The Druid Who Devoured the Great Nature

“This brother is quite stubborn. Is there really a need to go all the way? If we could end things with good words, there would be no conflict in this world. Communication is such a difficult thing.”

Bruno lowered the corners of his eyes and sighed.

“You brought this upon yourself, so be prepared. It will be a little painful for your broken body to handle the change of the holy blood.”

As he swung his club, the flames stretched out in a straight line and came at me. I kicked off the ground and dodged. The flames gathered in the spot where I had been and then soared up in a vortex. The barricade turned into a handful of ashes, and the ceiling melted, dripping molten iron.

Is this what it’s like when an elemental psychic goes all out? It’s faster than magic, and its power is also decent. The fact that it’s linear is a disadvantage, but…

Psychic powers are not in the realm of calculation like magic. Just as breathing and moving one’s limbs are natural actions, the use of abilities was like that for a psychic. There wasn’t even a moment to catch my breath.

The flames continuously soared, danced, and fell. Moreover, his gaze gradually began to catch up with my movements. He saw through my unconscious tendencies and estimated my speed.

「Synchronization is in progress!」

The ground beneath my feet was hot. The moment the mana originating from the tattoo passed my thigh and calf, I put strength into the balls of my feet and rolled my body. As my body was turned upside down in the air, the flames burned my floating bangs.

Bruno’s hand was stopped, as if he hadn’t expected me to accelerate in the middle of a full-speed sprint.

I fired, but as the bullet touched the haze that had bloomed around him, it melted like ice on a summer day. The high heat was enough to melt a bullet in an instant. Long-range shooting would no longer even have the meaning of a check.

My skills using plants, my skills, had lost their advantage due to the inherent weakness of fire. In the end, did I have to engage in close combat with an opponent who handled flames?

“You’re making a bold choice.”

He did not block my approach. He himself was not even burned by this heat, but I was not. He seemed to be interested in how I would withstand the heat that could even melt bullets.

Of course, it was something I had also considered. A stream of water gushing from the tip of the World Tree’s stem. It was the essence of the unwithering spring. As I sprinkled it on my body, the heat subsided to a bearable level.

“Is it close combat from your side this time? I welcome it.”

Bruno was not surprised and gripped the handle of his club again. He swung the club with a relaxed face. The club, which had become a single ray of light, struck my body diagonally. It was a full-power blow, as if he didn’t care whether I died or not, after all that talk about holy blood.

His intention was to knock me down first, regardless of proselytizing. He seemed composed, but it meant that he was also not at ease.

The sound of the wind followed belatedly. It was a roar that was closer to an explosion than to cutting through the air.

“……!”

And my figure, which had been dragged along by the club that had struck like a piece of cloth, scattered into smoke.

「The illusion of the Deceiver Wolf has vanished!」

Synchronization is a skill that shares the abilities of the tattooed spirit beast. And on my body, apart from the Guardian Hawk, there was one more tattoo. The Deceiver Wolf. As its name suggests, its abilities were of the illusion and bewitchment type.

It was an ability that could create a single opportunity in a battle where a momentary battle of wits, such as the direction of gaze, breathing, and muscle movements, came and went.

A brilliant light condensed in my clenched fist. It was an aura that had the power of the Deceiver Wolf added to that of the Guardian Hawk. Bruno, who had defined his identity as a warrior before being a psychic, recognized its heinousness.

His attempt to retrieve the club and block it like a shield was blocked by the tip of my foot, which had struck down hard. The aura, sharpened like a hawk’s claw, struck and pushed away his wide-open chest.

It was a building that had already been messed up by a gunfight and a firefight. The building, whose frame had partially melted due to Bruno’s flames, was now on the verge of complete collapse. The exploded and melted debris poured down onto the spot where Bruno had fallen.

The wind that swirled from the gaping walls and ceiling quickly cooled the heat of the steamy hall.

「The World Tree finally breathes comfortably.」

The fact that the heat in the hall was subsiding meant that Bruno’s psychic powers had failed to control the space. He must have been greatly shocked by the aura. His psychic powers were powerful and had excellent control, but they decisively lacked application.

When I pushed him with close combat with an aura, he couldn’t properly handle either the flames or the club, and it was over. It was probably because it wasn’t an ability he had obtained through his own training.

“I hope the ampoule isn’t broken.”

I muttered softly and approached the pile of debris that had piled up like a tomb. It was hard to touch the half-melted debris with my hands. As I was wondering how to clean it up neatly.

There was a hand that grabbed my ankle.

“……You were careless.”

“Your life is more tenacious than a bug’s.”

“Isn’t it His will that my usefulness on this earth is not yet over?”

The guy, who had gotten up in a flash, had a deep furrow carved into his chest, so much so that I wondered if his internal organs were exposed. Seeing as not a single drop of blood was flowing, it seemed he had cauterized it with fire in the meantime.

“It seems that divine power of yours doesn’t affect your body at all.”

“It depends on my will. That’s why it’s divine power, isn’t it? It’s a mysterious power that holds a great mystery.”

It was a disjointed logic, but I didn’t even think of refuting it.

“That’s quite convenient.”

“If you have understood this greatness, please convert now. I have kept the holy blood safe.”

My ankle was tingling. It was a threat, asking if I could handle it if he engulfed his entire body in fire while we were in contact like this.

“Is it right to talk about proselytizing rather than resentment or revenge when I’ve made you look like that?”

“If I can increase the number of believers by one, then it was worth it. If not, you will die a painful death…”

Bruno, who had been continuing his threat in a calm voice, shut his mouth. I knew the reason for his sudden silence.

“Your ability isn’t activating, is it?”

I shook my ankle and shook off his hand. My skin was slightly red. Even that soon returned to its original skin color thanks to the healing totem.

“H-how…”

“Your tongue isn’t working well either. It must be hard to even lift a finger.”

Carelessness is the mindset that one should be most wary of while working in this industry. The reason I had approached him defenselessly and had my ankle grabbed was not because I was careless. It was because the fight was already over.

“It’s poison. Psychic powers are abilities that are handled by the senses, so if a neurotoxin or a paralyzing poison takes effect, you won’t be able to activate it.”

This was similar for aura or magic, but it was especially fatal for psychic powers. They say that the pinnacle of martial arts depends on the mind, and the sense of handling mana with magic is largely occupied by the brain.

I had heard legends of someone among them displaying divine power even after becoming a cripple, but there were not even any rumors related to psychics. But even with the kind explanation, he still had doubts.

His trembling eyelids were asking when I had pulled such a trick. There was no reason not to solve one question on his way out.

“It was the bullet that hit your body first. You said your body doesn’t burn, right?”

If it had been a normal psychic power, he wouldn’t have been poisoned like this. Then the plant that had germinated from the bullet would have burned before it could release its poison. However, he had operated his ability without knowing that he was slowly being poisoned.

It was lucky for me. His fanatical obsession to protect the holy blood even if his own body was broken was even more so. Thanks to that, I was able to secure the ampoule safely in the midst of this fierce battle.

As the bullet pierced his forehead, he lowered his head. He was not in a state to be interrogated. I didn’t even imagine that that fanatic would succumb to torture and open his mouth obediently.

I retrieved the ampoule from his grasp and searched his bosom. Unfortunately, no money-making items or meaningful clues like a secret directive were found. In the first place, his attire was not something that could hide anything.

He had nothing, as befitting a clergyman. He seemed to know a lot. It was a great shame.

But in reality, the biggest spoils of war was his corpse. As I turned on the communication device, Milina said as usual.

[You’ve worked hard.]

“You’re not asking how it went?”

[I never doubted your victory. The very fact that I contacted you first was because I believed you could solve it. The director also thought so, which is why you were recruited as the key person for this matter.]

“You’re praising me so much, it sounds like you’re pressuring me to do this much for the money I received.”

[It is true that we have treated you with the highest quality so that you would not be disappointed.]

“I know that too. That’s why I came without a word even when you suddenly called.”

This was an incident that had occurred in a part that was not my responsibility. The reason I hadn’t mentioned a separate reward was because, in exchange for me leading this matter, there was also some responsibility. Although it was an accident caused by Poldon, it was my decision to fight on both sides.

“Anyway, I’ve resolved it smoothly as you expected, so call the guys outside and tell them to clean up.”

Since I had cleaned up the mess that could have been an accident, they probably wouldn’t grumble as they had before. If they had a conscience, they shouldn’t even be able to lift their faces in front of me.

[Did you secure the ampoule?]

“Yes, I’ll deliver that soon too. While you’re at it, transport the corpse together and analyze it.”

[For what reason, the corpse?]

“It seems that if you take that thing called holy blood, you can awaken psychic powers later.”

[That makes no sense… ah, so that’s why the corpse.]

“He claimed that he had awakened his ability through the holy blood, so if you investigate it together, the truth will be revealed.”

A corpse contained a lot of information. A prime example was the existence of a specialized department in the Mage Tower that recovered the corpses of its mages when they died.

Whether it was a play on words, a brainwashing he was not aware of, or whether there was really some change at the genetic level, Sylvester would dig into it thoroughly.

[If it’s true, it would be a great harvest.]

The mass production of psychics. From a corporate perspective, it was a technology that would make their eyes pop out. Politically, the business expansion of District 17 was important, but considering the future, this might be a more valuable harvest.

In addition, Claire’s private soldiers had suffered devastating damage in this battle. They needed to replenish their numbers, and they also needed to raise their level in terms of skill. However, a private soldier was not something that ended with just recruiting people. Skill was important, but loyalty was more important than anything else.

The mass production of psychics could be a breakthrough for all those problems. They would be able to recycle the remaining personnel without going through the troublesome process of firing everyone because they lacked skill and creating a new organization.

‘It’s better for me too.’

Whatever their skills, Claire’s private soldiers had taken on half of the work with me in this request. If they were to disband like this, my work would only increase. If they were to replenish their forces, it was something to be welcomed.

‘As a bonus, I might be able to get a clue about the fragment of divinity.’

If Sylvester failed to analyze the holy blood scientifically and magically, then by process of elimination, it could be divine power. An over-the-top guess? For me, who was at a loss except for Colin’s contact, it was a gamble worth taking.

***

“Leader Isaac.”

The sunlight that passed through the stained glass shone in five brilliant colors. A stone statue stood in the center, wrapped in a mysterious glow like a halo. However, the place was not suitable for a symbol with a religious meaning.

The hall was full of damp moisture. With a chwaak sound, the spray of water wet the collar of the kneeling missionary. It was a bathhouse. The majestic stone statue was just a decoration for the bathhouse.

“Speak.”

In the midst of the hazy steam that obscured the view, there was a man. Strangely, the man was in the bathhouse but had not taken off his clothes. And the clothes he was wearing were not wet.

The kneeling missionary looked at the absurd scene with ecstasy. A scene that could not be explained by magic or science. Was it not a miracle?

This was the center of the cult, the Guardians of the Dawn.

(End of Chapter)