You've Earned the Right to Rise, Tree of Good and Evil
From the moment the class quest appeared, I'd felt an odd sense of dissonance. It just didn't make sense.
The dragons, including Yunak Seus, had clearly said they'd swallowed the seeds of the World Tree. To use their own corpses as nutrients to hatch the seeds.
Naturally, a question arose.
Then what was the seed I found in the Predator's Swamp?
World Tree's Seed
The Arcana Continent faces extinction.
In the midst of this colossal crisis,
Sprout a new hope.
📍 Sprout the World Tree's seed. (In Progress)
● Discovered World Tree seeds:1 / Unknown
● Sprouted World Tree seeds:1 / Unknown
The Tree of Good and Evil split into the Fruit of Good and the Fruit of Evil. Since the dragons swallowed the evil fruit, I could guess that the seed I sprouted was the World Tree's seed from the fruit of good.
The problem was who scattered that seed across the continent.
I'd asked Yunak Seus about it out of curiosity, but—
—"Regrettably, I know nothing of that."
That was the answer I got. So I'd been mulling it over subconsciously. Maybe the split of good and evil from the World Tree happened much earlier than I'd thought.
Why, just think about the state of the seed I found. It was so petrified you could mistake it for a rock—no exaggeration. It looked like it'd been battered by the winds of time.
If not for Pure Knowledge of the Five Stars, even I wouldn't have realized it was a seed.
Who scattered the fruit of good—the World Tree's seed—across the Arcana Continent? There was no way to know right now.
Without evidence, it was all just speculation.
But one thing was now certain. Whether it was the demons' plan from the start or not...
"The World Tree was corrupted by evil."
The demons must have seized the moment when the bonds between the World Tree, dragons, and elves were severed. They separated good and evil from the World Tree, first expelling the good and leading to the current situation.
Agentress couldn't accept it easily.
"...Evil dwelled in Mother?"
As expected, she bristled and shouted.
"Don't spout such nonsense, human! Sisli is our land. If demons set foot here, we would have sensed their presence!"
I'm not blaming you elves. And listen properly—it's not that evil dwelled in the World Tree.
"Agentress."
"Speak, human."
"Where there is light, darkness inevitably follows."
"...What?"
"Where there is good, evil must exist on the opposite side."
What even is the true seed of the World Tree? It's the seed of the Tree of Good and Evil, where good and evil coexist.
You reap what you sow—beans from beans, red beans from red beans. That means even when the World Tree was healthy, good and evil coexisted within it.
Agentress and the other elves still didn't get it.
"How dare you insult Mother?"
Insult? That's hurtful. But I couldn't show it.
I continued calmly.
"There are no perfect beings in this world. Not even the World Tree."
Who knew such a sensible line would come from Grandfell, forever chasing perfection.
I quickly added the reason before she could react.
"That is the natural order."
Maybe because I said it with such conviction. Agentress fell silent.
But only for a moment.
"Don't compare good and evil to light and darkness."
Yeah, it was a bit of a stretch.
"That Mother harbored evil in her body? She is my mother and the mother of all things. For the sake of all creation, she would never harbor such... evil to begin with!"
"...Regrettable?"
"You still believe the greenhouse is right."
"...!"
Greenhouse. At that word, Agentress's face paled. She turned to look at her kin.
She got the point quick enough...
So you were worried deep down too, huh?
Let's think objectively. Truth be told, even I, Lee Hoyeol, didn't understand at first. Doubts arose when I checked the Tree of Good and Evil class quest details. Why must good and evil coexist in the world? Good is good, right?
Of course, the doubts didn't last. Thanks to Grandfell, as usual.
"The World Tree believed."
More precisely, it was Grandfell's towering pride.
"Just as a single ray of light illuminates the darkness."
"...?"
"As long as good exists, evil can only cower at the bottom."
To Grandfell, evil was something inherently inferior, destined to be weeded out naturally.
Fearing such evil and denying its existence? It wasn't just incomprehensible—it was impossible.
Truly impressive, as always.
To form a rapport with the World Tree through sheer pride that pierces the heavens...!
Still, it wasn't wrong. But in this situation, it might not resonate with anyone.
Agentress pointed it out.
"Natural order? Ha! Look at the state of things now. Sisli has become demon territory, Mother corrupted by evil and fallen. Can you still claim with confidence that good will always subdue evil?"
Me, Lee Hoyeol. It hit right in the gut. Or more like, she glimpsed the flower field in my head.
Do you think I don't know that?
No, I know better than anyone. Grandfell's pride doctrine is closer to delusion than anything in the world.
Born from a shallow understanding of the world, fearless middle-school bravado.
But you know...
"I am confident."
That's why it doesn't break. Because it doesn't break, I can move forward. And eventually, I'll make that flower field a reality.
"I shall make it so."
Always good with words, you say? Fair point.
But if you've watched this far, you know, right? My promise fulfillment rate is pretty solid.
『Grandfell harbored no such emotion as humility. Underestimation demanded proof. Overestimation? He would inevitably forge it into reality.』
Even if the process was pathetic. Even in worse conditions than now, I'd produced results I couldn't believe myself.
So.
This wasn't the time for a stunned expression.
Agentress. I spoke shamelessly.
"Clear the path, Agentress."
To where primordial evil has taken root!
*
I'd just thought him arrogant. But now my mind was in chaos.
This transcended arrogance into the realm of 'something' else.
...How can he remain so composed in this situation?
Mother, the World Tree, was a primordial being. For such a mother to be dominated by evil. And by the evil she harbored herself...
I desperately wanted to deny it. But...
*Crunch—*
Agentress bit her lip.
...It's entirely possible.
She and her kin had failed their duty. They only noticed when Mother was on the verge of withering and drying up. They only approached her when they withdrew their blessing.
We might have stopped it.
Even if not her kin. If just she had fulfilled her duty...
Agentress was furious at that fact. That they could have fixed everything but didn't.
My failure.
For eons without end, she self-recriminated as never before.
That's why she couldn't understand even more. How could that man maintain his composure?
*Clack—*
She could tell just from his footsteps. His strides were straight, without a trace of fear.
Primordial evil that corrupted Mother. Just that descriptor alone was tension-inducing. Yet he advanced toward it without belief.
She had no choice but to think that. Because...
*Click—*
In his hand, he held a teacup from who-knows-where.
Even a lizard couldn't do that.
The man was doing what even dragons—praised as kings of all creation—couldn't.
Was it the influence of that 'something' beyond arrogance?
Agentress suddenly recalled his words.
—"I shall make it so."
She unwittingly asked herself.
...If by some chance he does... what changes?
But she clenched her fist.
No, nothing changes.
Mother was already dead. The green leaves had long withered and fallen, her body dried like firewood.
Even if he expelled the evil corrupting Mother, nothing would change.
And moreover.
Our sins won't vanish.
Things had gone wrong long ago. Perhaps, as he said, wrong from the primordial beginning.
*Swish—*
Agentress looked at the man.
Pathetic, Agentress.
She mocked herself. The man truly made her feel insignificant. Acknowledging her inferiority, she found herself hoping despite herself. Maybe he really could fix everything.
But the moment they faced the World Tree.
"...Mother?"
Hope vanished like bursting bubbles.
They had left for the Arcana Continent to find the blessing's whereabouts. Left alone in Sisli, Mother had in the meantime...
Been cruelly broken. To the point she could no longer be called mother of all.
Pathetically rolling on the ground.
"..."
Yet Agentress said nothing. Knowing it was all her fault, she was prepared to accept any rebuke.
Mock me all you want, human.
As said, hope was gone. No matter how great the man, he couldn't have anticipated this. There was truly nothing to be done.
As Agentress gazed powerlessly at the tragedy.
*Clack—*
"...?"
The man, Hoyeol, stepped forward. Without a word.
She'd steeled herself for even the harshest insults. But this reaction was unexpected.
As Agentress watched Hoyeol.
He stopped before the World Tree's remains. Then slowly opened his mouth.
"Exorcism ritual."
He uttered words incomprehensible to Agentress.
But the doubt didn't last. Changes began immediately.
*Whoosh!*
"...!!!"
The scattered remains of Mother ignited.
The broken pillars. The remaining stumps. The dried roots. The snapped branches.
All engulfed in flames without remnant.
"Ahh..."
Her kin stirred in agitation. But Agentress couldn't move.
Because of the blessing's hierarchy? No, not for that reason.
"Mother...?"
The flames were green. Like the leaves Mother once bore. As if mourning her death, fresh green flames blazed vibrantly.
And beyond that. Warmth spread.
Warmth she hadn't felt since losing the blessing. It enveloped her entire body.
The gentle warmth nurturing all creation. Mother's warmth.
But.
...Not Mother.
Agentress wasn't mistaken. Mother was burning away in death.
So this warmth wasn't from Mother.
Then whose? Only one possibility.
Hoyeol. Unshaken posture. Only his silver hair stirred.
Agentress watched his back and murmured softly.
"Agentress finally understands Mother's will..."
A lofty gaze overlooking all creation. An aesthetic eye finding beauty even in the lowliest. Unwavering decorum before any tragedy.
Embracing all that was 'something.' Yes.
The being closest to the World Tree.
...
I gazed at the quest objectives.
─ Temper your weakened body. (Repeatable)
─ Enter the elves' land, Sisli.(Success)
─ Confront the primordial evil rooted in Sisli.(Failed)
─ Track the primordial evil.(In Progress)
The World Tree, split in two. Thanks to that, the primordial evil trapped inside vanished.
I thought as I watched the rising messages.
Maybe...
This was part of the predetermined story too? Like the grand sorcerer or dragon knight class quests. The demon hunter class quest's fixed narrative, tempering the final demon hunter—me—through trials to grow further.
Who knows, can't say for sure now.
So I'd just do what I could.
I'd cremated the evil-corrupted World Tree via exorcism ritual. Now, track the primordial evil as per the quest. That was my next task.
If someone asked if I was shouldering everything alone like a beggar again.
Even to that, I'd say 'who knows.'
Because at this moment, the blinking messages weren't just the quest.
[Sublime effect triggers change.]
[Affinity with Sisli greatly increases.]
[Influence in Sisli greatly increases.]
*Thud—*
And with that. A sound reached my ears.
Agentress knelt before me.
[Acquired command over elf, Agentress.]
[Elf, 107 elves under Agentress]
[Current status: Awaiting orders]
Not the Blessing Hierarchy effect. It's real, I tell you? The rising message proves it.
I'd made her kneel before, but I'm not stingy enough to do it twice.
I spoke.
"Rise."
But the response was unexpected.
"I shall not."
...Ah, I get it. She's sincerely repenting, right? Good, I'm glad. Better late than never.
But.
That's that, and...
Everyone needs to stand up now!!
That's just how she is. Impatient.
Akshan's Guardian
The class quest reward. I'd just activated the newly acquired skill.
So stand up now, everyone...!
Or else.
"...?!!"
Akshan's Guardian.
*Awooooooo—!!*
『Akshan Wolf』
You might provoke its ire.