episode_0040

As the wind grew cold, unable to receive sunlight, two breaths were heard among the bushes.

The white moonlight shimmered brightly for tomorrow’s banquet, and the stars, already arrived, seemed to faintly stretch, knowing their turn had finally come. It was the moment night began.

A truly ill-matched pair hid among the countless bushes surrounding a colossal tree, watching the busy elves moving to and fro.

“Wouldn’t it be better to do it tomorrow…?”

Even though it was far enough to be seen with the naked eye, I worried that their huge ears might pick up everything. I whispered to her beside me.

She looked at me with a bewildered expression, as if asking if she truly needed to open her mouth to answer such a question.

“I told you before… if these elves also discovered the creature you call a chimera – though it makes no sense that they wouldn’t have, given their numbers – wouldn’t the World Tree’s defenses become even stronger? Don’t you think?”

I bit my lip, regretting that I had followed her.

No matter what excuse I made, it was something that needed to be treated tomorrow when the Demonic Cult was present, but her attitude, saying it had to be today or not at all, left me with no choice but to stand here.

[Quest has not been properly formed yet!]

This red message kept swirling in my mind as I held onto the thin branch of a bush.

“Ellicia, what happens if we fail this operation and get caught by the elves?”

“Well, first, you’d probably be executed. Though, you’d go through procedural meetings, of course.”

“Will it proceed immediately?”

To ask such an anxious question in this situation,

The elf twitched her eyebrows in surprise and replied,

“No, even dwarves are given about three days to think before they die, aren’t they…?”

At her reply, I quietly stroked Brownie’s fur and smiled faintly.

Yes, this is how one prepares.

Since that red message bothered me and I couldn’t help it, I decided to do my best.

“Hey, what are you doing there? I told you to hurry up…!”

Perhaps it was because I was frantically stroking the tired Brownie, who had received coarse mana from the elf’s hand. Ellicia was already far ahead, beckoning me.

No matter how resolute she was, did she not want to be caught by the elves? Seeing Ellicia being so careful made me feel a little sorry for what I was about to do.

So I carefully stepped on the damp leaves covering the ground and moved forward.

‘I didn’t expect her to give in so quickly… Don’t elves usually think more carefully than this…? I was going to calculate that and propose it myself first… as soon as I treated the chimera…’

Ellicia would probably punch me if she could hear my thoughts.

What was I talking about when I had been so obsessed with treating the World Tree until now?

‘No, it’s actually for the best… If we infiltrate the World Tree’s surroundings in advance, before the front lines are formed more quickly… Hmm… that’s right…’

Didn’t they say, if you can’t avoid it, enjoy it?

Positive thoughts naturally filled my mind.

I quietly whispered something into Brownie’s ear so she couldn’t hear, then released him.

[Two Hours Ago]

Was this feeling anxiety, or sadness, or perhaps anger?

After seeing the chimera, Ellicia remained silent for a long time, only staring at the spirit bouncing around in front of her.

The orange sunset began to cast its last rays upon the earth, as if ready to sleep.

They say the [Garden] is most beautiful just before sunset, but on that day, the [Garden] didn’t look beautiful to Ellicia.

In a place she could neither see nor hear, a creature woven from countless souls was screaming.

That fact alone made her head spin as if struck by something.

“Is this also… my Mother becoming strange and inflicting such punishment on her children…?”

“I don’t know. But one thing is certain. Everything will be resolved if I treat your Mother.”

He twitched his lips as if about to say something more, but in the end, he said nothing.

‘Even now… if this person can treat Mother, wouldn’t it be right to take him there as soon as possible…?’

Swallowing dryly, she finally voiced the thoughts in her mind.

Was it becoming unbearable that this scream was somewhere in the [Garden]?

Or was she tired of her Mother’s oppression of the [Garden] until now?

Ellicia, the elf, for the first time, sincerely asked Rapier, the human.

“I’ll take you to the World Tree today… can you treat it…? There’ll probably be no other time to sneak in and treat it alone besides now… It’s unlikely they haven’t noticed the chimera…”

He flinched at my words and quickly raised his head.

Was it because it was the day before the full moon, or did he suddenly want to admire the moon in the middle of the night?

He stared at the moon for a long time before speaking.

“Alright… let’s go.”

‘Is it not an easy task…? I’ve never seen him hesitate like that before…’

Of course.

How could there be a simple way to treat Mother?

Even if that human was full of composure, wouldn’t he be surprised to suddenly have to exert all his effort for a treatment tonight?

‘Still… he agreed readily… Yes, he’s doing this out of concern for Mother, so I, as her child, shouldn’t be so dispirited…’

She shook her head from side to side, shaking off the scream that still echoed in her ears, and rose from her crouched position.

“Rapier, follow me.”

[Present]

It’s enormous.

So massive it’s breathtaking.

To think there’s a tree that fits the word ‘gigantic’ so perfectly.

In front of the World Tree’s main body, I momentarily lost myself, and Ellicia looked at me with disdain, then turned her head to survey the surroundings.

“Hmm, luckily the security seems to be the same… There’s a gap in the World Tree’s security for about 10 minutes starting now… You can finish it within 10 minutes, right…?”

“Of course. Just a few minutes will be enough. It’s a very simple and primitive method.”

She continued to tilt her head, but as she approached the World Tree, she finally seemed to remember the question in her mind and opened her mouth.

“By the way, what method is it?”

“Pardon?”

“No, what method is it?”

“I cannot tell you. But if anything goes wrong, I will personally offer my life.”

“Don’t worry. If you try any funny business with Mother, I’ll be the first to put an arrow through your head.”

“Wow, aren’t we, as people infiltrating together, being a bit too harsh with each other?”

“I don’t consider you a comrade, so isn’t that natural?”

As Ellicia and I bickered, elves with pointed spears passed by the bushes dozens of times, and each time, we stopped talking and both turned our necks like meerkats.

Once the guard who had stood in front of us for a long time finally left, Ellicia gestured for me to follow.

“A hidden entrance…? Did the World Tree have something like this…?”

“Then you think I’m crazy enough to go through the main gate?”

She had a point.

Completely defeated by her perfect logic, I silently followed her through the small tunnel.

After passing through a pitch-black hole, opposite to the always-shining World Tree, a sight indescribable by words like “spectacle” unfolded before my eyes.

The intricate details and decorations, all made of wood, were unbelievable.

The flow of the World Tree’s mana, humming with the distinctive sound of immense power from all directions.

I wondered when I would next feel the overwhelming presence of that colossal being I saw yesterday, but I never expected to feel it so soon.

“Now, once those guards leave, there’ll be about 10 minutes of free time… Do whatever you want…”

Hiding behind a massive pillar with me, she pointed with her hand at the guards withdrawing from around the throne.

Heavy footsteps in the silence gradually moved further away from us, and then, with a thud, no sound could be heard inside the World Tree.

As soon as Ellicia saw them leave completely, she nodded her head, giving me a signal.

So I walked with heavy footsteps toward that throne.

Although made of wood, its decorations were no less grand than an imperial throne, and I wished to pay my respects, but the human-shaped tree trunks were weak, almost lying on the throne.

As I stepped forward toward the elf-shaped tree trunks, at that moment, I felt a gaze.

“World Tree… I will help you…”

[Invento…]

It was a simple matter: just take out a single item from the inventory, place it on the throne, and inject mana.

It was such a simple task, yet my hand didn’t move.

Only a cold blade, like the dead of night, full of mana, touched my neck, as if it would cut it at any moment.

“Move and I’ll kill you.”

At the grave and solemn words, instead of using [Heart Sword], I raised my hands.