I Became the Goddess of a New World

---

Chapter: The Path to Elderheim

Master Kim and Raven arrived at the border of Elderheim, guided by Celestia.

“It’s a barrier. If you cross it, you’ll have a special experience!”

“I’ll go first.”

Raven stepped forward and immediately crouched down.

One hand pressed against her abdomen, the other clamped over her mouth.

Was it panic? She stayed still in that position for a moment.

Then, as if regaining her composure, she downed an antidote.

“Hah… Hah…”

“Are you okay?”

At Master Kim’s question, Raven managed to nod weakly.

“Just as I said, a special experience.”

“I never want to go through this kind of experience again.”

The two exchanged words on the other side of the barrier, their gazes shifting to Master Kim.

“What are you doing? Hurry up and cross over. Are you… scared?”

“…I’m coming.”

At Celestia’s provocation, Master Kim took a deep breath and crossed the barrier.

[ The debuff ‘Curse of Nature’ has been applied. ]

As the system message appeared before him, he felt his stomach churn.

Even if a lethal debuff had activated, a slight stomach ache would be the least of his concerns.

But if he was feeling a very noticeable nausea, it was worse than poison.

[ The debuff ‘Curse of Nature’ has been detoxified. ]

“What? Is it not that painful?”

“I’m somewhat dull in this regard.”

“…You’re dull in other areas too.”

Master Kim pretended he didn’t hear Raven’s muttering.

“Stop. Identify yourself.”

Just as the three of them paused their conversation and were about to enter Elderheim, an elf appeared from the other side, drawing a bowstring against them.

“Fowler. It’s me.”

“Stop. Don’t come any closer.”

Fowler, the elf being referred to, looked a bit strange.

Considering he was an elf, his complexion was extremely pale.

The hand pulling back the bowstring was shaking like someone suffering from a tremor.

“Celestia. Surely you remember my name, right?”

“…I don’t seem to.”

Fowler’s gaze fell upon Master Kim and Raven.

“The principle is to immediately execute any humans invading Elderheim, but…”

He released the bowstring, grabbing his own head.

“…Currently, Elderheim is not in a normal state. So just turn back quietly.”

“We came to solve the troubles of Elderheim.”

At Master Kim’s assertion, Fowler let out a scoff.

“A foreigner, and a human at that?”

“Yes. Please believe us.”

Their eyes crossed, and silence ensued.

In this tense situation, after a long standoff, Fowler broke the silence.

“Doesn’t matter.”

Thud—

Fowler plopped down.

“Elderheim has already perished.”

The unbelievable words escaped his lips.

“Perished? What do you mean…?”

“Follow me.”

Fowler stood back up and moved forward.

Celestia followed him without hesitation, and Master Kim, exchanging glances with Raven, followed suit.

They passed by homes made of trees and grass that appeared to be elven dwellings.

Finally, they reached a place where the World Tree was visible, standing majestically in the center.

“Look over there.”

Fowler pointed to the World Tree.

Something hung down from the World Tree.

It was elves. But something was off.

Their skin had taken on a light black hue.

“The World Tree is twisted, and has become an object of destruction.”

The Elf Guardian, Fowler, turned to Master Kim.

“I sealed my corrupted kin and the Twisted World Tree with my own hands.”

There was deep regret in his eyes.

“I have little time left to me, so I must ask.”

In this already doomed situation, he asked:

“Foreigner, do you have a way to resolve this?”

“…”

At Fowler’s question, Master Kim could not respond.

***

The overall storyline was inspired by my journey in another world.

This time at Elderheim as well, it was a reconstruction of actual events I had experienced.

“I’ll meet the Elf Guardian upon arriving at Elderheim.”

The Elf Guardian treated the players including Celestia thoroughly as outsiders.

Although Celestia is an elf, the Elf Guardian Fowler didn’t recognize her.

The reason the Elf Guardian doesn’t call the World Tree, the creator of their race, “Mother.”

Why Celestia, who called herself a weirdo or a mutant, referred to the World Tree as her mother.

No one would notice Celestia’s true identity until the foreshadowing was unveiled.

“I was the same.”

All elves are influenced by the World Tree.

Now that the World Tree has fallen into the twisted World Tree, it’s only a matter of time before all elves align with its ideology.

Elf Guardian, Fowler.

He is the last elf who continues to resist the ideology of the Twisted World Tree.

If one aligns with the ideology of the Twisted World Tree…

They would degenerate into Dark Elves, minions of destruction.

The elves who have become Dark Elves lose their sanity and become monsters.

Fowler, the Elf Guardian who couldn’t bring himself to kill his kin who turned into monsters.

His choice was to delay destruction, hence, the sealing of Elderheim.

But this seal couldn’t last forever.

Elf Guardian Fowler was also an elf under the influence of the World Tree.

To seal the Twisted World Tree and thousands of Dark Elves, he had already paid a steep price.

His life flickered like an ignited flame, radiant yet close to extinguishing.

“In the end, decisions will have to be made.”

Since ancient times, the Elf Guardian has existed for the sake of the elves.

In any era, the most important thing for the Elf Guardian has been their kin.

Just like the “Hero” representing humans or the “Demon King” representing the demon race.

The Elf Guardian was a symbol representing their race.

Thus, Elf Guardians were a bit more liberated from the influence of the World Tree compared to regular elves.

Yet due to the intrinsic nature of their race, they could only meet their inevitable destruction.

So, must they face this foretold demise?

No. A way to overcome this desperate situation certainly existed.

Just as the Elf Guardian did a thousand years ago before me.

This time, the Elf Guardian, Fowler, would also have to make a decision in front of the player.

A decision to kill the creator of their race to protect his kin.

***

“Celestia is currently the successor who will follow in the footsteps of the World Tree.”

———

Suddenly?

Ah, spoilers, damn it!

What does that even mean?

What the hell?

I completely understand (not really).

———

Currently, Sweet is conducting the ‘Main Story – Investigation.’

Gathering data to prevent the foretold demise of Elderheim.

Sweet was in the Elderheim library.

Celestia and Raven were investigating near the World Tree.

“Guys, if you don’t understand this, how do you attend history class?”

———

Looking at the chat, the future of Korea looks bright.

I won’t attend!

What’s history anyway, lol.

I didn’t bother with the exams.

Why would I even learn that stuff?

I should be sleeping during class.

———

Sweet pointed at a part detailing the characteristics of elves.

“Basically, elves show a tendency not to stray far from the creator, the World Tree.”

Then, he moved his finger to the section titled ‘Elven Talents.’

“From birth, elves possess nature affinity strong enough to communicate with spirits. Their primary weapons are bows and swords, but they are mostly naturally gifted with archery.”

Celestia.

The one he met at the entrance of Elderheim looked like an elf, but…

She wielded magic to manipulate A-Space.

She handled artifacts infused with magic engineering technology.

She seemed knowledgeable in ‘Alchemy,’ one of the potion-making techniques.

Additionally, throughout their travel to Elderheim, she hadn’t once used a sword or a bow.

“Just a shell of an elf, huh?”

———

That’s why I called her a mutant.

This is discrimination.

Hmm…

———

While viewers couldn’t comprehend, Sweet didn’t give up persuading them.

“Look here. The World Tree that appeared a thousand years ago…”

“Sweet, you’re here.”

Sweet halted his explanation at the sound of Raven’s voice from behind and turned around.

“What’s up?”

“There’s been a problem.”

Since spending countless sticky nights with Raven, they had become comfortable enough to drop formalities with each other.

“Some of the Dark Elves have been released from their seal.”

“Isn’t that dangerous?”

Dark Elves.

According to records, they were beings almost like monsters.

Having lost their sanity, they were mere beasts who displayed hostility towards living beings.

That was the Dark Elves.

“Something feels off… The Dark Elves released from the seal seemed to maintain their sanity.”

“Then doesn’t that resolve the issue?”

Maintaining their sanity meant they still possessed intellect and reasoning.

The fundamental reason why Fowler had to seal the Dark Elves was gone.

So wouldn’t that be seen as the problem being resolved? While such doubts arose…

Raven shook her head and brought up the real problem.

“They’re claiming that Elf Guardian Fowler betrayed the World Tree.”

“…That’s an interesting claim.”

Fowler, who chose to seal away his kin instead of killing them.

Yet, these Dark Elves were stating he betrayed the World Tree.

Based on the information gathered in the library, siding with Fowler was surely the correct choice.

– While progressing through the story, you will end up doubting everything.

Sweet recalled what Director Aurora had said during the second half update showcase.

“Ugh… My head hurts.”

Given how things stood now, judging based on the information collected from the library would be foolish.

According to the records, the moment the Dark Elves were released from their seal…

They would have to attack Raven and Celestia nearby.

“Guide me. I need to meet them directly.”

“Okay.”

Following Raven’s lead, Sweet proceeded.

Before the World Tree, Celestia stood between Fowler and the Dark Elves, who were at odds with each other.

“You made it? Things just got troublesome.”

Celestia conveyed Sweet’s feelings with a greeting.

Sweet passed Celestia and approached the Dark Elves.

“Are you the cohort of outsiders? I am the representative of the Elders…”

“Wait. I have a question first.”

Sweet interrupted the words of the Dark Elf representative and pointed at Celestia.

“How does she appear to you guys?”

The gazes of the Dark Elves followed the direction of Sweet’s finger.

Upon seeing Celestia at the end of it, they quietly replied.

“Isn’t she a foreigner? Just like you.”

“Exactly. She is indeed a foreigner like me.”

Celestia was undeniably dressed in traditional elven attire.

Her appearance was unmistakably that of an elf.

Yet, both the elf Fowler and the Elder, who had transformed into a Dark Elf, did not recognize her as an elf.

“My first hypothesis holds true…”

“What hypothesis?”

“Never mind, just ignore it.”

“Seriously, this is absurd.”

As if Celestia didn’t care if her identity was exposed.

She exchanged playful banter with Sweet.

“Then for the second question.”

Sweet recalled the content of the ‘Memoirs of the Dark Elves’ from the library.

“Do you hear a voice in your head saying ‘Kill the human in front of you’?”

Before being wholly consumed by the ideology of the Twisted World Tree.

That was a statement recorded by a Dark Elf, who maintained a trace of sanity.

– There’s a voice in my head that keeps telling me to kill my kin in front of me.

“What sort of nonsense is that? There’d be no reason to hear such a voice.”

At that moment, a choice appeared before Sweet.

[ Main Story – Faith ]
[ Main Story – Doubt ]
[ Main Story – Execution ]