Beltira's Intelligence

Beltira and Gawain remained silent for a long time.

Gawain was the first to break the silence.

Because he was not sure whether the half-plant woman before him had the same patience as a plant—if she stayed silent all day, he did not have all day to keep her company.

"Now that I've finished talking about my affairs, it's time to talk about yours," he said in a low voice.

"Us? As you can see, we are now merely a group of pitiful failures." The roots behind Beltira rustled and writhed, and her voice seemed mixed with the scraping rustle. "But I saw that you have built barracks around Thorinburg and are gradually reclaiming the land... That must mean this war has already produced its final victor."

"You can 'see' what's happening outside?" Gawain raised an eyebrow, growing even more curious about Beltira's current state. "That is... quite interesting."

"I can see. Very far indeed—it is an unprecedentedly broad field of vision. But I cannot move, nor can I see what I look like now," Beltira said slowly. "What... do I look like now?"

"...A tree. An enormous plant that covers nearly half of the Sorin Region, and it is still growing slowly," Gawain said frankly. "If you are truly curious, I can send someone to photograph your current appearance from farther away and bring it to you."

"...You have my thanks in advance." Beltira suddenly moved the tangled roots around her, as though she had made some decision—or perhaps suddenly understood something. "Outworld Wanderer, I still do not understand your true nature, but having become like this, it no longer matters whether I choose or not. The path we took has been proven wrong. If our failure can leave you with some experience, then ask whatever you wish."

Gawain