Chapter 422
Great Ancient Mage, Acknowledged (2)
That was the biggest, largest, and most beautiful tree in the world. Its branches were a healthy reddish-brown, and its shiny green leaves were enough to cover the entire world. The so-called center of the world. Born along with the world, it was the mother of all living things that took care of all lives on earth on behalf of the G.o.ds that left. The core was connected with the origin of the world and contained its power. It was the most important being in the Yo-Ma Great War Zero game and, at the same time, the largest artifact.
“Ah…”
With the World Tree in front of him, Evan murmured dumbfoundedly. He expected to see the World Tree someday after he was sent to G.o.d’s Era. It was a huge honor as an addict of the Yo-Ma Great War series to see the giant tree in real life, which he had only seen through CG. However…he realized that his expectations were too low as he actually saw it with his own eyes.
‘Perhaps this is how people feel when they visit the Vatican to see Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam.’
No, nothing could be compared with this. Its size was tremendous; describing the World Tree was just too foolish of an act.
“It only looks like a dragon in terms of the size, though.”
“So, you’ve seen a dragon, Zero.”
“But why does it…feel so magnificent?”
Dragons are dignified creatures, but they couldn’t be compared to the World Tree. Its presence was so strong that it couldn’t be captured with two eyes. A being that wasn’t a plant nor an animal, and it was on a different level when compared to himself. There was no need to understand it. Understanding it would be weird in the first place. If ever Save came to G.o.d’s Era…he might have faced an undesirable ending as he wouldn’t have accepted the World Tree.
“Zero.”
“Huh?”
“Mother is pleased to meet you.”
Mirole suddenly spoke. She still looked like a teenage elf girl who was obsessed with him. She took away all the elves who jumped on Evan. So why did she look sacred as she took a step away from him and looked up to the World Tree?
“I see; please tell her I feel the same, too.”
“Your voice is being heard by her directly, so there’s no need to relay it through me.”
Mirole smiled lightly and lifted her head up once again. A calm breeze blew from the World Tree and spread her golden hair in the air like ink spreading into water. Countless crystals were shining between her hair: spirits, playing in the wind. Evan felt it was normal for him to be charmed by such beautiful scenery that couldn’t exist in the real world. He recalled how much effort the developers put in Mirole’s description and meeting with the World Tree in the game. Perhaps Evan would have failed to resist due to lack of resistance and have fallen for Mirole if his charm level didn’t exceed its limit.
‘…Though I believe it’s not that simple. What’s important is that Mirole looked very gorgeous right now.’
“Mother has another message for you.”
“What is it?”
How did it go in the game? Evan had a hard time remembering it as Mirole looked so mesmerizing as she let herself be indulged with the World Tree along with the spirits (the wind was blowing, but Evan could only see it as the World Tree consoling her.).
“You’ve gone through a hard time, but it’s possible to undo the curse you’ve brought along with yourself…curse? Is there a curse on you?”
“…”
Although he was dazzled by the aura, he knew that such a dialogue didn’t appear in Yo-Ma Great War Zero.
“You.”
Evan was speaking to the World Tree directly.
“Do you know everything? The type of curse cast on me, the reason why I’ve…Grgh.”
Evan regained his senses by biting his lips as he was about to speak everything in his mind due to a huge shock. The World Tree only spoke of the curse that Evan had. There was no need to expose all his secrets in front of Mirole when only part of his secrets was revealed.
‘Is it due to getting dazed by looking at the World Tree? It definitely has to be.’
The charm level that the World Tree had exceeded Evan when it was calculated into the game status. Its charm had created a huge impact on the fairies, spirits, and the world since its birth. Charm is the result of all influences done to others, and that had caught Evan off guard and troubled his mind.
“Zero…?”
As he regained his senses, Mirole was looking at him worriedly.
“It’s all right, Mirole. I just…recalled some of the lost memories.”
“Memories? What kind of…ah, Aaah. I’m sorry, Zero. I shouldn’t have asked about it.”
Mirole opened her eyes widely and approached Evan at the words “lost memories,” but she suddenly stopped. She seemed to have heard something from the World Tree as she looked guilty and apologized to Evan.
“Mother said she doesn’t have any intentions to hurt you. And…an apology to you.”
“Apology? Why?”
“If she were stronger, she wouldn’t have let such a curse be cast on you…what in the world are you…?”
Evan smiled bitterly at her words. The curse that Evan had was the World’s Curse. It was a horrible curse that let the victim have all the hatred of the world. Of course, as G.o.d’s Era, where Evan was at, was different in terms of time when compared to the world he used to live in, the level of hatred got lowered, but that didn’t mean his curse was lifted. The World Tree was apologizing…to Evan as she realized the ident.i.ty and the source of the curse.
‘A Mother with too much love.’
Was the World Tree feeling guilty over the birth of hatred in the world? If so, it was a foolish thing to do. Even the Mother of the World that takes care of all things couldn’t do anything with regards to the emotions of Her children. The World Tree was a cl.u.s.ter of emotions called love that She wanted to offer her everything to all living things. And Evan finally started to naturally accept its existence. There was no need to feel repulsion when his thoughts were read by the World Tree.
“It’s all right. I will take care of it by myself in this world as you’ve told me earlier.”
“Zero…”
Mirole looked hurt by the determined Evan as he spoke towards the World Tree. Was she worried about Evan? But that wasn’t needed. He just got a firm answer that the curse could be lifted…however, Evan’s sentimental thoughts were completely destroyed by Mirole’s harsh words.
“I was the first one to meet Zero, but why is Mother sounding like she understands you more…!? How is she having such a pleasant conversation with you!?”
“Is that a problem?”
“By a lot, yes, I’m feeling very distant right now!”
It seemed like Evan was doing his Encounter with the World Tree event well with a good atmosphere…Evan looked at Mirole with a sad expression. Still, she was already quibbling at the World Tree.
“I’ve always admired Mother’s ability to understand everything without a word, but today is an exception. I think it’s very, very mean!”
As Mirole totally lost her composure, the word ‘very’ got used many times in her expression.
“Huh? I finally found lo…wait, that’s not the problem here, Mother! You could have told me first anything regarding Zero so that he and I could work out a solution together!”
Her murmur was an argument between a mother and a daughter. Evan looked at her in a limp way and took a step back. Dupa stood still dumbfoundedly with her mouth wide enough for a fly to get in as she arrived in the vicinity.
“It’s been a while that Mother took great interest in another person aside from the Princess…”
“Is that the most surprising thing here?”
“Perhaps the Mother prefers the young and awesome man.”
“With your word, my fantasy about the elves and the World Tree just got blown away.”
Mirole’s argument with the World Tree continued for 30 minutes, but Evan couldn’t understand even a bit of their conversation.
“Whew, really. This was the reason I wanted to escape from this Forest!”
“Didn’t you run away to bring a solution to the crisis that is approaching this Forest?”
“Sort of!”
After replying to Evan in a loud voice as if she were shouting, her expression became hazy.
“I’m sorry, Zero. I’ve been too selfish up until now.”
“Hmm…huh? No…well…?”
“You’ve been listening to my problems all this while. If you have any, please share them with me. Yes, such as your curse. Ah, I don’t have any intentions of digging out your secret! I always think that we should have a relationship that equally benefits each other…”
“Although I do have things to share, I think it’s better to calm down, for now, Mirole.”
“Y-yeah.”
The 700-year-old, young high-elf, who experienced p.u.b.erty late, tried to calm her breathing. She didn’t realize that her argument with the World Tree was seen by all the other elves.
“Share with me your stories when we are alone. So, for now…everyone, gather up!”
colors of lights were emitted from Mirole’s body and filled the Forest. Evan knew that each of those particles of light was fragments of the spirits. Perhaps all elves were listening to her right now. Maybe everything in the Forest was.
“All forest fairies will gather around at this place! I will relay your Mother’s message! The fight to protect freedom shall now begin!”
Clearly, her wave of mana that surpa.s.sed the limit made all elves obedient. The World Tree must have lent those powers to her…so, despite Mirole going all out with her anger for 30 minutes, the World Tree was lending her power. Evan quickly dismissed the thought of an image of a defiant daughter in p.u.b.erty and a mother who was giving her money from her purse.
“Mother has spoken. That we should take action instead of being spectators if we truly want to protect this Forest! We don’t know how to deal with the unknown, but thankfully we have someone who can help us. Mother has acknowledged him!”
Huh?
“Mother has acknowledged him as her son, so we will follow the new deputy…Zero! He will retrieve the paradise for us, the forest fairies!”
Huh?
“From now on, he is the king of this Forest. He shall always be my side, your queen. So, everyone, come out and salute him! He will bring back the peace once again to this world through the harmony between different races!”
Huh!?