episode_0052

“Damn it…!!!”

Damn, I forgot about that…. But a vine with a mouth is cheating! I can’t move right now because I have to keep Aria suspended in the air…. Wait… is that?

“Hey, Alten! I just glanced, but there don’t seem to be many vines, right?”

“I saw it clearly, Zeke. The Alraune vines I’ve seen before were seven or more…. But the World Tree’s vines are only three.”

Phew…. Still, it’s a relief that there are fewer of them. If it had as many vines as a normal Alraune… it would obviously be impossible to handle them all in this already overwhelming situation… But why does the World Tree look like that? Does it not feel well?

“Huh? Why are there only so few vines? About 100 should be coming out…. Oh my…?”

The World Tree felt something was wrong and lowered its head. Then it suddenly started to fidget. Why is it acting like this again?

“My roots aren’t lifting…? Huh? What in the world is happening…?”

“What in the… Oh.”

As the World Tree suddenly fidgeted, I grew suspicious. And at that moment, Aria, who had been in the air, landed beside me. The World Tree, sensing an anomaly, had put its fist down and was examining its own body. Phew… Even for Aria, it would have been impossible to keep blocking that fist, so it’s a relief…

“Phew… I don’t know what happened suddenly… but you did well, Aria. Blocking the World Tree’s fist…”

“Hehehehehe….”

The moment I was about to say she did well, I saw Aria lower her head and start cackling again, so I sighed, and Veronica and Alten’s expressions instantly hardened.

“Zeke-nim’s energy… hehehe… all over my body…. Hehehehe…. This ecstatic feeling, enough to want to experience it again…!! Ahh…!!”

…. Should I not do it next time? Is there perhaps a secret to demonic energy that Cecilia and I don’t know about? It seems worse than before… No. Her symptoms were always severe. I scratched my head, which was dizzy because of Aria, and sighed, saying:

“Phew…. Anyway… it’s a great fortune for us that the World Tree isn’t in good condition right now. It seems to be because it couldn’t absorb much nourishment, right?”

“That’s right. As the World Tree said, if it truly possessed about 100 vines… our power wouldn’t be enough. But now there are only three vines. Wouldn’t it be perfect if each of us took one?”

“You’re right, Captain. Furthermore, the World Tree just now seemed flustered, saying it couldn’t move its roots. It appears to be in a state where even movement is impossible. However, if it absorbs other living creatures, it might be able to move again.”

“Then… the problem we need to solve right now is those vines and… the World Tree itself. The moment the World Tree’s fist touches the ground… it would be safe to assume a giant bomb explodes in this forest, right?”

“That’s right.”

“Hmm… then we need to deal with the other arm, the vines, first…”

“How about cutting the vines the moment their mouths approach?”

“That won’t work, Veronica. Even if you only cut the mouth part, those vines are giant arms without hands. We need to remove the roots.”

“Hmm… Alten’s right. Then, who should distract the World Tree in the meantime? To an extremely annoying degree. Hmm… I…”

“I’ll do it.”

“No, Captain! I’ll do it!”

When Alten, Veronica, and I simultaneously raised our hands to volunteer, everyone looked perplexed…. This was unexpected. This role was so dangerous that I expected everyone to avoid it… You could get crushed to death by the World Tree’s palm if things went wrong…

“This is dangerous, Zeke. I’ve lived longer than you, so I’d have no regrets dying now. So I’ll do this.”

“Nonsense! This is a chance to show the elves that humans possess noble hearts! So I will sacrifice my life, even if it means…”

“No. I received a request from Prosh Ahjussi. So I also have a responsibility…”

“Everyone stop. I’ll do it.”

As the three of us began clamoring to do it, Aria lightly struck the floor with her staff and spoke. Then we looked at Aria with very surprised expressions. It was natural, as Aria, who would never step forward unless it was for my sake, was volunteering like this…

“What? Did a sudden gust of wind blow, Aria?”

“…. Haa… Mr. Alten and Ms. Veronica are a little annoying, you see.”

“What…?! No matter who you are, to say such things…”

“Exaggerating? It’s just that your attitude of offering your lives like mere objects is a bit bothersome.”

“What did you just say?! No matter how terrifying a Saintess you are, if you treat my and the Captain’s nobility like trash, I won’t stand for it!!”

“Now now… what’s wrong with all of you… we have the most important problem ahead of us, what are you doing fighting like this…”

At Aria’s sudden harsh words, Alten was enraged, and even Veronica, who feared Aria, raised her voice in anger. Isn’t stopping the World Tree what’s urgent right now….

“If your lives are so noble, don’t sacrifice them so easily. Alten, aren’t you the Captain? If you recklessly throw away your life, who will tell the truth to your subordinates? Everyone trusts you.”

“…. That’s…”

“Veronica, didn’t you also say you wanted to let the elves know about human nobility, or whatever it was? With your death now, will you be known to the elves as an elf? Or as a human? Furthermore, the elves currently still possess a nature that rejects humans, so how will they evaluate your death?”

“….”

…. She knows how to say things like that…. Aria, willingly stepping forward into danger for others… Has she developed an altruistic personality from everything that’s happened so far…? I’m somewhat proud….

“And Zeke-nim… hehehehe… shouldn’t you be spending more enjoyable time with me…? If these two go, Zeke-nim will clearly rush forward recklessly again…. I won’t let you die so easily…. Hehehehe…..”

“…. That was…”

“Your goal, Saintess…?”

Of course… The hope I briefly held was utterly shattered by Aria’s words. So, Aria had verbally overwhelmed the others and offered to do it herself, just to prevent me from rushing ahead recklessly again. But still… her sharp remarks to Alten and Veronica weren’t wrong.

“Sigh… fine. You…”

“Hehehehe…. Zeke-nim will lift me up again, won’t you…? With that purple energy? Hehehehe… Ah… just thinking about Zeke-nim’s energy coursing through my whole body again makes me feel so good…!!”

“…So that was your goal. But I have to cut that, so I can’t help you again.”

“…..”

When I said I couldn’t help, Aria’s happy face instantly turned despairing. Was it really that good…? We’ve truly been together for over four months, but I still can’t figure Aria out….

“Ugh, I don’t care! I’m too lazy to think!! I’ll just eat everything!!”

The moment I sighed, the World Tree finally began to move again. The World Tree’s vines with mouths scanned their surroundings, then started moving forward. Ugh… dealing with that doesn’t seem easy….

“Alten! Veronica! Let’s hurry and stop the World Tree! Aria!! I’m counting on you!”

“Yes~ Zeke-nim! You’ll need to prepare lots of praise~”

“…. I’ll think about that later!!! Let’s go!!”

Seeing the World Tree move again, we immediately ran towards it. Then the World Tree, which had been moving its vines, suddenly looked at us and smiled faintly. What? It’s so big, yet it noticed our location again?

“Oh my… My children, born from the land I saved, are coming to my embrace so willingly… This mother is truly delighted…”

“No, that thing keeps switching between talking like a lady and talking like a child. Just pick one, damn it!!”

“Is that your problem right now too, Zeke!! That’s not the point!!”

“Ah… right. What embrace!! I don’t want to die in vain inside your stomach, alright?!”

“That’s right!! Your actions only bring destruction, World Tree!! Stop this at once!! Otherwise, we’ll have no choice but to harm you!!”

“…. My poor children…”

The World Tree listened to our words, then suddenly began to cry. At that, all of us except Aria had our faces stiffen. It was because seeing it suddenly smile then shed such tears was creepy. But seriously… Wow, that thing… it’s as terrifying as Aria, damn it…. Its emotional shifts are too fast…

“Don’t all of you love me…? I love you all too…..”

“If you love us, why are you trying to kill us all?! The Captain here, me, Zeke, and the Saintess! We were all attacked by the Alraune! By your daughters!!”

“My daughters just did what they had to do… My children… And I truly love you all….”

“Then why did you do this?!”

“The outside is too dangerous… Many disasters have taken your lives…. So I decided. To embrace all of you within me…. You will be able to live forever within me….”

Our faces simultaneously stiffened at such an absurd statement. What is that thing saying right now? If we die to it, our souls will be bound within it… Is that it? What nonsense it’s spouting… Greatly dumbfounded, I collected myself and shouted at the World Tree.

“You’re talking crazy!! That insane plan…! We’ll stop you!!! I want to explore the world more, what happens if you destroy the world!!”

“I haven’t told the elves the truth about humans yet! If I die without doing that, it will become a deep regret!!”

“My dad sacrificed his life to save me, so if I die, his death becomes meaningless!!”

The World Tree, listening to our shouts, suddenly stopped crying. Then it slowly began to raise its head and clench its fists. It then looked at us with a solemn face and said:

“My poor children…. I wanted to love all of you. But if you speak that way… this mother cannot love you…. I am sorry to leave you in such a world….”

“Shut up!! Who are your children?! We have parents who gave birth to and raised us!!!”

“…. But I won’t cause you pain… Fareweeeelll!!”

The World Tree, about to punch us, suddenly began to scream. We covered our ears and looked at the World Tree. Then, a strange spot appeared on the World Tree’s abdomen. And as a blue light reflected into my eyes, I quickly looked to the side.

“What?! Is that Aria?! When did she go?!”

“She went quickly when we were shouting at the World Tree earlier, didn’t she?! I saw it!!”

“Ha… really?”

As Veronica explained what had happened, I chuckled and began climbing the World Tree’s body with Trahan in hand. Then Alten and Veronica also climbed the World Tree’s body, heading towards the roots of the vines on its back. But the World Tree, which had been screaming, suddenly extended its hand towards us…

“Oh… it’s coming!!! Alten!! Veronica!! Watch out!!”

“What? Wh-wh-what?!”

“Did you think I wouldn’t know you were behind me, you unfilial children….!!”

“Don’t worry about it and go quickly, Zeke-nim! This Aria will definitely accomplish what Zeke-nim asked for!!”

“Understood, Aria!! Alten!! Veronica!! Keep climbing!!”

“Understood, Zeke!!”

“Ughhh!! You’re climbing on my bare skin!! It’s itchy, you unfilial children!!”

The World Tree, itchy from us climbing on its bare skin, screamed and began moving its arm to dislodge us. But we trusted Aria and continued climbing towards the vines. And Aria, as if repaying our trust, was chanting a prayer.

“Ugh…. Strict One in the heavens… please bestow great punishment upon your sinner… so that your sinner may repent for their sins…. *Thwack*!!”

“Screeeeeech!!!”

After chanting the prayer, Aria struck the World Tree’s massive abdomen hard with her staff, and the World Tree began to cry out in immense pain. At the World Tree’s ear-splitting scream, we covered one ear and continued towards the roots of the vines. But what did she do to make the World Tree hurt so much…?

“Wh-what?! Why does it hurt so much?!”

“I made you feel the pain inflicted upon you… about 100 times stronger! That slight sting must have felt like a punch from a human your size, right?”

“Youuuu…. You’re that human from earlier…!! The one who briefly blocked my fist…!!”

“That’s right~ Now isn’t the time to worry about an itch, is it?”

“Don’t mess with me, little child…!!!”

“Oh, here it comes again…. In that case, again… *Thwack*!!”

“Screeeeeech!!”

Ugh…. This time I heard it. When the sound of Aria striking the World Tree was heard, the World Tree, in intense pain, stopped extending its arm towards Aria and began screaming again. Good… Keep it up, Aria…. We’re almost there too…!!

“You think you’re strong just because you’re big, don’t you? You’re so big, it’s actually good because there are many places to hit, you see? I hear you were beaten up by a small human like us before, right? But what if you die this time?”

“How dare you mention that human…. You truly are an unfilial child….!!!”

“Hey, World Tree!!!”

The World Tree, displaying an angry expression that hadn’t been seen before, extended its hand towards Aria again, so I shouted at the World Tree. Then the World Tree turned its head and saw me… no, us, who were on top of the vine roots.

“You all….”

“It’s not just Aria!! Did you forget that we’re here too!!”

“What are you doing, children…. Why are you interfering with me trying to embrace my children…!!”

…. Does it not know, and it’s asking? But now, even if we hear such words, we don’t get flustered… because the World Tree is trying to kill everyone with its twisted and strange love. But… there’s one thing that’s a bit bothering.

‘…. There are a few charred marks on the World Tree’s back…. What are those?’

The moment I climbed onto the vine root, I saw charred marks. None of us are fire mages…. Eh… I don’t know. It must be that the World Tree didn’t absorb enough nourishment, so its previous wounds haven’t fully healed!!

“Alten, Veronica! Ready?!”

“Of course!!”

“St-stop, my children!!”

“Seriously…. Don’t just arbitrarily make people and elves who have parents who gave birth to and raised them *your* children!!!”

“Spirit of Storms!! Answer my call and dwell within my sword!!”

“Spirit of Wind!! Answer my call and dwell within my spear!! Become a single spear that pierces all!!”

As Alten and Veronica chanted their spells, a small storm began to swirl around Alten’s sword, and a headwind began to form at the tip of Veronica’s spear. Good… I can’t lose!! I plunged Trahan into the root and began to pour demonic energy into it. The World Tree felt pain and screamed.

“Screeeeeech!! St-stoooop!!!”

“Did you forget you don’t have time to worry about that spot right now? Well… it all hurts, but… isn’t Zeke-nim amazing after all!? Hehehe… Take that!!”

“Screeeeeeeech!!”

When Aria struck the abdomen hard with her staff again, the World Tree felt even greater pain and stopped extending its hand towards us. In that opening, I began to burst the vine roots with demonic energy, Alten began to cut through the vine roots, Veronica began to pierce the vine roots with her spear, and Aria continued to strike the World Tree’s abdomen.

“Good… the vines are starting to fall one by one…”

“Th-these annoying brats…!! You are no longer my children…!!!”

“?!”

The moment I was rejoicing at the World Tree’s vines falling limply, the World Tree suddenly began to shake its body. Then the three of us were flung off the World Tree’s body, and I saw Aria also get flung off. And then…

“Huh…?”

“Huh…?”

“Youuuuu…!!”

I saw the World Tree’s fist accurately strike Aria…. Huh?

“A… Aria!!!”