Chapter 165
Chapter 165
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Forest of Bewildering Dreams (8)
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Kadim first tracked down his companions and rejoined them.
Both of them looked dreadful, probably from getting thoroughly hammered the night before. He wasn't much better off himself, with his mouth and collar soaked in blood.
The two pressed him in unison about what on earth had happened. He brushed it off, saying he'd gone far into the forest to scout around. Duncan kept glancing nervously at the archaeologist even after his questions ended, hemming and hawing for a good while longer. It seemed he'd carried out the task Kadim had assigned him. They'd check the results later; for now, Kadim impressed upon him to keep his mouth shut.
If there was any bad news, it was that despite all the heavy drinking the previous night, they had to drink again. After watching the two knock back their liquor with faces rotting away.
Kadim led the group to the thing he'd discovered.
"Huh……? What…… is this……."
"This is……."
The two forgot their hangovers entirely and gaped in awe. Kadim jerked his chin toward Ilenia.
"To me, that thing looks like the source behind this forest's madness. Am I right, archaeologist?"
"Uh…… yes……. From what I can see…… it seems that way……."
Ilenia swallowed hard. Her bright yellow eyes fixed in place like they'd been nailed there. The rest of the group's gazes locked on the same spot.
A colossal 'tree' loomed ahead.
Even a casual glance revealed its extraordinary presence. Towering dozens of times taller than any man, its trunk thick enough to hold thousands of rings, turquoise mist cascading down like sea foam, a rhythmic resonance echoing through the air…… Even those accustomed to the grotesque, seaweed-like monster trees couldn't help but marvel at its supernatural aura.
Yet anyone with decent observation skills would spot other oddities as well.
Duncan noticed them late and cried out in confusion.
"Whoa, m-my lord? But this tree…… its leaves are way too big, aren't they? And the base looks kinda shaky……."
He was right.
The 'tree's' leaves were enormous, each one so large that from a distance, it looked like banners draped in layers. And for a giant like that, the roots should have been thick and protruding at the base to support it, but this 'tree' had a barren trunk stabbed straight into the ground like a pole.
Even with those clues, common sense made it hard to draw conclusions. Duncan, who'd spoken up, just found it baffling. Ilenia and Kadim, however, nodded as realization dawned.
"Yeah, that's…… not a 'tree'. It's a 'branch'."
"……Huh?"
"Probably from some unimaginably massive tree…… They cut off one 'branch' and planted it here."
"Eeeek?!"
Duncan yelped in shock.
That 'tree' was among the largest he'd ever seen in his life. And it was just a mere 'branch'? He wondered if the archaeologist was still drunk from last night.
Kadim, meanwhile, smirked knowingly.
He didn't have any concrete information. It was just that one classic element inseparable from 'elves' in the outside world had finally appeared.
World Tree.
A monumental giant whose leaves blanketed the heavens, roots reached the underworld, and trunk upheld the world itself. The sacred tree revered by all elves dwelling in nature, more precious than their own lives.
He'd sensed its unnatural aura the moment he laid eyes on it. It had to be a branch from something akin to the World Tree.
That said, questions lingered.
Limited to this game world, he'd never heard any legends about elves or World Trees. Perhaps because elves had vanished after the mythic era, their role in the story was negligible to begin with…….
……No legends about humans forcing elves to their knees and making them swear the World Tree was just a big ordinary tree, huh.
Of course, this was all inference based on outside-world stereotypes; the meaning of 'World Tree' here might differ entirely. And among the group, likely only one person truly understood its significance.
Kadim stared at Ilenia.
Her fingers fidgeted anxiously. Her bright yellow eyes flicked toward the sun overhead. Ilenia squeezed her eyes shut and finally parted her lips.
"And this branch is probably…… a 'part of a god'."
"……."
A dull resonance overlaid the silence.
Ilenia caught her breath, seeing no other anomalies, and pointed at the tree to continue.
"Look at that green mist flowing down from it…… That's definitely Hesilia's divine aura. Holy relics usually just contain holy power or divine energy for use, but this is endlessly emanating it from within? The only explanation is that the branch is a 'part of a god'."
"……So you're saying that's a piece of 'Hesilia', the elves' god?"
Kadim's question. Ilenia hesitated briefly before agreeing.
"Yes, probably. Dreams and illusions fall under Hesilia's domain. Someone must have broken off part of her and planted it here…… Then used that divine energy to activate a ritual turning nightmares into reality."
"……."
"Phew, even I didn't expect this. I thought it'd be some moderately powerful holy relic at the source, not something as immense as a divine object……."
She explained that its position meant this was the forest's center, so they had as much further to go as they already had.
Everyone was speechless. There wasn't enough booze left, nor enough liver health. Duncan hiccuped, looking like he might puke.
Kadim's face hardened gravely too. Thoughts raced through his mind.
A part of a god as a branch? Did that make the World Tree 'Hesilia' herself? Why was a god who should dwell in the heavens a filthy huge tree on the ground? And combining what he'd heard before, a dragon or Melissa might have snapped it off and planted it…….
Endless unanswered questions piled up. Kadim cut the distractions short decisively.
This was a moment for action over thought.
"Uh, mercenary……? Why are you heading that way?"
"We have to destroy it to restore the forest, right?"
"Y-Yes, but……."
"Then let's chop it down. Before more damn illusions pop up."
The warrior casually hefted Judgment of Atala. Ilenia blanched, eyes flying wide.
"M-Mercenary! That's impossible! It's not some mere holy relic—it's a 'part of a god'! No human power can even scratch it! A-And who knows what backlash might hit the moment you cut it……."
"……."
Her desperate, contradictory plea—that it couldn't be scratched yet worrying it'd be severed—continued. Fortunately, it worked; the axe head, raised as if to swing any second, slowly lowered. Ilenia sighed in relief, looking a decade older.
But Kadim hadn't released the haft.
"……You said chopping it is impossible?"
"Y-Yes! Divine objects aren't just overwhelmingly tough—they drastically reduce damage from lesser 'existences'……."
"Then how the hell is it here in the first place."
"…Huh? W-Well……."
"It's planted here, so someone already snapped it off once."
Ilenia was at a loss for words. True, the branch had already been severed from its origin. For any earthly being to damage a god's body was inconceivable.
But there was no problem in the world that sheer force couldn't solve.
If someone had done it, there was no reason he couldn't. Kadim chanted the prayer resolutely.
He gripped the haft tight and poured his soul into the prayer.
Affirming his mission, he embraced his warrior's self. Reflecting on the past, he vowed resilience against trials. Yearning for overwhelming power, he endlessly emanated divine energy. For the first time in his second playthrough reclaiming 'divine arts', to recreate that moment's cataclysmic outburst.
Divine Art First Form, 'Sandstorm'.
Divine Art First Form: Sandstorm
Cataclysmic divine blessing unleashed
Whooooosh - !!
Amid the swirling yellowish haze, Kadim smiled. Yes, damn you Atala. Even if my body shatters, grant me the power to fell that giant tree.
And so, the 'branch'—fashioned from a part of a god, manifesting the miracle that turned nightmares real.
The 'divine weapon', infused with destructively condensed godly blessings, swung in a majestic sandstorm to shake the giant like a weed and scatter mountains like grave mounds.
A sunlit golden meadow bathed in gentle warmth.
A cannonball-sized fireball streaked across the sky.
―――― Boom!
Fwoosh, fwoosh, fwoosh - !
The fireball exploded mid-flight, splitting into three prongs that struck the three scarecrows set up in different spots. Its terrifying firepower reduced the scarecrows to ash down to their frames in the blink of an eye.
The girl mage, Melissa, beamed and hopped in place.
"Kyaa! I did it! Did you see? Did you see? You saw all three hit perfectly, right?"
Her red braids, reaching her waist, swayed like a carpet. Her way of expressing joy over such an achievement was rather hyper. The giant watching with arms crossed chuckled softly.
"Yeah, I saw. Pretty impressive handiwork. Now you could light up all your neighbors' hearths at once if you wanted."
"Hmph, what? That's the best praise you can muster? Do you know how hard and amazing this magic is? Praise me properly!"
"Shouldn't you put out the fire first? If you leave it, the whole lawn's gonna burn."
"Ah! Right, right! Ugh, what am I thinking……."
With one wave of her hand, the spreading flames fizzled out. Melissa sighed, wiping away cold sweat.
After cleanup, she promptly flopped onto the dirt and opened her book. Scribble scribble—she added notes to her ever-present record about the new spell she'd cast, 'Multiple Split Giant Fireball'. The giant shrugged at the wriggling mystical script.
"I can't make heads or tails of those wormy letters no matter how I look. Ancient script seems easier by comparison."
"Huh? The letters themselves are pretty easy to learn! The hard part is using them to manifest magical power. Wanna try learning?"
"……Easy by your standards doesn't mean it's easy for everyone else. And I can't sense mana anyway, so no magic for me—what's the point……."
"Aw, come on! You might find a use for it later. And hmph, I'll teach you proper magic myself? Think a mage like me comes around often?"
"……."
"Come on, Kadim! Let's start over with 'Mana Orbs' first!"
Melissa jumped up and tugged his thick arm. Kadim pretended to recoil, lazily shaking her off. The mage's slender frame fluttered like a paper doll.
She insisted he'd succeed this time; he shot back he was done wasting time; she countered by asking him to teach her axe-throwing; he warned she'd stub her toe and to quit it…… Their usual bickering ensued once more.
However.
This time, an unexpected anomaly cut it short.
Dooong…….
The air rippled gently, like waves spreading across water.
"……."
Melissa's face hardened like stone. Kadim asked worriedly.
"What's wrong, Melissa? Something happen?"
"……N-No, Kadim…… It's…… nothing……."
"Did that last spell strain you? If so, take a good nap. I'll stay by your side."
"No, no, it's not that…… Wait a sec. I gotta go somewhere quick, Kadim. Just wait a bit—I'll be right back……."
She backed away with an awkward smile. Kadim furrowed his brow slightly but nodded. Melissa bit her lip and approached the rippling air.
Placing her hand there, the world transformed.
Hwooooong…….
The golden meadow vanished like a fleeting dream, replaced by a dim hall overgrown with jungle-like foliage and vines.
The sturdy barbarian vanished like an illusion. In his place stood only one wizened elf, pacing anxiously at the hall's center.
"W-World Tree Keeper…… I-I'm truly sorry. An urgent matter came up, and I had no choice but to summon you……."
"……."
Melissa ignored the elf and strode forward.
Goooong -
She warped space to ascend the towering tree stairs in one step. She perched sideways on the vine-woven throne, legs crossed. The elf scrambled after and prostrated below. Melissa fixed him with an emotionless gaze.
"……Did you not understand 'don't disturb me in my 'dreams''."
"……."
"Maybe I should burn a warning into your hide with dragon leather. Think you'd get it then."
The girlish mage was gone.
Only a woman smoldering like ash remained.
Yet her menace burned fierce. Volcanoes terrify not for the eruption itself, but the pyroclastic flow that follows. The elf, pale to his pointed ears' tips, reported desperately in a quavering voice.
"F-Forgive me, World Tree Keeper. B-But this is truly critical, so I thought I had to report immediately……."
"Out with it."
"……Pardon?"
"Tell me what was so important it woke me. Go on."
"Ah, y-yes. W-Well…… One of the 'World Tree branches' you planted has been damaged. The area around it is now exposed defenselessly to intruders."
Screeech—her cracked nails scraped the armrest. The old elf shuddered as if his heart had been clawed.
"……Is that worth dragging me from my 'dream'? I figured telling the guardians would suffice."
"It's…… the damage is completely unlike normal cases……."
"How damaged? No method could possibly snap the branch clean off."
The old elf hesitated, unsure how to explain. He couldn't dawdle. It was like tightrope-walking over a pit of fire.
In the end, he reported the facts straight.
"It…… got snapped off."
"……Hm?"
"The planted branch was broken clean off…… Someone used immense physical force to sever it forcibly…… We've dispatched an investigation team under Lord Rushador to assess the cause and secure the area."
"……!"
Fierce flames ignited in the ashen woman's eyes.