Author: Himezaki Shiu	Original Source: Syosetu
Translator: Jiro	English Source: Re:Library

Project GB is an official initiative by Re:Library.

That day, the Ancient Elf was reported to have returned. And I, the sixth prince of the elves residing in the Tree of Spirits, couldn’t help but think of ominous words about the collapse of the world.

◇◇◇

I went for lunch as usual. Father mentioned he had something important to discuss, and I knew it would involve Finis—or whatever she called herself. It was obvious, considering the timing of his announcement about her return. Even I could guess that much. Having said that, I was only the sixth prince. I had no real claim to succession and held far less power than my older brothers, who ranked higher.

For that reason, I had been tasked with marrying the high-ranked elf who’d come from the outside. The higher species of elves, like the High Elves and Ancient Elves, were revered as the equivalent of heroes among our people. They were as popular as the legendary heroes once summoned by the human race.

Having such a being aligned with the royal family would send a clear message to the elves that our authority was justified. However, such an alliance was also a double-edged sword—a potential threat to the current royal family. Many believed that higher species of elves should naturally ascend to the throne.

Even if their status as a higher species wasn’t enough on its own, their accomplishments could easily propel them into positions of power. That is why Father was trying to manipulate public opinion by presenting her as the fiancée of a prince.

When I spoke with Finis, that Ancient Elf, she said something that unsettled me. First, she said something along the lines that if she were to help the weak, then everyone in the world would become her enemy. After which she mentioned the collapse of the world.

Normally, I wouldn’t have paid attention to such nonsense, but for some reason, Finis’ words were unusually persuasive. People who spun such tall tales were typically exhausting to engage with, as they went to great lengths to get your attention.

Finis, however, was different. She simply stated her message and left the rest up to me. I couldn’t help but question how she could act like that with a royal. Yet, she seemed unwaveringly honest, showing no hesitation or confusion as she spoke. She purely seemed like she was telling the truth.

I’d also heard rumors about the world collapsing from the former king, who was now imprisoned. But when I went to speak with him, he didn’t believe me. Still, he mentioned an old oracle that had foretold the destruction of the world if the spirits weren’t released.

Apparently my father—the current king—didn’t believe the story at all. And, truth be told, I wouldn’t have believed it either, had I not heard Finis’ side.

But now, I was convinced—the world was on the verge of collapse, and there was nothing I could do about it. Appealing to my father would only result in him dismissing me, and if I pushed too hard, I risked being thrown into prison myself.

If there was anything I could do, it was to plan for the evacuation of the people, just as Finis had suggested—and that is exactly what I did. The general belief among the royal family was that as long as we resided within the Tree of Spirits, we were absolutely safe. To them, an evacuation plan seemed unnecessary. At least, that was the consensus among the upper echelons of the kingdom.

But I was the sixth prince. I was royalty, yes, but I wasn’t significant. That was why I framed the evacuation plan as a mere part of my studies and presented it with pride¹. Compared to my brothers, my influence was minuscule.

Yet, as a member of the royal family, I still had more power than the average citizen. If that was the case, then it was my responsibility to use that power to protect them.

The plan I created with these thoughts in mind was now needed far sooner than I had anticipated.

The Tree of Spirits, our home, began to sway. This had never happened before. The tremors were slight for now, but I couldn’t bring myself to believe it would stop there. I couldn’t afford to be optimistic.

If we didn’t act under the assumption that the Tree of Spirits might collapse, we would risk not only our people’s safety but also our pride as royalty. Feeling the tremors from my room, I sprang to my feet and ran to find the knight who had helped me devise the evacuation plan.

◇◇◇

“Don’t run! There’s still time!”
“Your Highness! We’ve finished evacuating that area.”

A knight, who had been guiding another area, said after running up to me.

He seemed like he intended to assist us. Fortunately, the evacuation in this area was already complete. All the people within sight had taken refuge outside the Tree of Spirits.

When seen from the outside, it was clear that only the Tree of Spirits was swaying. Just as I was about to relax after finishing my part of the task, I realized something unsettling—there were no members of the royal family in sight.

“Someone. Has someone seen my Father… His Majesty?” I asked.
“N-No…”
“Could he still be inside…”

It sounded absurd as I said it aloud, but the more I thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. After all, Father had always been convinced that he would be safe within the Tree of Spirits.

“I have to help him…”
“Your Highness! With all due respect, if you go to help now, you’ll only…”

The knight’s voice faltered, heavy with regret. I turned to look at the Tree of Spirits. What should’ve been a tree was now beginning to crumble into tatters². It looked as though it were made of sand, disintegrating before my eyes. Surely, if I tried to go in now, I would only be caught in the collapse as well.

What was I supposed to do as a member of the royal family? What would happen if I were gone?

The elves were already teetering on the brink of conflict with the Beastmen. If word spread that the Tree of Spirits had fallen, our enemies might see it as a chance to strike. It was the royal family’s duty to unite the elves, to calm their anxieties in the face of the Tree of Spirits’ destruction. I had to unite the people by praying—by believing—that His Majesty might still be alive.

◇◇◇

The Tree of Spirits collapsed. The place I’d called home crumbled noisily, breaking apart piece by piece. The people stood frozen, watching it with unwavering attention.

I had asked someone skilled in magic to shield us from the impact of the collapse, so there should have been no immediate danger. Still, the sheer size of the tree, which once seemed to pierce the heavens, left me uneasy. Fortunately, it crumbled in place rather than toppling over.

Had it fallen, the devastation to the surrounding forest would have been catastrophic. While such destruction might have harmed the Beastmen’s settlement, it would have left us even more devastated in the process.

When the dust finally settled, and the tree had completely collapsed, we received grim news. The information we had asked for arrived while everyone stood in stunned silence. Individuals believed to be members of the royal family had been found dead in the rubble. Their remains, however, were not in normal form³.

We couldn’t stay paralyzed by despair forever. Taking on the role expected of royalty, I stepped forward, standing before everyone, and raised my voice.

“You, who were once residents of the Tree of Spirits, heed my words. Just now, His Majesty, my Father… and many members of the royal family gave their lives alongside the Tree of Spirits. I know there are many uncertainties ahead, but we can survive without the Tree of Spirits. I ask for your support—please lend me your strength.”

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Footnotes:

Robinxen: This person, they’re actually smart and decent. A rarity in this world.
Robinxen: That thing really was purely being held together by the spirit, it wasn’t even like a tree that they had used the spirits energy to grow, it was basically just a tree that was made of spirit energy. What an opulent waste of spirit power.
Robinxen: What on Earth did our protagonist do?