Ch.355Revealing Heaven’s Secrets (3)

If I were to pick the most embarrassing moment in my life, it would definitely be the success of the Biography of Xenon and the anomalies.

The Biography of Xenon, which I published as a hobby, caused unexpected success and completely changed the perception of demons.

And then the anomalies that started appearing one after another, beginning with the contamination of the World Tree’s roots. At that time, I felt not only embarrassment but also bewilderment.

So in terms of pure embarrassment, there’s hardly been anything besides the success of the Biography of Xenon, but today might add to that list.

Would you believe it if the seed of the World Tree, a gift from Hirt, the Goddess of Nature, split in half?

No. Belief aside, if such a thing happened, how should one respond?

Would I receive divine punishment for carelessly managing Hirt’s gift, or should I ask what on earth happened?

Right now, I was too shocked to even think about such things.

“… …”

“… …”

Arwen and I stared blankly at the World Tree seed placed neatly on the bed. The seed that had been emitting a brilliant golden light since I received it.

The seed that made an ominous sound like “crack!” had undergone a change. A sound that seemed like it had completely split in half.

Fortunately, it wasn’t completely split in half as feared, just slightly cracked open.

Even this alone was a major incident deserving divine punishment, but what if an adorable sprout emerged from that crack?

A green sprout symbolizing the color of nature. Arwen and I couldn’t say anything as we looked at it.

Normally, for a seed to sprout, it needs to be planted in soil. After planting, you water it, and the sprout emerges by absorbing that water and nutrients from the soil.

But this golden coconut… no, seed sprouted without any of that. Not only was it not watered, it wasn’t even planted!

I thought this fantasy world was defying even such basic laws, but judging by Arwen’s expression, that didn’t seem to be the case.

Her pupils were trembling as she too couldn’t grasp what was happening.

She was probably going through all sorts of worries in her head, just like me.

“…Arwen?”

“… …”

“Arwen?”

“Oh, what?”

She answered with surprise when I called her carefully. Looking at the shyly blooming green sprout, I asked.

“What were you doing while I was gone?”

“I… I was just holding it. I thought any plant would be vulnerable to cold…”

“Anything else?”

“My lord, I haven’t even reached 200 years of age yet.”

In other words, she’s still young and wants to live longer. Of course, I’m not suspecting her at all.

I just want to know why the seed split in half and why a sprout emerged from that crack.

Even if it defies the laws of nature, it’s not strange for a seed to sprout if the conditions are sufficient.

However, regardless of what kind of seed it is, the need for ‘water’ remains unchanged. I know this from growing beans in cotton balls during elementary school in my previous life.

‘…It couldn’t be.’

For a moment, I recalled our passionate first night and what followed, but quickly dismissed the thought. At that time, I had hidden it in a safe place because it could have been truly dangerous.

Moreover, this isn’t just an ordinary seed but the World Tree’s seed, so it might not necessarily need water.

The question is, what was given to it instead of water to make it like this? I scratched my head and asked Arwen.

“How exactly did you hold it?”

“I just embraced it preciously. That’s all.”

“Did you give it mana?”

“Yes, I did.”

“Hmm.”

Still, it doesn’t make sense. Even if she held it right after I left for the temple, it hasn’t been even 3 hours.

Did it absorb Arwen’s mana and grow a sprout in such a short time? It’s a phenomenon I can’t comprehend.

As I couldn’t come up with a plausible reason no matter how much I thought, I got up from the bed. In times like these, it’s wise to ask the person directly involved or related.

“I’ll go see Mora for a moment.”

“What should we do with this?”

As I got up from the bed, Arwen pointed at the seed and asked. The sprout has just emerged, so it absolutely shouldn’t be left unattended.

It means we need to do something, but I’m not sure if we should plant it in the ground or hold it like before.

I invested some time in contemplation and decided on a temporary measure.

“For now, hold it like before. It won’t take long anyway. Understand?”

“I will hold it preciously, ensuring it doesn’t get hurt.”

Arwen said this as she embraced the sprouting seed. The sight of her holding it like a girl holding a baby made me smile involuntarily.

After waving to her, I headed back to the temple. This time, I planned to visit Luminus instead of Mora.

Luminus would also know about this situation, and unlike Mora, would answer kindly.

That’s not to say Mora is unkind. It’s just that in times like these, the more mature Luminus seems more trustworthy.

[I cannot tell you that.]

‘Eh?’

And that trust was thoroughly betrayed.

When Luminus gave a negative answer, I couldn’t help but respond stupidly.

It’s not that there’s some reason; she just can’t tell me. It’s beyond bewilderment; it’s incomprehensible.

She’s a deity, one who can reveal the future of the world and individuals through prophecies.

There are conditions like divine power and qualifications, but I’m an exception. I have enough conditions to know about my future anytime.

Yet even I can’t be told about the World Tree’s seed. I can’t understand it.

‘You can’t tell me? Why?’

[I can’t tell you that either.]

‘But…’

The phrase Koreans use when they’re most frustrated and bewildered: “But…” I sighed deeply, unable to express what I wanted to say.

Mora said I could do as I pleased, but Luminus says she can’t tell me at all. My head started to ache from this contradiction that wasn’t a contradiction.

What exactly is the identity of that seed that even gods can’t freely reveal its future?

Perhaps Hirt pressured them not to tell? As the Goddess of Nature, it’s not impossible.

But why? For what reason? I couldn’t understand why they wouldn’t tell me.

‘…No matter what I propose, you can’t tell me?’

[Yes. Have you heard of “leaking heaven’s secrets”?]

Leaking heaven’s secrets (天機漏洩)

It’s a metaphorical expression for when a secret, which would be disastrous if leaked, escapes to the outside world.

Normally, it would be taken as a mere metaphor, but when a real deity mentions that word, its impact is different.

Thanks to that, my irritation and frustration were somewhat alleviated, replaced by anxiety.

If it’s referred to as “leaking heaven’s secrets,” it means some event will occur in the future. With this in mind, I asked in a more cautious voice.

‘…Will I face some great ordeal?’

[Not immediately.]

Not immediately. Conversely, it means I will face a great ordeal in the future.

But there’s no need to specifically express it as “leaking heaven’s secrets.” It’s something I had already anticipated after revealing myself as Xenon and facing threats from demon worshippers.

Also, it can’t be seen as related to the World Tree’s seed. If not that, then…

‘Does the future change depending on how I handle the seed? Is it such a significant change that even I can’t know about it?’

[That’s right.]

‘Even though a sprout has already emerged?’

[You could still smash it to pieces with a hammer… Ack!]

Luminus screamed in the middle of her sentence. I was startled and called out urgently.

‘Lu-Luminus?’

[Ow ow ow… I’m sorry. Mother told me not to say unnecessary things.]

Last time, Mora got hit on her back, and this time it was Luminus’s turn.

While they occasionally show their divine authority, they also display such human-like aspects, making it impossible not to feel affection.

[Anyway, treat the seed preciously. Don’t hit it with a hammer like I just mentioned.]

‘I’d never do such a crazy thing. So, whether I plant it in the ground or leave it as is, it’s up to me, right?’

[Yes.]

‘Are there any precautions I should take?’

[Just raise it with love.]

Raise it with love. It was such a vague answer that I couldn’t help but tilt my head.

Anyway, I realized that even the gods have no intention of revealing the future.

I don’t know how that seed will change the future, but as Luminus said, the need to raise it with love remains unchanged.

‘I understand for now. It’s really okay for me to raise it as I see fit, right?’

[Yes.]

‘Then…’

[Whatever you do with that child in bed, just don’t break it. Though you probably couldn’t even scratch it anyway.]

It seems the seed’s hardness is stronger than steel. It looked like it would be, resembling a coconut.

I should be careful not to accidentally bump my head against the seed.

After chatting about various things, I ended the communion and returned to the Queen’s chamber. When I returned, Arwen was indeed holding it preciously.

“I’m back.”

“Ah, you’re back. Can you tell me what the gods said?”

“They said I can do as I please. It seems it’s a special seed that doesn’t need to be planted in the ground.”

“Then, though it’s been a short time, I’ll keep it preciously. I’ll hold it so the seed doesn’t feel cold.”

“Alright. But before that…”

I walked slowly towards Arwen, who was lying on the bed, with a mischievous smile. Seeing my smile, she blushed and placed the seed she was holding aside.

Eventually, I climbed onto the bed as if pouncing on her. Right below me, Arwen was looking at me with her hands folded demurely.

“Is this okay?”

“As I always say, I am a gift for you. So…”

Saying this, Arwen opened her arms to welcome me.

“You can handle me as you please.”

Even though we hadn’t even had dinner yet.

“Then shall I unwrap you again?”

“You can unwrap me anytime… Ah!”

The passionate night began now.

*****

The lovemaking that began in the early evening ended only at dawn. The bed, which the attendants had neatly arranged, was in disarray, and the sheets, including the blanket, were soaked with various fluids.

At a time when both Arwen, who had awakened to new stimulation, and Isaac, who had exhausted his energy satisfying her, had fallen into deep sleep.

There was a being emitting light alone like a lamp, none other than the World Tree’s seed placed neatly beside the bed.

It had been placed on the desk, far away, to prevent any harm during their intimacy. Especially after Luminus mentioned it was harder than steel, they placed it even further away.

Twitch-

But a change occurred in that seed. More precisely, it moved.

The seed shook once without any contact. Between the opened crack, a newly emerged sprout shyly revealed itself.

Roll-roll-roll-

Surprisingly, the seed that had twitched once began to act on its own. It was rolling like a ball.

Thud-

Eventually, the seed fell under the desk. The heavy sound it made was an indication of its hardness.

The seed moved left and right in place like a pendulum for a while, then began to roll again. The direction the seed was heading was none other than towards the bed.

The bed where Arwen and Isaac had fallen into deep sleep after a fierce battle. The sight of the seed, emitting light alone in the dark chamber, rolling by itself was quite fascinating.

The Queen’s chamber is a space that no one can intrude upon. Since even Cyris, Arwen’s hidden knight, couldn’t enter, no one could stop the seed.

Jump-

It was already surprising enough that it rolled by itself, but an even more astonishing event occurred. The seed jumped high like a flea.

It jumped so high that it landed lightly on the bed. There was no way Arwen and Isaac could detect such a small presence.

Subsequently, the seed circled around the bed, which was in disarray with various secretions, and then…

Slurp- Slurp- Slurp-

As if it had a mouth on its surface, it began to cleanly absorb the secretions on the blanket and sheets.

Although most had dried up as time had passed since their lovemaking, there were still some remaining parts.

It was sucking all of them in. If the two had seen this sight, they would have dismissed it as just a dream, as it was such an implausible situation.

“Urp-“

After some time had passed, despite clearly being a seed, a satisfied burping sound was heard.

Can this truly be considered just a seed? Even after its meal, the seed continued to circle around the bed.

Eventually, as if it had found its place, it slipped between Arwen and Isaac. Coincidentally, there was an empty space, allowing it to fit in.

Crack-

An unsettling sound from the seed as soon as it settled.

Crack- Crack-

Very slowly, really slowly, a sound of something breaking was heard, and then…

Crack!

Right next to the sprout, a tiny ‘arm’ vigorously emerged.