Corruption (2)
The World Tree stood in the heart of the Contract Land. Though it was merely a small offshoot, its presence was one with the true World Tree itself. That was why no one could approach it carelessly. In the Holy Kingdom, elves would stand guard around it. But this was the middle of the Empire—no place for elves to linger. And so, the World Tree put forth a human to protect its offshoot: the summoner mage who had reached great heights, Ratral Heytald. To approach the World Tree, one needed his permission. And I knew better than anyone that things wouldn't go as I wished.
"Elraim, Nene."
I had already warned the two about this. I'd even told them how to handle a grand mage. With that, I opened the door to the log cabin.
Sure enough, there sat the old man in his rocking chair. As always, he stared into empty space, steam rising from the teacup on the table beside him. As I stepped forward, the caretaker looked up at us.
"What brings you all here in a group? More than that, it's not open today—be off with you."
"Is that so."
I ignored his words and stepped inside. The caretaker let out a deep sigh.
"I thought you were the reasonable sort..."
"Wouldn't acting on my own whims make me a scoundrel? That's just how I am."
"Must you?"
"Sorry, but I have business in the Contract Land."
The old man nodded as if he'd expected as much. Then he rose from his chair, releasing his mana as he spoke.
"You didn't think this old man was just a caretaker, did you?"
Mana dominated the space, pressing in from all sides. My skin prickled and tingled. This was him going easy. If he'd wanted, he could have burst our bodies apart in an instant. The mana control of an 8-circle mage was beyond imagination. But that power came not from realm mastery, but from sheer mana manipulation.
"Professor Ratral, you didn't take me for an ordinary student, did you?"
And I had my own knack for mana control. Not to mention the kids helping me out. My mana, along with Nene and the others', pushed back the old man's. A turbulent airflow arose from the mana clash between us. With Rana on my back, the summons redoubled their efforts.
"...How long have you known?"
The old man—no, Ratral—asked with a hardened face. At the same time, his disguise melted away. His face was utterly different from the caretaker's: brown hair still vibrant despite being over eighty, wrinkle-free, like a man in his mid-forties.
"Did Rana tell you?"
"I figured it out myself."
"Impressive. Even your father only spotted it on his second visit."
Ratral let out a sigh of admiration. Only someone on your father's level could see through the professor's disguise.
"Professor Ratral. If you clear the way, I'll be grateful."
"No."
He refused flatly.
"For Rana's sake, how could I not?"
"I keep telling you—no."
His emotions surged, and he shouted.
"She could die like that!"
"Who doesn't know that! But I can't bring Rana, corrupted by darkness, before Her!!"
"Even if it kills Rana...?"
Ratral closed his eyes, his whole body trembling. His anguish poured through unfiltered. Then, as if resigned, he opened them and murmured lowly.
"You're too young to understand, but that's a contract with a god. An absolute bond that must be upheld."
"Is that so..."
No, I knew that already. Gods were selfish bastards, utterly inflexible. They wouldn't grant a contractor's plea unless it benefited them—they just parroted demands to follow the contract like stubborn parrots, those fucking pricks.
"Drop the stubbornness and go home. Leave Rana too. I'll manage somehow..."
"No."
I cut Ratral off.
"For the record, this isn't a request—it's a notice."
And then I shouted.
"Elraim! Nene!"
"Yes, Young Master."
-Chirp!
As the responses came, Elraim charged with sword aura blazing, and Nene unleashed her full power.
"You shall not pass!"
Ratral deployed magic. Small summoning circles floated up before him. I seized the gap, surging my mana and closing in on him in a flash.
"Professor. No matter how young you look, you underestimated me too much."
I murmured low and swung my sword down.
Arden Swordsmanship, Fourth Form—Mana Breaker.
The destructive blade that crushed all pulverized the summoning circles and surrounding mana. Shattered mana fragments scattered, refusing to revert to nature—they swirled around Ratral. True to his experience, he immediately formed new circles. But the fragments burrowed into his spells, disrupting his casting.
"Without summons, a summoner isn't that threatening."
"With this petty trick...?"
"I can't overpower you, Professor—but I can buy time."
My goal was just to get past him. In that interval, Elraim and Phoenix Nene's pincer attack bore down. With magic sealed, he'd have to hold with just the summons.
"Elraim, I'm counting on you."
"Yes, Young Master. May you achieve what you desire."
-Screech!!
I slipped past Ratral and stepped into the Contract Land.
Clang!
Ratral parried the sword aura with his staff. In that moment, Ren's emerald horn glowed, vines sprouting from beneath him to bind him. Whoosh! Bird-shaped flames engulfed him. Ratral erected a mana barrier to block Nene's attack. Intricate, focus-demanding mana use like spells was tough, but raw mana manipulation was still possible. His counterattack passed harmlessly through. Not even a scorch mark on his clothes. No matter what the summons threw, they couldn't harm him. The gap between Ratral and them was that vast.
"Enough!"
Ratral's voice boomed then. A shout forceful enough to freeze bodies in place. Every living thing there but him halted.
"Why... why go this far?"
Ratral couldn't fathom why they attacked him so fiercely. Rana's summons obeyed only her—their love for her so intense they ignored even his words. And yet. They followed the scoundrel who always tried to keep them from Rana, of their own will. And above all.
"Didn't you hate that boy?"
Ratral asked Elraim. At their first meeting, her dislike for the scoundrel had been palpable. But now, it was the opposite. Absolute trust and goodwill radiated from her.
"Hearts can change anytime, can't they?"
"You could die."
If he willed it, he could end this pointless fight instantly. The reason he held back was the difficulty in controlling his power. Kyle Arden's swordsmanship—deleting mana across the area and using the debris to disrupt casting—had even a grand mage on the ropes.
"If the Young Master risks his life, why shouldn't I? And it's better than doing nothing for your granddaughter."
Elraim glared at Ratral with contempt. He shouted back.
"You think I want this?! Besides, this is dangerous for her too! Approaching a god carelessly invites their wrath!"
"Who on the continent doesn't know that? You know it too, Professor. And yet he went anyway, risking it all."
"You're impossible!"
Ratral gathered mana and shaped it. He had to catch up to Kyle Arden quickly. Who knew what might happen otherwise.
"I won't let you pass, no matter what."
Sword aura erupted fiercely from Elraim.
-Chirp!
Rana's summons echoed her from behind.
Boom!
Another clash erupted.
At the center of the Contract Land lay a hidden secret place: the space housing the World Tree's offshoot, called the Green Haven. But illusions cloaked the surroundings. Even passing the first gate—Ratral Heytald—meant facing the second, which barred entry without his token. No matter how one tried, they couldn't enter. But it wasn't a big issue for me. Following the set path let me slip the illusions and reach the Haven.
I took my final step out of the illusion's range.
"Hoo..."
There it was—the Haven's sight. A shallow lake at the center, a massive tree rising from its midst. That was the World Tree offshoot. Tiny compared to the main body, but still the largest tree in the Contract Land. The Haven brimmed with vibrant life. The World Tree's influence. Normally, Contract Land creatures gathered here—but not today. I waded through ankle-deep water toward the offshoot. The World Tree didn't hinder my ominous approach. I'd expected a clash here... but no.
I reached her. Gently laying Rana before it, I sat, assuming a meditative pose, and said,
"World Tree, I've come to make a deal."
Immediately, my vision flickered, and my mind was pulled in. A lush verdant expanse unfolded. Far greater vitality and life force than the Haven. Moving my senses brought the forest's comfort, the scent of flowers. Unlike a mortal's mindscape, the World Tree's felt utterly real. At its center sat a woman on a rock, stroking flowers—the World Tree herself. She wore clothes of leaves, a crown of flowers atop her green hair.
"Hm-hmm~"
I approached the humming woman. She didn't turn. Finally before her, the World Tree spun around with a cheerful voice.
"Kyle, long time no see?"
Nonsense.
"Have we met?"
"Ah, right. You were little then—you might not remember me."
The World Tree hopped down from the rock and stood before me.
"Still..."
She placed a hand on my shoulder, stroking down my back.
"To think that tiny kid grew into such a fine young man. Eight years since then? Humans grow so fast. If only my children did too."
Her touch didn't stop. And her hand started drifting lower. Irritated, I said,
"Cut it out. And drop the auntie talk."
"Oh my, Kyle. Where'd you learn such rude manners? Girls won't like you if you're like that."
"I said, stop."
I grabbed her wandering wrist.
"Fine, fine. Seeing a young man after so long got me excited. Or... is it because of Rana?"
"...Enough games. To business."
I had no time to play. Rana was nearing her limit.
"Ah, yes. You wanted a deal?"
"Yes."
"What kind?"
"Link my mind and Rana's. That's it."
I planned to enter her mind directly and purge the corruption. The surest way to restore her.
"Nothing else? Nothing more?"
"No need. Just do that."
The World Tree could do far more. She was a god for a reason. Transcendent beings were fundamentally different from mortals.
"Just link mindscapes..."
The World Tree pretended to ponder. Then,
"No. Why should I?"
Of course, this damn bitch refused.