Ch.115Successor (1)

The world rippled. Dantalos raised his head to look at the sky.

The blue visible through the leaves was gradually fading. Dark clouds approached. He instinctively sensed an ominous sign drawing near. This sense of discomfort stirred negative emotions that often preceded war.

“Is something wrong, sir?”

One of his subordinates asked. The demon’s expression, slightly tinged with the forest’s peace, appeared remarkably serene. Though they were comrades prepared to die together, even they couldn’t resist the magical energy scattered by the Creator God.

A prime example was the many elf children surrounding him.

While the demons’ appearance meant terror for refugees, for the children of the forest, it was endless entertainment. Armed with swords and axes, these warriors resembled the warriors from various tales told by the World Tree, making them objects of fascination.

“If necessary, I’ll summon the warriors immediately.”

“What! I want to go too!”

“Are we going to fight the bad guys?”

Thanks to this, the atmosphere never quite settled. The solemn tone that should have preceded battle with angels was constantly interrupted by children’s laughter, completely shattering the gravity of the moment.

“Dantalos! I’m confident I can fight really well too.”

The eldest among them, a green-haired elf, was particularly enthusiastic. Despite the World Tree’s objections, she hovered around Dantalos.

“My mother acknowledges how strong I am!”

She was a warrior with vibrant energy. She mainly took charge of caring for war-weary human refugees and boosting their spirits. That’s why Dantalos found this attention strange.

“The instigator of the war is right here. We are the ones who burned down their homes.”

“Yes, I know. The humans are very afraid of you.”

“Yet you show goodwill toward our legion.”

“That’s because you haven’t caused trouble in the forest. If you had drawn your swords against the refugees, I would have stopped you myself, but you didn’t.”

In her pure eyes, there was no concept of good and evil. The forest they cherished was their only standard.

“So you’ll treat us as allies because we caused no harm?”

“More than anything, from the news coming from outside lately, it seems the angels won’t leave this place alone.”

The elf answered with a hollow laugh. Dantalos had also estimated as much.

The arrogance shown by the God of Light who had devoured the sky. His children were the same, mercilessly punishing those who didn’t properly follow heaven’s order. Heresy inquisitions throughout the eastern continent. Massacres were being carried out extensively against human villages that failed to properly capture Dantalos’s small detachment.

“The number of refugees entering the forest has been increasing exponentially recently. They’ve all been victims of the white army.”

“War has come close. Finally.”

“Of course, Mother, who inherited the power of the gods, will defeat them all, so there’s no problem. No matter how strong they are, can they defeat the World Tree? Unless their boss comes, those underlings can never win.”

“…Your speech is strange for one taught by the World Tree.”

“That? I learned it from your subordinates.”

Puhihi. The elf laughed hysterically as she backed away. It seemed time was up. When the sun hung high in the sky, the World Tree would gather all refugees in one place for a meeting. That time had come.

“Since you’re also part of the forest, you should get ready.”

“Part? We are merely passersby.”

“Even if you stay briefly, you’re always within Mother’s embrace. So don’t be so cold.”

The forest wind blew. Peace and tranquility. Their composure contained green magical energy. The stability provided by the deep green seemed to have been planted deep in their hearts.

“See you later!”

The elf waved her hand as she moved away. Her positive energy, treating even strangers kindly, was truly remarkable, but Dantalos couldn’t view it favorably. Looking up at the sky again, he seemed to be the only one feeling the rippling flow of the world. The ominous signs in the cloud-filled sky grew darker, but everyone except him was simply going with the flow.

“General. Let’s go. The World Tree will be looking for us.”

Even his subordinates had been infiltrated. They couldn’t hear the warning of fate.

“The time will soon come.”

“Pardon?”

“I’ll go now. Lead the way.”

If that was the case, now was the time to move.

#

“Angels have advanced to our doorstep, are we really going to be okay?”

“Two nearby villages have already disappeared…”

Voices from afar revealed the chaotic meeting hall. Though various races lived under the World Tree’s protection, humans who had fled were now the vast majority. Having suffered greatly once before, their unstable minds quickly amplified their anxiety.

“We somehow escaped, but now we truly have nowhere to retreat. Even this forest of the World Tree will soon be engulfed in the flames of war.”

“But the World Tree is a child of the Creator God, surely it won’t lose. The angels must know their place and will retreat, don’t you think?”

“They burned dozens of settlements just to chase three hundred demons—do you think they’ll turn back at mere words? They’ll certainly resort to underhanded tactics even if they can’t openly engage in battle.”

“They might clean out all the nearby human villages. To cause internal strife among us.”

“That means…”

As the conversation continued, only negative futures poured out. Even while seeking the World Tree’s protection, they constantly schemed for survival.

“That’s enough. If you continue to create such an unsettling atmosphere, I’ll expel you from the forest.”

Fortunately, the World Tree’s appearance silenced them. With cold eyes, she seemed more subdued than usual. Though she should have possessed purity, having absorbed the primordial energy, today felt different. She was like a sage who had mastered everything. The transcendent energy created by the Creator God swept through the entire meeting hall.

“This is a space where everyone lives. Remember that we cannot decide life and death by someone’s voice.”

She was resolute. The World Tree, displaying a ruler’s aura, pushed the humans to the corner of the meeting hall. Though they didn’t show acceptance, they at least submitted to power. Since leaving meant facing the killing intent of angry angels, they ultimately remained silent.

“I will drive away the angels. As I promised before, no one will be harmed, so please don’t spread anxiety about events that haven’t happened yet.”

“…”

“Do you understand?”

When the World Tree shouted, the humans hastily nodded. Those without the confidence to venture into the harsh outside had to obey her words.

“If you understand, please leave. I need to meet with the next group.”

Soon the demons would arrive. At those words, all refugees present fled hurriedly. They were filled with fear that their voices might have reached the demons.

The meeting hall quickly emptied. The soft morning light from the lamps remained alone with the World Tree.

Only then did the World Tree turn around.

“Have you been waiting long? Shall we talk?”

Her voice had changed significantly. It was calm to the point of creating discomfort. The World Tree, who had been waiting with hands modestly folded, smiled at Dantalos.

“I must maintain a ruler’s demeanor in the meeting hall. Does it seem strange?”

“It’s not a problem, but the discomfort is unavoidable.”

“Please understand. It’s necessary here.”

Dantalos headed to the center of the meeting hall with his subordinates. The World Tree offered chairs. But they didn’t sit. The warriors simply stood before her. The World Tree tilted her head in question.

“Dantalos?”

“Isn’t this meeting hall for the races dwelling in the forest?”

“You are included as well. The forest doesn’t discriminate between good and evil.”

“It’s not a matter of good and evil. We will no longer be a race dwelling in the forest.”

The gentle flow the World Tree had been leading was instantly broken. Her jade eyes trembled greatly. The World Tree asked with a shaking voice.

“Why are you leaving?”

“Because this is not where we belong.”

“You must take the sacred relic. Isn’t it precious to you?”

“I’ve decided to give it to you. Don’t you covet the god’s item?”

“I cannot accept it without a convincing reason.”

The World Tree stood before Dantalos. Her eyes were strangely sad. It was a torrent of intense emotion, so changed that it seemed impossible in just one day.

“The relic is fine, just stay.”

“If we remain, angels will pour in and burn everything.”

“But I’m here. I can defeat all enemies. I told you clearly…”

“You defeating angels who have overcome even gods? World Tree, sadly, it’s a fate that cannot be resisted.”

“Dantalos! Why won’t you listen to me!”

“Why are you suddenly being so unreasonable? Take the relic as you’ve wanted to. If you use the god’s power combined with the World Tree’s strength, you can drive away the angels. You know this better than anyone.”

Dantalos pulled out a red relic from his chest. A small divine body wrapped in demonic energy. The severed ankle revealed itself before the World Tree.

“With just this one…”

“Keep it safe.”

The World Tree stepped closer to him. She pushed the relic with her hand, pressing it into Dantalos’s heart.

“I’ll gratefully accept the power of the relic. But please promise me. Promise you’ll stay.”

“We must return to our homeland.”

“No. Your homeland is gone. Under the angels’ grasp.”

The wind subsided. The soft light also lost its strength and faded. The morning meeting hall suddenly darkened as if evening had fallen.

“This place will become your new homeland.”

The World Tree’s whisper echoed like an echo.

“Aren’t you tired of war?”

“There are elves here. Beings with whom you can comfortably converse in the forest’s peace.”

“So forget everything and find peace. I’ll help you. A future with comfort, not burning land.”

White hands caressed the red horned helmet.

“Leave it to me. I’ll make it happen for you. So forever in this memory…”

“World Tree.”

Dantalos’s voice halted the world that was falling into a dreamlike state. Two red eyes glowing beneath the red horns stared directly at her as she leaned in.

“I must fulfill my duty.”

An emotion neither resistant nor angry, but plain. It felt cold in its blandness.

“How can I refuse the golden tower completed through sacrifice?”

“Someone else could do it, not your death.”

“No. By the time we arrived at the forest, the demon army was nearly annihilated on the human continent. Even the bloodline of the first Demon King, who had been desperately resisting in the south, died heroically.”

Durin awakened. The world of memories blurred. It still depicted the primordial forest, but the red horned helmet began to consume the surroundings.

“World Tree. Do I still appear as Dantalos to you?”

“That red horn. Only his descendant could possess such a color.”

“Well said. His sacrifice allowed the red horn to connect to the present era. The warrior’s death bought time for the surviving demons to safely retreat to the demon realm.”

“So if it hadn’t been for his death!!”

“It was completed through Dantalos’s death. As a result, didn’t you obtain the relic and drive away the angels?”

Hidden truth. In the world constructed according to the World Tree’s wishes, a red flower bloomed.

“Don’t think I don’t know your false appearance in this world you’ve shown so far. World Tree.”

“What would you, born a thousand years later, know!”

“I know everything. Why else would I bear this duty? Just for love of the demon realm? Do you think the arduous path demons take to survive can be shouldered by such mere affection?”

Durin’s fighting spirit spread in all directions. Even the power created by the Creator God couldn’t dare show strength before his will. It was because the Goddess of Death had touched him. The severed wrist he had obtained first gripped his heart, and the world shattered.

“Show me the past as it truly was and the end of the duty he performed. I will conduct my noble ritual to obtain the sacred relic.”

“Don’t arbitrarily covet my heart!”

“You’re cleverly blurring it. Your feelings for Dantalos are merely guilt. Didn’t your childish judgment in the past lead to catastrophe!”

At the thunderous outcry, the World Tree stepped back. There were no flowing tears. Rather, she trembled in fear, turning pale.

“No. That’s not true.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t know? You must have recognized me at first glance too.”

“I, I am!”

The dark space revealed itself again. Durin shouted fearlessly toward the empty world.

“As Dantalos’s successor, I demand from you. Surrender the past. As the inheritor of his horns, I have the right to be chosen by the sacred relic!”

KWAAAAA-

The world, which had been merely dark, turned red. Only flowers of the same color remained in that place. The World Tree finally collapsed. Her body trembled.

“My, my mistake is too shameful. It was foolish.”

“That too is a past gone by. I do not blame you, World Tree. That too must have been part of fate.”

The warrior who navigated the flow of the world stood before the World Tree. His strong body advanced through the waves of trials.

“So, World Tree. I will face the scattered fragments of memory.”

“…”

“As the successor. To inherit Dantalos’s will.”

He was the only warrior who could accept the true test.