Game of the World Tree
chapter-343

Over time, the various habits and recreational activities of the players from Earth have unwittingly influenced the native elves in Seigües.

After observing these familiar scenes from her former world playing out in the otherworldly realm she had reincarnated into, Eve found it intriguing yet somewhat bewildering.

Well, there’s no way around it…

Nonetheless, witnessing the native elves that bear a striking resemblance to Western fantasy characters mimic various aspects of earth’s eastern culture was incredibly jarring!

Heck, there are even some elderly elves who have somehow learned public square dancing! ¹

While the players host bonfire parties every night, these elven senior citizens, on the other hand, can be seen collectively exercising, swaying their bodies to the rhythm of music, and enjoying themselves in various public places like parks or the city square in Florence.

And what’s more surprisingly, despite their old age, these elderly elves move with a grace that belies their age as their bodies bends and sway with a fluidity that sets them apart from their senior counterparts from earth.

Therefore, their style of square dancing somehow didn’t really feel all that cringe inducing but rather brings out an entirely different aesthetic sense of beauty and elegance in them.

Thankfully, they still to dance to traditional elven music. Otherwise, if she were to hear “Horse Pole” ²in front of the cathedral in Florence, then she would likely feel herself losing control and plummeting into the abyss in an instant.

As for how the elves even started public square dancing in the first place…

Well… she delved into this matter and found that it started off as a prank by some players.

Specifically, after the players discovered that the NPCs were capable of learning various entertainment activities and even can adopt to their eating habits, they started teaching them all sorts of things from Earth.

And public square dancing was one of them.

Moreover, some classical dances and even some popular catchphrases were passed onto the elves by them…

The players pranks spread to such extent that she wouldn’t be surprised anyone even if some natives started uttering ‘Jesus Christ!’ in frustration or cheerfully flashing a peace sign after winning an activity.

Of course, while there may be some element of mischief involved, some of these earthly activities taught by players have indeed brought more fun to the elves’ originally dull and lackluster lives.

After all, with years of constantly being on high alert and evading persecution, the native elves ended up focusing entirely on daily survival alone, and up until recently, the very notion of indulging in entertainment and relaxation still remained a foreign idea to most of them.

It was only after returning to the Elven Forest that they could finally take a breather and consider embracing some form of diversion in life besides working hard every day for the betterment of their race.

For this reason, despite their initial intentions, the players’ actions were still appreciated by the elves for introducing them to these otherworldly forms of entertainment.

What started off as a prank ended up as a win-win situation for both parties!

The collision of magic and technology has yet to yield some significant results, but the mingling of their respective cultures has flourished with remarkable brilliance within the Elven Forest.

On this matter, Evé can only say she never expected it to develop in such a way.

But it’s a welcomed development as through this exchange of cultures, she observed the gradual formation of friendships between both players and elves.

Such interactions often spark the flames of friendship and understanding. Perhaps initially, the players may have only seen the elves merely as NPCs, virtual tools designed solely to cater to their whims and desires. Yet, as they engaged with each other in the game over the course of several months, a subtle transformation began to occur…

Like the budding friendship of Little Salty Cat and Meryer or the rumors of whatever that thing is going on about between Boxlunch and Nightingale that Evé had heard of…

Such examples are not isolated cases, as many similar occurrences are happening all around the Elven Forest as the older players gradually form different bonds among the natives.

When the fourth round just started, some bold and daring newbies tried targeting the NPCs’ property, but they ended up angering the players who had befriended these elves and were severely dealt with by them as a result.

Of course, in the end, these troublemakers also received punishments from Evé, as she let them have a taste her ban hammer.

The bond between the elves and the players has grown increasingly harmonious over time, with some elves now accompanying the players on their expeditions to explore the distant lands.

And in some combat-oriented teams that focus mostly on leveling up by hunting monsters in dungeons, surprisingly, a few natives can occasionally be spotted among them…

These younger generations of elves, unlike their older counterparts, are full of vitality. They find no contentment in remaining confined solely to Florence and often engage with the players after being influenced by them.

Their passion lies in venturing into the expansive forests outside their city’s protective walls, in search of adventure and fresh new experiences.

They eagerly acquire new skills and seamlessly integrate into regular player squads, whilst also actively engaging in a variety of player activities.

Regarding this, Evé did not find the need to intervene.

Although players are her primary sword and shield, it does not mean that the native elves should become akin to delicate flowers in a greenhouse.

She does not intend to babysit them, and if some of them are willing to take the initiative, then she’ll train them to become formidable warriors in their own right.

Moreover, it can further strengthen players’ sense of belongingness to Elven Kingdom.

Of course, not babysitting them doesn’t entail treating them in the same manner as the players since, in the end, they are still far weaker and cannot infinitely resurrect themselves.

Therefore, she still needs to impart some semblance of safekeeping for these brave young natives who have taken the initiative to join the players.

Specifically, Evé imposed a rule that any player team that allows a native to join them should protect the latter diligently at all costs. And should any of them perish for various reasons, the players accountable for their safety will face appropriate consequences.

Maybe it’s due to this rule that the natives mostly ended up assuming the support role within the team, and whenever they participated in the players’ excursions, the group made an effort to steer clear of dangerous places as much as possible.

Overall, after observing the various changes within the relationship dynamics between the players and elves, Evé is left feeling satisfied.

The friendship between players and elves symbolizes a further increase in the overall cohesion of her entire faction.

And with the players forming such strong bonds, they will naturally remain addicted playing Elven Kingdom for an extended period of time, thereby continuing to contribute to the reconstruction of a stronger elven civilization.

However, just as Evé was secretly enjoying herself as she spied upon the elves and players with relish, a familiar fluctuations of divine power suddenly came about from within her Divine Kingdom.

With a simple thought, Evé instantly withdrew her divine sense from the network of faith and redirected her attention back towards the Supreme Temple located inside her Divine Kingdom.

Upon returning her consciousness to her incarnation seated on the throne, Evé noticed the casket of the dead, which is the artifact she uses to communicate with Hela, shining with a golden radiance.

It seems like the Goddess of Death had finally replied to her earlier inquiry.

Eve’s mind stirred, and she immediately used some of her divine power to open the Casket and trigger the message Hela imbued within it…

Shortly after, the frigid and lethargic tone of Hela reverberated within the temple’s walls.

“Come to my Shrine at Blackrock City.”

Evé was somewhat surprised.

“She wanted me to visit Blackrock City?”

But soon she realized that perhaps Hela needed to speak to her in person because the matter regarding the Abyss was even more serious than she had originally imagined.

“Does she need to speak to me in person? Could it be that… the situation in the Abyss is even more serious than I thought?”

A slight furrow appeared on Eve’s brow, casting a shadow over her previously good mood.

She promptly closed the casket and put it away, then transformed into Zero before leaving her Divine Kingdom.

With the improvement of her overall strength and the expansion of her range of control, Eve’s ability to teleport has become more extensive.

With just a thought, she appeared in front of the Death’s Shrine in Blackrock City.

However, immediately upon her arrival, Evé was enveloped by an overwhelming aura resonating within the shrine—a blend of sanctity and grace, tinged with a chilling elegance.

Taking a deep breath, Evé stepped into the shrine’s premises and saw a figure clad in black robes standing in front of the main holy statue.

It was the Goddess of Death—Hela herself.

— 343 —

【 FAREWELL HELA 】

¹ 场舞 – Square Dancing is an exercise routine performed to music in city squares, plazas or parks. It is quite popular with middle-aged and retired elderly people.

² 套马的汉子你威武雄壮 – Horse Pole Song by Ulan Tuya

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