The Child of Yggdrasil
The World Tree Yggdrasil had worshipped and revered Saint Belia with all her heart.
If she had been told that she was about to die, the shock would have been unbearable.
Therefore, she had kept the secret that she would pass away in several decades, and that a new World Tree would be born in her place.
If a new World Tree was born, she wanted to entrust it to Belia.
Belia would serve the new World Tree well.
Yggdrasil had thought this way.
But Yggdrasil had one serious misunderstanding.
Belia did not merely revere Yggdrasil.
"Aah... ugh..."
"Aaah... World Tree-nim..."
"Belia... why..."
Yggdrasil, who had given her protection to her child and would maintain her power intact until the next World Tree was born and grew.
Her state had become extremely vulnerable, and thanks to the betrayal of the saint she had trusted above all others, Belia had struck with ease.
"I love you, World Tree-nim..."
"Ugh... ugh..."
Belia had loved Yggdrasil.
From the time she had been left alone to serve the World Tree, and from the moment she had received the World Tree's blessing to defeat the Demon King.
From that moment onward, Belia had loved Yggdrasil more than anyone.
But Yggdrasil had not felt the same way.
No, it was not that Yggdrasil did not love Belia.
After all, the World Tree loved and cherished everything in the world, including Belia.
And Belia had known that.
But this time, when she saw the World Tree, who had shouldered a tremendous burden, bestow an immense blessing upon an innocent baby, the dam of Belia's suppressed jealousy burst open.
You watched over me for hundreds of years, but you would not watch over me to the end while I gave love to such a worthless, childish baby...
You called me your child!
Belia's jealousy exploded, and she attacked the weakened World Tree.
She stole her power, imprisoned her, and bound her so she could not move.
"World Tree-nim? Could you be my World Tree-nim alone?"
"Aaah... hugh..."
The World Tree Yggdrasil, whose lifespan was already fading, had grown even weaker after being betrayed by Belia, her power stolen, and imprisoned.
"No... my child... the world..."
"...You care so much about that child?"
Yggdrasil worried about the child who would absorb happiness and grow into the next World Tree.
But that appearance only further provoked Belia.
"Even after taking everything away, you still worry about the child?"
"Aaah... Belli... no..."
It was all a misunderstanding.
Yggdrasil wanted to say that without this, the entire world would be in danger.
But with all her power already stolen and her body weakened, she could barely speak properly.
"Hoo... uhu hu hu..."
Belia let out a chilling laugh.
She dragged Yggdrasil to the waterside where she had been observing the child, left her there, and abandoned her.
"Huhu... then... in this state where you can do nothing, just watch well."
"Belia..."
"Your precious child is dying without being able to do anything!"
Belia used the stolen power to revoke the protection Yggdrasil had given to the child.
Then, by deceiving the fairies, she employed every possible means to torment the child.
She stripped away the child's voice so she could not speak.
She bound the child's will so she could not seek help.
She separated the child from her family and drove away the children who could have become friends.
The child grew increasingly isolated, never feeling happiness, and grew up.
Yggdrasil had been forced to watch this scene and die over the years.
No tears came anymore; she only watched with empty eyes as the child she had chosen suffered.
When Belia came to find Yggdrasil after tormenting the child in this way, the World Tree was already dead.
"I am dead, but some remnants of my essence remained."
"...Oh my..."
Alicia's face, upon hearing the truth from Yggdrasil, had turned deathly pale.
So the one who had been impersonating the World Tree and issuing oracles had been none other than Saint Belia.
"Truly, the only remnants that remain of me now are what you see, Alicia. Thanks to the Orb you carry."
"This... is it?"
"That Orb contains the power I bestowed upon Frania Melote, who fought to protect me hundreds of years ago. Thanks to you coming here, I was able to regain my will for a short time."
Alicia unconsciously squeezed the Orb in her hands.
"Alicia. Please take good care of the Seed of the World Tree. You must deliver it to that child."
"Yes. I understand."
Yggdrasil looked at the Seed Alicia had drawn forth.
Before her death, Yggdrasil had died while watching her child suffer in pain.
But why, when she awakened here, had a new Seed appeared?
What had happened to the child?
Yggdrasil, who had already lost her power and remained only as remnants, had no answer.
"World Tree-nim..."
"Yes."
"Truly... thank you for everything until now."
Though it was only remnants that would soon disappear, Alicia prayed in gratitude for the consciousness of the World Tree she served.
Yggdrasil smiled at her and then vanished from that spot.
"...I entrust my child, Riel, to you."
When Alicia emerged from the root-like cavern of the World Tree, a radiant being waited before the entrance, having guided her there.
The instant it saw Alicia, it twitched faintly, then began to move.
Thinking it was guiding her again, Alicia followed.
The being that had guided her this far needed no suspicion.
How far they walked Alicia did not know, but she noticed one thing.
The path they followed led to a place she had never been before.
Was there another exit, or...
A faint suspicion arose, but she wanted to believe in that being.
And when they arrived, the sight before Alicia's eyes defied belief.
"This... what on earth...!"
About a dozen people.
In a tree enclosure, people were imprisoned.
Or rather, that was not the right word to describe it. Most had already died and showed no movement at all.
"Why are people imprisoned here...?"
At that moment, a voice came from a place far from where Alicia had been standing.
"Who's there?!"
Alicia froze and covered her mouth in shock.
A fairy was there.
A different type from the one she had seen earlier.
Yet, just like the one she had seen, it should have noticed her, but it showed no sign of recognition.
"Huh? I felt an aura... but there's nothing but human corpses here. Am I getting jumpy?"
Alicia held her breath and waited for the fairy to disappear.
Alicia's mind flashed back to Rillu's words before entering here.
Absolutely do not let go of the Orb.
Her hand tightened on the Orb Alicia held.
Soon the fairy vanished elsewhere, and Alicia surveyed her surroundings.
There were far too many corpses of the dead.
At that moment, she saw the radiant being guiding her point to a spot.
Alicia hesitated, then approached and looked.
It was a man.
In his mid-twenties, a handsome man...
"...Eh?"
A faint breath was heard.
He was still alive.
Alicia acted quickly upon realizing this.
She pulled a weapon from her pack and immediately smashed the tree enclosure.
"Are you all right? Hey!!"
"Ugh... ugh..."
The severely weakened man groaned as if regaining consciousness.
"Ah..."
"Are you all right? Are you conscious?"
"Mother... Mother..."
Hearing the word "mother," Alicia searched the surroundings.
Is the lady slumped right next to the man his mother?
Alicia approached her and confirmed that she too was breathing, then moved closer.
The man's mother was in worse condition than him.
"This... for now... for now...!"
Alicia hoisted both of them and escaped the spot.
Alicia returned to the World Tree's root cavern where she had met its remnants.
She wanted to deliver the Seed to the girl named Riel as quickly as possible, but she could not ignore the fact that people were dying.
She laid the two down and nursed them using the water and food she had brought.
Fortunately, beyond severe malnutrition, their conditions were not dire.
"Ugh... wh-where...?"
Then, the man who had been in slightly better condition than the lady woke first.
"You woke up?"
"Where am I? What about Mother...?"
The man, who had regained his senses, looked for his mother.
Alicia smiled and pointed to the sleeping lady with a slightly steadier breath.
The man exhaled a sigh of relief upon seeing her asleep, then looked at Alicia.
"Thank you for saving us. Uh... I mean..."
"I am Alicia Melote. I am a priestess."
"Ah, a priest from the church."
A hint of caution flickered in the man's red eyes, but it soon softened into an awkward smile.
"I am Andrew... Andrew Ignis."
When the man introduced himself this way, Alicia felt a jolt.
That was only natural.
He was the child of the World Tree she had to deliver the Seed to.
He and Riel Ignis were from the same house.
"Intruder?"
A woman with a faint form received a report from the fairies who had come looking for her.
"What should we do, Lady Belia!!"
"The humans we locked up are gone!"
"What should we do! What should we do!"
The woman with a faint form, Saint Belia, watched the fairies frolicking around her with a sly smile.
These were quite strong, yet pure... and also foolish and easy to use.
"For the sake of saving the World Tree. Capture them alive."
"Yes! Got it!"
"If it's for saving the World Tree-nim!"
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