Chapter 171
Chapter 171
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 171
Chapter Title: Guardians of the World Tree (6)
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The guardians, who had been appalled by the barbarian's rudeness, soon found themselves stunned for an entirely different reason.
The barbarian recounted events from three hundred years ago as if they had happened just yesterday. He called the World Tree Keeper by name like an old friend and remembered details of her childhood that no one else knew. All the clues were pointing to a single conclusion.
This man might not just look similar—he could truly be that "fierce, hulking Atalan" from legend.
They were dumbfounded. Their plan had been to bring in a fake to fool the World Tree Keeper, but out of nowhere, the real one had shown up... No one knew what to do; they just exchanged uneasy glances.
Even the mastermind behind the scheme, "Blue Fang" Borduel, was thrown off at first. But his mind worked quickly in situations like this. He swiftly adjusted the plan, flashed a meaningful smile, and stepped forward himself.
"It seems we've been honored with a far more distinguished guest than we anticipated. If I may be so bold, what might I call you, sir?"
"Kadim."
"Yes, Lord Kadim. From what you've told us so far, it sounds like you're an old comrade of the World Tree Keeper and have come here on some urgent business... Am I correct?"
"More or less."
"This is truly astonishing. We'd all assumed the Keeper's old comrades had long since passed away... If it's not too much trouble, might I ask how you've endured so many years in a mortal human body?"
"......"
Kadim fell silent, his expression hardening. Borduel shrugged nonchalantly and smoothly changed the subject.
"Regrettably, it won't be possible to meet the World Tree Keeper right now. She's currently entered the 'Dream of the World Tree'."
"......What is the 'Dream of the World Tree'?"
"The 'Dream of the World Tree' is the eternal dream from which Mother World Tree never awakens—an ideal paradise where all desires can be fulfilled. Long ago, it was vaguely believed to be the afterlife for elves, but now that Lady Hesilia has descended to the mortal plane, it has become a space with clear substance."
Kadim raised an eyebrow slightly.
He could grasp the concept well enough. It was probably the elves' version of Atala's "paradise of endless war and revelry" or Elga's "eternal sunlit fields"—their afterlife. That it actually existed here on earth was unexpected, though.
"......So why is Melissa in a place like that?"
"To tend to this colossal divine tree, someone chosen by the World Tree itself must remain within that dream. It's no coincidence she holds the title of World Tree Keeper."
"Then just have her step out for a bit. She's not planning to live there forever."
"If only it were that simple... She left strict instructions never to wake her while she's dreaming. Tevio over there even tried it on a whim recently and got threatened with having his back flayed."
"......"
"Of course, if you truly are a comrade of the World Tree Keeper, we wouldn't hesitate to take such a risk... But without any concrete proof beyond your words, we're hesitant to disturb her so rashly......"
Borduel went on at length about why she couldn't be awakened and how long they'd have to wait. Kadim easily saw through the elf's intentions.
"So, what do I have to do to prove it."
"......Pardon?"
"You're planning to dump some annoying chore on me as a test. Cut the bullshit and get to the point. Keep yapping, and I'll rip off those floppy ears of yours as proof."
The barbarian hefted his menacing throwing axe. The ruthless threat left every elf in the chamber aghast.
Borduel himself remained unflappable. His pupils narrowed into vertical slits as a sly smile crept across his lips.
"Sharp as ever. But it's no trouble at all—quite simple, in fact. All we ask is that you deal with an old headache that's been plaguing us......"
His fangs gleamed wickedly between parted lips.
"If you truly stood shoulder to shoulder with Lady Melissa, it should be simpler than pulling a bad tooth."
*
Kadim accepted "Blue Fang" Borduel's proposal and set off.
"......How do I know you'll keep your word."
"I swear it on Mother World Tree's name. Once the task is done, return here at once, and I'll personally arrange your audience with the Keeper."
"I'd rather you swear on your floppy ears—and everyone else's heads."
"......If that's what you wish."
After extracting ironclad oaths from them.
He exited the World Tree's interior and descended along the dangling branches to the ground below. Duncan and Parneo came rushing over in unison.
"M'lord, are you alright!"
"What happened in there, Great Druid? Did you convince the guardians? How'd it go?"
"......"
Kadim recounted everything without omission. Parneo turned pale as death upon hearing it all.
"What!? Sir Borduel asked you to slay the 'Forest Tyrant' in Pillar Valley?"
"Yeah. Kill it, and he'll grant the audience right away."
"No, you can't, Great Druid! Go back and withdraw the request at once! It's impossible!"
Duncan, who had been listening blankly, asked what the 'Forest Tyrant' was. Parneo licked his parched lips and hurriedly explained.
"The 'Forest Tyrants' are druids who underwent 'naturalization'—those whose power exceeded their limits. They transformed into beasts and never returned. They've lost their elven selves, driven only by primal urges to destroy."
"......"
"And the one in Pillar Valley is on another level from the others. Four first-rank guardians once went to subdue it together and got massacred. It's infamous—no one less than the World Tree Keeper herself can take it down."
Parneo desperately tried to dissuade him, but the man tasked with it remained indifferent.
"What did it transform into, a dragon? Or some other monster on that level?"
"Pardon? Oh, no, nothing quite that extreme......"
"Then no problem. I'll crush it quick and head back."
The elf boy gaped in shock.
The warrior shrugged off his shoulders casually and looked up.
If it wasn't dragon-strong, the monster was barely worth noticing. Far more irritating issues demanded his attention.
He'd only skimmed the surface so far, but... this isolated elven city was twisted—deeply, profoundly so.
The inverted World Tree, the ominous energy choked by its roots, elves with lifespans shorter than humans, currency made from blood, and a certain "human mage" who gripped their god and afterlife, holding everyone in terror.
So many unbelievable elements that he half-suspected an illusion. It wasn't. He'd briefly surveyed with his "divine sight" last night, and everything checked out. This world was stark reality.
To uncover the truth, he'd have to meet her no matter what. Melissa, dreaming atop that lofty divine tree. To do that, he couldn't stop—he had to keep moving forward.
"Which way's the valley. Close enough to go and come back today?"
"......"
It wasn't a place for an outsider to find without a guide. Parneo squeezed his eyes shut and volunteered to lead the way.
To rescue the girl trapped in confinement, the boy too had to keep pressing on.
*
Despite the name, Pillar Valley had no pillars.
Tucked in a gently sloping forest gap, thick with sediment deposits, its terrain was otherwise no different from any ordinary woods. Leaf mold and gravel piles everywhere—no trace of pillar-forming bedrock, even if you scoured with fresh eyes.
But in truth, Pillar Valley was full of pillars.
It sounded mad, but it was fact. More precisely, the valley was littered with countless "things hardened rigid like pillars." Statues of the unfortunate who strayed where they shouldn't, their momentary motion frozen eternally.
Considering their true nature, the valley's name should have been this:
Valley of Petrified Corpses.
Tsssss, tsssssss...
A massive, sleek newt slithered through the eerie valley.
The creature was a wild druid who had beast-transformed. A druid famed for historic talent. One intoxicated by praise, overconfident in his abilities. One who crossed the irreversible line.
He'd succeeded in becoming a mighty beast as desired—but paid with his self. After endless ages of blind destruction and predation, he'd even forgotten his own name. The elves, mixing rage, pity, and fear, gave him a new one.
Forest Tyrant: Basilisk.
Tsssssss, tssss...
A name that gifted inevitable death the moment you crossed paths here.
The basilisk was overwhelming even by its bulk alone. Serpent-shaped, yet vast enough to dwarf pythons to worms. Scales tough enough to deflect arrows bearing divine power. Simple thrashing could pulverize most lifeforms.
Yet its greatest weapon was, above all, its "eyes."
Reptilian orbs gleaming with sinister light—any prey meeting them inevitably froze solid.
Figuratively and literally. Those eyes cast a potent "petrification" curse. Hardening started at the toes, racing up to the scalp before you could draw a breath, stealing freedom and life.
Every pillar in the valley was born this way. Their sacrifices weren't meaningless, though—they taught that facing the basilisk required choosing one path:
Fight blindfolded, or ambush from hiding.
No need to say neither was easy.
Those who closed eyes to track air currents never opened them again. Cocky aerial hunters became showers of rubble from a single head toss.
No one could fell such a beast under those handicaps—not even elite first-rank guardians. Those "eyes," guaranteeing defeat on sight, made the basilisk an untouchable terror.
And moments ago, one of those eyes had burst.
A bolt of blue lightning smashed the eyeball. The cornea crumpled; vitreous humor gushed skyward.
- KRAAAAAGH - !!!
The one-eyed basilisk thrashed in agony. Pillars crumbled to gravel; the area became a wasteland. But its rampage never reached the culprit who burst its eye.
Hoo-whump, hoo-whump, hoo-whump, whing, clack!
The giant leisurely retrieved his throwing axe from afar. Crackle—residual lightning sparked from the blade.
- KROWAAAGH, KROWAAAGH!!
The basilisk belatedly sensed the presence. Rage boiled from its throat. One eye lost, but the other remained. It whipped its neck like thunder, glaring at the distant foe.
But that was the fatal mistake.
The other eye was struck by another returning thunderbolt.
The giant had anticipated it, axe pre-aimed. This bolt plunged deeper, rupturing the socket. Dazzling blue-white flash as its last sight—the basilisk was sealed in eternal pitch-black darkness.
- Kwoog, Kwoog, KROWAAAGH - !!!
Its final glare connected, at least. The giant's toes began hardening to stone. Left alone, he'd join the valley's pillars... but
"[O God of Struggle and Wilderness, Atala. Look upon your great warrior, raise your torch and guide him to the battlefield...]"
⟨ Judgment of Atala ⟩
......it didn't happen.
Enveloped in this blessed aura, he was immune to all debuffs.
The divine power didn't just block petrification—it sharply enhanced his combat prowess. Kadim sheathed the thunderbolt at his waist and gripped Judgment of Atala with both hands. Roaring with tigerman ferocity, he charged the blindly thrashing behemoth.
"Hrraaaaaah!!"
- KROWAAAGH - !!
Perfect timing to chop up a blind serpent pup.
"Black Panther" Parneo and "Greatest Guide" Duncan stared slack-jawed at the mythic clash.