episode_0049

※Warning: Contains graphic scenes.※

Breaking Through the World Tree

“This is food to offer to Mother! Let’s kill them, kids….”

The Alraune, ecstatic at the thought of catching Aria, had its head instantly blown off by Aria’s enraged staff. But the other Alraunes, seeing Aria like that, weren’t intimidated and charged at her. Seeing this, Alten frowned and said,

“Did they lose their fear? To rush at that Saintess even after seeing that…”

“It seems we’re the last nutrients for the World Tree’s revival, Alten? Seeing them say things like that…”

“Zeke, will you be alright? Thanks to that Saintess, we can move forward easily right now… but I’m worried about her stamina.”

“Ah… don’t worry about that. Aria’s stamina is infinite, to an extent that no one can keep up with. So…”

“Kyaaaah! Why won’t that human fall…!”

“How dare you try to tempt Sir Zeke! It’s blasphemous!”

“Aaaargh!!!”

Alten and Veronica were dumbfounded, watching Aria continue to slaughter the Alraunes without showing any signs of fatigue. Indeed… though they had inadvertently said it was fine to kill them… now they almost felt sorry for the Alraunes. Well, since they charged in themselves, it was their own fault, but still…

“But is this the right path, Captain-nim? Aren’t we just following the path the Saintess blindly forged?”

“Huh? Now that I think about it, you’re right? Aria!!! Stop for a second!!”

“Kill…. Yes, Sir Zeke~? What is it?”

Aria, who had been enraged, suddenly smiled brightly when I called her, astonishing the three of us and the Alraunes present. It seemed even the Alraunes found Aria’s quick mood change utterly baffling… Well, that’s that, but…

“You’re not just blindly rushing forward, are you?!”

“No~ I feel something powerful somewhere! I think it might be the Alraunes’ leader, so I was running in that direction!”

“That’s…. What?!”

I, Alten, and Veronica all thought Aria was just blindly rushing forward. But at Aria’s answer that she was heading towards the leader, we were all greatly surprised. The Alraunes, realizing Aria’s objective, also shrieked in terror.

“Uwaaaah! Sisters, what do we do?! Mother seems to be in danger!!”

“That human had such an objective?!… Wait. Didn’t that black-haired human react to what the yellow-haired human said just now?”

“You’re right! In that case, that human’s weakness is…”

The Alraunes suddenly conferred among themselves, then turned their heads towards me. What… what is it? Are they seriously trying to attack me?! But looking at those sinister faces, it seems they might be?!

“Damn it… It seems they realized we are weaker than the Saintess! Veronica! Prepare for the approaching attack!”

“Understood, Captain-nim!”

“Damn it… I’m not used to Trahan yet, but I guess there’s no choice…!”

“Let’s kill that human and the elves first!!”

As the Alraunes began to charge at us instead of Aria, the three of us raised our weapons, ready to counterattack. But at that moment, a translucent yellow barrier suddenly unfurled in front of the charging Alraunes, and they crashed into it. The Alraunes, colliding with the barrier, looked around in confusion, and then realized Aria was staring at them with an expressionless face, her eyes seemingly glowing red.

“How dare you charge at Sir Zeke… No matter how charming Sir Zeke may be, who do you think you’re doing this in front of…?”

“What… what is that human saying…?”

‘….Hey!!!’

The Alraunes were flustered by Aria’s words, and I was embarrassed. What charm do I even have?! As I couldn’t lift my head, Alten sighed, gently placed a hand on my shoulder, and comforted me.

“….I can tell you’re as tired as that Saintess is powerful. Am I right?”

“Uh… but this is the first time Aria has said something like that in front of so many living beings… Damn it… But…”

“Hahahahaha!! She says that human has charm, sisters!!”

“Right… it’s too funny… What charm could such a countrified human possibly have…..!!”

“How dare you say that to Sir Zeke…?!”

When the Alraunes mocked me after hearing her words, Aria became furiously enraged. Then, she swiftly approached the Alraune who had been mocking me, and simply… severed the laughing Alraune’s neck…? That… that staff’s newly attached ornament can even cut things?!

“Kyaaaah! Sister… huh…?”

“If you cherish your sister so much, I’ll let you see her in the afterlife…”

Wow… seeing Aria not even using polite speech, it’s clear she’s truly furious…. If she’s like this, even I’ll have trouble stopping her…. Alten and Veronica, seeing Aria’s enraged state, spoke to me.

“Ze… Zeke…. Are all human women like that, by any chance?”

“No… only Aria is like that, Veronica…”

“Then, are all human Saintesses that strong?”

“No… that’s also only Aria, Alten…”

“Then what exactly is that Saintess’s true identity? Was Esrad, her place of origin, a strong kingdom?”

“Well… I’m curious about that too… I can’t tell you the details. Because I don’t know…”

“Kyaaaah! Help me, sister… ugh…”

“Don’t even think about surviving. I’ll kill you all… How dare you mock and even try to tempt Sir Zeke…?!”

I… I should prepare for if anyone else mocks me…. I never imagined Aria would get so angry, so this is truly baffling… To the point where the Alraunes, who had been completely intent on capturing us, started feeling terror and running away from Aria…

“Run away!! This isn’t going to work!!”

“Don’t go!! Have you forgotten we have strength in numbers?! We…”

“What are you?”

Aria tore through even the fleeing Alraunes as she advanced. While doing so, if any Alraunes suddenly charged at me, she would even unfold a barrier to protect me. She… she’s truly a genius at combat…

“….Even the Alraunes charging at us are turning back. It seems they’ve decided there’s no way out…”

“Still, they’re the ones who have tormented you elves for a long time. They’ll surely think of something strange again, so it’s best to be careful.”

“That’s true, but… as long as that Saintess is here, won’t we be fine…?”

“Run, everyone!!!”

“Uwaaaah! Help me!!”

“I’ll kill them all… all of them!!!”

“Aaaargh!!”

….Indeed, that’s true… Seeing that the Alraunes behind us had also vanished, it seems they all got scared and ran away… Well, I guess we’ll be safe. I chuckled wryly and chased after Aria. But suddenly, Aria stopped and looked up, so the three of us followed her gaze. Then Alten was greatly flustered.

“You… you are?!”

“Captain Alten. It’s surprising to see you alive.”

“Elder Gleah-nim…”

A white-haired elf woman walked out from among the Alraunes and looked down at us from below the railing, speaking. So that’s one of the five Elders, huh? Seeing her perfectly fine among the Alraunes, it’s clear she’s on their side…

“Captain Alten, aren’t they humans? Have you forgotten the teachings of Lady Gaia passed down to us elves?”

“Elder Gleah-nim… Have you truly sided with the Alraunes…!!”

“Sided? Haven’t we already been living with the Alraunes? I came because there were humans who survived the judgment of nutrients inside the World Tree… and you were keeping them alive. Along with that human next to you, whom I’ve never seen before!”

Elder Gleah must be talking about Veronica… She’s speaking from a distance, and since Veronica’s hair color changed, she doesn’t recognize Veronica. At that moment, I noticed Alten’s expression twisting as he continued to listen to Gleah’s words.

“You are not fit to be the Elven Captain, Alten! How dare you defy Gaia’s teachings and save humans… It’s blasphemous….”

“Blasphemous…? You’re the ones who should realize you’re not fit to hold the Elder position!! I heard everything!! That the Alraunes are trying to devour all humans and elves to revive this World Tree, the primordial Alraune!! And that you, the Elders, were participating in this!!”

“How preposterous, Alten. That story must be a lie by the humans… You, who have lived long, know that the Alraunes have never harmed elves for a long time, don’t you? Come back to the elves, free yourself from those human lies! Have you forgotten the elves who will welcome you?”

….Aren’t we the ones who find it preposterous? So… she’s saying we’re the ones who told lies to the kids? What brazenness… They secured their own survival by sacrificing elves, yet they talk like that…. The faces of the three of us began to twist as we listened to Gleah’s words.

“Now… was that… no… did you just call that a statement?! What right do you, who want to live even by sacrificing our own kind, have to say that?!”

“You seem to have been thoroughly brainwashed, Alten. Come to your senses! Hurry and come to your senses and cooperate in capturing that black-haired human! That is Gaia’s….”

The moment Gleah was spouting her sophistry, Aria’s staff suddenly flew through the air and pierced Gleah’s abdomen. Gleah’s hands began to tremble, and she fumbled at her stomach before collapsing on the spot. At the sudden turn of events, I, Alten, Veronica, and even the Alraunes were greatly taken aback.

“….?!”

“H-Heek?!”

“Aria… did you throw that…?”

“Yes.”

Aria turned around, looked at me, and said with a dark smile. I had clearly asked Aria not to kill elves, so I thought Aria wouldn’t kill Gleah… This was so unexpected that I was greatly perplexed.

“You said you wouldn’t kill elves…”

“Hmm… but Sir Zeke seemed very angry, so I just killed her. Even though Sir Zeke told me not to kill elves… I thought it would be fine to kill someone like that!”

“….She says that, Alten… Are you really okay with it?”

“That old hag… let her die!”

….Alten seemed to be pretty angry too… Seeing Veronica exhale with a refreshed smile, she must have been truly furious as well… By the way, to kill an enemy at a distance with one blow… Aria is indeed strong…. Huh?!

“Kyaaaah! Sisters! Look at this! It gave us something good!!”

“Really? Oh my~ this is that human’s staff! Well done, kids!”

“Hehehe… So we can easily eat that human now, right?! Right?!”

Damn it…! The Alraunes were holding Aria’s staff in their hands and rejoicing. Now all we had to do was break through, but damn it, we were stuck! Seeing Aria’s staff snatched by the Alraunes, we each picked up our weapons and prepared to fight… But at that moment.

“….You haven’t been punished yet. Were you happy thinking you escaped punishment?”

“Kyaaaah! The human’s staff! How do I use… huh?”

“Huhuhuh…?”

The Alraunes, who had been excited to get Aria’s staff, were greatly flustered when the staff suddenly vanished from their hands. The staff, gone from the Alraunes’ hands, had somehow returned to Aria’s. Then the Alraunes began to shriek in terror.

“H-Heek?! Th-That’s a summoning ability…!!”

“Uwaaah….”

Summoning ability? Ah… now that I think about it, it was Aria who enhanced the magic stone containing a summoning spell, embedded in the greatsword I used, wasn’t it? When I think about it, this is only natural… Seeing them shriek in terror, it seems they know that summoning abilities are difficult to use and consume a lot of energy.

“Sh-She’s strong…. So, if only that woman were sacrificed, Mother would awaken…?!”

“Ohho…. Alten, Veronica, Aria. It seems their leader is their mother.”

“Ack?! Hey, you idiot!!”

Upon hearing my words, the Alraunes began hitting their sister who had carelessly blurted out that they had a mother. But there was no time for that. Because Aria, intensely angered by the Alraunes who had tempted me, was charging at them again…

“Kyaaaah! She’s coming again!!”

“Uwaaaah!!”

“Where do you think you’re running…!! I’ll kill you all…!!!”

As Aria attacked the Alraunes again in a furious rage, the Alraunes became greatly terrified and started running away once more. Perhaps realizing that snatching weapons was useless now, they didn’t even pull out the vines they had just been swinging. Veronica, witnessing this sight, spoke to me.

“Um… I heard that Saintesses are sacred humans who serve a god, you know?”

“Oh, that’s right…”

“But seeing that Saintess, that perception seems to be disappearing…”

“Actually, me too…”

“Ahem… I agree with… Hmm?”

The moment he was about to say he agreed with that opinion, Alten saw something and began to clench his teeth. Why is he suddenly acting like this?

“They’re all there… The Elders…!!”

“What?”

“They’re mixed in with the Alraunes. It seems the Alraunes realized the Saintess doesn’t attack elves, and they were trying to appease us using the Elders…!!”

“Ugh… they’re doing all sorts of cowardly things…”

“Zeke, if those Elders are left alive, our elves won’t be able to move forward…. If you see the Elders in front of you, you must kill them!”

“But we’re not as strong as Aria, are we? The Elders will also be strong elves.”

“Zeke’s right, Captain-nim… At this rate, we’ll fall behind the Saintess! She’s already so far away!”

Veronica urgently pointed at Aria, and only then did we realize we were quite far from Aria. This won’t do…. As soon as we realized that, we started chasing Aria. Then Veronica asked Alten,

“Captain-nim! Then how about we take care of the Elders?! If we go, we’ll only be a hindrance to the Saintess!”

“It’s frustrating, but you’re right…. Alright! Zeke, you follow that Saintess and eliminate the Alraunes’ mother!”

“Oh, come on…. Why do these elves keep entrusting the world’s dignity to insignificant me!! Alright, alright!!”

I shouted that I understood, feeling annoyed. Honestly, isn’t this too much pressure, damn it?! Then Veronica and Alten smiled faintly and looked forward. Haa… what kind of trial is this for me, who just wanted to enjoy exploring…

“Sigh…. But to enjoy exploring, I have to succeed in this, damn it all!! Aria!! How much further?!”

“Just keep climbing this uphill path, Sir Zeke! Are you perhaps tired? If so, this Aria will… Hehehehe….”

“Seeing you think of doing something with that sinister expression, I’d rather run on my own two feet!!!”

When I angrily refused her offer, seeing the sinister expression Aria made while looking at me, Aria’s expression suddenly turned chilling. Then she turned her head forward, swung her staff, and shouted,

“….Because of you, Sir Zeke refused my offer!!”

“Why is it our fault!!”

‘That’s just her taking out her anger…’

The moment Aria was taking out her anger on the Alraunes for me refusing her offer, Alten turned his head to the side and, seeing something, his expression began to twist. Then he suddenly darted to the side, snatched someone’s neck with his hand, and slammed them into the ground. That’s… an elf, isn’t it? Alten was gripping the neck of a long white-haired elf man with a very angry face.

“Alten! That elf is…”

“It’s been a long time, Elder Rubdon-nim…? How does it feel to try and live by sacrificing us…!!!”

“Ugh… Captain Alten… How dare you be so rude…!!”

“What?! An Elder?! Hey, Veronica…?”

I was greatly shocked that the elf Alten caught was an Elder, and I turned around, calling Veronica. But I saw that Veronica was also threatening an elf with her spear. Is that long white-haired female elf also an Elder…?

“Veronica…? You were human…!! How dare you deceive us…”

“Who’s deceiving whom? Especially a rotten Elder who tried to stand by and watch us die from afar…. Elder Iras…!!”

When did they snatch those fleeing Elders?! As I was flustered by the sudden situation, Alten, who was holding Elder Rubdon, shouted at me,

“Go!! Zeke!!! Leave these Elders to us, and hurry up and go!!!”

“But the Alraunes…”

“It seems those fleeing Alraunes are all there are! If we keep pushing them to one side, they won’t interfere with us…”

“Let go of me, Alten!!”

“Urgh..!!”

Rubdon suddenly used one hand to push away Alten’s arm that was gripping his neck, then grabbed Alten’s clothes. He then threw Alten and drew the sword from his waist. Alten got up, pulled out the two-handed sword strapped to his back, and shouted at me,

“Hurry and go, Zeke!! You, the honorary elf chosen by Trahan…!!”

“Calling a human an elf!! Are you in your right mind….”

“At least Zeke will be nobler than you!! Hurry and go, Zeke!!!”

Damn it… since they’re saying it like that, I guess I have to trust them?…. I left the two Elders to Alten and Veronica and chased after Aria again. Then a massive room appeared, and I saw many Alraune corpses sprawled on the floor. The room was filled with Alraune guts and blood, and in the center stood Aria. Uh… this feels similar to the Cecilia incident… The moment I hesitated, Aria saw me, smiled brightly, and ran towards me.

“Kyaaaah~ Sir Zeke! I’m so glad you’re safe! I got so angry that I forgot to worry about Sir Zeke…. Punish me…”

“Punish you for what…. You did great, Aria.”

I stroked Aria’s head for her hard work. Aria then grinned happily as if she was in a great mood, and suddenly hugged me tightly with both arms….. Ugh, I can’t breathe…!!

“Ar… Aria..! F-First, let go of me… and let’s go inside there…”

“Ah… Yes… How dare they order the Alraunes to try and tempt Sir Zeke…?!”

….I think the Alraunes did that voluntarily, though…? I took Aria’s enraged hand and entered the room from which blue light was emanating. Then, an Alraune with purple hair and a blue-glowing seed came into my sight. Alraunes usually had green hair, but only this one’s hair color was different? Then perhaps…

“Are you the Alraunes’ leader?”

“….Remarkable, human. To come all the way here. Yes. I am Flora, the Alraunes’ Mother.”

“Is that so…? I’ll get straight to the point. Stop the revival of the World Tree, which seeks to devour the world I wish to explore, right now!!”

“Absolutely not.”