Tree Lover (3): Serious World Tree Growing Begins
Before raising the World Tree, I decide to do some research first. Back in my young, hot-blooded days, the old Jung Kkeokma would've scoffed at "research" like some noob and just jumped into solo queue ranked with a random pick the second a new champ dropped. But now I'm the old, sickly Jung Kkeokma, so I opt to follow the guide.
"Guides? Altube."
I hit the call bell right away.
But then, a problem cropped up.
What the fuck.
…Ah. The reason why, despite years of news about AI replacing developers and taking all the workers' jobs, employment somehow holds steady.
"Just fucking say you don't know if you don't!!!"
AI is greater than we thought, but AI is also less than we thought.
My ambitious plan to use AlphaGo for guide videos and breeze through the early game sank before it even started. But thinking about it, that's obvious. If AI were invincible, we'd all be predicting coin futures charts with 500x leverage and swimming in cash. Still, that doesn't mean my easy-mode plan is totally fucked. It sucks that the simplest path just got blocked, but there's a real orthodox route anyway.
"Ask a farmer how to farm, a fisherman how to fish. For growing a World Tree… elves gotta know best."
That being the most fundamental route: ask Tree Lover, who first identified the World Tree seed. This was the root path all along, really.
"Kinda put off by that bullshit earlier, but… nothing better."
I shoot Tree Lover a DM right away.
The call-up was lightning fast. Toss her elf-bait she couldn't ignore, and whoosh—here comes Tree Lover with a "hi~!"
She must've seen me fumbling with the AlphaGo call bell in the gallery, 'cause she already knows what I'm after. Makes the convo quick.
Why's this elf so damn earnest? Her over-the-top passion's a bit much, but from my angle, no harm done.
You know the deal here—not exactly plant-friendly. That was my biggest worry, actually. My world's blanketed in black frost, climate's fucked globally into an ice age Frost Apocalypse. Harsh as hell for new life.
But Tree Lover quashed those worries.
Huh? Here?
Oho. Figures—fantasy race, so her power's mana, not qi. Also, dropped a heavy title there outta nowhere.
Could say I've learned martial arts from other Martial Gods that're like spilling heaven's secrets. But clan heirlooms passed to specific successors? That's different. Family treasure shit.
But she quashed that worry too.
A favor? First time any Martial God's asked me for one. They've all been too busy stuffing my pockets.
First time for this kinda thing.
Not that I mind. My nature hates just taking without giving back anyway. If I can do something, it'll sit better.
What the—feels like she cut a shit mid-dump. Suspicious as hell, but pushing her probably won't get answers, so I drop it.
Strike while the iron's hot. No delaying—we jump into action.
Making the Bi-Wu Field's second nature now. It's called a "martial arena," but it's basically our meeting spot. Today's backdrop: a lush forest thick with vegetation. Elf-y as expected.
Standing in the center, scanning around, I sense footsteps behind me.
"Newbie-nim."
A clear, beautiful voice. I turn, and an elf leaps silently from a tree.
"Honored to meet you like this."
She lands without a sound, like a feather, hand over heart, bowing.
"Uh, um. Hi."
Always awkward at this part. Casual in the gallery, but face-to-face IRL? Whole different vibe.
But today's awkwardness wasn't just that. Tree Lover's first impression packed a twist.
"Tree Lover… right?"
"Yes. That's me."
The long ears screaming "elf" were expected. But the rest? Way off.
Like the stark white hair covering those ears—not natural. Or the eyepatch half-covering her eyes below it. Or the thick scent of guilt that her look couldn't hide.
Stunned by the surprise, I pause, and she speaks up brightly.
"Allow me a proper introduction. The last High Elf Lord, and the sinner guarding the Forest of Beginnings. Helena Ailish."
