Episode 286 – Hell Gri
When I ntioned investnt, Fenry let out a hollow laugh.
“Invest? What makes you think I’d do that?”
“Trust .”
“…What??”
“Have you ever taken a loss by following my advice?”
“…Mnn.”
Fenry furrowed her brow and bit down on her pipe.
It was true—she had never suffered a loss by listening to .
If anything, she profited greatly.
Gaining a stake in the mine, proving her divine na "Shadow of the World Tree", and rising to her current position—all of it happened because I led her here.
[Guide of Other Races]
One of the divine nas listed under ca to mind.
Because I was a “Guide,” accepting my proposal might benefit her in the long run.
But…
When it cos to money, that’s another matter, right?
To Fenry, money was both a sedative that gave her peace of mind and a gift that brought happiness. She had always viewed those who asked for money as predators.
She puffed smoke at the would-be predator and asked,
“What kind of dividends do I get from this investnt?”
“None.”
“…None? Are you kidding ?”
“If you hear out, you’ll see I’m more ethical than soone charging 20% monthly interest.”
“Fine. I’ll drop it to 15% monthly. Just take a loan. That’s being generous.”
A world where 15% monthly interest is considered generous…
That’s more than doubling the principal in a year, and more than tripling with compounding.
In the real world, that’d be called illegal—predatory lending.
But in a world of villains, maybe this was ethical?
Even I was starting to feel confused.
Shaking off the unnecessary thoughts, I began laying out what I’d prepared.
I didn’t expect her to accept my terms from the start. Fenry was a skilled negotiator. You had to bait her in stages.
“All profits I make will be used solely for the World Tree Alliance.”
“You’ll use all the profits for the Alliance?”
“That’s right.”
“Let’s hear it then. Go on.”
Seeing her show interest, I cleared my throat and began.
“You said we need an informant in Hell Gri, right? I’m planning to establish a base in Aintrier. I’ll cover the expenses.”
“Not enough.”
“What about food?”
“Food?”
“As more people arrive at the World Tree, the food burden will grow. I’ll purchase food and supply it here. Of course, the supply period will depend on how much you invest.”
Fenry fell silent. She didn’t puff her pipe for a while—she seed to be seriously considering it.
After a pause, she nodded. If the profits were being used for the Alliance, it ant she wouldn’t lose anything herself.
Of course, there was one concern.
What if he fails?
If I failed, it’d be awkward for her to get the money back.
After all, I was soone who had built significant influence within the Alliance.
Finally, after so thought, she spoke.
“I’ll invest half my wealth.”
Half wasn’t bad.
But it wasn’t enough.
If Aintrier was a battlefield, then money was ammunition. The more bullets you had stocked, the more you could do in Aintrier. Money could turn the impossible into reality in that place.
She bit the hook.
I smiled inwardly and moved to the next step.
You couldn’t underestimate Greedy Chaser’s wealth. If you combined all the money she had stashed away in Tobaron, she might be the richest elf there.
The fact that she was offering half ant she was nearly convinced.
“How about you give a bit more?”
“How much more?”
“90% of your total fortune.”
At my words, Fenry scoffed.
“You little scamr… Do you even know how much money I have?”
“It’s a lot. That’s why I’m asking you to invest more. The larger the investnt, the higher the chance of success.”
“And what if you fail? Ever think of that?”
She clearly wasn’t willing to offer more than half.
Ti to play my final card.
“Then, I’ll make an additional proposal—on the condition that you invest your entire fortune.”
“You insane bastard. What nonsense—”
“I’ll rescue the elves.”
Fenry, who had been scoffing at , imdiately stiffened.
The reason she so obsessively gathered money wasn’t simply for profit. It was to prepare a safe land where elves could live in peace.
As she’d hoped, the elves had gained a sanctuary through the World Tree.
But—
“Three out of every ten elves who ca seeking the World Tree have gone missing or been captured by hunters.”
A serious problem had occurred in the process of elves settling near the World Tree.
The greed of the hyenas targeting the elves was more persistent and vicious than expected.
Fenry couldn’t protect all the elves on her own.
She never showed it outwardly, but she was probably losing sleep, worrying about the elves who had been taken.
“It’s already over a hundred. If we let this continue, the damage will only grow.”
“…What are you getting at?”
“Where do you think the captured elves are being taken? Straight to Aintrier. To be sold at the largest slave market in Hell Gri. They were on their way to et you when they were caught. Are you not going to save them?”
“…Can you save them?”
“I have a plan.”
“Think carefully before you answer. If this goes wrong, the Alliance could collapse.”
Fenry’s funds were the only lifeline to sustain Tobaron until it stabilized. If I lost the funds and failed to rescue the elves, the Alliance’s trust in Hunt would plumt.
“Even with all my wealth, there’s a limit to how many elves I can free. Elves… are worth a lot of money.”
“We don’t need to buy them back.”
“…What?”
“You already hold sothing more valuable than money.”
“What’s that?”
“The leaf.”
“…The leaf?”
“You know what I an.”
As I pointed to the sky, Fenry dropped her pipe.
Her eyes widened as she looked between and the World Tree, then she froze—unable to laugh or get angry.
Truly bizarre.
“…You crazy bastard. Want to die?”
“What’s the point of keeping sothing you can’t even use? Might as well use it while it has value.”
As is well known, the World Tree’s leaf has no actual effect.
As of now, aside from the symbolism of “World Tree,” it held no practical value. And only the core mbers of the World Tree Alliance knew that.
But in Aintrier?
“It’s the perfect ti. The World Tree’s existence is just becoming known. Everyone will want to learn more. There’s no better timing to sell its worth.”
“…How the hell did I end up eting soone like you?”
“From the way you’re talking, sounds like my plan will succeed.”
“…What did you say, you brat?”
“Every ti you grumble, Fenry, things go really well.”
Fenry let out a small chuckle, then quietly put down her pipe and began to shake slightly.
For a second, I wondered what was happening.
Turns out, she was trying to hold back laughter.
“What’s so funny?”
“Puhahahaha!”
In the end, she burst into laughter.
A symbolic item whose value hasn’t been determined yet—its worth depends on the identity, power, and words of the person who first presents it.
She ca up to and patted on the back.
“If you were a con artist, you’d be one of the greatest ever.”
“…What are you talking about?”
“You’re a money tree. For now, at least.”
Fenry glanced up at the World Tree briefly, then softly closed her eyes and asked,
“So where’s my money going?”
“All the groundwork needs money. The more you invest, the higher the success rate.”
“Then we’d better increase that success rate.”
Monts later, light began to radiate from her body as she brought her hands together.
It was a rainbow-colored light.
A warm and comforting glow that brought a smile to your face.
I could instantly tell—it was the World Tree’s energy.
Soon, a small branch appeared in her hands.
“Take it.”
It clearly wasn’t an ordinary branch, but she handed it over like pocket change.
“…What is this?”
“What do you think? A branch imbued with the World Tree’s energy.”
“I an… Why are you giving this to ?”
“It’s your title.”
“Title?”
Fenry nodded, pipe back in her mouth.
“From now on, you’ll represent the World Tree Alliance. That branch proves your status.”
“So that ans…”
“If you’re gonna con people, do it right. Talk is more convincing when you’ve got sothing flashy.”
Just like that, I beca not just Hunt’s frontman, but the World Tree Alliance’s public face as well.
Monts later, Fenry handed a small pouch.
“You do know what happens if you lose this money, right?”
“Doesn’t look like it holds even 100 gold.”
“It’s a subspace pouch. My entire fortune’s in it. So think carefully. If you fail, I’ll turn you into a log.”
A… log?
What kind of terrifying woman is this?
“You guys have black market organ trafficking here or sothing?”
“I’ve never tried it, but if I do, you’ll be the first. My first hands-on case.”
“I’ll send the leaves separately, through soone else.”
Fenry was glaring at , swinging the pouch playfully.
Damn it… feels like I’m holding sothing cursed from the Grim Reaper.
I snatched the subspace pouch and quickly left.
As I stepped outside, the air felt particularly chilly.
Maybe it was because this place held an elf who could actually bury if I failed.
Outside, departure preparations were complete.
The northern gate of the World Tree Forest.
Familiar faces had gathered.
“Everything ready?”
“All the Ghosts have gathered.”
Karl and the Ghosts, all dressed in black, ca to et . Behind the Ghosts were the Black Roses, waiting silently. Karl looked behind him and asked ,
“The dark elves are going too? I thought cities were dangerous for elves.”
“They have a separate task. They won’t be entering the city with us.”
“Oh, got it.”
I nodded, then turned to the group in green robes.
About fifty had gathered.
“Better turnout than expected.”
They were the elite, carefully selected from the anti-Kal coalition, but survival was key, so the selection criteria had been set very high.
Lochter likely chose them himself. About half of the original hundred made the cut—Heinz must have filtered them strictly.
Since they would act under the World Tree Alliance, they all wore green robes—but in the city, such clothing would stand out, so we’d need to change.
I approached the one standing at the front of the group.
Knight Ravitán.
Second only to Lochter in strength, and naturally followed by the others due to his leadership.
Ravitán gave a formal salute.
He seed well-disciplined—clearly trained well over the past few days.
Looking around, I asked,
“Where is Lord Lochter?”
“He stepped away briefly. The Black Rose summoned him.”
“The Black Rose?”
So Fenry had called for him.
I had a pretty good idea why.
Soon after, Lochter approached with a small bag.
“She asked to hold this. Said not to show it to anyone.”
It seed the leaves had been gathered and entrusted to Lochter. I had planned to give them to him anyway. If anyone tried to steal the leaves, Lochter could be trusted to handle it.
“All the Leaves have gathered.”
“Leaves??”
“Oh, didn’t you hear? We decided to call them ‘Leaves.’ Thought they needed a proper title.”
“Who ca up with that?”
“deia.”
“Nice.”
Leaves beneath the World Tree—it was a fitting na, a thoughtful gift from an elder.
I nodded and looked around at Ravitán and the group—no, the Leaves.
Woof!
Keros ca running with Lily on its back, and finally, Natasha arrived, yawning deeply.
With everyone gathered, I shouted—
“Let’s move out.”
The northern edge of the forest.
Barren earth.
The central region—Hell Gri—unfolded before our eyes.
User Comments
0 comments from readers