Episode 171. Entering the World Tree and Unexpected Situation
Early the next morning, I followed Hugen and was surrounded by several elves.
I heard that they were the ones who would guide me to the World Tree, but they didn’t look at me very well.
“Are you going on foot?”
The world tree boasted grandeur as if it were right in front of it as it was huge, but the distance was quite far.
It was a distance that could have taken several days to walk from the Rastilia convention center where we were departing.
So, of course, I knew I would ride Griffin.
“….”
However, the elves who heard my question did not even answer and walked away in silence.
I looked at Hougen, a little embarrassed, and he opened his mouth.
“I will ride a leopard.”
“All right.”
If the griffin was the mount used by the wind knights, the Rastilia forest leopard was a rare animal that was mainly ridden by high-ranking elves.
Like Bahat’s Stormbringer Luna’s yellow-tailed stone monkey, it was classified as a spiritual being.
As soon as we walked to the border of the world tree and the city, the elves waiting in advance led the forest leopards.
Leopards with green fur had excellent protective coloration to the extent that they could not be distinguished from the color of the forest.
“Get behind me.”
At Hougen’s words, he jumped on the leopard he was sitting on.
The size of the leopard was much larger than three or four adults put together, so I had no problem getting on it.
“How long will it take?”
“It doesn’t take long. I have a lot of questions.”
Hearing Hugen’s scolding, he passed it off with one ear and grabbed the forest leopard’s fur.
It’s like a leaf texture.
Tadak! Tadak!
The leopard’s speed was very fast.
Even on the rugged terrain with tree roots and rocks, they ran as if they were unaffected.
Contrary to its gigantic size, the noiseless movement was surprising.
‘Come to think of it, those guys don’t exist.’
The traitors led by Seir, the leader of the Wind Knights, were nowhere to be seen.
Naturally, their ears would have known that I was heading for the World Tree, but it was surprising.
I wonder if I’m being careful because of the previous Poram, but it ended up being an individual deviation from the Poram, so I thought I’d take something different… ….
After running for half a day, I finally found a small building in the distance.
Seeing that there were no buildings built around the World Tree, that building seemed to have a special purpose.
Turbuck. Turbuck.
“Get down.”
The elves, including Hugen, naturally got off the leopard.
As I got off, an elf came out of the building.
‘strong.’
It felt like it was cutting my flesh.
At this level of momentum, of course he would be an Aura Master.
‘He’s the guardian of the world tree.’
There were two elves who guarded the World Tree.
A powerful force consisting of an Aura Master and a Warlock, respectively.
The author is probably Hoir, the Auror Master among them.
“Looks like that person.”
“That’s right.”
As Hoir was a retired elder, his age was high.
Compared to Hoir, Hougen was a difference enough to be treated as a child.
“Okay. Let’s go together from here.”
Contrary to his strong momentum, Hoir was an old elf with a fresh feeling.
It wasn’t as muscular as Master’s, but it had a slender body and a soft impression.
The World Tree was right in front of me, so I started walking.
“A disciple of Deshurn?”
“yes.”
“Human life is short. He’s already at that age… ….”
It seems that I was informed in advance that I am Deshurn’s disciple.
However, the more I experienced the elves, the more I couldn’t understand how Master ever lived interacting with them.
To get along with them, you had to become a Bodhisattva.
After that, we just walked without talking at all.
Elves are reticent.
Or is it because of me?
“Everything has come.”
“under….”
world tree.
A tree stood in front of me that made me wonder if something like this could really exist.
Up close, it looked more like a greenish-yellow wall than a tree.
“Don’t be rash.”
Hougen warned me while looking at the World Tree.
It’s not that you wear out just by looking at it, you’re picky.
There was no reason to quarrel with the elves, so I nodded and followed.
[The protection ‘Seed of God’s death’ discovers the energy of God.]
[The energy of ‘the one who counts the years on the stump’ has been found.]
[It is a powerful divine object. Suppression is impossible.]
[Traces cannot be collected.]
The Seed of God’s Slaughter reacted.
However, I was a little interested in the different reaction from before.
“This is the entrance. It’s complicated inside, so follow along.”
Hoir pointed to the crack at the base of the World Tree and said.
Decorated like an entrance to anyone, it created a mysterious atmosphere.
“If you turn a blind eye, you will be lost.”
Hoir, who left the advice until the end, entered first, and the elves followed suit.
It was a moment that I had never experienced even in a game, so I was a bit emotional, but I have to follow it for now.
…the moment I thought
“Ugh.”
Someone’s words echoed in my head along with the pain of twisting my intestines.
[“You can’t go in.”]
‘Original sin?’
[“If you go in, you won’t see anything good.”]
I feel the presence of original sin for the first time in a long time.
However, I couldn’t get my head around the sudden reaction of original sin.
No, if you’re going to stop it, stop it right away or come all the way here and don’t go in?
‘The reason is?’
As I hesitated, the elves ahead of me all looked at me.
As questions and doubts slowly crept into those eyes, I felt I had to make a quick decision.
[“Just as I felt his presence, he must have felt my presence. And the thing that is bothering him right now is a part of me. I won’t let you be my host.”]
Does that world tree mean?
Part of the original sin that plagues the World Tree must surely mean ‘gluttony’.
“human. What are you doing?”
In the end, one elf couldn’t stand it and asked with a hardened expression.
I’m sure there was nothing wrong with hearing the original sin… ….
‘Isn’t it something I can do to solve the problem?’
He came all the way here to deal with the existence that plagued the World Tree.
If you want to persecute me because of that existence, you can just get rid of that existence.
[“joy. do whatever you want. I definitely warned you.”]
With those words, the original sin slowly disappeared again.
“My stomach hurts a little because I was nervous. That’s fine now. Let’s go.”
Original sin must have done something, and I felt the pain of actually twisting my intestines, and a cold sweat broke out on my forehead.
The elves, assuming it was real from the look, soon began to walk while making uneasy faces.
“wait!”
Just as I was about to step into the rift, I heard someone’s voice from afar.
“The second star of the wind?”
why didn’t you come out
Seir used the spirit to instantly close the distance and then bowed towards Hoire.
“What are you doing here?”
“I decided to join you too.”
“hmm? Wasn’t it the leader of the Wind Knights? What about the knights?”
“I temporarily handed over my position to the vice-captain. Apparently, I couldn’t let go of things related to the World Tree.”
Put saliva in your mouth and tell a lie.
When I said that things were easy to solve, Seir came to join us.
“Aren’t you okay? If you add one more warrior, the burden will be less.”
One of the extra elves who came along gave an opinion.
I don’t remember all of the traitors one by one, so it’s not accurate, but now that I see it, I’m suspicious of that guy too.
“What do you think, Elder Hugen?”
“It’s too much power, but it doesn’t matter.”
“I get it. Then let’s do it together.”
In the end it turns out like this.
I was worried about the number of worlds because of what Original Sin said, but I had one more problem to worry about.
* * *
“So. What should I do now?”
It’s been quite a while since I entered the World Tree.
It was such a big tree that it took me quite a while just to pass through the entrance, but when I finally got inside, Hoir looked at me and asked.
“Nothing happens.”
“Is the trust wrong?”
Ignoring the elves who started whispering, I said what I wanted to say.
“Can I go downstairs?”
“underground?”
“yes. I have a feeling something has to go that way.”
Hoir and Hougen’s foreheads furrowed at the thought of a little absurdity.
Seir’s expression also hardened, but it was probably hardened in a different way from the other two.
“If you’re plotting nonsense, you’ll lose your life.”
“yes.”
There are three Aura Masters, so how could I have a different mind?
Once you get down to the root, there will be gluttony, so you can leave the handling of gluttony to Hougen and Hoir.
‘I’ll blow my nose without even touching it.’
A gluttony that gnaws at the roots of the world tree.
They were puppies, not the body of gluttony.
‘If anger is a human child, gluttony is a named monster that lives in the Shaiya Desert.’
I knew these two were all living sins.
Although it is a baby that is corrupting the World Tree, it possesses combat power that cannot be ignored.
It was quite difficult in the game, but now the party is accompanied by the strongest swordsman of the elves and the guardian of the world tree.
Once you find the cubs, it’s game over.
“You have to go underground just because you feel like it? Something doesn’t make sense.”
Seir suddenly stepped out.
“Isn’t it strange that the oracle asked us to invite humans to the World Tree in the first place? I don’t know what the hell I should believe and do this. When I came in, there was no change.”
“Since you’ve come this far, let’s go for now. If it was in vain, let this man pay the price.”
Hoir quietly said something rather scary.
It was something like that, but once I went down, there was no problem, so I solidified my opinion.
“You do that. If it goes down to the basement and nothing happens, I will pay the price.”
“cost? Would you give up your life?”
Sayre laughed.
life? It’s 100% sure that something special will happen anyway, so what can I not bet on?
“yes. I risk my life.”
“her!”
Seir made a sound of astonishment, but the other elves nodded their heads as if they felt a little credible when I said this.
“Let’s go down first.”
When Hougen also decided to go down, Seir had no choice but to follow with a stiff appearance.
It’s not like I’m suddenly going crazy.
Hoir knew the way down to the basement.
In the first place, it was one of the roles of the World Tree keeper to figure out the path inside the World Tree, so they were able to proceed without any problems.
“for a moment….”
As he was following Hoir, he suddenly stopped.
While watching what was going on, Hoir turned serious and winked at Hougen.
“Why are you like that?”
“The road has changed. The world tree is moving.”
At his words, everyone looked around nervously.
But there was no sign of movement anywhere.
“This has never happened since I became the Keeper… ….”
“Are you backing down?”
Hoir thought for a moment in silence.
I felt like things were getting more and more twisted, so I wasn’t feeling well either.
“Isn’t it because of this human? We must leave now.”
Seir shouted as if he had a chance.
No matter what he said, I calmly waited for Hoir’s decision.
“If you go any further here, you may lose your way back. So do it like this.”
Hoir, who seemed to have finally put an end to his worries, spoke.
“Only me and the two humans here will go in. Everyone else withdraw.”
“All right.”
Hougen immediately nodded as if he had no disagreement.
Despite the fact that Hoir could be in danger, there was no wavering.
“human. Doesn’t it matter?”
“yes.”
Of course I was fine too.
As long as you deal with gluttony, the world capital will probably be opened.
Of course, it could be that I was thinking optimistically, but since Mirinae and Kriebmacher were with me, I was confident that I could get out somehow.
“I will follow.”
“You too?”
This bastard is grabbing my ankle and trying to hang down.
“I can’t trust humans. I have no doubts about Hoir-sama’s skills, but isn’t there one thing in the world?”
“It may never come out again.”
“It doesn’t matter.”
While we were discussing it, a sudden change began to occur.
Deed Deuk.
“The world number…!”
“What is this…. Everyone on alert!”
Inside began to move.
From the floor we were stepping on to the walls and ceiling, it moved with great noise.
“this!”
In an instant, the distance between them grew apart.
A wooden wall blocked the gap between the streets, and the floor began to squirm and move in an unknown direction.
“Hugen! Take care of the human first!”
A voice came from far away.
At the same time, Hougen’s figure was reflected through the gap in the tree.
First of all, I approached Hougen with all my might.
If Seir and I are left alone after falling like this… ….
“run!”
Hugen shouted and stretched out his hand.
But suddenly tree trunks reached out and grabbed my leg.
“What is this again….”
I drew my sword and tried to cut it, but Hougen shouted.
“Are you planning to put your sword on the World Tree!”
like a star… …. does that matter now?
However, Hougen’s cry eventually created a momentary hesitation.
Whirik!
Eventually, the stems wrapped around both of my legs and started dragging me somewhere.
‘hole?’
Looking at the place where they were being dragged, they saw a pit covered in thick darkness.
The atmosphere was not serious, so he eventually swung his sword, but the tree was not cut down.
“crazy.”
I knew it was a world tree, but I never thought it would be this tough and hard.
The time to escape has already ended with that one attempt.
I was swallowed up in an instant into the pit the World Tree dragged along.
