Chapter 4

"Haa..."

Najia von Tristain stood alone, looking out the window with a melancholic expression.

As the only daughter of the Tristain family, Najia was supposed to have a promising future and be united with the one she loved.

But that fate had changed.

(Woody...)

It was because her fiancé, Woody Conrart, had obtained the aptitude of 'Tree Planting' instead of 'Grand Magic' during the blessing ceremony, which was of no use in battle.

All the nobles of the kingdom valued combat aptitudes.

The Tristain family was no exception.

Therefore, the engagement was broken off, and a new engagement was arranged with Acid, who possessed 'Grand Magic.'

Najia could not accept this at all.

(I didn't fall in love with his aptitude.)

Her family valued sword skills more than magic.

Everyone had sword-related aptitudes, such as 'Sword Master,' and the Tristain family had a rare and powerful aptitude called 'Sword Saint,' similar to the 'Grand Magic' of the Conrart family.

Najia was the first person in the Tristain family to inherit the 'Sword Saint' aptitude as a woman.

Aptitudes can sometimes become more powerful when mixed.

If 'Sword Saint' and 'Grand Magic' were combined, perhaps a child with an incredible aptitude might be born.

If powerful aptitudes like 'Hero,' 'Magic Knight,' or 'Dragon Knight' appeared, their descendants' status would be even more secure.

But such things were of no real concern to Najia.

(I fell in love with Woody, not his aptitude.)

Najia recalled the first time she met Woody.

She had detested the engagement so much that she tried to break it off by beating up Woody during their first meeting.

But he still approached her with a smile, even after being beaten.

No matter how many times she pushed him away, he kept coming back.

"Do you want my aptitude that badly!"

At the time, Najia had already received the 'Sword Saint' aptitude and was feeling nervous.

Everyone praised her aptitude, and the number of marriage proposals increased even more.

Najia felt like she was being treated like a machine to pass on her aptitude, which made her constantly irritated.

To such a Najia, Woody said:

"I'm not good at physical strength, so I admire strong people like you. No matter what the outcome of this meeting is, I hope we can become friends."

Najia was intrigued by Woody's gentle nature, which was unlike that of a noble's heir.

Gradually, the two, with completely opposite personalities, were drawn to each other.

(We were supposed to get married right after I received my aptitude.)

Najia returned her consciousness to the present and turned around.

There was a tree that Woody had planted for her.

It had grown rapidly every day and was now about as tall as Najia.

Thinking of Woody's smile made her happy, but the thought that she would never see that smile again made her sad.

Tears rolled down her eyes.

"... Woody, you idiot! You said you loved me and would definitely marry me—!"

Najia punched the tree with all her might.

Since receiving the 'Sword Saint' aptitude, her physical abilities had been enhanced.

But even her punch, which could kill an orc, did not make the tree budge.

"Hey, girl, you shouldn't treat that tree so roughly."

"Who's there!?"

Najia jumped back and put her hand on the sword at her waist.

On the tree she had just punched, there was a white bird.

It was as big as a medium-sized dog, clearly not a normal bird.

The window was supposed to be closed.

There was no way such a large bird could have entered the room.

Even seeing Najia's sword aura, the bird remained calm.

"Don't be so hostile, girl. I have no intention of fighting. I apologize for entering without permission, but I am a—"

She drew her sword and, with the speed of a 'Sword Saint,' sliced the bird in two.

But the bird's form wavered, and it returned to its original state as if nothing had happened.

It showed no signs of injury.

"I told you, I have no intention of—"

"Get down from that tree. It's a very important tree that someone dear to me gave me as a gift."

"The World Tree... a gift? This is not something that can be so easily obtained—hmm!?"

The bird obediently descended from the tree and closed its eyes.

Then it suddenly opened its eyes wide and trembled, covering its cheeks with its wings.

For a bird, it was strangely emotional.

Given its size, it was clearly not an ordinary bird.

"What is this! The World Tree is really multiplying! Girl, who exactly gave you this tree?"

Najia thought for a moment.

A bird that could not be harmed, could enter the room at will, and had no hostile intent.

And the words the bird had started to say.

With these clues, Najia figured out the bird's true identity.

It was better to tell the truth.

There was no point in hiding it.

"My fiancé—Woody Conrart."

"Ah, Woody, you say. To succeed in cultivating the World Tree, what a remarkable person!"

"Hmph, that's right, Woody is amazing... Wait, World Tree? I've heard that term before...?"

Najia felt proud hearing her loved one being praised.

Seeing her reaction, the bird chuckled and then tightened its expression.

"Girl, I must take my leave now. I must go to Woody immediately and fulfill my duty as a divine beast!"

As the bird tried to slip out the window, Najia found herself speaking.

"Take me with you! I have something I need to tell him!"

"Hmm... If that's the case, you should ride on my wind. I am not so crude as to ignore a girl's wish to convey her feelings."

"And I'm not a girl! I'm Najia... just Najia!"

"Understood, my apologies. Let's go, Miss Najia."

They slipped out of the room.

Najia rode the wind magic used by the bird and flew towards the desert where Woody was.

"Wait for me, Woody... Don't underestimate my stubbornness!"

And thus, Najia vanished from her private room.

No one saw her escape, and the search party could not find any traces of her escape.

One of the town's residents claimed to have seen a woman flying in the sky with a bird, but this information was dismissed as a tall tale.