Ch.19965. The Time of Snakes and Vipers (3)

Geornia learned about the news several hours later.

Even this was only possible because she had deliberately broken through the blockade to enter the restricted area.

“…What kind of situation is this?”

In the small chamber, there was only a child lying on the bed with a deathly pale face, the queen, and two council members.

After examining them alternately, Geornia couldn’t hold back and interrogated them.

She tried hard to steady her breathing, but as soon as she stopped focusing on it, her breath immediately became ragged.

“It was an accident.”

“…I can see that much.”

As Geornia approached Kariel and tried to touch his forehead, the queen stopped her hand.

“Genia. I asked you not to use that power carelessly, didn’t I?”

“Does this look like careless use to you?”

“That’s why the spirits didn’t choose you. Tsk, tsk.”

Geornia glared at the council member who had rebuked her.

“Shall we test whether that spirit will save you now…?”

Mana flowed from her body. The resulting ripples seemed to distort the surrounding space like waves.

Unlike ignorant magicians who honed their magic for battle, slaughter, and massacre, she was one who walked the path of true magic.

They might claim to walk the same path, but a true mage walks the path without ever using their abilities, knowledge, harmony, and experience for corrupt gains or desires.

However, that didn’t mean she was powerless.

If she had been merely a bookworm, a magician or mage buried in theory and knowledge…

…She would never have been counted among the continent’s strongest magicians as the Magic Empress, an irreplaceable pillar in her own right.

“Only weak little beasts howl and make a fuss.”

Geornia immediately concentrated her mana and fired a lightning bolt made of fire at the council member who had spoken rudely.

However, the council member didn’t even blink as they dispelled it with a translucent wind barrier.

“You wench. How dare you commit such an insolent act?”

“That’s enough.”

At the queen’s intervention, the flow of mana boiling inside and even the spirit’s energy dispersed in an instant.

It wasn’t that they had agreed to her words; the queen had taken action herself.

If one doesn’t intend to put up a puppet as king and mediator, a true mediator must have the appropriate qualifications.

And the queen certainly possessed such abilities.

She lightly placed her index finger on her blue lips.

“Even though I’ve adjusted it to avoid harming the patient, I cannot guarantee anything now. Yet you still display such unseemly behavior?”

“They insulted me first.”

“You should be grateful I merely reminded you of the facts.”

“Let’s refrain from unnecessary chatter. Otherwise, I’ll arrange a place outside for you if you’d like to proceed with a duel?”

The council member scoffed at this.

“I have no reason to engage in acts performed by barbaric and uncivilized beings.”

“So causing a disturbance here is considered proper and appropriate behavior?”

“Ahem!”

“Genia. You too.”

“…”

Geornia turned her head away and clicked her tongue quietly.

“So you’re not asking me to just stand by and watch him in this state, are you?”

“I understand. I know you’re acting as his guardian here. So… you have the right, but even so, I cannot show you everything.”

“…What did he see inside the sanctuary of the World Tree, the Divine Tree?”

Geornia was perceptive.

She knew there were many things Kariel hadn’t openly told her.

But she deliberately hadn’t asked.

After all, there are things in this world better left unknown.

And this incident was probably caused by the very things she had chosen not to ask about.

“Here. Come.”

When the queen extended her hand, Geornia clicked her tongue again and grasped it.

The first segment of memory the queen shared showed Kariel responding to a council member’s provocation by harming himself during a speech.

But that wasn’t the end.

While walking through the inner sanctuary of the Divine Tree with the Sixth Elder, Kariel reached a dead end.

Following the Elder’s suggestion, he offered a prayer.

And not long after, he fell into a semi-comatose state.

In what was essentially a dream, detached from reality, he directly perceived the visions shown by the World Tree.

He also heard its voice.

But she couldn’t know everything.

“…”

The moment she let go, cold sweat poured down her entire body.

Geornia wiped between her eyebrows and forehead as she asked:

“What… what is this all about?”

“We deliberated extensively over Kariel’s words and decided to peek into his memories. But since I’m considered to be on the side of protecting Kariel, I decided to examine his memories together with two council members from opposing factions regarding his treatment.”

“…So you didn’t show me everything.”

“Even this much is already giving you preferential treatment, Genia. In a sense, your role as his guardian is merely your wishful thinking.”

“Your Majesty.”

“I cannot break the rules for personal reasons. Applying exceptions is a courtesy extended to you. Ordinarily, even your presence here would be unforgivable.”

“…Haa.”

In the memory, Kariel’s self-harm had left him in a state where immediate death wouldn’t have been surprising.

Yet he had recovered without a scar… which must have come at a considerable price.

Still, there were matters that needed to be addressed.

Geornia frowned again and asked:

“Your Majesty. Why am I only learning now that the World Tree has ordered Kariel’s death?”

“If you had known, would you have simply stood by and watched the situation unfold?”

“Of course not.”

“That’s why.”

“…What about simply sending him back to the Empire? Kariel’s existence is, to put it crudely, like a parasitic fungus. The longer we embrace it, the more the forest’s ecosystem deteriorates.”

“But in the meantime, we gain the justification to control various parts of the continent. We are merely the transferors of the contract. Whether to hand him over or not depends on the Alliance’s position. Or Geornia, would you prefer us to cause a conflict with them? Have you not considered the tragedy that would befall our kin scattered throughout the continent if it escalated to war?”

“…What about cooperating with the Empire to split the continent?”

“You should know well what the hegemonic powers have done, Geornia. When the Vera Empire was dominant, they oppressed us even without setting foot deep inland. Wasn’t your own blood swept up in such a manner?”

“Are you saying this is the same?”

“They may be favorable to us now, but humans are short-lived. They’re a barbaric race with throats full of greed. Unlike the heroes of this age who accept responsibility for power… we cannot guarantee their descendants’ descendants will do the same.”

“So you’re planning to take the reins from now on?”

“This is a situation they brought upon themselves. Didn’t they hand over Kariel to prevent war?”

“But…”

Geornia had much to say, but… the conversation here wasn’t about persuading anyone.

For the Empire, it was probably a better choice to entrust Kariel to the heart of the elven realm, where Geornia—a distant neighbor and advisor, teacher, and mentor to the Empress and the Nine Heroes—resided.

And even hostile and conflicting nations agreed to this.

In other words, everything had worked out well.

…If only the World Tree hadn’t ordered its children and believers to kill him.

“Genia. You know as well as we do what it means to mishandle Kariel, even without saying it.”

“So, what do you intend to do now? That boy seems to not only hear the World Tree’s language but communicate with it, and even directly perceive the visions it shows. Isn’t this far, far more serious than what those who see far or deep might perceive?”

“That is what we’re currently deliberating. Since you’re here, tell us. What do you think we should do?”

“…”

It was difficult, but not that difficult.

For elves, the World Tree’s influence is absolute.

So if it became known that Kariel could communicate with it…

“Your Majesty, do you believe he will overcome this unfortunate fate bestowed upon him once again?”

“That remains to be seen.”

But regardless of Kariel’s miraculous potential, once the World Tree’s declaration was received, believers would try to kill him.

Directly or indirectly.

However, if that situation could be reversed or overturned.

He might, perhaps, become another being who could carry on the great achievements of elves as a human.

But this time, the situation was not favorable.

“To burn the world…”

If, due to what the World Tree showed him, he became so immersed in it that he could no longer distinguish between reality and illusion…

Then this Kariel might not be the incredibly intelligent child Geornia once knew.

…He might be another incarnation of a being who might have truly burned the world once.

And Geornia, the queen, and the two council members had all seen it.

At some point, Kariel engulfing not just the World Tree but the entire elven forest in flames, reducing it to ashes.

Surrounding the forest, slaughtering those who tried to escape, while those who remained perished miserably in pain like criminals and death row inmates being burned at the stake…

“If it’s true that the World Tree doesn’t care for us, but actually wants to destroy the world…”

“Preposterous.”

One council member declared firmly.

“Don’t even harbor such blasphemy in your mind. How dare you…”

“…”

“If that’s the case, the very meaning of our existence would be wrong. Among humans, those who claimed to be the chosen race, what arrogant acts did they eventually commit?”

“Is this the same as that?”

“We are noble and precious. If we deny that fact… what would we do without rules, restraint, or propriety? If we truly wanted to destroy, burn, and ruin the world! We wouldn’t need anyone else’s hands. We would be sufficient on our own!”

“Haa.”

The queen sighed at the council member’s passionate speech.

“…”

But.

Geornia thought.

But there’s one thing you’re mistaken about.

What if the reason the World Tree wants to destroy the world is because of our race?

…Have you never considered such a possibility?

Once, the Light Clan spread their influence across not just the continent but all worlds, expanding and conquering the world.

How much blood, tears, and sweat were shed because of them?

They say that when the Forest Clan reclaimed the World Tree, the enslaved and oppressed races were also liberated.

But as time passed, the Forest Clan began to repeat the same mistakes the Light Clan had made.

Blood and sacrifices to the World Tree.

Glory to us.

Glory to the World Tree.

…Although they were given the opportunity to repent soon after, that was only in the perception of the fairies.

It continued for a full 500 years.

Unlike the Light Clan, they didn’t conquer the entire world, so the whole world didn’t suffer, but the species dwelling nearby certainly experienced pain and despair.

“We still have a long way to go.”

We are a race designed to be arrogant from birth.

That’s why we’ve lived lives emphasizing restraint, propriety, and discipline.

Valuing reason over emotion, coldness over heat as virtues.

…But that doesn’t wash away past sins.

What’s gone cannot be changed.

Yes, let’s accept that.

But… does that mean it will be forgotten forever…?

“What’s certain is that the World Tree hasn’t specified when or how to kill him. So, we still have time.”

The queen spoke, changing the atmosphere.

“Even with our abilities, we couldn’t fully glimpse Kariel’s memories. This is probably due to the World Tree’s influence. So we will talk with him again after he wakes up. Do you two have any objections to this?”

The two council members placed their right hands diagonally across their chests and bowed their heads gently in response.

“No, Your Majesty.”

“No objections. As you wish.”

“Good. Then it’s decided. And… Genia. Though it may be uncomfortable, you will be in charge of his safety for the time being.”

“I suppose there’s no one else who could do it.”

Geornia narrowed her eyes and readily agreed.

====

“That’s what happened.”

Two days later.

Kariel, who had barely opened his eyes, was able to learn fragments of what had occurred while he was unconscious through the memories Geornia showed him.

“It seems you couldn’t see everything.”

It wouldn’t have mattered if she had seen it all.

Rather, if they had pried into his past before coming to this country… that would have been more infuriating.

Perhaps they knew and were pretending not to.

…But it’s surprising they didn’t know about his exchanges with the World Tree…

Perhaps the abilities of this race originate from the World Tree itself?

Kariel roughly concluded as much.

For now, at least.

His mind wasn’t functioning properly yet, having just woken up.

“More importantly, why did you do something so reckless?”

“You’re asking even though you know? Obviously, I knew they would save me.”

“…But actually making it happen is another matter, isn’t it?”

What if they had left him to die?

That possibility wasn’t small, so how could he…

“Are you going to make me repeat what I said before? Since I’m nothing now… I need to become something, anything.”

Then he smiled nonchalantly, which sent a chill down Geornia’s spine.

“And there’s something my father once said.”

“…Rueld?”

“In the most desperate situations, many more people died miserably trying to live than those who lived after trying to die.”

“That’s…”

Is he talking about when the Demon King’s army invaded?

But that statement…

“It means that sometimes the grave might actually be the safest place. We’re instinctively made to pursue life and avoid death… but because of that instinct, we’re actually half a step closer to death.”

“…”

“I can’t just be led around like livestock by my instincts, can I?”

Many are quick to learn.

Many are skilled at practice.

But few can both learn and practice.

And those who learn, practice, and achieve the most appropriate and best results are… extremely rare.

“More than that… let me ask you one thing, Kariel. What did you hear and see from the World Tree?”

“If you have the ability to search memories, wouldn’t you have seen everything worth seeing?”

“…That can’t be all. And I want to know how it affected you.”

“Why? Are you afraid I might actually burn this wretched world to the ground like that other version of me the World Tree showed?”

For words spoken with a smile, they were terribly brutal.

There was an unwavering weight to his words, somewhat detached from his usual mischievousness.

“Don’t worry unnecessarily. If I were going to do that, would the World Tree have ordered my death? Rather, it would have told the elves to assist me well.”

“…Yes. You’re right. So there’s a way to directly avoid that.”

A truly simple solution.

“Kariel. If you were to tell the World Tree directly that you’ll do what it wants yourself. Then the World Tree would have no reason to… do anything to you anymore, right?”

“…”

Kariel tilted his head slightly.

He merely smiled in response.

Geornia couldn’t discern what meaning that smile held.

From the moment she first saw him, neither she nor even the queen, who specialized in such abilities, could discern the falsehood or truth in his words from the beginning.

No, more precisely, he was always sincere.

He had never changed from that mindset for even a moment.

…Even trees and rocks change their emotions according to time and environment.

How could he, a human child, be more…

“But Kariel. The premise of what you’re saying now is… not that the World Tree wants to save the world and protect us… but as you said, it wants to destroy and burn the world. If that’s not the premise… you know well that your words are very contradictory, don’t you?”

“Hmm, was that so?”

Sometimes.

More than a hundred words.

A simple phrase.

Or silence.

Or a light smile can feel heavier than anything else in the world.

…Like now.