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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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Chapter 215
The World Tree’s condition was deteriorating rapidly.
Amidst all this, the issue remained unresolved, and his daughter continued to bear a dishonorable accusation.
Naturally, if things remained as they were, it wouldn’t just tarnish Triana’s name but bring disgrace upon the entire Trigard family.
A groundbreaking solution to overcome this situation was needed.
Though he spoke confidently, the truth was that he didn't have many cards in his hand.
At that moment, Leon, who had been quietly observing the meeting, stepped forward.
Triana flinched and reached out to grab his sleeve but stopped herself.
“Excuse me. If it’s not a problem, may I speak?”
Some elves reacted with wariness at Leon’s words, while others simply watched him silently.
“Lord Leon Cascadia. We’ve already made some concessions allowing your presence here. Speaking further may be overstepping…”
“On my way here, I observed the World Tree’s condition. Based on what I saw from its roots…”
Despite their displeasure, Leon dropped a bombshell.
“If left as is, the World Tree will become a dead tree within a month.”
Bang!!!
The response was immediate.
In an instant, some elves drew their bows and aimed at Leon, while others slammed the table and stood up.
A shared fury was evident on the faces of many elves, including those from the Five Great Houses.
“Watch your words, Lord. Our tolerance for humans has its limits.”
The pressure from the enraged elves suffocated the entire chamber.
As Triana began to breathe heavily and stagger, Ocelon quickly moved to protect and support her.
“Lord, perhaps now is not the time—”
“This is exactly the time.”
“What?”
“I’m not certain. Not until I see it up close. But the symptoms resemble those of a tree infected by the Demon Tree.”
The World Tree’s illegitimate sibling.
The Demon Tree.
Leon had seen one before.
A heretical cult had used it.
“What do you know to speak such nonsense!!”
The head of the Romila family shot up and shouted.
Leon simply shrugged and asked back.
“Let me ask instead. Do the elves here know anything about the Demon Tree?”
“That is…”
“I don’t mean to mock. I’m simply asking to confirm. Do you know about the Demon Tree? Without confirmation, I can’t proceed.”
The answer didn’t come from the Romila family head, but from Ocelon.
“No. Even among elves, the Demon Tree only appears in ancient texts. Its existence has never been proven.”
“Then this is simple. A being on the scale of the World Tree can’t be corrupted that easily. But the Demon Tree is different. It’s born from hatred toward the World Tree.”
“Nonsense. The Demon Tree is just a myth. There’s no proof it exists…”
The Romila family head tried to seize on Leon’s words, but Leon stood firm.
“Myth? Not too long ago, one appeared.”
“What?!”
The other family heads looked visibly startled.
“We once subjugated a Kraken in the Pascalia Empire. At that time, a cult used a Demon Tree.”
“That… that monster actually existed?”
From their wide eyes, it was clear they truly hadn’t known.
“This is only a possibility. But the Demon Tree does exist. And to corrupt something as immense as the World Tree, you’d need something just as large—or it could only be the Demon Tree.”
“And how do you know so much about it?”
An elder elf posed the question. Leon replied:
“Is that really important?”
“We can at least suspect. Since you know so much, maybe you used the Demon Tree to corrupt the World Tree.”
Ocelon frowned at the accusation.
“Are you listening to yourself…?”
“It’s fine, Lord Ocelon. Nothing is certain yet, and since you’ve denied me access to the World Tree, let me at least ask about a few symptoms here.”
“Go ahead.”
“Right before the corruption started, did you notice ash-like powder blowing around the World Tree?”
There were reactions from the elves—some flinched noticeably.
“So you did. Next, when the corruption began, did a large amount of black liquid spill near the root tips?”
Again, startled expressions. Leon was now certain.
“That’s it, then. Those are common symptoms in trees infected by the Demon Tree. Though, the fact that even the World Tree shows similar symptoms is surprising. Makes me wonder if something had already weakened it... But I can't confirm more without seeing it directly.”
“All that from a mere seed of evil…”
The elder elves looked utterly confused.
“If what you say is true, then the World Tree must have been at risk of corruption several times already! If the Demon Tree really existed, it must have shown up in the past!”
“Yes. Normally, even with elemental disadvantages, the World Tree wouldn’t fall so easily.”
Leon spoke calmly.
“I can’t say anything with certainty until I’ve seen it. If you insist on refusing, I won’t ask again. I’ve no obligation to help, after all.”
Whispers and murmurs spread across the room.
“Even so, if you truly want to save the World Tree, you have to at least try something.”
The elves fell into contemplation.
“Have you all lost your minds?! Letting an outsider see the heart of the World Tree?!”
“Lord Romila, how strange. It almost sounds like you don’t want the World Tree to be healed.”
“What did you say?!”
Ocelon didn’t miss his chance.
“If not that, what then? What other reason could you have for completely blocking access? If it were merely caution, you wouldn’t prevent confirmation.”
“……”
“Could it be… you’re afraid that if this is resolved and Triana’s innocence is proven, your daughter’s strongest rival will rise again?”
“You bastard!!”
As the two family heads clashed with surging energy, Leon quietly turned to an elder elf who had earlier voted in favor of accepting his help.
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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“Pardon me, but… are those two always like this?”
“Ahem. Well… they are sworn enemies. But Lord Leon, can you really do it?”
“First, I need to see it with my own eyes. I can’t assess the situation or make a diagnosis without looking. If you’re that uneasy, you can even watch from behind. If I try anything funny, you can stop me then.”
“……”
Despite the confusion, the elves seemed to be arriving at a decision.
“Enough, both of you! You call yourselves high elves who value honor, yet what is this disgraceful behavior in front of an outsider!”
“Tsk.”
“Count yourself lucky, Ocelon.”
“I should be the one saying that, you empty husk of a man.”
The tide of opinion had clearly shifted.
At that moment, one of the elven elders cautiously asked:
“Personally, I think Lord Ocelon has a point. If things continue as they are, we may lose our chance to save the World Tree forever. If it’s just to confirm the situation…”
* * *
The path to the World Tree’s corrupted roots was heavily guarded.
After passing through several layered gates and elven guards, a massive underground chamber came into view.
“This is the only part of the World Tree’s root that we can reach. It is its very foundation.”
What lay before them was a vast root of the World Tree.
The roots, once a blessing that spread life throughout the underground expanse, were now horrifically coated in violet slime—clearly and thoroughly corrupted.
“May I take a closer look?”
“Go ahead.”
With Ocelon’s reply, I slowly approached.
Even after seeing it with my own eyes, there was something that didn’t quite make sense.
The Demon Tree was the World Tree’s unnatural offspring.
I understood it had a unique power that could even affect the World Tree.
But calling it merely a natural enemy wouldn’t be accurate.
If the World Tree were so easily overcome, it would’ve withered away long ago.
Something had clearly weakened the World Tree’s power—but I couldn’t determine what.
Not that it mattered too much.
The Demon Tree wasn’t all-powerful, and the World Tree wasn’t a feeble entity either.
Whatever the cause, as long as I could tear away the corruption and create a moment for the World Tree to resist it, that would be enough.
“Well? What do you think?”
In response to Ocelon’s question, I opened my subspace and drew out my claymore.
As soon as I unsheathed my weapon, the elves grew tense and raised their guard, clearly alarmed.
“It can be healed. But I don’t know what’s weakening the World Tree’s power, so it’ll take some time.”
“It’s possible?!”
“Yes.”
I slowly drew the sword Falling Blossom from its scabbard and softly spoke the activation phrase:
“Bloom.”
Wooooooong!!!
A massive surge of spiritual energy burst from within me as the spirit sword Falling Blossom began to respond.
Whoosh!! Thunk!!!
I drove the enormous transformed blade—now in the form of a spirit sword—deep into the ground before the World Tree’s roots.
The technique was the same as when I had once caused a normal tree to grow monstrously large.
But this time, it wasn’t about growth—it was about purifying the corruption and amplifying the World Tree’s own power.
“Huh…”
“What is this… I’ve never seen or heard of such power before…”
“Lord Ocelon! What is the origin of that sword?!”
Naturally, the elves were filled with bewilderment.
It made sense—Falling Blossom was no ordinary magic sword.
Its power felt almost like nature itself, a concept far beyond the elves' common understanding.
The greenish energy streaming from Falling Blossoms resonated with the World Tree.
And from its once decaying roots, a faint pulse began to return.
It was distinct from the earlier pulsing of the violet slime.
Thump… Thump…
“Oh… Ohhh! O World Tree!”
The more perceptive elves brightened with joy.
Though faint, the World Tree was beginning to purify the corruption on its own.
Realizing that the World Tree had started fighting off the taint, affected by Falling Blossoms, the elves watched the scene in breathless silence, not daring to look away.
Of course, the corruption didn’t sit still.
As if alive, the slime began to move, trying to cover the areas that had been cleansed.
“Gasp!”
Thud!!
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[Translator - Night]
[Proofreader - Gun]
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