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Chapter 217
The mucous creatures that had attacked this place no longer poured in.
It was as if the World Tree was protecting this area, extending its roots to seal the gaps.
Right. Now that I've bought us some time by treating it, you're willing to help out? That would be nice.
“Librarian. The Red Moon?”
[It has not been confirmed.]
“Then how do you explain this? No matter how I look at it, the unpleasant feeling from that slime is exactly the same as that Red Moon bastard.”
[Something that should not exist under normal circumstances. However, considering the current situation, there is only one explanation.]
That bastard said it was already too late.
“You mean he’s already crossed over?”
[He probably didn’t manage to cross over entirely. But it’s certain that part of him has taken root somewhere on this land.]
“And you couldn’t find it?”
[I’m sorry.]
A short apology.
Of course, I wasn’t planning to berate it further.
Having come into contact with him directly, I knew just how dangerous he was.
Leaving the chamber deep within the World Tree's roots, I emerged into the outside world, where thunderous roars, blazing fires, and slime that seemed alive squirmed everywhere.
Shriiik!
Just then, a lump of slime lurking nearby lunged at a fleeing elf girl.
An elf who hadn’t made it to safety yet.
“Kyaaah!!”
Terrified, the elf tripped and fell, and the slime, melting everything it touched, pounced on her.
“No!!”
The elf guards who had followed me tried to react quickly, but it was too late to intervene.
I reached one hand into the air.
Those slime-type creatures are a poor match for swords.
Even if you slash them, it’s inefficient to deal with every piece that scatters.
Slimes have a viscous, fluid-like form.
The most effective magic would normally be fire, but...
Given how they’re crawling out of burning houses without a care, fire clearly isn’t the answer.
Then I had no choice but to push forward with what I was best at.
[7th Circle Lightning Magic]
[Astrapē – Spear of the Thunder God]
Crackkkk!!
Mana is something I have in abundance.
What I excel at is precise control of magic.
A golden lightning spear flew in an instant and struck the massive slime blob, immediately causing a chemical reaction.
Its gelatinous body burned black, stiffened, and shrank.
Exposed to the intense lightning that momentarily lit up the surroundings, the slime hardened completely into a solid lump.
“Ah… ahh…”
The terrified elf girl stood frozen, trembling violently.
“What are you doing? Get her to safety.”
“Th-that spell just now… what was that…”
“First time seeing magic?”
Their eyes—no, their question wasn’t about that.
I could feel it: What the hell is this guy?
Fortunately, the slime assault had paused for now.
The elves were frantically putting out fires and cleaning up the mess.
I had a general idea of where the Demon Tree was located, but the forest had many areas resembling what the World Tree had shown me.
So I had to ask the elves, who knew this forest well.
I went straight to the building housing the elven command.
The guards at the entrance eyed me with some suspicion but allowed me inside without a word.
“Damn it… ever since that human arrived, the slimes attacked.”
“Could he have summoned them? He says he’s treating the World Tree, but there’s been no visible change.”
A natural suspicion.
The attack occurred the moment I started the treatment.
Objectively, it could be seen as the Demon Tree reacting to a threat.
But as far as I know, the Demon Tree doesn’t have the ability to control these slimes.
The culprits are likely the pulsating slime blobs near the Demon Tree.
The Red Moon.
A presence that is sinister by its very nature.
There’s no way the elves would know about it.
As I entered, cold glares were cast in my direction.
“Lord Leon. What about the World Tree’s treatment…”
“I’m still treating it. As long as the sword remains embedded, it’s stable. I only left because of a possible variable that needed to be checked.”
Then, one of the elf elders pointed at me angrily.
“Answer clearly! Are you connected to the attacks by these monstrous slimes or not!!”
They clearly believed I had done something reckless with the World Tree, causing all this.
So I asked in return.
“The Demon Tree isn’t stupid. If someone interferes with its meal, of course it’d be enraged.”
“Nonsense! No record mentions the Demon Tree being capable of this! You must have tampered with something—!”
“What are you saying! You know full well how absurd that sounds!”
At Ocelon’s outburst, the shouting elder fell silent.
His clenched, trembling fists told me everything—he knew, but the chaos of the situation was clouding his judgment.
“You’re right. The Demon Tree can’t do this.”
I stepped forward slowly.
“But one thing is certain—it’s weakening the World Tree’s power.”
“What do you mean?”
It was Lord Ocelon who asked.
“Even if the Demon Tree is naturally hostile to the World Tree, the way the World Tree is being overrun so easily is abnormal.”
“Then what do you think the cause is, Lord?”
“Something is working with the Demon Tree. That something is interfering with the World Tree’s healing. In fact, while I was performing the treatment earlier, I made contact with the World Tree.”
I described the surrounding scenery shown to me by the World Tree.
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“Is there a place in this forest that matches that description?”
The elves fell silent, swallowing hard at my question.
Then, Lord Romila, who was wrapping a bandage around a wound on his arm, quietly answered.
“There are only three locations in this forest that match what you described.”
He had previously shown strong distrust toward me, but now his attitude had changed slightly.
Why?
[That elf witnessed you saving the young elf girl just now.]
"Just because of that?"
[Based on all known data, no being with malicious intent has ever saved a child.]
‘I can't understand. The way pointy-ears think.’
"So you're saying it's one of them. The slime attacks will likely start again. Stopping them is top priority, but rather than fending off each one, eliminating the source would be more efficient."
"Then…"
"Let’s do this. The slimes will come again. Maybe not just slimes—other things might charge in as well. So you all stay here and defend this place and the deep root area."
With the full elven force, they should be able to hold out.
"And what do you plan to do, young lord?"
"Just give me a guide. I’ll remove the cause."
"Nonsense! Healing the World Tree might be possible thanks to the power of that mysterious sword, but you’re still just a young human! A child like you thinks you can defeat the mastermind controlling those monsters?! It’d be better if we handled that—while you focused solely on healing…"
KUUUUUNG!!!
Before a conclusion could be reached, another booming sound rang out.
Startled, everyone rushed outside and gasped as they opened their eyes wide in disbelief.
"Wha… what is that…"
"Aren’t those the wild beasts of the Great Forest? But what’s wrong with them…"
Charging toward the elven city were slimes and wild animals.
But they were no ordinary beasts.
Twisted forms, with grotesque slime masses pulsing and clinging to parts of their bodies.
They were beginning to radiate immense energy.
Perhaps they were drawing power from the corrupted World Tree.
"Everyone! Prepare for battle!!"
At Ocelon’s shout, the elven guards quickly mounted the massive walls surrounding the city.
But their tense standoff was soon shattered by what appeared behind the monstrous horde.
"W-What in the world is that…"
THUD!!! THUD!!!
Behind the swarm of slimes and beasts came something massive.
A gigantic slime golem, at least 30 meters tall.
Its body made entirely of pulsating slime, its grotesque appearance stirred instinctive revulsion, and fear spread across the elves’ faces.
"What is that thing… Oh, Mother World Tree…"
No one knew how it was created, but one thing was certain: the elves couldn't stop it in a short time.
The colossal slime monster’s flesh began to split open, revealing horrifying, distorted eyes.
And then—
BZZZZZ…
A deep hum filled the air as it fired a beam, like a breath weapon, directly at the elven city.
ZZZAAAANG!!!
The elven forest existed under the protection of the World Tree.
Perhaps because of that, even as it withered from corruption, light flowed from the World Tree’s trunk, forming a massive barrier that blocked the beam.
"It’s the power of the World Tree!"
"It’s holding off the attack!!"
The barrier formed from the World Tree’s mysterious power looked impressive at first glance—but to me, it seemed like a desperate last stand.
The World Tree was barely holding on.
It looked like it was holding strong, but…
"The barrier’s breaking!!"
"No way!"
The breath wasn’t strong—the World Tree had grown weak.
Too weak to even block a single breath.
That’s probably why it allowed the slime’s advance.
"Lord Ocelon."
I spoke to Ocelon Bel Trigard, who stared blankly at the cracking barrier.
"Please assign me a guide."
"Young lord! Are you still saying that? The outside is too dangerous right now! What do you think you can do alone…"
Ignoring his outburst, I raised my hand.
"This might feel unpleasant. My apologies in advance."
My calm voice reached not just Ocelon but all the high elves and elders gathered nearby.
[All units, assemble.]
Elves might abhor necromancers—but who has time for that in a situation like this?
At my command, shapes began to emerge from the dense shadows surrounding us.
Numerous ghost-type undead.
All the undead I had kept stored instead of feeding to Muyeong, Death Knight, or Baril—were now rising.
I should’ve prepared even more for a moment like this.
"Hrrk?!"
"U…Undead?!"
As the undead rose, exuding eerie energy, a massive shadow wolf emerged from my own shadow and let out a low growl behind me.
Then—
A giant black arm reached out from the darkness, and a towering presence began to climb out.
"H-Huh?!"
"A…A dragonkin?! Why is there a dragonkin here?!"
Ignoring their shocked cries, I gave a simple order:
"Baril. Bite that big one."
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[Translator - Night]
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