Deep, heavy thuds echoed through the village.
The Angels were conducting dive-bombing exercises. With their customary precision, they struck their targets using horns shed by Kuro’s pack. Kudel and Corone had been unable to participate for a while due to their pregnancies, but they showed no signs of being out of practice. It was an impressive display.
Still, wasn't it about time to stop? They were throwing far more than the planned amount. I signaled to them that the one they just dropped would be the last.
I left the exercise grounds and returned to the mansion. Waiting for me there was an Angel who had arrived in the village just a few days ago. Her name was Reginleiv. While she appeared to be roughly the same age as Tia, she was apparently the Supreme Elder of the Angel Race.
This Supreme Elder had arrived alone. Her first stop had been the airspace above Village One. Since she had supposedly taken a bellicose attitude there, the residents had caught her off guard with lightning magic. She was then dragged to the ground by silk from Zabuton’s Children and thoroughly beaten by Kuro’s pack.
After that, she was transported to the Village of the Great Tree via the Centaur Race’s regular shuttle. Her injuries were quite severe, so we treated her immediately. During the process, Tia and Granmaria warned me that healing her completely might be dangerous, so I stayed on guard, but it turned out to be unnecessary.
Reginleiv was very friendly and remarkably polite. I couldn't understand what Tia and Granmaria were so worried about. Since Kudel, Corone, Suarliu, Suarkou, Kierbit, and even Razmaria were as cautious as Tia, I wondered if she was simply disliked by everyone. Personally, I hoped they would all get along within their clan.
However, after piecing together the stories from Tia and the others, it seemed that Supreme Elder Reginleiv belonged to a militant faction that had no qualms about assassination. She cherished the traditional values of the Angel Race and led the opposition against Malbit’s policy of abandoning the title of God-kin. Apparently, she was the foremost critic of the Angels migrating to the Village of the Great Tree. She was particularly dissatisfied with the fact that the World Tree had been brought here.
I could understand why they were wary. On top of that, she was supposedly the "Number Two Person You Shouldn't Anger" among the Angels. She rarely lost her temper, but when she did, there was no telling what she might do. Her reputation was that of someone who would utterly crush anyone she deemed an enemy.
Despite that reputation, she hadn't done anything hostile in our village, and she had already apologized for her behavior at Village One. I saw no reason to treat her poorly. I just wanted her to live peacefully like the other Angels. If she was going to stay long-term, I would be happy to have her work. She mentioned she could cook, so I planned to take her up on that.
By the way, I asked who the "Number One Person You Shouldn't Anger" was. The answer was Tia. Really? Tia just looked bashful when I brought it up.
A few days have passed since then, but she hasn't shown any suspicious behavior. Tia and Granmaria are still keeping the children away from her, but Reginleiv doesn't seem to mind. She simply waits in the mansion for my orders. While that's a bit awkward in its own way, she isn't causing trouble, so I treat her like anyone else.
Ah, it looks like Malbit and the others will be arriving soon. Things are about to get lively again.
My name is Reginleiv. I am one of the elders of the Angel Race.
To be honest, I don't particularly like being called an elder. I am aware that I have lived a long time, but I am still an unmarried maiden. I would much prefer to be called "Sister."
I have finally awakened—literally. Lately, my periods of slumber have grown longer. I often end up sleeping for years at a time. This is an unavoidable fate for long-lived or immortal races. As the years pile up, sleep gradually claims more of one's time until, eventually, one never wakes up again. One isn't dead, but the state is indistinguishable from death.
The cause is unknown, though some say it is because a long life lacks sufficient stimulation. To support that theory, I find that I do not sleep long when there is an incident occurring. If something interesting is happening, I wake up every morning like anyone else. I wish incidents would continue indefinitely, though I suppose that would bring its own set of problems.
When Malbit took the position of leader and changed our way of life, I stayed awake for about five days before slipping back into a long slumber. I intended to uphold the traditional ways, but perhaps my heart wasn't truly in it, or perhaps my anger simply lacked the stamina to keep me awake. Regardless, my long sleeps continued.
One day, I heard that the sapling of the World Tree had been moved. That kept me awake for ten days. Then I heard that our people had attacked and destroyed a human kingdom because an Angel child had been targeted. I found myself wishing I could have participated.
Every time I woke, I heard tales regarding a place called the Village of the Great Tree. There were even unpleasant rumors about our people migrating there. I was curious, but I assumed I would just fall asleep again, so I didn't act. I was interested, yet motionless. Eventually, I stopped caring altogether.
Then, I woke up normally. I hadn't slept long at all. How many days had it been? I hadn't been counting, but I had woken up before summer, and now it was autumn. It was a small but moving realization.
A sense of duty welled up within me. Was this a message from the gods, telling me to deal with this Village of the Great Tree? There had to be a reason I was staying awake. Yes, that must be it. At the same time, I felt tasked with putting some spirit back into my corrupt clan—to show them the ancient way of life. I had finally escaped the cycle of endless sleep for this purpose. I was certain of it.
I flew out in high spirits, and then I was beaten to a pulp.
What was that place? Was it hell? Had my clan gone mad, choosing to migrate to such a location?
As it turned out, I was mistaken. The place where I had been soundly defeated was merely Village One. After being transported by carriage, I finally arrived at the Village of the Great Tree.
There, I saw it. The World Tree, lush and vibrant. The World Tree, guarded by Golden Silkworms. It was a scene from the ancient past—a sight I had shared with the descendants of the gods before they perished. It was a view I had once enjoyed with my departed sisters. I never imagined I would see it again.
Wait, they used a World Tree leaf to treat me? What a waste! Injuries like mine would heal on their own if left alone! I protested, but they forced the treatment on me anyway. It was frustrating, yet I could feel the warmth of the leaf's power. It made me feel so... happy.
No, no, I mustn't be swayed by this. I was here to show this fallen clan the ancient ways.
...However, it wouldn't be wise to attack blindly. I decided to observe first. I was just observing, so I really wished they would stop monitoring me. I wasn't such a battle maniac that I would willingly take on a whole pack of Inferno Wolves. Furthermore, the creatures looming behind me were Demon Spiders—no, they were Illegal Demon Spiders.
As if I could ever make enemies of them! My entire race would be exterminated!
Then there was the man known as the Village Head, who didn't flinch even when surrounded by those wolves and spiders. He was the one I truly needed to evaluate.
I sensed a divine aura from him. However, I sensed the same thing from the cats in the mansion. Perhaps my senses had been dulled by my long slumber. It was a possibility. If I ignored that aura, he seemed like a mere villager. A weak one, at that. If I put my mind to it, I felt I could kill him in a single strike.
Why were so many of our daughters married to such a man? I didn't understand. And if I didn't understand, the only thing to do was test him. With that thought, I took a single step toward the Village Head.
In that instant, a spear transfixed my heart.
...It was an illusion. But it was an illusion that I understood, with terrifying clarity, would become reality if I took one more step. There was no one around me. The Village Head was just a few paces away. He held no spear in his hand.
Where had it come from? I didn't know. But I understood that if I moved with even a shred of malice, I would be killed instantly. I knew of only one type of being capable of such a feat. A god.
Ah, I see now. My people hadn't become corrupt. They were simply returning to the ancient way of life from before I was even born—a life of service to a god.
That realization was enough for me. I would follow that path as well.
When I greeted the group consisting of Malbit, Ruincia, and Suarlou upon their arrival, they made a scene, claiming I was a different person entirely. How rude of them.
Village Head, I didn't hit my head that hard. I really don't need another World Tree leaf.