Chapter Index





    Ch.19664. Uphold Your Mission. (3)

    “So we could go inside.”

    It would be more accurate to say the ground was exposed rather than the trees being hollowed out.

    Inside, luminous stones emitting a faint green glow in the darkness hung from vines, positioned at regular intervals like candelabras mounted on the ceiling or walls.

    “That’s right. And though the paths differ, this place holds countless souls and spirits of our ancestors who have returned to the earth and to the trees.”

    “Souls? Spirits? So is this place like a tomb, indoor cemetery, or columbarium?”

    “You could see it that way, but we don’t have separate customs for burying bodies. And pure forest folk quickly turn to dust and disappear when they die.”

    “Hmm…”

    Kariel maintained a composed attitude of attentive listening to the old elf’s words.

    “Then this is… a symbolic space central to the faith of the world tree, the divine tree.”

    “The center of faith. That’s not wrong. Once, we used to offer blood sacrifices here. Mostly from outside races, not our own.”

    “Was that thousands of years ago?”

    “As I recall, four thousand? Six thousand? Somewhere in between.”

    …That’s quite a significant gap.

    The history of humanity being properly recorded and transmitted to the future hasn’t actually been that long.

    It took an unreasonable amount of time before we could express the past in a way that didn’t require misunderstandings or unnecessary interpretations, but could be intuitively understood.

    In fact, that’s why many consider religious texts like the Bible to be historical documents.

    Though some argue they’re myths, instructive fairy tales, or outright fiction.

    Wall paintings and records of extinct civilizations are prone to misinterpretation due to differences in language and cultural systems, making it difficult to draw definitive conclusions.

    Even these can be easily distorted by state power or individual intentions.

    After all, it’s quite common for those in power to deify their bloodlines and ancestors to legitimize their authority, even distorting historical facts.

    “Did you need to tell me that specifically?”

    “About the sacrifices? Truth is truth. Some consider it shameful or discuss it inadequately when asserting our race’s former glory… but what’s past should be left in the past. We should only use it as reference for how to improve ourselves.”

    “……”

    Kariel could have pointed out that wasn’t the issue, but he remained silent and just listened.

    “Humans may be difficult, but we too have internal disagreements. Once we make a mistake, it becomes irreversible. We can walk a long path, but if we walk down the wrong one… it becomes that much harder to turn back.”

    “……”

    “So we established rules. We sought to distinguish right from wrong through the voice of the divine tree.”

    “Does the divine tree always give the right answer?”

    “More precisely, it gives the best answer.”

    After those words, he walked in silence for quite some time.

    As the slight downward slope leveled out into flat ground:

    “And as one of those best answers, it ordered and sentenced you to death.”

    “……”

    At first, Kariel thought he had misheard.

    “Me?”

    “Not everyone agreed. That’s why you’re still fine. But the majority cannot be swayed. If something happens to you, it’s clear what tragedy awaits us. So we’re struggling to avoid it or find an alternative.”

    “……”

    So when the queen mentioned that about half of her council opposed her wishes regarding me… it had this meaning as well.

    In other words.

    According to what the divine tree’s voice has ordained, about half of the council members believe I should be disposed of.

    …Is that about right?

    And the queen and this elder are opposed or restraining that position.

    If they didn’t have a unanimous system but instead adopted measures by majority vote.

    …My life might have been in serious danger right now.

    “That reaction. It sounds as if you’ve just realized it.”

    “Yes. I’m disconcerted to have just learned this fact.”

    “Hmm. I thought you had understood this situation and therefore approached Geornia to hasten your blood relationship.”

    “…No. That request came from pure goodwill.”

    The old elf expressed slight admiration.

    “I see. It seems such luck follows you.”

    Luck is not coincidence.

    Luck is the causal fruit that occurs because it was meant to happen.

    Considering something as luck separate from my will and intention happens when a situation occurs and results appear without my initiation or intention.

    But if you start examining everything in the world piece by piece, what we consider luck is simply what we didn’t know, were ignorant of, were blinded to, had our ears closed to, or were too dull to perceive.

    For Kariel, luck and coincidence were like air or wind.

    Things that exist but cannot be seen, yet inevitably have influence—things that cannot be absent.

    Just as the world doesn’t cease to exist or become empty simply because it doesn’t appear to my eyes or cannot be felt.

    Consider how many procedures a farmer’s crops must go through before being transformed into food delivered to Kariel himself.

    Even if Kariel himself farmed, or personally baked bread or made soup from flour.

    …All that exists here is inevitability.

    Calling birth itself a coincidence is simply due to not knowing its structure, laws, and causality.

    If not.

    Wouldn’t I have to attribute my own special differences from others simply to luck?

    So, looking at it that way, this situation can be somewhat explained.

    “Then, my ceremonies and activities… have offended or potentially offended someone’s will and intentions.”

    The old man said I possessed the qualities of a hero.

    …But what Kariel himself wants is to realize a world that doesn’t need heroes.

    But what if someone doesn’t want that path?

    “Is it possible that it’s not a specific individual or group or organization… but that the world tree itself felt that way?”

    “Hmm.”

    The old elf hummed briefly before responding.

    “I don’t know. That’s why I brought you here. For you to find the answer yourself. And let me tell you something you seem to have overlooked… A hero… doesn’t only mean someone who saves the world.”

    “…What do you mean?”

    I had an ominous feeling, as if I was about to hear something I shouldn’t.

    “If a hero’s adversary is called a demon lord, then shouldn’t the demon lord also be a vessel of the same caliber or level, or even surpassing the hero? Only then could it be called a trial or hardship. What do you think?”

    “……”

    It’s such a simple logic.

    In a sense, an extremely obvious logic.

    It’s something that can be thought of in a common-sense, straightforward way.

    But apparently, I had quite naive preconceptions about heroes.

    Was it because I’m the son of a hero father?

    I felt as if I’d been hit hard on the back of my head.

    “Now that I hear it… you’re right. There’s no room for objection.”

    “Hmm.”

    If that’s the case.

    The snake in my mind and these tangled emotions boiling in my chest, this ability to become coldly rational at will.

    …Were they all talents, gifts, and abilities given for that purpose?

    Thinking about it that way, it makes sense.

    Because I was.

    …So different in personality, inclination, and temperament from my father.

    And from my mother too.

    “Child. Seeds are amazing things. Whether planted upward or downward, when the time comes, they naturally send roots down into the earth. And sprouts upward, outward.”

    “……”

    “Everyone tries to dismiss such phenomena by giving up on understanding them as natural law. But how could a seed discern and do all this? Can you guess the reason?”

    Kariel pondered the old elf’s words for a moment.

    But surprisingly, the answer that should have come quickly seemed blocked somehow.

    They say truth is simple and straightforward.

    That understanding becomes concise when it matures.

    So if words fail me, or if my answer seems likely to become long-winded.

    Then I probably don’t truly understand.

    “Somehow, what seemed simple… sounds extremely difficult when you put it that way.”

    “Dropping lightning from the sky or raining fire is less wondrous and miraculous than this simple fact. How could they know that?”

    “……”

    “It’s a realization I gained recently. It may seem insignificant, but I believe it’s important to have reverence for such things.”

    “Is that so?”

    “Compare it to your life. That’s all I can tell you. Hmm… it might seem unrelated to your current situation, but you’re different.”

    By now, we had arrived at a place like a cave with a dead end.

    It was completely empty.

    In terms of size, it was a space where perhaps a dozen adult men could stand uncomfortably if they pressed against each other.

    In other words, more than enough space for me and the old elf to stand.

    There weren’t even luminous stones here.

    It seemed like it hadn’t seen light for quite some time.

    Even the air felt stagnant and depressed, giving a strange feeling.

    “If you could understand the language of the divine tree, and change the voice that comes through, you might be able to defuse the situation.”

    “Then, for my own sake and without question, I should work hard at it.”

    So the spirit issue was just an excuse.

    The queen prioritized allowing me to enter here with this old man, this elder.

    And this is probably because she had some kind of “expectation” of me.

    If something happens to me, the continental situation becomes irreversible.

    Moreover, the Empire is in the west, and here is the eastern edge.

    How many countries would willingly open their borders to the Empire’s military advances? How many would accept this?

    I can clearly envision it.

    It’s a scenario I’ve been thinking about and envisioning all along, long before reaching here, the elves’ country.

    Whether I want it or not, if something happens to me, such a possibility arises.

    And this, in other words, is also a weapon I can use to threaten or pressure others.

    But this only works on those who have much to lose and fear losing it.

    Those who are rational, like these people.

    …Getting caught up in faith and wanting to hang, burn, or slit someone’s throat… that’s clearly in the realm of emotion.

    No amount of rational urging will be of any use.

    “This has become troublesome.”

    “Didn’t you throw yourself outside knowing you would face trouble? On behalf of that princess.”

    “Well, when you put it that way, I find myself at a loss for words again.”

    Pretending to be composed, pretending to be calm, pretending to have something, pretending to be great, pretending to be impressive.

    Despite all these acts, he’s just a weak little kid in the end.

    When the mask comes off and the deeply pulled hood is removed.

    He is literally nothing.

    “Heroes are inherently weary. Adversity and hardship come as naturally as breathing. I think that for an extraordinary child like you, a trial befitting your caliber has descended.”

    “…Couldn’t it just be that a crazy tree wants to kill me and burn the world?”

    “That would be correct.”

    Uh…

    I just said it offhandedly, but once I said it, I was a bit startled at how accurate it seemed.

    “So try to persuade the divine tree well. That will be the only way to prevent the tragedy that will befall the world.”

    “Couldn’t this all be resolved by just sending a letter to my father?”

    “Hehehe. That’s what they fear most. If you do something reckless, I cannot guarantee what comes next.”

    “This is quite a burdensome life in many ways. It’s just…”

    “In truth, it wouldn’t have been strange if this had happened much earlier.”

    “That’s true.”

    It’s absurd, but this is right.

    There’s a reason hostages are hostages.

    …Let’s just accept it cleanly.

    “It seems I’ve been conducting myself well, knowingly or unknowingly.”

    And until now, I’ve been more or less fortunate—that’s about all I can accept.

    While there haven’t been absolutely worst-case scenarios like “die unconditionally” or “you will die,”

    This current situation isn’t something I can resolve by being politically savvy or using my wits.

    In other words, if I could somehow hold the initiative, it would be different, but here that element is fundamentally blocked.

    As a result, if I had unknowingly taken even a slightly wrong step… whew.

    I can’t help but feel self-deprecating.

    “Even the previous incidents weren’t easy. What kind of trouble is this at such a young age.”

    Even while saying this.

    Kariel quickly composed his expression.

    They say show weakness freely to those who deserve to see it.

    But if there’s a possibility that it could be a disadvantage rather than an advantage, there’s no reason to reveal it.

    My struggles are my problem and my harm.

    It would be beneficial to abandon any expectation that someone else will alleviate or solve them.

    “So what should I do now? The divine tree’s language? Voice? How do I listen and how should I intervene to… influence it?”

    “Do you know how to pray?”

    “…?”

    Kariel tilted his head momentarily.

    But soon he smiled faintly.

    “Thanks to my mother, I’m very familiar with that.”

    Since leaving the Empire… I haven’t properly prayed.

    But I’ve been pretending to do so to give the impression of being devout.

    That time was actually for organizing thoughts and formulating plans.

    Once I start praying, I easily spend at least an hour.

    And that time is…

    A time to directly face the monster dwelling within me.

    “Well then… yes. To express it in human terms, may God’s blessing be with you. Or… I wish you good luck, I wish you fortune. Would you prefer that?”

    “Thank you. Your intention is sufficiently conveyed.”

    This supposed help for me is perhaps just another ploy on their part to prevent the worst.

    However, let me go along with this artifice that feels like his consideration for now.

    What’s important is that at least they haven’t backed me into a corner.

    They’ve left an escape route.

    Whether that will be another path to death, a way out,

    Or the starting point for a counterattack.

    …It depends on my meeting with that damned world tree that screamed for my death.

    ====

    How long had I been kneeling with clasped hands, focusing my mind as if staring at a wall?

    For some reason, I found myself thrown into the middle of a blazing forest.

    -If you will not burn the world… then become the firewood that burns the world.

    That is the mission given to you.

    -Kariel. Fulfill your mission.

    Fulfill it.

    Fulfill it.

    “……”

    Kariel couldn’t hide his inner bewilderment at that unknown voice stirring through the blazing flames.

    More importantly… what kind of situation is this?

    My mission? What is it, you damn tree?


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