After my conversation with Serie, I stood up and returned to the inside of the tree. I approached the coffin and gave it a second look. There was nothing particularly special about it.
"We built this the same day you fell asleep."
I tried to remember, but couldn't.
"We did it without telling you, because we knew you wouldn't hold on much longer. We wanted a proper place to keep your body."
"Yes… It turned out perfect." I smiled, then looked at Serie. "Serie, I want you to summarize everything that's happened recently. I know you told me what happened after I 'slept,' but I want to know about something current. Something I should be worried about."
"Nothing unusual has happened recently. The world remains as unfair and dull as always."
"I see. What happened to Kraft? Did he die recently?" I asked, already feeling a wave of sadness wash over me.
"He died over a hundred years ago."
"I see..." I smiled softly, remembering his face.
He was someone I always liked. A trustworthy right hand—just like Serie.
"He died with honor, doing everything he could to restore the glory of the elves."
"Was it during one of the wars?"
"No. He was killed by humans who raided the village in search of your body."
"What? Really?"
"Yes, humans from the Empire. I subdued them with Kraft's help. Their bodies were left nearby—what was left of them, anyway." Serie wore a sorrowful expression, recalling the events of that day.
I let out a sigh and chose not to ask for more details.
'So the humans wanted my body. Probably to dissect it or something… Horrifying.'
I left the tree alongside Serie. Once outside, I placed my hand on its trunk.
As soon as I did, a message appeared before my eyes:
[World Tree]
Level: 1
Class: Source of Primordial Element
Max Primordial Element: 100
Regeneration: 1/unit per minute
Current Primordial Element Amount: 100/100
Elves Created: 0/5
Current Exp: 0/1000
Special Ability: Elven Creation (spend mana to create a new elf)
I was speechless. I looked at Serie with uncertainty and asked, "Serie, can you see this?"
"Hm? See what?"
"…"
She can't see it—so this is something only I have access to. Isn't that amazing? A system that allows me to evolve the World Tree! 'Elves Created: 0/5'—I can even create elves!
I looked up and finally realized how massive this tree truly is.
It stretched up into the clouds, but... its leaves were dry, almost lifeless. And there were so few of them.
Serie also looked up and said, "Since you died, it's only gotten worse. I thought the day would come when all the leaves would fall and vanish."
"..." I felt a tightness in my chest. "Don't worry anymore, Serie. I'll restore the World Tree. I'll return it to its former glory. I'll bring back the Mother of the Elves."
Just as I finished speaking, I thought I saw the tree shimmer faintly.
I reached out and smiled.
[You have absorbed 'Primordial Element' from the World Tree]
[Primordial Element +1]
Then, my status window finally opened.
Name: Frieren
Cultivation: 1st Magic Circle – First Layer
Magical Proficiency: 0/100
Mana: 0/100
Primordial Elements Collected: 2
Talent: Rapid Conversion (+10% conversion rate)
As soon as I saw my status, new information flooded my mind.
Details about how the entire system worked. I understood everything in a second. I smiled—excited for the first time since I arrived in this world.
"What is it, my queen?"
"Nothing. I'm just happy to be back."
####
I asked Serie to leave me alone inside the tree's trunk.
Then, I placed my hand on the trunk once more.
I began receiving several notifications from the system, saying that I had absorbed all the 'Primordial Element.'
In a matter of seconds, I had absorbed all 100 units produced by the tree. After that, I returned to the coffin and sat inside. I crossed my legs and rested my hands on my knees.
Then, I closed my eyes and focused.
[Do you wish to convert 100 units of Primordial Element into mana?]
"Yes."
I felt a warmth spread through my chest.
In the darkness before me, something appeared.
A white circle hovered in the void as the warmth in my chest intensified.
I don't know how long it lasted—minutes, maybe hours—but I stayed motionless the entire time.
Suddenly, the circle vanished, and I opened my eyes.
My body was drenched in sweat.
[You converted 100 units of 'Primordial Element' into 'Mana']
[Magical Proficiency +100]
[You have reached the second layer]
[Max Mana +]
[Conversion improved by 10%]
After receiving all the system messages, I opened my status again:
Name: Frieren
Cultivation: 1st Magic Circle – Second Layer (Conversion bonus +10%)
Magical Proficiency: 0/200
Mana: 100/200
Primordial Elements Collected: 2
Talent: Rapid Conversion (+10% conversion rate)
Now I'm in the second layer of the First Magic Circle. That's great. "It's very simple."
Basically, I can collect 'Primordial Elements' and convert them into mana by cultivating. However, the conversion is slow. For each unit converted, I gain one point of 'Magical Proficiency.'
When Magical Proficiency reaches the maximum, I advance to the next layer.
And with each layer, I can store more mana and my magic become stronger.
'Fortunately, I have countless spells stored in my memory after living so long, so I don't need the system for that. I just need it to grow stronger.'
But this system doesn't only increase my power.
I approached the tree's trunk and placed my hand on it.
As I did, another message appeared:
[Do you wish to return mana to the World Tree?]
"Yes."
All my mana was quickly drained. For every mana point absorbed, the tree's "Current Exp" increased by two. In other words, I can use my mana to level up the tree.
As it levels up, it will generate more Primordial Elements.
In other words, it becomes a snowball effect.
I evolve the tree, and at the same time, I evolve too.
By evolving the tree, I can also create elves. I already can create five, but I won't do that just yet. For now, I need to focus on myself—and on Serie.
As the tree recovers, elves like Serie and Ryuu will also regain their former strength passively.
That's wonderful.
Those were all the details I received.
After learning all this, I left the tree's trunk and found Serie sitting outside.
"Good morning, Serie."
"You finally came out! I was so worried. I thought you had fallen asleep again! I couldn't even get close to you!" Serie was panicking.
"What do you mean?"
"You were sitting in the same position for three whole days! And I couldn't get near you. I thought something had gone wrong. I was so worried! Are you alright? Do you feel sick?"
"I feel great. Better than ever." I replied cheerfully.
"..." Serie's eyes filled with tears.
She's completely different from the Serie I remember. I'm not sure if I like that.
####
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