Chapter 28
Chapter 28
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 28
Chapter Title: The World Tree Shakes Its Branches (3)
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Irene had mentioned it last time.
The branches' time had begun to flow.
Upon inspection, I could see leaves here and there starting to wither.
"For a divine vessel of this caliber..."
It far exceeded the scale of the sacred tree I knew.
It was vast enough to accommodate even a great spirit comfortably.
This was no tree whose leaves should be withering.
"Romanel, I heard the World Tree suddenly stopped conveying its will. Is that correct?"
"Yes."
If there's no response from the sacred tree, there's only one reason.
The spirit meant to inhabit it hasn't arrived.
Since they say this tree is the World Tree's body, the elves must recognize it as the vessel.
"Have you ever seen the World Tree?"
"I only sense its presence. I've never seen it directly."
"You sense its presence...? When was the last time?"
This tree called the World Tree.
No matter how much I examined it, I couldn't feel any divine presence.
There were faint, mystical traces, but...
Right now, it's an empty vessel.
Romanel looked at me.
But his expression was strange.
It was like he was wondering why I was asking.
"The World Tree is still residing in its body. It's merely at rest."
"..."
What was he talking about right now?
Was it some elven sense I didn't know about?
I thought it was empty and I couldn't feel anything?
Doubts flooded my mind.
A nagging unease washed over me again.
This wasn't just a bad feeling.
It was a shaman's intuition.
"No way..."
Even with a prime divine vessel, shamans sometimes draw stray spirits.
When receiving a spirit through the Initiation Ritual, a stray spirit might settle in instead.
These aren't the true body spirit but interlopers called "possessor spirits."
They're tricky, so masters often perform the Possessor Ritual to exorcise them on behalf of the shaman.
Perhaps...
"A stray spirit possessing a tree flowing with holy energy?"
Suddenly, past events flashed through my mind.
The necromancers' curses.
The prophetic dreams.
The black thing I saw on Irene.
Everything clicked perfectly.
That black thing I saw wasn't some ordinary malice.
"That explains the oddity..."
I'd come expecting a black entity hiding in the World Tree, but there were no traces.
But if it's a possessor spirit hunkered down in the tree, that's different.
Finding a criminal hiding in a house isn't easy.
"This is no ordinary matter..."
At a glance, it's a holy tree—the vessel for the elves' god, no less.
For something to claim a spot here, it can't be a mere evil spirit.
And it's invisible even to my eyes...
I glanced sideways at Romanel.
"..."
"...Why do you ask?"
"You're the closest to the World Tree, right?"
Romanel's vessel is part of this tree itself.
They're connected.
If the tree has a possessor spirit, Romanel is in danger too.
"Don't move a muscle for a bit."
It's probably watching my every move.
Lurking sinisterly inside that tree.
"Where are you hiding, you stray bastard..."
I spread spiritual energy and gripped the rattle.
I closed my eyes.
These eyes, which could be beguiled at any moment, weren't needed now.
Ding-a-ling—
The rattle shook, producing a familiar vibration.
The spiritual energy gathered in my head resonated with it.
Ding-a-ling—
"..."
Something was off.
My mind was too clear.
"Why..."
It didn't feel like spirit possession.
I shook the rattle again, seeking the spirits, but nothing entered my body.
Instead, a hazy scene surfaced.
Far hazier than anything I'd seen before.
A black mass was cowering.
Just that scene, but it was crystal clear.
If I possessed now, sensing the divinity, it would burrow deeper.
"...This is trouble."
If possession could draw it out immediately, no problem—but I lacked the skill.
Not yet beyond novice disciple level.
That meant confirming its true form without spirit aid.
"..."
Once I confirm the entity, I can possess again and perform the ritual.
Can't do a ritual without a target...
I relaxed my body and slumped to the ground.
"Hoo..."
I focused on my Spiritual Eyes again.
This tree definitely flows with holy energy.
Romanel does too.
Not enough.
Deeper.
I need to peer deeper.
I sensed Romanel's vessel.
A tiny fragment compared to the tree.
Following the connected energy, I probed the World Tree's interior.
No traces there either.
"..."
How much time passed?
I combed every inch around me like a maniac, but found nothing.
My forehead throbbed, but I scanned again.
"..."
More time passed.
This was the limit.
Spiritual energy depleted; maintaining Spiritual Eyes was a struggle.
Using physical eyes would be easier, but an evil spirit worthy of this tree would beguile me easily.
"I'll come back tomorrow."
As I opened my eyes, Parmon the elder's worried face appeared.
"...Are you alright?"
"I barely did anything..."
"Can't you catch it at once with a ritual like last time?"
"Target's uncertain. A ritual now would just make it wander aimlessly."
This won't be easy.
Today marks the third day.
I grasped a clue.
A trace caught after relentless surveillance.
And I revisited prophetic dreams several times to interpret them.
"I'll say it again: no matter what happens, do not touch me."
I devised a plan.
A bit risky, but this should reveal its identity—and root it out.
"...Even if something happens?"
"Yes. Hans might be fine, but elders could get possessed. That'd be a disaster. A disaster."
Parmon the elder looked dissatisfied but stepped back obediently.
"Romanel. Let's begin."
Romanel nodded faintly and sat on the ground.
Fortunately, Romanel was highly cooperative.
I'd expected haughtiness from a high elf, but none showed.
According to Romanel, the World Tree called me, so all answers lie with me.
Thus, every elf was favorably inclined toward me.
Excessively so.
"Hoo..."
I calmed my mind again.
"..."
The cold rattle's touch in my hand made my surroundings clear.
A tiny trace in Romanel's soul connected to the World Tree.
Following it, I scanned the entire World Tree.
Amid vibrant green leaves, withered ones appeared.
They should fall, but clung stubbornly.
This was my clue.
The possessor spirit had taken root inside the World Tree.
No reason those leaves shouldn't fall.
Camouflage to mimic the World Tree.
I focused all senses there.
"..."
Same as Romanel's traces.
That spot with unusually many withered leaves.
One of the largest branches.
This is it.
Something inside the branch, cloaked in vitality.
It sensed me too.
Immense greed emanated.
Lusting after my body, another divine vessel.
The moment I glimpsed the black thing's form.
I jolted upright and opened my eyes.
"This...!!!"
Utterly unlike the World Tree I'd seen before.
Beneath the branch it occupied, things dangled thickly.
Limp bodies.
Unfocused eyes.
Elves hanged by the neck.
Suddenly, their arms lifted toward me.
Fingers extended straight, all pointing at me.
"You bastard..."
Classic evil spirit trick.
Stoking the mind to show the most terrifying scene.
A malicious prank to torment the living.
"Haa..."
My head spun; fingertips trembled.
But not yet.
Must confirm its true form properly.
"..."
I quelled all spiritual energy in my body.
Easy prey for its grasp.
Blood dripped from the mouths of elves on the branch.
Myriad shapes flitted before my eyes.
I knew illusions, yet so realistic.
Its energy closed in; mind blurred.
A voice called my name in my ear.
"Chris...!"
"Are you okay?"
"Chris!"
Elders' voices? Or Hans'?
Fading consciousness blurred illusion from reality.
They mustn't interfere now.
I forced open unmoving lips.
"Don't... touch me..."
A bit more, and it would infiltrate while coveting my body.
I felt black tendrils probing me.
"Haa... haa..."
Body shuddered, but I let it.
To lower its guard with frailty.
Only my rattle-grip stayed firm.
The moment black energy enveloped me.
My body lifted, drawn to the large branch.
Something strangled my neck.
"Guhk...!"
Like those elves; body dangled limp.
Black invaded, stirring innards; blood surged up.
"Urk...!!"
The scene from my dream.
Replayed countless times.
Finally, I locked eyes with the black intruder.
"What the hell have you bastards created...?"
Unlike ghostly souls.
Lust for flesh, madness, resentment—all fused.
Like thoughts coalesced into ghostly form?
Neither stray nor evil spirit—something else.
"Got a head on you?"
I swung the rattle, smashing the energy around my neck.
Infused with spiritual energy.
Bang—
Shaking the rattle, I scattered spiritual energy.
Ding-a-ling—
Ding-a-ling—
Sensing possession, it fled into hiding.
Pointless now.
I can summon it.
As I went to shake again, vision blurred; ground appeared.
"..."
Overdid it?
People rushed toward me; darkness closed in.
"Just one... magic beast.... A live one...."