◈ Episode 491. The Foundation (7)

The World Tree.

The Mother of All on the Arcana continent.

She borrowed Hiel’s mouth to convey her will.

If I recall that memory…….

‘It was very unfamiliar.’

Her eyes and tone were different than usual.

It was only for a moment, but it was as if the world’s water was in his body and spirit, and it was easy to see why Grandfell was so sorry.

“It means I won’t allow it.”

How dare he say the same thing to anyone else. …….

As you know, our Grandfell is not a person who will be swayed by anyone, even if it’s the Mother of the Arcana Continent, the World Tree.

‘…… I received something, I’m sorry.’

As the youngest in the World Tree’s genealogy, I apologized.

Of course, I couldn’t say it out loud.

It’s just the sound of my heart, but it’s still sincere. If you are the Mother of All, can’t you understand my feelings hidden under the iron skin……?

‘……Don’t expect too much, Hoyeol.’

That was the moment I thought.

-Of course, you do, and I will honor your wishes.

The voice of the World Tree replied.

I was able to intuit it because I was the person involved.

This is not about honoring Grandfell’s blatant refusal.

The World Tree had accepted my apology.

‘……Wait, you answered what I was thinking.’

I wonder if the World Tree’s know this? Do you know where the history of the Claudi family began, or how I, Lee Hoyeol, came to be connected to Grandfell through some dark history……!

”No, you don’t need to know that……!’

That’s when my cheeks suddenly got hot.

Seug.

My fingers caught a fluttering leaf.

In the silence, time stood still.

How will I look in the eyes of others?

Perhaps I look like I’ve summoned the World Tree.

Then, of course, there are the mages of the Magic Tower and Baek Yiseol.

‘It’s real, so maybe it’s being broadcast somewhere.’

Maybe the whole world is watching.

I calmly moved my hands.

I moved my lips.

“This is not your arrangement.”

……You’re still not done, you ass!

“It is our struggle.”

It’s a struggle, not an arrangement.

Who is Grandfell?

It is no exaggeration to say that he is the master of making condescending remarks.

It was clear that Grandfell was subtly condescending this time too.

But.

“Oried’s remorse, Yugweed’s actions, the scars of those who fought on the Arcana continent before reality, and the sacrifices of those who have closed their eyes to reality at this moment.”

For once, I’ll join in on the sentiment.

‘World Tree, your arrangement?’

Look at what has happened because of your damn damn arrangement.

Look at what Oried, the neglected spirit, has done.

If I affirm your arrangement, World Tree.

I am no different from affirming Rayman Sean.

‘Honestly, I don’t see a big difference in the methods.’

I squeezed the leaf hard.

“It is. It all comes down to our choices.”

As I’ve said before, my Grandfell hates being manipulated by anyone, so it’s not just that he refuses to deliver the World Tree’s words, it’s that he’s denying the World Tree’s order, its very existence.

In that sense, I am purely concerned.

‘What if.’

Will [the First World Tree’s Blessing] be taken back for the violation of the law?

If the effect of the buff is known to the world.

I might be criticized.

I would be criticized for using such a fraudulent buff to such an extent.

The effect of [Blessing of the First World Tree] is fraudulent to that extent.

That meant I could only regret it.

However, the size of the bowl was different for small fry, Lee Hoyeol, and the World Tree.

Even in the face of Grandfell’s stiff words.

World Tree still replied in a gentle voice.

-I respect that, too.

It wasn’t just words.

Light began to pour out from Grandfell’s grip on the leaf.

Your vision flickers in response.

[Stat, ‘???’ has been opened.]

It said unknown.

I had a hunch.

{Nature} Ability.

It’s an unknown power, different from [Skill] and [Magic].

A third power that even the system can’t express.

‘Just like the quest related to the Demon World is a question mark.’

Is it because I know that? Even after rejecting the First World Tree, I was able to handle the Awakened [First World Tree Blessing]. Technically, it’s the power of a single leaf, but…….

Swoosh.

If you add my otherworldly magic power to that, it’s a different story.

A Fused Intelligence, an endlessly massive golem that combines Oried’s {Nature} abilities and the 『magic』 of Yugweed. I told you, right?

‘It’s a different level.’

The momentum of the anomaly rises from me.

“This, this, this can’t be right.”

I finally have time to turn around.

Bensch’s gaze, which alone blocked the fusion intelligence, turned towards me.

Somehow, he looks thrilled.

“Chief Lee is that the three, World Tree……?!”

I give him a quick nod of my head.

“Of course……!!”

I wasn’t responding to such an unseemly question, Senior Bensch William. My nod was a signal of sorts. A signal to teleport right then and there if you don’t want to get involved.

I wonder if he caught the meaning instead.

Vangrit.

He shouted at Bensch.

“Senior Bensch, get out of the way now!”

His voice was booming. Bensch immediately teleported away, putting distance between him and the Fused Intelligence. A loud boom echoed through the city center of Seoul.

kukukwakwakwang─

A collision of Anomaly.

Me and the Fused Intelligence.

The aftermath of a power struggle with no concessions.

Then, a figure began to shine through the storm of magical particles.

A panicked voice said.

“Ma, Magic Tower……?”

Indeed, it’s easy to see why he’s speechless.

Perhaps a first in Arcana’s history.

The top floor of the Magic Tower has been swept away without a trace.

*

The top floor of the Magic Tower.

All of the karma caused by the Magic Tower did not originate from the Crystal Hall, the Topaz Hall, the Emerald Hall, or the Garnet Hall where the vicious magic tools were stored.

-Damn place.

The culprit was the top floor, a place that fostered a sense of superiority that did nothing for the pursuit of Truth. Now that Yugweed was unconscious, she let her suppressed self-loathing show.

“I pity you, Yugweed.”

Earth Spirit King.

Oried.

In her grasp.

Yugweed and Oried.

A space of consciousness where only two exist.

The initiative of the ritual rested with Oried.

Yugweed sits in her chair.

Oried stroked her hair as she approached. A head that could fit in both hands. The sensation on her fingertips told her of Yugweed’s condition.

“You are still only a child, Yugweed.”

In her consciousness, Yugweed was a child of about fifteen years old.

Oried holds her head.

She gently stroked her hair and whispered.

“What else has made you lonely, Yugweed? You can tell me everything. You need not doubt me. Did you not also find the lost Magic Tower on the Arcana continent, so that you could destroy it with your own hands?”

I can’t believe you’re still conscious in this state.

Indeed, you did not ascend to the position of Elder Mage for nothing.

Nevertheless, Oried smiled.

“But remember, the time is coming soon. When all the fun is over, it will be time for you to slide down from your chair and take a nap. A nap you will never wake from.”

It was only a matter of time.

It didn’t matter now if Yugweed ever regained consciousness.

If you see what your subconscious has done, if you realize that you attacked the Magic Tower with your own hands, then you, a weak girl, will give up everything.

seueug.

Oried whispered again.

“Because you are a pure child.”

So what was the last thing Yugweed had left to give?

Oried could guess.

You must be looking for ‘them’.

“Let me see, there they are.”

The Shadow Mercenaries.

“Disbanding doesn’t make that ugly smell go away.”

Arcana Continent.

The Shadow Mercenaries launched an offensive against the Fused Intelligences’ flesh.

Yugweed’s subconscious recognized the Shadow Mercenaries’ presence.

Flinch.

Oried’s eyes lit up at her reaction.

“I will make them pay.”

At the same time, the raid on the Fused Intelligence of the Arcana Continent, thought to be over, resumed. Yes, the beginning of the hidden phase of the Arcana Continent’s biography.

Kukugugugung.

The upper body has been shattered, making it lighter.

The situation everyone feared was about to happen.

The Fused Intelligence slowly stood up.

The giant body stands upright.

Its first footsteps are naturally directed at the ground.

“Feel free to trample it to your heart’s content.”

It was where the former members of the Shadow Mercenaries had gathered.

A natural disaster that could not be prevented, nor could it be avoided.

But the Fused Intelligence’s feet would not trample them.

The Arcana Continent and the real world.

Two completely different worlds were being watched at the same time. The 『Reversal』 of the situation. To put it another way, the collapsed Magic Tower was being rebuilt with a 『Reversal Magic』.

…… flinch.

The top floor of the Magic Tower was restored to its original state.

Her actions have become meaningless.

Yugweed’s unconsciousness has seized.

Thud.

Oried’s hand stopped stroking her hair.

“You are a strange creature, Claudi.”

She didn’t think about it, wanting to focus on the initiative of consciousness.

She couldn’t find an answer without agonizing over it.

Oried’s brow wrinkled.

“How is it that you, who died on the Arcana Continent, are still breathing in that world? Do you even still have the power of resurrection? Why is it that only you……!”

But there was no need to get excited.

“No, it’s okay.”

That was it.

In reality, he couldn’t influence the Arcana Continent. Even if he was able to fully wield the power of the World Tree at this moment, the story would not change.

“You can’t stop us.”

Yugweed.

The moment this poor girl crushes the last stumbling block, the Shadow Mercenaries, and destroys them, her consciousness will collapse completely and control of the Fused Intelligence will return to her.

After that,…….

“I am finally……!”

Oried screamed in delight.

A voice pierced her consciousness.

It was Claudi, the voice of Hoyeol.

“You can thank me, Yugweed.”

……Suddenly, you can thank me?

What a strange thing to say.

Oried listened without realizing it.

“If it weren’t for my Reversal Magic, you would have been brought before the Round Table of the Magic Tower’s strict discipline and imprisoned for all eternity in the Mugan below.”

What was he talking about in this situation, the high-minded discipline of the Magic Tower? I didn’t understand. Oried cupped both hands over Yugweed’s ears.

Then she whispered softly.

“Perhaps we should concentrate on the bugs of Arcana?”

But Yugweed didn’t listen.

“But reversal isn’t just magic. Yes, Elder Yugweed, it is. Everything can be reversed. Humans are no exception.”

Humans are no exception?

‘No way, you mean the Shadow Mercenaries…….’

The words made her look more closely.

And then she saw it.

What they were doing with their lives on the line.

“!”

The Shadow Mercenaries were rescuing the people of the Empire.

The shadow of death looms over their heads.

Without heeding anything.

Kung.

It was then.

The Fused Intelligence shook violently.

Oried pressed harder against Yugweed’s ear, whispering in her ear.

“No, humans do not change, especially not the weight of their sins, which means that the sins of the Shadow Mercenaries, as well as the sins you’ve committed in this moment, can never be erased……!”

But once again, she is denied.

“Your actions are the same, Yugweed.”

“Shut up!!!”

Oried shouted, unintentionally emotional.

But with that emotion.

Oried had lost control of the consciousness.

And in that moment, the situation was 『Reversed.』

“Everything may be reversed, but one thing cannot be undone.”

Her hair is now white.

Her skin has aged naturally.

The face of a young girl that still somehow remained.

“How……?”

Yugweed adds cheerfully, to Oried’s astonishment.

“Can’t we turn around how much time has passed, Chief Lee?”

*

A hopeless situation.

The players’ vision flickers.

As if they weren’t hallucinating.

[Yugweed the Fused Intelligence self-destructs.]

“Resurrection, the World Tree, now the monster is self-destructing……?!”

Reality.

Arcana Continent.

It was the beginning of the final phase that would shake both worlds.