The World Tree, appearing as a little elf, was currently emanating tremendous hostility.
However, the comment “the World Tree is just a big tree” was made not by me, but by the balding Ear Goblin.
I decided to play dumb.
“Hey, tree lady, you’ve got the wrong address. That was said by the balding Ear Goblin.”
“Do you think I don’t know that you forced such a thing with a vow!!!”
Grr… ‘This guy is a hikikomori, yet he knew that!’
[Just call yourself the overseer of the metaverse, in line with trends.]
The World Tree’s rage was boiling over as it gritted its teeth.
The two hands clenched in fists trembled as if representing that fury.
“The High Elves of the Pond Leaf Tribe have clarified everything! You are the culprit!”
“Hey, you fcking btch. How is that my fault? It’s your Ear Goblin who went nuts on Hyeji during his rut!”
“If a noble long-lived race shows interest, you short-lived races should be grateful!”
“Is this supposed to be my master? Just neuter this sh*t!”
“Hmph! We elves are kind and don’t bite anyone!”
“Yeah, I’ll bite, you fcking btch.”
[‘Classic example from ‘Elves Are Great.’]
‘Even Hyung-wook would cut ties and euthanize that thing.’
[The elf? Or the World Tree?]
‘Both.’
Finally, I started to understand the numerous wary gazes from the elves and their excessive hostility toward me.
The statement “the World Tree is just a big tree” spread throughout the Forest of Elves, so it’s a natural consequence.
“Hey! If you don’t like a big tree, why not make it a f*cking huge tree?”
“Shut your mouth! Calling this body a mere tree is profane!”
“What do you want me to call it? The comments from the last episode had some hot takes.”
“I don’t need it!! Can’t you just kneel and apologize right now!!”
“I am Groot.”
Grr… What a damn dramatic tree friend.
I laughed viciously and spoke confidently to the World Tree.
“If you keep having tantrums, I’ll just call Hyeji and turn you into a big log.”
“Hmph! You mean that short-lived race who was with you? I thought he was a man because he had no chest!”
“……If you say that to Hyeji, you might actually die.”
[W-What is this crazy guy planning to handle?]
‘It’ll be something that was once the World Tree.’
The World Tree stamped its feet and screamed with a Kyaak.
“Also, what the hell are you hitting the walls for while coming up here!!”
“How was that real fisting? Honestly, I went a few times, didn’t I?”
“Shut up!!!!!!!!!”
Suddenly, I remembered that the balding Ear Goblin had been demoted from High Elf to regular Elf.
The reason was clearly due to disrespectful remarks about the World Tree.
“Hey, don’t the balding Ear Goblins not need to be demoted to regular Elves then?”
“Ah, that silly guy? Too low-grade to be called a High Elf.”
“Definitely low-grade. He carries his wife around like that.”
“Not engaging in incest… isn’t that tainting the blood of the High Elves? That’s why he was demoted.”
‘What?……’
[W-What are you talking about?…]
The World Tree nodded, arms crossed and eyes closed, as if stating the obvious.
At this point, I should be somewhat adapted, but I still couldn’t fully grasp it and my mind was slightly shaken.
“What, crazy dog talk? I don’t understand right now.”
“It’s just words. Mixing impurities into the blood of the High Elves, how low can you get?”
“Hey, if that’s true, does that mean everyone who engages in incest is an Ear Goblin?”
“Even if they’re not elves, it’s only natural to treat them as honorary elves.”
“……What about pseudo-incest?”
“If there’s just a blood connection, that can still be viewed as a beautiful act for purity.”
“You’re awfully generous, you little sh*t.”
Thanks to the big tree’s nonsense, my head stopped again.
If I think about it, the incest-happy behavior led by the High Elves is essentially at the will of the World Tree.
The reason the balding Ear Goblin was demoted, on the surface, was for insulting the World Tree, but in reality, it was because he didn’t engage in incest.
‘Aah, that guy was the cause.’
[What the hell are elves in this story…?]
‘F*ck, Champi isn’t even this bad.’
Just then, the World Tree pointed at me and yelled furiously.
“I command only one thing from you!!!”
“I won’t listen to orders from anyone weaker than me.”
“Leave my child, Ershiana, and get lost! And don’t ever interfere with her again!”
“I won’t accept your command.”
“You little sh*t!!!”
Naturally, I’m the very definition of a rebellious Black Wargreymon.
At least for dialogue efficiency, I had that covered.
The World Tree, huffing and puffing, contorted its face in rage and yelled.
“It’s your fault Ershiana has become strange!”
“She was already strange as hell.”
“What kind of nonsense!!!!… Wait, that’s true.”
Pausing brief anger, the World Tree seemed to come to an understanding.
But then it charged at me again and roughly grabbed my collar.
“That’s not it! Ershiana audaciously disregards my words and only chooses you, a lowly short-lived race!!”
“Who are you to get so riled up over her choice?”
“I am the World Tree! The mother and father of all elves!”
In that moment, I was taken aback.
Because words coming out of that sh*t’s mouth were things that should never be uttered.
“……You dare utter the word ‘parent’?”
“What’s wrong with that!! All elves are my children!!”
“……”
In that moment, I remembered how the World Tree had threatened us earlier.
A very dangerous situation.
Of course, the danger wasn’t towards us.
What was dangerous at that time was none other than Elcia.
Claiming her as his child, he made the situation most precarious.
And that too, from a guy claiming to be a parent.
“But because of you, my plans went awry!”
“……Hey.”
A chill ran through my veins.
“Originally, Ershiana, due to her mixed-blood, had no qualifications as a High Elf, but her talents are valued highly!”
“……Hey, you f*cker.”
As strength began to flow into my hands and feet, I started to tremble slightly.
“Though she has 1/4 human blood, it’s a matter I planned to resolve with numerous encounters with pure blood!”
“……Listen up, you f*cking bastard.”
Veins began to throb in my eyes, and a deadly aura rose inside me.
“So you’d better get lost! That’s the best for the elves and for Ershiana too-”
“Shut the fck up and listen to me, you son of a btch.”
I cut the World Tree’s nonsense short and gripped its neck tightly, lifting it into the air.
Thanks to the height difference, the World Tree was dangling helplessly from my arm.
It struggled painfully, gasping for breath, hitting and kicking my arm with its fists and feet but not budging an inch.
I squeezed its neck tightly enough to crush it and quietly said.
“You monster, calling yourself a parent?”
“Y-Yes!!…..I am……the parent of all elves…”
“Shut up and answer me.”
“….W-What are you asking me?!”
“What kind of parent puts their child in danger?”
Just moments earlier, when the World Tree threatened us, Elcia was exposed to that threat.
In fact, in a defenseless state.
If we had resisted, neither I, Hyeji, nor Jeong Ahyeon would have sustained critical injuries.
However, considering Elcia’s situation, there would have been no way to avoid fatal wounds, and worst case, she could have lost her life.
“What parent thinks of their child merely as a means for breeding?”
Grr…! “L- Let go of this…”
“And still.”
“Let go of me! Can’t you hear me!!”
“Do you even know the weight of the word ‘parent’?”
“Let me go!!!!”
“I told you I wouldn’t answer! You little sh*t!!!!!!!”
I slammed the World Tree down into the ground.
Since it was in the form of a little elf, it must’ve been light, as the World Tree bounced off the ground slightly.
As soon as I saw that, I didn’t hesitate and kicked the World Tree with all my might.
– Bang!!!!
With a sound so loud it hardly felt like kicking a person, the World Tree flew off in a straight line, becoming a little dot in the distance.
However, given that this was the world of consciousness, the distance between us shrank instantly, and the World Tree reappeared right in front of me.
Of course, the pain remained, as the World Tree lay on the ground, gasping and starting to dry heave.
After several dry heaves, the World Tree glared at me with wide eyes, once more grabbing my collar and yelling at me.
“You little sh*t! You think you’ll get away with this!!!”
“All that will come by are a couple of Ear Goblins.”
Suddenly, the World Tree wore a sly grin on its face as it spoke to me.
“You don’t know the terror of the elves, do you? With just a word from me, you’ll face a horrible death at the hands of countless elves! You won’t die peacefully; death will be the only solace!”
“What do you want me to say?”
“We have the Elf Army and the Elf Chase Team!”
The World Tree was cackling as if it had already won.
Seeing that, I returned the sly smile reminiscent of its expression.
“We’ve got Hyeji.”
At that, the World Tree burst into insane laughter, literally splitting its face from ear to ear.
“No, really, it was like its mouth was tearing up to touch its temples.”
“Haha! You’ve been saying Hyeji over and over, what does that even mean!”
“Why don’t you experience it once?”
“Hahaha! What are you talking about!!”
“Come back with knowledge of the future through regression.”
“………What do you mean by that.”
In an instant, wariness and tension began to creep into the World Tree’s eyes.
The hand that had gripped my collar started to tremble slightly.
But whether the World Tree cared or not, I continued to speak.
“That shouldn’t be the main point right now, right?”
“What the hell are you?!”
“You’d better see the future and regress quickly.”
With a suspicious gaze, the World Tree loosened its grip on my collar and took a small step back.
A moment later, a number popped up above the World Tree’s head.
And then, the World Tree began to cry, shaking uncontrollably.
“Wh-what, what is this!! The unfairness!!! That overwhelming violence!!!”
“You understand now? What our tactical nuke Hyeji is capable of?”
“You scum! Who brings asymmetric power into the heart of this situation!!!”
I lifted the World Tree again by its neck.
The World Tree attempted to rebel once more, but I ignored it as I clenched my right fist tightly.
“Let, let me go! You worthless piece of sh*t!”
“You’re right; I am a piece of sh*t.”
Then I punched the World Tree deep in its face.
– Puhak!!!!
“Khwaaaaaaak!!!!”
“Compared to my Choco Hyung, you’re definitely lacking.”
With that, the World Tree’s world of consciousness began to shatter and collapse.
