I Got a Fake Job at the Academy
Chapter 475: Mother and Daughter (1)

Chapter 475: Mother and Daughter (1)

Ventmin's earliest childhood memory was looking up at the World Tree that rose so high it seemed to pierce the sky.

The emotions from childhood are now too faint to recall.

Perhaps, like all elves who revered and worshipped that tree, they too thought it was beautiful and worshipped it the same way.

Ventmin was born into a good family from the start.

At the time, the Lifrey family wasn't directly attached to the World Tree like it is now.

They were just slightly below the Seven Great Houses in status.

However, even in such a family, Ventmin Lifrey possessed exceptional talent, which allowed her to smoothly enter high elf society.

She gained access to the Serendel Palace and could see the World Tree up close.

After all, her talent as a druid was unmatched by others.

She was confident that she would be the future that could elevate the Lifrey family to an even higher position but that confidence crumbled the moment she saw one elf.

The Plante family, who had served the World Tree for generations.

It was because of one elf who became the youngest head of the family.

Ella Plante.

Though she was only about the same age as herself, she possessed the highest compatibility with the World Tree in history.

She heard the World Tree's voice more clearly than anyone else and felt its will.

Even within the Plante family, her ability was considered almost mutant-like.

To the elves who worshipped the World Tree like a god, Ella Plante was both an apostle who conveyed god's will and an object of reverence.

Ventmin felt both awe and jealousy towards such an Ella.

However, she didn't immediately show such jealousy outwardly.

Thinking herself lacking, she focused on working even harder.

Thus, Ventmin was able to further develop her already high achievements as a druid.

She naturally surpassed those of her age, and became skilled enough that even the family elders couldn't keep up.

As a result, it was only natural that her name became renowned within the elf kingdom but Ventmin wasn't satisfied.

She couldn't be satisfied.

She would become an even greater elf.

She would rise to a higher position and leave behind a name in the history of the elf kingdom that no one could dispute.

Even after rising to a high position in the family, Ventmin didn't slack off in her efforts.

She lived each day intensely.

To elves who always lived leisurely due to their long lifespans, Ventmin's behavior was alien.

In a world where everyone walked slowly, her action of running without rest while shedding blood and sweat was incomprehensible to elves.

Still, Ventmin didn't mind.

The results of those actions showed quickly after all.

Thanks to the combination of natural talent and effort, Ventmin was able to keep advancing.

She was allowed to get closer to the World Tree than other elves, and could even read its consciousness partially through its fine roots.

As a result, she was almost confirmed as the next head of the Lifrey family but Ventmin still couldn't be satisfied.

No matter how much she tried, grew stronger, and rose higher, there was always someone conspicuously above her head.

Ella Plante.

It was incomprehensible.

Why couldn't she catch up to her?

She truly worked until she bled.

She lived diligently, not wasting even a minute or second of each day.

Yet the gap with Ella wouldn't narrow.

Did Ella Plante work as hard as herself?

That wasn't the case.

Ventmin had once secretly observed what Ella did.

What she did was simple.

She would leisurely take naps, wander the forest after meals, or run away from family members' eyes saying ceremonies were bothersome.

To think someone revered by all would have such a leisurely attitude.

Ventmin was dumbfounded by that sight.

Surely she must be making other efforts somewhere she didn't know about.

Ella Plante must be wearing a mask that deceived everyone right now.

While persistently following her like that, connections formed and she was able to get close to Ella.

The catalyst was really nothing special.

The Plante family, who protected the World Tree, regularly performed ceremonies for the World Tree, but she ran away saying it was too old-fashioned.

That Ella who was running away encountering Ventmin who was tailing her could be called a trick of fate.

"Hello? Is it you? The elf who's shown amazing skills and risen recently. Ventmin Lifrey, right? Nice to meet you."

Ella recognized Ventmin and greeted her.

Even though she was making a name for herself these days, it wasn't enough to draw attention from Ella who communicated directly with the World Tree.

Nevertheless, she was praising her as if she had heard much about her.

"The family elders always say that. Why isn't the head like Ventmin from the Lifrey family who works so hard? Really. Is this why I became the head? They made me head on their own, but I don't know why they're like this?"

Ella was a strange elf.

First, she was chatty, and her actions were beyond light to the point of being frivolous.

When she laughed, she cackled without restraint, and when eating, she grabbed food roughly with her hands without any grace.

What barbaric behavior is this?

It was too shocking considering the usual image of Ella Plante was noble and sacred.

Naturally, Ventmin too had to act like the family elders that Ella so disliked when dealing with her.

Maintain your dignity.

What are you doing as the World Tree's priestess?

Act like a proper head.

Run away from ceremonies moderately. I get scolded too when tied up with you.

Even while saying such things, Ventmin felt skeptical.

What am I doing right now?

To think I'm helping a competitor by saying such things. It was strange even to herself.

But seeing that behavior, something unstoppable would rise up inside and she couldn't help it.

Though she nagged until her ears would fall off, Ella didn't listen.

Rather, saying she would show something interesting, she even dragged her into the Cradle, a sacred area where entry was forbidden.

Yes. That action surely came from goodwill.

Ella Plante treated Ventmin as a friend.

Though Ambella from the vassal family who protected her viewed Ventmin unfavorably, Ella even asked them to get along well.

Ventmin was dumbfounded.

What a ridiculous woman.

To treat herself, who was desperately chasing after her with burning eyes to surpass her right now, as a friend?

Does she not even realize this side is a competitor?

Ventmin wasn't the type to quietly keep such things inside so Ventmin shot back at Ella.

She asked if it was okay to have her position taken away while being so leisurely.

Specifically, saying such words might have been Ventmin's own goodwill.

Since the other party showed goodwill towards her, she thought it was only fair to at least give a warning.

What was Ella Plante's reaction then?

Hearing her words, she opened her eyes wide and then burst out laughing "Paha!"

"Really? Then it would be more convenient for me since you'll take care of the annoying work instead!"

Words that showed no attachment whatsoever to her position.

Transcendence in not considering it a privilege despite being able to empathize more deeply with the World Tree than anyone.

Ironically, seeing Ella speaking those words sincerely, Ventmin felt even greater despair and jealousy.

"Yes. My life has always been a continuous struggle to surpass you."

Ventmin spoke in a venomous voice towards the Ella Plante before her.

This place where she opened her eyes after losing consciousness must be part of the World Tree's vast consciousness.

She doesn't know why Ella Plante is here.

Perhaps it happened when the factor inherited in Sedina Roschen's blood connected with the World Tree.

That wasn't important.

What's important now is that she who she so wanted to surpass is right before her eyes.

"You haven't changed, then or now."

Ventmin bit her lip at the sight of Ella giving her a bitter smile.

"Why do you look at me with such eyes? I destroyed your family, even took your daughter hostage and tried to offer her as a sacrifice. And I sacrificed many elves' lives. Yet you still look at me with such eyes?"

"......"

"You were always like that! No matter how much I shot back or sneered, you just smiled and let it pass! Yet I still couldn't surpass you. Why? What was I lacking!"

Not only could she not beat Ella Plante, what was more incredible was that her connection was suddenly cut off as soon as her daughter connected with the World Tree.

Even if she was Plante's blood, it was unbelievable that Sedina who touched the World Tree for the first time could do such a thing.

More than the fact that all her plans had completely failed, the fact that the end came by Plante brought an enormous sense of emptiness.

"Acts built on blood and slaughter cannot be justified Ventmin. That's what I've been saying from before."

"Don't dare try to lecture me! Everything I've done was for our kindred! Look outside right now! How much have humans developed! What was the war they started 100 years ago like! You're going to spout idealistic words while knowing that?"

They had such a conversation before too.

In front of the World Tree, it was what Ella Plante said after pondering about future matters.

How elves should act in a changing world.

Ella brought up peace and harmony there, but Ventmin didn't think so.

Peace and harmony are just empty hopes in the end.

Just looking at elves, each family has its hierarchy, and there exists a difference between those who have power and those who don't.

If even elf society is like this, harmony with other races including humans?

The history of all races was a continuation of struggle and division, and Ventmin's argument was that perfect peace didn't exist within that.

Ella nodded then saying that could be the case, but still didn't lose hope.

The difference of opinion shared 500 years ago hadn't changed at all even now.

"Everything! Everything is your fault! Why do you make me so miserable? What did I do wrong! Is it such a great wrong for an elf to do something for elves?! Is it so wrong to fight to preserve my kindred's welfare and safety?!"

"What about the kindred sacrificed in that process?"

"Nothing can be achieved without sacrifice! Maybe elves overflowing with talent like you don't know! The desperate struggles of elves who worked day and night trying to receive the World Tree's revelation! The world isn't that equal. If you don't want to be taken from, you have no choice but to take!"

"Don't you think that world is wrong?"

"So. Did you have such unrealistic thoughts about changing the world? Is that why you tried to expand the World Tree arbitrarily? How could you, who received the World Tree's blessing closer than anyone, betray the World Tree?"

Ventmin expressed all the thoughts she had piled up in her heart for a long time.

Jealousy towards Ella, selfish heart saying it was for her kindred, sense of responsibility as someone in a high position.

All those things complexly entangled and pushed her further into despair.

"...Right. There's no use in me getting angry like this. Because I failed. To your daughter at that."

Ventmin laughed self-mockingly.

She didn't even have the strength to be angry anymore.

Hadn't she been defeated in the end?

Nothing was as ugly as a loser's lament.

"Congratulations, Ella Plante. You won in the end."

Ventmin looked down at her body.

Her body was slowly turning to powder from the ends.

More precisely, perhaps this was her being swallowed up by the massive data that was the World Tree.

Just as the records of all elves who died for the World Tree were stored.

Ella still only looked at Ventmin with pitying eyes.

"...I never wanted to fight with you from the start. I didn't intend to use my daughter to interfere with you either."

"Are you trying to show some sympathy to the loser now?"

"Everything I say is sincere. I saw the outside world and realized more things. And after giving birth to my child, Sedina, I hoped she would live a life even more unrelated to elf society."

"What ridiculous talk. You're a criminal. You betrayed the World Tree we revere."

"That's what was wrong from the start."

What?

Ventmin, whose lower body had already disappeared, asked back in disbelief.

"From the beginning, I didn't betray the World Tree. Rather, this was the will that the World Tree wanted."

"What are you saying? You expect me to believe such lies?"

Ventmin tried to ignore those words, but the moment she saw Ella's eyes, she had to realize that Ella Plante was speaking the truth right now.

If she hadn't betrayed the World Tree's will.

Then what were they who coldly drove her out and chased her away?

The moment she realized this fact, Ventmin couldn't help but laugh.

"Ha, haha. Ahahahaha!"

In the situation where her body was gradually collapsing, Ventmin couldn't stop laughing.

"Right. So that's how it was. We all thought you were a criminal, but it was actually the opposite."

Ella Plante was branded a criminal who dared betray the World Tree's will.

All elves considered her name shameful.

But was that really so?

If you think about who truly tried to act for the World Tree, it was an easy answer.

Perhaps Ventmin knew this too.

Knowing but deliberately ignoring it, turning away and pretending not to know.

Ventmin looked at Ella with clearer eyes and smiled brightly.

"As expected, I hate you."

With those final words, she completely disappeared.

Her spirit and memories became fragments of data, becoming nutrients and part of the World Tree.

The end of the Lifrey head who had reigned over the elf kingdom for 500 years came about quietly and peacefully like that.

Ella quietly gazed at the empty space before turning her head.

Her expression that had been steeped in sadness changed to brightness.

"You did it in the end. Our daughter."

"Mother......"

"I didn't expect to meet again so quickly like this. It was completely unexpected."

Sedina, who connected to the World Tree again, came face to face with her mother.

Search the lightnovelworld.cc website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.