F-ranker Sword Saint: My Soulbound Sword is Secretly SSS-tier!-Chapter 371: Royal Sapling

"You wish," Durandal muttered in reply as he went over to the stream to refill his water bottle.

Elara, meanwhile, looked at Daru in amusement.

"I also wanted that to be the case, but unfortunately, it isn’t..." The princess shook her head, but then a grin appeared on her gorgeous face.

"This, however, is a candidate."

Daru’s brows rose.

"A...candidate? What do you mean?"

Elara’s grin grew wider, yet also sweeter at the same time, as though she couldn’t be more excited for the theme of Skjallroot, though she didn’t know the branch’s actual name.

"You see, Sir Snobby over there crossed a border. There, malnourished Swordspawns existed, and flying over to a higher sub-branch deeper into the forest on the other side of that border, he found a Golden Sap Tree, one that was far more vigorous than the ones on the first level. Well, of course, this princess didn’t see it with her own eyes, but the half-jerk shouldn’t have any reason to lie."

Daru nodded in agreement.

Then, Elara continued: "Only, that Golden Sap Tree is like a life source to the Runebarks, I guess is the best way to put it...There are apparently dozens of Runebarks stationed near it, with a Verdant Runebark keeping them in check..."

"I see, but what does that have to do with this golden sapling?"

"This sapling, you see, is called a Royal Sapling, and it comes with a system. It can connect and gain dominion over Golden Sap Trees, though I prefer to call them Vitality Trees now, as that’s what’s on the system."

Daru’s eyes narrowed.

Gaining dominion over something...that is what a sovereign does.

"So...a Sovereign Sapling...is it a Royal Sapling with enough Vitality Trees under it?"

Elara gave him a wink, "Smart."

"I see, so we must conquer Vitality Trees by defeating the Runebarks inhabiting them, then link that Vitality Tree to our Royal Sapling," Daru muttered in understanding.

"Partly correct. However, the requirements to raise a Sovereign Sapling are a bit more complex than just enough Vitality Trees. One must also rule over enough population— which this princess doesn’t know exactly how many, as progress is in percentages — and conquer an empress...whatever that means."

He fell into deep thought.

This was, indeed, a race, though not the same type he expected.

"Then this means the other races have to find their own Royal Saplings to raise?"

"That’s the only way to win, so yes."

A cunning glint flashed in Daru’s eyes.

"Then what if we try to monopolize the Royal Saplings now?"

Elara’s face shifted into a crafty smile. "You took the idea right out of this princess’s mind!"

Since they were among the first two factions who made it to this stage, they could do whatever they wanted, and the more Royal Saplings they obtain, the lower the chances of their opponents securing one.

There was a chance that there were more than just four heirs to the throne overall, but still, it would increase their chances of winning while lowering their enemies’.

Even if their Royal Saplings would generally be contending against each other, they could easily sacrifice the others for one once victory is near.

In any case, Daru and Elara didn’t see any downsides to this strategy, especially in the early stages.

The three discussed everything they had discovered, though Daru omitted the part about obtaining a Void Key.

There was no need to mention something that wouldn’t directly contribute to their victory.

Furthermore, he felt a bit uneasy being the owner of an item that should be hidden from the eyes of the gods and the goddesses.

Why would it be hidden if it wasn’t shady? Infuriatingly, it was already bound to his soul.

The only thing he mentioned was that he, too, came across a mystical barrier and ended up somewhere where the same species of malnourished Runebarks are killing each other for life energy.

With all of their discoveries shared among themselves, the three set out once more, this time in a quest to search for more Royal Saplings.

From what Elara described, she found hers growing pitifully beneath a fairly deep ditch, as though it was hiding there.

The three of them returned to the same ditch.

Unfortunately, they found no more Royal Sapling, and so the three went their separate ways from there.

Daru was undoubtedly the slowest in progress, as he had to mark the path he was taking to ensure he would make it back.

Still, he was making some progress, trying to find "hiding spots" as Elara described.

Not specifically for a ditch, but one if there was another like where Elara found hers.

Hours went by, and Daru still hadn’t found a Royal Sapling.

’Maybe there’s only one for each race?’ He sighed.

That would explain why he was having so much trouble. But at the same time, this conclusion felt wrong.

How could other Royal Saplings even evade him or those from his race specifically when their movement speed is so slow, based on Elara’s demonstration?

They could only move as fast as the Bladeborns carrying them.

Shaking his frustrations off, Daru continued looking, his mind in deep musing.

The Royal Saplings...they could move, yet they’re settling for this meagre and malnourished land.

Are they truly hiding?

’But why?’

He tried to recall everything he knew about sovereigns and royals, then realized something.

’Maybe they’re being hunted down?’

That would make sense, as princes, in movies, were always killed when their brothers had ascended, or uncles had usurped the throne.

In the end, there was no way to confirm his thoughts...or so he thought.

Daru accidentally crossed the mystical barrier, and the first thing his brain processed was the sounds of battle in the distance.

His eyes narrowed as he swiftly scurried closer to observe.

His eyes widened.

There, a distant mound stood a proud Royal Sapling, and a few dozen meters in front of it was a skirmish between Runebarks.

The battle was nearing the end, though...and the bold prince was losing.