episode_0051

The primordial land was utterly barren. Even plants struggled to grow in a land devoid of life. Then, our Mother World Tree finally rooted herself in that land. Life began to sprout from the ground, and plants started to grow around our great Mother. The plants spread throughout the world, bringing forth life. As a result, forests were created. Life began to be born. All of this was accomplished by our Mother World Tree. Ah… our Mother…

” “Hey! Shouldn’t we get out too!” “Let’s! The Alraunes must have made an escape route for us…” ”

Devour everything… Let all that you love be embraced within you. For everyone in the world loves you, who brought forth life in a moment of crisis…

” “Wh… what is this?! My… my legs are sinking!!” “Da… damned Alraunes!! You said you’d save us!! No!!! I don’t want to die like this!!” “Ughhh!! I’m being sucked into the tree!!!” “Save me!! Please!! Save meee…” ”

Even we, who were created to resurrect you, wish to be embraced within you with a sense of mission and pride… Absorb all the life that Mother created, and fulfill your grand plan… I, Flora, your first daughter, pray to you… Please safely transfer the world into your embrace and protect it from all calamities… For that, my daughters and I have fulfilled our mission… My Mother. Root yourself in the world once more… and live long and prosper…

” “Hehehe… Ahahahahaha!!! How long has it been since I last felt the world…!! Well done, Flora… Now rest comfortably in my embrace…” ”

” “Th… this damn thing…” ”

The Primordial Alraune World Tree

” “Damn it… They sacrificed their lives to resurrect their mother…” ”

” “By the way, it’s strange, Zeke. The World Tree’s upper body isn’t in an adult form. It has the appearance of a teenager.” ”

As Alten said, the resurrected World Tree did not have the appearance of a mature woman, but that of an immature girl. Was something wrong with the resurrection… or was that its original form…?

” “Captain-nim! Just before we escaped the World Tree’s body, I saw it absorbing the dying Alraune mothers. It seems to have absorbed everything inside.” ”

” “Are you sure?” ”

” “Yes, Captain-nim. It seems all the remaining Elf elders have been absorbed by the World Tree inside. There are no surviving elders now.” ”

” “I see… The Grand Elder-nim might have been alive in there too… But if what you say is true… they must have fallen. But that’s not the problem now… We tried so hard to prevent the World Tree’s resurrection… Was it all in vain…!!” ”

” “…. Aria.” ”

” “Yes?” ”

” “It’s just a hunch, but… the World Tree… doesn’t seem to have fully resurrected… Am I right?” ”

” “Hmm… That might be true. If it were the real World Tree, its aura wouldn’t be this weak.” ”

At Aria’s words, Alten and Veronica were greatly flustered. My hunch was right after all… If the World Tree could be resurrected like this, why didn’t the Alraunes sacrifice themselves sooner? I thought it was one of two reasons. The first was that they intended to sacrifice their lives as a last resort. The second was that they didn’t, because even if they sacrificed their lives, it wouldn’t be enough energy for the World Tree’s resurrection. But seeing Aria sense the World Tree’s weak aura, it seems the latter is true…

” “Alten, Veronica. It seems the Alraunes’ energy was far from enough. That’s why it’s in the form of an immature girl, not an adult.” ”

” “Indeed… That makes sense. But… even knowing that, it’s so massive that I don’t know how we’re supposed to fight it…” ”

True… It’s certainly huge. About 50 people tall, I’d say… The World Tree, indeed… Its size truly matches its name… It’s even larger than when it was a tree, honestly, it’s astonishing…

” “The Grand Elder-nim said that the World Tree was driven to near-death by a certain red-haired human. And to recover its energy, the World Tree transformed into a tree and created Alraunes to absorb humans.” ”

” “A… human?! But Captain-nim… if it was truly a human who defeated the World Tree, then in our era, that human would be…” ”

” “Uh… they’d already be dead. Human lifespans are shorter than elves’.” ”

Hmm… That means… we’re the only ones who can take on the World Tree, whose power hasn’t fully returned… Now that the World Tree is weakened, we must make sure it can’t absorb anything else… Hmm…

” “Aria. Do you perhaps have a way? It seems this newly acquired energy won’t even be enough to damage that thing. I guess I’ll have to rely on you.” ”

” “Zeke-nim…!! You trust me…!? Only me!?” ”

” “Uh… uh…” ”

” “Ughhh…!! I’m so happy…!!” ”

How can she say something like that in this situation…? It seemed Aria didn’t find the World Tree scary at all. As if having only me in her heart made her lose even her fear… No, wait. Am I crazy for thinking about worrying about Aria first in this situation?

” “Uh… anyway… do you think you can defeat that World Tree?” ”

” “What?! Zeke, isn’t that impossible? No matter how weakened it is, the World Tree is still the World Tree! It’s an ancient being! It’s surely stronger than us… Of course, even if the Saintess has enough power to wipe out all the Alraunes…” ”

” “Who are you to judge my power? The only one who can judge my power is Zeke-nim. Stay silent.” ”

” “Gasp…!!” ”

As Aria glared at her with fierce eyes, Veronica clamped her mouth shut and hid behind Alten. She looked like she was about to tear up just now… Aria really is… scary, isn’t she? Still, she was only saying it because she was worried about you, couldn’t you cut her some slack…?

” “Hmph… Besides, we haven’t even tried to figure out the Alraunes’ weaknesses, so I have no idea how to deal with that thing. That’s why I’ll have to leave it to Aria.” ”

” “Hehehe… You see? I don’t need your help… For Zeke-nim, there will only be… this Aria…!!” ”

” “…. Damn it. There’s nothing we can do… Is that it?” ”

” “It’s not time to lose heart yet, Captain. For now, how about we evacuate the elves in case of the unforeseen?” ”

” “Evacuate? This is the center of Proserpina. We’re standing on one of the giant trees in Proserpina. Can’t you hear that sound, Veronica?” ”

” “Sound…? ….!!!” ”

Hearing Alten’s words, Veronica leaned in, and as she listened, she began to hear sounds she hadn’t noticed before. All the elves in Proserpina were greatly startled upon seeing the World Tree’s upper body suddenly appear. Right… I hear it too.

” “Th-the World Tree’s true form was a giant Alraune?!” “Le… let’s run!! Quickly!!” “Don’t worry. Alraunes are weaker than us. No matter how big, they can never defeat elf soldiers!” “Are you crazy?! How can we beat something that size!!” “This is sacred land!! How dare they secretly place such a creature in this holy place…! I’ll never forgive them, Alraunes!!” “This is the land where we were born and raised! Let’s defeat that monster!!” “Ohh… Is that perhaps the Goddess of Earth, Gaia…!!” ”

It was chaos. Residents who considered the World Tree a god, residents fleeing from the World Tree, residents who still underestimated the Alraune World Tree without understanding the situation, and even residents bravely trying to fight the World Tree… I thought elves were a race that lived together with a single mind… But seeing this, they’re no different from humans. Was it just that their hair color was the same?

” “Looking at it this way, they’re no different from humans… To think that the elf race I belong to would be like this… It seems they’ve all started to splinter because they haven’t experienced a sense of crisis until now. I’m ashamed, Zeke.” ”

” “You already knew that, though… Seeing that, it’s quite a spectacle. Still, should I be glad there are elves willing to fight the World Tree?” ”

” “Those people are probably retired soldiers or still active ones. They’ll take care of the residents’ evacuation and management.” ”

” “Phew… So now we only have to worry about ourselves?” ”

” “Oh my? To think the world would change so much… Looking at the children’s memories, it seems more than a thousand years have passed… Are all the lives I nurtured still here?” ”

Damn it, it seems there’s no time to worry… The World Tree, looking around, nodded and began muttering to itself about the world. Let’s not let our guard down. Our opponent isn’t just Artyun, who was merely a slightly strong old man, nor is it Cecilia, who had a small gentle side. It’s an ancient, powerful being with strange thoughts, the Primordial Alraune World Tree…

” “Oh my? I don’t sense a forest at that end? It seems the angels really succeeded in subjugating the demons… Ah… Was it already like that before I returned to being a tree? I did hear a story about angels attacking demons 500 years ago… Hmm… That place is indeed Ogposlia…” ”

What does that mean?… I see! Ogposlia is now a wasteland with hardly any plants, but it used to be a place with dense trees… I should record this… No. This isn’t the time to think about such things…?

” “Huh?” ”

The moment I shook my head, trying to clear thoughts of records, I felt a gaze and looked up. The World Tree had lowered its head and was staring at us, and our eyes met, freezing us in place.

” “Damn it… I thought we wouldn’t be noticed hidden among the trees…” ”

” “Uh… what should we do, Captain-nim…?” ”

” “Calm down, Veronica… For now, it’s just watching us, isn’t it…” ”

” “I heard some incessant chattering from a while ago, so I looked… You are the barbaric ones I saw in my daughters’ memories, who attacked my daughters.” ”

Damn it… Did it read the memories of the absorbed Alraunes…? This is bad… Aria’s fear is clearly imprinted in the Alraunes’ memories… Did that thing absorb all of it…?

” “It seems you children are not worthy of being embraced within me. I apologize. But forgive me. All of this is because of what you chose. Meaning, you also bear responsibility. Therefore, this mother has no choice but to give you a loving punishment.” ”

The World Tree suddenly shed tears, and then the tree we were on began to shake. What is this…? Is the ground shaking because the World Tree is trying to do something? After standing precariously on the shaking tree, the vibrations stopped, and only then did I breathe a sigh of relief.

” “Phew… That was close… Almo—…” ”

Before I could feel relieved, I looked up and my words caught in my throat. It was the same for Veronica and Alten beside me.

” “…Huh… That’s…” ”

” “No way… Right…? It can’t be, can it?” ”

What we saw was the World Tree raising its arm high. That pose… and hand shape… No way… Is it trying to punch us down with that fist…? And the moment I thought that, the World Tree’s arm… began to descend…!!!

” “Oh, damn it!!! That thing is really trying to punch us down!!!” ”

” “Th-this is bad!! We have to stop it! If that fist lands on the ground… something terrible will happen..!” ”

” “W-what will happen, Captain?!” ”

” “Not only Proserpina, but the entire Criton region will collapse!! From the earthquake caused by it punching the ground!!” ”

Arghhh! Come to think of it, you’re right!! The moment that fist hits the ground, not only will we die, but the residents of Arjel village in the Criton region, and the fairies, will all go to the afterlife together!! As I watched, horrified, realizing something terrible was about to happen, Aria suddenly leaped high from the tree and moved to meet the incoming fist… Gasp…

” “…!!” ”

” “Th-that Saintess, what is she…!! Is she stopping that giant fist with her staff?!” ”

” “How dare you… make Zeke-nim uneasy… You… are truly unpleasant beyond measure!! You giant plant!!!” ”

” “Huh? Why isn’t it going down…? Wh… what?!” ”

” “She can’t stay suspended in the air like that forever!! Alten! Veronica! Protect me for a bit!!” ”

Knowing Aria couldn’t stay suspended in the air indefinitely, I urgently raised Trahan high. Seeing me suddenly try to do something, Veronica cried out, flustered.

” “What?! What are you doing?!” ”

” “I can’t just leave everything to Aria like this! I also wanted to do something, which is why I learned how to handle this energy through Cecilia’s memories… So I definitely need to help, right!!” ”

” “What are you talking about, Zeke…?!” ”

Alten turned his head to me and was greatly surprised by what he saw. Seeing me concentrate purple energy into Trahan, transform it into lightning, and discharge it towards Aria, Alten urgently shouted at me.

” “What in the world is that energy?!” ”

” “Demon energy! It can make something explode or grab something!” ”

” “What?! Then the story about demons you saw in your records really… ” ”

” “Oh, seriously!! You still didn’t believe it!!! Demons really exist, so stop it already!!” ”

Previously, Alten hadn’t believed the stories about demons when he read my records. But seeing me use demon energy right before his eyes like this, Alten finally… now he believes the stories about demons!!!

” “But how are you using that?!” ”

” “It’s a long story to explain!! First, let’s stop the World Tree!!” ”

I continued to discharge my energy towards Aria. Meanwhile, Aria, expecting to fall soon, lowered her head. But at that moment, my energy began to flow into Aria, and Aria turned her head to me and… her face turned red…?

” “Z-Zeke-nim’s energy… flowing into every nook… every corner of my body… Heh… hehehehe…. Ah… Aria is so happy… so happy, Zeke-nim!!!! ” ”

…. How can she say something like that even in this situation? Her expression shows no tension or sense of crisis whatsoever… Far from focusing on the World Tree, Aria started swaying her hips, seemingly from pure joy. And seeing that, Veronica asked me.

” “…. Is that Saintess… always like that…?” ”

” “Uh….” ”

” “… You must be really tired…” ”

” “Tha—…” ”

” “You there… How dare you try to get close to Zeke-nim, taking advantage of the moment I’m about to leave his side…!!!” ”

” “H-e-eek!!” ”

Instead of the World Tree’s fist, Aria’s eyes seemed to emit light as she glared at Veronica, who was speaking to me beside me. Seeing that, Veronica was greatly startled, and Alten’s face became serious.

” “What a truly terrifying woman. To have such composure while withstanding that fist…” ”

” “I know… I didn’t know she was that strong.” ”

” “What…? Why isn’t it moving? That’s strange… There’s no way that red-haired human could be in this world right now… Huh?” ”

” “I need to take care of you quickly first, so I can stop Veronica from getting close to Zeke-nim…!!!” ”

” “Ughhh!! Why is my name being mentioned!!!” ”

… Aria… You’re not actually going to kill Veronica, are you…? Still, I felt some relief that Aria could block the World Tree’s attack, perhaps because the World Tree was weakened… Uh, wait.

” “I was going to avenge my daughters first… But perhaps I’m still lacking power? It can’t be helped. I heard a long time ago that humans save the most delicious things for last… So, for now, I should bring the surrounding children into my embrace!!” ”

” “….. Huh? I didn’t expect that…” ”

” “Damn it…” ”

Come to think of it, the World Tree is an Alraune, too, isn’t it? Why didn’t I think of that? Alraunes don’t just have hands… I, Alten, Veronica, and Aria were all greatly shocked to see vines begin to emerge from the World Tree’s back. Vines, of all things… And those vines…

” “Hey… Alten… Isn’t that… a mouth…?” ”

” “…. Our work just increased…” ”

The ends of the vines were moving like mouths. Moreover, they were shaped like mouths with sparsely-spaced, pointed teeth, much like a dragon’s maw. And combined with the World Tree’s size, they were almost the size of an advanced… no, close to a dragon’s size. Shocked by the sight, I barely managed to collect myself and shouted.

” “St-stop that… stop it!!!” ”