The Great Forest Was Burning
The Great Forest was burning. More precisely, everything around the elf village was engulfed in flames.
“How about a temporary truce? Do you agree?”
I might have misjudged the man, but there was no need to point it out. Ben Bezarel nodded with a dazed look on his face.
The cause of the raging fire in the Great Forest was a massive creature with the upper body of a man. Its torso alone seemed at least twenty meters tall. But its lower half was like smoke, floating through the air as it set fires and smashed elf villages indiscriminately.
In any case, it wasn't native to this world. There were two beings here who seemed to know exactly what it was. First, I described its appearance to Setas and asked if he recognized it. Of course, Bastet on my head could hear too. If she wanted to answer, she would.
“It looks like a type of djinn.”
“Djinn?”
Fortunately, Setas knew the answer.
“Yes, something between a spirit and an evil spirit. Like a servant of a god. Not that strong.”
“What counts as strong by your standards?”
Setas rolled his eyes upward. Fair enough—there was a major threat right nearby.
“So, can we take it down with our current forces?”
“There are so many types of djinn. If it's a particularly strong one, it might be tricky?”
“So if it's not particularly strong, we can handle it?”
“Yes, you and Uncle Howard could. Should I come too?”
As Setas tried to tag along, a cat fist on his head spat fire again. That meant stay put. If Bastet was reacting like that, it meant Howard and I could handle it. Drakan had said he only sent creatures we could deal with. At least, it was something this world could overcome.
Thank goodness it was manageable. The elf villages in the Great Forest were practically abandoned anyway—destroying them wasn't a big deal. But there was something very important.
I went to the elf grand elder and explained the situation. His face went pale, and he collapsed into his seat.
“Th-the World Tree!”
Of course, the World Tree was incredibly important to the elves. But that little tree in the village couldn't possibly be the real thing. If anything, as Setas put it, it was an avatar. The true body was what I'd seen in my dream. And this whole situation had been orchestrated by the World Tree itself.
Right before the djinn attacked, the entire village had evacuated, resulting in zero casualties. I'd made a mistake, but maybe this was all part of the World Tree's plan? It had anticipated something like this, so it couldn't have been unaware that its avatar might be targeted.
Leaving the despairing grand elder behind, I had to go resolve the crisis.
“Howard, let's go have some fun.”
“Me again?”
Considering the opponent, no one else would be much help. Even at a glance, it didn't look weak. It breathed fire from its mouth and whipped up whirlwinds with its hands, shredding everything around it. And who knew what other tricks it had hidden.
I planned to leave Argin here in case of any contingencies. If Ben Bezarel got any funny ideas while Howard and I were gone, everyone would be at risk. Sure, Bastet could handle it, but it was best not to rely on divine intervention. Gods' help never came free.
Dragging the grumbling Howard to the scene, he whistled at the sight of the distant djinn.
“Whew, what's that thing?”
“Setas called it a djinn.”
“What's a djinn?”
“Just a bad guy.”
As we watched, magical beasts fled the djinn's rampage—some charging at it aggressively. These were creatures that could level a city if they escaped to the outside world, yet they got shredded by the djinn's whirlwinds before even getting close.
“Bad matchup?”
“Nah, it's just strong.”
Even Howard, who favored physical attacks, might face the same issue. His eyes sharpened.
“I'll go first.”
Howard started stripping again.
“Just go already—I'll get you new clothes.”
“It's just a habit.”
Ignoring my jab, Howard finished stripping, transformed, and let out a roar.
Rooooaaar!
The deep, resonant bellow echoed far and wide. The magical beasts swarming toward the djinn froze, then slunk back, crying out.
The king has returned. The Beast King is back.
That's what it felt like they were saying. As Howard bared his teeth in satisfaction and advanced, I held him back for a moment.
“Wait. We should at least try talking. Not sure if it'll listen.”
I teleported in front of the djinn and waved.
“Hi?”
The djinn glared at me with its massive eyes.
[Insolent human.]
“Oh! It talks.”
But speaking human language didn't mean it would communicate.
“Who sent you?”
Who would target the World Tree, and why? Instead of answering, a vortex of wind blasted from the djinn's hand.
Not in the mood for chat, huh? I dodged the vortex easily.
“They said you're something between a spirit and an evil spirit?”
Now that I was here observing up close, it was clear: this thing had a spiritual body. In that case?
“Kinda like me, huh?”
This might end easier than expected. My smile must have pissed it off—the djinn's face twisted as it pursed its lips. About to breathe fire, no doubt. But I'd already read its patterns.
I teleported above its head and decided to try a new technique—one that the necromancer Jimnus Kragel had nearly killed me with twice. It didn't have a name, so I made one up on the spot.
“Soul Pull.”
The twenty-meter djinn's massive body began getting sucked into my hand. As expected, it was spiritual. Like a reflection of Bastet, that type.
[What the hell are you doing?!]
The djinn flailed in panic, but it couldn't stop. The moment its huge head touched my hand, my ability activated after so long. Its body crumpled and got absorbed in an instant. The whole thing vanished in the blink of an eye.
And with a familiar rush of euphoria, I learned who was behind it.
“Utuka?”
I only knew the name—no idea who that was. How many gods were there, anyway?
“What the hell? Then why'd you drag me out here?”
Howard, now in beast form, looked up at me from the side.
Did I plan this? Nah, the djinn just picked the wrong fight.
“Keep the magical beasts in check. If they start moving, the outside world will be chaos.”
A disturbance like this in the central area could trigger a mass breakout, turning the Great Forest borders into hell.
“Got it.”
I could tell even from its beast face that Howard wasn't thrilled. After watching him head off to corral the beasts, I surveyed the ruined elf village. It was beyond repair, and everyone had already left anyway. In the clearing behind the grand elder's house, the World Tree's avatar—the little tree—was gone without a trace.
No telling if the djinn destroyed it or if the World Tree hid itself. Once Howard calmed the beasts, we returned to base.
Setas and Ben Bezarel were huddled together, deep in heated discussion about what happened while we were gone.
“So, don't make the drive core a nucleus—use a circulation type.”
“Oho! Then it becomes a perpetual motion machine?”
“Exactly. That's the one.”
The moment I left, Setas had cornered Ben Bezarel and started spilling android knowledge. Ben was entranced by the kid dropping superior insights to his life's work.
I briefed the grand elder on the village, and he fainted. Even healing powers couldn't wake him—must've been a huge shock.
By the time I'd moved the elves to the New Continent and the temple knights to Akasha Territory, Setas and Ben were still sketching on the ground, ranting away.
“Hey, don't we need to get going?”
As I spoke up from behind, Ben suddenly grabbed my hand—too fast to dodge.
“Listen, saint. Take me with you. Anywhere that kid Setas is, I'll follow.”
“What about the Nebra royals?”
“That was just a mutual convenience thing. No need anymore.”
“But they offered you a son-in-law position, right? Wouldn't settling there be better?”
Ben scowled at my words.
“I'm old, but not blind. Have you seen Princess Shartia?”
Of course. A very talented sixteen-year-old princess. With proper training, she'd definitely reach Master level. She already knew her potential and trained hard—soon, a new Master warrior would grace the continent. Pretty face too. Just... 190 centimeters tall with a bit too much muscle.
Still, she was sixteen to his ninety-something. No comparison. Who knew Ben cared about looks?
Taking him to the New Continent might be awkward. I glanced at Setas, who nodded.
“No, it's because of Lily.”
Setas smacked his fist into his palm like he'd figured it out.
“I can fix that. We'll make a mental defense item. Until then, just stay away from Lily sis.”
That simple? Then what about Antariel, who's gouging out his own eyes and modding his body to resist her charm right now?
I sent the rest back to their places. The druids said they'd disperse on their own, so I bid them farewell.
“We'll repay this debt someday. Druids avoid human affairs, but we don't forget favors.”
Hamakan spoke for them. I wasn't holding my breath, but I said sure.
Finally, I ferried Setas and Ben's modified humans—minus the golems—to the New Continent. After warning Lily and Ben to stay apart until the item was ready, I caught my breath. Then commotion erupted among the elves.
One elder shouted.
“It has been reborn!”
I'd half-expected it. A World Tree avatar sprouted on the New Continent. Just a tiny sprout for now, but size didn't matter for it.
How did the elves sense it? I felt nothing. Anyway, the World Tree's words had all come true. It felt a bit fishy, but things had worked out for the best.
When things quieted down, I asked Setas about this Utuka god, but he didn't know. Bastet stayed silent but seemed to know something. She'd tell me when the time was right, probably.
Peaceful days returned for a while. The New Continent's development was astonishing. New buildings popped up daily; within months, all infrastructure was in place. Setas's designs harmonized perfectly with each race's districts.
Products diversified too. He built a factory desalinating seawater for drinking and refining salt—a brilliant feat in my eyes, even if he said it was minor. Akasha Territory's exports now included salt.
The alchemy lab I'd ordered was ready, and a shared lab for Setas and Ben went up nearby.
“Now let's build some airships for real.”
That was my order to Setas. Not to interrupt Ben's research—priorities, that's all. I couldn't keep ferrying people across the continent forever. Airships would announce the New Continent's presence, enable direct trade, and foster coexistence. That was my vision for the non-humans' future.
A thousand years ago, they'd clashed with humans inevitably, fought, killed, and parted. Not this time. Even if it took centuries, I'd make it happen.
While immersed in immortality elixir research on the New Continent, interesting movements surfaced from Nebra's royals—where Ben had left.