The Weight of the Word "Parent"
The World Tree, manifested in the form of an elf child, was currently radiating tremendous hostility. However, the remark "The World Tree is just a big tree" back then hadn't come from me—it had been the bald-eared guy who said it. I decided to play dumb.
"Tree bitch, you got the wrong target. That was the bald-eared guy who said it."
"Do you think I don't know you forced that nonsense through a vow?!"
This bastard's a hikikomori—how the hell does he know that?
[Call yourself the Observer of the Metaverse to match the trend.]
The World Tree ground its teeth and unleashed its rage without restraint. Its clenched fists trembled violently, betraying its fury.
"The high elves of the Pond Leaf Tribe explained everything that happened! You're the mastermind behind it all!"
"Hey, you crazy bitch. How the fuck is that my fault? Your horny-ass elves were the ones who went apeshit on Hye-ji!"
"When a noble long-lived species shows interest, you short-lived species should be grateful!"
"Is this really your master? Someone neuter this bastard already."
"Hmph! We elves are kind—we don't bite anyone!"
"Yeah, well I bite, you crazy bitch."
[This is a textbook example straight out of "Elves Are Magnificent."]
Even Master Kang Hyung-wook would cut ties and put it down.
[The elves? Or the World Tree?]
Both.
Only now did I finally understand the wary, overly hostile looks the elves had been giving me. The phrase "The World Tree is just a big tree" had spread throughout the entire Great Forest as something I'd said. In hindsight, their reaction made perfect sense.
"Hey! If you hate being called a big tree, want me to change it to a fucking massive tree?"
"Don't talk nonsense! How dare you irreverently call this body a mere tree!"
"What should I call you then? The previous chapter's comments were pretty heated."
"I don't need it!! Kneel and apologize right now!!"
"I am Groot."
The tree friend was seriously deranged. I laughed savagely and spoke to the World Tree with complete confidence.
"If you keep throwing a fit, I'll call Hye-ji and turn you into a big pile of firewood."
"Hah! You mean that short-lived species who was with you? I thought she was a man because she has no chest!"
"......If you say that to Hye-ji, you might actually die."
[Th-this crazy bastard—what is he trying to handle?!]
It'll be the World Tree that handles it.
The World Tree stomped its feet and screamed.
"And why the hell were you punching the walls on your way up?!"
"How was the real fisting? Be honest—you came a few times, right?"
"Shut up!!!!!!!!!"
Then it suddenly remembered the bald-eared guy getting demoted from high elf to regular elf. The reason had clearly been an irreverent remark about the World Tree.
"Hey, shouldn't you demote that bald-eared guy to a regular elf too?"
"Ah. You mean that somewhat lacking child? He was far too low-class to be a high elf."
"He really was low-class. Walking around with that many wives."
"Not committing incest... it would sully the blood of high elves. That's why I demoted him."
What?......
[Wh-what did you just say?...]
The World Tree folded its arms, closed its eyes, and nodded as if stating the obvious. I'd thought I was getting used to this, but my mind was still reeling.
"What the fuck are you talking about? I don't understand a single word."
"Exactly as I said. Mixing impurities into high elf blood. How utterly low-class."
"Hey, according to you, does that mean anyone who commits incest is an elf?"
"Even if they're not elves, treating them as honorary elves is only natural."
"......What about pseudo-incest?"
"As long as the blood is connected, it can be seen as a beautiful act for preserving pure blood."
"You're fucking generous, you piece of shit."
The big tree's bullshit made my brain stall again. If I followed the logic, the incestuous behavior led by the high elves was essentially the World Tree's will. The bald-eared guy's demotion had been officially for insulting the World Tree, but in reality it was because he hadn't committed incest.
Ah, fuck. This bastard was the cause.
[Just what kind of existence are elves in this novel...]
Fuck, even Champi wasn't this bad.
That moment passed quickly. The World Tree pointed at me and screamed.
"There is only one thing I will command you to do!"
"I don't take orders from someone weaker than me."
"Leave Ersciana alone and get out! And never involve yourself with that child again!"
"I won't accept your orders."
"You fucking bastard!!!"
As expected of a natural-born rebel, Black Wargreymon. At least the dialogue efficiency was guaranteed. The World Tree panted, its face twisted, and roared.
"Because of you, Ersciana has become strange!"
"She's always been pretty strange."
"What nonsense!!!!......Wait, you're actually right about that."
The World Tree paused for a moment, its anger subsiding as it accepted the point. Then it flew back into a rage and grabbed me by the collar.
"That's not it! Ersciana dares to ignore this body's words and choose only you, a lowly short-lived species!"
"Who the hell are you to throw a fit over her choice?"
"This body is the World Tree! The mother and father of all elves!"
In that instant, I froze. Words that should never have come from this bastard's mouth had just been spoken.
"......How dare you utter the word 'parent'?"
"What's the problem?! The elves are my children!!"
"......"
At that moment, I remembered how the World Tree had threatened us earlier. It had been an extremely dangerous situation. Well, dangerous for us—no. The one truly in danger had been Elsia. The World Tree had claimed her as its child while putting her in the greatest peril. And it was the one calling itself a parent that had done it.
"But because of you alone, the plan has gone awry!"
"......Hey."
My blood ran cold.
"Originally, Ersciana has no qualification to be a high elf because she's a half-blood, but her talent is highly valued!"
"......Hey, you crazy bastard."
My hands and feet began to tremble with building power.
"Even though she has a quarter human blood, this body's plan was to resolve that through countless unions with pure blood!"
"......Listen here, you fucking bastard."
Blood vessels began to rise in my eyes as killing intent surged.
"So get out right now! That's the best for both the elves and Ersciana—"
"Shut the fuck up and listen to me, you piece of shit."
I cut off the World Tree's rambling and grabbed it by the neck, lifting it into the air. Because of our height difference, the World Tree dangled from my arm, struggling. It coughed painfully, punching my arm and kicking me to escape, but I didn't budge. I squeezed hard enough to crush its throat and spoke quietly.
"A bastard like you calls itself a parent?"
"Th-that's right!!......This body is......the parent of all elves..."
"Shut up and answer."
"....Wh-what do you mean!"
"What kind of parent throws their own child into danger?"
When the World Tree had threatened us earlier, Elsia had been exposed to that threat. Completely defenseless. If we had resisted, Hye-ji, Jung Ayeon, and I would have escaped with only minor injuries at worst. But Elsia could have suffered fatal wounds—or even died.
"What kind of parent thinks of their child only as breeding stock?"
"Kuh...! L-let... go!"
"And still."
"Let go, I said!....Can't you hear me!!"
"How dare you claim you can bear the weight of the word 'parent'?"
"Let go!!!!"
"I told you to answer! You fucking bastard!!!!!!!"
I slammed the World Tree into the ground. It was so light in its elf child form that its body bounced slightly. The moment I saw that, I kicked it with all my strength without hesitation.
- BOOOOOOM!!!!!!!
With a sound far too loud for a mere kick, the World Tree flew off in a straight line until it became a tiny speck. But since this was its mental world, the distance between us instantly closed, and it reappeared right in front of me. The pain it felt was apparently real—the World Tree lay on the ground, gasping and dry-heaving. After several rounds of retching, it glared at me and grabbed my collar again, screaming.
"You fucking bastard! You think you'll get away with this!!!"
"The most you'll manage is one or two elves."
The World Tree suddenly gave a nasty smile.
"You bastard don't know how terrifying elves can be! One word from me and you'll die a miserable death at the hands of countless elves! Living will be worse than death—your only rest will be in the grave!"
"What are you trying to say."
"We have the elf army and the elf pursuit squad!"
The World Tree cackled as if it had already won. I gave it the same nasty smile in return.
"We have Hye-ji."
The World Tree burst into insane laughter, its mouth stretching so wide it nearly reached its temples.
"Kahahahaha!!! You've been going on about Hye-ji this, Hye-ji that—what the hell does that even mean!"
"Try experiencing it once."
"Hahahaha!! What are you talking about!!"
"Go experience the future through regression."
".........What are you?"
Wariness and tension instantly filled the World Tree's eyes. Its hand gripping my collar began to tremble. I continued regardless.
"That's not what's important right now, is it?"
"What the hell are you?!"
"You'd better regress and see the future quickly."
The World Tree stared at me suspiciously, then released my collar and backed away. A moment later, the number above its head increased by one. Then it began to cry, its entire body shaking violently.
"Wh-what the hell is that!! That unfairness!!! That overwhelming violence!!!"
"Now you get it? That's our tactical nuke Hye-ji."
"You bastard worse than a dog!!! Who the hell brings asymmetric power into the deepest part of the forest!!!!"
I grabbed the World Tree by the neck with my left hand and lifted it into the air. It struggled again, but I ignored it and clenched my right fist.
"L-let go! You bastard worse than a dog!"
"You're right about one thing—I'm worse than a dog."
And I drove my fist deep into the World Tree's face.
- THUD!!!!!!
"KAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!"
"Compared to my brother Choco, you're still way lacking."
With that, the World Tree's mental world began to shatter and collapse.