episode_0055

I was destined to die in the forest as soon as I was born.

Whether being attacked by wild animals or crying alone until my strength ran out.

The one who took care of me was the World Tree.

With its oddly towering branches and warm leaves in the middle of the forest.

The High Elves say they found me as a newborn baby in the nest created by the World Tree.

And so, I was chosen as the priestess of the World Tree from the moment I was born.

From the time my self was forming, I was treated as a priestess, and I never doubted it.

If it weren’t for the World Tree, my life wouldn’t have even begun.

It was only natural to dedicate myself to the World Tree.

I existed for the World Tree, and I lived as a priestess to serve its purpose.

I had long forgotten my name.

Although there was a name given to me by the World Tree a long time ago, I lived forgetting it because there was no one to call me by that name.

Everyone looking for me were only those seeking the priestess of the World Tree.

The priestess was me, and I was the priestess.

There was no one named Mia there.

“Mia…?”

The one who called me by that name was the first.

He was also the first to show interest in me as Mia, not as the priestess of the World Tree.

Until then, I had thought he was just a frivolous human.

Like any other race, I thought he was barbaric and had only strange fantasies about the elves.

“Come down to me. That way, you’ll have room to breathe.”

“And you?”

“One of us has to stay alive.”

“…!”

But it wasn’t true.

For a human so frivolous to fight and risk his life for a complete stranger, especially for a different race, was unheard of.

He risked his life to save me.

If he hadn’t listened to Ifrit’s whisper and held the magic tool to his chest, he would have truly died.

He died to save me.

“I’m nothing without being the priestess…”

If the World Tree’s eyes are collapsing, I have no way to communicate with the World Tree.

If I’m not connected to the World Tree, the existence of the priestess is meaningless.

I am no longer a priestess.

And for someone who has lived their whole life as a priestess, without the title of priestess, there is nothing left.

For me.

He fought not for the priestess, but for one person named Mia.

“I don’t feel the headache. I can’t hear the voice of the World Tree…”

I don’t know what to do.

This is the first time this has happened.

Being freed from the constraints and responsibilities of being the priestess of the World Tree and living as an individual for the first time, everything is confusing.

It feels like I’ve lost my way.

Like I’ve become lost.

But I don’t entirely dislike it.

Because there is someone in front of me who will lead me.

If it’s Eugene, he seemed like he would accept me even if I’m no longer the priestess.

I want to follow Eugene.

To break free from the Elven Guard that I’ve lived trapped in all my life, and to enjoy traveling with him.

Just imagining such a joyful scene makes me smile involuntarily.

“Priestess.”

“Oh, um. Yes…”

As I snap out of my daydream and open my eyes.

All the elders’ eyes are focused on me without me realizing.

I quickly regain my composure, hiding the expression that slipped out.

“They said that an unknown enemy was controlling even the eyes of the World Tree, right?”

“Yes. It seems that the existing eyes of the World Tree have collapsed and may no longer function properly.”

“In that case, after defeating that enemy, the eyes of the World Tree will be restored. It may be difficult for the newly resurrected eyes of the World Tree to resonate as they did at first. Perhaps an elf showing even greater affinity than the priestess may appear.”

“What are you trying to say?”

“If you wish, you may now lay down the title of priestess. Someone else can take over the role of the priestess. You have dedicated yourself for the past 76 years. You are almost an adult at 30, so I believe it’s time for you to live your own life.”

“…”

Unexpectedly, the choice was forced upon me.

I thought it was just my imagination.

But the elders truly gave me the chance to stop being a priestess.

“I never imagined······.”

What reason is there to hesitate?

I couldn’t hide the smile that formed on my face, and I opened my lips without realizing it.

The answer was decided from the beginning.

“Thank you for your consideration. However, I have no intention of giving up my role as a priestess. I will continue until the World Tree decides to cast me out.”

“Priestess······.”

I can’t stop.

The link that connects me and Eugene is the World Tree.

I can’t abandon the World Tree.

I made a promise to Eugene.

To pass down prophecies to him throughout his life.

I must fulfill this role.

The thought of someone else passing down prophecies to Eugene is unimaginable and unbearable.

It’s a chance to repay Eugene’s kindness.

And a chance to see Eugene’s face for the rest of my life.

I absolutely cannot stop.

“Where is Ten Michael Jackson right now?”

I am the only one who knows his real name.

I momentarily revel in this small sense of superiority.

“I am currently conducting a final check in front of the dungeon entrance with my colleagues.”

“If you need any supplies, just let me know. You must succeed. If you fail, the World Tree will fall into the hands of unknown enemies······.”

Thinking that he is about to face a dangerous battle, I feel suffocated.

My life is short, and I once thought that an elf’s life is more precious than the lives of ten short-lived beings.

But Eugene is different.

If I can sacrifice my life to save Eugene, I will do so willingly.

Just as Eugene did for me.

“World Tree, please protect Eugene and allow him to return safely······.”

I offer a prayer that will never reach the severed World Tree.

Please save Eugene.

Please return the man who called me a lost child to my arms safely.

“······Huh?”

And then, at that moment.

I notice something strange.

‘How does he know my name is Mia?’

I have never told him my name.

***

‘They are really meticulous in their records too.’

Thanks to the setting that Elvengard is obsessed with records, I was able to receive a lot of information about the dungeon.

Which monsters appear.

What the structure is like.

Where the traps are located.

I carefully examined the map drawn by the exhausted elves.

And the result.

‘Where have I seen this dungeon before?’

I was engulfed in a strange sense of déjà vu.

I carefully examined all the records, fearing that it might be my mistake.

I checked once.

I checked twice.

I checked one last time to be sure.

‘This is Kalie’s unique dungeon.’

I am convinced that it is the dungeon I entered just once before.

During the past 12 rounds, the goal was not to defeat the final boss, so encounters with the Four Kings were rare.

But occasionally, I accidentally encountered the Four Kings.

It was a few rounds ago.

Was it the 5th round?

I found a dungeon that shouldn’t have been there in a place where there should be no dungeon.

I entered without fear and systematically cleared each room, only realizing in the final room that this was no ordinary dungeon.

It was a unique dungeon created by Kalie, one of the Four Kings.

‘Come to think of it, it’s amazing that I survived back then.’

Thinking back, my heart races.

I was weak back in the 5th round, but to encounter Kalie and escape alive.

Perhaps Kalie let me go.

In any case.

In the game, all dungeons exist in the same location in every round.

However, the unique dungeons created by the Four Kings are different.

Unlike the existing dungeons that were already completed by the time I regressed, the unique dungeons are built later.

So, I had no idea when or where it would appear.

Fortunately, this time, it seemed to be Kali’s unique dungeon.

I thought it was a dungeon of unknown origin again.

“Ugh!”

“Wh-what was that sound?”

“Ouch. My back is killing me. Let’s stretch a bit.”

“Why, why are you so calm? We might be facing enemies strong enough to devour the World Tree!”

Groaning, I helped Alicia stretch, and she complained beside me.

Her hands and feet were trembling.

Her eyes were still twitching.

This guy.

He’s so nervous.

Being so shriveled up like this, his true strength won’t even come out.

“Don’t worry too much.”

“Why not? Oh! Do you have a perfect strategy prepared again? Like when you easily subdued the Great Spirit!”

“No. It won’t be that easy this time.”

“Then why…”

“Don’t worry about it. There’s no point in worrying. You can be as tense as you want. But stop worrying. Whatever you imagine, something even more unexpected will come out.”

I reassured Alicia, rubbing her shoulders to ease the tension.

There’s no way to prepare for the unknown.

Ultimately, what we need right now is an extreme state of tension that allows us to respond immediately to anything.

Anything else will only have a counterproductive effect.

“That’s right. Instead of shrinking back, we need to stay on high alert. We don’t know what traps might come from the start…”

“Oh. You don’t have to worry about traps.”

“What?”

Although this is the first time we’ve faced Kali head-on.

This dungeon is quite familiar, so there are many advantages we can take advantage of.

“Excuse me! Could you bring some explosives, please!”

Dark and gloomy dungeon.

A single point where spider webs from all directions converge.

The woman sitting on the throne.

Druid, Kali, maintains her concentration, digging into the roots of the World Tree and starting to feed on it for already three months.

At first, there seemed to be no progress at all, but Kali successfully took control of the entire root and part of the base.

At this rate, it won’t be long.

She might be able to sprout the flower of death within 6 months.

In this continent full of trash, she might finally be able to purify it.

With hope in her heart, she was intensifying her control over the World Tree when her concentration was broken, and she opened her eyes wide.

|Intruder!|

Kali quickly stood up and shouted.

A faint vibration echoed from the entrance of the dungeon, just now, riding the spider webs.

The door opened, indicating that a new sacrifice had entered.

|That race. They were alive after all.|

He failed to kill.

Using the residual roots of the World Tree to attack and then leading to a desperate attack that would end in dismemberment.

The guy somehow survived there and stubbornly banged on the dungeon door.

|As expected. As expected!|

But Kali’s face was filled with joy rather than regret.

Of course, it was a best effort attack, but deep down, she hoped that the race would survive.

An expert who overwhelmed even a clone of Velfoger to the point of destruction.

It would be a waste to die before tasting that skill.

Fortunately, he did not disappoint Kali’s expectations.

|Ah! Ah! Shall we watch and see how good his skills are?|

Every monster in this place was under her gaze.

By using this, she could see all the opponent’s numbers, weapons, abilities, etc., and prepare in advance.

The moment Kali connected to all the ‘eyes’ with anticipation.

|Huh?|

Her expression twisted.

No matter how hard she looked with her ‘eyes’, she couldn’t find her opponent.

Has she not even taken a single step from the starting point yet?

But it doesn’t matter.

To come this far, she’ll have to search through each room eventually.

Countless threats lurking in those rooms…

Kaboom!

Then.

The dungeon shook violently, and a loud noise made Cali’s expression stiffen.

Along with consecutive explosions, a hole was punched in the ceiling of the dungeon.

A look of astonishment spread across Cali’s face as she looked up.

“It’s a shortcut, kid.”

|Wha-what?!!!|

The race that Velfegor mentioned.

He was coming down from above with a longsword in hand.