Chapter 325: Fruit of the World Tree

"Not even I, the Elven Queen, know the interval at which the World Tree bears fruit. In the countless history of us elves, only the queens could receive the Fruit of the World Tree two times in their lifetime."

Elysia’s voice softly echoed amidst the wasteland before them.

"The first is when the queen is first coronated as such, and the second is when that same queen steps down from their position."

Elysia then glanced at the young man in her embrace.

"Of course, there are exceptions. There have been times when the World Tree herself bestowed a fruit upon someone who was not of royal lineage. When that happens, it is either because they have rendered tremendous service or because they have earned her favor."

A smile then bloomed on her face, "I always thought that I would have no need for it, since I believed I could reach the pinnacle with my own efforts..."

Her gaze turned melancholic as various emotions surged within them.

Regis’s eye was still filled with shock as he spoke with difficulty, "I-I can’t receive... i-it’s too much..."

"You earned it," Elysia said firmly as Wisteria hovered beside her.

She then paused briefly and asked, "You must know that even the smallest soul injury takes years to recover, right?"

Regis answered with a nod, to which Elysia continued with a smile.

"In all the world, the Fruit of the World Tree may be the only treasure capable of restoring your soul. The healing will not be immediate, for a damaged soul cannot be repaired too abruptly without suffering backlash. Even so, it should reduce your recovery time to at most a week."

At her words, Regis could not help but be shocked, ’It’s that powerful!?’

It would be a lie to say that he was not tempted.

However, he still weighed the pros and cons in his mind.

After much deliberation, Regis slowly spoke, "Then if... anyone should take it... It should be you... Your Highness..."

"You’re really something, huh? Had it been other people, they would have hurried to take this fruit away from me as soon as possible."

Elysia felt amused, looking at the young man in her embrace, "Had it been any other day, I would have eaten this fruit to recover as soon as possible. However, I believe that in this situation, you are the best choice. After all, I didn’t know how, but I can’t feel my connection with the World Tree..."

"T-Then..." Regis tried his best to speak again, "C-Can we at least... split it...?"

Hearing his words, both the queen and her contracted spirit let out an amused laugh.

Elysia had a wide smile on her face, "Do you know that in our long history, only you had the audacity to say such blasphemous words? The fruit is the World Tree’s blessing. How dare we mortals decide to split and share it?"

However, seeing the young man’s resolute gaze before her, Elysia soon fell into deep thought.

The Fruit of the World Tree’s powers were not to be underestimated.

As a fruit of a higher being, it would not lack powers even if it were split between a hundred or even a thousand mortals.

The only reason splitting and sharing it had not been thought of in the past was purely because of their respect towards the World Tree.

On the side, Wisteria knew her contractor the most, ’Don’t tell me that you...’

Although the queen had not spoken a single word, her expression already betrayed the answer she held, making it clear what her response would be.

As a spirit, she knew the magnitude of making such a decision.

It was not that she was against it; however, it was just too shocking for her current worldview.

After a minute of thinking, Elysia smiled once again, "Very well, let’s do it your way."

"But."

She stared at the young man inside her embrace, "I absolutely won’t agree to splitting it with a knife."

"I-It’s okay..." Regis tried his best to speak, "Y-You go first... I-It’s too b-big for me..."

"..."

Elysia fell speechless at his words.

Although she had already made up her mind, thinking and doing were two very different things.

Wisteria knew that this was the right moment, "My Queen, we must not waste any more time—"

She had not even finished her words when Elysia glared at her from the corner of her eye.

A cheeky smile tugged at her lips as she stared at the queen, who was taking bite after bite of the World Tree’s Fruit, while a strange device rested in her hands.

Click— Click—

Regis watched the situation from the side, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, ’I didn’t expect them to be this close... Though, is that a miniature Magicam in Wisteria’s hands?’

The strangely funny situation lasted for a few minutes as the Elven Queen only took small bites.

After taking several more bites and consuming nearly forty percent of the fruit, she gently offered the remainder to the young man lying on her lap.

Regis took it unsteadily with his right hand and brought the bitten fruit towards his mouth.

Seeing him act nonchalantly, Elysia could not help but blush, ’He’s just going to bite it like that...?’

Even as a queen with countless years of experience, she could not help but feel embarrassed at such a scene.

After all, they had only known each other for less than a day.

Still, having grown up in the slums, Regis had far greater concerns than a little extra saliva on his food.

The moment he took a bite of the World Tree’s Fruit, he immediately felt power stir within his body.

What shocked Regis even more was a familiar feeling that simultaneously activated— as if something within him had been stimulated by the fruit’s powers.

’Is this... Why is my Perfect Adaptation activating at this time?’

That was right.

For some reason, even though he was not in battle and he was not adapting to any attacks, curses, poisons, and the like, his Gift had activated.

Nevertheless, Regis kept biting the fruit until nothing was left of it.