Chapter 310
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 310
Chapter Title: World Tree (2)
The World Tree was dying.
Branches that blanketed the sky rained down in droves, and its trunk crumbled like a sandcastle.
“World Tree...”
The elves stared at the sight with dazed expressions.
Elves spend their entire lives with the World Tree. To them, its death was no different from the end of the world.
As their connection to the World Tree severed, the spirit power the elves harbored vanished. The effect was immediate.
“I, I can’t breathe...!”
“The spirits... I can’t feel the spirits!”
The elves clutched their throats and chests, crying out in agony. They wailed, grasping at the fading spirits.
But there was nothing the elves could do. All they could do was await death.
One by one, the elves gave up hope. Just as every elf had accepted their death, a change occurred.
“Huh?”
The top of the World Tree.
Light poured out from the chamber where the guardian resided.
The light spread like ripples, sweeping over the World Tree. In the next moment, something unbelievable happened.
The branches that had fallen to the ground began floating back up into the sky.
The branches returned to their places and reconnected. The leaves regained their vibrant green hue.
That wasn’t all. The trunk, crumbling like a sandcastle, began to restore itself.
The hollowed-out sections, gnawed as if by mice, returned to their original state. Vitality flowed through it once more.
The connection with the elves was restored as well. The elves could vividly feel their spirit power again.
“I, I can breathe!”
“I can feel the spirits’ energy again!”
The elves rejoiced greatly, yet they couldn’t help but be baffled.
The World Tree had clearly died.
Everyone present had felt it vividly.
So how had it come back to life?
No matter how great the World Tree was, overcoming death should have been impossible.
“We need to find out what happened!”
“I’ll go with you!”
The elves all rushed to the guardian’s chamber. Upon arriving, they witnessed yet another unbelievable sight.
The guardian’s chamber was filled with flowers.
These were no ordinary flowers. They were the World Tree’s blossoms, which bloomed only once every hundred years, if at all.
“W-what is this...”
Amid their bewilderment, the elves spotted Demian Haksen surrounded by the flowers.
The flowers had bloomed centered around Demian Haksen, as if paying homage to him.
Thanks to this, the elves realized the truth: Demian Haksen was the one who had revived the World Tree.
The World Tree’s homage didn’t end there.
A single branch extended toward Demian. At its tip, something unfurled.
It was about the size of a walnut.
It wasn’t a fruit of the World Tree. It was far smaller.
But as the seed opened, the elves felt a presence even stronger than any fruit.
“Demian... take it.”
The Empire’s Greatest Swordsman said in a trembling voice. Demian pointed at it and asked,
“What is this?”
“It’s the World Tree’s seed.”
Awe filled the Empire’s Greatest Swordsman’s voice.
“I’ve only heard tales of it, but I’m certain. That’s definitely the World Tree’s seed.”
Even the Empire’s Greatest Swordsman, who had handled all manner of treasures as one of the empire’s top figures, was visibly tense.
“It has borne seed only once in history. If you accept it, a sapling of the World Tree will take root in your body. You’ll be able to wield the World Tree’s power.”
Demian reached out and took the seed. In an instant, it was absorbed into his body.
At that moment, Demian felt it: the World Tree’s seed taking root in his soul.
Demian communed with the World Tree sapling. It whispered to him of what it could do.
Demian tested one of the sapling’s powers.
His senses expanded dramatically. The expanded senses blanketed the entire island.
They revealed everything on the island to Demian. Sensing it all, Demian marveled.
‘...I can even feel ants crawling on the ground.’
Wide-area detection was something Demian could already do.
But not with this level of detail. Right now, Demian felt like an omnipotent god overlooking the world from above.
But the World Tree’s power didn’t end there.
“Answer my call.”
Demian said curtly into the air. In that instant, flames flickered in the empty space. Wind gathered. Water droplets condensed.
Soon, they took the form of animals. A rabbit, a cat, and a puppy looked up at Demian.
Spirits.
Beings forbidden to humans had answered Demian’s call.
No, to be precise, they hadn’t answered Demian’s call. They had been drawn by the sapling.
But it didn’t matter. The sapling was Demian’s power.
“Demian, congratulations.”
The Empire’s Greatest Swordsman said sincerely.
No matter that it was a sapling, it was still the World Tree.
Demian now held the World Tree’s power in his grasp.
“...”
“...”
The elves looked at one another. Their emotions and expressions varied, but their intent was unified.
The elves knelt. They bowed their heads toward Demian.
It was unbelievable that these were the elves famous for scorning humans.
“We thank the Savior of Elfheim.”
Someone shouted it. Then all the elves cried out in unison.
“We thank the Savior of Elfheim!”
* * *
The next day, Demian prepared to leave Elfheim.
“I figured you’d be leaving.”
The Empire’s Greatest Swordsman saw him off, as if he had expected it.
“You already knew.”
“You’ve been obsessed with that lich named Dorgo. Now that he’s gone, there’s no reason for you to stay in Elfheim.”
The Empire’s Greatest Swordsman nodded as he spoke.
“There are still plenty of remnants left. Do you need my help?”
“Are you joking right now?”
The Empire’s Greatest Swordsman tilted his head and asked.
The remnants of Pandemonium’s army that remained were just that—remnants.
With the elves alone, it might be one thing, but with the Empire’s Greatest Swordsman there too, wiping them out was easier than eating cold porridge.
“I was just asking out of courtesy.”
“What do you plan to do from now on?”
“Find them and kill them.”
Demian’s voice turned icy for a moment.
“I’ll hunt down the demons and slaughter every last one. Dorgo, and all the demons who got in my way.”
A thick scent of bloodlust emanated from Demian’s voice and eyes.
“You’ve grown stronger.”
The Empire’s Greatest Swordsman murmured softly.
Any other knight might not notice, but he could sense Demian’s change clearly.
“Yes, I’ve made some progress.”
When he had drawn out the Death Knight’s power, Demian had gained enlightenment.
It was absurd. To gain something from the very power he had so despised.
“Not just some progress. You’re on the verge of Grandmaster.”
The Empire’s Greatest Swordsman looked at Demian with trembling eyes.
When he had first met Demian, he was merely Master-class.
Yet in that short time, he had reached the threshold of Grandmaster.
A genius? Could such a thing truly be described with that word?
The Empire’s Greatest Swordsman felt chills run through his entire body.
“Demian, I owe you a great debt for this. If you ever need a favor, just say the word.”
“Then may I ask for one right now?”
“Of course.”
“When you return to the empire, please send knights to my family.”
The Empire’s Greatest Swordsman immediately understood why Demian made such a request.
“It’s because of the demons.”
Demons were unpredictable; who knew where they might flee.
With such dangerous beings taking an interest in Demian, his family would be his first concern.
“I’ll select the finest knights and send them.”
“Thank you.”
Demian expressed his brief gratitude and boarded the small canoe.
It was modest in size, but made from the World Tree’s branch, so it would have no trouble returning to the continent.
“Then I’ll be off.”
It was as Demian unfurled the sail. Suddenly, a storm raged from the sky above.
Fierce winds poured down on the spot where the two stood. Soon, a black shadow blanketed the ground.
Demian and the Empire’s Greatest Swordsman looked up.
A dragon.
A red dragon was descending toward them. The sudden storm had been caused by its wingbeats.
“A dragon?”
Demian muttered in surprise.
Dragons were a race that had vanished from the continent long ago.
Even in his previous life, Demian had never seen a living dragon.
The red dragon that landed on the ground roared at the two.
-Which of you is Demian Haksen?
It hadn’t raised its voice particularly, yet the surroundings rang with the echo.
-I’m asking! Who is Demian Haksen!
Demian and the Empire’s Greatest Swordsman exchanged baffled looks.
“I am Demian Haksen.”
-Good. The Elder Council seeks you to explain this incident!
The red dragon glared at Demian as it spoke.
-It’d be wise to come quietly. Otherwise, you won’t like what happens!
The red dragon spread its wings.
Scorching hot winds spread in all directions. It was an overwhelming presence, as if a natural disaster had taken form.
“...Oh-ho.”
The problem was that the Demian Haksen standing before it was not the sort to be intimidated by such a display.
On the contrary, Demian felt anger slowly rising within him.
“What if I say I won’t follow you?”
-A foolish question! I’ll swallow you whole and take you! Unless you want to feel your body melting in stomach acid until we reach the Elder Council, obey me!
“Oh, is that so.”
Demian opened his interspatial storage. He pulled out a hexagonal club.
As Demian drew the club, the red dragon narrowed its eyes and asked,
-Human, what do you think you’re doing? Don’t tell me you intend to resist...
At that moment, Demian Haksen leaped above the red dragon’s head. He swung the club down onto its crown.
The air exploded, slamming the red dragon’s head into the ground.
-Kuhk!
In agony from its skull ringing, the red dragon screamed.
“You empty-headed lizard brat. Do I look insane enough to follow a shady bastard like you?”
Demian said, resting the club on his shoulder.
Standing atop the dragon’s head, Demian tapped the club lightly.
“You answer my questions first. Why have dragons reappeared? Why does the Elder Council want me? Explain in detail.”
-How dare a mere human touch the body of the great race!
The red dragon reared its head in fury.
In that instant, Demian lunged forward. Gripping the club with both hands, he uppercut the red dragon’s belly.
-Kehk!
The red dragon’s massive body soared into the sky before crashing down.
By now, even the red dragon realized something was off.
“My mood was already foul, so this works out perfectly.”
Demian said, tapping the club against his palm.
At the sound, the red dragon’s face paled.
-W-wait...
Demian swung the club at the red dragon’s snout.
The dragon’s teeth shattered with a crash.