Chapter 73
Chapter 73
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 73
Chapter Title: The Woodcutters of the Lumber Camp
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World Tree.
A tree whose branches stretch so high they're called the tree of the world.
I'd heard a few stories about the World Tree in the elves' homeland of Alfheim.
Its towering branches supposedly reach all the way to the heavens, and its deep roots extend down to the underworld.
Even in old Korea, any large, ancient tree in a village was revered as a guardian deity, called a village shrine tree.
I could understand the impulse to worship massive trees to some extent.
Of course, in this boastful world where a house cat could pass for a lion, those tales were probably exaggerated.
But it had to be an enormously grand tree to earn worship as the World Tree. I was curious to see just how big it was for myself.
Even those village shrine trees came with superstitions that plucking leaves or snapping branches would bring ill fortune.
Shit, setting fire to that massive, sacred World Tree? Elfriede was even crazier than I'd thought.
"I've heard rumors of a white-haired elf spotted in the city of Calcuta, though I don't know the details."
I downplayed my connection to Elfriede as much as possible, ending on a casual note like "or so I've heard."
The last thing I wanted was this bald elf taking an interest in me and prying with questions.
"Calcuta. I've heard of it—the city where the underworld labyrinth was first discovered. Famous as the gateway to hell... Yes, she could well be there."
The bald Kalidur muttered to himself like a monk caught in the rain before reaching his conclusion.
I thought that wrapped up the awkward conversation, but he stuck around watching me finish clearing the dishes.
"What else?"
"This is just my personal curiosity as a humble monk. Might I touch that necklace of yours?"
I'd noticed his piercing stares now and then. He must have been intrigued by the necklace I wore, Pluto's Pupil.
The spiky, medallion-sized star-shaped pendant did draw eyes from all sorts of people.
With my already conspicuous build and demeanor—like a awl poking out of a pocket in my bag—adding this odd necklace only amplified it.
But it was a heroic relic worth a hefty sum, so handing it over for just anyone to touch? Gold coins numbering in the teens—that outvalued everything I owned combined. Hell, my life might be cheaper. What if he bolted with it?
I couldn't hide my suspicious glare, but the bald elf added a few more words.
"No need to take it off your neck. I'll just place my hand on that star-like point. Not to brag, but I have a natural talent for sensing mana."
If I didn't have to hand over the whole thing, there wasn't much to worry about.
I finished roughly packing the dishes, stretched my back, stood up, and placed the necklace in his hand.
But then the bald Kalidur started shaking violently.
"Uuugh—."
A groan like an electrocuted man's escaped from the gap in his bushy beard. What the hell? A vibrating bald guy?
"Ughhk!"
He screamed and flung the necklace from his hand. It felt like my possession had been treated like dirt, which soured my mood a bit.
"What was that seizure? Something wrong?"
"Huh, it seems the item itself rejects me. It's like a custom-made piece for someone specific."
"Hmm—."
I had no idea what he meant, but maybe it was bound to me?
I'd planned to sell it for gold if worst came to worst. If it was soulbound, who would even buy it? The price would tank.
"I've heard wilderness folk have exceptional mental strength, but this exceeds my expectations. Truly worthy of the title 'innate warrior.'"
And so the amusing chat with the funny monk ended. Night had deepened, and I was hungry, so sleeping to conserve stamina was the smart move.
We only had one small tent.
"Bo! Shit! I win!"
Luna won rock-paper-scissors and claimed the tent.
The rest of us huddled by the campfire under blankets. Luckily, the logging site was warmer than expected, so roughing it outdoors was no issue.
* * *
The next morning.
I woke to Luna dangling her pink hair across my face, tickling it. For a second, I thought I'd died and was seeing an angel.
"Morning, Hassan."
"Tch, feels like I just closed my eyes and it's morning already."
I'd been on edge about tree monsters ambushing us mid-sleep, so my rest was shallow, leaving my body heavy.
Splash—.
Splashing water from my leather canteen on my face chased away the drowsiness, sharpening my mind decently.
As we packed our camp gear back into bags and scarfed down dried meat and small biscuits for breakfast, party leader Rene spoke up.
"We'll wrap this up today. From what Joseph said, the necromancer isn't even Bronze tier or higher. We rush 'em, and it'll be fine."
It felt too slapdash, but most business in this world got handled this way.
Still, having someone step up as leader to guide the group counted as pretty organized.
"Did you sleep well, Hassan?"
Luna yawned hugely, her mouth stretching wide. Unwashed, her pink hair stuck out in wild tufts everywhere.
"Nah, barely."
"I slept great! In the tent."
"Yeah, sure."
Was she teasing? Nah, Luna didn't seem the type for petty malice. She was just stating facts.
"Alright, let's move. We're almost there."
At Rene's command, the party marched on.
Each clutched a lumberjack axe from Joseph. After some rest, everyone was in better shape than yesterday—no complaints about the pace!
Crunch, creak.
"Nice to see you again, you bastards! Daring to humiliate me yesterday!"
As we neared the hideout where the necromancer was holed up, stump tree monsters began popping out sporadically.
The second we spotted them, Rene charged without discussion or tactics. A tank rushing in first? Shit, she'd fail tank quals.
Whoosh, crash!
Unlike yesterday's struggles, though, Rene cleaved through the stumps effortlessly with her iron axe.
"It's heavy, but this axe works great."
Enchanted, maybe? Worth the 20 silvers per axe, apparently.
"Hassan, look! I'm chopping stumps!"
Luna swung her axe too, hacking at the tree monsters.
She couldn't bisect them cleanly, but with proper axe swings—multiple chops—she toppled one easily.
"See? I'm actually super strong! My voodoo level went up!"
What did axe work have to do with voodoo levels? Luna's voodoo covered a broad spectrum, unbound by concepts. Fitting for a goddess's daughter—big vessel.
Mmmuuuh....
"Quiet!"
Luna smashed the writhing fallen tree monster to bits. She shoved an empty leather canteen into its sap-bleeding corpse to collect the fluid, not forgetting.
"Why collect their sap like that? You drink it too?"
"Can't eat this sap. But harden it, and it's great glue. Now I can remake my face mask!"
Face mask? I recalled the huge wooden mask she'd worn when we met—smashed in that thug scuffle.
I'd forgotten since no mention, but Luna had kept it in mind.
"You fuckers! Quit screwing around and kill the stumps fast! This a picnic?"
Rene's angry shout had me grabbing the battle axe on my back.
This was a special loan from Joseph: a plain iron axe, heavy and sturdy, no enchantments.
The hefty head shifted the balance from a sword, gripping the handle tight made my forearms strain.
Crunch, cruuunch.
Just then, a stump lunged at sap-collecting Luna with its rigid body.
She didn't react in time, so I swung my axe full force into its trunk.
A full-power horizontal swing smashed it.
Crack—!
The stump's body splintered like thin boards, shards flying everywhere.
"Shit, I'm fucking strong!"
Thanks to Luna's bonus points, my strength hit 5—double a normal person's.
My freakish strength, handiwork, and axe experience? Stumps couldn't withstand it.
"Tree bastards, you're all dead!"
Momentum carried me, swinging the massive axe left to right, right to left. Each crunching smash cleared my head.
"Hoo—."
After felling about ten, the recoil from swinging the heavy weapon hit. Stamina drained, gasping, head spinning.
But I'd cleared the surrounding trees, so I caught my breath easily.
"Quite the savage axe work. Crude skill, but it suits that lump of iron well. Why not try blunt weapons like clubs over swords?"
The bald elf Kalidur praised me nonstop for dropping stumps. Flattery or not, praise-weak me felt smug.
Did I suit something other than swords?
Anyway, we'd dropped about twenty stumps. The attacking ones retreated hesitantly somewhere.
"Chase 'em!"
Rene sped up, pursuing alone. We hustled after.
Soon, we spotted stumps vanishing into a cave in a rocky cliff. Suspicious as hell.
It screamed "evil lair" vibes.
"Let's go in."
Leader Rene strode ahead boldly, confidence boosted from chopping trees with the magic axe.
But having clashed with necromancers alongside Hippolyte, I tensed up.
"Very dark. Eerie atmosphere, like walking Niflheim. Want to finish quick and leave."
Kalidur muttered as we traversed the spacious cave. As we went deeper, light faded, vision dimming.
"Light a torch?"
Rene reached for one on her back when Luna freaked out, stopping her.
"Nooo. Sap hardened everywhere. Light a fire, and it'll blaze up—we won't breathe."
True enough, solidified resin dotted the area. No torches in the dark? One option left.
I clenched my free hand—axe in the other—activating Grace. My palm glowed like a bizarre lantern.
"What? How?"
Rene marveled at the sudden brightness, tongue out.
I was just as amazed. Still not used to my hand glowing.
Swish—.
Then the bald elf grabbed my hand, startling me into near-scream.
『Name: Kalidur Lv. ??
Status: Libido Decline | Degenerated Muscle | Protein Deficiency | World Tree Brand | Ruthless』
I yanked away, yelling.
"What the fuck, grabbing my hand out of nowhere!?"
Homo? Male love was mainstream here—always cautious. Sudden coming out? Shit, bald bastard.
"Don't grab!"
"Ah, sorry. Wanted to check if it emitted heat. Some Alfheim high monks project aura from fists like this, but it's different."
Had to touch? Elves' thinking was alien—couldn't get used to it.
Annoyed, but my glowing palm lit the dark cave for progress.
"Hassan, look—tracks."
"Real deal. That path?"
Broken branches and leaves scattered, then mummified beast and human corpses greeted us, dried husks.
Deeper in, a vast cavern or plaza appeared.
High ceiling, wide walls—chest-opening space. But it felt like a final stage, tension maxed.
"Careful—anything could come."
Rene's warning: party gripped weapons tight.
Soon, a eerie voice echoed through the wide cave at our ears.
"Who breaks my precious trees? Mars's dogs."
A woman in black cloth stepped forward.
Thin fabric like dancers wore—identical to Luna's.
But not erotic like hers; just "is this okay?" vibes.
Reason: high exposure on a very young-looking body.
Crimson short bob, short pointy ears protruding hinted at it.
A nymph. Having met innkeeper's wife Echo, I knew the race somewhat.
"I am Priestess of Pluto, Paranoya. You—."
As the nymph necromancer began explaining.
Thud—.
Something zipped past me, mercilessly chopping her tiny nape with a hand blade.
"Guhk!"
Paranoya collapsed with a death rattle.
Shit, what just happened?
We just blinked at bald elf Kalidur, dusting his hands.
"Does this count as quest complete?"