The Adventures of an Overpowered Knight in Another World-Chapter 551- World Tree

Reinahrdt’s presence was like a blazing sun, bright, warm and commanding. He had become stronger, sharper and most importantly, his presence gave others a strong sense of reliability.

Unbeknownst to her, she found herself admiring that change far more than she should have.

"The Toto village, I can no longer postpone this plan. Even if the cost is uncertainty."

Verdia was no longer listening to him; her eyes continued to gaze at him, mesmerised. For a brief moment, she forgot the garden, the maids, even Arthur’s laughter in the background.

Her thoughts drifted to the first letter announcing his visit, and the rush of joy she’d felt upon reading his name, not a mother’s joy, but a woman’s.

At that time, she had carefully buried those emotions; after all, she was his stepmother. Yet when she saw him again after so many months, all those memories of their encounter couldn’t help but surface in her mind.

Across from him, Reinhardt turned his attention towards Verdia, feeling something off about her. He could feel the weight of her gaze, the strangeness in her eyes, and the new dynamics of their relationship.

He was no longer just her stepson. He was the man who had shared her deepest secret, who knew the taste of her skin and the sound of her moans.

"Our relationship has become complicated," Reinhardt spoke in a low voice.

Not far in the distance, the gleeful voice of Arthur and the chasing maids rang out as background noise.

Verdia kept her silence, then steeling her mind, she leaned forward slightly, the neckline of her dress gaping just enough to reveal the upper swell of her breasts.

She saw his eyes flicker downward, then snap back to her face. At that moment, she became sure that he no longer saw her as just her stepmother and more like a woman, just like how she saw him as a man.

She reached out, her fingertips brushing the back of his tensed hand. It was a light touch, but it sent a jolt through both of them.

Seeing him not pull away, she let her fingers trail up over his knuckles, feeling his warm skin, rough with old calluses.

Her touch was like a spark that lit the gunpowder; it caused a feeling that both of them were trying to suppress, to well up.

Suddenly, as if attracted by some unknown force, they drew near each other.

In the distance Arthur was distracted, examining a beetle with intense concentration, the maids standing by, chatting.

The gazebo, open but shaded, felt suddenly like a very private world.

Their lips met, Verdia and Reinhardt felt each other, their emotions connecting and finding a unity. It was a kiss of recognition, of shared, impossible longing.

Verdia’s mouth was soft, yielding, and she sighed into him, her body melting against his chest.

.

That night, Reinhardt spoke at length with Duke Raymond.

The discussion stretched far, touching on matters of the realm, the unrest spreading beyond the borders, and most importantly, the business he came here for.

As the duke of the area stretching far into the horizon, he had every right to know about plans.

After hearing what he was trying to do, Raymond was shocked, puzzled, excited and sceptical. His face showed a variety of emotions.

It couldn’t be helped after all, Reinhardt’s plan was that daring.

What’s more, with the events leading to this point, he couldn’t dismiss the idea.

After informing Raymond about his plans, he did not stay and left.

The very next morning, he departed for the new Toto village.

The land allotted to the demi-human tribes lay close enough to Lumiose to encourage exchange, yet far enough to give them space and autonomy. By carriage, the journey took less than three hours.

Well worn roads connected the village to the city, and along the way Reinhardt passed several merchant caravans, grain wagons heading inward, fabric and tools being taken outward.

It was proof that the experiment was working. Slowly, but surely, humans were developing a connection with the tribe, getting more accustomed to them and seeing them as fellow citizens.

Using his private carriage, Reinhardt entered the outskirts of the village shortly before noon.

As word of his arrival had already spread, the entire village was abuzz.

Even before his arrival, a large crowd had gathered near the entrance to welcome. Some bowed their heads deeply, ears fluttering or tails swaying in joy, others knelt outright, overcome by emotion, they made no effort to hide.

"We welcome Lord Reinhardt."

To others, their over compliance might seem puzzling. However, only the demi humans knew the kind of debt they owed this man.

Ignoring the humans, all the demi humans welcomed him collectively.

Reinhardt acknowledged their greeting with a nod and looked at their happy faces and growing numbers.

Looking at the thriving them, who would think that this tribe, which came from the frontier land of Toto village, stood at the brink of annihilation once.

A demon’s scheme, masked as false salvation, had nearly reduced them to offerings on a sacrificial altar. Men, women, children, all sacrificed to the old gods, in trade for protection from the demons.

Of course, it was all just a ploy of Demon General Xolvoth and his minions to sacrifice innocent lives to revive him.

Fortunately, Reinhardt and his Temple of Light arrived in time.

They brought the deception to light, crushed the demon’s plans, and destroyed the dungeon, thus ending the fire festival for good before any more innocent lives could be sacrificed.

To the demi humans of Toto Village, his arrival was god-sent and salvation.

Besides, after saving them, he had not only provided them with land, but also saved their young ones from slave traders. He even fought with the upper echelons of the kingdom to give them status.

You can pick any demi human from the crowd, and you would find none who was not completely loyal to him.

Eldrin, the son of the previous elven chief, walked out from the crowd. Apparently, the village had chosen him as the new leader after the death previous six elders and Zerina choosing to become a knight.

"Lord Reinhardt, because of you, we still live. We owe you an immeasurable debt."

Saying that he was just about to kneel on the ground, but Reinhardt stopped him.

"I didn’t come here to be worshipped. Stand up, all of you."

He spoke evenly and glanced at the demi human crowd. His eyes lingered on Elina for a moment.

"I did what anyone should do when lives are at stake. You all helped me and the knights drive away the forces of the demon. As such, your accomplishments were equally important. Besides, this village, this future, you built it yourselves after surviving."

There was no doubt, his accomplishments were the greatest, but he didn’t want their servitude. He wanted warriors who could help him in the fight against the demons.

.

After the formal greetings, Reinhardt was led to the village chief’s house.

Inside, the knights of the Temple of Light sat on one side, while on the other, the elite warriors of the tribe, beastmen, demi humans of varying forms and physiques.

The two parties encircled Reinhardt, with him in the head seat.

Seeing that everyone was gathered, he wasted no time.

"How much do you all know about the catastrophic war of the ancient times?" He began by asking everyone a question.

There was a varied reaction; evidently, they were not completely clueless, as some form of record was passed down from the ancient times about the catastrophic war that broke out.

As members of the Temple of Light, they of course read the records in the library.

As for the demi-humans, it was either passed down through their bloodline or some form of skill or technique.

Seeing everyone deep in thought, he began.

"The World Tree... Before the current age, before the seven kingdoms, before temples and before even the Seven Gods reshaped the world, there was Elfenheim."

As Reinhardt expected, the reaction was immediate.

While the knights of the Temple of Light simply furrowed their brows, the demi-humans became stiff, their aura wavering as a few of them directed their eyes towards a certain person.

That someone was none other than Eldrin.

The latter had the most noticeable reaction.

Reinhardt continued.

"Elfenheim was a nation, a civilization born around the World Tree itself. Their citizens were the elves. Now spread all around the world, they used to live in Elfenheim. In those days, the World Tree towered so high its crown pierced the heavens. Its roots spread across the continent, breathing mana and rejuvenating mana veins"...

"From the Tree flowed life, fertile lands, pure water, stable mana, and natural harmony between races. Even the laws of the world bent gently toward balance. For the Elves, it was the most sacred thing in the world, and they served it for generations"...

"They were its guardians, its voice and its caretakers."