Chapter 29
Chapter 29
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 29
Chapter Title: The World Tree Shakes Its Branches (4)
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The entire world was blurry.
Only the massive tree and the figure beneath it stood out in sharp clarity.
"...Another dream, huh."
It couldn't be anything but a dream for that pitch-black thing to take on the form of an elf right in front of me...
Even in the dream, my mind was clear.
"A bastard that's neither a stray spirit nor an evil ghost, playing at being one."
The thing was grinning ear to ear.
Even as its true form was exposed to me, it had toyed with me using all sorts of illusions.
Its nature was utterly vile.
"Nightmares mean nothing to me."
Its mouth stretched even wider, revealing pitch-black teeth.
The glint in its eyes toward me turned savage.
"What a vicious-looking bastard."
It was like a beast pondering how to devour its prey.
And I was the pinnacle among divine vessels—how could it not hunger for me?
Coming into my dream like this, it seemed like it was here to mock me again.
Sure enough, the fool's antics began.
- .....
No sound came out, but laughter echoed in my ears.
The mad cackling of someone driven insane.
As the laughter filled with madness reverberated, the thing began to move.
"Ha, how'd you even know about this one?"
They say there are ghosts that laugh.
Ghosts that dance.
Those two are the scariest of all.
And this bastard was doing both right now.
"Ha..."
It was mimicking me performing a shaman ritual.
As if it knew exactly what I was about to do next, it was copying my ritual.
Shaking a rattle that wasn't even there.
I was so flabbergasted I couldn't speak.
"You're not even as good as the Headless at my house, and you're imitating a shaman?"
It was like every malicious trait of an evil ghost had been crammed into this thing.
This was what vicious spirits did—follow shamans around and mock them.
The "teasing" that shamans who failed to exorcise evil ghosts suffered.
"It's not that I couldn't exorcise it..."
Thinking about it, maybe I really couldn't.
My body was too weak, and I collapsed.
I'd need to train my body after this is over.
"A bum without a house of its own, freeloading in someone else's..."
My words didn't faze it at all; it just kept dancing.
Time to wake up soon.
***
"What a filthy dream..."
I opened my eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling.
Beside it were my companions.
Astor Closel scanned my body, checking something.
"Heard you were a hunter, but your body's weak."
Parmon chimed in from the side.
"That's why I told you to learn the sword. You gonna end up this battered every time?"
"A shaman shakes a rattle and a fan... what do I need a sword for?"
Hans plopped down on the floor.
"Your divine power's already depleted."
They must've gathered here out of worry for me.
"How long was I out?"
"A full day passed."
"Ugh..."
More time had gone by than I thought.
A whole day was plenty for that thing to hide itself again.
It must've sensed the spirits' presence, so it'd burrow even deeper this time...
"Should I do a Taunting Ritual...?"
I'd performed a Taunting Ritual before too.
It was an essential step before my own Initiation Ritual.
For some reason, no stray spirits—not even a host spirit—could approach me.
Maybe the gods on this side had been watching over me since then...?
As I mulled over these half-asleep thoughts, Parmon spoke up again.
"Just like you said, we caught the magic beast."
"...Pardon?"
I'd forgotten about it since I blacked out right after.
I definitely asked them to catch one.
But could they really capture a magic beast alive?
"We crossed into the elves' forest, and one was prowling around. We broke all its legs and dragged it here."
"...The legs?"
"It's bound with magic now so it can't move."
I'd momentarily forgotten who these old men were.
Sword Master and Archmage.
Plus a Grand Spiritist and a high priest's disciple who was nearly his equal.
A lineup that could play games with a magic beast and no one would bat an eye.
Come to think of it, I'm the weakest one here.
"But why'd you want a magic beast?"
"To use it as bait to draw the thing out."
"A magic beast as bait?"
It's a complicated concept to explain.
This wasn't really a ritual so much as a way to piss it off.
Calling something this crude a "ritual" felt like an insult to the term.
"Let's check the magic beast's condition first."
"You just woke up—are you sure you're okay?"
"If we delay, we might not find it."
A guy who even invaded my dreams must be pretty confident.
As dark as it is insidious, who knows what it'll do.
With the World Tree's body as its vessel, the elves might be in danger too.
"Where is it?"
I followed the old men outside and gaped at the captured magic beast.
It was my first time seeing one, but its condition was bizarre.
"Old timers...? Why is it like this...?"
For starters, it was huge.
Three times my size.
Appearance-wise... a mangy panther?
Parts of its body were smashed in places.
Like it'd been carved away or something.
And it was on the brink of death.
Somehow still clinging to life.
Parmon awkwardly spoke up.
"I did a little carving... Seeing the magic beast reminded me of old comrades..."
"You sculpt with a magic beast...?"
"That's how these guys are."
True, Parmon had plenty of grudges against magic beasts...
Examining it, the magic beast's essence was as peculiar as that dark thing.
It had a soul, but one of extremely low quality.
And all its instincts were corrupted.
"All sorts of freaks out there..."
Should've known from the "magic" in its name.
"Why's the hide peeled off in places?"
Chunks of hide were sliced off its body here and there.
And in the center of its belly, a dagger was stabbed in.
"Magic beast hide is tough. Blocks even thrusts from seasoned soldiers' spears."
"Hm...?"
"Peeled it off for when you need to stab one. There's one on the neck and legs too. This spot's the heart."
"...Pardon?"
I did need to stab it with a knife.
But preparing the hide beforehand without me even saying...
Well, they did exactly what I had in mind without me spelling it out.
"We need to move this in front of the World Tree."
Astor Closel nodded and spoke.
"Don't worry. We've already prepped it for transport."
He looked oddly proud.
"Just to the front of the World Tree?"
Astor Closel swiped his hand through the air.
Swoooosh—
Mana stirred, enveloping the magic beast, and its body floated up.
"Let's go."
"Ha..."
Blood dripped from the magic beast onto the ground.
"I heard magic beasts have strong regeneration...?"
"Hans seared it with holy power. Won't regenerate for a while."
Satisfaction lit up Astor Closel and Parmon's faces.
They'd vented some stress on the magic beast.
Astor Closel moved, and the magic beast followed behind.
Becoming a spectacle for every elf.
"This might really get under its skin...?"
The taunter's definitely watching this spectacle.
We arrived at the World Tree quickly.
Romenel was already there, anxiously examining it.
"Chris, no matter how I look, I can't sense anything unusual. But yesterday's thing..."
Of course.
She wasn't a full divine vessel and lacked Spiritual Eyes, so she couldn't detect it.
"It'll show itself soon."
"..."
Before starting, there's something I need to say first.
"What we're about to do... it might be a bit gruesome to watch."
Contrary to my expectation, the old men's expressions were indifferent.
"What, ripping out guts or something?"
"Pluck its claws and gouge its eyes with them? I can do it with magic if you want."
These old coots had been reacting like this every time the magic beast came up.
But I couldn't help agreeing with them.
"That's how my subordinate died."
"A mage who followed me got his eyes gouged by his own hands."
"..."
The continental war must've made what they described seem tame...
"Alright... let's get started."
My companions and Romenel stepped away from me.
I moved toward the World Tree.
"As expected..."
The dark thing had hidden itself somewhere again.
But it was pointless now.
My eyes had clearly seen its true form.
I shook the rattle once.
Ting-a-lang—
My mind grew hazy, and my head turned automatically toward one spot.
That branch must be where it's hiding.
I felt eyes silently watching me.
"This is a shaman's taunt."
I shook the rattle and began to dance.
A god descended as my body lightly leaped.
I placed my hand on the magic beast's body, and sticky blood smeared onto it.
I smeared it across my mouth and chin.
Thick blood trickled down my face like vomit.
Recreating my appearance as I spewed blood.
Ting-a-lang—
I struck the magic beast's body with the exact same motion as when it had struck me.
Ting-a-lang—
The magic beast twitched, instinctively trying to protect itself.
Just like that thing fleeing before the spirits.
Ting-a-lang—
I pulled the dagger out with my bloodied hand.
Drip—
Blood poured from the torn wound.
One hand shook the rattle, the other toyed with the knife.
The knife and rattle clashed, ringing out metallic sounds.
Now it was time to taunt the magic beast with this knife.