Chapter 93
Chapter 93
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 93
Chapter Title: Do You Know the Way?
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“Do you know where the elder went?”
“I know exactly where I am!”
At my shout, one of the elf children grabbed my hand and led the way.
The elder was deep in meditation inside a small hut beneath the World Tree.
As I approached, he slowly opened his eyes.
Surprise and joy bloomed across his face as he recognized me.
“Oh… my benefactor. I never dreamed you’d return.”
“Honestly, I didn’t expect to come back either.”
The elder rose from his seat and bowed deeply with utmost courtesy.
I was still their savior.
And just as I was about to get to the point.
His gaze fell on the pendant hanging around my neck.
His eyes widened in shock.
“My word, you’ve achieved two feats?”
“Hm? Oh, this?”
The elf elder had noticed that I’d fulfilled the elves’ long-cherished wish on the 29th floor.
The pendant had evolved after I ransacked the dwarves’ royal palace.
‘But I’ve never massacred dwarves or destroyed their palace….’
Truth be told, there was something I wanted to confront the elves about regarding this item.
Because of the weird achievements it recorded, I’d been in so much trouble when I met the dwarves.
On top of that, it claimed I’d massacred dwarves and looted their palace—things I never did.
It was an item riddled with problems, even if its performance was top-notch.
That was when it happened.
[The Sandworm complains that the air in this neighborhood doesn’t sit well with it.]
The familiar telepathy rang out from the Sandworm coiled around my finger like a ring.
In an instant, the elder’s face drained of color.
Suddenly pale, he pointed at my finger.
“Th-that… How can that profane being be with you?”
I was taken aback by the elder’s intense reaction.
“Huh? Profane being?”
“That worm! Isn’t that the calamity from legend that’s been gnawing at the World Tree’s roots since ancient times?”
Terrified, the elder staggered backward.
Only then did I grasp the situation, letting out a deep sigh.
“It’s fine. My pet doesn’t bite.”
[The Sandworm insists it must teach those pointy-eared fools a lesson for daring to call the great it a mere worm.]
“Hey. Quiet down.”
I scolded the Sandworm, then began explaining everything to the elder step by step.
“This one’s my summon, and it has nothing to do with the World Tree. Right, nothing at all?”
[…]
“Looks like it’s unrelated. Alright, let’s get to work.”
“Hmm….”
But even after my thorough explanation, the elder’s wariness didn’t subside.
[The Sandworm protests that it doesn’t like the way it’s being looked at.]
I rubbed my temples.
“Anyway, Elder, there’s a reason I came….”
Brushing aside the awkward atmosphere, I brought up my business.
I candidly explained the troubles with spirit monsters and my desperate search for a solution.
“Any way around it?”
The elder nodded at my question.
“So that’s the issue you’re facing. Of course, we can help.”
As expected of elves. They already knew the solution.
“Really?”
“Yes. The most effective way to deal with spirits or evil ghosts is to receive the World Tree’s blessing.”
The elder continued his explanation.
Elves had a secret art that borrowed the World Tree’s power to bestow holy blessings on weapons, gear, or even living beings.
It was exactly the solution I’d been seeking.
“Sounds perfect. Then let’s—”
“Receiving the blessing itself isn’t difficult. However….”
The elder trailed off.
There was some catch.
“However, we don’t have the necessary materials right now.”
“Why not?”
“The blessing ritual requires Life Dew, the purest essence condensed from the World Tree. But the World Tree lacks the strength to produce it at the moment.”
“It lacks the strength?”
“The World Tree’s primary role is to purify all pollution flowing through this land and air… But there’s still one source of fundamental pollution remaining.”
I furrowed my brow.
“Huh? Didn’t I completely smash that polluted World Tree last time? I even removed its core….”
“Indeed. But what you drove back, benefactor, was merely the result of the pollution… The true origin—the substance that corrupted the World Tree—is still there.”
The elder pointed beyond the World Tree, deep into the forest.
“The World Tree is pouring all its power into purifying that place. That’s why it can’t produce the fruit needed for blessings.”
“So what do we do?”
“Just wait a little until the purification finishes.”
The elder’s response was far too nonchalant. I breathed a sigh of relief.
“That’s a relief. How long?”
The elder pondered for a moment, then replied with a kindly smile.
“Fortunately, about a hundred years should do it.”
“…….”
“By then, those children over there will be about your height, benefactor. Haha.”
I couldn’t believe my ears.
A hundred years? You’ve got to be kidding.
In a hundred years, the tower would’ve collapsed or I’d have grown old and died—whichever came first.
This was why elves were no good.
“Any other way?”
“Well, unless you purify the source yourself….”
There was only one answer in the end.
“I’ll handle the purification.”
“No, we couldn’t possibly impose on you like that….”
“I’m in a hurry.”
I urged the elder onward toward the source of the pollution.
“This is…?”
The sight before me stopped me dead.
A massive pit.
And inside it, shattered black debris embedded in the ground.
No doubt about it.
“This… it’s the Black Tower.”
It was unmistakably the collapsed remains of that Black Tower rising from the heart of Earth’s city center.
The form was wrecked, but the unique material and ominous aura were identical.
Tower remnants inside the tower.
My mind reeled.
And that wasn’t the only problem.
“How do I even purify this?”
I was stumped.
This wasn’t a monster.
Just the debris of a massive structure.
“Guess I’ll turn it to sand first?”
I did exactly that right away.
A fierce resistance pushed back, but when I hammered it with everything I had, I soon turned it all to sand.
“Is that it?”
“No… The form has changed, but the aura remains.”
“Hmm… What now?”
As I scowled, unable to find a solution.
A familiar voice echoed in my mind.
[The Sandworm says to leave it to it.]
I glanced at the Sandworm, brimming with confidence in its suggestion.
“You? How’re you gonna handle this?”
Instead of answering my question, the Sandworm showed me with actions.
It leaped from my finger to the ground.
Right after, the earth rumbled.
Ruuuumble—!
The ground began surging up from the center of the massive pit.
A gigantic maw of a sand worm, lined with thousands of steel teeth, revealed itself.
“S-see! It is a root-eating worm after all!”
The elder beside me shrieked in horror.
“As I said last time, my pet doesn’t eat roots. It just sneaks snacks sometimes—perfectly safe.”
[The Sandworm snickers that pointy-ears are all needless cowards.]
“Please, just be quiet.”
I focused on the spectacle unfolding.
The Sandworm’s massive jaws opened wide.
Suction began.
Whiiiiiir—!
Like a giant vacuum cleaner, it started devouring everything around.
The polluted sand swirled like a vortex into the Sandworm’s mouth.
The elder gaped, speechless.
In mere seconds.
A blink of an eye.
The polluted soil vanished.
[The Sandworm burps.]
The Sandworm’s enormous body writhed.
Its entire form began emitting a soft glow.
As if purifying and digesting the polluted energy it had just swallowed into its own power.
Moments later.
Pffft—!
The Sandworm spat the purified soil and sand back onto the ground.
No trace of pollution remained.
Instead, it was pristine earth brimming with vitality.
“Looks just like worm castings.”
[…]
“Oh, sorry. Good job. I’ll get you something tasty later.”
[The Sandworm demands sushi and steak as the next tribute.]
“…Where’d it even see that?”
Anyway, it was all over.
The Sandworm returned to my finger.
I approached the elder, slumped on the ground.
“Now it’s done, right?”
“…Unbelievable.”
The elder muttered dazedly, staring at the purified land.
A century-long purification finished in seconds.
No fear of the Sandworm lingered in the elder’s eyes.
Only awe at its overwhelming power remained.
“…I was foolish. Blinded by prejudice, I failed to recognize the holy being by my benefactor’s side.”
The elder stood and bowed deeply to me.
I shrugged.
“So, can I get the blessing now?”
“Of course. Let’s return to the World Tree and prepare the ritual at once.”
The elder hurried ahead.
Back at the World Tree, its leaves shone with even more vibrant green than before.
Large droplets clung to the leaf tips.
Those must be the Life Dew, the material for the blessing.
The word “dew” felt off—the droplets were the size of my head.
“Oh, the Life Dew…!”
The elder cried out in rapture.
With the root pollution gone, the World Tree had finally regained its full strength.
The elder carefully scooped the dew from the leaf with both hands.
The dew sloshed like a water balloon.
“Where would you like the blessing? Your weapon, perhaps?”
“Hmm….”
I pondered for a moment.
A blessing on my weapon? Not bad, but something felt missing.
A sudden thought flashed through my mind.
“Right. My weapon isn’t a staff.”
My true weapon was sand.
Sand produced from my own body.
“I’ll take it on my body.”
“An excellent choice. In that case, simply consume this.”
I took the dew from the elder without hesitation.
Head-sized dew to my lips—I slurped it down.
Gulp. Gulp. Gulp.
It felt embarrassing, like chugging a whole water bottle.
“Gah.”
One-shot complete.
I wiped my mouth with my sleeve.
At the same time, potent life force spread through my body.
A portion of the World Tree’s holy power now dwelled within me.
Instinctively, I understood.
I could use this power in two ways.
One was the method I’d used so far.
Devouring something to further infuse my body with sand.
A path to transform my physical self into a magical entity.
‘Right now, sandification reaches below my heart.’
Sandifying my chest and head would surely have merits.
And the second.
Converting some of the sand in my body into holy-infused “Holy Sand.”
Normally impossible.
But after directly wielding faith’s power on the 36th floor.
I’d learned a new path had opened for me.
This was tempting too.
It was my goal in coming here, after all.
[The Sandworm says your growth is astounding.]
[But adds that it’s an inefficient choice.]
‘Inefficient?’
[Normally, one builds the foundation by fully sandifying the body, then accumulates divinity. That’s the proper order.]
[You’re trying to skip a step right now.]
The Sandworm’s elaboration echoed in my head.
According to it, this was like an immature sprout trying to bear fruit.
Forcing an upper-stage power without a solid base naturally meant low efficiency.
‘Then how do I fully infuse my body with sand?’
[The Sandworm explains it’s the same method of steadily building your rank so far.]
[It recommends devouring pure essences like this.]
In the end, it required time and materials.
I thought it over.
The Sandworm was right—fully sandifying my body might be the better long-term path.
But I didn’t have the luxury.
‘I need a way to counter spirits right now.’
I made my choice.
Inefficient or not, I had no choice.
I stirred the divinity within me.
I concentrated all power into my left index finger.
A finger’s worth of sand formed.
Sand glowing with the characteristic golden light of a buff.
“…….”
Once the process ended, a strange emptiness and déjà vu washed over me.
The moment I first awakened by eating dirt.
When my fingertip first turned to sand.
It felt so similar.
Down to just one finger again.
Like starting over from the beginning.
“Well, it’s solved anyway.”
I clenched my fist.
Exactly the ability I wanted.
No more getting owned helplessly by spirit monsters.
The deal was a success.
Time to head back.
But leaving empty-handed felt like a waste.
‘Can’t I farm faith points here too?’
From my 36th-floor experience, I knew how powerful and precious faith was.
These elves revered me as their savior.
No better faith supplier existed.
I pulled out the small hand flag I’d sneakily made at the 36th-floor festival.
A dainty flag emblazoned with my emblem.
“Elder.”
“Yes, benefactor.”
“Would you pray to this flag?”
My out-of-left-field proposal left bewilderment flicker across the elder’s face.