Chapter 399

Chapter 399

Eat The World Tree.

Episode 399: Peace In The Cold War, Change (6)

World Trees usually took root in another world, living and breathing.

It was similar to the principle of a dungeon, but no one connected them that way.

The place where they lived was Goto, where gods resided.

No matter how reasonable the interpretation, it was considered an insult to the gods.

【 Open your eyes, Isabella. 】

Was it because they existed in a far-off dimension?

Unless they were proxies of the World Tree, devotees could not see the gods.

At most, they could touch the roots of the World Tree that pierced through space, or drink water from the roots as a concept like communion.

The woman called Isabella lifted her eyelids.

“Yes.”

Her long hair brushed against the mantilla she wore.

World Tree of Prosperity · First Female Bishop Isabella.

Even though rumors circulated that she was the next saint, she dedicated herself from too low a position to accept the oracle.

In other words, the current situation required even such a bishop to be directly controlled by the World Tree.

Sweat ran down Isabella’s cheek.

【 Isabella, as you may know, the Order is currently falling into ruin. 】

World Tree of Prosperity.

A being that took root in this land, offering itself as nourishment for the world.

Without her, along with the World Tree of Sacrifice, the number of humans and trees in this world would have nearly halved.

【 Forget the petty rules of the Order and raise your head. 】

Isabella was flustered by the World Tree of Prosperity’s words.

It wasn’t just any tree, but one of the Five Great World Trees.

Even though she worshipped it, it was incredible that such a magnificent being not only summoned her but allowed her to see it directly.

She slowly raised her head.

-Trickle.

A stream flowing through nutrient-rich land.

After crossing many peaks, the colossal tree rooted in the very center swayed its branches, lush enough to cover the entire world.

A tree soaring high above the stratosphere.

Even if rain fell from the sky, not a speck of dirt would get wet within its embrace, perhaps.

Seeing the brilliant golden light scattering, even non-believers would suddenly find faith.

Isabella, who secretly held the World Tree and the Order in contempt, realized in her body why the priests considered this being a god, as she was captivated by the sight.

They said the riper the rice, the lower its head bowed.

Faced with crisis, Isabella, who had been very active, deeply bowed her head again upon seeing the World Tree of Prosperity.

【 It might not be a very pleasing sight. That the being you consider a god is just a tree like this. 】

“Oh, no, it’s not like that at all, World Tree.”

【 Actually, compared to other World Trees, I haven’t lived as long. I felt like a country girl who came to the city. Haha. 】

The tree made a self-deprecating joke.

And even laughed.

Isabella couldn’t simply laugh in that situation.

‘…If it’s bothersome, it’s my head that will fall… Isabella. Think carefully.’

But was the World Tree of Prosperity more merciful than she thought?

Isabella’s eyes widened at the words that soon followed.

【 My proxy, Azelin, is doing well, but there aren’t many trustworthy people in this Order. Isabella? 】

“Yes.”

【 You must know my thoughts. 】

The symptoms of division currently occurring within the World Tree Order.

Even united, it was barely a match for Flower right now. The church was on the verge of collapsing in half.

With the collapse of the Cornus Family, Lee Shiheon was branded a heretic under the pretext of aiding Sansuyu.

And the sword was even turned against his master, Spring Peach Blossom.

The accompanying social phenomena and rising discontent were unavoidable bleeding.

‘…Ultimately, I had to separate them. If it had dragged on longer, there could have been other side effects.’

Isabella considered the World Tree of Justice’s judgment quite reasonable.

‘The most rational judgment would have been to nip it in the bud before it grew. But some World Trees opposed it, so there was nothing that could be done.’

No matter how sharp a blade had transcended its limits, if there was no trust, it became poison to the World Tree.

In any case, a being that had transcended its limits.

To have transcended limits meant reaching a similar level to some trees, including the Five Great World Trees.

In other words, on par with the World Tree of Prosperity before her eyes.

When tree people and trees broke through the limitations of living beings, they became entities that govern certain concepts.

The expression “reaching the limits” came from that.

‘…If there’s a difference from other World Trees.’

Cheondo and Mugung.

They trained their own bodies, reaching a state that was nothing short of perfection, then leaped beyond once more.

There were many ways to transcend limits, and there were some shortcuts.

Only trees could easily approach transcendence.

The hardships required to reach transcendence were simplest for trees, which had no limitations as living beings. Next were tree people, and then humans.

In particular, there were no known cases of humans transcending limits.

Even the Tree Spirit King transcended by manipulating his own body, which was natural.

No matter how skilled ‘Lee Shiheon’ was, one of the reasons he was subtly underestimated was the limitation of his species.

‘But it’s really surprising.’

The man that was introduced through Jung Siwoo.

And the person she recommended to the Forester Selection Competition turns out to be the king’s successor.

Where in the world could such a coincidence exist?

Thinking that, Isabella answered the World Tree of Prosperity without delay.

“I know to some extent. You mean the reform of the church.”

Under the leadership of the World Tree of Justice, the church was changing.

Elevating the authority of God further.

Since the church’s attempt to abolish the status of humans and tree people failed, tree supremacism began to expand again for this reason.

Naturally, there was some opposition from existing church factions.

However, with the intensification of the war against Flower, it was an unavoidable, undecided state.

In that situation, the World Tree of Prosperity was pushing for reforms that were completely different from those of the World Tree of Justice.

【 The current Order’s reforms… even if they win the war, it’s clear they will soon collapse. Isabella, what are your thoughts? 】

“I agree, but… why would you entrust such a task to me…?”

The World Tree of Prosperity’s words seemed to suggest making her one of the leaders of the reform. And Isabella’s prediction proved correct.

Since she was born, she entered the Order solely with the ambition of rising in status.

An opportunity had fallen into her lap, and she couldn’t miss it.

【 …Please take on the role of the next saint. 】

Oracle.

God-like, rather than human.

Just looking at the pleading tone instead of commands, this attitude of the World Tree of Prosperity was subtly known.

She didn’t lose her respect even for those in low positions, and for that, she received the support of many priests.

Her proxy, Azelin, was also a great person who saved many people and was famous for her humility.

‘…However. Is the church’s division the right thing in the current situation?’

There was no change on the front lines.

Perhaps soon, the World Tree and Flower would reach a truce or a ceasefire.

The reason Flower couldn’t swallow the world, despite the church losing so much power, was largely due to the instability of their own forces.

The World Tree of Prosperity’s true intention was this:

To reunite the divided church immediately after the truce.

After the war, whether it was Flower or the World Tree, a civil war was inevitable.

Should she say that, unlike her kind appearance, her desires were great?

……Well, that’s probably not it.

Because this being was one that wouldn’t just idly watch people suffer.

【 I will personally step forward. Can you lend me a hand, Isabella? 】

Wriggle.

A beautiful doll emerged from the floor, appearing naked right in front of Isabella’s nose.

An avatar in the form of a tree person.

Were the Five Great World Trees finally starting to move directly?

Isabella slowly nodded her trembling head.

But how would she try to solve this situation?

【 Lee Shiheon. 】

Having listened in silence. Isabella almost let out a laugh at the name that burst from her lips.

In a situation where Flower was debating whether to kill Lee Shiheon or not. If the World Tree of Prosperity turned to saving him…

Wouldn’t this completely become the eye of the storm?

She thought he lasted longer than imagined. It made sense if the World Tree of Prosperity was subtly pulling strings.

‘I don’t know either. Jung Siwoo… I don’t know. F**k. He’ll take care of himself.’

This world was changing too rapidly.

“Sargenti.”

“Yes?”

“Don’t suddenly scratch your armpit if you don’t want to die.”

I gave Sargenti a rap on the forehead, as she subtly took off her suit and made an obvious sexual appeal.

Since I was the Tree Spirit King and had been involved with more women than one could imagine, she thought she could play such pranks.

I’m also a pure-hearted man… I want to be one.

“Ow… It seems the church’s division has become a given. At least from my perspective.”

Sargenti began to speak again in a loyal posture.

I twirled my pen and nodded.

“I knew it would happen.”

“Oh, really? Really? I thought you didn’t know?”

“……Do you want to die?”

“Ah. Hehe. I don’t have much time left, so please go easy on me.”

If you looked closely, this bastard seems worse than Mok Taeyang.

Wouldn’t such a grotesque creature appear if Mok Taeyang and Aori held hands tightly and fused?

Her skill at crossing the line is extraordinary.

That aside, the fact that she didn’t have much time left was true, so if I said the wrong thing, it became an insult to someone terminally ill.

She was a woman who understood and used a trap very well.

“I don’t have much time left either.”

The problem was that I was also almost terminally ill.

Sargenti, who had been giggling, looked at me with shifty eyes.

“You know we’re in the same boat, that’s why you’re so close to me, right? I’m considered the hardest person to get close to in the White Ants.”

“People have decided to call that being a loner.”

“Yeah, same loner.”

I wore a wry smile and shook my head as if fed up.

Any more jokes were neither funny nor a repetition of a stale repertoire.

“So, are your injuries okay?”

Sargenti’s words, looking at me.

No matter how close to transcendence I was evaluated to be. If they seriously targeted me, avoiding injury wasn’t easy.

Debuffs and curses, like those seen in games, existed in this world.

Divine artifacts imbued with the World Tree’s power.

In the case of powerful artifacts, if they gathered in one place, even my master could be defeated.

This was why I could never win one-on-many, and why even those who have reached transcendence could die depending on the situation.

During the subjugation of the Cradle or the Cornus Family, these war machines weren’t focused on me.

The point was, if I let my guard down, I’d become a mere gnat.

Well, I wouldn’t give them that angle.

“So you came here injured?”

“……”

“Ah, okay. I’ll stop teasing you. I brought what you asked for, so forgive me.”

Sargenti placed the document containing coordinates on my table and disappeared as if escaping.

He talked a lot, but he did his job really well.

“Oh, right.”

Sargenti, who was about to leave through the door, poked his head back in and said,

“Seri wants to see you. Why don’t you go if you have time?”

Seri. The Siberian pea shrub.

In other words… the artifact artisan Byeol introduced me to.

I met her once before the Cradle incident, and after getting the mask and robe, I didn’t go there often.

However, since no one else is as skilled at making artifacts as she is, I often had to send people there while running the faction.

“Alright. Go.”

“Yep~”

I replied casually and touched the coordinates.

What I asked her for this time was nothing special.

Because there was someone I knew I had to meet.

As far as I knew, there was only one person who would act rationally in the current situation.

Someone who had followed a dramatic path to success. And someone with the sharpest ears regarding the Hunter Association’s affairs.

Lee Seyeong or Jin Dallae’s love was too excessive.

It was not that this person loved less… but comparatively, emotions didn’t get the better of them, leading to self-defeating moves.

I gathered magic and activated spatial magic.

-Thud!

A dull thud of footsteps.

I stepped into the rather large quarters of the Vice President and lightly scanned my surroundings.

It was 2 AM.

It was natural for her to be awake.

“Kyaak!”

She let out a chick-like sound and crashed!

The teacup in the woman’s hand, as she slumped onto the floor, rolled away.

Was my timing a bit terrible?

“Ah.”

As I briefly uttered a word and looked down, the yellow-haired woman who had landed on her bottom looked up at me, her mouth agape.

“…Uh, um, uh…? Why are you coming out of there?”

Byeol.

Vice President of the Korean Hunter Association, Han Byeol.

Her eyes wide, she stammered, staring intently at me.

“Have you been well?”

At my single remark, she was startled and stood up.

And the action that followed immediately was natural.

The restraints in Byeol’s hand.

It instantly bound my body, having appeared from who knows where.

As Byeol moved with genuine intent, the doll before me flashed like lightning.

My body was instantly restrained.

“…Oh.”

It was a reaction different from what I expected.