Anomalies

Deciding that the Moorim Alliance could not clear the Gate alone, the Sword Saint requested support from the government. In response, the government decided to deploy troops they had prepared for contingencies. Should they be called Awakened soldiers? Or military hunters? They were a special forces unit comprised of hunters affiliated with the government. While their individual skills as hunters weren't particularly outstanding, being a government-affiliated military unit meant they were heavily armed with firearms. Normally, monsters in high-risk Gates possess high defense, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rendering personal firearms useless, but this place was an exception. Elves were fundamentally similar to humans, and even after corrupting into Dark Elves, they remained physically similar, meaning guns would be highly effective. In fact, during the first expedition, the investigators and their escorts had used their firearms to great effect.

"Is it truly that difficult?" The government official, who had been conversing with the Sword Saint, seemed taken aback by the sheer danger of the Gate.

"Indeed. In my estimation, we must treat this Gate as at least an A-class. An A-class that borders on S-class, to be precise." And the biggest problem was...

"And the biggest issue is that we have no idea how many Dark Elves are inside the Gate," I chimed in quietly.

"She speaks the truth," Namgung Min agreed. "The number of elves we cut down just now exceeded a hundred. Yet, it felt like a mere drop in the bucket. We estimate the enemy's numbers to be at least ten times that. In an all-out war, our casualties would be severe."

If this place was a perfect recreation of that time, it wouldn't be ten times, but a hundred times. Some might think that since we managed to kill a hundred Dark Elves in just an hour, clearing the Gate should be easy. In fact, the government official brought up exactly that.

"That was only because we faced a mere hundred," the Sword Saint countered. "Imagine if they swarmed us not by the hundreds, but by the thousands, all unleashing their array of ranged attacks at once."

"Ahem..."

At that scale, simply defending against the barrage of arrows and magic unleashed by the Dark Elves would become a monumental task. It meant we wouldn't even have the luxury of trying to strike back. There was a very good reason the Hero's party had burned down the forest before advancing.

"So we will need the military's aid to even stand a chance of clearing it." Even if we wanted to exploit the unique properties of an Alien-type Gate to harvest resources, we would have to subjugate the respawning monsters every single time. But subjugating Dark Elves was incredibly difficult, and deploying the military for every harvest was highly impractical. It was pointed out that no matter how valuable the resources were, they would be hard to utilize, and the issue of potential casualties was also raised.

"We were able to conclude the previous battle without major casualties thanks to the healer the Alliance secured," the Sword Saint said. "But as you well know, healers are a rare commodity."

Entering a Gate and participating in active combat was inherently dangerous. It was only natural. Everyone knew that healers, who had plenty of job opportunities outside of dungeon raiding, had no reason to put themselves in such grueling and hazardous situations.

"Understood." Ultimately, the government official was convinced. After the discussion, the plan was explained to the commander, and the soldiers were readied. Approximately three hundred soldiers armed with rifles... The Alliance hunters would form the vanguard, standing at the very front to block incoming attacks and protect the soldiers. Meanwhile, the soldiers would remain safely behind them, using their firearms to strike at the Dark Elves. The analysis suggested that once the gunfire commenced, the enemy's offensive pressure would drop significantly.

And then... "I must ask for your assistance once more," the Sword Saint said, bowing his head to me.

"Well, I want to clear this Gate too, so I'll cooperate." The World Tree, which we presumed to be the center of the Gate—if we went there, would we find out why all of this was happening? It was merely speculation and hope, but to verify that possibility, I had to cooperate with the hunters to reach the center. Honestly, watching them talk was so frustrating that I had considered just charging in alone. However, the strength of the Dark Elves was too much for me to handle by myself. Breaking through alone was impossible.

Once the soldiers were ready, we re-entered the Gate. Fortunately, because we had cleared the entrance area beforehand, the large force was able to enter safely. By the way... the whispering coming from the soldiers' side was incredibly grating. Their comments evaluating my body were so blatant... I knew this body of mine was ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rather eye-catching, but to talk about it so openly right in front of me? I had no idea what they were thinking. I wished someone would shut them up, because if I stepped forward myself, I might lose my temper and start a fight.

"Sister."

"What is it?"

"Are you okay?"

I wanted to ask what she meant by 'okay', but instead I just said, "I'm a bit annoyed."

"Should I say something to them?"

"Leave it. We're about to enter combat anyway." Once the fighting started, they wouldn't have the luxury to gossip.

"But still..." Perhaps because she was also a woman, my sister looked deeply worried.

"Do not worry."

"Brother?"

The Sword Saint, who had approached us unnoticed, spoke up. "I, too, found it highly offensive." He walked over to the commander leading the unit and whispered something. The commander's face turned a furious shade of red, and he immediately began roaring at his soldiers. He screamed about how they had too much free time on their hands when real combat was right in front of them, and demanded to know if they wanted to be thrown into the stockade for making such comments about a civilian. Only after the commander finished his shouting did the lax discipline tighten back up.

I stared at the Sword Saint, Namgung Min, in genuine surprise. Since he happened to be looking my way as well, our eyes met. He gave me a gentle, reassuring smile... and for a split second, I almost threw a punch at him. Ugh, why the hell is he smiling like that?

The force of about four hundred advanced into the Great Forest. The Sword Saint, possessing exceptional sensory abilities, took the lead. Whenever he detected a concealed Dark Elf, he ordered the soldiers to fire. His perception was so peerless that he easily spotted the hidden Dark Elves, leaving them completely defenseless. And the guns... were incredibly effective. Unfamiliar with such weapons, the Dark Elves couldn't react or adapt in time, and were quickly turned into beehives.

"Wow, this is easy," some even muttered. Unfortunately, the firearms were only effective during the initial phase of the raid. While the unfamiliarity of the weapon made it hard to counter at first, the flip side was that anyone with half a brain would figure out a countermeasure after seeing it a few times. Before long, the small skirmishing parties of Dark Elves vanished. This bred complacency... and as we continued our march through the Great Forest, a massive deluge of magic suddenly rained down from the sky.

The sheer volume of magic pouring down could only be described as a torrential downpour. Had we taken the hit directly, the entire force would have been wiped out. Fortunately, I was here, and I had prior experience dealing with this exact tactic. The moment the Dark Elves hid themselves, I knew what they were aiming for. Their mages would gather in the rear to launch a large-scale bombardment. It was a tactic they had actually used in the Other World... I had realized it the moment those annoying skirmishers stopped showing up.

Therefore... I immediately cast a powerful barrier of Divine Magic that blanketed the sky. Sanctuary of Protection. It was a formidable defense that covered a massive area. Because it was a large-scale spell, I wouldn't have been able to cast it in time if I hadn't prepared it in advance.

Thud, crash, boom! The explosions of magic resounded continuously. Naturally, the soldiers and hunters panicked, thrown into utter chaos. But when they saw the magic being blocked high in the sky, they stood there, dumbfounded. Paying them no mind, I began to sing in the language of the Other World. It was a Holy Hymn, a technique that channeled large-scale Divine Magic through song.

"La, la, la..." My voice echoed across the chaotic battlefield, soothing the panicked minds and bestowing powerful blessings upon them. Slowly, the soldiers and hunters calmed down, their composure restored.

"This is..." Though my song quickly came to an end, the magical bombardment continued to rain down.

"I can't hold this forever! Advance quickly and take out the Dark Elves casting the magic!" I shouted, making sure my voice carried to everyone.

"Understood!" It was the Sword Saint who answered. Taking a few of his guild members with him, he dashed forward at lightning speed. The soldiers? Though they had calmed down, they were in no state to move. In the first place, with their sluggish movement speed, they would only become easy targets for the magic.

Man, they are ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠really raining it down. Whispers of "Who is blocking all this magic?" began to circulate, and a few quick-witted individuals turned their gazes toward me. It was only natural; since I was releasing a massive amount of energy to sustain the Sanctuary of Protection, anyone sensitive to magic was bound to notice.

"You... with this level of power, you must be S-class," one of the Moorim Alliance's tankers muttered as he approached me.

"I just hope they take out those Dark Elves quickly. Honestly, I'm starting to get tired..."

"Hmph! Have faith in the Alliance Leader!" At some point, the magic falling from the sky began to dwindle. There were two possibilities: either the Dark Elves had run out of mana, or the Sword Saint and his hunters had successfully eliminated them. Either way, it was good news.

Once the bombardment stopped completely, we assessed the situation and received a report. While I was holding the barrier, the Sword Saint had located the group of Dark Elves gathered to cast the magic and immediately engaged them in combat... apparently slicing through them indiscriminately. Even the Sword Saint hadn't escaped completely unscathed; he had sustained a few minor cuts, which I promptly healed.

"You have my deepest gratitude." The Sword Saint smiled warmly as he thanked me. Seriously, he did this earlier too, but why is he smiling? I felt a slight wave of annoyance wash over me, but I suppressed it.

Regardless, the raid was proceeding smoothly. Though my consumption of Holy Power was quite high, it wasn't a major issue yet. After wandering through the Great Forest for twenty hours—partly due to supply issues and the need for rest along the way—we finally arrived at the heart of the forest, where the World Tree stood. It was a clearing at the center of the Great Forest... or rather, a massive space dominated by a towering tree.

"Is that... the boss?" Everyone fell into a state of confusion upon seeing the grotesque sight of the World Tree. It was truly bizarre. The rotting, decaying wood was twisted into a horrific shape, and the ominous Magi radiating from it was absolutely sickening. Even seeing it again, it was utterly repulsive.

"Ugh...!" Some couldn't bear the nauseating sight and averted their eyes. It was that difficult to look at. A sight that threatened to shatter one's mental fortitude.

"That must be the boss." Even the Sword Saint's expression was grim. The Hero's party had reacted similarly when they first saw it. Eina, being an elf, had been particularly horrified, breaking down in tears...

Then, from a crevice in the grotesque World Tree, an elf emerged. His aura was vastly different from any of the Dark Elves we had encountered so far... and his physical state mirrored the bizarre, hideous corruption of the World Tree itself.

"Is that guy the boss?" To anyone looking, that elf was clearly the boss. He was someone I knew. The guardian of the World Tree, its spokesperson, the pinnacle of the elves known as a High Elf... and the father of Divine Archer Eina. A foolish leader and a loser who had chosen corruption in a desperate bid to protect the World Tree.

"Humans, do you stand against us?" He uttered the same predictable words as back then. However, the people of Earth couldn't understand the language of the Dark Elves. They only felt a sense of unease at the incomprehensible tongue.

"This, too, is entirely my mistake... If so, I shall accept it. Come!" He slowly stepped forward, paying no heed to his melting flesh. Yet, I couldn't sense any fighting spirit from him. Perhaps he, too, had regretted seeing the World Tree become corrupted by Magi... Still, having already accepted the Magi, he had acted for the survival of his race. The outcome had been disastrous, and he had fallen into despair. That was likely why, instead of fleeing from humanity's assault, he sought to take responsibility with his own life.

Of course, it was merely speculation, but there was plenty of circumstantial evidence. Back in the Other World, during his battle with the Hero's party, his movements had been highly unusual. He had seemed to intentionally take hits, stubbornly refusing to dodge and insisting on head-on clashes... even guiding our attacks toward specific spots. And in the end, he had chosen to die not by anyone else's hand, but by his own daughter's attack. Back then, blinded by rage and urgency, I hadn't seen it clearly. But now, I could plainly see his eyes, which were filled with deep remorse. Regret, lamentation, despair, futility, discouragement, and pessimism...

"Let's go." For some reason, there were no other Dark Elves around. We had defeated quite a few on our way here, but certainly not all of them. Yet, there wasn't a single other elf in this clearing. Perhaps... he was offering his own life to save the remaining Dark Elves. Back then, I hadn't known. That was why we had slaughtered them all, branding even the captured or surrendering Dark Elves as traitors and collaborators. Now... I didn't know what to think. In any case, once the Gate disappeared, this space would vanish, and all the Dark Elves inside would die anyway. And... having to kill the same person twice... it was a truly bizarre feeling.

The battle was quite fierce. Rather than the soldiers, the raid team of the Moorim Alliance took the lead in the boss fight, while the military stood by to intercept any Dark Elves that might try to intervene. I positioned myself among the Alliance's raid team, casting buffs and using my Divinity to purify the Magi. I even threw Sacred Fire to intentionally attack the World Tree.

"Haha! Has even the Goddess's proxy come? Indeed, our choice was wrong. So this is how it ends."

"What is that creature babbling about?" the Sword Saint asked.

"I don't know. Don't pay it any mind."

"Indeed. There is no need to listen to the words of a monster," the Sword Saint declared, slicing through the Magi and magic with the sword qi swirling around his blade. "I shall simply cleave!" With a swift strike, his sword severed the High Elf's left arm.

"Heh... good. Finally, the end has come." The words, heavy with regret that I hadn't properly processed back then, now rang crystal clear. If you were going to regret it this much, you shouldn't have betrayed us in the first place, I thought.

The battle didn't last long—only about twenty minutes. Before long, the High Elf was covered in wounds, his body completely battered.

"Yes, this is my end. How regrettable... Now, burn the World Tree." With those final words, the High Elf slowly closed his eyes.

"Why isn't the exit appearing?"

"Find the Gate's core!" They seemed slightly flustered when the clear notification failed to trigger despite defeating the boss.

I let out a soft chuckle. Then, I hurled my Sacred Fire toward the rotting, withered World Tree. As the divine flames caught, the grotesque, hideously distorted World Tree was instantly engulfed in fire. I watched it burn with a look of profound disillusionment.

Is it finally over... The core of the Gate was likely the World Tree itself, not the High Elf. Thus, only by ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠burning the World Tree would the Gate be cleared. I quietly watched the tree burn. Just then, a faint, fading consciousness drifted from the World Tree.

Why did the World Tree suddenly send such a message? Although it had projected its consciousness, it seemed no one else had felt it. In the end, was I the only one who received it...? What on earth did it mean? I couldn't understand.