Eliz's eyebrows twitched as she tried not to show how the sound made her ears ring. They said women could do two or three things at once, but listening and paying attention to multiple people at once was very difficult.

Besides, she had been discussing some pretty important things with Fraril, and on top of that, she had to listen to Shannon's voice in her head. When would this connection end? "I'm sorry. Let's continue," Eliz said to Faril.

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Are you sure?"

Eliz nodded. "Yes. I just realized something... that upset me. I'm sorry for interrupting our meeting like that."

"Why are you rejecting me? Nooooo! Don't be like that! I really need help!" Shannon whined unhappily in her head.

'I don't have time.'

"Okay. So let's get back on topic. We're supposed to contact the Light Elves. Lady Elizabeth, you said we should contact a Light Elf, and that's enough?" Fraril continued.

"Exactly. It shouldn't be a problem," Eliz replied.

"Then take some time! Come on! I am literally dying here!" Shannon urged Eliz, who was trying to concentrate, to keep up with both conversations.

'You're dying? What's wrong with you? And if you tell me you're dying of boredom, I'll stop talking to you immediately,' Eliz answered her.

"Are you absolutely sure that's enough?" Reassured Fraril, who was calm again and quite curious about this.

Eliz sighed. Since she now knew the damn secret of the Light Elves, she was pretty damn sure. "Yes. I'm absolutely sure."

"It's those damn Dark Mages. They poisoned my roots. But all my energy is used to keep the rot at bay, and the rest falls on my stupid elves. I can't even communicate normally with my guardians. I'll tell you, they're freaking out." Shannon calmed down and began to speak more seriously. It seemed she really was in trouble.

Eliz felt uncomfortable. Mostly because she quite liked Shannon; she sounded likable, but she had quite a bit on her plate. Should she really meddle in a plot like this that definitely had to do with the main story?

'And what do you think I should do? I haven't even mastered my mana yet. I don't even know how to help you,' Eliz objected, which was another good reason to back out. She could already feel Shannon telling her she needed to go and get something or go somewhere and do something.

Fraril shook his head. "While your information was certainly correct, it doesn't strike me as enough. I'll pass on the report as you recommend, but I'll also have to conduct my own investigation."

"All you have to do is come and spill some of your blood," Shannon announced, almost making Eliz burst out in surprise.

'Excuse me? My precious blood?' Was she really a World Tree? Did she suck human blood? Wasn't she more of a vampire tree?

'Yeah, I don't think I'll do that.'

"Ah, come on! It's not like I want all of it! You might as well dilute it with water and then just spray my roots with it and be done with it!" Shannon described it as a very easy thing to do.

Eliz couldn't help but imagine herself in her gardening outfit, using the sprayer to 'refresh' the World Tree with her own blood. It was such an absurd notion that she almost laughed.

"Yes. If it makes you feel better, do it," she nodded in response to Fraril, but she already knew the Light Elves knew something was wrong with the World Tree when Shannon stopped answering them. After all, they had to know rot, too, didn't they? Couldn't they take care of it then?

'I'll write a message to the elves. They can use their blood.' But she had a bad feeling when she said it.

"Their blood sucks! It has to be your blood." When Eliz heard that, she closed her eyes with tired anticipation.

'Why my blood?'

"Because it's special! Your entire existence can resist Dark Magic, you silly," Shannon said as if it was a stupid question.

Eliz pinched the bridge of her nose and let out a long sigh.

"Are you tired, Lady Elizabeth?" Fraril asked, and Eliz nodded her head. "Yes, a little."

Fraril stood up. "I apologize for my inhospitality. I didn't even let you bring anything to drink. We'll take a break for a moment, and I'll have my assistant bring you some refreshments." He said and made his way to the door to summon his assistant. Eliz welcomed this, allowing her to focus on the conversation in her head.

'You're wrong. I'm not special at all,' she retorted, but the statement made Eliz realize she was probably true. That was why she suppressed and destroyed the cursed talisman, even though she didn't have the Power of Light. That was why Selene's manipulation didn't work on her, and she tried to get rid of it. Eliz could only assume that Elizabeth's existence must have been frustrating for Dark Magic users.

"Pff. Who do you think I am? I know these things!" Shannon snorted. Eliz was beginning to think that the rot on their roots might not be so bad since she was so alive.

'Sure. Sure. I forgot you turn people into monsters and stuff.' Eliz sighed, her temples beginning to throb.

"Ah? Yeah, that's... that's not what I do. That's the Planetary Tree. You know... matters of global scope are not in my jurisdiction."

'Uh?' Eliz opened her eyes.

"Well, you know, it's kind of like our parent. Wait, or do you think I'm in charge of entire continents? Pfff.... each continent has its own World Tree and...." Shannon began to explain important.

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'No, no, no. Stop it. Stop. Stop. Don't tell me. I really don't need to hear it.' Eliz stopped her immediately, not wanting to hear any of it. Shannon was somehow throwing information around too quickly and easily. A Planetary Tree? What was this nonsense again? She'd never heard of anything like that. The fact that there were more World Trees wasn't surprising again; she'd come across it in a few stories, but a Planetary Tree? What else? Next, someone would tell her that the earth was flat and floating through space on the shell of a giant turtle?

"Awww..." Shannon made a sad sound, and Eliz had to push the image of a sad puppy out of her head.

But she also realized that something wasn't quite right here. Then why wasn't the River Kingdom being reduced to drooling monsters when the Planetary Tree had arranged it? Although Eliz didn't want to hear these things, this was essential information for her.

'Then wait a moment. If someone breaks the mana weapon agreement, what do you do? Aren't you supposed to turn them into monsters? How does this work if you don't do it?' Eliz wondered, and Shannon immediately came to life to explain the matter.

"It's actually quite simple. The Planetary Tree is asleep most of the time. Like, do you have any idea how exhausting it is to nourish an entire planet, huh? If something like this happens in my territory, I have to nudge the Planetary Tree, and it will wake up for a while."

Eliz understood. Basically, the Planetary Tree controls everything, and the World Trees are like its satellites that, when they detect a problem, send a message to the central control room from where they solve it. Except they were trees, so it was a fairly technical approach to the whole thing.

Eliz was disappointed. Everything pointed to the fact that she would indeed have to go to Shannon in person! Naturally, her first thought was to send her blood simply, but the fact that it would spread what her blood could do prevented her from doing so.

Eliz wondered what would happen if the Church found out? Since they were so short on Power of Light users? They'd probably suck her dry! Or worse, they'd lock her up somewhere and steal her blood for the rest of her life. Some might say, 'It's the Church! They wouldn't do anything like that.'

Eliz would tell such people they're pretty naive. Not only would they do it, but they'd probably make up some plausible story about why she's being locked up. Or they wouldn't even bother and would do it in secret.

'Okay. Okay. What will you give me if I save you?' Eliz finally asked.

"Give? Oh, and I thought we were friends..." Shannon said sadly.

'I'm sorry, but I'm a selfish and materialistic person, and I don't like doing things for free.' Eliz replied honestly, which stunned Shannon for a moment. She had never dealt with such brutal honesty before.

"Hmm... can I extend your life?" Shannon offered.

'I wouldn't mind living a little longer, but longevity isn't something I'm looking for. I intend to live, grow old, and die with those I love.' Eliz refused.

"Ooooh! That's so sweet!" Shannon squealed, touched, and Eliz inwardly grinned at the high-pitched tone.

'Yeah, sweet. If you say so.' Eliz wouldn't say it was sweet, but she was more of a realist. Living long would be a drag and sad, and that's how heartless freaks are made. One can learn a lot from books and stories. Like that immortality totally sucks.

'What else can you offer me?' Eliz tried to hurry the conversation along, worried that the assistant might return with refreshments at any moment, and she needed to decide before continuing her conversation with Fraril.

"Can I... grant you one wish? Oh! Yes! I'll answer any three questions you have!" Shannon sounded thrilled that she'd thought of that.

Eliz was intrigued. She had a lot of questions, and World Trees were known for endless knowledge even though she talked and expressed herself like a schoolgirl.

'That sounds good. You'll answer one question now and the other two when I get to you, don't you agree?' Eliz bargained.

Shannon considered it. "Okay. I agree. Haha! You have to go to the Western Mountains to the Dragon's Teeth. In the valley there, you'll find the hermit Shaman Draikini. Don't let him fool you. He's one of my guardians. Oh, and watch out for him. He's a bit of a pervert."

Eliz's fingers twitched as she tried to smack her forehead. To the guardian of the World Tree, what's a pervert? Ah, maybe that's why he's a hermit. In what way is he a pervert? Does he steal girls' panties?

'Okay. Now for my question. What happens when I reach zero in my visitor stats?' Eliz just tried it randomly. She was really interested and wanted to find out the range of Shannon's possible answers.

Shannon remained silent. Eliz was beginning to think she wasn't going to answer when suddenly her ears popped, and a static sound sent shivers down her spine.

Then came Shannon's voice, which sounded strangely dead, almost machine-like. "NO MORE VISITOR. CITIZEN."

A connection has been shut down

Eliz swayed in her chair, feeling like someone had hit her head with a heavy stick. She could still hear the static crackling in her ears, making her feel dizzy.

"My lady!" She heard the muffled voice of Holm, who was suddenly beside her, holding her shoulders to keep her sitting upright. Eliz felt as if a blanket covered the sounds. She squinted at Holm, who looked worried.

Raiana hurried to the door, and Alarr stood at her other side, looking at her in confusion before his eyes widened in surprise, and he quickly placed one hand on her neck and the other on her forehead, forcing her to tilt her head.

"Your nose is bleeding. Keep your head tilted back," he advised her, and slowly Eliz's thoughts began to circulate again.

What the hell was that? That didn't sound like Shannon. Was that too hard of a question? Shouldn't she be asking things about the system? But she got her answer. Not a visitor anymore. But a citizen. What exactly did that mean? Eliz hoped it didn't mean she would become a permanent citizen of this world! Shouldn't it be otherwise? Shouldn't she perhaps be told how to get home? What kind of nonsense is this? The system... The system is cheating!

"What happened?" she heard Fraril say as he returned, accompanied by Raiana and his assistant. Raiana immediately placed a wet napkin on her forehead.

Eliz thought to herself that it wasn't so bad. Her team of Boulders were pretty good nannies.

She thought over her situation. The information she had received wasn't actually useful after all! All it did was make her uneasy.

She had been hoping for a slightly different answer and not to be made a citizen! What were they going to do? Would she get a local ID card?

She took a breath and quickly covered her nose as she felt a bloody bubble form near her nostrils. She replaced the napkin and pressed it to her nose instead. Her hearing was also improving, and she felt better, so she waved her hand to indicate that it was okay, and Holm and Alarr withdrew.

Maybe Eliz was misinterpreting. After all, as a visitor, she had many advantages. Maybe just being a citizen would give her additional benefits? Probably just simply being labeled as a citizen was not the finish line here? Eliz could only console herself with that.

She even thought about letting her number drop, but even the thought of that made her uneasy for some reason. Her instincts told her that wasn't a good direction.

"Lady Elizabeth, are you feeling better? What happened?" Her hearing had cleared, so she glanced at Fraril, who didn't look at all concerned, just curious. Ah, those heartless old bones.

"Nothing special. I've just been under pressure lately. I've been feeling a little nauseous," she replied, slowly straightening up and holding her handkerchief to her nose. She carefully wiped it until there were no stains left on it.

"But I've also changed my mind about the Light Elves," Eliz pretended nothing had happened and resumed her role.

"Ho? How so?" Fraril sat down, and his assistant placed a tray of snacks on the table. Alarr picked up a glass of water, took a small sip, and handed it to Eliz. She stared at him momentarily before taking the glass from him, drinking it all, and handing it back. That helped.

"I have a reason. I'm going to check on the World Tree myself," Eliz explained.

Fraril gave a small smile. "So you're telling me that you know where the World Tree is? Something only the Light Elves know and no one else?"

Eliz didn't smile. "Yes."

Fraril's corners drooped again, and then he rubbed his blind eyes.