I was destined to die, abandoned in the forest right after I was born.
Whether I was bitten by a wild beast or cried alone until my strength ran out.
But it was the World Tree that embraced me.
Strange branches and warm leaves sprouting right in the middle of the forest.
The High Elves say they found me, a newborn, in the nest created by the World Tree.
Thus, I was chosen as the Priestess of the World Tree from the moment I was born.
From the time my ego formed, I was treated as a Priestess, and I had no doubts about it.
If it weren’t for the World Tree, I wouldn’t have had a beginning in life.
It was only natural to devote myself to the World Tree.
I existed for the World Tree and lived to function as its Priestess.
I long forgot my name.
Long ago, the World Tree had given me a name, but I lived forgetting it, as no one called me by it.
The only people looking for me were those searching for the Priestess of the World Tree.
The Priestess was me, and I was the Priestess.
The person named Mia did not exist there.
“Mia… is that…?”
It was the first time someone called me by name.
He was the first to show interest in me as a person named Mia, not just as the Priestess of the World Tree.
Up until then, I thought he was just a mundane human.
Like any other human, I assumed he was barbaric and had only bizarre fantasies about Elves.
“Come under me. That way, you’ll have room to breathe.”
“And what about you?”
“One of us has to live, right?”
“…!?”
But no, that wasn’t the case.
There was no way such a light-hearted human would risk his life to fight for a complete stranger, especially another race.
He was someone who had prepared to face death for me.
Perhaps if I hadn’t heard the whispers of Ifrit at that moment.
If I hadn’t brought the Magical Tool to his chest, he would have truly died.
He would have died to save me.
“I am nothing if I’m not a Priestess…”
With the World Tree’s eyes destroyed, I no longer had a way to commune with it.
If I weren’t connected to the World Tree, there would be no reason for the existence of the Priestess.
I was no longer a Priestess.
And I, who had lived my whole life as a Priestess, would have nothing left if I stripped away that position.
For that, he fought for me.
Not as the Priestess, but as a person named Mia.
“I don’t feel any headaches. I can’t hear the voice of the World Tree either…”
I didn’t know what to do.
It was the first time for me in a situation like this.
It was my first time living as a single person, free from the shackles and responsibilities of the Priestess of the World Tree, so everything felt chaotic.
I felt as if I was lost.
As if I had become Mia.
But I didn’t dislike it.
I could see someone in front of me leading me.
I thought Yoo Jin would accept me, even if I were no longer the Priestess.
If I could, I would want to follow Yoo Jin.
To escape the Elvenguard, where I had been imprisoned my whole life, and enjoy a journey with him.
Such delightful imaginations brought a smile to my face.
“Priestess.”
“Ah, um, yes…”
The moment I opened my eyes, stopping my daydreaming, I found all the elders’ gazes fixated on me.
I unconsciously hardened the expression that had broken free.
“You said an unknown enemy was controlling the World Tree’s eyes?”
“Yes. It seems the existing eyes of the World Tree have collapsed and can no longer function.”
“In that case, once we subdue the enemy, the eyes of the World Tree will be restored. It will not be easy to resonate with the revived eyes of the World Tree from the very beginning. Perhaps an Elf with greater potential than you might appear.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“If you wish, you may now step down from the Priestess position. We can have someone else take over your duties. You have devoted yourself for the past 76 years. You will be an adult in just 30 years, so it’s time for you to live your own life, I believe.”
“…”
In an unexpected moment, the option was placed before me.
I had thought it was just my imagination.
The elders genuinely offered me the chance to quit being the Priestess.
“I never imagined….”
What reason would I have to hesitate?
I couldn’t help but hide the smile that formed unconsciously, and I finally spoke.
The answer had been set from the beginning.
“Thank you for your consideration. However, I have no intentions of stepping down from the Priestess position. I will continue until the World Tree expels me.”
“Priestess…”
I cannot quit.
The connection that links me and Yoo Jin is the World Tree.
I cannot betray the World Tree.
I even made a promise to Yoo Jin.
I vowed to tell him prophecies throughout my life.
That role is something only I must assume.
I can’t even imagine someone else telling Yoo Jin a prophecy, nor would I want to.
An opportunity to repay Yoo Jin’s grace.
And a chance to see Yoo Jin’s face for a lifetime.
I absolutely cannot quit.
“What is Michael Jackson doing right now?”
Only I know his real name.
For a brief moment, I indulge in this small sense of superiority.
“Together with his companions, he’s at the entrance of the dungeon for the final check.”
“If he needs any supplies, please bring everything he needs. He must succeed. If he fails, the World Tree may fall into the hands of unknown enemies…”
Thinking that he was about to face a perilous battle made it hard to breathe.
Since my life is short, I once thought that the life of one Elf was more valuable than the lives of ten short-lived species.
However, Yoo Jin is different.
If I could sacrifice my life to save Yoo Jin, I would gladly do so.
Just as Yoo Jin did for me.
“O World Tree, please protect him so that Yoo Jin can return alive…”
I send an unreachable prayer.
To the disconnected World Tree, I endlessly plead.
Please save Yoo Jin.
Please safely return the man who first called me Mia into my arms.
“…huh?”
At that moment.
I noticed something strange.
“How did he know my name was Mia?”
I had never taught him my name even once.
*
“They keep such meticulous records, huh.”
Thanks to the setting that Elvenguard is obsessed with records, I was able to gather a lot of information about the dungeon.
What monsters appear.
How the structure looks.
Where the traps are laid.
I carefully examined the map written in blood by the Elves.
And the result was.
“I’ve seen this dungeon somewhere before?”
I was engulfed in a strange sense of déjà vu.
Wondering if it was my misperception, I meticulously went over all the records.
I didn’t want to die from carelessly getting my hopes up.
I took a thorough look.
Looked again for a second time.
And upon another final check, my certainty grew stronger.
“This is Kali’s unique dungeon.”
I was certain it was the dungeon I had entered once, long ago.
Since the objective was not simply to defeat the final boss during the last 12 rounds, I rarely clashed with the Four Heavenly Kings.
But once in a while, I would coincidentally bump into the Four Heavenly Kings.
When was that, again?
Was it the 5th round?
I definitely discovered a dungeon that shouldn’t exist in a location where it didn’t belong.
Unintimidated, I entered, methodically conquering the rooms, only to realize in the last room.
This isn’t an ordinary dungeon.
This is the unique dungeon created by the Four Heavenly King, Kali.
“Thinking back, it was impressive that I survived without dying back then.”
Revisiting that moment gave me a tingling sensation.
Back in the 5th round, I was still quite weak, yet I managed to escape after facing Kali.
Perhaps Kali had spared me at the time.
In any case.
All dungeons in the game always exist in the same locations during all rounds.
But unique dungeons created by the Four Heavenly Kings are different.
Unlike the existing dungeons, which are already complete at the point I have regressed, unique dungeons are built later.
So, when and where they will appear is entirely unpredictable.
Fortunately, it seems this dungeon was Kali’s unique dungeon.
I mistakenly thought it was a completely unknown dungeon.
“Grrr!”
“Wh-what was that?!”
“Ugh, my waist is killing me. Let me stretch it out.”
“W-why are you so nonchalant? We might die! We’re facing an enemy strong enough to engulf the World Tree!”
While I groaned and stretched, Alicia beside me was in a frenzy.
Her hands and feet trembled.
Her eyes twitched uncontrollably.
This girl.
She’s absurdly scared.
With such lack of confidence, she wouldn’t be able to display her true skills.
“Don’t worry too much.”
“Why? Oh! You prepared a perfect strategy again, just like you easily subdued the Great Spirit!”
“No, this will not be that easy.”
“Then why…”
“There’s no benefit in worrying. You can remain tense. But stop fretting. Whatever you imagine will be outdone by even more bizarre things.”
As I knead Alicia’s shoulders, easing her tension.
We can’t prepare for everything unknown.
Ultimately, what we need right now is the extreme tension that allows us to react instantly to anything.
Anything else would only backfire.
“Right. It’s better to remain alert than to shrink back. Who knows what traps may come at the start…”
“Oh, you don’t have to worry about traps.”
“What?”
Although this was my first time properly facing Kali, and this dungeon was quite familiar, I had many advantages.
“Hey! Bring me some explosives!”
.
.
.
In the dark dungeon.
Cobwebs gathering from all sides led to one spot.
Seated in that throne was a woman.
The Druid, Kali, kept suppressing her excitement while maintaining focus.
She had been burrowing into the roots of the World Tree for the past three months.
At first, it seemed there was no progress, but Kali had successfully taken control of the entire root and part of the base to showcase her triumph.
At this rate, it wouldn’t be long.
Perhaps within six months, she could blossom the flower of death.
Finally, she might be able to cleanse this continent full of refuse.
Amidst nurturing such hope and redoubling her efforts to seize the World Tree.
Kali abruptly turned her gaze, breaking concentration.
|Intruder!|
Suddenly.
Kali shot to her feet, shouting.
A faint vibration rippled from the entrance of the dungeon, riding on the cobwebs.
The door opens, indicating that a new sacrifice had entered.
|The human. So, you survived.|
She had failed to kill him.
Utilizing the World Tree’s small roots for an assault, followed by a desperate attempt at a burial—but he must have survived even after all that and knocked on the dungeon’s door.
|Indeed. Indeed!|
But instead of disappointment, Kali’s face radiated with a sense of joy.
Of course, it was her utmost effort, but in the deep recesses of her heart, she hoped that the human had survived.
He was capable enough to overwhelm and destroy even a manifestation of Belphegor.
It would be dull if he perished without even revealing his abilities.
Fortunately, he did not betray Kali’s expectations.
|Ah! Ah! Shall I watch how things unfold? Let’s see what he’s capable of!|
Every monster inside this place was her eye.
Using that, she could see the opposition’s personnel, weapons, abilities, etc., while preparing in advance.
At that moment, bursting with expectations, Kali connected to all the “eyes.”
|Huh?|
Her expression twisted.
She could not find the opponent in any of the “eyes.”
Had they not even taken a single step from the starting point?
But that didn’t matter.
To reach her, he would have to clear each room one by one.
Each filled with countless threats…
Boom!
At that moment.
The dungeon shook violently, causing Kali’s countenance to stiffen.
With a series of explosions, a hole broke open in the ceiling of the dungeon.
As she looked up, shock spread across Kali’s face.
“Shortcut has been opened, huh?”
|Wh-what?!!!|
The human, whom Belphegor mentioned.
He was leaping down from above, wielding a longsword.
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