Chapter 201

Pain is the process of weakness leaving the body.

Pain is the greatest teacher. For those who overcome it.

The seers weren’t wrong about what they foresaw. It wasn’t illusion or something needing a different interpretation.

The World Tree wishes for the Sacred Tree to be destroyed.

This fact was partially confirmed by none other than Carriel.

Shall we sit idly and await our doom?

Or shall we become the chief instigators of our own demise?

Will we remain victims?

Or actively face the situation as perpetrators?

“So, this is really the conclusion we’ve come to.”

“……”

While Carriel remained in the sanctuary, time, which moves exceedingly slowly for elves, was passing at an unprecedented speed—like tumbling down a slope after stumbling on an incline.

Queen Remira couldn’t help but stay silent upon Geoffrey’s sigh.

“And… whoever it may be, there’s probably no one who solely wants to be a victim, right?”

“Your Majesty, are you saying that there are those among us who desire war?”

“Gennia, for humans and other races, the era when the Demon King invaded might seem like ancient history, but for us, it feels like just yesterday.”

“…Resentment and grudges still linger, huh.”

“There are still many who harbor resentment against nations and empires that have already perished, let alone entire races.”

“If they experienced those times, they must now be among our elders.”

“There are rumors that these elders are meeting with current council members. It’s the first such gathering since the Demon King’s invasion.”

“It seems the news has reached even that far.”

“It’s only natural if your ears aren’t deaf or blocked.”

Despite just a few days passing, all opinions and arguments to deal with Carriel were buried—not just buried, but never brought up again, despite no divine revelation from the Sacred Tree.

“He’s already shown us his resolve.”

And it doesn’t stop there.

“Gennia, check this out.”

When handed a bundle of dozens of papers by the queen waving her hand, Geoffrey was perplexed.

“……”

Upon inspection, the content was far from ordinary.

“After the assembly, he apparently fell into a coma and instructed this to be delivered to me a day later.”

When Remira received and reviewed this, she inwardly shivered.

“A grand strategy… This is… a war plan, isn’t it?”

Within the dozens of pages, detailed records, complete with illustrations, mapped out how events might unfold, included rough sketches of continents he’d never seen before, predictions of scenarios, along with justifications and methods—all astonishing.

“If our memories don’t deceive us, this must be his writing.”

The alternate reality version of Carriel shown by the World Tree.

He was known as the Military Deity, a great general called king despite not being one, both tyrant and dark ruler—a never-before-seen figure.

Though there have been Great Kings and Emperors, none have ever unified the continent alone and even conquered island nations beyond it.

Certainly, some have claimed larger territories than Carriel, but his dominance remains undeniable.

Perhaps, over time, he would be recorded in history as a great conqueror and general, separate from his questionable character and deeds.

…And in that world’s future, anti-imperial entities, regardless of race, were executed and massacred to extinction—including elves and the Tribe of the Forest burned alive alongside the World Tree.

“How does he know our exact strength without us telling him?”

“The Sacred Tree gave him a hint, I suppose.”

If not, someone must have leaked information to him. Though now possible, prior to his declaration of resolve in the assembly and leaving the sanctuary, very few supported Carriel.

“Do you intend to just watch this unfold?”

“Carriel isn’t moving much. What’s suspicious is our own people.”

“……”

Among the High Elves, very few yet understand the full extent of the situation. The problem lies with the frequent meetings between a select few elders, council members, and legislators.

“If the World Tree truly desires destruction, I honestly don’t know if those who worship it will oppose it.”

“Gennia, I can make no guarantees whatsoever.”

In a kingdom where even human kings heed their subordinates, I’m merely a crown-wearing mediator and advisor—at best a supreme judge, but only in matters of crime.

“So, while we prepare contingencies, if the tide turns against us, there’s nothing we can do to stop it.”

“……”

“Gennia, what do you wish to do?”

====

“If only the world could be contained within a single point. Then everything would end.”

There was a man called a lunatic elf among the elders who kept repeating this nonsense.

He also resided somewhere inside the World Tree’s sanctuary.

His discovery was accidental.

But if this so-called accident was part of some inevitable fate, then perhaps it was guided.

With tattered clothing and an outer garment long worn to rags, this frail, pale elf seemed almost one with the darkness except for the faint glow of bioluminescent stones casting light from afar.

“To contain the world within a single point. What does that mean?”

“…The world originally started from a single point. It returns to its origin. It repeats its cycle. Beginnings and ends, seeds and trees and fruits… none have a fixed start or finish.”

“……”

You’re reaching too high into the clouds.

“The world began from a single point? How do you know that?”

“Because I heard it.”

“…From whom?”

“From the Third Great Demon King.”

…The Great Demon King?

“So, what exactly are you doing here?”

“I’m conceptualizing a way to gather the world into a single point.”

“You’re wasting your time.”

He’s dying.

Not only has his mana faded, but the natural vitality unique to elves, their harmony with nature itself, is utterly absent in him.

…Neither alive nor dead.

This peculiarity made me hesitate to turn away, feeling slightly uneasy as I glanced back.

“If it were possible, what would you do with it?”

Until now, the elf had spoken in a listless tone, devoid of energy—but this time, his voice changed slightly.

“I will put it back inside the egg.”

Then pain, anger, despair,

Love, happiness, fulfillment,

Regret, fear, anxiety, hatred, frustration, optimism, resignation…

“All will vanish. Life itself… is the sin and curse we bear.”

“…If the gods and creators heard you, they’d slap you across the face instantly.”

“You, child of destiny, surely share my thoughts.”

He didn’t seek my answer or agreement; he continued his monologue, lost in thought, and then fell silent.

Is he dead, or asleep?

…It makes no difference either way.

As I exited the sanctuary, several elves clad in pristine white and pitch-black uniforms greeted me as if they’d been waiting.

“What goes around comes around, right?”

The seeds were sown long ago.

All of this is a rightful progression and natural consequence.

====

And the situation escalated beyond just an emergency irregular assembly.

In the conference room sat the queen and fourteen legislators.

Additionally, four council members and about ten senior elders took their seats.

At the crescent-shaped table, as usual, sat the legislators and the queen.

Meanwhile, newly added wooden chairs near the walls accommodated figures unfamiliar until now.

“……”

And once again, Carriel found himself standing alone facing them.

“Try provoking me again like last time. This time, I won’t spare you—I’ll cut off your head.”

Carriel traced his neck with a finger mockingly toward the legislator who had previously taunted him about acting.

“Hmph!”

The smooth cheek of the elf legislator trembled like a candle exposed to a gust of wind.

Threatening suicide as leverage? Truly, he’s insane!

However, the legislator never voiced these thoughts aloud.

“I will personally oversee this session of the assembly.”

Once everyone was seated, Queen Remira herself spoke, surveying the room.

“Let us seize this opportunity to ensure that everyone present makes judgments and decisions wisely, honorably, and without regret. Sincerely.”

After a brief pause, the queen proceeded to explain the meeting format.

“The proceedings will follow a question-and-answer format starting with whoever gains speaking rights. Carriel Brendiar has informed me beforehand that he will speak last. Therefore, his statement will occur after the Q&A concludes. Any objections?”

Silence reigned.

“Carriel, has your position changed?”

“Yes, it hasn’t.”

“Good.”

This meeting might well become another watershed moment dividing the current era and history.

…Hopefully, it ends as merely a disturbance and unrest among us.

Simultaneously raising her hand, the queen signaled the ninth elder who requested to speak.

“You were once a seer responsible for many important roles.”

Even some of the legislators were seeing him for the first time. He was a desiccated man with his eyes covered by what looked like blindfolds.

Though his skin appeared cracked like old wood, looking incredibly fragile, he immediately questioned Carriel without regard for others’ gazes or reactions.

“What the Sacred Tree showed you wasn’t our past, present, or any future of our world. So, what do you think it was?”

To this query, Carriel responded indifferently.

“I assume you’re not asking because you don’t know but rather to confirm my understanding. Let’s use a tree as an analogy to explain this.”

The first tree grows straight upward towards the sky, but as it grows, it branches into tens, hundreds, and countless more.

“If each branch represents a world, ours is simply one of those branches. And the version of me from that world is a distinct entity from the me standing here.”

Nevertheless, every branch ultimately stems from the same single tree.

“And the World Tree, your Sacred Tree, is an entity and form capable of glimpsing and selecting worlds through this analogy. This isn’t based on mere assumptions but on experiences. In the memories of the other-world me, there were signs pointing towards the World Tree. Assuming that’s true… Is there anything else you’d like to add, Ninth Elder?”

“We seers have foreseen futures through the Sacred Tree and preemptively prevented alterable ones through what we call pruning. But there was a future that could never change… We now know when that is.”

“A future that couldn’t be altered despite pruning? Is that what you’re saying?”

He nodded slightly.

“Your pruning was only possible because the Sacred Tree allowed it.”

Foreseeing the future was only possible because the World Tree permitted it.

Conversely, if the World Tree stops allowing or outright refuses…

…It should naturally become impossible, right?

How can one prepare and prevent the future if it cannot be seen or understood?

“But isn’t it normal for the future to remain unknown?”

To Carriel, this seems normal and reasonable.

But the Ninth Elder firmly stated otherwise.

“For us, that was rather unreasonable and abnormal.”

It’s akin to someone who once had sight suddenly losing their eyes or vision.

If something once taken for granted and enjoyed daily were suddenly lost—or worse, revealed to be a curse—how would they react?

Decisively letting go or cutting it off might be the sensible choice…

…But that’s easier said than done, especially with the ability to glimpse distant futures and prepare accordingly.

“In that case, it’s time for you to learn how to leave home, isn’t it?”

Though Carriel spoke lightly, this wasn’t merely suggesting abandoning faith—it carried weight and loss.

“Otherwise… Enjoy your cheerful annihilation alongside the World Tree.”

“…”

The hall fell silent, but only briefly.

“Didn’t we have another option besides that?”

Carriel Brendiar.

“If you’re truly the apostle and executor of the Sacred Tree’s will, wouldn’t that change things drastically?”

Perhaps this is what they wanted to confirm all along. Queen Remira resisted the urge to massage her temples.

Handing over that role to Carriel means…

Granting him that position entails…

“If I am correct, could you recognize my eligibility as a human?”

“…It won’t be easy.”

The elder admitted straightforwardly. Next, they’d likely demand proof of qualification or further delays.

Carriel chuckled briefly.

“I believe I’ve given you enough time to sort out such opinions. Is it still insufficient?”

By his statement, Carriel’s intentions became clearer.

“…”

Queen Remira forced herself to ignore the cold sweat trickling down her face.

“Isn’t the choice obvious? Either kill me as the Sacred Tree wishes or dump everything on me. As long as you remain dependent on the World Tree, you can’t escape this binary choice. So, I’ve prepared a third option for you. What do you want to do?”

Carriel addressed the assembly casually, as if offering options.

Break out of the shell and face the world’s storms naked?

Or continue to cower quietly inside the shell?

Though Carriel intended it this way, whether they’d perceive it as such remains uncertain.

Honestly, I don’t expect much from either humans or elves.

…After all, as long as we’re creatures under the heavens, expecting anything meaningful is… extremely, extremely futile.

The only beautiful sparkles in this world come from those distant stars twinkling in the far-off skies.

We were born unable to shine, weren’t we?

So, my heart doesn’t race, and I hold no expectations.

At least not ideals or plans I find in myself.

‘I yearn for the unknown.’

An unknown resembling miracles.

An unreachable despair wrapped lightly in boundless unknowns.

Only that can move me.

‘Can you achieve it?’

I wonder.

If it exceeds my expectations and stirs my heart…

We might navigate through everything unscathed, avoiding mutual destruction and disappointment.

The swords and arrows you wield will determine your race’s fate.

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