Chapter 101
Chapter 101: Three-way Battle (3)
"Ah, this can't be happening!!!"
Yuren, the Divine Archer, tore at her hair and let out a scream. The World Tree's presence had disappeared.
"The, the World Tree...!"
The Possessor, the foreign substance of the world whom the Goddess of the Earth had called her own child. The connection with such a World Tree had been completely severed.
"Mother! Why...!"
The enormous tree stood firm in its place, yet the World Tree's essence dwelling within it had vanished. It was a catastrophe grave enough to cause elves to have convulsions.
"The time has come."
However, the Elf King himself remained calm. The other high elves and royalty were the same.
"Yuren is still young, so she's unfamiliar with it..."
Elves are a long-lived race. Even regular elves could easily live past 150 years, so high elves or royalty often exceeded 500 years. For them, the disappearance of the World Tree's essence was a familiar occurrence. However, Yuren, who had lived merely 75 years, could not comprehend this.
"Everyone, what do you mean by that!"
Yuren cried out in surprise. At this, the Elf King frowned and began to lecture.
"It means there's no need to make a fuss."
The King began explaining calmly. The World Tree brings abundance to the world, but to maintain this, a nutrient called Divinity is necessary. So when the surrounding Divinity is insufficient or a greater Divinity is discovered, the World Tree puts its main body to sleep as a way to encourage relocation. It happens roughly every 100 years...
"This time, we will find an eternal settlement."
"W, what do you mean by that?"
Yuren looked at the King with a bewildered expression. The Elf King, who had lived for hundreds of years, had a face frozen like that of a man in his forties. Yet his expression always seemed weary.
'Why is he smiling like that?'
However, ever since meeting Erik, his face had brightened. The same was true even now that the World Tree had disappeared.
"The time has come for us to make our final move."
"A move?"
Yuren blinked her eyes.
'It's only been a while since we moved to the Empire... and now we're moving again?'
When Yuren was born, the elves' dwelling was in a forest near the Alliance. The Alliance had no particularly strong religious influence, and unlike the Empire, it was not a nation that forced subjugation, so the elves lived peacefully. Then one day.
"The Eastern Great Forest has been completely consumed by the Demon Realm. If we leave it as is, the geomancy of the southern Empire will be disrupted."
Riferoze came out of nowhere and forcibly dismantled the kingdom.
"So you're telling us, who were living well, to move?"
"Wasn't the Eastern Great Forest the original home of the World Tree?"
Riferoze used the fact that the World Tree had lived there thousands of years ago as grounds to demand responsibility from the elves. As a result, the elves underwent a great migration. As this thought reached her, Yuren's face turned pale.
'Riferoze came again this time. And even brought her disciple with her...'
The mentor who had destroyed the kingdom and forced relocation, and the disciple who had threatened her saying she would use the World Tree as firewood. Might it be that a situation similar to that of the great migration would unfold?
Yuren imagined a horrifying scenario.
"Where are we supposed to move to this time?"
In a world of the strong eating the weak, the life of the vulnerable is this pathetic. Yuren asked the King with a bitter expression. However, the answer she received differed slightly from her expectations.
"It is for our true master to decide."
"Su, surely...?"
Only then did Yuren realize that her understanding had gone somehow awry. Who was the one the King served?
'Saint Erik.'
After Erik and the World Tree's private meeting, the King followed his words as if carved in stone. In that context, if one thought about it...
"You've come at the right time. Yuren, refrain from disrespectful behavior like last time."
Crackle! At that moment, the World Tree's pillar split open. From within emerged a massive Paladin and two women.
"Hm hm."
A platinum-haired beauty humming contentedly.
"The world's changes... Is this also Father's will? Or perhaps a singularity brought by the Possessors?"
A white-haired girl lost in contemplation. And...
"Sigh."
A massive Paladin Erik, pressing his temples with a complicated expression.
"We humbly greet the rightful master of our sanctuary, the World Tree."
The King of the elves prostrated himself before Erik. Looking at the elf king, Erik gave his command calmly.
"King, move the World Tree at once."
The destination was the Empire's capital, Arman. That would now become the elves' eternal final destination.
***
Blink, blink. Jang Du-sik rubbed his eyes. No matter how he looked at it, it was something strange.
"G, seriously, brother. Was moving the World Tree really this crude of a method?"
It was remarkable that such words came from Jang Du-sik's mouth.
"Is that thing really coming out like that?"
Thousands of elves were pulling a massive tree trunk with ropes made from twisted World Tree branches. The method of moving the World Tree was physical. Instead of explaining this, Erik turned the question back.
"Du-sik, how the hell did you do it?"
"Wh, what are you talking about?"
"That manner of speech you used with Master."
It seemed that meeting the World Tree had satisfied his stimulation enough, as Riferoze readily healed Jang Du-sik and Janson's wounds.
As a result, Erik was able to converse with Jang Du-sik, but...
"How on earth were you able to use such intellectual speech?"
Erik wanted to ask this. No matter how he thought about it, it was hard to believe.
"W, well..."
After a moment of thought, Jang Du-sik gave a clear answer.
"Isn't it just my way of struggling to survive? How many times had I been beaten before I nearly died..."
"For survival, I see."
"Besides, I'll have a wife now too, so I can't just die meaninglessly, right?"
Erik immediately understood. The answer about survival and companionship was something anyone could accept. Still...
"It's better if you just die than to use that strange manner of speech again. It gave me the chills..."
Erik looked off into the distance. There, Ruelle and the three Possessors were visible.
"Look at that, Priestess Ruelle won't even come near you."
"Got it!"
Jang Du-sik smiled brightly. Only then did Erik look at the site of the elves' great migration. They were struggling hard to uproot the World Tree.
Moreover, the Chinatown where they had lived was being demolished in real time.
"Beautiful people leave behind clean spaces wherever they dwell."
It was Riferoze's determination to demolish the ugly Chinatown and return the land to nature.
Crash! Bang!
Every time white hair fluttered, a section of Chinatown disappeared like dust.
"Du-sik, take a good look."
"Look at what? What am I supposed to do with that?"
"Judging by how you broke the capsule, you still have a long way to go."
"Huh—."
Riferoze positioned Yuren and demolished Chinatown right before her eyes.
"Do you feel the difference?"
"Breaking it while making the viewers more shocked..."
"That's real proper demolition."
Jang Du-sik gained enlightenment. It felt like he made a mental note to demolish more effectively next time while considering the viewers.
'Indeed, it was a good choice to inform them of the danger level of Sinocentrism first.'
Erik was very satisfied.
500,000 Possessors. 'Continental Online' with over 100 million users.
Usually, one would think of multi-ethnic, multinational possession, but the reality was completely different. Korean, Chinese, and Japanese overwhelmingly dominated the ratio, and among the three, Korean nationality was by far the most.
'Since possession was done in order of play time and ranking.'
Koreans were few in number and their land was small, but they dominated the top ranks in every game.
However, because of the name 'Continental Online,' the ratio of Chinese users was also considerable. They pushed their numbers up with human wave tactics, climbing to the higher ranks.
'In reality, once you reach the higher ranks in Labyrinth conquest or PvP, it was all Korean-Chinese warfare.'
Of course, most Chinese users employed cowardly methods to reach the top ranks. It was shameless enough to make one's tongue hang out.
'Since cash spending didn't work, they didn't hesitate to commit all sorts of fraud.'
Running sweatshops. Manipulating prices to monopolize specific items. Or achieving unfair competitive victories through teaming.
'If left as is, they'd do the same thing in reality.'
Since Possessors had physical bodies, if things escalated, they would only get worse. Sinocentrism and bizarre things like bat eating broadcasts might spread... While lost in such thoughts.
Crash!
With a final thunderous sound, Chinatown became flat land. On the neatened earth, Riferoze approached with a relieved expression.
Yuren, looking like a corpse, followed behind. Erik glanced at Yuren, and she was trembling all over.
'She won't think of building something like Chinatown again.'
Judging by her frightened appearance, it seemed he could put his worries aside.
"Master, are you satisfied?"
Erik spoke to the approaching Riferoze.
'Why suddenly?'
However, she suddenly frowned deeply.
"What's the problem—?"
"There!"
Before Erik could say anything, Riferoze reached out and grabbed the empty air.
"Ugh! How on earth...?"
Ruelle, who had concealed her presence, flailed in mid-air.
"Nothing escapes my eyes."
"L, let go! There's an urgent matter!"
At Ruelle's urgent voice, Riferoze reluctantly let go. She narrowed her eyes and muttered,
"This cunning one."
"Erik, we have a problem!"
The freed Ruelle hurried toward Erik. And she said,
"The capital is in chaos!"
Erik asked for details, and Ruelle relayed what she had heard from Kang Pung-ho.
"So the groundwater in the capital has dried up... and black water flows through the Lufen River, right?"
"According to Ji-na, that's the case. What about our orphanage children?"
"Water, water...?"
Since the information came through the Community, it wouldn't be false... Erik felt the back of his head throbbing. However, upon further reflection, he thought this might not be a big problem. The reason being.
'Fountains.'
New facilities that appeared with planting the World Tree. They definitely felt connected to the current situation.
[Fountain: 200,000GP]
[Dimensional Gate: 200,000GP]
No, these are clearly functions to overcome such disasters. Now that a solution had been found, Erik thought about what he could ask for.
'What should I demand from the Emperor?'
It was a pleasant dilemma. As he smiled like that.
Slap!
"Erik, is this funny?"
A strong back smash came flying. At the same time, Ruelle was pushed back. Looking at Ruelle glaring at him with a pouty face, Erik laughed deeply.
"Priestess, let's hold a thanksgiving prayer service."
***
Erik and Riferoze, Ruelle. Jang Du-sik and Janson, and three Possessors.
"Erik, you've achieved something remarkable."
In one use of the Miracle of Teleportation, a total of eight people returned to Ruelle's church.
"You've reached a level where you can move such powerful beings at once."
The amount of Divine Power required varied depending on the target one wished to teleport. For Erik, who had formed a Divine Body and reached 4th Tier, it was not particularly difficult.
However, even abilities that seemed all-powerful had their limits.
"I couldn't do it for the World Tree."
"...If you could have, then even the Abyss of the Demon Realm would be considered a teleportation target."
The World Tree's essence was that of a sentient being. However, the massive tree that formed its body was nature itself.
"It would be the excess of humans to conveniently teleport the flesh of great nature, the Goddess of the Earth, through teleportation. However..."
Riferoze opened her eyes wide and began looking around.
"Erik, what on earth is this magnificent space?"
A three-level ornate chapel. An enormous congregation area reminiscent of a concert hall. It was a strange sight Riferoze, accustomed to modest churches, was seeing for the first time.
"Hm hm. This is my church!"
"Th, this is a church?"
Riferoze touched the sculptures carved into the pillars, clearly disbelieving. She seemed deeply interested.
"Janson, could you please show the Master around the church?"
Erik quickly called upon Janson to handle showing the church around and entered the orphanage with Ruelle. The children, who were in the middle of lessons, ran toward the two with joyful faces.
"It's Priestess Ruelle!"
"It's Brother Erik!"
Also, Seri, a first-generation student of the orphanage who had been conducting classes, began backing away with an alarmed expression. Erik passed by the running children and approached Seri.
"You're teaching well, Sister Seri."
"P, please... Don't call me sister."
At that honorific, Seri trembled. She hugged herself with both arms as if chilled. At this, Erik bent down and whispered near Seri's ear.
"Is everything prepared?"
Seri quickly pushed something into Erik's pocket. After that, she fled the room as if on the run. Confirming Seri's departing figure, Erik cast his eyes aside.
'After all, she's weak with children.'
Ruelle, surrounded by children, did not witness this scene.
"Priestess Ruelle! Where have you been!"
"You two went out to play without telling us, didn't you?"
Erik savored this peace as he watched Ruelle and the children. As he focused on the conversation, he heard something somewhat strange.
"You kids, nothing unusual happened, right?"
"Strange men came and went!"
"It was before Teacher Seri came, and Grandpa let them in!"
Erik's brow furrowed. Before going to the Demon Realm, Erik had entrusted the management of the church's entry to the old man and the twins.
'Did the old man lose his mind?'
The young twins' main duty was Community censorship, so the old man bore full responsibility for entry-related issues.
"A cool big brother with red eyes and silver hair visited!"
Originally, Erik intended just to listen, but he could no longer contain himself.
'Why would royalty come here?'
In the end, Erik stepped in front of the children. He straightened his crumpled face and bent down to match their eye level. And he asked.
"Who else came by?"
"An auntie in shiny armor! She had red eyes too."
Erik identified two targets.
'The First Prince that Master mentioned must have left the Labyrinth.'
Moreover, it was clear that the Imperial Capital's general, who guarded the Labyrinth, had visited Ruelle's church together.
'Ransacking a house without an owner.'
Even if Erik's authority was considerable, it wouldn't stand against the royalty.
'Not even the freakish Third Prince.'
The First Prince who returned from the Labyrinth was the Emperor's eternal beloved, born of the Empress. The Second Prince and the Princess were the same. Moreover, wasn't the Imperial Capital's general originally the Emperor's sibling? As Erik suppressed his anger internally and heard all sorts of things.
"Ho. Erik, how much money have you been earning?"
Riferoze appeared between the corridors of the orphanage. She seemed to have finished her tour. Erik stood up and approached his master. Then he asked bluntly.
"Master, didn't you say you gave etiquette education to the First Prince in the Labyrinth?"
"That's true, but..."
"Your skills have become quite dull."
Riferoze's head tilted. She seemed somewhat annoyed, and watching his master, Erik smiled with his eyes.
'I should take advantage of Master's help.'