Tap tap tap.
Mia, holding a flowerpot in both hands, strolled through the snow-covered Forest.
She had already drifted far from her companions, and their voices could hardly be heard.
But Mia, as if entranced, continued deeper inside.
From over there, a strong surge of Mana was felt.
Mia caressed the flowerpot and whispered softly.
“I’ll definitely find a good spot for you, World Tree.”
It had been about a year since the World Tree was found—a seedling discovered after it died frozen by the Frost Duchess.
The place it was found was a sheer cliff with nothing but rocks.
Once the seedling was discovered, Elvenguard was alive with festivity.
Some Elders suggested moving the World Tree to Elvenguard.
But the land where Elvenguard currently stood was too barren.
It wasn’t suitable for the World Tree to grow.
An fully grown World Tree released abundant Mana while consuming little energy.
But a young World Tree, still growing, absorbed a massive amount of Mana at an astonishing rate.
If they carelessly planted the World Tree in Elvenguard, all their hard-built agriculture would collapse, and they’d all starve.
That said, it also felt wrong to leave it on a rocky mountain.
It wouldn’t be able to grow into a full tree in such narrow rocky crevices.
Then, when it came time to die, it wouldn’t properly disperse its seeds and would perish.
The life of the World Tree, meant to continue unbroken, would end.
Ultimately, Mia pulled out the young World Tree and temporarily planted it in a flowerpot.
Even though it was a young seedling, it seemed capable of foreseeing the future and aided Yoo Jin’s group when facing Draken.
They agreed to plant it in a suitable place once they found it.
The problem was, despite searching the entire country for a place, no suitable spots were visible.
‘Is there anywhere without risk of damage or theft, that is rich in Mana and Land Power, and sufficiently wide and deep?’
The conditions were rather strict.
Thanks to slowly changing their doctrines, the Elves no longer clung desperately to the World Tree.
Yet the World Tree still held more significance for the Elves than just being a sacred tree.
Wherever the World Tree would be planted would become a holy place for all Elves.
Choosing such a sacred place obviously wasn’t an easy decision.
Many countries were expressing their interest in having it planted here.
Some had good conditions and even had friendly relations with Elvenguard.
However, international relationships could change in the blink of an eye based on interests.
Today’s ally could become tomorrow’s enemy, making it difficult to plant the World Tree so easily.
While the other companions were enjoying leisure in Palana.
Mia alone couldn’t take it easy and had to probe around everywhere.
“Ice Cave…?”
Tap. Mia’s steps stopped.
The clear, crystal-like Ice Cave sparkled brightly.
As if lights were turned on, the cave became brighter as one ventured deeper inside.
The Mana felt inside was comparable to the density found in the lands of Elvenguard.
Just as Mia was in awe, she sensed a presence coming from deeper inside.
“Hmm. It looks like you’re interested in this cave?”
“Ah! Frost Duchess…”
The Frost Duchess appeared, her tail swaying and gently flicking.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed, and her breaths were still rough from the exertion.
Every breath made her chest rise, and as she adjusted her clothing, the marks of her struggles were evident on her shoulders.
“I felt the strong Mana in the area, so I ended up being drawn in.”
“Hehe. It’s understandable. This cave is like the core of Palana. Are you looking for a place for the World Tree?”
“Yeah. That’s right.”
“That’s unfortunate. Even if I wanted to give you this place, it’s all ice, and the World Tree can’t grow here.”
“That’s true…”
Another dead-end.
Mia sighed, disappointment weighing down her shoulders.
Seeing this, the Frost Duchess gave a sultry smile as she walked past Mia.
“Feel free to look around slowly. However, I can’t allow you entry deeper into the cave. That area is restricted to the Frost royalty. Anyway, I need to go find Alicia now, so excuse me first.”
“Okay…?”
After sending off the Frost Duchess, Mia tilted her head slightly.
She was definitely sweating.
Had she been doing some intense exercise within that cave?
At that moment, she wondered.
“How did you end up here?”
“Ah, Yoo Jin. Ahem. I just kind of wandered here.”
“You’ve worked hard. Even here, where everyone came to relax, you couldn’t take it easy at all.”
“Ah, no, that’s not it.”
Mia startled as Yoo Jin’s voice came suddenly from behind, making her fix her bangs.
By the way, where did Yoo Jin suddenly pop up from?
The only plausible place would be that Ice Cave.
‘Didn’t they say only Frost royalty can enter the Ice Cave…?’
Then how did Yoo Jin get in? But then remembering their connection made Mia shiver.
Wait a second.
That means both of them had flushed faces, were panting, and there was a strange atmosphere…?
When this thought crossed her mind, Mia felt her head heat up in an instant.
“Shall we head back? The sun’s going down.”
“Yeah, I don’t want to worry anyone…”
“Alright. Let’s go.”
“…!?”
Just as Mia turned to step away, something gripped in Yoo Jin’s hand suddenly swung across, ripping through the space.
Then, time and space peeled apart like a page turning.
Inside was leading directly to the town outside the Forest.
Mia exclaimed, “Wowwww…”
She had heard Yoo Jin had high skills, but seeing it right in front of her was her first experience.
“I wish I could use such a Technique to find a spot for the World Tree without wandering around…”
“Wanna learn?”
“Can I really use such a Technique?”
“Anyone can use it.”
Yoo Jin added a slight exaggeration to his response.
Anyone could if they had ample talent, that is.
Of course, if one regressed about 12 times, it would be possible without any talent, but that didn’t apply to Mia.
“Then please teach me!”
Mia clenched her fist, burning with passion.
Seeing this, Yoo Jin chuckled as he took her hand.
Then calmly placed his fingers over the veins in Mia’s wrist and maneuvered them.
Mia flinched at his unhesitating touch.
Just how familiar was this guy with women that he could act so naturally?
“Primarily, what flows through a person’s veins are Mana and Demonic Energy. But, neither Mana nor Demonic Energy themselves is the source of power. They are merely mediums for power, and the true source lies right here.”
“Uh…?”
Press.
Yoo Jin’s index finger pressed down on Mia’s chest.
Heart.
Strength originated from a person’s heart.
Theoretically, if time flowed in a densely concentrated area of Mana, magic should eventually be cast naturally.
Mana would scatter across space without any rules.
If time flowed infinitely, it would be normal for the flow of Mana to align with some magical Magic Circle eventually, wouldn’t it?
Yet, in thousands of years of history, there had been no record of magic or Curses spontaneously casting by itself.
It wasn’t because such odds didn’t occur.
What was essential for magic casting?
There was a lack of will, rooted in the heart of humans.
“All power originates from here. Once you master it, you can slice through space using just your will, like I can, but let’s start by using Mana.”
“Okay…”
Slicing through space with Mana.
Just a while ago, it sounded utterly ridiculous.
But coming from Yoo Jin’s mouth, it became something she couldn’t help but believe.
After all, he was the one who had crossed back and forth through the Demon World.
Mia began to gather Mana under Yoo Jin’s guidance.
This wasn’t the usual Mana used for magic.
The Mana didn’t form an orderly shape.
It gathered at Mia’s fingertips, compressing.
“Think of a form you can easily use. For me, it was a Sword. Even now, I channel my will into the shape of the Sword.”
“I… think of…”
Mia closed her eyes.
She focused on the resonance inside her heart where Yoo Jin placed his hand.
A comfortable form.
If we’re talking about something like that, there was only one.
“…Oh.”
A gasp from Mi Jeong.
A small vine stretched from the tip of Mia’s fingers.
The green vine soon split into two, and from there, continued to branch off.
The form achieved was a lush tree.
It mirrored the vibrant state of the World Tree.
Seeing this, Yoo Jin grinned and tugged at Mia’s fingertips.
“Seeing is believing.”
“Ah…?!”
The form created by Mia’s Mana pierced through Yoo Jin’s chest.
The sharply honed Mana dug into him.
At that moment, it wasn’t Yoo Jin’s flesh that tore.
The once solid space cracked open, creating a rift.
“Shall we go?”
“Yes…!”
Inside was the unknown.
What could be waiting there?
Or perhaps it was just the Void.
But as Mia grabbed Yoo Jin’s outstretched hand, all worries vanished.
Mia stepped forward into the gap with Yoo Jin.
In an instant, a sensation of unease washed over her.
The world flipped on its head.
From the dimmed Forest, she found herself in a brightly lit place.
“Waaaaah!”
Peace.
It was a meadow that visualized such a word.
Thick with grass, the sound of reeds rustling in the breeze was pleasantly soothing.
The sky was blue, and the sunlight felt warmly inviting.
In the very center, Yoo Jin parted his lips.
“Welcome. To my Inner World.”
