The Sub-Male Lead of This Novel
‘World Tree? I’m the World Tree?’
Me? I’m that legendary World Tree? Not just some strange, unique plant, but the World Tree? I was genuinely flabbergasted. Of course, the elves had been calling me that constantly, but I hadn’t really believed them. Yet, now that it had come to this, I had to accept that I really was the World Tree. ‘The System wouldn’t lie to me, after all.’
Wait, hold on. ‘I seem to recall that the root cause of this world’s destruction was the absence of the World Tree...’ They said the biggest problem was that there was no World Tree to block the demonic energy. ‘Then, if I exist, doesn’t that mean the world won’t be destroyed?’
That’s actually pretty great, isn’t it? I’d been worried about heading toward a destruction ending, but that concern had just been lifted. I was startled, but looking at it cool-headedly, it seemed fine. Nothing much would change in this situation anyway.
Just as I was thinking that, Riri flew over and hovered in front of me.
“Mama?”
She seemed worried because I’d gone quiet. I answered her gently.
‘Oh, Riri. I’m sorry. I was just thinking about a few things.’
At my words, Riri beamed.
“Mama okay?”
‘Yes, yes. I’m fine.’
“Mama eat?”
Riri held out the honey she was carrying in her hands. I felt terrible.
‘Ah, Riri, I’m sorry. I can’t eat.’
It was a pity, but... I’m a tree, so I can’t consume honey. Riri’s expression turned crestfallen. But there was nothing I could do. ‘I want to eat it too!’ I thought, even though I didn’t even have a mouth to eat with...
Just then, I heard a sound from below.
“Kkoo-oong!”
Tori’s eyes were sparkling, and drool was dripping from his mouth. It was obvious he wanted to try the honey Riri had extracted. Right. Tori could eat it for me.
‘Riri, shall we give some honey to Tori?’
At my suggestion, Riri hesitated before approaching Tori.
“Tori eat?”
She seemed to be asking if he wanted some. Tori nodded his head vigorously.
“Kkoo-oong!”
Then, Riri looked at me as if asking for permission.
“Tori give okay?”
‘Of course. If you want to give it to him, go ahead.’
At my words, Riri held out her honey-filled hands to Tori.
“Eat!”
“Kkoo-oong!”
Tori swallowed a mouthful of honey with an excited expression, and then—
“Kkoo-oooong!”
His eyes snapped wide open. He started hopping around happily, clearly loving the taste. Is it that good? I’m glad he likes it. As I was thinking that, a window popped up.
The honey surges with vitality.
Effect:Resident/Tori's stats increase for 10 minutes.
‘...Huh?’
Tori’s stats are increasing? This honey... it had an effect? I hurriedly opened the Midgard resident window.
[Midgard Resident Window]
Name: Tori
Race: Totori
Rank: A (09:56)
Health: Good
Status: Excited
‘Wait, what???’
The honey’s effect was to raise their rank. He went from B+ to A! Even if it wasn’t a full tier, an increase was an increase. If I used this on Khan, he’d become A+, and if I used it on Riri, she’d become S+? And seeing the time in parentheses counting down, it seemed it could be maintained for about 10 minutes.
‘Amazing...!’
Even if it’s just for 10 minutes, an increase in stats is huge! This honey’s effect is incredible. It would be perfect to extract a lot and keep it in reserve for emergencies.
That was when Hylen, who had approached from the side, exclaimed in admiration.
“Oh! You’ve finally succeeded in extracting the honey!”
Right. Hylen, you’re just in time. I asked him urgently.
‘Hylen! The honey from my flowers! Did you know about its effects?’
“Ah, the World Tree’s honey? Of course I did.”
Then why didn’t you tell me? ‘Why didn’t you say anything?’
Hylen blinked at my question. “Eh? You didn’t ask, so I assumed you already knew.”
‘...’
I had nothing to say. Well, at least I know now. But Hylen continued.
“But it is surprising. Riri-nim was born only recently, yet she’s already able to extract honey.”
‘Ah... was extracting this difficult?’
Hylen replied to my question.
“I don’t know the exact details, but I understand it to be a high-level skill. You have to extract it carefully without harming the flower.”
‘Then can’t other Honey-Ring tribe members extract it?’
“That is correct. The World Tree’s honey can only be extracted by the Queen of the Honey-Ring tribe. The same goes for the pollen clusters.”
Oh. So there’s pollen clusters too, along with the honey? Riri then raised both hands and shouted.
“Riri can take out pollen! But pollen is small! Can’t take out yet!”
‘Yes, yes. Let’s take it out when you want to, Riri.’
I stroked Riri and asked Hylen.
‘Then can we just eat the pollen like the honey?’
I hoped it would be as useful as the honey. Hylen scratched his chin and said,
“The honey can be eaten as is for its effects. It’s said to make one stronger for a short time.”
He was talking about the rank increase like with Tori earlier. “However, the pollen is different. It does have healing properties, but it requires a certain type of processing.”
‘...Processing?’
“Yes. Otherwise, it cannot be used.”
That’s a problem. None of our residents have that kind of ability. As I was agonizing over this, Hylen spoke up first.
“Actually, among our group, there is someone capable of such processing. The problem is that we were scattered in the forest...”
‘Oh! But at least knowing someone exists is something.’
I’ll have to search for the elves more thoroughly from now on. As I showed interest, Hylen said triumphantly,
“Luan is quite an outstanding alchemist. It would be a great help if he came here...”
...Huh?
‘What was the name you just said?’
“Yes? The fellow’s name?”
‘Yes. The name... is it Luan?’
Hylen answered, looking puzzled. “Yes. Luan. He is a half-elf, but his skills are among the best of all the elves.”
Wait a minute. ‘Luan?’
I’ve heard that name somewhere before. Right. The original novel! He was in the original novel. I racked my brain, trying to recall the story’s contents.
The person the original protagonist and saintess, Lilia, met in the forest was none other than Luan. A beautiful young man with light blue hair and black eyes. He was the sub-male lead of this novel. True to being a sub-male lead, he was a bit passive but full of pure, devoted love. If he were an animal, he’d be like a puppy. As an outstanding alchemist, he was the kind of person who would constantly cheer Lilia on when she was struggling and stay up all night trying to be of help.
‘And later, he died at the hands of the demons in Lilia’s stead.’
A man who dies for the woman he loves so desperately. I was so heartbroken when I saw that. That was why Luan was a character as popular as the male lead. And I was one of the readers who cheered for Luan...
‘Don’t tell me that’s the guy?!’
***
“I have to verify it...”
Lilia was currently in Pirel Forest. During her previous visit, she had a hunch as a saintess. The holy energy emanating from this place. And the spirits, too. ‘There is definitely something more here.’ She felt she shouldn’t just let this feeling pass. So, she had snuck out of the temple and headed for the forest.
Of course, it wasn’t as if she hadn’t prepared. She had packed everything from all sorts of defensive magic tools to multiple teleportation scrolls to return to the temple. She wasn’t physically strong, but her defensive capabilities were among the best of any saintess in history. She could at least protect herself. If things went south, she could just use a scroll and run away.
‘Let’s just see if the World Tree is really here.’
The existence of a dragon hadn’t deviated much from the oracle’s content, but it hadn’t been a perfect match either. ‘Especially the part about it being in full bloom.’ Do people use the expression “in full bloom” when a dragon is born? ‘We must have missed something.’ So, just a little bit. Let’s take a look, just a little bit.
As she moved along, thinking that—
Rustle. Rustle.
Sensing movement nearby, she hid her body behind a nearby tree and took a peek.
“Grrr.”
It was a massive ogre. And not just any, but a triple-headed ogre. The fortunate thing was that it hadn’t spotted her yet.
‘Let’s quietly get out of here first.’
The moment she took a step, a hand shot out from the bushes and pulled her in.
“Eek!”
Before Lilia could even say anything, she was dragged into the bushes. There was someone inside. A beautiful young man with soft light blue hair and lovely black eyes. He took something out of his pocket and sprinkled it toward Lilia.
To the startled Lilia, he spoke quietly.
“Shh...! It’s a powder that masks your presence.”
A moment later, as the ogre moved away, the man said,
“Now... you may leave.”
At his words, Lilia stood up. She bowed her head toward the man.
“Thank you for helping me.”
The man scratched his head awkwardly and replied,
“It’s nothing. But what brings you here to Pirel Forest all alone...”
As the man asked cautiously, Lilia hesitated for a moment before answering.
“That is... let’s just say it’s a personal matter.”
She couldn’t tell a stranger about the oracle or that she had come to check if the World Tree existed. Lilia then asked bluntly,
“Then what brings you here?”
At her question, the man stammered, “Uh, uh...” before scratching his head and answering,
“Ah. I am looking for the World Tree.”
Lilia’s eyes widened at those words.
“...The World Tree?”
Then, does the World Tree really exist? This man was highly likely to have information about the World Tree. And the powder he had sprinkled. Did he say it masks one’s presence? ‘It felt like something he made himself.’ Moreover, the atmosphere he exuded was refreshing, and he didn’t seem like a bad person.
While she was thinking that, the man asked cautiously,
“Um... since we’ve met like this... shall we introduce ourselves?”
“Ah... ah? Yes? Introduce ourselves?”
“Yes. Introductions.”
The man scratched his head again, looking embarrassed.
“Ah... is that not allowed?”
Lilia was flustered by his words, then opened her mouth.
“Ah, no! I’m Lilia.”
“Ah... yes! My name is...”
The man smiled softly and said,
“Luan.”