Boom!
The highest floor of the Academy.
A great shock echoed in the space created solely for Merini Elposis, the firstborn of the Elf Kingdom.
Cracks formed on the ancient wooden desk that had absorbed the Mana of Life for hundreds of years, and countless magic documents flew through the air.
“Still haven’t found them?!”
“Y-Yes. We’ve issued a bounty across other races, but we just can’t find—”
“That’s the tenth time you’ve said that! The tenth! It’s already been a month!”
It had been a month since Ria and Asuka disappeared together.
The Elf Kingdom, with the princess kidnapped, was plunged into shock, searching the entire realm of the World Tree with all its might.
But they couldn’t find even a single hair of Ria, let alone Asuka.
Even after using her own abilities.
“Ugh… Get out of here!”
“Y-Yes!”
After hearing Merini’s shout, the Elf Knight quickly opened the door and left, while she irritably sat back in her chair, tilting her head back.
She thought it was an opportunity…
‘This isn’t an opportunity!’
She had waited 300 years just for this day.
After being stripped of the title of Child of the World Tree, she searched for a way and made a ‘choice’ three years later.
“If I can’t do it, I’ll leave it to someone else.”
And so, Merini vanished forever.
And was reborn in a new place.
She wouldn’t… have regrets.
There was no other way.
To push out the monstrous Asuka, it was inevitable.
In the end, she succeeded in stopping Asuka’s rampage.
‘You ended up the same way.’
Merini thought her younger brother Asuka was truly kind.
Blood cannot deceive; even if greedy, at least he would be different from her.
She thought he would feel a hint of guilt about his position.
But no.
The difference between Asuka and Merini was whether there was someone ahead of them.
Merini had someone; Asuka did not.
That’s why she could be more at ease.
“By the way, how long will you stay lost in thought?”
Merini turned her head sharply.
A man scattering violet light from the darkness.
After 300 years, Merini found someone who could help her and lifted some of his restrictions, starting to formulate her plan.
“…Things have gotten complicated.”
The issue was that the plan had completely fallen apart.
“How is it just one or two complicated things? That’s not why I lifted the restrictions. Go kill that girl named Lily right now!”
“Aren’t you the one who said to go back?”
The Sword Saint nodded indifferently, but Merini still glared at him.
Violet magic began to flow slowly into the room.
“You’re politically pushing to have Lily Elbrite killed. I opposed it. But since this power was granted by you, I’ve decided to comply.”
“Yeah, that was the plan. But it worked, right?”
Merini’s goal is simple.
She needs to create a world where ‘Asuka does not become the Child of the World Tree.’
That is the reason she became one with this dungeon and her very essence.
The moment that condition is met, the fake world collapses, and Asuka loses the qualification of being the Child of the World Tree.
Naturally, Merini should take that place.
“As a result, Lily escaped. We failed to politically tie her down, but part of the plan worked.”
Asuka’s position is shaken, and Ria Elposis has become a scapegoat.
Now, no matter what tricks Lily pulls, her honor cannot be restored.
The problem is that both of them are currently absent.
The plan to control the two politically and slowly take their places has gone awry.
“Now it’s your turn to step up.”
“Well, I don’t think I’m cut out for it.”
“…Huh? Is that really all you can do?”
The reason this man was chosen among the three outsiders who entered here is simply because he is strong.
A human with skills to collaborate with the Asuka outside.
Above all, his sword possesses strength capable of toppling even Asuka, so that was the first thing released…
“If you act like this, there’s a chance it’ll be taken back.”
“Then you’ll be trapped here forever.”
“…Killing you would be a piece of cake.”
“That’s unfortunate. Sadly, I’m the type to come back to life even when I die.”
He smirked.
With her teeth clenching, Merini decided to take a step back after their mental sparring.
Given the current situation, there’s no other method but this man.
“…Why can’t you do it? Is that Lily girl really that strong?”
“Don’t you not know?”
“My vision is limited.”
She can only see the strength of the Sword Saint and Lily in fragments.
From what Merini has seen, their strengths are nearly equivalent.
Lily seems a bit stronger, but given her personality and actions, Merini doesn’t expect her to lend a helping hand, so she chose the Sword Saint.
Also, there was something appealing about the Sword Saint’s ominous weapon.
The Sword Saint fell silent for a moment.
“I don’t know.”
“What?”
“Sure, Lily Elbrite is strong, but it’s not to the point where I can’t win.”
“Then why…”
“The issue is the ‘Ring’ she possesses.”
The moment Lily put on the broken ring, she became overwhelmingly strong.
No, it was beyond just becoming stronger; it felt like her very species transformed, displaying a power of another dimension.
“It’s uncertain whether she can use it in a weakened state, but if she does, I won’t be able to win.”
Even if the World Tree steps in then, it would be impossible to stop her.
“…What if we don’t use it?”
“Then it will be possible.”
With the current difference, it is definitely possible.
Merini pondered over the confident words of the Sword Saint.
It’s not that she trusts this man.
He is skilled but has already experienced failure once.
Even with a weapon in hand, he couldn’t capture Lily.
But that’s precisely why she had no choice but to trust him more.
‘You can’t trust people, but you can trust swords.’
The power contained within that sword is certain.
“Then I’ll prepare a suitable position. If we find Lily, I’ll unleash everything I can to capture her—”
“…It’s already too late.”
“?”
The Sword Saint suddenly stood up and looked into the air.
The ‘message’ that the Outsiders were watching.
As a resident of this place, Merini couldn’t understand it at all, but after becoming one with the dungeon for hundreds of years, she had some understanding of it.
“What’s up? Did you find Lily?”
“Ria Elposis is in the running. And she’s a strong candidate.”
“…What?”
“Thanks to that, we know the location, but at this rate, there’s no hope. Lily will definitely use that power.”
Defeat is confirmed.
The sword-wielding Sword Saint said calmly, and for a moment, Merini stared blankly at him before despair engulfed her as she clutched her head.
This can’t be happening.
“Why, why did she regain her power? For what reason?!”
“It’s one of Lily’s abilities. I don’t know the reason.”
“…There has to be a way! You’re the best!”
“Unfortunately, you can’t conquer disasters. You can’t cut the world just by chopping at mountains.”
“……”
No way.
According to this man’s words, these are the strongest among the Outsiders.
Only Outsiders can enter the dungeon, so even if stronger ones come in the future, they won’t be stronger than these.
Even if they do come in, it’s uncertain if they’ll have the same ‘specialness.’
‘In the end, I can’t push Asuka out.’
Step.
“Are you going to give up?”
“…….”
“If you stay like this, you’ll be trapped here forever. You’ll keep losing your place to your younger brother.”
She’s already experienced it dozens of times.
Hoping that maybe she could do it without help from anyone else.
But those countless attempts meant nothing, and she lost the Child of the World Tree to Asuka every time.
“…So what should I do? You said you can’t win.”
Crack.
“Stop posing with that fancy sword and actually do something!!!”
Boom!!!
The desk completely collapses.
Even so, the Sword Saint doesn’t change his expression at all.
“…Do you trust me?”
“No. I don’t trust you… you bastard… pathetic piece of trash… just showing off…”
Merini hunched her head low and chided the Sword Saint, but he nonchalantly asked again.
“Let’s change the question. Do you believe in this ‘sword’?”
“…? Huh?”
Wuuung…
Before her, a sword sealed with a demon appeared.
A sword that scattered ominous violet magic.
She swallowed her saliva as it captivated her with its violet glow spreading in the dark room.
“Grab the sword. Then I will make it possible.”
“Possible…?”
“That’s right. Everything you desire.”
They say when you’re in a bind, you may bargain with demons, huh?
Merini laughed at that saying when she was young, but now, it didn’t matter.
She had already contracted with the demon known as ‘Dungeon.’
Merini placed her hand on the sealed sword.
KWAAAANG!!!
The world changed.
■
Having moved Asuka and Ene to a safe place, I entered the inside of the World Tree.
I cast multiple layers of security magic along with water surface magic just in case, so it should be fine unless something special happens.
Ignoring the spirits and the maze, I quickly arrived at the second room and opened the door.
Creeeak…
Unlike the heavily fortified barrier from before, the door to this room opened far too easily.
I stepped right in.
“Sure enough, you were here.”
Inside the room was a woman sleeping, bound up along with hundreds of wooden vines.
‘Asuka Elposis.’
Unlike the student Asuka, the bound Asuka now looked quite grown up.
She had grown as tall as her sister, and the chubbiness in her cheeks had all but vanished.
[Why are you here?]
[Lol?]
[?????]
[What is this?]
[Why is Asuka here?]
[Huh?]
Now I just need to get her out of here.
If I can’t take her out, the same Asuka will be in the real world.
Regardless, I had completed the request to find the Child of the World Tree.
I reached out my hand.
KWAAAANG!!!
“…?”
I furrowed my brow at the immense amplification of magic.
The source of the power was Eloni Academy.
I quickly conjured magic into the air like a hologram.
“…Are you crazy enough to want to die?”
[?]
[?]
[Whoa]
[???]
[Insane]
[What the hell is this?]
Beyond the screen.
The Black World Tree swallowed the Academy whole.
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