The Adventures of an Overpowered Knight in Another World Chapter 554- Please Take Me With You

"First Primordial Light, it gladdens me to meet you again."

The Spirit King inclined his head, extending the same honor as he had during their very first meeting.

Reinhardt returned the gesture with equal respect. "It is good to see you as well, Spirit King Asterius."

Once the greetings concluded, Reinhardt delved into the purpose of his arrival.

"My world is being devoured by demons. The mana lines are polluted, and the lands have fallen into corruption. I intend to plant the Origin Seed you entrusted to me and raise a new World Tree. But I neglected a crucial requirement"...

"The seed of origin can only be nurtured by a High Elf priestess. And in my world, such a being may no longer exist."

Asterius remained silent, his presence radiating an age-old purity.

"The demons might have killed all the members of the Elfenheim’s Royal Family in the Great Catastrophe hundreds of years ago."

With his explanation complete, he posed the query that had brought him there.

"Is there any other way to nurture the Origin Seed into a World Tree?"

With sorrow, Asterius denied it by shaking his head. "You speak the truth. Very few races possess the ability to resonate with a World Tree. The High Elven priestesses are among the most compatible. Without such resonance, the seed cannot awaken."

The affirmation hit with greater force than any outright refusal.

For the first time in ages, doubt began to infiltrate Reinhardt's mind.

Could nurturing this Origin Seed truly be out of reach? Was there truly no path to restore the World Tree in his realm?

As uncertainty gripped him, Asterius addressed him once more.

"However, the First Light need not abandon hope. There is still a High Elf in your world. One who carries the qualification to become a priestess."

Reinhardt's gaze sharpened instantly. As protector of the Divine Tree Yggdrasil, he trusted that Asterius's assessment was infallible.

This implied a High Elf endured in his world.

Had Elfenheim's royal lineage evaded the demons' slaughter and preserved their heritage? That seemed the sole plausible explanation.

"Where is this person?"

Asterius shook his head again.

"Although I am able to peer into the myriad worlds thanks to Yggdrasil linking all of them, your world’s corruption is extremely severe. Additionally, without a World Tree, even the mana veins of the planet are being poisoned. I can peer into it no further"...

"That said, rest assured that you will meet her soon. The seed in your hand will lead you to her."

The Spirit King indicated the Origin Seed clutched in his grasp.

"Just like how only a High Elf priestess can resonate with the World Tree, the World Tree too can sense her. When the time comes, it will lead you to her."

Reinhardt nodded firmly. As long as a chance existed to restore the World Tree, he refused to yield.

After expressing his gratitude to Asterius, he offered farewell and departed for his domain.

During his journey back from the Spirit Realm, Reinhardt's mind gained sharp clarity. He now understood his next steps precisely.

With a mere intention, the Spirit Realm dissolved from view.

.

In the very next moment, Reinhardt found himself once again within the chief’s house.

As always, nobody detected his brief vanishing into the Spirit Realm. Only a few seconds had elapsed in the physical realm.

Eldrin and the rest continued grappling with the harsh reality that even the Origin Seed couldn't guarantee the World Tree's revival.

Upon opening his eyes, Reinhardt first examined the seed he held.

Whereas earlier he had overlooked its pulsing life force, now the shift was unmistakable to him.

Merely shifting the seed in his vicinity caused the surges of immense vitality inside it to wax and wane.

Toward one particular bearing, the surge leaped sharply. Without question, this indicated the seed attuning to a presence or individual.

Drawing from Asterius's insights, he was certain this pointed toward the location of the world's final priestess.

Within the assembly, Elina appeared locked in deep deliberation. Shortly after, she advanced toward Reinhardt and indicated her own chest.

"Lord Reinhardt, since it is a priestess you require, then allow me to try."

What?

The group stared at her in bewilderment.

Elina drew in a steadying breath and stated her case with determination. "I may not be a High Elf. But I am female, and I am the highest-ranked warrior among our people. I know the rites, the song, and every verse passed down for nurturing the World Tree"...

"I cannot confidently say that I can revive the World Tree, but I refuse to let this opportunity slip away. Not after everything you’ve done for us."

From saving them against demons to granting them territory and position. He had contributed immensely, earning the demi-humans' profound thanks.

And now he had retrieved the Origin Seed, which logically should have vanished centuries prior with Elfenheim's collapse.

Unwilling to dash his expectations, Elina assumed the duty after careful consideration.

Silence enveloped the chamber. All those gathered pondered their choices.

Eldrin, husband to Elina, wavered between optimism and doubt.

Reinhardt heard her out in quiet, then denied it with a shake of his head.

"No."

Her eyes flared wide at his rejection. She parted her lips to offer comfort, but Reinhardt lifted a hand to halt her.

"Do not misunderstand, your resolve is admirable. And your courage, unquestionable. However, there is only one Origin Seed."

He regarded the seed in his possession.

"This is not a gamble we can afford to take. If the attempt fails, there will be no second chance."

Upon hearing this, the others concurred with nods. His reasoning made sense, yet acceptance proved difficult, particularly with the seed so close.

Elina balled her hand into a fist and averted her gaze.

A heavy gloom settled over the room.

At that moment, Reinhardt offered them a spark of optimism.

"More importantly, there is no need to take such a risk. The royal bloodline of Elfenheim still lives."

Like an explosion, the revelation left everyone staring in astonishment.

"W-What did you say?"

Questioning what he'd heard, Eldrin repeated the query.

Reinhardt grinned and asserted with assurance. "Don’t worry, the royal bloodline of Elfenheim was not completely eradicated. There is someone in this world with the potential to become the next priestess."

Elina's breath hitched, and Eldrin's eyes quivered with emotion.

This time, clarity rang true; no illusion lingered.

Elfenheim's royal lineage persisted.

A High Elf bearing the noblest heritage.

Whether the knights familiar with the continent's sorrowful elven past or the exiled ones among them, all reeled from Reinhardt's disclosure.

Yet their surprise was nothing compared to the elves' turmoil.

For the survival of an Elfenheim royal descendant signified not only the World Tree's potential rebirth but also Elfenheim's own resurgence.

"W-Where is that person?"

Once his astonishment ebbed, Eldrin pressed urgently. In his fervor, his speech softened, underscoring the profound stature of a High Elf priestess.

Every gaze fixed on Reinhardt, who shook his head deliberately.

"I don’t know."

Despite the Spirit King's assurance, the priestess's whereabouts stayed elusive. She might dwell in the Seven Kingdoms or a distant lesser realm. Certainty eluded him.

His eyes flicked momentarily to the Origin Seed. The sole path to her lay in pursuing the bond linking her to this seed. Even so, this approach held constraints.

The connection between seed and priestess pulsed weakly, occasionally fading entirely. The reason escaped him.

Distance might be the culprit, or perhaps an external force affected one or both.

As these notions crossed his mind, an ominous unease stirred within Reinhardt.

He stood from his chair.

Having addressed his objectives—or realized their complexity—he chose to depart.

.

.

By the village entrance, right as Reinhardt and his knights prepared to board the carriage, rapid footfalls echoed from the rear.

"Lord Reinhardt!"

He pivoted to find Elina approaching.

She paused there, bent slightly forward, panting heavily. Her stance highlighted her ample bosom and the alluring pale curves glistening with perspiration.

With disheveled tresses, piercing green eyes, revealing leather garb, and her innate elven form, she captivated from every angle.

After dipping into a bow before Reinhardt, she promptly pleaded.

"Please take me with you."

Shock rippled through the group, including Reinhardt.