The courtyard duel had ended, but the atmosphere in Eldeview didn't return to normal.
Not immediately.
Because the elves were now staring at Jhonathan like he had broken a rule they were excited to explain.
"He is… ninety petals strong!"
The announcement echoed through the World Tree streets.
Jhonathan blinked.
"…Petals?"
A nearby elf laughed.
"HAHAHA! That's our ranking system!"
"Petals represent divine combat bloom levels!"
He pointed dramatically.
"Ten petals = village level!"
"Fifty petals = royal candidate!"
"Sixty-seven petals = KING-tier!"
The elf grinned even wider.
"And YOU are NINETY!"
Jhonathan slowly looked around.
"…So I'm strong?"
"VERY STRONG!" multiple elves shouted at once.
King Alfred rubbed the back of his head awkwardly.
"…I'm only sixty-seven petals."
A pause.
"…Even as king."
He sighed.
"Only royal blood can reach god-tier bloom."
Then he looked at Jhonathan more seriously.
"…But you're beyond that system entirely."
Silence settled.
Later—
they sat inside a place called De's Vegan Burgers.
The atmosphere was absurdly normal compared to everything else.
Jhonathan picked up a cola.
Stared at it for a moment.
Then smiled faintly.
"…You're stronger than the swords."
Alfred blinked.
"…The swords?"
Jhonathan nodded.
"Royal guards. Every kingdom has them."
A pause.
"Desiree even became one."
Alfred leaned back.
"…Ah."
His expression darkened slightly.
"…The Swords are what remained after the Thousand-Year War."
A quiet moment passed.
Then Alfred spoke again.
"…I sold Sylviana once."
Silence.
Jhonathan froze.
"…What?"
Alfred's hands shook slightly.
"I didn't have food. The kingdom was collapsing."
"…I thought it was the only way to keep Eldeview alive."
His voice cracked.
"…But I caused her nothing but harm."
Jhonathan stood up suddenly.
The chair scraped loudly.
"…You WHAT."
He grabbed Alfred by the shirt.
Not fully violent—
but barely holding back.
"LIFE WAS TOO HARD?" Jhonathan shouted.
"I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE FOOD EITHER!"
His aura flickered violently.
The room shook slightly.
"LET ME GO!!!"
Sylviana and the party rushed in, grabbing him to hold him back.
Alfred didn't resist.
He just… lowered his head.
Tears rolling down his round face.
"…I can't take her back now," he whispered.
"…I've already hurt Sylvie too much."
The room went quiet again.
And for once—
there was no god.
No ranking.
No system.
Just regret… sitting in a vegan burger restaurant under a World Tree.