episode_0041

[3 hours ago]

The place where the ruthless swords had passed was so gruesome it was hard to believe there had been a creature reigning over a section of the [Garden].

A liquid too thick to be called blood slowly dripped, drip-drip, from the leaves, and small puddles of blood sat on the blood-soaked ground between the trees, as if flesh had been cut there for too long.

Nevertheless, the remaining face of the chimera seemed to be subtly smiling, as if expressing gratitude to the one who had saved it in its final moments.

However, Faust, who was present at this spot, was slowly and meticulously combing the mane of the animal that formed the face, unable to grasp the true meaning of that smile.

Was it due to her natural, downward strokes?

Or had its last bit of strength simply vanished?

As soon as Faust’s hand touched it, the smile on the animal’s mouth gradually faded.

She was picking up every single piece of flesh, torn beyond recognition, from every corner.

For that moment, was she hoping these pieces of flesh would reattach and once again emit their beautiful monstrous cry, as they once did?

She clumsily tried to reattach the shredded pieces of flesh.

These weren’t just wounds from a common sword.

Even if a common sword, imbued with mana, unleashed sword energy, it would surely be stopped by these tough, persistent marks at some point.

But all these cuts were incredibly clean.

“My children… my children… my children who have now seen the world…”

Did even the black-robed figures holding their breath behind her know?

That they absolutely should not report or propose anything to her now.

Otherwise, how could a human stand there like a statue?

“….Was it the elves’ doing?”

It was she who first broke the silence of the space, where only the soft tapping sounds of her touching the flesh echoed.

Where was yesterday’s voice full of elation? She asked the robed figure beside her in a voice filled with anger, no, closer to sorrow.

“No… Arrows that seemed to be shot by elves were found nearby… but it feels more like… something was missed rather than shot.”

Only then could she be certain.

Since his arrival, there had been far too many variables in the [Garden].

She hadn’t cared about the first chimera because it was a discarded child, but these were her children, painstakingly created to stimulate the [Garden], so her mind was filled with thoughts of the blind man who had caused this incident.

A test subject must fulfill its duty as a test subject.

If it harms other test subjects, it is no longer a test subject but something to be autopsied.

To be cut up piece by piece, like these flesh fragments, to determine what mana it possessed, what flow it had, what skills it used, why it became blind, and how…..

Faust, filled with captivating imaginations, took a deep breath and spoke to the robed figures around her.

“Today, we execute today. If we delay any longer, our plan might be seen through by whoever is plotting this…”

The unfolding of a space unknown even to the Demonic Cult’s archives.

And the death of the chimeras made her think that the blind man could only have come to stop the Demonic Cult.

Placing the blind man, who used strange skills, in the middle of the scattered puzzle pieces made everything make sense.

What if he even found out about the Demonic Cult’s tampering with the World Tree?

She stared for a long time at the orange sunset floating in the sky.

No, more precisely, she saw the moon faintly shimmering behind it, still obscured by the sunlight.

At that flickering light, like a candle about to go out at any moment, she asked.

“When is the full moon?”

Then, the black-robed figure standing silently beside her hesitated for a moment before opening his mouth.

“Today… it is. But even if it’s completed, some testing is still needed… there are points to be supplemented…”

“Shut up and prepare it immediately tonight.”

She pointed to the World Tree towering in the distance and said.

“Theoretically, that World Tree inside is already dead anyway. Prepare to execute it immediately tonight. Take out all the chimeras from my lab too.”

“But… Faust-nim, then a situation where we clash with the elves in full force…”

Perhaps displeased with his hesitant reply, she grabbed the robed figure by the collar and spoke softly, yet resolutely.

“So, didn’t I tell you to bring the chimeras? The test subject who did this must be around here, so if we take the World Tree today, they’ll have no choice. Tonight, the area in front of the World Tree is the front line.”

Faust showed her red eyes, sparkling in the sunset glow, to the moon that would become full, and smiled broadly.

Was she overjoyed at the thought of researching the elves and the World Tree, or was she happy that she could finally see the blind man again?

“Initiate [Garden Erosion].”

She spoke softly, but all the black-robed figures there heard her words clearly.

The words of their leader, telling them to activate the final key to destroy the [Garden].

***

[Present]

Were elves such rough beings?

To be treated so harshly just for intruding upon the World Tree.

If I had known this, I would have just proceeded.

“Haha, couldn’t you treat me a little more gently…? I am a living being, after all…?”

I was being dragged by a muscular elf to a prison.

If you’re wondering how I was being dragged, I was being treated like luggage.

No, if I were even slightly valuable luggage, I wouldn’t be dragged like this.

Because of the way he was dragging me, with only my feet thrown over his shoulder, I had to concentrate as much as possible to separate my respiratory system from the incessant dust and dirt.

My entire body was covered in branches and dirt, making me look truly like a piece of baggage from the outside.

“It’s a full moon today, don’t the elves do anything to celebrate it…? Haha…”

Oh, he must be a rather serious type of elf.

Even trying to tell a joke didn’t work.

“Even so, I’m a person, so couldn’t you put me on a cart…? If there were wheels, it would be more comfortable for you too…”

“…..”

“Oh, speaking of wheels, do you know about that? No, do elves believe in myths?”

“…..”

“Nezha, the Crown Prince, with fire wheels on his feet…”

“As long as you’re shackled, your mana will be restricted, and you won’t be able to use skills, so don’t try any tricks.”

Before I could even finish my sentence,

“Ugh!”

He threw me into one of the many wooden prisons.

The ropes that had bound my entire body finally transformed into shackles only around my hands and feet.

“No… I was just wondering if you’d be curious, and isn’t it fun to know things like this during a break?”

I had tried to be friendly, but the elf didn’t seem amused.

He retreated without a single change in expression.

“Hmm….”

As his footsteps, stomp-stomp, grew more distant, I scattered a thin layer of mana on the ground.

Enough to reach the World Tree.

Would anyone notice this mana? Only beings sensitive to mana like Ellicia would probably notice that some mana had passed by.

But I hadn’t sent this mana to Ellicia.

“Hmm, I sent it, so he’ll come on his own. It’s almost time for things to happen, so Ellicia will probably escape and come too….”

As my words trailed off, only then did I realize that my own body was tired.

Was it greedy to hope not to be tired after spending the entire day running around, killing chimeras, and infiltrating the World Tree?

I leaned against the bars, using them as a wall, for a moment.

“Hmm….. just a little more…”

Until something tapped, tap-tap, on the bars.

However, it wasn’t just the tap-tap sound that bothered my ears.

The mana I unconsciously emitted was conveying all sorts of pandemonium to me.

The chimeras occupying the front of the World Tree, and even the World Tree’s mana, which had turned into chaos itself, like reeds swaying in the wind.

[Hey, Master, were you waiting for something like that?]

At the familiar and friendly words, I rubbed my eyes and, still half-asleep, replied to his words.

“Of course, obviously…”

[Ha…. So what are you going to do now? Surely you’re not thinking of going back into the World Tree to heal yourself in this chaos, are you? I still don’t understand. Why did you deliberately lead other elves into the World Tree earlier and let yourself be discovered?]

“Don’t… don’t worry, I have a plan…”

Brownie kept tilting his head, as if finding my answer completely untrustworthy.

But perhaps he thought, “How can I understand this master in front of me?”

[Hey, Master, you can’t use skills inside, right?]

“Of course…”

[Wait, it’s a full moon today, so with my power…]

Brownie’s mana began to surge.

Enough to be noticed even without sending mana.

But perhaps it wasn’t destined to be at this moment, as someone could be heard running nearby.

“Rapier, are you safe?”

“Earlier you told me to shut up, but now you’re treating me so warmly, I’m touched.”

Was it due to the chaos of mana felt from afar?

Or was it simply due to Ellicia’s emotional change?

For a moment, I saw her cheeks redden.

However, after she casually ignored my words, only removed the shackles from my arms and legs, and then threw me to the ground, my touched feeling instantly vanished.

“Because I was discovered due to my mistake earlier….”

At her mumbled words, I dusted off the dirt from my clothes, tap-tap, and tried to walk towards the World Tree.

Then, Ellicia’s white hand grabbed my arm.

“Are you crazy…? You’re going back to that hell…?”

“Hell? Isn’t that too harsh a word for Mother?”

“Even so…”

“Well, you don’t seem angry, do you? At other factions ravaging this [Garden] like that.”

“So, you’re saying you’re going in there alone?”

Was it guilt for having me imprisoned for a few hours?

Or was it just the affection that had developed over a few days?

Ellicia’s voice was slightly uplifted.

“I’m not alone.”

The waves gradually formed streams.

The shadow deep in the abyss slowly began to move, preparing to ascend to the surface.

Brownie stood gallantly beside me, illuminated by the full moon.

I looked at them, then at Ellicia.

“Besides, you’re here too, aren’t you? Let’s go.”

And so, I walked with them towards the World Tree.

At that moment, I couldn’t see behind me.

I had no way of knowing what expression Ellicia made, or what emotions she felt at my words.

But the hand firmly grasping her bow, and the footsteps following me, made me feel her resolve.

“Let’s show them that the [Garden] will never be [Eroded].”