Chapter 97
Chapter 97
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 97
Chapter Title: Communing with the World Tree
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Eres stretched her hand toward my head. But with that stature, it naturally couldn't reach my head.
"You insolent brat. Are you refusing to lower your head?"
As I stared blankly, a sharp-tongued remark flew my way. I reluctantly dropped to one knee to lower my posture, and Eres placed her tiny hand on my head.
"Mental attacks won't work on me anymore, though?"
"When did I say I was attacking? A mental barrier is something you control yourself. I'll act as the conduit to resonate with the World Tree, so open your mind."
I'd never tried it before, but there was no reason for Eres to deceive me, so I focused my mind to open it.
A tickling sensation spread through my head. It felt like something was prying at the shell encasing my mind, trying to slip inside. But it wasn't forceful.
Eres removed her hand.
"Now it's do—"
Eres pressed her middle finger against her thumb and held it up to my forehead. Her tiny hand was adorable.
Snap!
I was wondering what she was doing when a flick to the forehead came flying. Already crouched down, I toppled backward from the hit. My skull is the hardest part of my body, yet the impact made my head ring. There was no way that small body had muscles, and I didn't sense any aura or other energy. It felt less like physical impact and more like something shaking my very soul. Truth be told, I'd found her smaller size a bit comical, but no matter how small she was, Eres was still Eres.
"Can't you open your mind?"
"I did open it?"
I rubbed my forehead.
"It didn't open. Again. If you don't open it this time, you'll get hit again."
She treats people roughly, just like me.
While traveling with Eres in Tellus, my skill ranks and stats didn't rise much. But thanks to her training me like a dog, I could fully utilize my existing abilities. Surviving the fight with the dragon and returning was largely due to that special training.
So, Eres treating me roughly now would surely benefit me too. Still, on the other hand, I was glad she wasn't always on Earth.
"Head again."
She wiggled her stubby index finger.
Snap! Snap! Snap!
The sound of flicks echoed repeatedly beneath the World Tree. No matter how much I reinforced my head or wrapped it in aura, I couldn't defend against it. What the hell?
"Ah! I told you I opened it!"
I thought Eres was lifting her hand from my head to hit me again.
"It's done now."
As I looked up at Eres's words, there was a child standing in front of the World Tree, with green leaves instead of hair. Maybe around three years old? Smaller than Eres now, and sleek-bodied, with no discernible gender.
"That's the World Tree's spirit."
[Why are you stealing my life force?]
The World Tree's spirit scowled. But its cute appearance made it feel non-threatening.
"Sorry. But if you root yourself here, the people living nearby will be in danger."
[Why?]
"The mountains around here have a massive volcano. It could erupt, or your roots could go too deep and cause earthquakes."
[If I don't cause earthquakes or make the volcano erupt, you won't take my life force?]
"What? Is that possible?"
[I can talk to the mountains and avoid the dangerous spots.]
"The mountains have spirits too?"
[Spirits? Do they?]
The World Tree's spirit tilted its head.
"Mountains, like Earth, lack precise consciousness. They simply have will. But Eres or the World Tree's spirit can communicate with them to a minimal degree because we're so similar."
"This World Tree is young and already has a spirit body? But a spiritually rich mountain like Baekdu doesn't have a spirit or incarnation?"
"World Trees are lifeforms that inherently possess spirit bodies."
Eres squatted with legs spread, picking her ear and blowing into it. Her whole body screamed that she found answering annoying. When she was tall, her arrogance suited her well enough that I didn't notice, but seeing her like that in this body made my blood boil.
"Fine, then please do that. And can you get rid of the poison in that tree shade over there?"
[No, I can't.]
"Why?"
[My mission is to absorb filth and spread life force to the world. And where there's a lot of filth, a lot of poison mist is inevitable to purify it. Once purification is done, the poison will disappear too.]
"Is the area around here that dirty?"
It was hard to fathom anywhere cleaner than Baekdu.
[There's a lot of this underground.]
The tree roots writhed, and a single drum barrel surfaced.
Looking closely, it was a yellow barrel plastered with nuclear waste symbols and skull markings. It must have been buried before North Korea collapsed. The Korean government prioritized shutting down nuclear and bioweapon facilities after the collapse, but they couldn't find ones not on paper.
"This was just buried in the ground? Not in a concrete building or anything?"
[No, just in the dirt.]
My head throbbed.
"Were any of them open?"
[Some were open. And even the closed ones are leaking contaminants.]
"At least it's a relief the World Tree is purifying them."
Cold sweat broke out for a moment, but knowing the World Tree was handling the purification eased my mind, and now business ideas flooded in.
"Of course. World Trees are vital to all lifeforms even in Tellus. Plus, isn't this near your country? It's an immense boon for your nation."
"Because of the abundant life force?"
"Exactly. The Empire grew as strong as it is today because it settled near a World Tree. Moreover, Earth's humans lack mana resistance, don't they? Being around a World Tree, even without resistance, won't hurt them—instead, the strong life force will help them adapt to mana and gain power."
An unexpected benefit. More ideas on how to exploit this came to mind. Once this incident calms down, I need to make use of it in every way.
"World Tree. From now on, can you grow bigger only southward, not northward? Just be careful not to cause earthquakes or eruptions."
I pointed north and south with my finger as I spoke.
[Yeah. I can do that.]
It nodded and replied. You shouldn't judge a World Tree by human standards, but seeing this kid-like World Tree nod and speak clearly was utterly adorable.
[Besides, I hated the northern ones anyway—they kept setting my body on fire.]
We had attacked too, but it was so minor it didn't even register. It was fortunate we'd held off on massive bombing until fully assessing the earthquake and volcanic risks.
"If the World Tree had malicious intent, it could have wiped us all out. Be grateful it's a good child."
Indeed, even walking trees are a hassle in numbers, but if this colossal tree attacked in earnest, it'd be hopeless.
Soon, the World Tree's trunk began growing toward where I stood, so I stepped back. It couldn't move what had already grown, so it shifted its growth direction southward.
"I need to let the outside know."
[They're coming again?]
"Few can communicate with the World Tree. It's a lonely existence that works for others without recognition."
"Eres, can't you resonate with others like you did with me?"
"Ordinary minds can't resonate with a World Tree. Can an ant talk to a human? Your mind is freakishly sturdy for a human, that's why this is possible."
She always has to phrase things so bluntly.
"Fine, I'll come again."
I patted the World Tree's head. It wasn't solidly corporeal, nor did my hand pass right through—it felt strangely off-kilter.
[Bye~]
The World Tree's spirit waved goodbye to us.
"Hunter Lee Ji-seok! Are you alright?! That tree keeps growing southward!"
Bureau Chief Baek Young-shin asked anxiously.
"It's good. No earthquakes or eruptions."
"Er... Are you sure?"
"Why is this guy so fidgety?"
"Who is this child?"
Bureau Chief Baek Young-shin and the people around stared at Eres.
"Huh? First time seeing her? Eres, you came straight here from Tellus?"
"Why would I go anywhere else?"
Eres crossed her arms and declared proudly.
"Bureau Chief, this is Eres, the Incarnation of Darkness from Tellus."
Bureau Chief Baek Young-shin tilted his head with a "This person?" expression as he looked at Eres.
"Cold-faced tall beauty. Oh ho. Is that how you described me?"
Eres read Bureau Chief Baek Young-shin's mind.
"...That's not wrong, is it?"
"You insolent brat. You called me a beauty, so I'll let it slide this once."
"...Thank you."
"Ahem..."
Bureau Chief Baek Young-shin, having his mind read, coughed awkwardly.
I briefly explained to everyone what happened inside.
"Phew... What a relief, but I need to report to the higher-ups quickly. They were freaking out because the tree keeps growing and dema—"
Even after Bureau Chief Baek Young-shin left to report, the World Tree continued growing southward, and China kept bombing relentlessly, destroying most of the growth that crossed the border.
* * *
Inside China's monster tree subjugation temporary command post, boisterous laughter echoed.
"That's right! How could those Korean weaklings who can't even stop a mere tree compare to the great People's Republic of China! Hahaha!"
People's Liberation Army Major General Huang Bao laughed heartily upon receiving the results report.
"We just need to gather the remaining roots and branches and incinerate them to finish the job."
S-Rank Hunter Hong Rong reported the situation. Hong Rong was one of the few in the world who fought without weapons, a boxer famous for his fluid offense-defense switches using footwork and Taijiquan.
"Then I'll withdraw first... What are you looking at?"
Hong Rong spotted something like red embers fluttering from the World Tree's leaves toward the south.
"Something like red energy clumps is flying away."
The commander widened his eyes and looked at the World Tree, but saw nothing.
Countless red light clumps fell to the ground or onto trees and people. Grass sprouted where they landed, trees visibly shot up, and people's faces gained vitality.
"......"
"What is it? Speak!"
Huang Bao yelled at the silent Hong Rong. Hong Rong could kill this fat, pig-like commander with one finger, but he had to swallow his anger. The reason he endured this treatment was his family held hostage in Beijing.
Officially, it was to protect S-Rank Hunter families and give them top treatment. But two years ago, when another hunter rampaged, killed an army officer, and fled, that hunter's family was executed as an example. Thus, Hong Rong and many others couldn't defy the military lightly.
"Life force is spreading to Korea. It's showing potion-level recovery... no, regeneration power."
"Wha... What? The wind isn't only blowing south—why only to Korea?!"
"It's not riding the wind. The tree is sending it—that's the only explanation...."
"Nonsense!! Contact the informant we planted in Korea!"
Soon, the information from the informant pushed Huang Bao's rage to its peak.