh, a half-elf? You must be one of our new fellow clansmen from the Ouros demi-realm.”

“Yes, I am taking him around the Elven Forest to familiarize himself with our land.” Nightingale deliberately answered on his behalf.

Taylor, noticing Nightingale’s subtle cues, quickly followed her lead and bowed.

“Taylor Rocksand, at your service, Lady Zero, Lord Samuel.”

Samuel’s weathered face broke into a kind smile.

“It has been many years since I’ve seen someone from the Rocksand Clan. Mr. Taylor, welcome to the Elven Forest. It is now your home too, so do relax and don’t be shy.”

The warmth reception he got from the older man put Taylor at ease, though he couldn’t help but wonder why Nightingale seemed so wary of him.

As if sensing his thoughts, Nightingale grinned and said,

“Well, I’ll continue showing Taylor around Kenorland. You both must be busy so don’t let us keep you!”

Before waiting for a reply, she quickly tugged Taylor along, making a swift exit.

Once they were a safe distance away, Nightingale let out a deep breath.

“Phew… that was really nerve-wracking. I didn’t expect to actually run into Grandpa Samuel and Lady Zero here!”

Taylor found her reaction quite puzzling.

…Are they really that intimidating?

Noticing his confusion, Nightingale hurried to clarify, “No, not at all! They’re both actually very kind. It’s just that… w-well, Grandpa Samuel is a bit old-fashioned, you see. He’s a strict vegetarian, and when I first returned to the forest, I joined the Chosen Ones at a barbecue feast. Back then, he really scolded me for it… so ever since then, I’ve been a little afraid of him.”

She paused, licking her lips at the memory.

“But that roasted barbecue meat sure was worth it.”

Taylor opened his mouth with an astonished expression.

Roasted meat?!

So, the divine beings weren’t strictly fruit-eaters as their legends claimed?

He chuckled internally and decided to trust his own observations and judgement over hearsay from now on.

“As for Lady Zero… her presence is simply overwhelming. Whenever I stand in front of her, I always somehow feel pressured and intimidated…”

Nightingale continued.

Intimidating?

Taylor was slightly stunned.

“Well, the perception ability of a halfling like you is still not comparable to that of an elf. You’ll understand when you become a full-blooded elf.”

Taylor’s heart stirred at the thought.

A full-blooded elf…

After listening to Nightingale’s words, Taylor also felt a little excited to complete his transformation, to fully embrace the life of an elf.

After all, the lifespan of a half-elf was only marginally longer than that of a human, whereas pure elves typically lived for thousands of years!

As a resident of Ouros, no one understands the value of life better than himself…

Thinking of this, Taylor made a vow to himself.

Work hard!

Start learning and accumulate merit while doing so here in Kenorland!

Finally, earn the right to fully purify my bloodline!

—Starting today.

༺⟐༻

Was that guy the half-elf whose bloodline I purified?

Evé, whilst disguised as Zero, silently watched Taylor walk away alongside Nightingale, her thoughts stirring.

The Rocksand Clan… I initially assumed the inhabitants of Ouros carried with them the bloodline of the Shadowshade Clan. Based on this assumption, they should have reverted to Shadowshade Clansmen when they purified their bloodlines. Yet, it seems they manifest traits from multiple clans instead.

Perhaps Ouros somehow foresaw that their descendants would purify their bloodlines one day in the future, so he left behind these signs intentionally.

Evé sighed inwardly.

The more she uncovered his machinations, the more she realized just how much effort Ouros had poured into ensuring the elves’ revival.

He was indeed a true hero of the Elvenkind.

“Don’t worry. As long as I’m here, I won’t let the elves suffer such sorrow yet again.”

Murmuring this silent vow, Evé turned her gaze toward a group of players tinkering with a modified steam gun in the distance.

This sudden visit of hers actually wasn’t a random occurrence.

In actuality, she had sensed their successful experiments and grown curious enough to see the results of their tests firsthand.

Well…

To be honest, spending too much time spying on them from her divine kingdom had grown a little stale. Thus, she simply wanted to inspect things personally—a change of pace, so to speak.

After exchanging brief goodbyes with Samuel, who was heading to the temple, Evé made her way toward the players conducting their tests.

These players were actually members of the Moe Moe Committee’s research and development division, which was led by HootyBird.

Evé, having kept an eye on their activities, knew they had first conducted their tests within the vicinity of Chosen City.

That is, until one fateful accident during a particularly ambitious experiment caused a large window of the temple to shatter.

As a consequence, an enraged Saintess Alice swiftly exiled these researchers beyond the city limits, ordering them to continue their experiments there remotely, but somehow, for some reason, they ended up all the way here in the grand city of Kenorland instead.

Whilst seemingly lost in thought, Evé walked leisurely toward these players.

Her arrival didn’t go unnoticed.

Other players nearby quickly gathered, greeting her warmly and asking with some even outright begging for any kind of tasks or quests.

Alas, that was the downside of her current persona…

Since she had issued a few hidden quests before as Zero, players now treated her as the next best thing after the Goddess herself.

Thus, wherever she went, eager players followed behind her footsteps akin to moths being drawn to a light bulb.

Some brought gifts.

Some swore loyalty.

Some even professed their love.

So Evé had to endure every awkward attempt imaginable to gain favor with an NPC.

At first, it was quite amusing actually.

After all, despite her current status as a deity, she still carried remnants of her former human self whose a regular, young person with a small craving for validation.

But over time, getting such attention grew exhausting.

Yet, she had grown accustomed to this persona and hadn’t really thought of the idea of creating a new one.

Besides, the identity of Zero also had its perks, despite the occasional hassle.

For instance…

After approaching these players holding a modified steam gun, Eve’s voice rang out in a soft spoken tone.

“May I see the weapon that you’ve developed?”

The players, thrilled to be addressed by their so called ‘Big Sister Zero’, practically thrust the gun into her hands.

“Of course! Big Sis—no, Lady Zero! Please, inspect it as thoroughly as you wish!”

Eve’s lips twitched imperceptibly before she took the weapon.

This new modified gun had changed drastically from the bulky steam-powered guns purchased from the dwarves.

After players’ modifications, it now resembled the early flintlock muskets from Earth.

No… it wasn’t even a steam gun anymore.

The moment she held it, Evé immediately saw through its internal structure.

Judging by what she’s seeing, this weapon no longer relied on the power of steam.

Nor did it function like the gunpowder-based firearms from Earth.

Now, it was powered by mana.

Hmm, rather than a steam gun…this is more like a magical firearm instead.

Intrigued, Evé examined the delicate magical arrays etched onto the weapon’s surface.

Brilliant.

The players had actually replicated Earth’s early firearm mechanics using magical principles here in Seigües.

By using their own mana as replacement for gunpowder, players could now wield these weapons seamlessly. This setup also finally allowed the skill war sacrifice to activate as if the kills were made by their own hands, thus gaining experience points.

Moreover, this gun can also be integrated with certain class skills, like the sharpshooter’s Heart Shot.

In essence, these magical guns could potentially replace traditional bows.

However, there was a catch—

The weapon’s power depended entirely on the wielder’s magic and strength stat.

This gun when used by a player with low stats would be nothing more than a fancy toy.

But Evé saw this limitation as an opportunity.

This was a fusion of Earth’s technology and Seigües ’ magic.

If the players had simply recreated Earth’s firearms, they’d be powerful yet fixed in their damage output, usable by anyone without distinction.

More importantly, those weapons would be vulnerable to anti-kinetic spells like force-nullifying shields.

But now…

With mana-infused projectiles, this weapon now has a whole new layer of versatility added onto it.

Evé envisioned a future for long-range players, wherein magical firearms such a these can became their primary weapon of choice.

Guns were easier to aim, offered more consistent output, and packed more punch than bows.

Interesting. This isn’t hard to replicate. I could even enhance it further…

Gradually, a plan formed within her mind.

Perhaps I’ll add a variety of magical firearms to the exchange store in the future.

With that thought, Evé casually raised the gun and fired a couple of shots.

The magical bullet whizzed through the air, shattering a distant, crumbling stone pillar hundreds of meters away.

The surrounding players gasped in amazement.

To Evé, it was nothing extraordinary.

She wasn’t proficient with firearms, but her immense magical power and precise control made aiming trivial.

In her previous life, such feats were unimaginable.

But now, with her being a god, even basic tasks such as aiming felt effortless.

After fiddling with the weapon for a bit, she handed it back to them.

“Lady Zero, what do you think?”

“How’s the handling?”

The players eagerly awaited her feedback.

Eve paused, then nodded sincerely.

“It’s a remarkable invention. Well done.”

Their faces lit up with pride as subsequent cheers erupted.

“Haha! We got praised!”

“Did you guys hear that? Good work everyone!”

“Whoa, the reward includes favor points!”

“Big Sis, I love you!”

Eve’s expression remained calm—though her mouth twitched slightly again upon hearing that term yet again.

While still maintaining Zero’s cool and aloof demeanor, she silently activated her divine power.

Moments later, a system notification popped up for each player involved in the project:

【❗ 】

【 You’ve gained the recognition of Godwarden Zero for your modified weapon. 】

【 Rewards: Favorability +10, Experience Points: 10,000, Contribution Points: 5,000 】

Stunned silence followed for a moment before a raucous celebration quickly followed afterwards.

“Whoa! There’s a reward for the gun we developed!”

“Getting that favorability boost was totally worth it!”

“Big Sis Zero is the best!”

Eve: “…”

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

Maintaining Zero’s mystique was getting harder and harder by the day.

Let’s make this a regular occurrence. Rewarding innovative inventions will motivate them to create more things like these…

Evé mused silently.

No doubt, players might one day leave Seigües.

But the knowledge they developed and imparted would certainly remain.

And these knowledge would become the elves’ newfound strength.

Watching the jubilant crowd, Evé felt a surge of satisfaction.

That is until…

A faint, desperate prayer reached her ears—urgent, fearful, and tinged with despair.

Frowning, Evé immediately vanished, teleporting back to her divine kingdom.

The players weren’t surprised by the abrupt departure.

“Ah, there she goes again. Always acting so mysterious.”

“Yeah, I was hoping to cozy up to her more…”

Seeing Zero leave, numerous disappointed sighs filled the air.

— 475 —

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