Ch.116Successor (2)

“Truth?”

The World Tree slumped down heavily. She instinctively felt it. The fact that she couldn’t stop the flow of fate.

“Are you confident you won’t feel anger when you see that sight?”

“I merely accept it. Emotions are an unnecessary luxury.”

Durin stood before the weakened World Tree. He looked down at her with noble eyes.

“Haven’t you seen one who fulfills their duty? Then you should know well.”

At these final words, the World Tree raised her head. A smile hung on her pale face. A sigh escaped from beneath her half-resigned eyes.

“There’s no helping it. Someone like you.”

“I am not Tantalos. Remember that.”

“I know. It’s just that you overlap in my vision. Just as you accept your duty.”

The World Tree rose to her feet. She grasped Durin’s shoulders. At that moment, the red and dark space turned blue. The world had shifted into a scene from memory.

“The sacred relic is conveying its will to me. Saying I am the rightful successor.”

The World Tree’s form began to blur. She was becoming part of the world. But until the end, she didn’t let go of Tantalos.

“Were you bored being trapped in my past?”

“Having killed an angel, I am satisfied.”

“But now it’s time for you to experience the reverse.”

“That too is history that must be remembered.”

“How remarkable. Both then. And now.”

The World Tree pressed her body close.

“Please don’t forget. The sad past and…”

Just before disappearing into tiny particles, she whispered in Durin’s ear.

[My transgressions.]

A fully bloomed red flower swallowed the demon.

#

The scene flashed by.

[Tantalos. You are the last warrior who will save the demons. Please safely transport the sacred relic.]

The first Demon King’s request. The final mission to buy time until the people expelled from heaven could safely escape to the demon realm was entrusted to him.

[General! Angels have attacked the detachment transporting the relic to the north and seized it. Also, the holy army has begun a southern offensive, and we’ve lost contact with the main force.]

Hardship struck him during the war. Heaven’s forces grew stronger by the day, and all those carrying out the mission with Tantalos lost their lives. With all communication cut off, the warrior who clung to the last hope headed to the eastern continent.

[We just need to get the sacred relic to the World Tree. If we can just do that, it will combine with the Creator God’s power and overcome those angel hordes.]

[General. Then we…]

[Even if we aren’t recorded in the scriptures, we can pass the future on to later generations.]

A changed landscape unfolded before Durin’s eyes. The World Tree’s forest, which he had examined countless times while looking back at the past. There, Tantalos and his warriors were strengthening their resolve. On a battlefield with no glory to be found, they desperately sought a reason to press forward.

[Even if that World Tree betrays us and tries to hand us over to the angels.]

With those words, the world darkened. Durin’s consciousness had once again attached to Tantalos.

“……”

He opened his eyes again. This time, his consciousness as Durin was clear. Though it was a scene from the past, it felt like reality. The one who inherited Tantalos’s mission had finally returned to the beginning.

“General. Then…”

“Prepare for the battle that will come soon. The end will arrive.”

“I will follow your orders.”

The soldiers dispersed in small groups. Each gathered their weapons, preparing for the end of history. A solemn atmosphere hung among them. For those who had lived by the profession of war, it was a different mindset as the moment for glory approached.

“The air is different.”

Tantalos, no, Durin slowly walked. Instinctively, he directed his steps toward the deep forest. The space that had only brought peace and tranquility was now filled with unrest. Unlike the ideal space created by the World Tree, actual history was engulfed in flames, and no one kept their word.

“If only there were no demons, surely the angels would not come.”

Several voices carried by the wind revealed their dark intentions.

“They weren’t seen at the last council meeting either. The World Tree herself was greatly troubled.”

The resolute appearance of the World Tree was nowhere to be seen. In actual history, the World Tree was still a young figure. Unable to firmly maintain her own opinion, she wavered back and forth.

“But her hesitation is so severe that it’s truly difficult to push her in the direction we want.”

“The opponent is a demon, isn’t it? Surely they must be using some trick.”

“They came to this forest wanting to live, so I consider it natural. That’s why we must act directly this time.”

One voice dominated the gathering. Firm, but with cunning within that tainted the surroundings.

“Let’s invite the angels into the forest. For the peace of the forest, that’s the right thing to do.”

“What are you saying? Haven’t the angels defined us as heretics? They will surely try to burn down the entire forest!”

“That’s because we haven’t proven our purity, so the divine apostles don’t trust us. If we offer the demons as sacrifices and properly show our faith, they will surely be pleased.”

“But isn’t it too dangerous? If the World Tree finds out we’ve secretly contacted the angels…”

“Honestly, if we can just get the angels’ protection, what does it matter! The sky, stronger than the forest, will watch over us…”

The voices cut off. The night forest no longer conveyed unrest. Instead, embers had spread everywhere. They hadn’t yet turned into flames and blazed greatly, but they were seeds that would someday bloom.

At that time, Tantalos knew everything. As a warrior, he couldn’t have failed to observe his surroundings. Humans are beings who can abandon their allies at any time for survival. Having been born and raised in heaven and stayed by God’s side, he understood their essence and did not become angry.

“What should I do.”

The World Tree was the problem. She was engulfed in endless anguish. That was also why the forest was unstable.

“Demon. The demon promised to give me the sacred relic. With the relic, I could use divine power to defeat all enemies.”

“But is it right for me to take what belongs to them? From those who sought the forest’s protection?”

“The Creator God gave me the duty to bring variation to human affairs, so is this also a fate I must follow? Or should I stop it for my children… for my lovely elves?”

The trembling continued. The World Tree couldn’t find a clear direction. The forest continued to convey the mother’s pain to Tantalos. As if asking him to reveal the end.

“World Tree.”

Fortunately, the wind’s wish was fulfilled. The Tantalos that Durin saw willingly approached the World Tree.

“Tantalos?”

The green-haired woman turned around in surprise. Though she had a status comparable to a god, the negative emotions brought by death were invading her world.

“How did you get here…”

“I have something to deliver.”

“What?”

“Take it.”

The conversation was concise, unlike one preceding a major event. But the object revealed before the World Tree was by no means light.

A small white ankle engulfed in blazing red fighting spirit.

“This, this is the sacred relic.”

When the World Tree asked in a trembling voice, Tantalos nodded.

“Take it. It’s yours now.”

“Weren’t you supposed to hand it over after driving away the angels? And even then, you said you’d only let me look at it briefly.”

“It’s an object we can no longer protect. If you become its owner, you will surely be able to protect your children in the war that has broken out in heaven.”

“You’re taking credit for a war you started.”

The World Tree sneered. As a child of the Creator God, she had shown the leniency of protection, but her attitude indicated she wouldn’t go beyond that. She seemed to have temporarily set aside her previous concerns. At least, she appeared to be trying to show the dignity of a ruler.

“Handle the sacred relic yourselves. The root cause of that war is not needed in the forest.”

“Then you’ll face the angels empty-handed?”

“Without you all, there would be no need for battle in the first place.”

“You mercilessly cast out those who sought protection. Even as a child of the Creator God, you must greatly fear death.”

Ah!

He had touched a sore spot. The World Tree glared at Tantalos. Shame and anger dominated her, overwhelming the goodwill she had shown until then.

“Watch your words, demon. This is a forest that governs peace. I would appreciate it if you would keep in mind not to break that law.”

“I have nothing to gain by clashing with you. I apologize for that. But I would like to revisit the original point of our conversation.”

Tantalos extended his hand. The sacred relic still shone upon it.

“Will you take it?”

“I told you I’m not interested. Didn’t you hear me?”

“You’ll need it to face the angels.”

“That’s only if you weren’t here…!”

“You need to know precisely. The angels will try to erase not just us but everything related to demons. Even this forest where we have already set foot.”

“What did you say?”

The angel asked in disbelief. Tantalos answered calmly.

“It’s a disaster that was predetermined from the moment you invited us here.”

“What, what do you mean?”

“Since our traces are here, the angels will desperately try to erase them. What the conqueror who rules heaven wants is one thing: to completely erase the Goddess of Night from this world.”

The World Tree couldn’t keep up with the sudden talk of heaven.

Erasing a god. Some might scoff at such a far-fetched story, but if angels were directly involved, it was different. Looking at the war unfolding across the entire eastern continent, they were clearly gripped by perfect madness. They were killing all humans who had nothing to do with it just because they were on paths demons had traveled, so suspicions that seemed implausible were drawing closer.

“If you want to live, take the sacred relic. That’s the only way to protect the forest and your children.”

“Then what about you? Do you think angels will just pass by demons without the sacred relic?”

“We are already dead men, so what is there to fear?”

Saying this, Tantalos smiled for the first time. It left such a strong impression that the World Tree stepped back.

“I fulfill my duty for those who remain. What a brilliant and beautiful joy that is.”

Though there was no eeriness from his appearance, he possessed a belief akin to madness, just like the angels.