Translator: Yang_Wenli
At this moment, Priestess Oranka realized how cunning humans were.
The moment she saw the hunting dog that looked exactly like Hachi leaping onto Gallolie, her suppressed emotions exploded like a lighted fuse.
Priestess Oranka immediately reminded herself... that a human was standing before her!
Stop! You cannot allow yourself to be immersed in sadness!
Priestess Oranka continued to wipe away her tears in hopes of dispersing the sadness from her heart. But, the more she acted in this manner, the more she thought about not being sad, the more difficult it became for her to contain her emotions.
Before their negotiation even begins, she has completely revealed the weak side of the Blackwood Elves to the human.
“Do the two of you need handkerchiefs?”
Joshua was thoroughly prepared. He took out two handkerchiefs from his desk drawer and handed them to the two Blackwood Elves.
The puppy was none other than the performer for the young Hachi. The reason why Joshua brought it to the study was all so that he could play a game of emotions with these elves before their negotiation.
To his surprise, not only did his ‘game of emotions’ work, it produced outstanding results beyond his expectations... In a flash, the two Blackwood Elves lost control of their emotions.
“Please excuse us for losing our self-control.”
After hearing Joshua’s comment, Priestess Oranka forced her emotions in check. She wanted to refuse the handkerchiefs being offered by Joshua.
Unfortunately, there just so happened to be a floor mirror on the other side of the study. Through the mirror, Priestess Oranka could see that her eyes were reddened. She looked very sorry and pallid.
She felt extremely agonized to see herself like that. It would appear that, to this human, the Blackwood Elves’ image has been completely shattered...
“Excuse me, may I know where this puppy came from?”
Elder Safran was half-kneeling on the ground. The puppy that was acting all affectionate with Gallolie had stopped playing with Gallolie and was slowly walking toward Elder Safran.
Elder Safran stared at the puppy. Seeing that puppy’s eyes, Elder Safran couldn’t help but recall his late old friend.
“Norland’s Alchemic Marketplace. It does not currently have an owner,” said Joshua.
“Mister Joshua... I wish to become the owner of this puppy,” Gallolie raised her hand and requested to become the owner of the puppy.
“It seemed to have already chosen you...” said Joshua.
During the time the puppy has been filming Hachiko with the members of the Weissenasche Theatrical Troupe, it did not show such intimacy toward any of the performers.
Having received Joshua’s permission, Gallolie extended her hand to the puppy. However, the puppy raised its head and looked straight at Elder Safran. It seemed to be waiting for Elder Safran’s consent.
“Go ahead, old partner,” After Elder Safran said those words, the puppy leaped toward Gallolie.
“...”
As Priestess Oranka watched this scene, tears began to fill up her eyes again. In the end, she had no choice but to accept the handkerchief Joshua handed toward her.
“The movie that you’ve made... has allowed us to see hope again, Mister Joshua.”
With Priestess Oranka crying the entire time, Elder Safran expressed his apology toward Joshua.
Even though Gallolie, the remaining hope, survived the burning of the Blackwood Forest, the duty that Elder Safran and Priestess Oranka shouldered was so heavy that it made breathing difficult for them.
But, after watching the movie, the depressed mood Elder Safran had in his heart was swept clean. Or perhaps, it would be better stated that he was able to let his emotions run wild.
“Hopefully... I believe you all did not visit Norland to watch that movie, right?” asked Joshua.
Elder Safran entered a moment of silence after being asked that question. Priestess Oranka wanted to say something. But, in the end, she sighed.
She knew that the pride of their Blackwood Elves has been obliterated by the calamity that could wipe them all out.
“We hope to be able to receive your assistance,” Elder Safran spoke with a sincere tone.
“Assistance?”
“The method to allow the Holy Tree Narushi to grow quickly.”
Elder Safran looked at the young ‘human’ before him. Even now, he cannot believe that this young human possesses the means to accelerate the growth of the ancient World Trees.
Even he, a wise and farsighted druid of the Blackwood Elves, does not possess such means.
But, the leaf in the pendant around Gallolie’s neck had proved to Elder Safran that all of this was true.
The World Tree of the Frost Elves was, with the help of this human, growing at an inconceivable rate.
“The method to grow quickly... Have you all attempted to have humans believe in your World Tree?”
Joshua got to the point right away. He asked a question that could be considered a major taboo to the Blackwood Elves.
Suddenly, still wiping away her tears, Priestess Oranka said, “The humans have never once held reverence toward the Holy Tree Narushi.”
Her tone was still choking with emotions.
Indeed, humans wouldn’t feel reverence toward a tree...
“If my guess is correct, your World Tree’s seed should be lodging in Gallolie’s body.”
Gallolie had messaged Joshua informing him that she received the World Tree’s protection. When Joshua mentioned this, Elder Safran nodded his head in affirmation.
“The Holy Tree Narushi has chosen this human girl. That is something that has never happened before in the history of the Blackwood Elves.”
Elder Safran walked over to Gallolie. The existence of Hachi had allowed the two Blackwood Elves to converse with Joshua with a friendly attitude. But, it does not mean that they’ve relaxed their guard.
“That’s because she’s the Flower of Farucci. That is the reason why your World Tree chose to lodge in her body,” Joshua turned to look at Priestess Oranka, “In the past, the nourishment for your World Tree came from the faith of you Blackwood Elves. Whenever you elves offer prayers to the World Tree, whenever you all believe that it will protect you, the World Tree will become lusher.”
“That was indeed what was recorded in our elven epics,” said Priestess Oranka.
“And now, the nourishment for the growth of your World Tree has changed to the faith people had toward the Flower of Farucci,” said Joshua.
“Faith... toward the Daughter of the Forest?”
“Take ‘Léon: The Demon’ as an example. Eh... I believe you all should’ve seen it, no?”
Joshua’s answer received affirmation from the two Blackwood Elves.
Joshua walked over to the study’s window. One could see the crowd gathered outside the Weissenasche Theater through the window. They were all here for the sake of watching the movie currently screening in the Weissenasche Theater.
“Whenever someone comes to the Weissenasche Theater to watch ‘Léon: The Demon’ and grow fond of the character played by Gallolie, Mathilda, the growth of the World Tree lodging in Gallolie’s body will accelerate slightly. While I do not know if this sort of effect will occur within the others from your race, but... if it’s feasible, then toward your request for assistance, I can provide only one answer,” Joshua smiled and turned around to face the two Blackwood Elves, “If you wish to revive your race, then... you’ll have to make yourselves famous.”