Chapter 150
Chapter 150. The Return of the King
-So, you saved that long-eared fellow?
-I negotiated with the one who was pulling him in the dream. The Healing Spring was used well. Thanks to that, Aron is moving just fine even after waking up.
After sending Ellarion and Arurion off on a Wing Vessel, Yul briefly transformed into an orca and spoke with Tuania.
The other orcas were also observing him, seeming to prefer the familiar form of an orca over the outward appearance of the Deep King Tribe.
-That ability, can we learn it too? I mean our old form.
-Polymorph? You need a gem on your forehead. And it’s an extremely difficult ability to obtain.
Among the Seaborn, only Yul possessed the Polymorph skill. Unless it was a race like Midora that had an innate Polymorph ability, using it was impossible.
Skill fruits like this would eventually appear here and there, and since everyone was eager to collect them, someone would obtain Polymorph sooner or later.
-Seems like everyone dislikes the black skin.
In truth, all orcas have black skin.
-We were always black, but now it’s become such a pitch-black that it doesn’t even reflect light, so they hate it. Everyone also seems dissatisfied that the size of the white patches has gotten smaller.
There are different kinds of black. Their heads now looked like completely light-absorbing, pitch-black spheres.
The white patch above the eyes had always been an important feature of orcas, but now even that was gone.
-Anyway, what are you planning to do from now on, Tuania?
-I’m going to rebuild the Orca Tribe.
Yul fell into thought for a moment after hearing that.
As the Aeons created new rules, they made a declaration until the next Heaven and Earth Resonance.
It was that sea creatures living in groups would become fragmented.
Yul knew about the power that governed fate. He himself had become the axis of the Heaven and Earth Resonance because he had been drawn by that fate.
He remembered one declaration made when the Indeterminate of Creation, Oron, descended.
《All sea creatures will value individuals and family units more than groups. However, this change will occur very slowly, gradually, over a long period of time.》
‘Can the Orca Tribe really be maintained?’
Yul asked himself that question.
They had fled to the Deep Sea to avoid the declaration of the Aeons. And the Deep Sea was a domain beyond the reach of the Existence of the Moon.
‘Then are they safe?’
There was no way to know. They had no gems. They might not be bound by the rules of the Aeons…….
But in the long term, there was room for problems, and as stated in that declaration, fragmentation would occur slowly over a long period of time.
For now, the Orca Tribe could likely be revived.
-But I’ve been hearing that human sailing ships are appearing frequently around here.
-Really?
-Before the Heaven and Earth Resonance, you could occasionally spot ships, but these days they travel in groups. The orcas think this place is no longer safe. Sometimes they fire black spheres from those long rods that emit loud blasts among themselves.
It seemed humans were even bombarding each other. And naturally, even Deep Sea Orcas, now familiar with shadows, could die if hit by cannon fire.
-Then you’re leaving?
-Why would we leave? We can just eliminate the humans.
-…….
-Fortunately, we’re now free from our old duties. We’ll revive the Warrior Corps and assign them the role of guardians.
-By “eliminate,” you don’t mean killing humans, do you?
-Why not?
-They are not something to be taken lightly.
Yul had to explain at length about the numbers and scale of humans.
He explained how powerful the three maritime nations were, their continuously advancing magic engineering, the mass production of mages, the professional creation of Sinkers, and even the future development of their civilization.
-Orcas can’t defeat humans. Even if they win, they won’t escape that overwhelming scale.
-But this is our home. And they’re only strong on the surface, aren’t they?
-All the more reason to negotiate instead of fighting.
-How do we negotiate when we don’t even speak the same language?
-I’ve already thought of something for that.
If it were Kaiman, he could likely create a device that converts magic signals into human language. That would be easier than making most other devices.
-In any case, it’s not easy for humans to interfere below the sea.
Turning all of human civilization into an enemy was dangerous. But if even a part of it could be turned into an ally, things would change.
-We should choose a human faction to cooperate with, negotiate with them, and be recognized as a proper force.
-This is getting complicated. I thought we could just focus on ourselves now that all other sea creatures have disappeared from here.
The Orca Tribe was a young group with very few elders. Most of their traditions had already been lost. But perhaps that meant they could be run in a different way than before.
After thinking for a long time, Tuania agreed that Yul’s approach was correct.
-But before choosing any one faction, we should first make it clear that humans are not to be trusted.
-Magic signal converter, was it? We’ll purchase that. We’ll try making cautious contact through it.
-Humans like Krelsite ore. That should work as payment.
-I’ve heard from my grandfather that it’s a poisonous ore if eaten.
-That’s true, in part.
-If we give them that, will they trust us?
Seeing Tuania hesitate, Yul spoke.
-Then let’s start by opening trade with the Island of Boundaries first. That’s my island, the one I rule. Those long-eared sea elves live there. We also interact with humans.
-So we interact with the sea elves first and use them as a bridge to connect with humans. Sounds like a good plan.
This way, both Yul and Tuania would benefit. Rather than making direct contact with humans, they could reduce the risk through indirect contact, while the Island of Boundaries could also profit through trade in the meantime.
* * *
Tuania decided that reorganizing the village came first, so they agreed to meet again later at the Island of Boundaries.
Meanwhile, Yul flew off to meet Arurion.
The prince was still limping slightly, but it was only due to his lack of stamina from staying inactive. He seemed likely to recover quickly.
“First, I’ll lead the Wing Vessel to the Island of Boundaries. Yul, you said you replanted a branch of the World Tree, right? I need to see it myself. I’ll head there first.”
“Alright.”
The rightful ruler of the sea elves was returning. If the first stop was the Island of Boundaries, it would carry symbolic meaning as well.
A few days later, they arrived at the Island of Boundaries.
Since awakening, Arurion had been undergoing rehabilitation training and was now able to walk properly.
Yul disembarked from the Wing Vessel with Arurion. As they stepped onto a boat constructed from part of the Wing Vessel and slowly descended, countless sea elves took notice.
He had prepared thoroughly, wearing a dark green royal outfit trimmed in gold.
He also wore the Crown of Atonement on his forehead, radiating an aura no one dared approach.
“The prince has arrived!”
“Wh-who is it?”
“It is Prince Arurion!”
“What did you say?”
“He has come with Lord Yul.”
As Yul led the way toward the World Tree, a massive line formed behind them.
It seemed as if every sea elf on the island had gathered.
At the front, Yul pointed toward the cave with his finger.
“There it is.”
“This is……”
Arurion gazed at the emerald-hued tree growing inside the cave.
It was a tiny fragment of the Mother Tree.
The World Tree, once no larger than a small branch, had grown enormously, towering like an ancient willow that had stood for decades.
Arurion felt an inexplicable awe. Instinctively, he knew this was the enormous Mother Tree that resided at the root of the sea elves—and, indeed, all elves.
Though the original Mother Tree had perished, from this tree, the children born now would become elves.
“I have come to atone for the sins of our ancestors, who stole a branch from the Mother Tree.”
Arurion grasped the Crown of Atonement on his head and slowly removed it.
He walked forward and placed the crown before the World Tree.
In response, the World Tree radiated a brighter emerald light. The reborn World Tree recognized the Crown of Atonement and had already decided what to do.
Without anyone touching it, a branch fell toward the crown with a soft plunk.
It was the brightest and most beautiful emerald branch of the World Tree.
Freshly born, it carried the full power of the World Tree.
By coincidence, the branch fit perfectly into the crown, settling into the empty groove.
Though it may have been a chance that it fell into the crown’s hollow, seeing it, Arurion felt a warmth in his chest.
It seemed to say: you can finally lay down the burdens you have carried in your heart that were not your own sins.
And as proof, the branch that descended was the most brilliantly shining emerald.
“The World Tree has produced a new branch……”
“Ah……”
“A new crown.”
As the sea elves watched, each silently offered a prayer in their hearts.
A scene that could have existed only in legend was unfolding before their eyes.
Part of the World Tree was connected to Yul’s spirit. It had entrusted its will to him.
‘I see.’
As soon as Yul heard the will, he acted according to the World Tree’s intent.
He picked up the fallen crown. The branch, now firmly embedded in the crown’s empty groove, felt as if it had been there from the beginning.
One of the four axes, previously missing, was now complete. This branch symbolized “Cycle.”
“Arurion Phantarey, step forward.”
Arurion, who had stepped back, approached the World Tree once again.
“Kneel. This is the will of the World Tree.”
As he knelt, Yul lifted the crown and placed it upon him.
“By the will of the World Tree, I hereby proclaim you the King of all sea elves. I, Yul, witness this and will forever confirm it at every moment I live.”
Countless sea elves bowed their heads and knelt.
Closest was Ellarion, followed by the crew of the Wing Vessel, the sea elves of the Island of Boundaries, and even humans who were merely staying nearby—they all knelt in reverence.
Though this coronation had no approval from any other prince, every sea elf present knew.
Arurion Phantarey had become the king of all sea elves.
Arurion stood, crown upon his head. The fatigue that had once weakened him could no longer pose a threat.
Strength surged through his body, radiating energy as if he could do anything.
As he turned to face the crowd, the World Tree shone, emitting a blinding flash of light around him.
The light wrapped around Arurion like a radiance.
“Ugh, my eyes……”
"I don't feel dizzy?"
“The Rejection Phenomenon…… It’s gone?”
A sea elf, recently returned from a long voyage, touched his head in astonishment.
The World Tree had healed the Rejection Phenomenon.
In that moment, the Island of Boundaries would be forever known as the sacred land of the sea elves.