Blooming in the Swamp (7)
◈ [Restriction: None]
◈ [Effect: Upon equipping, acquire knowledge of all minerals and plants on the Arcana Continent.]
The knowledge of all minerals declared it wasn't a rock.
The knowledge of all plants declared it was a seed—a seed of the World Tree, no less.
Indeed, the World Tree was an existence even the forest spirit, the nymph, didn't know about.
If there had been some passage about the World Tree in a book or something,
I wouldn't have been able to trust that information so easily.
But epic items aren't called epic for nothing.
'Item effects never lie.'
The spoils weren't some rock.
It was the seed of the World Tree.
My first words upon learning that truth:
"It seems a true crisis of continental extinction has arrived."
The nymph politely asked back.
"Sir Hoyeol. As for what those words mean, this humble one..."
Of course she wouldn't know.
I wouldn't have even guessed without the item effect.
Even if I'd known the World Tree existed on the Arcana Continent,
who could've predicted it would scatter seeds like this?
"It's not your failing."
Of course, I knew the reason.
The World Tree scattering seeds meant it was facing a grave threat.
And naturally, that threat was the demons.
'This knowledge was demonic knowledge until just recently.'
The Pentagram of Pure Knowledge was a demon's item.
One obtained from a demon king, Decarabia, no less.
Decarabia must have had an item like mine, granting knowledge of all minerals and plants.
So it knew about the World Tree too.
'Did it use that information to threaten the World Tree?'
Of course, I had no way of knowing the specifics.
It was something that happened in the past on the Arcana Continent.
How could I, in the real world, know?
But what I had to do now that I knew was simple.
[World Tree Seed]
📍 A crisis of extinction looms over the Arcana Continent.
🌱 In this immense crisis, sprout new hope.
─ Germinate the World Tree's seed. (In Progress)
● World Tree seeds discovered: 1 / Unknown
● World Tree seeds sprouted: 0 / Unknown
A quest had appeared.
A world quest, one to clear at that.
Suddenly, I recalled the players' fuss.
A message had appeared before every player.
It was definitely a world-class quest.
Someone had succeeded at a world-class quest.
Everyone said so.
I thought that was it too.
But looking at the quest window now, I realized.
The real world-class quests were something else entirely!
The scale alone was truly world-class.
Just look at the story.
The World Tree, called the mother of the continent, was in crisis, and amid that world-class peril, I had to sprout the seed of new hope—the World Tree's seed!
As I said, I had a perfect grasp of the situation.
'...Isn't it way too early for this or something?'
My level to handle a world-class quest like this was a mere 324.
Even the World Tree might lament.
What kind of noob is sprouting my seed?
Yeah, let's think about a normal situation.
'The quest popped up the moment I realized it was the World Tree's seed. Specific info on the World Tree must be the starting condition.'
...Wait, even the starting condition doesn't make sense!
As I said.
Even the forest spirit nymph was ignorant about the World Tree.
Would the Mage Tower be any different?
Me, who'd read countless magic books.
I'd never even seen the word "World Tree" once.
So how could a player obtain info on the veiled World Tree?
You'd need at least level 1,000, seriously.
So, to sum it up in one line.
I'd deviated from normal quest progression.
Thanks to defeating demon king Decarabia and obtaining the Pentagram of Pure Knowledge,
I'd skipped that tremendous intermediate process and could start a world-class quest...!
No wonder it felt burdensome.
If you had normal thinking, it'd be natural to worry.
Am I really worthy of succeeding this world quest? you'd agonize.
But.
Since when have I had normal thoughts and actions?
Gluttony of the Seven Deadly Sins.
Demon king Decarabia.
Mage Tower elder mages worshiping demons.
I wasn't even level 300 back then.
Just 100 or 200.
I simply acted as my pride led me.
That's why I knew.
Even if I drowned sinking under that pride,
I had no choice but to advance forward.
Besides.
"Time waits for no one."
I'd witnessed the Arcana Continent.
The Arcana Continent trampled by demons.
The odds demons would sit idly by until the World Tree seed sprouted?
Especially since demon king Decarabia had existed.
Not even a sliver of possibility.
So I continued shamelessly.
"Moreover, I cannot take the World Tree's pride lightly."
The nymph stirred at my recitation.
"The World Tree, you say...? Surely, that seed is...?"
Good thing she wasn't shaken by my cringy speech.
Anyway.
The nymph seemed to have realized everything too.
"Now I understand. Why so many coveted that rock, that seed. Instinct, no doubt. The World Tree's seed must contain an indescribable energy."
The World Tree actually exists...
The nymph trailed off.
The contractor—me—had never shaken her lofty poise before.
So what to do with this massive World Tree seed.
She looked deeply worried.
'In short, same feelings as me.'
Even Grandfell's pride alone was overwhelming enough.
Now saddled with the World Tree's pride too.
But I had no such hesitation as the nymph.
"Prepare yourself, nymph."
I have a good grasp of the situation.
I was confident I could struggle if needed.
No matter the means or methods.
Confident my pride wouldn't let me sink.
"To sprout the seed, your blessing is needed."
Even a great World Tree was, in the end, a plant.
A plant, so I could grasp info on it via the Pentagram of Pure Knowledge.
The nymph's blessing to promote plant growth should work too.
"I, bless the World Tree's seed...?"
The nymph seemed quite taken aback, as expected.
But she soon replied calmly.
"Alone, it would be impossible. But with you here, Sir Hoyeol, I shall try."
Yeah.
Whether the blessing works or not, we have to struggle.
Of course, before that.
"We must quell the disturbance first."
Predator Swamp zone.
The most fiercely battling central area.
Breaking through the massive predators' interference to reach the World Tree seed was the first problem.
'No time to spare.'
I thought coldly.
This wasn't some elixir herb; it was blessing the World Tree seed.
'The backlash will hit the nymph and me, her contractor.'
Mana exhaustion right away wouldn't be surprising.
I grasped the situation perfectly.
I had swordsmanship, black magic, and escape holes prepared for mana exhaustion...
But against those opponents?
'If [Natural Enemy Relationship] activates, maybe.'
Otherwise, even one would be tough.
"...!"
But it wasn't just monsters battling to the death.
There were players here too.
Familiar faces among them...
No, connections too dear to call mere acquaintances.
"Everything has its give and take."
Yeah, now it was my turn to receive, right?
'Me, I've laid down some seriously thick iron plates. Several layers.'
Those familiar faces, those connections—were they ordinary?
All rankers, top guild masters at that.
And I'd brazenly told them.
"I require your cooperation."
Not even "help," but "cooperation"!
But acting humble now was too late.
'Well, I've summoned senior mages from the Mage Tower on a whim before.'
Regrettably.
I'd experienced too much...
*
Arrival at the Predator Swamp central area.
First in sight: the massive rock.
And monsters battling around it.
"!"
But what seized attention more fiercely was something else.
Hoyeol, standing tall atop the swamp.
"Mr. Hoyeol, you walk on water now too?"
Truly ho-men, ho-men...
To stunned Nam Taemin, Gaon guild members said,
"Taemin hyung. Look closely. He's on a lotus leaf."
"Oh, right? But that's kinda..."
"Wait. Is that the spirit next to him?!"
Indeed, her poise was beyond reproach for Hoyeol's spirit.
At a glance, elite.
As rumored.
At minimum high-rank, at max spirit king-class.
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"...?"
"To me, she doesn't look much different from sis."
What doesn't look different?
'...The face?'
Leoni looked up to see lunatics gauging her height with fingers.
...Forget it, no energy to speak.
Leoni stomped instead.
Crunch!
"Aaa, sis!! Just kidding. Kidding."
That was when.
Hoyeol's voice rang out.
"I require your cooperation."
"...!!!"
High skill, [Telepathy].
Hoyeol's voice sounded right beside them.
Leoni flinched for a moment.
'You, too close. Suddenly?!'
Even knowing it was telepathy.
This closeness to Hoyeol felt alien.
'...Leoni. You're delusional.'
But she snapped out of it.
'Cooperation needed?'
She didn't know what kind.
But this was a chance to repay her debt to Hoyeol!
Yeah, she'd been waiting for this day.
Setting personal feelings aside.
'...Not that I have any particular feelings.'
Yeah, that thing!
Beyond a cup of tea!
The debt to Hoyeol was a guild-level issue!
As Berserker's master, she had to respond to his cooperation request.
Leoni didn't hesitate.
And met eyes.
"Eh, you too?"
"...What? That mismatched combo."
"Who knows."
Nam Taemin.
Hisagi Kazuma.
And all Gaon and Inazuma guild members.
'Gaon, fine.'
They had a debt to Hoyeol like her.
Nam Taemin shared nationality and seemed friendly with Hoyeol.
Understandable.
'But Inazuma and Hisagi Kazuma?'
Gaon and Inazuma?
No matter how she racked her brain, the combo made no sense.
Even to one of the parties, Leoni.
The onlookers needed no mention.
Studio.
"What is this...?"
Cast blinking at the screen.
As if they'd seen wrong.
The host slowly recited their features.
"Sturdy build at a glance. Korea's Nam Taemin player. Next to him, Berserker's Leoni Bellucci, who's had recent contact with Gaon. And..."
No matter how they rubbed their eyes, certain.
"The spear he's holding. Sharp impression. Definitely Inazuma's guild master, Hisagi Kazuma!"
Hisagi Kazuma of Inazuma.
Why hesitate just saying the name?
If asked.
They'd recount the endless bad blood between Gaon and Inazuma.
From Arcana game days to post-cataclysm.
The guilds, the masters, growled whenever they met—fewer peaceful days.
So they doubted their eyes on the screen.
"...At least, no discord visible?"
Gaon, Inazuma, Berserker.
Three guilds together.
In the Predator zone where battles never ceased.
If not mind games, the implication was simple.
"Ga-Gaon and Inazuma joined hands?"
"Looks like it. Even Berserker too!"
"Guilds that wouldn't unite without reason. All major guilds lacking nothing. Especially Gaon and Inazuma—their conflict makes this impossible...!!"
"Ah, wait. Just as I speak, player Lee Hoyeol appears! Silver hair, dress shoes, suit, and spirit. Features match Lee Hoyeol perfectly!"
"Lee Hoyeol? Wait, then surely? The reason Gaon, Inazuma, Berserker joined...?"
Indeed.
The "surely not" scene unfolded soon after.