Chapter 112
Chapter 112: Storm's Eve (1)
"Utmost satisfaction?"
Erik closed his eyes tightly at Ruelle's questioning face. It was something he couldn't understand at all.
'Why does that particular message only show to Ruelle?'
Erik thought this too must be a result of the World Tree's perverse taste.
"Ruelle, this isn't something I can do anything about."
"But still......"
It was also a fact that Ruelle already knew well.
'The World Tree attaining utmost...'
Even so, the clear message kept appearing in Ruelle's mind. That was when it happened.
"That crazy tree is a disaster impossible to deal with."
Riferoze sighed while watching the downpouring rain. It was because of the World Tree's crazed appearance.
"Be grateful it hasn't taken a human form."
Riferoze made the sign of the cross and cried out to her father Astia. Having witnessed even that, Ruelle had no choice but to accept it.
'There are many things in this world that are incomprehensible but must be accepted.'
That fountain, that tree must be one of those things. After organizing her thoughts, Ruelle approached Erik's side with quick steps. Her expression was full of curiosity. Erik, nervous inwardly, tilted his head toward her.
"Erik, what's 'private'?"
Fortunately, the question that came was easy to answer.
'It seems she's curious about a possessor who can do real-time communication.'
Erik took out a long golden ticket.
[Guild Home Creation Ticket]
It was something obtained from raiding the Black Mage Group branch previously. Using this would apply the Guild Home system. Additionally, the [Guild Chat] function would be opened, enabling real-time communication through it. Erik's explanation continued to this point.
"So that's why the black mages didn't use the Community."
Janson, who had been listening to this conversation beside them, nodded his head. They had only engaged in recruitment using initials in the [Community], and did no separate communication whatsoever.
"Even after inspecting it, nothing came up......"
"It seems Guild Home Creation Tickets have been distributed quite widely."
Erik gave Janson an answer, then shifted his gaze back to Ruelle.
"Ruelle, with this you can exchange messages using guild-exclusive chat."
"Guild?"
"You'll understand once you see it."
Erik tore the Guild Home Creation Ticket. Then.
Whoosh!
[The Guild System integrates with the World Tree.]
The World Tree trembled with a short message. And.
Whoosh!
[Boss]
[Guild Members 1/1000]
A guild message overlaid on the Faith Management window appeared. The guild name seemed to have been set with the same name as the divinity. Erik manipulated the guild message he was seeing for the first time in a while and tried inviting guild members.
'I can send invitations through consciousness.'
Erik sent guild invitations to 300 possessors plus Janson.
"But I can't?"
However, it didn't work on the locals. Not on Ruelle, of course.
"That, well. I don't know what that is, but I feel no change whatsoever."
Jang Du-sik was the same. Since it was originally like that anyway, everyone accepted it as natural. But...
"The power of a possessor......"
The only being in this place who didn't have faith in Erik. Only Riferoze scanned the surroundings with a complicated expression.
"It's similar to the Sanctuary of the Papal See."
After the Guild Home system was overlaid. Something had changed about Erik's divine edifice.
"The divinity of this place originally had endless quantity to begin with. But now something mysterious has been added to it as well."
It was with deep interest. Seeing that, Erik's eyes sparkled. He seemed to regard this as an opportunity, and spoke words of persuasion toward his master.
"Master, would you consider converting-"
"Disciple."
"I apologize."
Unfortunately, Riferoze seemed to have no intention of letting go of the god Astia.
'Perhaps it's rather that the Master won't let go....'
Watching his master's middle finger that had slightly come out, Erik stopped speaking.
'Surely the Master communicates through divine revelation.'
At this point, questions about the Three Gods also arose. The Three Gods, who had left the world, resided in the heavens and distributed grace to their children...
'Is it truly the heavens?'
Erik had a different thought. Seeing the Black Mage Group's [Community] spam, he suspected they might be in the Labyrinth instead. The basis for this was something Nishida Ryo had said before.
"If you look at the comments in the Labyrinth, there are hundreds posted per second!"
It was somewhat sacrilegious thinking.
'Whether it's receiving real-time multiple divine revelations or....'
Erik thought it was the same thing. However, he didn't bring this up in front of Riferoze. She was a sincere believer who truly communicated with the gods.
When Erik's thoughts had reached this point, Jang Du-sik asked him a question.
"Hey, older brother. Is this rain going to keep pouring?"
The water column surging in front of the World Tree. The situation where it covered the sky and soon scattered down like rain. Thanks to Jang Du-sik's question, Erik remembered his original purpose.
"I should send that outside through a dimensional gate."
Erik said so and approached beside the World Tree. Somehow the sapling seemed to have grown a bit.
'Does it grow every time I add a function?'
Since it was a tree that would mediate between his master and Ruelle, he didn't deliberately speak of this aloud.
"First, let me test the dimensional gate."
Erik pressed [Dimensional Gate]. Then.
Whooom!
A shimmering portal appeared in the void, and a message appeared asking him to designate the arrival point.
'What is this...?'
After confirming the detailed explanation, Erik couldn't hide his shock.
[Installable Dimensional Gates 0/3]
[All locations in the world can be designated as connection points.]
[However, the divine edifice can only be connected to a dimensional gate at a connection point if the master of the divine edifice is at that location.]
'......This is truly work only a god would do.'
There was a restriction that he had to be at the connection point of the dimensional gate, but the phrase "all locations" held value beyond that.
"A divine edifice connected to the Labyrinth......"
Upon giving this explanation, Riferoze approached Erik's face. Gold glimmered above white pupils.
"If that's possible, then you, Erik, will truly become the hope of this world."
It was an intense gaze. This was the depth of his master's affection, and hidden within it was persistent yearning. At that burdensome gaze, Erik slightly turned his head away.
***
Several days had passed since the Imperial Family held a grand celebration festival. Just several days had passed. The unease of the imperial citizens began to bloom once again.
"D-did you see the river outside?"
People living as fishermen were the beginning of the news. The blackened river water had taken all life.
"It became a death river, they say? But why?"
"The river changed!"
"Huh, how? Back to blue-"
The Death River now faced another transformation.
"G-goblins are being washed down! But, ones over this meter in size, supposedly just like the goblins in the Labyrinth."
A capital with a population of 2 million.
Moreover, it was an unprecedented disaster—the river flowing beside the capital had become polluted. With 2 million eyes watching, and the massive river visible clearly from the Imperial Capital itself having turned black. This wasn't a problem that could be solved by trying to stop it.
"Crazy, goblins?"
"I directly saw the Imperial Capital Army kill living individuals washed down the river!"
In fact, the Empire also left this alone. Stopping the problem would only increase discontent.
"Goblins washed down the river were alive?"
"L-look, there's really a goblin!"
"Crazy, is that huge one an ogre?"
A horde of monsters poured along the river.
"T-there are really monsters-"
From the lowest point of the capital, unease began to seep upward. Emotions began to spread like contagion.
"What's happening to the world......"
From house to house. From street to street. The small rumors flowing casually soon became strong waves, beginning to spread from district to district. Passing District 5 into District 4. From there to District 3. Crossing District 2, the land of nobles...
"Phew-"
Finally, the rumors reached the Imperial Palace. However, such unease was not language that held currency in the Imperial Palace. That was because.
"So, Director Erik. You've brought a solution?"
It was because of Erik's existence.
"Yes, that is correct."
Erik looked at the Imperial Throne and smiled brightly.
'They see me as some kind of problem solver.'
From the perspective of the Imperial Family, it wasn't exactly wrong. And the smile at Erik's lips also meant he welcomed this situation.
"You seem pleased, Director Erik."
The Prince observed the broad smile of the enormous Paladin.
"How could I not be pleased when solving the crisis of the Empire?"
In other words, not only would the fountain be installed, but what could be obtained was also quite excellent.
"To think you'd produce the reward first......"
Erik saw the massive pile of treasures stacked in front of the Great Hall. He was overcome with emotion.
'While vast amounts of gold are nice-'
Whoosh!
[Possessor Appearance Change Ticket]
[Guild Home Transfer Ticket]
[Trait Change Ticket]
[Stat Reset Ticket] . . .
The cash shop items he had frequently seen in games were now vividly before his eyes. They were mainly the type that increased character convenience within the game or changed appearance. Moreover.
[Continental Online Launch Commemorative Avatar Set]
[Christmas Avatar Set]
[Medieval European Princess Avatar Set]
[Rockstar Set] . . .
There were also plenty of [Avatar] items that pursued this kind of supreme visual aesthetics. Moreover, they were all limited editions.
'They must have been kept in inventory and eventually taken after a possessor's descent.'
Avatars are precious. Even if one tried to buy them with cash, the items were rare.
'This is completely fraud.'
Avatars could be worn layered over equipment items. That is to say, even if one wore ugly equipment, it could be hidden, meaning the [Avatar] existed purely for visual enjoyment. Moreover, there were still many items left.
[Legendary - Guardian Knight-exclusive Weapon Set]
[Legendary - Infinite Quiver]
[Legendary - Shield that Strengthens When Hit] . . .
[Equipment Items] were abundant.
Moreover, various consumables were the basics, and there were even accessories with additional effects. Having seen all those items, Erik truly seemed shocked.
'How many possessors did they even capture?'
Even before establishing the Possessor Management Bureau, the Imperial Family had attempted to operate possessors. As a result, didn't the [Possessor] item used by the Empire's Information Department even appear? Thinking such thoughts.
"Director Erik, I gave the reward first, but when do you plan to solve the problem?"
The Prince spoke words of gentle reminder.
'He seems inwardly concerned.'
Erik raised a massive divine radiance and spoke to the Prince.
"It's possible right now."
***
Beep, beep, beep, beep, beep!
Alert sounds rang out across the entire Imperial Capital. It was a large-scale alert magic used by the Imperial Tower. The content was as follows.
-The Great Cataclysm caused the Empire's groundwater to dry up in an unprecedented disaster, but His Highness the First Prince Leonardo has resolved it!
This alert repeated several times and spread throughout the capital. With detailed supplementary explanations included, the citizens of the Empire were busy lauding the First Prince.
"Returning from the Labyrinth and working for the Empire immediately......"
All offered praise for the sublime majesty of the Imperial Family.
"He even subjugated elves and planted the World Tree in the Empire!"
With this, the questions about the massive tree that appeared in the center of the capital were resolved at once.
"The blessing of the Mother Goddess of Earth falls upon the Imperial Capital!!!"
Leonardo, sitting in the Imperial Palace, frowned as he watched the enthusiastic shower of praise. It seemed to weigh on his mind.
"Director Erik, is it truly acceptable to attribute this to my accomplishments?"
"It is a gesture of goodwill showing that I have no interest whatsoever in the imperial succession."
Erik received [Fragments of the Moon] from the Emperor. It was something that could use the power of the moon and acknowledged power equal to that of the imperial family within the Empire. Moreover, it carried the meaning of [Succession Rights].
'With just three women already causing headaches, the Empire too...'
Erik has no interest in operating the massive nation that is the Empire. A safe space for his people and Earthtown where Earth's people could live properly would suffice.
'I won't be contesting the imperial succession with the imperial family anyway.'
Passing the credit for the fountain to the Prince was proof of this. Erik looked at the Prince confidently.
"Are you satisfied?"
At this, the Prince wore a bitter smile. Narrowing his red eyes, he asked.
"In exchange, you want 10 billion?"
"That is correct."
The Prince couldn't believe that 10 billion was some random thing, and was truly taken aback by Erik's appearance of squeezing money every time he came.
"What exactly do you intend to use it for?"
"Growing the World Tree isn't free, is it?"
"You said the World Tree is the source of water?"
The Prince thought it over carefully. It wasn't something else, but supplying a tremendous amount of water to this vast continent...
'That does make sense.'
In the end, the Prince was convinced. He turned his head toward Erik...
'Somehow irritating.'
A faintly bitter smile hung at Erik's lips. However, at his following words, the Prince dismissed any unnecessary suspicion.
Long live the Prince! Long live the Great Empire!!!
"Do you not hear it?"
Hearing the enormous sounds of praise, Erik gave off divine radiance. At that sacred divine light, the Prince was convinced.
"I shall have it transferred."
"Thank you."
Erik bowed his head respectfully.
'I already have assets exceeding 20 billion anyway.'
In truth, Erik was planning to do something else with the 10 billion.
'Resurrection.'
It was the most expensive skill, and one he had thought impossible before reaching 5th Tier. But...
'With the World Tree, it's possible.'
He felt sure it would be possible.
"And after all those items... even 10 billion gold."
The Prince was thinking of calling the Prime Minister and entrusting the transfer of 10 billion gold.
"Hmm, the Prime Minister is late."
Looking at the empty right side of the Great Hall, he grew puzzled. Not long after.
Click!
The door to the Great Hall suddenly opened. And what appeared was the Prime Minister's face. He looked at the Prince with a haggard expression.
"......Your Highness, red hair has been flowing down from the river."
And then his gaze shifted to Erik.
"Erik, surely... this is Erica's hair."
At his words, Erik's face crumpled completely.