Chapter 117

117.

Four days have passed since we began the cleansing of the corrupted tree.

Due to its immense size, we anticipated that it would take a long time to complete the purification. After clearing a safe space not too far from the tree, we commenced the operation.

With all surrounding threats neutralized, our temporary lodgings were quite secure.

As a precaution against any further appearances of monstrous beings or beasts, I instructed the White Beast and the wolf pack to remain vigilant. Nia installed a wide-reaching alarm magic system, ensuring our defenses were firmly set.

We considered the possibility of the Dark Cultists making an appearance, but if that were to happen, Myna and I would sense it beforehand. Surely, the Goddess would also send a warning through Her signs.

Thus, with all preparations in place, we began the operation. In truth, it remained peaceful without any attacks or threats.

However…

The problem arose from a different source.

Bang.

“Roar!”

“Master, I have returned.”

Turning around, I saw Charles jump off the back of the White Beast.

Despite the blizzard, his movements were as light as feathers that don’t ruffle in the storm. Silently, he indicated through a gesture of respect that his mission was a success.

“So, how much did you find?”

“More than expected. I’ve marked everything in detail on the map.”

With a flick of his wrist, he revealed a map that seemed to have appeared from nowhere. My gaze fell on the black circles he had drawn on it.

I had assigned Charles to investigate whether any other trees existed.

With the assistance of the White Beast for mobility and the use of the Seven-Star Pendant for detection, the task was sufficient. The blizzard countermeasures were resolved with the help of Myna and Nia.

I had strictly instructed to avoid combat and prioritize location reconnaissance. Judging by their unharmed state, they must have successfully avoided trouble. I ruffled Charles’s head with a hand infused with minor blessings.

Tap tap.

The snow clumps on his head fell off weakly.

Charles had been traversing alone in the blizzard for three days. Even with the help of Myna and Nia, as a non-Mana user, the freezing cold would inevitably seep into his body.

His nose, ears, and cheeks were all noticeably red from prolonged exposure to the cold. Despite not reaching Myna’s level of resilience, this extent was manageable with my blessings.

With her mouth slightly agape, she continued speaking.

“…Based on our location, there are five in the direction of Solorun and two on the opposite side. I couldn’t confirm closely, but I sensed creatures guarding the trees. By sight alone, there were no other peculiar features.”

“Firstly, seven in total, huh? This complicates things.”

“The other trees weren’t as large as this one. Perhaps we should count that as fortunate.”

After handing Charles the map again, I turned my gaze elsewhere.

Right before my eyes was the enormous trunk of the corrupted tree. Due to its colossal size, the branches were obscured by the snowstorm and invisible to the eye. As a result, it felt more like facing a towering wall of blackness than a tree trunk.

This rotten tree is not only massive, but it’s also an abomination.

Merely stating that it’s decayed doesn’t do it justice. It resembles something afflicted with a plague, with bubbles forming on its surface, twisted by the cultists.

If one stares aimlessly at the tree, there’s an illusion of feeling it pulse like a living organism—its corrupted flesh exuding a sense of profound discomfort. Everyone seemed to share similar thoughts, stepping back with obvious distaste.

Even the faint luminance that had been previously visible close to the tree grew intensely radiant once one approached its front.

After tapping the gently glowing mark with my hand, I moved towards the area where the purification was underway.

Erica was standing there, hands clasped together and eyes closed.

Behind her, Arthur and the knights remained vigilant, their worried gazes never leaving the scene.

To summarize:

The purification process was progressing extremely slowly. Four days of work had only managed to complete around 2%.

It wasn’t a matter of Erica’s abilities being insufficient.

The purification process took an unbearably long time. In that process, Erica endured significant backlash. Bleeding was a regular occurrence, and at its worst, she experienced seizures leading to unconsciousness.

I suspected that the Dark Cultists’ power was actively obstructing the purification. That’s why Myna had been working tirelessly for the past three days to repel their influence.

The power of the cultists exhibited a tendency to avoid the Goddess’s light. The grotesque undulations of the tree’s surface were horrifying. Naturally, this induced grimaces.

Occasionally, what seemed to be a desperate attempt by the tree to attack, liquid projectiles were shot towards Myna.

Huuuuw—

Manna infused, she struck the air with force, creating a powerful wind pressure that dispersed the liquid jets aimed at her, ensuring her protection.

“Grrrrr!”

An intense light emitted from Myna as she snarled ferociously.

“My nose feels like it’s going to be crooked from this stench! These vile creatures have to be purified entirely!”

“…”

Ignoring her fierce cries, I turned my attention back to Erica.

A gentle green hue emanated from Erica, spreading outward. A faint green thread connected her to the tree, glowing dimly.

‘The mysteries of swordsmen and magicians, perhaps other powers as well.’

The force of nature.

It’s the power of elves, a race known for their longevity.

What name should I give this?

‘Druid?’

Since it involves nature-related powers, ‘Druid’ might be fitting.

This term was first mentioned when the protagonist encountered elves in the Grand Forest during a visit to the Human-Beast Union.

While solving the elves’ issues, he briefly showcased this ability, though details about the phenomena or effects were not clearly illustrated.

Despite being only half-elven, Erica’s manifestation of elven power seemed quite impressive. Nia initially observed the phenomenon with great fascination, offering various explanations, and I shared some opinions as well.

However, our discussions soon ceased as Erica’s condition took an alarming turn.

By the fourth day, Erica’s complexion was pale, her face distorted with evident pain.

Observing this half-elf, Nia quietly spoke up.

“The nature of elven power eludes understanding. It’s similar to mana, yet not quite. Mmm…”

She continued, wiping her chin while wearing her glasses.

“Perhaps ‘assimilation’ is the right term? It feels like connecting souls. Then, transferring the damage from the tree onto oneself before treating it.”

“Connecting at the soul level? Isn’t that dangerous?”

Her statement startled me.

The original cause of the tree’s corruption was the infiltration of the cultists’ power. Establishing such a soul connection with a corrupted tree would undoubtedly have been the source of her suffering until now.

Nobody truly understands the full extent of the cultists’ abilities and effects. Even if the power of the cultists has been purified by Myna, it remains a reckless method.

Considering the size of this tree—only 2% has been purified in four days. How long would it take to fully heal the tree? Could Erica’s body endure this process until then?

She would die before the tree could be restored.

“I want to stop her too, but she insists it must be done. She says we’re already too late. If it gets too dangerous, I’ll cut her off from the process. Myna’s here, so she’ll be fine.”

Quietly nodding at Nia’s words.

Though only 2%, the cutting winds lashing against the skin seemed to weaken gradually.

Certainly, the effects were visible. Despite being entirely black before, the surface has undergone slight changes. As the blackness fades, a grayish hue of the tree’s body emerges.

“Ughh…”

“Miss!”

Arthur, startled, paced around Erica. This recurring scene has been happening for four days. Despite Erica’s warning not to come close, he could only fidget anxiously, his hands trembling.

She shakes her head, signaling she’s fine, and continues channeling her energy. Her persistence felt almost obsessive. I silently shook my head at Erica’s strange demeanor.

Her fingertips were darkened. Not only her hands but various parts of her body were also similarly discolored. Clearly unwell and emitting pain-filled groans, it was understandable why Arthur and the knights were so worried.

“Guah!”

Suddenly, Erica spat blood and collapsed. Before Arthur could rush forward, Myna swiftly laid her down and spread her light.

Fortunately, Myna’s healing seemed effective in counteracting the damage. Erica’s initially pale complexion quickly improved, and the crimson veins that had appeared were subsiding.

After assessing Erica’s condition, Myna opened her mouth with a troubled expression.

“The cultist’s power is also seeping through. This… isn’t good.”

Erica’s weakening body allows the enemy’s influence to invade more easily. After explaining, Myna looked up.

Our gaze met, her pink eyes filled with determination as she said:

“The corrupt power residing in the tree must be expelled first.”

“Given Lady Erica’s condition, that sounds wise. The only issue is time.”

“No quick solutions, given the tree’s size… And we must also find the cultists’ symbol.”

The cultists’ symbol.

A sort of sacred artifact.

We need to find it and either purify or destroy it using Myna’s power.

We had temporarily halted the purification process, deciding upon this and moved on to discuss methods to locate the symbol.

“I… can do it. No, I must.”

Realizing she had regained consciousness, Erica sat up.

However, her condition didn’t look promising. Thanks to Myna’s healing, she seemed outwardly fine, but it was clear that her vitality had waned significantly.

Despite trembling legs, Erica attempted to get up but soon collapsed again.

“Erica!”

Arthur rushed forward, catching her in time.

“It’s my responsibility. I must…”

Her ramblings as she kept her eyes closed. Arthur’s face twisted in anguish. Despite the biting cold and the blizzard, her entire body was drenched in sweat.

“Big sister…”

The softly muttering Erica fell silent in Arthur’s embrace. Startled, he quickly checked on her as Myna reassured:

“She’s simply exhausted and fainted. Don’t worry.”

“…I see. Thank you, Lady Empress.”

Though the sun still shone, a prolonged rest was clearly necessary. After announcing the end of the day’s work, I spoke to Charles:

“Can you ascend again?”

“Yes, no problems. Searching for the symbol?”

“That’s right. Receive Myna’s blessings first and then proceed. If you spot any signs of sunset, return immediately.”

“Understood.”

With a gentle whoosh, Charles disappeared, her figure quickly ascending the corrupted tree.

Watching her climb smoothly, I turned back towards our temporary lodgings.

*

The light filtering through the ventilation hole disappeared entirely as night fell. The campfire illuminating the pit grew brighter.

As we tasted the broth simmering for dinner, a subtle sound was detected outside the pit.

“Master, we’ve returned.”

“You’ve done well. Did you find the symbol?”

“Yes, however, the location poses a problem.”

Seemingly accustomed to climbing thanks to her experiences at the Heaven-Viewing Watchtower of Huayue Palace, Charles swiftly identified the cultists’ symbol. However…

“The eye drawn within a circle. The cultists’ symbol was on the midsection of the tree.”

“Midsection?”

It’s exceptionally high.

While it may sound like the middle, considering the size of the corrupted tree, it’s an impossibly tall height. This implies that Myna would need to be brought up there, which is no easy task with a companion along.

Climbing alone is not an option either.

‘What to do…’

How about driving spikes into intervals?

Using Charles’s saliva, creating footholds by embedding them into the tree’s surface. While it would have been impossible previously, with current access to mana, the area provided is sufficient to leap upward.

‘Or, cut down the base?’

Though it’s substantially thick,

If we keep striking, wouldn’t it fall?

Various methods came to mind and disappeared again.

‘Something more efficient… Ah.’

An enshrinement spear caught my eye.

“Empress Myna, wouldn’t destroying the symbol suffice?”

“Yes, but the power must be purified while destroying it. Otherwise, it would merely transfer somewhere else.”

This entails simultaneous purification and destruction. There’s a way then.

“Since the location has been identified by Charles, I’ll throw the enshrinement spear to break it.”

“The enshrinement spear? Ah!”

The material for the enshrinement spear is a sacred relic,

A weapon infused with the Goddess’s divine might. It not only disperses mana but also retains the basic holiness characteristic of artifacts.

The spear striking the tree will result in simultaneous purification and destruction. The issue of who can throw it to the midsection is irrelevant.