Chapter 95
Chapter 95
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 95
Chapter Title: World Tree Reunion
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I'd already passed along the message to the Deputy Director.
I needed to go see the World Tree once.
"The World Tree, you say? Things have definitely been off in the California area lately. They're managing to keep it under control somehow, but I'm hearing some internal grumbling."
"That's why I figured I'd head over. Plus, it'd be nice to see Sia after so long."
"...So that's the real goal."
Busted.
"No, well... I did promise to help with Mutant City management."
"Haha, just kidding. You don't have any pressing schedule anyway, so feel free to go."
"Ah, okay."
"If anything comes up, give me a call. Are you going alone, by any chance?"
"Hmm... Not sure yet. I plan to ask Unnie Yeon-hwa and Ha-rin first. If something happens while we're away, my friends promised to help out, so you can coordinate with them."
"Your friends... That would be Han Tae-hwa from the recent movie, and Yoo Han-gyeol, right?"
"Yeah. I helped them out last time, so they told me not to worry and just go."
"I know their power levels well enough from various sources, so that's solid backup. Understood."
Having stuck pretty much to my side for the past few months, the Deputy Director knew all about my friends' strength.
How strong Tae-hoon was, how strong Han-gyeol was.
Well, Han-gyeol's strength was no secret to anyone who knew her true identity, since she'd been jetting around the world for religious unification.
Anyway, with them helping out, I could head to the US without a worry.
Yeon-hwa Unnie and Ha-rin had been twiddling their thumbs a lot lately, so this was a good chance to give them something to do.
With all the administrative staff we'd hired, the two of them had basically been on permanent vacation for months.
Not that there'd been a ton of fieldwork either...
It was like money was just leaking out.
Someone might ask me about it.
What about the Director herself?
My answer would be simple.
I'd done plenty of work.
Really.
Even if it was just in name, I was still the Director... and eventually, guilt got to me, and I started seeking out tasks on my own.
So now, I knew every bit of administration the Mutant Management Bureau handled.
I'd followed the Deputy Director around and learned it all diligently.
In any case, it was settled: the three of us would board the flight to the US.
The two of them agreed without complaint once they heard we were going to America.
They'd even said they were bored from lack of work.
Anyone hearing that would be jealous.
Sure, back in the early days of the Second Mutation, the two of them had helped with admin stuff in various ways... but that was only early on.
Unlike me, with my perfect memory that retained everything after one glance, they made frequent mistakes, so once we got more staff, I pulled them off admin duties.
After that, they hardly got any assignments.
On top of that, I'd been going around everywhere putting the fear of god into Mutants, so they couldn't even think of causing trouble.
They all knew exactly what powers I had and what I could do to them directly.
As a result, the two of them had nothing left to do and wandered around expressing chronic boredom.
They were even thrilled about a business trip to the US... that said it all.
* * *
We took our time boarding the plane and headed to California.
Waiting to greet us upon arrival was, predictably, Sia.
"Long time no see."
"Yeah, you too. Everything okay?"
As I said that, I naturally pulled Sia into a hug and rubbed her cheek.
That addictive texture, as always.
Then Yeon-hwa Unnie came in fussing over her and hugged Sia tight.
"Long time no see, Sia! Eheh... I missed this texture so much..."
"Hey, Unnie, people are watching!"
After Yeon-hwa Unnie, Ha-rin started fiddling with her cheeks too.
Once Sia had been thoroughly manhandled by us and started to calm down, she answered my question about how things were.
"Well... nothing major yet, but it's getting a bit precarious, I guess..."
"Why? What's the problem?"
"Like I mentioned before... because of racial traits, some species just don't mix."
"Which ones?"
"Elves and Dwarves."
"Ah."
Elves and Dwarves. Famous bitter rivals.
"No matter how much I try to mediate, these damn bearded... anyway, the bearded ones won't listen just because I'm a High Elf."
According to Sia, here's what happened.
When the Second Mutation hit, existing species like Dwarves and Elves proliferated.
And naturally, they all flocked to one place.
Mutant City.
It started as a village plan, but it grew so big it became a full city.
It had some complicated official name, but everyone just called it Mutant City out of laziness.
Anyway, with droves of Elves and Dwarves suddenly showing up, conflicts were inevitable.
They were barely keeping it suppressed with help from other Mutants, but it had its limits.
Elves who came for the World Tree's blessing were fairly docile thanks to it and didn't sharpen their claws at the Dwarves, but the Dwarves kept glaring at the Elves.
"...The Dwarves are doing it for no reason?"
"That's what I'm saying! They won't even explain why...! They don't say why they're mad or hostile toward the Elves!"
"Maybe the Elves are demanding vegan food or something."
It seemed plausible. Dwarves evoked images of craftsmen, beer, meat... If the Elves pushed veganism, that could spark it...
"What are you talking about? Elves eat meat too."
What?
"Really? I thought as nature's friends, they avoided killing..."
"Pfft, no way. If that were true, we couldn't eat plants either? Technically, plants are our friends too?"
Now that I thought about it...
"Then why?"
"That's what I can't figure out, and it's driving me crazy. They won't tell me the reason, and when I ask, they say they have nothing to say to 'pointy-ears' and slam the door in my face. I can't kick them out either—who knows what havoc those bearded jerks would wreak outside. Ugh...!"
She had a lot pent up.
Hmm... Maybe I should try talking to them.
"I'll give it a shot then. Where are the Dwarves?"
I figured it'd sort itself out if I stepped in.
"But didn't you come to see the World Tree?"
"True... but maybe we handle that first."
"Let's see the World Tree first instead. I need time to gather the Dwarves anyway."
"Okay."
"It won't turn into a fight, right...?"
Yeon-hwa Unnie muttered anxiously.
"Unnie, even if it does, Seo-hyun Unnie could stomp once and end it. What's to worry?"
"Ah, haha... Yeah, true?"
"We'd step in if needed, but I doubt it'll come to that. Honestly, I'd love something we could actually handle."
"By the way, how do Fairies get along with Dwarves?"
"No idea. Fairies are a fairy folk too, so seeing Dwarves might rub us wrong, but we haven't met any yet. We'll see when we do."
* * *
And so, we arrived before the World Tree.
It felt like ages since I'd last seen it.
Hmm... Nothing much changed.
As I reached out to touch it—
Vwoong-!
Suddenly, a massive vibration shook the World Tree.
...What now?
As I wondered, I felt something enter my mind.
I let it happen.
No need to check—I knew exactly who it was.
...Looks like the World Tree had something to say to me.
* * *
[Hello.]
The World Tree spoke directly into my mind, its voice warm and welcoming.
"Uh... hi. World Tree, right?"
[Yes. I've awaited this day, and now we meet.]
"Technically, we met last time too."
[I was still recovering my ego then... Anyway, it's a pleasure. Heir of the Ancient Dragon.]
"The Ancient Dragon... you mean my past self as a Dragon?"
[Yes. Her will intervened in this world, reshaping it. Thanks to her, I revived. I'm grateful to face this beautiful world again.]
"I see. One question—can you answer it?"
[What troubles you?]
"The Second Mutation just happened... That was you, right?"
[Yes. Though 'mutation' isn't quite right—'inheritance' fits better.]
"Inheritance?"
[Indeed. I don't bestow races indiscriminately. Except for you, most people inherited the form they most desired deep down.]
"...Hold on. From their desires?"
[Yes. Desires buried in the unconscious triggered the inheritance. My light was merely the catalyst.]
"That's new... Then what about me? You said 'except for you.'"
[Even I don't know that. Perhaps you were randomly selected from those matching the Ancient Dragon's desired traits.]
"My gender change—was that her will too?"
[Your current body mirrors hers at the end of her power. Likely, it shifted to fully inherit that.]
"Ah."
So my gender flipped when I became the Ancient Dragon's heir.
Wait—according to the World Tree... Han-gyeol, Tae-hoon, and the others had those desires inside them?
...I'll tease them with this later.