Chapter 216
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 216
Chapter Title: The Plea of the World Tree
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I gripped the hilt with both hands and drove the sword even deeper into the ground.
A massive wave radiated from the Falling Blossom, now buried about halfway into the earth, unleashing even greater power than before.
Naturally, the more it did so, the greater the consumption of spirit energy...
But for me, the amount of spirit energy expended wasn't really an issue.
"From now on, it's a battle of time. Please make sure no one touches this sword."
I said to them as I slowly rose to my feet.
"All this sword can do is help the World Tree shake off the contamination on its own. However, the power struggle is extremely evenly matched. If the balance tips here even slightly, the World Tree will wither in an instant..."
The elves swallowed hard.
"Do you understand?"
"The Demon Tree..."
"Yes. I don't know its exact location, but it seems the Demon Tree has taken root somewhere in this great forest. Unless we eradicate it, the same thing will just happen again."
There were no elves left who doubted me.
They had been suspicious when I purified the fragments of rotten roots, but now that they'd seen a part of the World Tree itself being cleansed and regaining its strength, there was no reason to hesitate.
The elves began bustling about.
"What are you all doing? Move, quickly!"
"Damn it! Gather the guards now!"
"Prepare for the search! We must find and burn that evil seed threatening the World Tree as soon as possible!"
Some elves rushed out, and Oselon let out a short breath.
"That's a relief... truly a relief..."
"It's not time to relax just yet."
"Even so, seeing part of the solution is fortunate. Young Master, I owe you a great debt."
"Family Head, may I ask one favor?"
I asked Oselon about Isna—the outsider who had entered this elf forest—her personal details.
"Hmm... an outsider... We did send all outsiders away once things got serious, but just in case, I'll look into it."
Even here, I couldn't be certain yet.
Isna had definitely come to this place. But where she went, what she did.
What she was even thinking.
After most of the elves had left, only a few remained in the root's depths, including me.
I sat silently on the ground where I'd planted the sword, arms crossed, eyes closed.
For now, focus here.
"The World Tree is a mighty being. Even with treatment, it will take time."
So someone needed to stand guard here for the time being.
I kept my eyes closed, as if watching the situation.
Quite some time had passed since I activated the Falling Blossom.
Outside, it was late at night under a thick blanket of dark sky, but a large number of elf guards were scouring the entire forest in search of the Demon Tree.
Their movements were too fervent for simply taking my word for it—traces of the Demon Tree, never seen before, were starting to appear all over the forest.
Fortunately, the Demon Tree was still focused on the World Tree and hadn't released any lures yet, but once it started running low on power, it would surely unleash them into the forest for sustenance.
That said, judging from the current situation, it seemed the World Tree could drive out the Demon Tree on its own once it regained its strength.
The elf guards, who had started out tense while protecting the root, now appeared somewhat relaxed as they watched the World Tree gradually stabilize amid the ongoing quiet.
"Young Master. I brought some food."
Triana, looking quite pleased, brought me food she'd received from the servants and maids of the Triad Family, arranged on large leaves.
"Oh, is this elven preserved rations?"
"Yes. These are ones I made myself a while back."
"They're delicious. If things go well, could you pack some for me?"
She nodded happily, beaming at my suggestion.
Luna had asked me to bring back some elven food. This should do it.
As I popped the cookie-like preserved rations into my mouth and quietly watched the World Tree, she asked,
"That sword is really amazing. I never imagined it could even heal the World Tree."
"It's a bit finicky in temperament, but it has the ability."
"Pfft. You make it sound like treating a living child."
"Pretty similar."
She giggled as if finding it endlessly amusing.
"So, does that kid listen to others?"
"Probably not."
"It was so cool. The way the sword changed with just your word..."
She chattered on about how it was the most wondrous thing she'd ever seen.
Afterward, unable to endure the boredom of the quiet vigil, she began sharing every little detail of her childhood.
There were several candidates for the World Tree's proxy in this elf forest. Triana was one of them, selected as a child, and she spoke of all the things she'd been through since.
Adjusting my energy while sitting still had grown boring, so I listened quietly to her stories.
Truth be told, I was curious about elven life.
It's not often you get to hear about it directly.
Even those who stayed by my side until late at night showed no signs of fatigue.
They simply kept vigilant watch, determined not to miss even the slightest change as the gelatinous slime gradually receded and the World Tree regained its strength.
That was when it happened.
Something like eerie volcanic ash faintly spread and dispersed amid the slowly retreating slime.
"Young Master Leon! The contamination is growing!"
At the same time, the receding contamination surged back as if gaining strength.
The atmosphere felt different from before.
"Th-this... Young Master! What's happening? The contamination is suddenly..."
"The World Tree's power is steadily recovering. For the contamination to worsen despite that, the only possibility is that the Demon Tree is growing stronger."
In cases like this, there's only one answer, so I asked to confirm.
"Family Head Oselon, any contact from the elves who left to search for the Demon Tree?"
Oselon's face paled as he tried reaching them via spirits.
"No responses from some of the guards! I specifically told them to report immediately if they found the Demon Tree..."
Before he could finish, one of the World Tree's healthy roots moved on its own and touched my hand.
"World Tree?!"
Light burst from the World Tree's pristine root, resonating with me.
And through the gap in that resonance, something flooded in.
Was it the World Tree's memory?
A hidden space revealed itself amid memories racing by at tremendous speed. Then I saw it: a natural cave writhing with purple tentacles. And inside that cave, a beautiful tree pulsating vigorously.
The tree looked beautiful, even sacred, but I'd seen that tree before.
Paradoxically, the most corrupt tree possessed the most alluring appearance of any.
The World Tree was asking me for help.
It wanted me to eliminate the Demon Tree.
I had no obligation to grant the World Tree's request.
But something did bother me.
The purple tentacles spread around the Demon Tree.
Just seeing them sent chills racing through my body. An instinctive revulsion screamed out.
That's connected to the red moon that spoke to me before.
The World Tree's root, having shown me the memory, returned to its original position.
At that moment, a commotion erupted from the outer passage connected to the root's depths where I stood.
"What is it?"
As Oselon shouted, an elf hurried in cautiously and reported.
"Well... grotesque slime hordes are swarming from various parts of the forest. There are so many that the elders have called an emergency assembly..."
Slimes might sound weak, but higher-grade slimes were extremely dangerous.
I'd encountered various slimes in Labyrinthos, and among them, Lord Slimes were massive, some as big as mountains, just from their size alone.
Of course, most such behemoths had been hunted down after devouring everything in sight to sustain their bodies.
Romila's family head reacted first.
He drew his bow and dashed outside faster than anyone.
Oselon followed, arming himself.
"You lot stay here and protect Young Master Leon. He must not be disturbed, no matter what."
"Yes!"
"Young Master, we'll handle the outside. Focus on treating the World Tree."
"Understood."
After issuing orders to the elite elf guards, Family Head Oselon grabbed his bow.
"Father!"
"Triana, you stay here too."
In an instant, most of the forces departed, leaving only a few behind.
Compared to earlier, when elves had come and gone in steady numbers without much fuss, the atmosphere now felt profoundly quiet.
"What in the world is happening outside..."
I couldn't just tell them to wait without worry.
The Demon Tree the World Tree showed me had grown considerably large.
And suddenly slime hordes? There were too many suspicious elements to judge carelessly.
The elves guarding this place gripped their weapons tightly, faces tense as they scanned the surroundings for any potential threats.
"Don't worry. This is the heart of the World Tree. Nothing can enter unless every defensive line of the Mother Forest collapses."
"Battles are full of variables."
With that, I slowly rose to my feet.
I pulled Triana close as if embracing her and extended my hand.
BOOM!!!!
At the same time, part of the ceiling collapsed, and horrific slime poured down.
THUD!!
The aura shockwave from my fingertips blocked the slime from engulfing Triana, but some splattered across the cave walls.
Sizzle...
"Wha... what the hell!"
"What is that... a slime?!"
"It looks like slime, but that's byproduct. Everyone, stay alert and summon your spirits!"
The elves went on high alert, but it was unclear where these slime secretions were coming from.
No, were they even slimes to begin with?
They felt like something far more insidious.
Staying put wasn't the best option anymore.
"Miss Triana, guard that sword well. Even if left alone, the World Tree will keep recovering. But if it's disturbed and the sword deactivates, recovery stops."
"Y-Young Master, where are you..."
"Something bothers me. I'll lend a hand."