The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 47
‘Hmm, it’s not my concern. Even if Cassis weren’t an ancient guardian, that method would be optimal to preserve even an ephemeral life, wouldn’t it? Though it varies by life form, the place where vitality is most concentrated is there, after all. Ahem, hmm-hmm! So there were two reasons why she lacked energy?’
Having imagined embarrassing scenes, Ruba pointlessly swished her tail high.
Honestly, she couldn’t care less whether elves and nymphs mingled or not. Rather, the more she thought about it, the more she enjoyed imagining the haughty elves’ faces crumpling.
Just as Nike felt a strange ostracism among the elves, so did Ruba. The days when unicorns received profound respect and love from elves had become a thing of the past.
While the elders might have a somewhat different attitude, today’s elves had no manners at all. Since they had cut off almost all exchanges with humans and consistently remained isolated, there had been no wars, and they had all been raised with excessive indulgence. There were also hardly any nymphs left to care for, so there was little to do.
‘…Even Cassis, whom you all look up to so much, was once despised as a knight of the Black berry tree. Fine. I wonder what your expressions will be like if it ever becomes known that he is an ancient guardian, an entity intimately close to the World Tree.’
She hoped that Evelyn would survive for a long time and remain by Cassis’s side. That would make their shock all the greater.
As she indulged in pleasant thoughts, even the movement of the purple violets that hindered her front hooves was welcome. Spring is truly spring, isn’t it? Just as Ruba lifted her front hoof high to avoid stepping on the flowers and swished her tail high:
“Is there a fly or something?”
「Hmph, no. You somehow know that I am a unicorn, yet you know nothing about my nature. I suppose you haven’t read books thoroughly?」
“……”
Embarrassed by those words, Evelyn’s face turned red from her cheeks like a carrot. Ruba, feeling sorry for her sharp comment, hastened to explain.
「Impertinent and filthy insects cannot even approach me. Like the World Tree. Ahem, hmm! We’ve arrived. Now, quickly offer the flower tucked behind your ear between these intertwined roots.」
“This one?”
She must be referring to the flower that had flown over first from that flower necklace.
When one’s face is burning hot, the best choice is to pretend nothing happened. Evelyn carefully removed the white flower, trying to ignore the previous topic. Finally seeing the orange jasmine flower cradled gently in her hands, Ruba tapped the soft ground with her hoof.
「The nymphs of old, when called by the World Tree, would offer small parts of the natural elements they belonged to. It was a way of asking for future favors. Water nymphs would bring water, and vegetation nymphs would bring the first blooming flower. But you, forget about flowers—it’s obvious you would faint if you incorrectly plucked even a withering leaf.」
“…You know about me.”
Even saying just those words made her eyes grow hot with emotion.
Since coming to Jupiter, no one except Cassis had taken the initiative to inquire about her well-being.
It would be a lie to say she had no expectations for her new life. “Hey, I hear you’re a newly born nymph? Jupiter welcomes you. I’ll help you experience the warm era when elves and nymphs lived together.” Such words… she had wanted to hear them.
Perhaps that was why, despite Ruba’s rough manner of speaking, it didn’t sound unpleasant to her. She desperately missed having someone on her side, someone who thought of her. Yes, Nike too.
「Don’t be too afraid, okay? Among all the kings of Jupiter I’ve met, Cassis is the strongest. Look here. This is the orange jasmine flower you belong to. Become healthy so that later you can bloom fully and offer flowers with a joyful heart.」
After offering these kind words, Ruba gently nudged her with her nose. With warm tears welling up to her throat, Evelyn nodded and carefully placed the small, beautiful flower between the roots.
The resulting change was immediately visible.
‘Ah!’
It was similar to what she had seen in the bedroom. A gentle breeze arose around them, and the tiny flower floated up and swirled onto the trunk of the World Tree. Now she couldn’t even guess where the flower had gone.
Ruba shook her body excitedly, making her mane flutter, and said.
「You should know you’re fortunate. Because Cassis favors you, the World Tree has decided to accept you too.」
Could it be true? She hoped it was. Although the voice of the World Tree never came no matter how long she waited, that’s what she wanted to believe.
“Thank you.”
「Hmph, you should say that while looking over there, not at me.」
“Yes.”
The World Tree was so enormous that even when she craned her neck to look up, she couldn’t see its top at all. Evelyn sincerely offered a short prayer of thanks for accepting her. True to her impatient nature, Ruba soon took hold of her sleeve again and urged her to return the way they had come.
