Chapter 52
Chapter 52
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 52
Chapter Title: World Tree Sprout (2)
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“Why, why are you doing this?”
“Step aside for now.”
The half-elves tensed at the sight of Rokan striding toward them but held their ground firmly. It was understandable—they were staking their lives on harvesting that World Tree sprout. Rokan, however, didn’t care and took immediate action.
He could keep persuading them like the user who discovered this method, but did he really need to bother?
In the end, results spoke for themselves.
“Eek!”
“No!”
After lightly shoving them aside in a brief scuffle, Rokan pulled out an intermediate stamina potion from his inventory and poured it over the World Tree sprout.
It was a waste to use something so valuable on just one, but it was the fastest and most reliable way to see results.
“Humans after all…!”
Chaeng!
Thinking they’d been tricked, perhaps, the half-elves who failed to stop Rokan’s sudden move drew their weapons, burning with hostility.
Clang.
But the next moment, they dropped their weapons wordlessly upon seeing the World Tree sprout begin to change. Their jaws hung open, unable to continue.
[Grown World Tree Sprout]
The sprout had grown a little. It was a subtle difference that other races might not notice without checking the item info, but half-elves were different.
They recognized the minute change and were stunned.
To think there was a way to grow it like this. Unable to close their gaping mouths, they could only alternate stares between Rokan and the grown sprout.
“What are you waiting for? Harvest it quick.”
Rokan replied coolly to them, as if it were no big deal.
Once the harvesting was done, he added one more line.
“Let’s go. Better to gather as many as possible, right?”
Nod, nod.
Leading the now meek half-elves once more, he traversed Tekalona Forest, heading toward their destination.
Naturally, he harvested any World Tree sprouts they spotted along the way.
Not only corrupted forest spirits but also a few random additional monster types appeared, but none were a match for Rokan.
Without combination skills, they were barely above mine kobold level to him.
“Rokan!”
After slaying the monsters, the half-elves now naturally called out to Rokan.
‘Feels a bit like I’ve suckered them, but…’
Of course, that wasn’t their intention. They were too pure and naive to scheme at that level. He was just helping because their interests aligned.
Rokan chuckled and approached them, pulling out potions. But not the intermediate stamina potion from before. Even for him, he couldn’t casually use something worth 1 gold.
He held the lowest-grade stamina potion and a low-grade one.
He’d cover quality with quantity.
Splash, splash.
“Uh… Rokan…”
Even after dumping one vial, then two, with no change, the half-elves voiced their confusion.
What was going on?
Rokan knew, but they had no clue and could only panic.
‘Hmm, not enough, huh.’
One more vial, then another. Rokan silently kept pouring without a word. He didn’t know how many more it would take for a proper effect. He just kept trying.
After about five more vials, the change finally came.
“Aah!”
“We believed in you!”
Unlike the rejoicing half-elves, Rokan’s expression soured. He’d brought plenty just in case, but the efficiency was abysmal.
At this rate, dumping an intermediate stamina potion might’ve been the better choice.
“Um, there’s one more here…”
Then a subtle voice drew Rokan’s attention. In that moment, an idea flashed through his mind.
‘Wait, does it have to be a potion?’
According to the user who found this method, regular water wouldn’t work. Purified water could even kill the sprout, which needed to absorb natural energy to grow.
But what Rokan thought of wasn’t ordinary water.
“Uh, what’s that…?”
When Rokan pulled out a different vial, question marks appeared on the half-elves’ faces. A change in potion grade was one thing, but this had a completely different color. A totally different liquid.
Rokan poured it without answering.
The liquid was none other than water from Clear Lake. It looked like pure water but held pristine energy, even restoring mana just from drinking—a special water.
He hated wasting expensive stamina potions, and he wondered if this natural alternative might be better for plants than alchemy-made potions.
“Whoa!”
The effect was immediate. The World Tree sprout grew dramatically, faster than he could’ve imagined.
Luck was on his side—no corrupted spirit appeared.
[World Tree Sapling]
Pouring another full vial shot it straight to sapling stage. Shock filled the half-elves’ faces, a smile curved Rokan’s lips.
‘Heh, what was the reward again?’
Even just the grown sprouts would yield hefty rewards, but saplings? Plus, Clear Lake water was free, and the location was still saved in his Rune Book. Instead of buying pricey mana potions, he’d bought empty vials and filled them with lake water.
Which meant he could turn every World Tree sprout he found into a sapling.
Directing the half-elves to harvest again, Rokan kept moving, producing more saplings. They took up more space, but since it was a quest, they either had inventories or it didn’t matter—they scooped them up effortlessly.
“Here, over here!”
By the time they reached the heart of Tekalona Forest as intended, the half-elves buzzed with excitement.
A field of World Tree sprouts lay before them. Roughly thirty or so, meaning at least a dozen monsters would spawn.
Luck in drawing them would be key.
“Since we’re at it, let’s end this in one go.”
After eyeing them briefly, Rokan made his call. He’d summon all the corrupted spirits at once.
Simple reason: the sprouts could get trampled otherwise.
Better to risk it once than repeatedly.
“Leave it to us.”
When Rokan explained the situation and plan, the half-elves’ eyes sparkled. Having been ready to risk their lives for the World Tree lumber, their resolve shone through.
“Then, let’s begin.”
As they took positions, Rokan counted down.
“3, 2, 1… Now!”
Splash!
The Clear Lake water he’d gathered in a bucket was sprayed all at once, via one half-elf’s spirit magic.
-Kuoooooh!
With that, a misty aura rose around them. The corrupted spirits emerged simultaneously.
“Shield!”
“Aqua Shield!”
“Divine Shield!”
The half-elves unleashed their powers in time. Defensive spells from mages, spiritists, and priests protected themselves and the saplings at their feet.
“Krraaaaaah!”
Meanwhile, Rokan unleashed a mad roar. It cowed the aggressively charging corrupted spirits and drew all eyes to him.
“Over here!”
He didn’t forget to hurl hand axes at the distant ones to pull aggro. Their focus shifted from the half-elves, and Rokan slowly retreated, repositioning the battlefield.
“Let’s play!”
Kieeeek!
The corrupted spirits’ attacks were fierce. Tree monster vines lashed out to snag him, grotesque birds dove from the sky with razor beaks.
The moment he dodged, a bulldog with jaws that could crush stone lunged from his blind spot.
Over a dozen of them. No combination skills made them manageable, but still dangerous even for Rokan.
He wanted to take them one by one, but their relentless pressure left no openings, making it hard to focus.
Without his experience and control, he’d have taken heavy damage or been overwhelmed already.
“Fine, if that’s what you want. Berserk!”
Realizing minor counters wouldn’t cut it, Rokan activated Berserk without hesitation.
Unleashing the immense dormant power and euphoria within, he turned the tide.
Thud.
A bulldog-form spirit lunging for flesh froze mid-air, gripped tight.
Rokan shoved his hand into its maw—fingers be damned—and seized its jaws, dropping his weapon to grab the upper teeth with both hands.
Crack, craaaack. Spurt!
He ripped its mouth apart with raw force. Absurd strength, possible only for Rokan under Berserk.
“Krraaaaaah!”
Another mad roar erupted.
The true madman’s cry, amplified by Berserk. The charging foes froze instantly.
That was enough.
Rokan instantly mapped all enemies’ positions and launched himself first. Paths to toy with them materialized in his mind, his body moving in sync.
Now, he dictated the fight.
“Lethal Strike!”
First, the annoying birds. Luckily not too high—his reach was fine. The strike warped its form.
Kiek!
Normal attacks had 30% crit chance, but even without, his upgraded weapon shredded flesh and feathers on a graze.
The bird flapped desperately at Rokan’s leap but toppled, wing severed, crashing down.
“Throw!”
Rokan grabbed the flailing body and hurled it into the rest, toppling more.
Splat.
With each step, fallen monsters’ heads burst, brains staining his feet.
He kited the tankiest tree monsters while pulverizing the bird and dog forms first.
Even mindless ones trembled, desperate to flee from his overwhelming presence.
“Hmph! Pathetic runts.”
Despite their sacrificial charges, Rokan’s HP had dropped only 20% from full. Even with Berserk’s penalty, he had margin.
It wasn’t proper combat—just one-sided beating—so he took minimal damage.
“Set up a safe zone. Rest up a bit.”
“Of course!”
But fighting with aftereffects lingering was still risky. Back with the half-elves, Rokan set a safe zone once they finished harvesting and took a leisurely break.
Only after all Berserk aftereffects faded did they move again.
No more sprouts to find, but Tekalona Forest’s core crawled with up to level 130 monsters.
One alone he could handle, but two or more? No guarantee he could protect them while fighting.
“Thank you. Truly, thank you. We half-elves will never forget this grace.”
Carefully picking their way out, the half-elves began to fade as they exited the forest. Quest complete.
The task was securing their safety and escorting to Crossroads, but tailing them all the way back made no sense. It was a game, after all.
So their forms blurred and vanished.
They’d be waiting in Crossroads by now.
“This wraps up the certification quests nicely.”
Knowing that, Rokan activated his Rune Book without worry. Destination: Crossroads. The gnome certification was simple, so all race quests done.
Now, just reap a bountiful reward!