I Became My Elf King Character In A Game-Like World
Chapter 107: Ghost?!

Chapter 107: Ghost?!

Time slipped by, and night fell fully, the sky a blanket of stars. The camp was quiet, save for the crackle of fires and the soft murmurs of resting elves.

Renjiro sat near a fire, Elaria beside him, when the sound of hooves broke the stillness. Lorien returned, her face lit with quiet triumph as she dismounted.

"Your Majesty," she said, bowing slightly. "We followed the coordinates from the Philosopher’s Stone. The gold mine’s real—it’s on the other side of the mountain, tucked in a narrow valley."

Renjiro stood, his eyes gleaming with purpose. "Good work, Lorien. Lead the way. We move now."

The elves packed quickly, their movements swift and silent. Under the starlight, they followed Lorien’s team across rocky paths and up steep slopes.

The mountain loomed above them, its barren peaks jagged against the sky. After hours of climbing, they reached a wide ledge overlooking a dark valley.

There, glinting faintly in the moonlight, was the entrance to the gold mine.

A massive figure stirred near the entrance—a Giant Golem, its stone body creaking as it moved. It lumbered toward Renjiro, holding out a rough chunk of rock that shimmered with veins of gold.

"This is gold ore," the golem rumbled, its voice like grinding stones. "Looks like the kobolds dug it up."

Renjiro took the ore, turning it over in his hands. "Why didn’t they mine it?" he wondered aloud, frowning. "Kobolds love shiny things."

Elaria stepped closer, her staff glowing faintly. "Kobolds are weak, but they’re clever," she said. "Maybe they knew they couldn’t hold a mine this big. Or maybe they were saving it for their Orc masters."

Renjiro nodded, his mind already moving to the next step. He handed the ore back to the golem and walked to a flat, open space nearby, the ground cracked and dry.

"This is the spot," he said, his voice firm. "I’m planting an Eternal Tree here. This land will be ours."

Elaria’s eyes widened, and she gripped her staff tighter. "Here? Renjiro, this mountain’s dead—barren from dragon fire long ago. Even our strongest magic couldn’t grow a tree here. It would take centuries!"

The three elven commanders nearby—stern-faced warriors named Elaria, Lorien, and Lirael—exchanged doubtful looks.

"She’s right, Your Majesty," Elaria said gruffly. "The soil’s poisoned. Nothing grows here."

Lorien nodded. "We trust you, but... this seems impossible."

Renjiro just smiled, unbothered. "Don’t worry about that," he said confidently. "I have a way."

He reached into his pouch and pulled out a small, glowing seed—the Seed of the Eternal Tree, given to him by the system. It pulsed with faint green light, warm in his hand.

He knelt and pressed it into the dry earth, covering it gently with soil. Standing, he stepped back and waited.

Elaria and the commanders watched, their faces tight with doubt. "This won’t work," Lirael muttered under his breath, shaking his head. "It can’t."

But then the ground shivered. A low rumble spread through the valley, making pebbles bounce and the elves stumble.

Cracks split the earth where Renjiro had planted the seed, and a tiny green sprout pushed through. It grew fast—too fast—stretching into a sapling, then a young tree, its branches reaching out like eager arms.

Within moments, it towered above them, its trunk thick and ancient, its leaves shimmering with emerald light. The air hummed with life, sweet and clean, as if the mountain itself was breathing again.

Elaria gasped, her hands flying to her mouth. "oh god... is that really an Eternal Tree?" she whispered, her voice trembling with awe.

Said another elf fell to one knee, staring up at the massive tree. "It’s... it’s just like the one from our lost homeland," he said, his gruff voice soft with wonder.

Another elf eyes shone with tears. "It really is an Eternal Tree!" she cried, her voice breaking.

The elves around them erupted into cheers, their voices echoing off the valley walls. Even the Giant Golem tilted its stony head, its glowing eyes fixed on the tree.

The tree’s energy pulsed outward, warm and alive, wrapping the barren mountain in a blanket of hope. Its roots sank deep, claiming the land for the elves in a way no army ever could.

Renjiro stood quietly, his eyes on the tree, a small smile on his lips.

....

The mountain air was crisp, and the newly grown Eternal Tree towered above the elves, its bare branches stretching like skeletal fingers against the starry sky.

Renjiro stood at its base, his cloak fluttering as he raised a hand. With a quiet command, he called forth his forces.

Elves emerged from the shadows, their bows and blades ready, while massive Giant Golems lumbered forward, their stone bodies creaking.

No glow or spark of extra power came from the system—just their natural strength, honed over years of survival.

But then, without warning, another Eternal Tree sprouted nearby, its trunk bursting from the barren ground in a shower of dirt. It rose fast, reaching a hundred meters tall in moments, its branches bare but grand. The elves froze, their eyes wide with shock. Gasps and murmurs rippled through the camp.

"Look at that gorgeous Eternal Tree!" an elf shouted, pointing with a grin.

"I can feel its life energy—it’s so strong!" another said, pressing a hand to her chest, her face lit with awe.

A young elf laughed, clapping his hands. "I just want to climb up and nap in a cozy spot on those branches!"

Tiny woodland spirits, glowing like fireflies, fluttered around the new tree. Their soft lights danced in the darkness, painting the air with shimmering trails. The elves watched, enchanted, as the spirits spun and twirled under the tree’s faint glow.

Lorien stepped forward, her dark hair loose and her eyes shining with wonder. She knelt slightly before Renjiro, her voice soft but sure. "Your Majesty, is this... a gift from the Elven Goddess?"

Renjiro met her gaze, a small smile tugging at his lips. "You could say that," he said, nodding. He didn’t correct her. Let the elves believe it was divine—they’d follow him more fiercely if they saw miracles. In his mind, he pictured Elaria, who’d stopped her daily prayers to the Goddess weeks ago, her faith shifting to him instead. That was the plan: replace their old beliefs with loyalty to their king.

The new Eternal Tree stood stark and leafless, its power dormant. Renjiro narrowed his eyes, focusing. "System," he said in his mind, "wake this tree up. Make it alive."

[Ding!]

[10,000 Gold Coins required.]

Renjiro rolled his eyes. "Fine, do it," he muttered under his breath.

A golden beam shot from his forehead, bright and sudden, striking the tree’s trunk. The bark glowed green, the light spreading like ripples on water. Tiny buds sprouted from the ground around it, unfurling into grasses and vines.

The barren mountain came alive—flowers bloomed, trees rose, and a lush forest carpeted the slopes in moments. The heavy death energy that had choked the air vanished, replaced by a warm, vibrant pulse of life.

The elves erupted into cheers. "It’s so beautiful!" one cried, spinning in place as petals fell around her.

"This is a real miracle!" another shouted, his voice cracking with joy.

Renjiro walked to the tree’s base, his boots sinking into the soft new grass. He planned to create mining sprites—small creatures to dig gold from the mine.

They’d soak up the gold veins and spit out shiny coins, a strange but clever trick. He opened his mouth to ask the system how much gold they could gather each day, but a deafening roar cut him off, shaking the ground.

Renjiro’s head snapped up. "That’s a dragon!" he said, his voice sharp.

He focused, sensing the sound’s source. It wasn’t the Bone Dragon’s hollow rattle—this was deeper, alive with fury, coming from deep beneath the gold mine. "So, you were hiding down there," he murmured, his eyes narrowing.

Elaria and the three commanders—Lirael, Lorien, and Selena—rushed to his side, their faces tense. The elves gripped their weapons, and the golems shifted into defensive stances.

Sylphie and the unicorns galloped forward, their horns glowing as they wove a shimmering shield around Renjiro. The Aegis technique pulsed with holy light, strong but not as fierce as the Sacred Shield they’d used in ancient wars.

Elaria’s silver hair whipped in the wind as she leaned close, her voice low and grim. "Your Majesty, that’s a dragon ghost. From its roar, it’s hiding in the gold mine below us."

Renjiro nodded, a wry smile crossing his face. "A dragon’s love for gold is wild," he said. "Even dead, it can’t let go of its treasure."

Elaria’s eyes darkened. "It’s not a wraith, though," she added. "A ghost still thinks, still remembers. Wraiths are just hunger and instinct—craving blood and souls. This one’s dangerous because it’s clever."

Renjiro’s jaw tightened. "Ghost or wraith, doesn’t matter," he said firmly. "We’ll handle it."

He glanced at the mine’s dark entrance, rethinking his sprite plan. They’d be too frail, easily crushed by whatever lurked below. Before he could say more, a voice boomed from underground, deep and rumbling like thunder trapped in stone.

"Elf King," it growled, "this is my land. Take your people and leave, or I will show you a dragon’s true wrath!"

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