episode_0053

“Whew… L-Leader-nim! I’ve confirmed that all the World Tree’s vines have been removed! This side is our victory…?”

Veronica, who had been flung from the World Tree’s body, shouted to Alten after confirming that the roots of the World Tree’s vines had been severed and fallen away. However, Veronica noticed that Alten’s expression was unusual.

“Leader-nim? Is something bothering you?”

“Yes. Something is strange. I felt it when I was cutting the World Tree’s trunk earlier… It felt as if we had finished cutting something that was already slightly cut. The World Tree’s roots shouldn’t be that weak…”

“Perhaps it’s just because the World Tree’s power hasn’t fully returned, Leader-nim.”

“If that’s the case, then that’s a relief…”

“A-Aria!!!”

“Hmm?!”

Alten and Veronica, who had been discussing the World Tree’s roots, quickly turned their heads towards Aria when I urgently called out her name, as she had been hit by the World Tree’s fist. Then, seeing Aria being hit by the World Tree’s fist and sent flying, both were astonished.

The Heart’s Depth

I am the World Tree, born in the primordial land. Pitying this barren land where only dust rose, I spread my seeds across the world. As a result, forests began to grow in the world. And various life forms began to be born in those forests. Seeing that, I was very happy. And all the life forms born in the forests, and those born from the land, said they loved me. I happily watched over them, enveloped in love. But…

“No… No… No!!!”

Many disasters, which even I could not resolve, befell them. All the life forms I loved met a gruesome death in those disasters, and although I protected them with my entire body, it was not enough for me, who was merely a fragment of the world. I continued to watch my loved ones die. I couldn’t save them all.

“No… They are my children… Stop it… Stop it!!!”

As I continued to watch my children die, I relentlessly sought a way for my children to survive in this cruel world. Then I realized that if they were held in my embrace, I could protect my children. A way for them to survive safely from any disaster within me… It has to be… It has to be…

“Well, this is quite the troublesome one.”

It had to be that way. But then, a red-haired human easily subdued me. What? Why are they preventing me from holding my children in my embrace? At that moment, filled with such questions, I was hit by his attack and fell into a coma. But… I couldn’t give up. After returning to a tree, I sprouted the buds of my daughters, the Alraune. And realizing that the human who had almost killed me possessed a strong soul, I commanded them to absorb their power. Humans had interfered with me in the first place… From that incident, I realized that humans did not love me. And now…

“Aaaaargh… I-It hurts… As expected, humans don’t love me… My children, whom I gave life to and raised… They don’t love me…!! I won’t forgive them!!”

At the moment the World Tree was greatly enraged, I saw Aria get hit by the World Tree’s fist and sent flying, and I shouted in great astonishment. Damn it… It hit her squarely…! I need to get to Aria quickly…!!

“Hey, Zeke! Just now, the Saintess…”

“Alten!! Veronica!! Can you help me get to where Aria fell?!”

“What?! What are you going to do by going there?! Do you want to die by the enraged World Tree?!”

“Enough!! So, is there a way or not!?”

“…Veronica!! Infuse the Wind Spirit into our weapons!! It’s time to repay Zeke, who helped us!!!”

“L-Leader-nim!?”

As Alten raised his greatsword again and began to chant a prayer to summon spirits, Veronica also hastily picked up her spear and began to pray. Then, wind began to swirl around their two weapons as if a storm was raging.

“Zeke!! Can you do it!!”

“Of course!! Trust me, Alten! Veronica!!”

“We’ll launch you, so go on your own! Leader-nim!!”

“Alright!! Oh, Wind Spirit!! Guide the lost one to their destination!!! Go, Zeke!!!”

“Hup!”

As Alten and Veronica swung their weapons towards me, I flew at high speed towards Aria, empowered by the Wind Spirit. Alten and Veronica, having confirmed I was launched, at the moment they fell, barely avoided crashing by embedding their weapons into a tree. And I…

“Whoaaaaa!! This is too fast!!”

It was difficult to maintain my composure at a speed different from what I expected. But knowing I was almost at the spot where Aria fell, I raised Trahan. Then, I unleashed demonic energy from Trahan all the way to a tree on the ground, binding Trahan and the tree as if with a rope. And I pulled Trahan, flying towards that tree again.

“Just a little longer, Ariaaaa!!”

I continued to fly towards the tree bound by my demonic energy, then halfway, I extinguished that energy, and unleashed demonic energy towards another tree, using the recoil to fly towards that tree again. However, the speed had definitely decreased. Good… With this…!! I kept repeating the same action, and when my flying speed had somewhat decreased, I bound my demonic energy to a tree near where Aria had fallen.

“Alright… I’m almost there…!!!”

I extinguished the energy bound to the last tree, and embedded Trahan into the tree to slow my descent as much as possible. Thus, I safely landed back on the ground, and before my eyes… huh…?

“Aria…?”

As an unbelievable situation unfolded before my eyes, I froze on the spot. Aria’s appearance, which I had thought would be somewhat fine, was utterly gruesome. Blood stained the ground, and Aria’s eyes were closed.

“A-Aria!!! Aria!!!”

I urgently rushed to Aria, who was in a gruesome state. As I got closer to Aria, her severe injuries became even clearer to my eyes. I hastily lifted Aria slightly with both arms and called her name.

“Aria…!! Aria!! Wake up!! You can’t die!!”

“Uhm… Huh…? Ehehe… It’s Zeke-nim…”

…! What a relief. Aria opened her eyes even just a little and began to smile faintly as soon as she saw me. Thank goodness… She’s still alive… But Aria’s body… her arm was twisted, and blood was flowing from her black clothes… Damn it…

“You… your body…”

“Hehe… Zeke-nim… From my back… pant… pant… You’re alright, right…?”

“Uh… because you kept provoking the World Tree to the point of getting such bruises, I was able to do what needed to be done safely…”

I turned my head and looked at the World Tree’s abdomen. I saw it while flying earlier… I could tell why the World Tree was in so much pain. A blue bruise had begun to form on the World Tree’s abdomen. Aria’s attack must have been that strong… But now, Aria is like this… her entire body covered in bruises…

“You’re… pant… pant… worried about me… whew… aren’t you…?”

“Hey… Of course I’m worried when you’re this tattered… I’m sorry… I shouldn’t have given you such a role…”

“Hehe… No, I’m the one who’s sorry… Pant… pant… Zeke-nim… The World Tree subjugation that Zeke-nim asked for… Ugh… I don’t think I can do it… I’m really a burden, aren’t I…?”

“Don’t say such strange things… You did great… Thanks to you, we were able to remove the World Tree’s roots… Thank you, Aria…”

“Hehehe… I got praised by Zeke-nim again… Pant… More importantly… Escape from here…”

“What?”

“You… human!!!”

“Ugh!!”

The World Tree’s sudden roar felt like it would burst my eardrums. As the roar subsided, I turned my head to look at the World Tree, and seeing the World Tree glare at me and Aria, I gritted my teeth. Damn it… Now that Aria is like this… What should I do…?

“Leave me… and escape…”

“What?!”

“Right now… pant… pant… my bones… are broken… My whole body… I… can’t walk… and will only be a burden… so please get out of here…”

“Your kind… I will never forgive you!! Aaaaargh!!”

“The World Tree will attack… Zeke-nim, you must at least survive… Happily… And when you leave this world… Zeke-nim’s stories… your adventure stories… I want to hear…?”

I quietly lowered Aria to the ground and turned my head towards the World Tree. Then, the World Tree raising its arm high again came into my sight, and I took a deep breath before raising Trahan towards the World Tree. Then Aria, greatly startled, shouted at me.

“Z-Zeke-nim!! Run…!! If you get hit by that fist, Zeke-nim will…”

“I’ll die, yes.”

“It’ll be a d-dog’s death, pant…!! You’ll die a meaningless death…!!!”

“Aria. You said you wanted to spend more enjoyable time with me, didn’t you?”

“Huh…?”

“If I run away and survive, you’ll have to wait for me for a long time in the afterlife. You don’t want that, do you? Besides, we’ve bought a lot of time now, so others have probably realized the World Tree’s emergence elsewhere. So, even if we die now, all the life forms in the world will be able to subjugate the World Tree.”

“Zeke-nim…”

“This isn’t just a dog’s death. It’s a dog’s death I chose. So, Aria. I won’t let you be alone. Even if we meet in the afterlife. You are my precious companion… and I am your precious companion.”

“…!!”

“Vanish from this world… You detestable humans!!!”

“Ha! Are you saying a ‘Great Mother’ can’t even accept these problem children?! Then I’ll be your opponent!!”

“Don’t be insolent!!”

As the World Tree’s fist moved towards me, I infused demonic energy into Trahan, and ran towards the World Tree’s fist. At the moment the World Tree’s fist got close to me, a tremendous light suddenly burst forth from behind me. Blinded by the light, the World Tree stopped its hand and closed its eyes, and I slowly turned around. No way, this light…

“Aaaaargh! What kind of light is this!!”

“…Aria?”

As I slowly turned around, Aria standing in a perfectly fine condition came into my sight. But something was strange. Yellow streaks of light were moving around Aria’s body, and a part of Aria’s hair had turned yellow. Furthermore, yellow patterns were etched onto Aria’s clothes… I’ve seen that somewhere before… Ah…!

“The legend of Esrath… It is said that among the Saintesses of Esrath who served Goddess Camilla, a being born with tremendous power occasionally appears… The moment she realizes true light, a holy halo will circle the Saintess’s body. And enormous divine power will emanate from the Saintess’s body, which is said to resemble a radiant glow… If one sees such a Saintess, they should worship her with sincerity. And that Saintess will be called by this name… The Radiance of the Holy Ring.”

I remembered the legend of the Kingdom of Esrath, and realizing that Aria’s current appearance was very similar to the Radiance of the Holy Ring, I was greatly flustered. Right… Those streaks of light… Those streaks of light are circling Aria like a ring… No way, seriously…? Huh?

“Huh…? Whoaaaa?!”

“L-Leader-nim!! I-In that yellow light…!!”

“…My goodness… Was that Saintess… a messenger of God…?”

Aria, with a blank expression, suddenly floated up into the sky… She’s… she’s flying?! Furthermore, Aria’s staff was also floating in the air to her right, just like Aria herself. That… Is that the true power of an Esrath Saintess…? The World Tree, seemingly greatly flustered, stared at Aria dumbfounded.

“W-What is this human…? That light… Aaaaargh!! I don’t know!! How dare you strike the mother’s abdomen…! I will punish a bad child!!”

“…!! A-Aria!!”

As the World Tree tried to strike Aria with its fist once more, I hastily shouted to Aria. But Aria didn’t move. No, she didn’t even react to the World Tree’s fist. But then…

“…?!”

“W-What?!”

The World Tree’s fist seemed to be blocked by a gigantic, transparent wall, reaching just before Aria and then not moving. No… there really was a wall. Aria’s light barrier, now enormous, was blocking the World Tree’s fist. Then, as Aria swung her arm, the World Tree’s fist was actually repelled.

“Gah?!”

“You. You said you loved everyone in the world, didn’t you?”

“Ugh… What?”

“So you said your plan was to turn everyone into spirits and hold them in your embrace… That was your plan, right?”

“Yes…!! So that my children won’t die anymore…”

“Then, on the contrary, I will live in this world with my loved one. In this beautiful world where my beloved Zeke-nim resides…!!”

“No…! This world is dange…!!”

As Aria grasped the staff beside her with both hands, an immense light burst forth from the tip of the staff. That… What is that, is it even human?! The World Tree, seemingly overwhelmed by that light, couldn’t rashly move its fist.

“You… What are you…? Why are you so strong…? Are you perhaps… an otherworldly being from H.S.A.?!”

“What?! Otherworldly being?!”

When the World Tree suddenly spoke of otherworldly beings, I was greatly flustered. Moreover, H.S.A., which the World Tree mentioned… I’d never heard of it… If the World Tree, an ancient being, knows about otherworldly beings… No way… were the 20 mana cores really… otherworldly beings after all?! Though I was extremely perplexed by the World Tree’s sudden mention of otherworldly beings, Aria, without any change in expression, pointed her staff, from which immense light was emanating, at the World Tree.

“Oh, Omniscient and Omnipotent One in the heavens. To the one who drives all beings in the world to ruin, deliver divine retribution.”

“Ugh… Aaaaargh!!”

Perhaps due to its trauma regarding otherworldly beings, the World Tree screamed loudly, and at that moment, immense light erupted from Aria’s staff, piercing the World Tree. Then, the World Tree’s body began to shatter into pieces.

“No… No… My children… My children…”

The World Tree’s body, continuously subjected to Aria’s light, slowly began to crumble, and as the World Tree completely vanished, Aria began to approach me. It’s a relief that she’s safe, but… Whoa… I’ve almost never seen Aria with a blank expression, so it feels a bit scary…

“A-Aria…”

“…”

“Aria…?”

“Waaaaaah!! Zeke-nim!! Zeke-nim’s words were so touching that this Aria… feels like her heart is going to burst!!”

…It really is Aria. Aria burst into tears and hugged me tightly. Aria’s clothes returned to normal, and the streaks of light circling her disappeared, so it certainly seemed like Aria…?

“Hey, Aria. Your hair…”

“Huh? Oh… Whoaaaaa!! My hair that Zeke-nim dyeddddd!!”

Why didn’t her hair return to normal…? Oh, I dyed that black hair for her, didn’t I? Seeing a part of her hair had returned to yellow, Aria began to scream. Whew… Once Aria calms down, this whole thing will be over, right…? At the same time I was soothing Aria, deep underground where the World Tree had been.

“Pant… pant… I still couldn’t hold my children in my embrace… I’ll absorb humans again… again…!”

“Whew… Is it finally all over?”

“…?! Eek!!”

Someone approached the World Tree, which was now in a very small state, and spoke. Then the World Tree was greatly startled by the sudden voice… and realizing that the one approaching it was a red-haired human, it screamed.

“R-Red-haired human…!”

“Hm? Did you meet another otherworldly being besides me last time? Wait… you mentioned H.S.A just now, didn’t you? A red-haired human from H.S.A… Aha… So Revo was here. That guy must have killed you once, right? I can tell by how terrified you are.”

“What…?”

“I, on the other hand, am a completely different person… How can someone who thinks of embracing the world not know that there are many red-haired people in the world? Sigh… Anyway, I understand why that guy missed you… I wouldn’t have known without a detection device. Since your aura is like that of an ordinary tree, I couldn’t detect you by aura…”

“How do you know that…? You… who are you…? Are you an otherworldly being too…?”

“Me? Should I say I know the guy who killed you…? I’m an otherworldly being too. Well… I just stopped by here and found a strange guy with a strange plan had appeared in the world, so I came to deal with it. You.”

“S-Strange plan, you say!! I will save my children from disasters…! So they won’t be caught in disasters anymore…”

As the World Tree spoke of its purpose with teary eyes, the red-haired human sighed heavily and, relaxing his arms, spoke.

“You’re talking nonsense. That’s not a plan you made because you loved life. Save them from disasters? No. You just didn’t want to see life die, did you? You simply created a plausible-sounding excuse because you couldn’t bear to see life die anymore. The depth of your heart and that of the ones above are completely different. The depth of your heart is absurdly shallow.”

“N-No!! Life forms love me!! I am their mother!”

“…Did the ones above also love you for making such a plan? And if you were a real mother…”

The red-haired man inserted a green gem into a strange rod attached to his arm, and extended his arm towards the World Tree. Then, with a very angry voice, he shouted at the World Tree.

“A parent should pray for their children to live happily without giving up, what parent kills their own children!!!”

“…!!!”

As the red-haired man shouted at the World Tree, powerful flames erupted from the iron rod on the man’s arm. Then, the World Tree began to burn in the flames, and began to scream in immense pain.

“Screaaaaam!! H-Hottttttt!!!”

“A brat who doesn’t even know the true depth of love is spouting nonsense…”

“Aaaaargh!!!”

“Whew… Anyway, I intended to incinerate your roots and burn all your vines… But when I was almost done burning them, three were left. Well… it seems the beings of this world took care of it themselves… It’s all over now.”

“Did I… do something wrong…? I…?”

“…It’s too late, even if you regret it now. You’ve already taken countless lives. Solely for yourself. If you truly regret it, die repenting until the very end.”

“Ahhh… I see… I… I was wrong after all… It’s too… late…”

As the World Tree burned, it belatedly began to regret its actions. Then, the World Tree remembered the words of the red-haired man it had met before, Revo.

“Is what you’re doing truly love? Even I, who just met you, can immediately tell the depth of your love, you know? You must never do that. I hope you realize your mistake.”

‘Ahhh… I understand now… I… didn’t even deserve to be a mother…’

The World Tree, having thought of an answer to Revo’s words, shed a single tear, and was incinerated on the spot. The red-haired man, seeing that the World Tree was completely incinerated, planted a single branch in that spot. And then the man calmly left the place.