"So," Sylph turned to the others, "what about you guys?"

  "Count me in! Count me in! Semiris is joining!"

  Semiris shouted excitedly at the top of her lungs.

  Even though she’d complained about Sylph cheating earlier, she’d always jump in if she thought it was fun.

  "Since Sylph proposed it, I’ll join too~."

  Aurora still wore her gentle smile—she never knew how to refuse others.

  "Sure."

  Ogrum, a man of few words, rumbled his agreement.

  Avery remained silent as ever, simply nodding his head.

  Hulim didn’t object either.

  She wanted to see how things would unfold.

  "Great~! Since everyone’s on board! Let’s make this race official!"

  "Oh~! Race! Race!"

  Semiris cheered enthusiastically to show her support.

  "Haha, thanks, Semiris."

  "Now, let’s announce the rules!"

  "There are no restrictions on methods—whoever reaches Yggdrasil first wins! And that person will be crowned the fastest in the world!"

  "Hey, quit stalling! I can’t wait any longer! When does it start?!"

  "Hmm—, when does it start? Why, right—"

  "Now!!!"

  Whoosh—!

  In the blink of an eye, Sylph’s figure vanished, leaving only a green afterimage streaking across the horizon.

  "......"

  Everyone stood frozen in shock.

  "Hey! Cheater! Cheater, Sylph!"

  Semiris yelled, then darted off in Sylph’s direction.

  The others quickly snapped out of their daze.

  "Damn you, Sylph—daring to mock me!"

  Whoosh~!

  Galamand leaped into the air, transforming into a massive, two-horned red dragon.

  "Get back here—!"

  That’s......

  An Ancient Dragon?

  Hulim recognized Galamand’s true form—an extinct species long gone from the world.

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  She glanced at the others.

  Aurora and Scherfil flapped their wings and took flight.

  Hulim had suspected as much about Aurora—she was likely one of the Winged Folk who’d followed the gods to Tiramesh and vanished from the mortal realm long ago.

  As for Scherfil, Hulim couldn’t place her. Even after reading countless ancient texts, she’d never encountered a race like hers.

  The rest, including Winnie (Hulim is in her body), were equally unidentifiable.

  "I’ll go ahead."

  After speaking, Ogrum merged into the earth.

  Only Avery and Hulim remained.

  Avery stared at Hulim.

  Hulim stared back.

  "......"

  "......"

  Neither said a word.

  Then, the halo above Avery’s head blazed brightly.

  A river of magical energy surged from the earth below.

  Avery stepped into the river, and the entire stream dissolved into glowing particles, vanishing without a trace.

  "I guess I’ll have to find my own way......"

  Hulim sighed.

  "First, let’s see what magic I can use now."

  Shortly after becoming Winnie, Hulim realized she could no longer wield most elemental magic.

  To be precise, she could only use water magic now.

  But this water magic...... seemed abnormally powerful......

  When Hulim focused her awareness, instinctive mastery of water magic flooded her mind.

  Crash......

  It was as if an entire ocean had descended.

  Unaccustomed to her new power, Hulim failed to restrain its intensity.

  Every creature on the mountain trembled in terror, cowering in place at the overwhelming aura.

  "So Winnie is an S-rank too......"

  Splash!

  The ocean transformed into a massive cumulonimbus cloud, racing toward the horizon.

  Long after the cloud had departed, the mountain’s creatures finally dared to lift their heads.

  ......

  ......

  "That’s Yggdrasil......"

  A colossal tree appeared on the distant horizon.

  Its canopy pierced the clouds, reaching unfathomable heights in the sky. The tallest mountain on earth barely reached half the height of its trunk. This was Himmler’s most sacred treasure—the World Tree Yggdrasil.

  "I never thought I’d see it here, of all places, instead of in reality."

  "But...... it doesn’t seem as big as the legends say. Has it not fully grown yet?"

  Whoosh—!

  Like a blue meteor, Hulim crossed the vast distance in an instant and landed at the base of Yggdrasil.

  "Ah! Winnie’s here~!"

  Semiris rushed over excitedly and threw herself at her.

  Hulim reached out and patted her on the head.

  "Hehe~!"

  Semiris grinned foolishly, clearly enjoying the affection.

  ......This is the first time I’ve patted Semiris’s head. She’s always the one patting mine before.

  "Sorry I’m late—am I the last one?"

  "Nope! Ogrum hasn’t arrived yet!"

  Huh...... I thought everyone would be faster. After all, if I can only use water magic, speed isn’t my strong suit.

  "Ogrum is a Mountain Giant. Speed has always been his weakness."

  Aurora approached and explained with a smile.

  A Mountain Giant? I thought they were just creatures from fairy tales! So they really exist!

  Hulim looked at Aurora, with her gentle smile and holy aura.

  Just being near her somehow calms my mind.

  "By the way, who won in the end? Was it Sylph?"

  "Nope, it was Avery~!"

  "Avery?"

  Hulim was shocked. That strange, almost mute boy?

  It was him?!

  "Semiris! Are you happy that I lost?!"

  Sylph stormed over, grabbed Semiris, and twisted her head playfully with her fists.

  "Ouch ouch ouch! Semiris is sorry! Please let me go~!"

  Sylph released her once she begged for mercy.

  But as soon as Semiris broke free, she scurried away, stuck out her tongue, and made a face at Sylph.

  "Nyah nyah! Sylph’s a big dummy! A cheating big dummy!"

  She yelled and ran off.

  "Hah?! Semiris! Who’s cheating?! It’s Avery who cheated! Who uses Ley Lines to teleport directly?!"

  "Sigh, how embarrassing— the pitiful wails of a loser."

  "For once, I agree with you. The cheater has the nerve to accuse others!"

  The mocking remarks made veins bulge on Sylph’s forehead.

  "Who’s talking nonsense over there?! You lost too! Why are you acting like winners?!"

  "Because I feel like it! And you’re the only one who cheated! Avery using Ley Lines doesn’t violate the rules, does it?!"

  "Uh......"

  "Umm, everyone, please don’t fight. Can’t we get along peacefully......"

  Aurora stepped in as the peacemaker again.

  As for the race winner, Avery remained silent.

  Wait...... no, that’s not right. He’d been staring at Sylph this whole time, as if he wanted to say something.

  "What...... spit it out if you have something to say!"

  "Cheater."

  "Uh......"

  The winner’s short, sharp comment struck Sylph like an arrow, crushing her on the spot.

  So Avery can talk......

  Hulim muttered to herself, growing even more curious about his identity.