Chapter 76: Those Who Can Never Be Forgiven (27)

As the demonic energy spread further, Natalia followed Ariel’s instructions and prepared to leave with Laura.

For a brief moment, she caught sight of Sera.

When Sera eventually regained consciousness, what expression would she make upon realizing her baby had died?

Natalia wanted nothing more than to run away with her right now.

But with Baek Min-jun standing there, gazing blankly at the World Tree, she couldn’t bring herself to act.

She had no idea what he was thinking.

But the fact that he hadn’t finished Sera off meant that she was still necessary for his plans.

At the very least, it seemed like Sera wouldn’t die immediately.

So, Natalia forced herself to move.

By now, the forest had begun rotting under the contamination of demonic energy.

The trees, once adapted to withstand the cold, were decaying.

The animals had turned into monsters, pouring into the elves’ sanctuary as if they had planned it from the start.

The elves had initially been caught off guard.

But now, they were slowly coordinating their defenses, trying to stop both the monstrous invasion and the corruption of demonic energy.

Looking at Laura’s condition, Natalia wanted nothing more than to ask the elves to take her somewhere safe.

But in reality, no one had the luxury of free time.

“Where exactly are we headed? How do we meet the Queen?”

“Oberon is directly beneath the World Tree. You must enter through its roots. Hurry.”

As Natalia sprinted forward, she replayed the events of earlier.

Unlike Laura, she had faced no interference.

And yet, she had failed to save Sera.

Simply put, she hadn’t been strong enough.

Self-doubt and anxiety clawed at her mind.

Meanwhile, Ariel, who had barely spoken, shot down approaching monsters with precise arrows and continued leading the way.

Natalia understood the gravity of their situation, so she refrained from speaking any further.

But no matter how many monsters they defeated, more kept coming.

No matter how far they ran, the demonic energy only grew denser.

Each time she cut down an enemy, the same thoughts resurfaced in her mind.

“Is Sera okay?”
“Is the warrior safe?”

She found herself glancing back before she even realized it.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry… I killed the baby…”

Turning her gaze forward again, she saw the massive roots of the World Tree beginning to emerge from the ground.

And there, Laura, who had still not recovered from the shock of her own actions, continued mumbling about the baby.

Seeing her like this was painful.

At the very least, Natalia was still capable of moving.

She wouldn’t stop here.

And she believed Laura wouldn’t, either.

Just as she was about to call out to her again, Laura suddenly collapsed.

She stopped moving entirely.

They were so close.

They were nearly at Queen Oberon’s side.

They were almost at the point where they could help Sera and the warrior.

Why now? Why did Laura collapse at this exact moment?

For a brief second, frustration flared in Natalia’s heart.

But she quickly pushed it down and reached out to check Laura’s condition.

“Urk…”

“Laura!”

A painful groan escaped from Laura’s lips.

She tried to stifle it.

But thick, dark liquid spilled from her mouth.

It looked like blood—yet at the same time, it pulsed with something far more sinister.

Something dark and twisted.

Demonic energy.

Natalia’s hands trembled.

Laura’s body hung limp.

Her lifeless gaze stared into nothingness.

She looked as if she could die at any moment.

A comrade was dying.

That unbearable grief—something she never wanted to experience again.

Natalia shook her.

She slapped her face.

But Laura gave no response.

This wasn’t just exhaustion.

This was a curse.

Even someone as unversed in magic as Natalia could tell that much.

Dark, malevolent energy was eating away at Laura’s body.

But even after recognizing it, there was nothing she could do.

The word “heal” came to mind.

But she had spent her entire life wielding a sword.

She had no such ability.

All she could do was continue running toward Oberon, following Ariel’s lead.

“Stay with me! We’re almost there! Once we meet Oberon, she can help you!”

Yes, just a little further.

Oberon was one of the five heroes.

She had to know how to break this curse.

It was a desperate hope, but it was all Natalia had.

She refused to let go of it.

Holding Laura tightly, Natalia pressed forward.

Ariel, who had barely spoken since they entered the underground passage, remained silent.

As they moved, the thick roots of the World Tree slowly shifted, opening a path for them.

It was a narrow and unsettling space—far too cramped for a place where a queen resided.

“I didn’t expect a hidden passage like this beneath the World Tree…”

Natalia’s grip on Laura tightened.

Something about this place felt wrong.

“Don’t worry. Oberon is just ahead.”

Perhaps sensing Natalia’s unease, Ariel spoke in a soothing tone.

“You’re fortunate to be here. This path only opens to those blessed by the gods or to those who have been granted permission.”

With each step forward, the passage expanded.

Dust billowed into the air, revealing a once-hidden chamber.

The way the path had so easily opened for them, as if expecting their arrival, unsettled Natalia.

Because of the chaos aboveground, the only people here were her, Laura, and Ariel.

What has the Queen been doing in a place like this?

Even accounting for differences in culture, this place bore no signs of human life.

No footprints.

No personal belongings.

Nothing.

The more Natalia thought about it, the stranger it felt.

And then, they reached the end of the path.

There, sitting on a massive throne, was a woman.

“This is…”

“Oberon, Queen of the Elves. Once, one of the Five Heroes. Quite a miserable sight, isn’t it?”

Her skin was the same color as the roots of the World Tree.

Her body was fused with it, as if she had always been one with the tree itself.

Her vacant eyes reflected nothing.

Her pointed ears marked her as an elf.

Was this truly the ruler of the elves?

For a moment, Natalia considered the possibility.

Then she shook her head.

This was not a queen.

This was not even a living being.

Before she could demand an explanation, Ariel drew a small dagger.

“…Oberon and I were lovers. I thought that once we sealed the Demon King, we would be together forever.”

Ariel’s voice carried deep sorrow.

He spoke of the past, of a time when Oberon had still been by his side.

He remembered the day she ascended the throne.

After the war, the World Tree had begun to wither.

But when Oberon became queen, the fading leaves turned green once more.

The gardens of flowers, once dull, flourished with vibrant colors and fragrant scents.

The dying forest began to recover.

But after that day, Oberon was never seen again.

The official explanation was that the contamination had weakened her to the point that she couldn’t even stand.

But Ariel never gave up.

He searched every corner of the White Mirage Forest.

And in the end, he learned the truth.

The World Tree was losing the Blessing of Life.

And Oberon—corrupted by demonic energy—was struggling to maintain her sanity.

Losing both would be catastrophic.

And if Oberon died, no one knew where all that accumulated demonic energy would go.

So the elders of the elves had made a decision.

They would merge Oberon with the World Tree.

She and the tree would become one.

The Blessing of Life and the Blessing of Wind would resonate, restoring the forest.

She would lose her sense of self.

But she would live on—forever.

“Wait—what are you doing?!”

“The wind is meant to be free. If I can give her that freedom, I would sell my very soul.”

But could such a fate truly be called “life”?

Sensing that something was terribly wrong, Natalia lunged to stop Ariel.

But Ariel did not hesitate.

He rushed toward Oberon, dagger in hand.

The only way to free her was through death.