Chapter 118

The calm rest concluded as the day broke again.

The fifth day of the purification operation.

According to the discussion we had the previous night, we began preparation to clear the Dark Cultist’s power.

First.

The position of the sigil.

We had already confirmed the position beforehand, so there was no need to painstakingly search for it. Charles is planning to climb the tree again and upon reaching that position, he will set off a signal flare.

I took this opportunity to admire the ghost-like movements of the Master-class assassin’s mobility as I retrieved the Sealing Spear strapped to my back.

Second preparation.

The Sealing Spear, and the launching platform.

Naturally, the platform for launching the Sealing Spear is predetermined.

When mana was sealed away, there wasn’t anyone who could throw a spear to the middle of that massive tree purely via brute strength—except for me.

Gaaak—

A slight feeling of weakness comes over me as I grasp the spear shaft. A glance downwards reveals the sight of mana dispersing.

Now, all I can use is my innate monstrous strength.

This mysterious strength stems from the imbalance between my soul and body. My soul seems to be deeply related to mana, as every time I absorb mana, it gradually grows larger.

As the imbalance accelerates, so too does the monstrous strength grow, but fortunately, it has been mitigated significantly thanks to the petals prescribed by Nia.

That said, this also means that my monstrous strength will not grow any further. Fortunately, at this level, I can throw a mountain boar with one hand.

“Everyone, please step back.”

Nia and Myna retreat with tense expressions, and Erica’s group also moves away with curious eyes.

A distant glimmer.

Through the snowstorm, a light flashes. The position is the middle of the tree. It’s Charles’s signal.

“…Hoo.”

While glaring at the faintly glowing red light, I took my stance.

The heat rising from the center of my body. Like firewood that had been lit, the heat rapidly spread throughout my entire body.

While firmly fixing my lower body in place, my empty left hand became a fiery red.

I pulled my right hand holding the spear shaft to its limit.

Naturally, my left foot lifts, and my body leans back. Finally, when the center of gravity points toward the ground—

Kung!

By planting my foot into the ground, I thrust the force forward. Simultaneously—

“Hiiip!”

Twisting my waist, I extended my right arm.

All my strength was concentrated to throw the spear at a single point.

Cwa-aaa—

The silver spear disappeared into the snowstorm.

The result of the spear throw was confirmed immediately.

Kuung….

A heavy resonance followed, causing the snowfield to ripple lightly.

“It’s hit.”

Pulling the mana flowing through my entire body to strengthen my senses, I see a violent spurt of blue lightning at the middle of the tree.

The lightning is wildly erupting centered around the spear shaft that entered halfway. This means the holiness contained in the spear is properly clashing with the Dark Cultist’s power. As expected, the sealing and destruction are proceeding simultaneously.

At that moment, the knights watching the scene in a state of shock gasped in horror.

“Look over there! That is…!”

“The tree is shaking!”

The rotten tree is trembling violently. As this enormous structure shakes, absurd reverberations spread in all directions.

It’s as though an earthquake has struck, and the ground begins to shake.

Thick piles of snow crumble and fall, and the exposed ground cracks as if screaming.

“This… it’s the Dark Cultist’s power making the tree shake!”

Exclaimed Myna, leaning on her shoulder while observing the tree. It seems she was startled by the power emitted from the spear. The surface of the tree is violently writhing.

“It is resisting annihilation. Goddess, please grant the light to correct this wrongness!”

Just as if she was waiting, a brilliant light radiated from Myna. Though the intense beam was blinding, it still carried a warm and comforting feeling.

The light of the Goddess immediately covered the tree, and the change was instantaneous.

“The surface of the tree….”

“The Dark Cultist’s influence is being purified!”

The tree, which had been blackened, began to lighten rapidly in color. Simultaneously, the force that was shaking the tree also began to diminish.

After some time passed with the light of the Goddess fading, and the writhing parts of the tree completely vanishing,

Jijik.

Pa-at!

A faint crackling sound detached itself from the tree, and suddenly a dark aura shot out.

“!”

The dark aura reached faster than the blink of an eye. The target was Myna. For a fleeting moment, an alarm rang in my mind. The back of my neck burned hot.

Without any thought, I swung at the dark aura.

Puk!

The fist, imbued with mana and holiness, struck, dispersing the dark aura effortlessly.

“…”

Was it the last gasp, targeting Myna?

The essence emanating from the power that had tainted the tree was unmistakably that of the Dark Cultists. It was the dense malevolence of their deity. Myna hadn’t noticed.

What would have happened if Myna had been overrun by this power? My brow furrowed instinctively.

‘We’ll see after this.’

While pondering how to handle the aftermath, Myna collapsed like a marionette whose strings had been cut.

“Unnng.”

Tsk.

She seemed exhausted from releasing so much power all at once. As I gently held her falling body, Myna managed to weakly smile despite breaking into a cold sweat.

“You’ve worked hard. The rest is ours. Take some time to relax, Lady Myna.”

“…Thank you.”

Her body, touched by the grace of the Goddess, was cool to the touch, as if it had been affected.

After carefully cradling Myna in both arms and moving her to the temporary shelter,

I quickly removed her robe, and even her vestments, leaving her in her black undergarments. Her eyes widened in surprise.

“Eh? E-eh?”

Regardless of her reaction, I reignited the extinguished fire and wrapped her completely in a thick blanket to shut out the cold.

“I, there’s no need to go this far.”

Myna mumbled, curled up like a caterpillar, but I ignored her and completed my task.

“If you need any help, just call my name. My hearing is keen, so I will hear.”

“…Yes. I understand.”

With a nod, after watching her quietly bask by the fire, I stepped outside again.

“White Beast. Guard here well.”

“Kung!”

The White Beast lay down at the entrance to the temporary shelter.

After lightly tapping its snout, I returned to the spot where I had thrown the spear. Charles was waiting there calmly.

After setting off the signal, Charles descended, and Nia caught him safely with magic. In effect, he experienced a short bungee jump without a rope, but his expression and breathing were calm and intact.

“Master. I have returned.”

“Good work. Any injuries?”

“I’m fine.”

I nodded at her composed reply. She had climbed the Tower of Air Skyward without equipment and ascended the rotting tree with ease. She doesn’t seem to have any fear of heights at all.

‘The power of the Dark Cultist is expelled.’

Now, all that remains is to restore the rotting tree to its original state.

When I shifted my gaze, the curing had already begun, with greenery spreading out centered on Erica.

She appeared more peaceful than yesterday.

Although parts of her body were still darkened, she wasn’t visibly suppressing her pain while proceeding, unlike before.

‘The healing speed has improved.’

If the treatment conducted over four days amounted to 2%, it had now progressed to about 4%. Considering that it was less than a day, this was a significant improvement.

‘However, it’s faster, but…’

I felt it from the first day.

The curing of the rotting tree is impossible.

Predictably, as Erica continued her operation, her body trembled violently. Then,

Thud.

“Erica!”

“Miss!”

Arthur and the knights rushed to her side. Erica collapsed, blood spurting from her mouth. Parts of her body were discolored black.

Although the Dark Cultist’s power had disappeared, the poison of the rotting tree was corroding her body.

“…As expected.”

If enough time is taken, the treatment might succeed.

The problem lies with Erica herself.

Given that she is a half-elf, her strength is only half.

And because the rotting tree is immense, she can’t absorb all the toxins.

If we continue this operation, it will only reduce Erica’s lifespan. Even if she has the blood of the long-lived race, if her body sustains direct damage, a shortened lifespan is inevitable.

Shaking my head, I approached Erica as she rose with Arthur’s support.

“Miss Erica.”

I stopped her as she was about to continue and asked,

“Why are you so hasty?”

“…”

Erica’s blue eyes wavered slightly. Arthur, who was by her side, opened his mouth but shut it upon catching her look.

Speaking to Erica, who maintained silence,

“You must understand best. This effort is futile.”

Whereupon, Erica, who had lowered her head deeply, murmured weakly,

“I know… But…”

She left her sentence trailing and closed her lips. Arthur embraced her shoulders with a look of regret.

I glanced at this melodrama and quietly spoke,

“I understand. But.”

The reason for remaining silent must be related to her family’s matters.

Though I am helping, she is one of the imperial envoys from the central authority of the empire.

Recalling the advice left by Solorun Weed, for people from the North, the Center is essentially an adversary. If it concerns her family’s weakness, she would naturally be hesitant to disclose it.

However, the issue of Devalletta, the ruler of the North, ties into the broader problems of Altain and Iris.

Since it pertains to the Grand Dukedom, and it directly impacts the fall of Altain, assistance is necessary.

‘To face Sylvester someday, we need to unite.’

Absorb the South, and absorb the North.

Reuniting the forces that were originally one but split. This will strengthen the empire’s power.

“I am also part of the Empire. It’s inconceivable to remain idle while the Empire suffers. I am the Grand Duke of the Empire and the sword of Her Majesty the Empress. Thus, I intend to help you. That’s all. Just as my father did. Trust me, Lady Erica.”

“…”

As if making a final decision, Erica raised her head. The fierce resolve in her azure eyes. Slowly, she began to speak.

“Grand Duke Devallet… my sister is dying.”

Leios Devallet.

Symptoms identical to the late former head of the household.

The body’s functions seem to freeze, gradually stiffening, until the whole body stops, and she descends into an eternal sleep.

“An eternal sleep wasn’t the problem. But the issue arises next. While remaining asleep, the body starts to rot. That’s how it was—it took a year. Father left us that way. But… but it’s happening to my sister too. When I last saw her before leaving the castle, her eyes had already gone blind.”

As Erica continued her explanation, her gaze clouded over. Trying to suppress her tears, her shoulders shook, and Arthur quietly stroked her back.

“…Eternal sleep, indeed.”

Eternal sleep.

It was an extremely rare phenomenon. I happened to learn about it through an unintentional opportunity. There was a noble in the Imperial Palace experiencing similar symptoms.

“Barnel Schrantz.”

Alberto’s daughter.

She was in an eternal sleep.

This was one of the facts discovered when I assigned Alberto to conduct internal investigations.

However… my knowledge slightly differs from this.

The eternal sleep, as the name suggests, simply makes one unable to wake up. That was true for many known cases.

The body decaying in a year…

Such a thing does not occur.

“Yet, Grand Duke Leios passed away.”

Chin in hand, musing over this peculiar fact, I asked,

“It’s different from the typical eternal sleep.”

“Yes. Hence, we continued investigating. Fortunately, heaven was kind to us. I managed to find the cause through my abilities…”

“Is it the tree?”

“Yes. The rotten tree is the cause. Not the tree here, but the power of the tree beyond the Devalletta fortress.”

Beyond the frontlines, the rotten tree and Persua Devallet are in a state of forced connection.

Thus concluded Erica’s explanation.

‘The rotten tree and the forced connection.’

The Dark Cultists, are you at it again?

A sudden thought made me frown. The ones who never even showed their faces but loitered around since entering the North.