episode_0030

A river where one could deeply feel the charm of flowing water, if not quite as much as the surging waves of the sea. A river where stars, furious at not being able to show themselves in broad daylight, borrowed the sun’s power to move up and down with the water. That river, flowing down from the World Tree and from the [Garden], was a blessing of nature and a resource for the people of Elgard. The sight was so enchanting that it garnered no small amount of praise even from in-game NPCs. At least, it was such a river before I started playing the game.

The river, richly imbued with the World Tree’s magic and the [Garden]’s magic, had been a good ingredient for potions for the people of Elgard, allowing alchemy to flourish. But what was this situation now?

Now, only a massive, winding pit, resembling the tail of a freshly caught chimera, remained to show that a river had once been there, pathetically cracking and groaning. The few remaining damp spots seemed worse in contrast to the agonizing, sun-cracked river. For a while, I couldn’t accept the situation and merely stared at the ground, which was cracking under the sun’s curse.

The World Tree. How was the World Tree, which was responsible for Elgard’s water and acted as the [Garden]’s mother, that such a disaster could occur?

What greeted me when I looked up and to the side was a colossal tree, different from the imposing presence I had seen in the game—it was imposing, yet somehow felt unnatural. Its trunk was thick enough to stack several buildings, and its height could easily surpass a skyscraper. Its fresh leaves seemed to be the size of people. Even its bark was more gnarled than the riverbed, which was cracking from lack of water. At such a sight, which made the name World Tree feel insufficient, I felt an even greater sense of unease.

Why was there no life at all? Where were the giant squirrels that should be scurrying between the building-sized branches? Where were the birds that should be gently perched on the leaves, looking down at the village? The World Tree not only possessed magic that could be called life, but its influence was also immense.

I could not feel the World Tree’s magic, which should have flowed with pure energy and filled Elgard. Its appearance was still more magnificent than what I had seen in the game, brought to life by my own magic, but only its form remained; the World Tree’s actual magic was nowhere to be felt. Was it my fault for spreading my magic too thinly, out of a desire to see the World Tree?

In the chilling silence, I eventually had to withdraw my magic. Could this phenomenon be related to the river drying up? Pondering this question, I walked past the coachman, who was still staring at me strangely, and headed towards the tiny village known for receiving the World Tree’s blessings.

Even if it was famous for the World Tree and well-known for potions made from its pure magic, a remote area was still a remote area. There were no massive castle walls, a sign of the nobility ruling this place; only a sign indicating the presence of a guild stood at the village entrance.

It was truly a clear day, the best kind of day for people to be active. A cool, comfortable breeze blew, and scattered clouds occasionally shielded the sun, keeping it from feeling too hot. However, it seemed the people of this village preferred not to move on such a day. Only a few people on the streets cast quick glances at the appearance of an outsider; no one was actively moving. As if the village itself were dead.

‘I understand that the drying river makes potion supply difficult, but the [Garden]’s outskirts should be safe and capable of producing plenty of other medicinal ingredients…’ My aimless steps eventually stopped in front of a potion shop.

It was the closest shop to the village entrance. The sign of the shop, which was large for a small village and likely had done very well in the past, was covered in dust. “Excuse me, could I possibly buy just one potion?” “We do have some left, but they probably won’t have a very good effect. I’m sorry, you seem to have come all this way to find a good potion.”

I had no choice but to retreat at that polite refusal. This answer, with only slight variations in wording, was given by all the many potion shops throughout Elgard, turning away customers. Some even chased me away, saying their shops were already ruined and asking if I had come from outside Elgard just to mock them. The normal Elgard I remembered was not like this.

What had made this village and the World Tree like this? The system responds: The clock has moved. Ah, it’s been a long time. You didn’t say anything when I said I was going to the [Garden] from the academy, did you? Didn’t you feel bad about that? But the clock has moved, what does that mean?

Come on, think. I’m not some foolish animal incapable of thought, like a chimera, am I? My mind began to combine all the clues found so far. And the conclusion that emerged quietly pushed my back further towards the cliff.

Ah, to think I hadn’t recognized this possibility. I had clearly seen the phrase the system had mentioned, but I hadn’t thought much of it. It was merely a mission I had accepted, thinking it would be an unusual but still relaxing break—entering the [Garden], going on a rampage, befriending elves, and getting a few skills. However, that was when Elgard and the [Garden] were normal; this was the complete opposite of the place during the main story progression.

“[Garden Erosion]….” My aimless steps were now heading towards the guild.

[Somewhere Deep Within the Garden]

The [Garden], where sunlight barely reached. Squirrels that should have been scuttling up the World Tree’s bark were clinging to small trees, breathing heavily. Birds that should have settled on the World Tree’s leaves, looking down at the village like guardians, cried out with strange sounds at low altitudes. Larvae that should have clung to the World Tree and sucked its sap were clinging to trees their own size, killing them. Even the abnormally large trees in the garden couldn’t withstand them, swaying and groaning in pain.

She covered her ears, which couldn’t be fully hidden by her hands, at the trees’ pained cries. She almost resented her own ears, made larger than those of the human race to hear the sounds of nature.

The World Tree is a mother. A mother is one who not only embraces all the children of the [Garden] but also bestows everything upon them. Could such a being possibly make a wrong choice? At least for her, an ‘Elf,’ there was no room for such thoughts.

“Hah…” She began to run her hand over the arrows in her quiver. To find a blunter tip.

The arrow, released from her hand, flew through the air, parting the wind and leaves, soaring into the sky. In its wake, the suffering trees around her cried out even louder, and the startled animals began to move further and further away from the World Tree.

She was a mother who embraced even her unworthy children. What reason would she have to make her children retreat so far?

Other elves said that humans had ruined nature, and that their mother was sending her children out to punish them. They claimed that humans outside the [Garden] were the culprits behind all of this, and so they, too, should go out and subdue them. Many elves interpreted their mother’s decisions this way and began driving even monsters not commanded by their mother into the previously safe outskirts of the [Garden]. They even blocked the river that normally flowed, connecting the World Tree, the [Garden], and the outside world, claiming it might be spreading poison.

An ‘Elf’ is one who communicates and interacts most closely with nature. They are beings who live by hearing the pains and joys of nature that other races cannot hear. Not those who exploit nature.

However, she too could feel it. Recently, many alien things had begun to appear in the [Garden]. The corpses of various animals combined suddenly increased, and dozens of trees disappeared overnight. Furthermore, during the day, a massive yet shallow magic would sweep through the [Garden]. This could only be the work of humans. Therefore, she, too, held a hatred for humans no less than other elves. She simply disliked the exploitation of nature.

Rustle, rustle. The sound of rustling bushes.

Knowing better than anyone that she was the only elf in this area at this hour, she turned her arrow, which had been pointed skyward, towards the source of the sound. Magic. A faint but strong magic was continuously felt in the same rhythm. It was the same magic felt during the day. Though there was a difference in intensity, its essence was not just similar, but identical.

“Who’s there!” Her clear, high-pitched voice echoed through a section of the [Garden].

“Ah, what a relief. What a relief.” Tap, tap. The sound of a staff. Two tightly closed eyes. Movements as if unable to see forward.

“I thought I’d be spending my whole life here.” He was speaking towards a tree. “But your skin is a bit rough.” He continued speaking, touching the tree bark.

“Let me ask again. Who are you, and how did you get here?” At that, his hand reached out towards her and soon touched the arrow tip.

“Ah, so this was the direction. My apologies. I was looking the wrong way. I thought the sound came from over there.” He bowed his head, speaking in a polite tone that contrasted with his appearance. “I am merely a blind man passing through. I was on my way to heal my mother.”

Her arrow tip slowly began to point towards the ground. Was it a sign of surprise, or joy? “What…?” It was certainly neither of the two.