Chapter 119
Chapter 119
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 119
Chapter Title: Small World Tree (2)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
After Prak returned.
*Beeeeep—*
A letter arrived from Barad.
Unfolding it revealed the negotiation details and Barad’s proposal.
‘Send the Gale Squad members as swordsmanship instructors to the Praham Kingdom?’
It wasn't a bad idea.
Moreover, the key figure in these negotiations was, quite literally, Hyun-soo.
Hyun-soo sent a reply agreeing to everything.
*Tiring!*
[Kingdom Quest: Negotiator]
Grade: A
Requirement: One proposed by the king
Reward: 10% Negotiation Score and 5% Kingdom Contribution.
Penalty for Failure: Decrease in intimacy with Barad.
Description: As the negotiator, you can raise your Negotiation Score by accomplishing various tasks during your 10-day stay in the Praham Kingdom. The improvement in relations between the Praham and Goyard Kingdoms, as well as how well the Gale Squad members teach swordsmanship, will have an impact.
The quest revealed a great deal.
First, Hyun-soo, a Baronet of Goyard, could stay in the Praham Kingdom for ten days.
And then there was the Negotiation Score to be raised through these talks.
‘Ten percent Negotiation Score and five percent contribution.’
Hyun-soo’s current Kingdom Contribution was 29%.
Once it reached 100%, he would almost certainly be able to obtain the next title.
Hyun-soo suddenly thought of the 49 soldiers who had said they would wait for him in the Araham territory.
Normally, soldiers were supposed to report to their master after a certain amount of training.
And yet, they had said they would wait.
With his next title, Hyun-soo could bring them over.
‘Just wait a little longer.’
Just then.
*Creeak.*
The door opened, and Ben entered the garden.
Hyun-soo gave a slight bow.
Changcheon Ben was a man rumored to be an exceptionally eccentric king.
And Hyun-soo knew it as well.
‘The notification about winning Ben's heart.’
That was a slightly different concept from intimacy.
Through Barad’s letter, Hyun-soo knew that he was meant to be sent from the start.
But he also knew that Ben would not have approved it easily.
In reality, winning Ben’s heart had been nothing more than an entry ticket to the Praham Kingdom.
‘His Majesty’s letter said to achieve a result that would satisfy and please Ben.’
But this, too, was a question.
Whether he could truly win the heart of that old man.
Soon, Ben placed a hand on the Small World Tree and got straight to the point.
“The Small World Tree was a tree that stood in the heart of the ocean.”
Lost in memory, the old man wore a subtle smile.
“I was only seventeen years old. When I became king of this Praham Kingdom, I heard a story—that the most beautiful tree in the world was in the sea. I was so young and struggling, I needed even a small tale to cling to, I needed an achievement. So, I set out to sea.”
Ben looked at the withering Small World Tree with an affectionate gaze.
“Everyone said I was mad, for a king to believe that the most beautiful tree was in the middle of the ocean, in its most dangerous part, no less. But after days and nights of sailing, I found it. In the middle of the sea… no, rising majestically from the heart of the ocean, I found this beautiful Small World Tree. That day, I brought it here. And since then, we have spent our years together. The little fellow has grown old with me.”
His voice made it clear how precious the World Tree was to Ben.
“At first, I brought only the Small World Tree and planted it here. But just by it taking root, other small trees, grasses, and flowers began to grow around it. As time passed, however, the Small World Tree began to make them wither instead, and even this fellow ended up in this state.”
The Small World Tree, which once created nature, now caused everything around it to wilt.
‘Is this what the warning about a disaster meant?’
The first time he saw the Small World Tree, he had received a notification.
[A disaster may occur due to the Small World Tree.]
“I struggled to revive this Small World Tree and found one method.”
“What is it?”
“The Small World Tree came from the sea. It is the very opposite of what a forest tree, which should belong to the land, is.”
Ben took out a water bottle he had brought and sprinkled it on the Small World Tree.
*Chiiiiik—*
The watered area quickly regenerated, only to wither away again.
“It’s just as it seems. It needs water. Not just enough to moisten it, like watering a plant, but a great deal of water.”
It needed water.
It was a problem one could think of simply.
Couldn’t one just use magic to create and sprinkle water?
But Ben resolved this curiosity.
“Magic is a power that does not manifest permanently. Also, perhaps because the Small World Tree is an artifact material, it reacts more strongly to water created by an artifact.”
Ben began to state the most important part.
“I would like you to craft an artifact that can keep this Small World Tree from withering for just a few more years. To be honest, I don't expect it to regain its complete form.”
With that, Ben walked back toward the door.
“The nobles and blacksmiths will soon flood this garden. I hear you have the power to craft equipment quickly.”
He was referring to Emergency Production.
“Many are suspicious about entrusting such a momentous task to a negotiator from another kingdom. You will have to prove yourself to them, and to me.”
Finally, Ben stepped out.
After he left, Hyun-soo knew that he was being tested.
‘An artifact that can spray a large amount of water…’
Hyun-soo thought of a certain sword.
‘Water gushing out from that one sword…’
Like a faucet, gushing forth.
‘I think I know why they haven't been able to save it until now.’
A garden the size of two athletic fields combined.
Reviving that Small World Tree with an artifact that spouts water like a faucet in here?
That, too, would be impossible.
‘What about dousing it with a large amount of water all at once?’
No, that was also impossible.
When Ben had just sprinkled water on it, the tree seemed to revive for a moment before quickly withering again.
Just then.
[A small conflagration is about to begin.]
Startled by the sudden notification, Hyun-soo stared at the Small World Tree with a bewildered expression.
‘What?’
Hyun-soo finally understood.
The notification that a disaster might occur.
And the Small World Tree that had caused everything to wither.
It wasn't that a disaster was simply happening.
The disaster it warned of was fire.
[A small fire begins to burn.]
A fire started to burn at the base of the World Tree.
*Fwoooosh—*
[If the small fire is not extinguished within 3 minutes, the Small World Tree will be completely destroyed.]
‘If the Small World Tree is destroyed, the negotiations themselves become meaningless.’
As Hyun-soo watched the fiercely burning flames, an idea flashed through his mind.
‘If sprinkling it with water doesn't work, and creating water doesn't work, then perhaps I should try that method…’
At that moment.
*KABOOOM—*
A massive explosion from the Small World Tree struck Hyun-soo.
As he was thrown back, Hyun-soo heard an unbelievable notification.
[HP has dropped below 56%.]
[It is difficult to endure the severe burns.]
[You are afflicted with the status effect: Dizziness.]
***
Ben, who had stepped outside.
He was speaking with the kingdom’s foremost blacksmith and the royal nobles.
First, the nobles.
“Your Majesty, the people are growing anxious. It pains me to say it, but some are even whispering that Your Majesty has become senile.”
There was something Ben hadn't mentioned.
It was the secret of the Small World Tree.
The Small World Tree.
According to legend, fully reviving the Small World Tree would yield fruit that granted bountiful harvests.
“We all know, do we not? That tree will one day bring about a great disaster.”
Yes, the Small World Tree had been giving warnings all along.
“The people are saying we must get rid of that Small World Tree.”
The blacksmiths said something similar.
“Your Majesty, an artifact that can save the Small World Tree simply cannot exist.”
There was a time when hundreds of blacksmiths had gathered to create an artifact that would supply it with water.
But even then, it had always ended in failure.
That was why Ben let out a dry laugh.
“From the start, didn't we agree to give that negotiator an impossible task?”
“...Oh?”
“Hoh?”
Now that they heard it, that was true.
They had given him a task no one could accomplish.
Of course, Ben held a small hope of saving the Small World Tree.
Just then.
*KABOOOOOM—*
A deafening roar that shook the entire castle startled everyone.
The first to react was Ben.
He hurriedly threw open the garden door.
*Fwoooosh—*
An immense blaze surged from within before subsiding, and Ben stepped inside.
“Ah…”
Ben saw the burning Small World Tree.
His retainers had told him repeatedly.
‘Your Majesty, you must get rid of the Small World Tree.’
‘The people say you’ve gone mad! Public sentiment is even more turbulent than when Your Majesty first went to find the World Tree in the past.’
The reason he couldn’t abandon the Small World Tree. Because even without him, it could remain here.
Ben had grown old with the World Tree.
He knew he would one day be forgotten, but he couldn't bring himself to discard it, thinking that the Small World Tree, a relic of a once-young old man, would remain here.
To put it more bluntly.
The old man, who had grown aged, did not discard the Small World Tree because he, too, would eventually be discarded.
‘It was my greed.’
Ben finally had to admit it.
How foolish he had been to simply leave it be, knowing that a disaster could occur.
And the retainers and blacksmiths who entered with him.
“...Perhaps it’s for the best.”
They said, oblivious to the king’s heart.
*Fwoooosh—*
The flames grew even stronger.
Ben couldn't bring himself to take a step away. Besides, with his strong constitution, a fire like this was bearable.
But the retainers and blacksmiths took a step back as they watched the violently spreading flames.
“Your Majesty, you must escape.”
“Q-Quickly, let us go!”
“...”
Yes, Ben envied Barad.
If they had been Barad’s retainers, they wouldn't have just talked; they would have stood in front of him.
In truth, Ben didn't have someone like Bella, who stayed by one's side.
Nor was he loved by all his people like Barad, and he had few truly loyal subjects.
It was all due to his exceptionally eccentric personality.
*FWOOOOOOSH—!*
*Ruuuumble.*
The flames intensified, consuming the entire space.
[The Small World Tree will be completely destroyed in 30 seconds.]
The Small World Tree was turning completely black. Ben turned his body.
‘Farewell…’
Just then, beyond the massive wall of fire.
A figure could be seen, shaking its head vigorously and rising to its feet.
Hyun, the blacksmith.
He began to walk through the flames, and a mineral and a tree branch shot up above his head.
Ben’s eyes fixed on him.
It was a strange thing.
The nobles and blacksmiths, who had told him to trust only them, began to flee.
“H-Hot!”
“Q-Quickly, run away!”
“Call the soldiers!”
In contrast, the retainer of an enemy nation was walking toward him.
Hyun soon passed him. As he reached a hand toward the sky, the spear he had made descended into his grasp.
*Chwaaak—*
He gripped the spear with both hands.
*Fwoooosh...*
Amidst the sound of the explosion and the spreading flames, he powerfully plunged the spear into the ground.
*Krajak—!*
At that moment.
Ben wore a puzzled expression.
The explosion just now had been on the verge of swallowing both him and Hyun.
But now, it felt as if his breath had been stolen for a moment. He unknowingly clutched his neck before lowering his hand.
He just kept looking around wordlessly.
Where was this place?
He tried to move his hand.
*Swoooosh—*
His hand moved slowly, hindered by the dense water.
His thoughts returned at the sound of Hyun's voice.
“If sprinkling it with water doesn’t work, and creating water with a sword doesn’t work either…”
With trembling eyes, Ben looked at Hyun, who wore a small smile.
“Shouldn’t we just put the Small World Tree in the ocean?”
He finally realized. Where he was.
Yes, the deep sea.
Ben was now in the middle of the ocean.
And a notification sounded for Hyun-soo.
[You have stopped the Small World Tree's destruction.]
For Hyun-soo, quite a few times.
[Negotiation Score increases by 4%.]
[Negotiation Score increases by 6%.]
These notifications continued to appear.
From within that sea, Ben looked at the extinguished World Tree and asked.
“...You could have died. Why didn’t you run?”
Hyun-soo was honest.
“For me, it wouldn’t have been a true death anyway. Besides, I decided that winning Your Majesty Ben’s heart was more valuable. And also…”
Ben now understood why Barad cherished him.
“It’s the tree Your Majesty cherishes, isn’t it?”
And the end of the notifications Hyun-soo heard was this.
[Intimacy with Ben has increased.]
[You have achieved 39% Negotiation Score.]
And the old man smiled, unseen.