Chapter 85
Chapter 85
Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 85
Chapter Title: Invader
I watched the kids fall into panic as I vanished through the magic circle, but only for a moment.
"There has to be some way...?"
This was a building personally crafted by that genius doctor.
It surely wasn't structured so only someone with a master key could ascend.
There had to be a method—some kind of entry pass that let others in too.
Maybe I could grant some sort of authorization? As I pondered this,
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Would you like to grant entry permission to the 10th floor to the target? "Huh?"
...This wasn't even the Tower.
Why was a notification window popping up here?
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <It seems the 8th and 9th floors have transformed like the Tower due to something on the 10th floor.> Tabula, who had been silent until now, finally spoke up.
"Tabula came over with me too?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <Of course! I'm Father's daughter and skill, after all!> True enough, Tabula—born from my skill—was practically fused with me.
Thank goodness she hadn't come alone.
And so, listening to Tabula's explanation,
"Did you figure something out?"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <Yes! The moment we reached the 8th floor, I noticed this space resembled the Tower!> <It mimicked the Tower's powerful security system, but imperfectly—leaving sloppy gaps I quietly exploited.> <And the result...? I've seized control of this building's entire system and all its magic circles!> <Now Tabula can freely grant or revoke access as she pleases?> "Nice."
No wonder she went quiet after we hit the 8th floor.
She must've been secretly hacking the doctor's building system.
"You pulled that off in such a short time? Impressive work, Tabula."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <Well... Father's master key made it possible, but...> "Still impressive."
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <Really...? Ahem...! Praise me more then...!> I spent a while lavishing messy praise on Tabula.
But soon, turning back to check on the kids outside the magic circle...
"Should I just smash it...!!!"
⚠️ STATUS ALERT ⚠️ ['Arin' has entered 'Rage' state...] She was truly furious—her eyes twitching, pupils turning vertical as red energy poured from her body.
"Ta-Tabula! Grant permissions quick—!!!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ <Granting permissions now—!!!> ⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ Would you like to grant 10th floor entry permission to Arin, Lulu, Labris, and the Blue Fairy? [YES][NO] "YES! YES!! YES!!!"
⚙ SYSTEM NOTIFICATION ⚙ 10th floor entry permission granted to Arin, Lulu, Labris, and the Blue Fairy. ◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ Right after granting 10th floor entry permissions,
the kids crossed the magic circle and spotted me—then charged straight into my arms with full force.
"Daddy meow—!!!"
"Where'd you go, Daddy—!!!"
THUD—!
"Guh... Kids... Daddy hurts..."
For the first time in ages, I actually felt pain.
These mid-tier spirits reminded me they were no ordinary weights.
"Vanishing like that—what were you thinking meow—!!!"
"Arin's mad...! Gonna stay mad...!!!"
"Daddy's sorry... Hit me, smash stuff if you want—just don't stay mad..."
I meant every word.
Better they rampage and wreck everything—then I compensate—than her maxing out rage and unleashing her true self's power.
'Good thing she knows now...'
With that, I mentally added the ironclad rule: Never anger Arin.
"Suit Team Leader. Head down first."
"Ah... Uh... Y-Yes... sir..."
I stepped out briefly, gave a mid-tier potion to the team leader—whose legs gave out from Arin's aura—and told him to go ahead.
"He looks pretty shaken."
"Faint as it was, that was her presence. Expected."
"Ahh...! Benefactor! Her Majesty the Queen fainted after beholding His Majesty's majesty!"
"...?"
Wait, so what am I supposed to do about it?
Anyway.
The fainted Fairy Queen could wait—the mystery on the 10th floor took priority.
So, soothing my daughters—who buried their faces in me while radiating "I'm sulking!" vibes—I climbed the stairs to the 10th floor.
Shimmer—!
Passing through another new magic circle, we arrived at the 10th floor.
Like the 8th and 9th, it defied belief as an indoor space—lush with grass everywhere.
But one difference stood out.
While 8 and 9 were dense forest terrains,
this felt like a vast grassland chunk transplanted here.
And smack in the center: a single pitch-black tree.
"Ah...! That's...!!!"
The Blue Fairy circling me frowned like she'd seen something vile upon spotting the black tree.
"Why the hell is that Parasitic Tree here?! Benefactor! Burn it now!"
"Parasitic Tree?"
A tree that parasites... something like that?
Why demand I torch it immediately?
Labris, wearing the same grim expression as the fairy, explained.
"Master. Fairy's right. That's an elven invasion weapon. Burn it."
"Invasion weapon? What the hell is it?"
"Parasitic Tree, World Tree Sapling, World Tree Shadow—fancy names. But its actions are vile. It enriches surrounding soil and boosts mana density."
Enriches soil and raises mana density...?
Sounds normally good?
Elves love and nurture nature, right?
Doesn't seem bad at all.
"Ha! Master. Listen up. Those pointy-ears never—ever—help other races!"
"Orc's right, Benefactor. Elves are selfish egomaniacs. They exploit other races as pawns—never aid them.
They enrich the environment solely to suit themselves."
"...They reshape the environment to suit themselves?"
Artificially crafting ecosystems for elven comfort?
Hmm... Sounds like terraforming...
"Exactly. Think of it as an invasion precursor. Once the environment reaches a threshold, elves slip through via that black tree."
"Then it's unstoppable. They colonize that world's races, erect a Tower to invade neighboring worlds, scattering saplings."
...My terraforming hunch was spot on.
Wait, hold up.
"Elves build Towers? What's that mean?"
"Huh? You didn't know? Towers are invasion forward bases built by transcendent beings or gods from other dimensions."
"???"
Forward bases by transcendentals or gods?
First I've heard of this.
"Hey, Labris. Explain."
"...Master didn't ask. Orc. Doesn't answer unasked."
"Quit the retard act suddenly!"
If the fairy's telling the truth,
you're an invader too, you axe!
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ I felt betrayed, wondering if Labris had stabbed me in the back—but only briefly.
"Benefactor. Hate taking orc's side, but he's probably not here to invade."
Surprisingly, the fairy provided the defense.
"What're you on about?"
"Bit complicated... but orcs are just dumb fight-lovers. Less 'invasion,' more 'here to brawl.'"
"Just loves fighting that much...?"
"Yes! Tower of Struggle had mixed races, right?"
"Yeah."
"So it's a hasty Tower of fight-hungry races from various worlds. Invasion Towers usually unify by race for command structure."
"..."
...Come to think of it.
Tower of Struggle monsters were all over: goblins, lizardmen, stonefolk.
Tower of the Dead: only undead.
Tower of Insects: only bugs.
Tower of Conquest: mostly beasts or fish-types.
So that means...
"Labris, you just love combat so entered the Tower?"
"Probably? Dumb orc! Answer!"
"...Struggle is always joyous. Worth risking life."
...Damn it all.
She really came for the fights.
Tower of Struggle monsters: battle maniacs shrieking "Fight! Fight! Fight!" amid invaders—risking lives for thrills.
Clown fiesta, basically.
"Why not tell me?"
"...Knew I'd get scolded."
"Damn right."
Still, a heads-up would've softened this.
Sigh... Anyway.
"We'll let it slide for now."
"...No scolding?"
"Yeah. For the moment."
Spilled milk.
Moving on.
If fairy's right,
"At least they won't invade outright. Probably die fighting actual invaders."
"True?"
"If it's worthier struggle, gladly."
So Korea's invader slot got taken by battle-crazed clowns.
For now, focus on
that "invasion weapon"—the black tree before us.
"So why's this here?"
...No way,
but doctor isn't an elf puppet or forced to plant it, right?
"Mmm... Doubt it, Benefactor. Looks a bit unnatural now."
"Unnatural how?"
The fairy approached the black tree as she spoke.
"Yes. This Parasitic Tree... differs from ones I know."
"Huh... Feels less repulsive now. What's different?"
"Wait, dumb orc! These need delicate inspection!"
"Orc not dumb!"
"Liar! Battle-maniac dumb herd!"
Bickering verbally, but her eyes and hands busily poked and prodded the tree.
She pondered deeply, chatted with the Fairy Queen, then gave me her conclusion.
"Benefactor. This Parasitic Tree... it's been neutered."
"?"
Tree... neutered...?
What?
"Parasitic Trees reshape environments for elves and summon them, right?"
"Yeah."
"This one's summoning method got cut off."
"Why call that neutered...?"
"Elves summon via fruit bearing elven clones. This tree's fruit-bearing got removed!"
"Seedless tree, basically?"
"Exactly!"
So...
"Her Majesty praised that doctor's smarts! Never expected he'd troll elves like this—now it's just a good tree enriching soil!"
...Phew, doctor's no elf pawn or victim.
Relieved more about not fighting him than the tree danger.
But only briefly.
"Benefactor. If you allow, our Queen can show something fun with that Parasitic Tree... What say you?"
Inspired by the doctor's stunt, the Fairy Queen sought permission for fun.
"Nothing weird?"
"Nope! Guarantee it'll hugely benefit you—and this world!"
As Arin's follower, no harm to me.
I nodded approval.
"One moment please!"
The Blue Fairy fiddled frantically: mana bursts, snapping branches.
Soon after.
POP—!
A white flower bloomed on the highest branch,
then rapidly swelled into fruit and plop—dropped.
And from within,
"Oof, my head... So this is a clone body...?"
"White! It's been ages!"
"Ages for me too, Blue..."
A fairy identical to the Blue but overall white appeared and addressed me.
"Ah... Nice to meet you, Benefactor. I'm the White Fairy.
Guardian Fairy dispatched by Her Majesty to protect your world—please take care of me."
"Ah, yeah..."
...No way.
He modded the elf-spawning fruit... into fairy-spawning?