Chapter 114
Chapter 114
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 114
Chapter Title: The World Tree Recognizes You
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[The World Tree recognizes you.]
The attack bearing down on Go Yohan came to a halt.
Tremble.
A vibration rippled through space, as if in disbelief.
Whoooong!
The flow and resonance of mana—that was it.
—You...
It spoke not in words, but in pure intent.
The World Tree.
It was one of the transcendent beings that existed in Travania, a divinity that had sustained and managed the world up to now.
—You!
Go Yohan gave a wry smile at the World Tree's voice.
The reason was simple enough.
Shwaaaaa!
The roots and vines pouring out targeted him viciously.
"Long... time no see."
At the sound of Go Yohan's voice.
Flash!
They froze in place.
Go Yohan's eyes, heart, vital points—all of them were perfectly aimed at. The World Tree's extensions halted there, feeling utterly threatening.
Tremble.
It felt like they were shaking.
—Why...
The World Tree asked.
—Do I sense the aura of a demon from you?
"A simple matter."
The current Go Yohan was Michael.
He had separated his past memories from the present to some degree.
Ripple.
Go Yohan's eyes rippled.
Overwhelmed by that crushing presence and the storm-like fury crashing down, the World Tree trembled once more.
"To exterminate those damned demon scum, every last one."
—To exterminate demons...?
"If it means wiping them out, I'll become a villain, a demon, anything. That's the vow I made to the Goddess."
—You...
The World Tree spoke to Go Yohan again.
—You're still chasing an illusion. Enough to abandon your own stature and everything for it.
"Everything was given to me by the Goddess, so I'm merely offering it back to her."
Tremble.
The renewed tremor felt like anger in a way.
But that was the end of it.
Fwoosh!
The radiant light illuminating everything lifted like a curtain being drawn back.
And within it, figures began to reveal themselves one by one.
No matter their bad blood, there was no helping it.
In the World Tree's current situation.
—......Come in.
The World Tree could only trust Go Yohan.
"Captain! Captain!"
Kim Sion, who had followed behind, urgently raised his hand.
"Me too!"
—Are those your companions?
The World Tree's surprised voice rang out.
"Yeah. To me... they're precious. The ones I must protect, and the ones who protect me."
Tremble.
—......You've changed so much.
Among the figures stood a straight tree.
It was too small to call the World Tree, yet too beautiful and divine to call an ordinary tree.
That was it.
"Long time no see, Yggdrasil."
Travania's World Tree, Yggdrasil.
It had survived Travania's downfall and was protecting the elves.
"......"
The elves' eyes began to tremble as they watched Go Yohan approach.
And soon.
Slide.
One knelt on a single knee, paying respects.
"Ooh! As expected of the Captain!"
Kim Sion seemed amazed and impressed.
"But why's the Captain making that face?"
He soon looked puzzled at Go Yohan's rigid expression.
You didn't see that look on Go Yohan often.
A face that seemed tense and uncomfortable.
"......The World Tree's..."
One of the elves said cautiously.
"Betrothed."
Twitch.
Go Yohan's face twisted.
"Betrothed?"
Kim Sion tilted his head as he spoke.
And.
Flinch.
Yoon Seunga, who had woken up in Go Yohan's arms.
"Betrothed...?"
She stared at Go Yohan with eyes wide as saucers.
*
*
*
The World Tree and Go Yohan shared bad blood.
It traced back to when Go Yohan had slain the fallen Spirit King.
At that time, amid the spirits' rampage, the elves— natives of Travania who had hidden away—began their activities.
The fallen Fire Spirit King, Selion, had sought to prove his perfection by burning the World Tree, but Selion was reverse-summoned to the spirit realm by a single strike from Go Yohan.
Looking upon that Go Yohan—no, Michael.
—The one chosen by the world.
The World Tree, Yggdrasil, had said.
—I wish to plight my troth with you.
That was in the past.
Naturally, Michael had refused.
Not just as a holy knight serving the Goddess, but...
"Well, how do you marry a tree?"
Kim Sion spun around as he said it.
"......"
Yoon Seunga looked stunned—whether from the shock or the Curse of Sloth—as her face went blank.
"That's the World Tree, right, Captain? Marrying that..."
At Kim Sion's words, the elves scowled and stepped forward.
But then, the radiant light descended.
"Huh...?"
As it took form, Kim Sion's eyes widened in shock.
"...Who?"
A woman so pure white appeared before them.
But on closer inspection, black stains mottled the hem of her white garments.
"To meet you again in a place like this."
She stepped forward lightly and approached Go Yohan without hesitation.
The elves paid their respects once more.
"Pr... pretty..."
Kim Sion mumbled blankly, as if entranced.
The Apostles' appearances were undoubtedly far above average.
Archdemons chose vessels considering all their talents and potential, then honed them to the limit.
Beauty.
It was fundamentally intertwined with what demons craved, so the Apostles—who had nearly become their vessels—surpassed even Kim Sehyun or Go Minji in allure.
Kim Sion, with his dazed face, was no exception.
'I've been hit with a status effect! Captain!'
Even at school, persistent types weren't few.
But the beauty before him was something else entirely.
"Ah..."
It even exuded divinity.
That was when it happened.
"Hm?"
The woman's footsteps didn't stop.
She was already within arm's reach of Go Yohan—drawing even closer.
And.
"......!"
She lunged.
Arms spread wide as if to embrace him, lips pursed forward as if to kiss.
"Gasp."
She charged straight at him.
Shrieeeek!
A shadow blade erupted from the ground, blocking Go Yohan's front.
"......How dare you commit such lascivious acts toward the Captain."
Yoon Seunga's voice suppressed much.
Even without it, Go Yohan was already prepared to dodge the incoming woman.
It was her.
"You've removed the nuisance."
The World Tree, Yggdrasil.
She was Yggdrasil's incarnation.
Bad blood.
Clang!
The shattered shadow blade scattered into particles of darkness.
Seizing the gap, Yggdrasil caressed Go Yohan's cheek.
"In your eyes..."
Neither Yoon Seunga nor Kim Sion could move easily.
"There's no respect or faith for me anymore."
Indescribable sorrow filled Yggdrasil's eyes.
"You."
Go Yohan said.
"Are not my goddess."
"......"
*
*
*
[Remaining time: 100 hours.]
Quite some time had passed since stepping into the World Tree's domain.
In that interval, Go Yohan and Yggdrasil had spoken at length in private.
"......"
Yoon Seunga, who had seemed anxious at first, had now found peace and was resting.
Clang!
Kim Sion was crossing swords with the elves.
"Not bad?"
Kim Sion seemed quite satisfied with sparring the elves.
Among them, the one who seemed like the leader.
"Thank you."
Sendro expressed his gratitude to Kim Sion.
Sendro didn't underestimate Kim Sion at all; instead, he regarded him with awe and respect.
He knew without being told.
'Go Yohan.'
That was why.
That was when it happened.
Rustle.
The wooden vines encasing Go Yohan and Yggdrasil peeled away, revealing the two who had conversed for so long.
"I'll... ask you this favor."
Yggdrasil said.
She had abandoned everything, merely awaiting the end.
The unexpected arrival of an ally had kindled hope in her.
She approached her main body—the tree—alongside Go Yohan.
Creaaaak.
The tree split open like a gaping maw.
Inside.
"The last High Elf."
A girl who closely resembled Yggdrasil lay with hands clasped together, eyes closed.
She didn't seem asleep.
More like... dead.
"I promise. But..."
Go Yohan said.
"She'll lose her 'purity.' Just like I did."
"We have no choice but to accept that. For the preservation of our kind and hope. All that remained was ruin."
Yggdrasil stroked Go Yohan's cheek.
"Just your return... your continued fight... fills me with gratitude."
She was a divine World Tree.
Like the divine eyes Go Yohan possessed, she alone could see something.
"But the illusion..."
Grip.
Go Yohan seized Yggdrasil's hand, crushing it.
Truly.
Crack!
The once white and elegant Yggdrasil's arm cracked like dead bark.
"Enough."
"......Understood."
She finally withdrew.
"Time is short. Soon..."
Rumble!
"They'll come."
It was like thunder crashing afar.
In the distance, black holes rippled.
The Dark Elves they had encountered arriving here—their deaths had clearly provided the coordinates.
"Step back."
Go Yohan said as he advanced.
The elves tried to follow, but Yggdrasil stopped them.
"Our battlefield is not here."
There was another place ahead they must fight.
They left this to Go Yohan.
They had spoken of such things.
Whoooong!
The black holes—the Black Gates already seen on Earth—distorted.
There were over seven of them, and the Dark Elves that would pour out would be an army in the truest sense.
Yggdrasil had said.
'Only two remain.'
Across countless worlds, only two World Trees survived.
One being Yggdrasil, the corrupted demonkin Dark Elves would commit significant forces to claim her.
Tap, tap. Tap.
Dark Elves, painted black as ink, began stepping onto the ground one by one.