Chapter 111
Chapter 111: Make me water (5)
I wandered lost in the darkness.
"Is darkness unfamiliar? Our lives were but darkness itself."
With one word from the shareholder, the lost lambs ceased their fear. Soon they made their nests in the pitch-black darkness.
"A year has already passed."
A year had already flowed by, trapped in the labyrinth's darkness. We attempted to change floors using [Gates], but all attempts failed.
In the end, they made their dwelling in darkness of unknown location. The posts in the [Community] of Possessors were the only means to gauge the passage of time.
"Only a week has passed outside."
As time passed, Makia's face grew increasingly pale.
"Director Shin, are there still only stories about the Empire in the Community?"
The posts uploaded to the [Community] were devoid of substance. Most were just talks of Possessors moving their enemies to a place called Earthtown in the Empire. There was no news of Thomas in the [Community].
"Representative... The post regeneration is slow due to the time ratio. Surely, if you wait a bit longer- Re-, Representative?"
Shin Pil-jung, the director of the Descent Division of the Black Mage Group, trembled at the sight of the representative he was seeing for the first time.
'Re-, the Representative has such a face-.'
Thank you. You've worked hard. Makia, the representative of the Black Mage Group, was an existence who always wore words of gratitude and praise, someone who cherished the group most. However, now she wore a face crumpled at the bridge of her nose, filled with rage.
"Ah- my Thomas."
A sorrowful cry, full of resentment, was uttered.
Kuuoong!.
Deeper darkness descended upon the darkness.
Descend.
Black magic power flowed across Makia's entire body. The personnel of the Black Mage Group who witnessed this spectacle were bewildered.
"How! A Descent!!!"
"Ah, girl, I thought the Representative would cause trouble."
Wasn't this a situation where the Possessors' knowledge was still incomplete? A Descent occurring in such circumstances had a high possibility of leading to incomplete results.
"The Representative has no experience with mergers and acquisitions either, does she?"
The one-armed elder asked, looking at the Mongma. All Makia had done was absorb ordinary Black Mages and complete her seven lines.
"According to the Representative's words... She said she wanted to understand Thomas's world directly."
Mongma fluttered her wings, seeming at a loss. Mongma, who had been looking at Makia, pondered for a moment, then shifted her gaze toward the one-armed elder.
"Elder, from what this girl can see, that Descent seems like it will succeed."
In the eyes of Mongma, who had first accomplished a Possessor-style Descent, the flow was clearly visible.
"Just as this girl did... The darkness is moving according to intention."
Black power that descended into the darkness. It moved in accordance with Makia's specific desires.
Kuuong!
A rough wave surged. Quietness and silence descended. In the silence, the black power surrounding Makia gently wrapped around her. The darkness removed her veil.
The neat office look she was wearing also seeped into the dense curtain. Thus, revealing her pure white naked form.
Srrrk. Darkness crept across Makia's glass-like skin like a serpent. The black magic power that moved along the curves of her naked body soon began to take form.
Kuuong!
With waves spreading through the quietness, it took the form of a single-layered, thin dress. Moreover, that darkness wrapped around her head and began to create one form.
Kuuong!
Another wave surged. Massive black magic power condensed and transformed into a crown shining like obsidian.
"Aah."
The remaining darkness descended along her neck line, gathered along her arms to her hands. Soon, it transformed into a long spear with two blades.
"Aah. Always at my side."
Black tears flowed across transparent skin. They flowed thinly and spread like waves. Those tears became a river, flowing down the labyrinth's walls. Makia swore upon the river.
"By this river, I swear that I will reclaim my Thomas. And..."
The oath was also the proclamation of revenge. The destination of that resentment was.
"Destruction upon the abominable Empire-. I swear by the death of Saint Erik."
The Empire.
***
"That, that deceitful-!!!"
Riferoze grasped the back of her neck. Branches swaying gently right after seeing Erik. That was what sparked her fury. However, Erik calmly waited for his mentor to calm down.
"... I can't even believe my own eyes. That the World Tree was such a thing."
Do the supreme strong ones of this world know? That the World Tree was such a mad tree...
'Surely, they wouldn't know.'
It was a nature hidden for at least thousands of years. Riferoze felt chills run down her spine.
'More than the ten years I waited-.'
Riferoze had waited ten years for Erik to grow. Yet, the World Tree had quietly spent thousands of years suppressing that nature, searching for its master? The World Tree surely never revealed its true colors even once during that time.
'If that mad nature had been revealed, it would surely have been recorded in history.'
It would surely have been something that would be left in sacred texts or records of various nations, something of such insanity. Yet, there was no such content. Even the Elves didn't know the World Tree's true colors, did they?
"There's no uprooting a tree that's already been planted..."
In the end, Riferoze struck a compromise with herself. Thus, she asked, looking at Erik.
"Where does it plan to plant that? In the Imperial Palace?"
"That can't be. It's my land, so it must be planted in the 5th District."
Riferoze's head tilted.
"You're saying you'll plant the World Tree in this filthy, lowest land?"
The Imperial Capital rises in a conical form. The sewage flowing from the highest 1st District passed through the 5th District and connected to the purification magic circle. Because of that, the 5th District was the filthiest. In the first place, the design itself wasn't land for people to live on.
"Master, but Earthtown is clean, isn't it?"
"The rest is the problem. Land, water, and tree. Nature is always connected."
While the western section of the 5th District where Earthtown was located had been purified, the rest of the district was very filthy.
"Didn't the water shortage make the pollution level even worse?"
The sewage that didn't flow and dried up made the 5th District even filthier. Even with his mentor's concerns, Erik pushed forward with his plan.
"Plant the World Tree over there!"
The outer wall of the 5th District, an empty lot at the end of the capital—that was where the World Tree would be planted. The Elves, without complaint, laid the World Tree on its side and pushed it through the massive gates.
'He's really going through with planting it like this...'
Riferoze was shocked at the sight. Even if it was a mad tree, the World Tree was still the World Tree. It shouldn't be treated this way. She shouted to stop Erik.
"The Pillar of the World is the World Tree-."
Riferoze cut off her words. Then she looked at the World Tree that had come over the gates.
Burrrr!
The massive tree was vibrating. Judging from the golden dust scattering in all directions, it seemed extremely pleased.
'Mad.'
That's when Erik pressed his temples.
Paaat!
[The filthiest and lowest place, you say-.]
It was the World Tree's message.
'I'm going crazy.'
Wow, damn... What the hell is this? Erik felt like he was losing his mind.
'The World Tree and the Divine Edifice are connected, they said...'
Was communication possible in this manner? The World Tree was truly a being difficult to handle.
'An existence where violence and fear don't work.'
You can't beat it. And even if you did beat it, it's a mad tree that would be pleased. As Erik was dwelling on that shock.
"Um, Mr. Erik."
Park Chang-ho carefully approached. Behind him were Kang Pung-ho and Nishida Ryo, both looking at Park Chang-ho.
"What is it?"
"Um... The Community has become strange."
"The Community?"
Erik's head tilted. After seeing that massive World Tree being moved, what were they talking about the Community for? However, from the following words, Erik could only understand.
"It's being spammed so badly it can't function at all."
Hundreds of posts were being uploaded per second, paralyzing the Community.
[Darkness will rule the world.]
[Death to the abominable Empire!]
[Saint Erik is a garbage bastard. He's an evil species who exploits Possessors and discards them.]
Such spam-like malicious posts were being uploaded, they said.
"Crazy bastards."
Erik's brows furrowed. It was surely the work of the Black Mage Group.
"How are there so many posts...?"
"The Labyrinth."
Erik had figured out the answer. [Black Mages] were abundant among them, so there had to be a way to survive anywhere.
'Black Magic is a utility class that works even in the Labyrinth.'
Moreover...
"Because of the time ratio, they're posting at a crazy speed! Wow, a hundred posts per second..."
As Nishida Ryo said. The Labyrinth was, in a sense, an optimized space for malicious spam.
"Sigh-. I'll handle it, so you all go."
Erik let out a deep sigh and issued an order of expulsion to the Possessors.
'I've already finished promoting Earthtown anyway, and people with sense will come this way.'
It wasn't a major problem. Never mind other countries, Koreans were fine. Weren't they people trained through countless malicious spam texts and voice phishing scams? There was no one who would fall for such agitation. Erik understood it that way, but.
"Erik?"
Ruelle didn't seem convinced.
"What about my smartphone?"
She pointed to Cha Ye-rin next to her.
"Without the Community, the real-time communication function won't work, right?"
It seemed she understood that the Possessor she had been gifted had become useless. Erik didn't particularly like seeing Ruelle growing increasingly familiar with Possessor culture. So he lightly laughed and swept his hand through the air.
"Don't worry. In fact, it's a good thing."
Erik extended his hand. Ruelle tilted her head, not understanding, but then grasped his hand.
"Instead, you can use it in a more private way."
Erik laughed deeply as he headed toward the Divine Edifice.
***
Holiness settled upon the massive Divine Edifice. Simply by planting the World Tree's seedling...
"Erik, what is this!"
The clouds turned beautiful pastel pink. The sky displayed a faint orange as if an evening sunset had set in.
"My statue!"
Moreover, Erik's Divine Edifice appeared larger and more solid. Even Ruelle's statue embedded in its center had become much clearer.
"If only the clothes were adjusted a bit..."
It was to the point that anyone could recognize it was Ruelle. Moreover, this change applied to the Possessors as well.
"Great Mother Goddess of the Earth?"
"What is this..."
Before the eyes of the 300 Possessors, a state window of a form they had never seen appeared.
[The protection of the Great Mother Goddess of the Earth descends upon you.]
"Ms. Cha Ye-rin, do you think you know what this is?"
"Um..."
When Park Chang-ho asked, Cha Ye-rin pondered carefully. Having lived as Marquis Aaron and reaching level 87, even handling magic power with her actual body, she knew much.
"It seems like a buff?"
Cha Ye-rin, having examined the state window, gave her answer.
"A buff?"
"There's just a golden tree drawing, right? The effect doesn't show. You don't see it either, Chang-ho?"
"Ah, the buff window! I forgot about it since we never use it."
The Possessors' state windows are more sophisticated than Erik's. Not only HP bars, but the cooldowns of various skills are also confirmable through the UI. Even buffs and debuffs appear in icon form.
"Hmm, a golden tree drawing?"
"You don't know the effect?"
The Possessors tilted their heads, looking at the icon. That's when Nishida Ryo stepped forward. And he shouted.
"Hey hey! This is that."
"Do you know what it is?"
The golden tree drawing was an icon they had never seen even once. Most of those gathered here ranked in the top tier when it came to games, so it was hard to believe. However-.
"Nishida Ryo is reliable in these kinds of things."
Erik himself vouched for it. At that, everyone turned their attention to Nishida Ryo's words.
"Experience buff! This is what comes up when you earn favorability with the Elf Queen and bring her to the Guild Home... When you become her spouse and do quests, an event appears, right? Love-."
At Ryo's continuing words, everyone made a disgusted face. Erik ultimately cut off his words.
"-That's enough."
Erik looked at his mentor.
"What kind of thing is that?"
"You can learn Master's teachings more quickly."
Riferoze looked at the World Tree with interest.
"The World Tree does that?"
"It seems so."
Riferoze strode toward the flowerbed placed in front of the Divine Edifice. A slight mound rose in the center of the vast land, and atop it, the World Tree's seedling was visible.
'Suddenly clinging to my disciple, this tree-.'
Riferoze recalled the human form of the World Tree. An overwhelmingly voluptuous figure.
'Compared to my slender body-.'
Her resentment flared up naturally. Thus, Riferoze stepped on the mound.
Bang!
With a loud sound, the seedling shook.
"It's quite sturdy."
Both the ground and the seedling remained unscathed. However...
Burrrrrrr!
The seedling vibrated frantically. Moreover.
Paaat!
[Ah, such roughness]
A message appeared before Erik's eyes. Seeing it, Erik let out a bewildered laugh.
"Haha, you must be having quite a hard time, Master. A World Tree where violence and fear don't work."
Riferoze narrowed her eyes. It wasn't wrong, but she was also somewhat annoyed. The atmosphere had become a bit tense. That's when Ruelle approached with a clear posture, slender at the waist.
"So Erik, what did you ask the Emperor for?"
"The confiscated goods of Possessors."
Erik drew a fresh smile. As the Director of the Possessor Management Bureau, hadn't she confiscated numerous items from the inventory?
'The Imperial Household took all of that.'
In truth, at that time there were only three Possessors in operation, so there was no helping it. However, now it was different.
"For these 300 people? It doesn't seem like much..."
Ruelle looked at the Possessors gathered in front of the Divine Edifice. Since most of them had demanded low prices for god-appointments, they didn't seem particularly useful. However.
"I requested all the items collected by the Empire."
At Erik's following words, her eyes widened in surprise.
"All, all of them?"
"Yes, all Possessors, I mean."
Saying so, Erik opened the [Faith Management] window.
[Fountain: 200,000GP]
[Dimensional Gate: 200,000GP]
After that, he strode toward the World Tree. Leaving the trembling branches behind, he looked at everyone gathered in front of the Divine Edifice.
"To do that, it would be necessary to bring water down to the Empire."
With hands outstretched, the holy radiance emanated was reminiscent of divine mercy. As all eyes converged.
[Fountain: 200,000GP]
Erik pressed the Fountain button.
Kugugugugung!
The Divine Edifice vibrated harshly. At its center was the World Tree. Erik turned his body toward the World Tree.
'What is this...'
He had certainly pressed the Fountain button, yet nothing happened. That's when his gaze suddenly turned to the land where the World Tree was planted. Certainly, a strange flow was felt from below.
'Like my divinity-.'
As if to prove such a thought, Riferoze drew mysterious eyes as she looked at Erik.
"We'll need to dig up the ground."
"Indeed, so it seems."
Simply purchasing GP wasn't the end. Erik took out the Sword of Creation and felt the flow beneath the ground. Its end was...
'Right in front of the World Tree's nose.'
This ground was very hard. It had held firm even against his mentor's blow. So Erik gathered considerable power. Then he struck the sword roughly downward.
Huuong!
A fierce wind pressure surged, and the power of divinity struck down before the Great Mother Goddess, the World Tree.
Ting!
With a loud sound, the ground split. Between the hard earth, a fierce fountain surged forth. With overwhelming water pressure that seemed to rival the waves of the great sea, water shot up to the heavens. Water poured down from all directions.
Shuaaaaaaaa!
Between the pouring rain drops, one line appeared clearly.
"Great, Great Mother Goddess?"
"Feeling... satisfaction?"
A screen appeared clearly before the eyes of Possessors and Erik alike.
Paaat!
[The Great Mother Goddess of the Earth feels extreme satisfaction.]
As if to prove this, blessed rain filled all directions of the world. However...
"Extreme satisfaction?"
This message also appeared before Ruelle's eyes, and confirming it, Ruelle stared intently at Erik. Between the platinum blonde hair wet with rain, the cyan eyes wavered clearly. At that, Erik grasped the back of his neck.