Chapter 307 : The World Is a Tree
Chapter 307: The World Is a Tree
“The world is a tree.”
Dwindrog slowly opened his mouth.
“I believe I've told you this before. The reason I made contracts with humans while avoiding the Sky Dragon's gaze.”
“You said you were trying to use humans to create a Dimensional Gate leading to another world.”
“Correct. Then why humans, specifically?”
Now that I thought about it...
He had a point.
Why humans?
There were plenty of races among the [Mysteries] that resembled humans.
Just nearby was a Dwarf village.
There were also Elves, Orcs, and countless others.
All of them walked on two legs and possessed intelligence, just like humans.
“……Are you saying there's something unique about humans?”
“Think about the true nature of the [Mysteries].”
Their true nature...
Even after hearing that, I couldn't quite grasp what he meant.
“Including Dragons, the origin of every [Mystery] race lies in humanity's imagination, instincts, and various emotions. Put another way, even the ‘God’ said to have created humanity was, in truth, born from humans.”
“Isn't that a contradiction?”
“It is.”
“And that's precisely the important part.”
At that moment, I remembered a conversation I'd once had with Evangeline.
Back then...
Our discussion had ended rather awkwardly because she suddenly burst into tears at the family restaurant.
Still...
I clearly remembered her saying something very similar.
—All monsters may have been born from humanity.
“……Go on.”
“Before that, let me ask you something else.”
“When you first arrived in this world, didn't you notice your soul changing to match your body?”
“You mean Synchronization?”
“Call it whatever you like. What's important is whether you were aware of it.”
“I was.”
“But I solved it.”
“You solved it?”
“How?”
“……”
I hesitated for a moment...
Then decided to tell him everything honestly.
About creating a clone...
Making it become the true “Murderer, Aaron Stingray”...
And forcing myself to fight against it.
I also briefly explained the existence of the Possessors' Alliance.
After hearing my explanation...
Dwindrog looked at me as though I were insane.
“So you really were a madman.”
He didn't merely look at me that way.
He actually said it out loud.
That stung a little.
“So in the end, you died once and became a newly born personality occupying this body. That's not something anyone in their right mind would ever do. Though, to be fair... I'd already realized something about you was broken.”
“That's simply a matter of perspective.”
“A matter of perspective?”
“What a ridiculous thing to say.”
“……Enough.”
“Continue.”
“Tsk.”
Dwindrog clicked his tongue as though he'd witnessed something he wished he hadn't before continuing.
“Anyway.”
“Do you know what causes Synchronization?”
“The body gradually adapts to its physical form.”
I deliberately omitted what the Author himself had once told me...
That this world fundamentally functioned like a board game.
Dwindrog shook his head.
“If that were the case, every ghost possessing a human should perfectly inherit the host's personality.”
“That's not the reason.”
“The souls of Possessors alone change because this world is becoming ‘reality.’”
“……”
“As this world, which was originally nothing more than a novel, transforms into reality, it begins correcting contradictions capable of shaking its very foundation through various methods.”
“The existence and knowledge possessed by Possessors are especially problematic.”
“They are beings that fundamentally contradict the established [Setting].”
“As a result, a coercive force is applied, reshaping the soul's form and nature until it closely resembles that of the body's original owner.”
“Go on.”
“The important part is this.”
“The world seeks to obtain even greater ‘substantiality’ by resolving contradictions and errors.”
“Now let's return to our original topic.”
“Gods.”
“Dragons.”
“And immortals.”
Dwindrog waved his hand through the air.
A gigantic tree made of light appeared before us.
“If ‘humans’ had never existed, the concept of ‘God’ would never have been born.”
“And if ‘God’ had never existed, then humanity would never have come into being.”
“The same applies to Dragons.”
“The Dragon race, beings that have crossed dimensions since primordial times, were born from humanity's imagination.”
“But Dragons, which should have been born from humans, cannot logically exist in an era before humanity itself.”
“A paradox.”
“Exactly.”
“So how do you think this world attempted to resolve that contradiction?”
“No.”
“You don't need the correct answer.”
“The important thing is that ‘humanity’ inevitably becomes the center of every Setting.”
With another wave of his hand...
Countless smaller branches began growing from one golden branch of the tree.
“Even monsters of the same species possess countless different versions throughout folklore.”
“For example...”
“In one story, an Ogre might be a benevolent creature.”
“But in another legend, the same Ogre appears as an evil monster.”
“Yet in this world, only one version of the Ogre exists.”
“An inconsistency created by the official Setting.”
“Correct.”
“Although they never appeared in the original work, there must be countless examples like this.”
“In most cases, the world probably fills in the gaps the Author never considered.”
“But once enough inconsistencies accumulate...”
“A large-scale revision eventually becomes necessary.”
Dwindrog snapped off one of the branches and held it in his hand.
“‘The [Mysteries] are beings born from humanity's imagination.’”
“At the same time...”
“‘The [Mysteries] came from another dimension and began attacking humanity.’”
“When those two Settings overlap...”
“What conclusion do they produce?”
“‘Humanity created another universe where the [Mysteries] live.’”
“Exactly.”
The golden branch gently swayed in Dwindrog's hand.
“Saying humanity literally created it would be somewhat inaccurate.”
“After all, each individual is nothing more than a powerless mortal.”
“It would be more accurate to say that it was born through the intangible ‘energy’ produced by humanity's collective unconscious.”
“Hunting Grounds are much the same.”
“They're simply lower universes created through a similar Setting.”
“You've been to the Hunting Grounds as well?”
“I have.”
“How did you obtain a Ticket?”
“Have you forgotten I'm a Dragon?”
Right.
A race capable of crossing dimensions wouldn't need something like that.
“In any case...”
“The conclusion is that humans are exceptionally useful ‘materials.’”
“And that's what the Sky Dragon is after.”
“Exactly.”
“If it can dominate the collective unconscious of humanity in this world...”
“It can create entirely new universes.”
“And if something can be created...”
“It can also be destroyed.”
“It could snap an entire branch off the tree.”
“That was my objective as well.”
“Now it finally makes sense.”
Why the Sky Dragon protected humanity.
Why it ruled indirectly by placing humans such as Chairman Stingray at the forefront instead of acting personally.
Why it had taken Kalia.
In the end...
It was afraid.
It wished to avoid directly revealing its existence to humanity's collective unconscious...
And instead preserve the same situation that had existed for the past two hundred years.
'Taking Kalia must've been because it reached the same conclusion I did.'
At this point...
She was the only person capable of resolving everything while retaining legitimate authority.
The original plan had likely been to install her as the next puppet Chairman after Chairman Stingray.
After today's events...
Her value had only increased.
'Chairman Stingray must've been trying to destroy all of that.'
He had wagered every ounce of glory he'd built over two centuries on one final gamble.
And I'd been forced into playing exactly as he'd intended.
'Alright.'
'Let's organize everything.'
What should I do now?
Whose side should I take?
Whom should I oppose?
How could I create the most favorable outcome?
I thought about it for a moment.
Surprisingly...
The answer wasn't difficult.
'What I need to do hasn't changed.'
Stop the Monster Wave.
Find and defeat the Sky Dragon.
Restore the city.
As long as I survived until the very end...
Everything afterward would somehow work itself out.
Once my decision had been made...
It was time to act.
“Maria.”
[Yes, Young Master.]
It seemed she'd been waiting for my call.
She answered immediately.
“Take care of the Special Class.”
“With the emergency alert issued, every Academy student from the Tactical Combat Department has probably already deployed.”
“Make up whatever excuse you need.”
“Pull them off the battlefield and move them somewhere safe.”
“That includes Evangeline and Ciel.”
[I'll do my best.]
Given the current situation...
There was a fair chance invoking my name wouldn't accomplish much.
But Maria would figure something out.
“Also.”
“Mobilize every available person you have.”
“Find Kalia.”
[Understood.]
“And...”
“I forgot to ask about MilleTech.”
“What are they doing?”
[We've confirmed they're engaged in localized battles against our forces in several areas. However, judging by their troop movements and deployment scale, I believe it's more accurate to say they're responding rather passively.]
“They're probably doing that because of the Monster Wave.”
“Good.”
“Whether you use my name...”
“Or persuade Vladimir...”
“Whatever happens, make absolutely sure this doesn't escalate into full-scale war.”
The Monster Wave alone was already enough trouble.
The Sky Dragon made things even worse.
If MilleTech joined the conflict as well...
The situation would become completely unmanageable.
Even if I somehow succeeded in defeating the Sky Dragon...
If MilleTech seized the opportunity to claim the Imperial Throne...
I'd rather not imagine what would happen afterward.
[Understood. Then... what do you intend to do, Young Master?]
“There's still some time before the Monster Wave arrives...”
“I'll need to prepare thoroughly.”
[Y-You're planning to fight?]
“Yes.”
With the protagonists still far from fully developed...
The only way to properly stop the Monster Wave...
Was for me to fight personally.
However...
After battling the Stingray Ninja Unit...
I'd already expended a tremendous amount of strength and energy.
I needed to make preparations before the next battle.
“Where's Miyu?”
[My apologies. I haven't been able to confirm her location. However, according to Trinity Academy's emergency procedures, there's a high probability she's currently taking shelter.]
Unlike Airi...
Silence...
Hobeop...
And Reina, who belonged to the Tactical Combat Department...
Miyu was part of the Science and Technology Department.
She was an exception.
She was most likely hiding somewhere safe alongside the other students and professors.
“Then I'll meet Miyu first.”
“In the meantime, leave the Tactical Combat Department students to you.”
“Afterward, bring Miyu to me.”
“That's all.”
[Understood. I'll contact you again soon.]
Click.
The moment the call ended...
I let out a deep sigh.
Dwindrog, who had remained silent beside me the whole time, spoke bluntly.
“Finished?”
“Yes.”
“We're heading to the Academy.”
“Do I have to come as well?”
“Do you really think we can fight the Sky Dragon without any preparation?”
“……”
After hearing that...
Dwindrog clicked his tongue in resignation.
No matter that he was a Dragon...
He wasn't strong enough to defeat the Sky Dragon in a one-on-one battle.
Whatever the case...
If there was even the slightest chance that preparations might help...
There was no reason not to make them.
Alright, it was time to head to the Academy.