160. The World Tree and the Competition for the First Wife (2)

Deep within the primeval forest.

The place was completely different from the primeval forest I knew.

“Hold on tight to me!”

Lilia’s voice came from behind me.

Even for me, a dragon, flying wasn’t easy in this vicinity.

I pictured the image of the primeval forest that ordinary demons would imagine.

Each tree was so massive it could be considered a giant magic tower.

A vast forest where the horizon was made of such trees.

A cradle of demons filled with clear Mana and pure demonic energy.

But now, the primeval forest was filled with a nauseating miasma of demonic soul power.

Keuoaaaaaaak-

The giant forest was screaming at me.

“What on earth is going on…”

Aylin muttered with a worried voice.

The surroundings were blurred by the fog of demonic soul power.

I felt a sense of suffocation, as if I were losing my sense of direction in the sea of the giant forest and being submerged.

The World Tree, already succumbing to the demonic soul power and dying, was undoubtedly spewing demonic soul power instead of demonic energy, having transformed into a demonic beast itself.

‘The situation is probably no different from the vicinity of the Altern Mountains.’

My main body, having entered the realm of a demigod, would be fine.

But for humans, this demonic soul power was extremely dangerous.

Even my lovers, who receive the blessings of the six Gods under me, would certainly be in danger if exposed to this demonic soul power.

‘It’s fortunate that Lilia is here.’

Fortunately, Aylin was with Lilia.

Among my lovers, Lilia is a special existence as a Saintess.

The divine power of Zedine that Lilia created perfectly protected Aylin.

Thanks to that, Aylin had to stick close to Lilia, though.

‘To be honest… I can’t say they get along well.’

I was well aware of the rivalry and power struggle between the two of them.

The image was unique because they were both well-regarded and known as good people.

Of course, the cause was all because of me.

Since they both had liked me very much since childhood.

They wouldn’t want to yield their dream of becoming my wife to anyone.

‘First wife, huh…’

Even so, there could only be one person chosen as the first wife.

Naturally, that choice was up to me.

I calmed my head, which was starting to get complicated.

Because we were entering deeper into the primeval forest.

‘According to the information from the Great Temple, this is the central area of the primeval forest from now on.’

It was different from the outer forest that had grown from the World Tree’s numerous roots.

This center was the World Tree in its original form.

The place where its original trunk was located.

The very place where the obelisks of the main God Zedine and Yunir existed.

‘I should head to the ground here.’

Fortunately, the demonic soul power was weaker than in the outskirts.

As it was the original trunk, this area must be the one resisting the encroaching demonic soul power until the very end.

I returned to my human form from my main body.

Lilia and Aylin also landed carefully.

Uuuuuuuuuung-

Lilia’s still-shining divine power enveloped me and Aylin once again.

“The influence of demonic soul power has decreased in this area, fortunately… but it’s still not safe.”

I nodded.

‘Even the center feels like a 1-star Dungeon in terms of demonic soul power.’

Above all, there was clear evidence of the end here.

It was impossible for the current World Tree to support Essenmund.

The definite reason why I had to perform the ritual with one of the two people here.

I glanced at both of their faces.

‘Both of them are so good…’

Choosing one of the two was still too difficult.

Even so, it was something I had to do.

I carefully walked towards the original trunk with the two of them.

---

The group continued walking for about three hours.

Even though they were getting closer to the original trunk, it was still in the middle of a dense forest.

Meaning that they could lose their sense of direction if they let their guard down for even a moment.

I floated Siertia’s scabbard in the air once again.

Uuuuuuuuuung-

The scabbard pointed accurately in one direction like a compass.

No, it wasn’t actually a wrong analogy.

Zedine’s Holy Sword would find the obelisk more reliably than any other holy object.

I briefly used Siertia to cut down some dry trees nearby and make a bench to rest on.

“Let’s take a break.”

I sat on the bench first.

Then, the two of them carefully gathered their legs and sat demurely on either side of me.

“I’ll prepare some tea for a moment.”

Aylin, as expected, didn’t forget to bring a basket to prepare tea time.

While Aylin was moving to brew some mint chocolate tea for a moment.

Lilia leaned slightly towards me.

“There were records about the primeval forest and the World Tree left in the secret records in the Imperial Library. It said that no creature on the ground has ever entered its center.”

I could fully feel Lilia’s scent.

The fresh scent like wildflowers in spring tickled my nose.

But somehow, the scent was a little different.

‘That’s strange. It’s different from usual…’

I met Lilia in the other dimension created by Siertia when entering the Apostle Army’s headquarters.

Come to think of it, it felt like it had been quite a while since I had been physically close to her in reality.

And the scent was strangely stimulating.

So much so that I thought it smelled more like Chloe’s usual scent than Lilia’s.

‘No. If that one is artificial, this one is much more natural, so…’

Only then did I realize.

Chloe, the renowned alchemist.

Naturally, she always wore perfume full of pheromones when she met me.

The fact that I felt a similar scent from Lilia meant.

That she was unconsciously releasing pheromones.

To put it in more vivid terms, it meant that Lilia was sincerely seducing me.

‘Lilia has always wanted to conceive my child, so…’

She wouldn’t be able to openly grope my body because she was aware of Aylin.

But with her divine power, it wouldn’t be difficult to spread the scent of a fertile woman like this.

I almost unconsciously put strength into my lower body at the seductive and blatant scent.

“Young Master. The tea is ready here.”

But Aylin quickly handed mint chocolate tea to the two of us.

Lilia, who was about to put her arm around mine, slightly moved away from me when she saw that.

“Oh my! How like the kind Aylin-ssi. Then I’ll gratefully have some mint chocolate tea… Oh my! What a sweet-tasting tea! As expected, Aylin-ssi is the best maid!”

“You’re welcome. Thank you for the compliment.”

Aylin smiled brightly and accepted the greeting.

I felt goosebumps for a moment.

‘Lilia doesn’t put sugar in mint chocolate tea…’

Aylin’s taste is for sweet food and tea.

If she’s the perfect maid, Aylin would have already memorized all of Lilia’s tastes.

The fact that she deliberately put sugar in it and made it sweet meant that her intention was clear.

‘She means she won’t willingly yield me to Lilia.’

The opponent was not easy either.

Lilia’s emphasis on the word ‘maid’ in her reply greeting felt scary for a moment.

I felt like I had to change my mind about the two of them, who had already started their war of nerves.

Since there would be a loser on either side.

It was only natural that I had to make sure they could understand the choice clearly.

‘Hmm. This is a headache.’

I love all my lovers.

But those two were special to me.

And as special as they were, it was difficult to choose one of them.

Lilia, who had never refused the engagement with me since childhood.

She loved and believed in me with unchanging heart even when I became a scoundrel because of Cnoia’s curse.

And she rose to the throne of the Holy Empire thanks to the virtue she had accumulated.

Even that was an act to gift the Empire to me.

‘Aylin is special too, of course…’

Also, Aylin.

She was also beyond question.

A childhood friend and exclusive maid who had been with me since childhood.

And her status was by no means low.

She was also from the royal family of the Western Kingdom Alliance.

I hadn’t forgotten the promise I made with Aylin when we were children.

I promised to get her kingdom back.

Now that the puppet state in the West created by the Bairea Mercenary Corps had been destroyed.

The West, relatively close to Essenmund, came under the influence of the Frontier Marquis territory.

My maternal grandfather had granted my request.

Aylin’s reinstatement would also be achieved.

‘Back to royalty… No, it means she can even return to the status of a queen.’

Of course, the king belonging to the Kingdom Alliance is lower in rank in the Empire than my maternal grandfather, the Frontier Marquis.

Still, it wasn’t a status that could be ignored as just a maid.

I could clearly see that both of them were sincere to me.

Before I knew it, the two people sitting on either side of me were leaning close to me.

The glances the two of them exchanged were fierce.

Before I knew it, I was arm in arm with both of them.

“Ahem. Shall we move again?”

But since neither of them tried to take their arms away first.

I moved with awkward steps for a while.

And after walking for about an hour more.

The group couldn’t help but be surprised by what was in front of them.

“This is…”

It was a giant door.

It was a structure so large that it could be compared to the Imperial Palace rather than a door.

Kugugugugung-

Soon, it could be seen that it was opening to the sides, creating space.

It could only be called a door.

And beyond it was an unknown space much more blurred than the fog of the primeval forest we had seen earlier.

“Let’s go in.”

But I didn’t hesitate.

There was no other choice for me, no, for humanity in this era, but to move forward.

A moment later, the group crossed the door together.

And at the scenery that unfolded anew beyond the door.

Even the three people who had experienced so many things couldn’t help but be flustered.