Chapter 72 – The Great Existence (2)
It has already been thousands of years since the last leaf of the World Tree fell. The traces of that ancient past, for which no proper records remain, are now about to be connected once again.
The seed of the World Tree, which had sealed itself for a long time, realized that it had regained its qualification. There were High Elves who could listen to its words and special waters that helped it recover its strength.
With the conditions met, there was no reason not to sprout. Although the earth spirit that would care for it seemed a bit naive due to its immaturity… anyway, the World Tree once again began to sprout.
“Is this possible! A sprout has emerged!”
The Elves gasped at the sight. The sprout formed by the World Tree was merely a cotyledon, but its size was as big as a person.
The Elves, who gathered in droves at the sight of the World Tree sprouting overnight, all admired and cheered.
“… Does this mean more time is still needed?”
Only Iriliana, who could approach the World Tree, knelt down and offered what the World Tree desired.
As it was still just a sprout, the World Tree needed to grow to at least the seedling stage to properly wield its power. Even as a seedling, its size would surpass that of ordinary trees, but it wouldn’t take long.
Now that the World Tree had taken root, all the natural forces in the area could be controlled by it.
“Are we truly not required to do anything?”
“Yes. Don’t interfere unnecessarily; just let it grow well on its own. Once it has grown to a certain extent, it should be able to protect itself.”
Growing the World Tree didn’t require as much effort as expected. Although the Elves were taken aback by Iriliana’s words to simply leave it alone, they could not go against her will.
‘There’s no need to stay by its side all the time.’
She too decided not to interfere until the World Tree could take care of itself to some extent.
Instead, she left with only Arisa, who could be considered one of her close aides, leaving the joyful Elves behind.
“I’ve finished my work in the Elf city. Once the World Tree grows to a certain extent, it will gain the ability to prevent erosion or purify.”
“Are you really planning to leave?”
“Yes. I just can’t seem to finish my tasks.”
She had come to inform about erosion and to prevent it. In the process, she saved the Elves and even revived the World Tree.
However, Iriliana still had things left to do. She needed to find a new spirit and to do that, she had to visit the order, and to go to the order, she needed to find the Saintess.
It seemed like new tasks kept piling up as if murmuring to herself.
“I have already obtained permission from the elder. I will repay the grace and assistance that the High Elves have given to our clan with everything I have.”
The warrior Arisa swore loyalty before her, resolutely stating she would assist to the end. Though Iriliana hadn’t planned anything grand, she was impressed by that determination and did not refuse.
After all, at this stage, assistance was needed.
“Let’s return to the human city. I need to hear news from the comrades we sent there first.”
Iriliana decided to leave the Elf city that day. Staying there would only mean not receiving updates from Ethan, and she still wasn’t accustomed to the Elves’ “authentic diet.”
*
“Find a girl who shows a special reaction upon contact with the contaminated relic. Honestly, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack.”
“Yes, Iriliana insisted we must find her.”
“I know. I have no clue how, but she isn’t someone who makes baseless claims.”
While Iriliana was planting the World Tree with Arisa, Rina and Lila, who returned with the remaining party on the Leap Pillar, arrived back at Ethan’s mansion.
They informed Ethan of Iriliana’s instructions.
Ethan, who had been busy managing and expanding the business since his promotion to captain, let out a wry smile upon receiving the order.
“But if it’s truly possible to find the real Saintess with that method, such special powers would have already spread rumors. We can’t just carry the relic around and test each girl one by one.”
“That’s…”
When Ethan brought up the realistic aspect, Rina and Lila had nothing to retort. It was definitely a challenging condition to meet.
Unless they took the initiative, of course. However, to identify the true Saintess with purifying powers compared to a simple recovery-type ability user, one would need to have contact with contaminated relics, which were by no means common items.
“We need to find a way, somehow.”
In the brief silence, Ethan muttered absentmindedly.
He had never failed a request from Iriliana thus far. Therefore, no one knew what would happen if he did.
It wasn’t likely that she would become angry and ruin her beautiful face, but instinctively, there was a pressing need to succeed.
Ethan couldn’t bring himself to admit that he had already been conditioned to this.
“Let’s just make the rumors known!”
At that moment, Lila came up with an idea. Everyone’s eyes turned to her.
“The power of the true Saintess, the power of the ‘Pharma.’ I’ve never heard of it, but if what Iriliana said is true, we can easily confirm it, right? We just let the girls voluntarily come and touch the relic.”
“Are you suggesting we spread that rumor? That we would reward anyone who has the ability to purify contaminated relics with gold?”
Ethan’s eyes lit up upon hearing Lila’s audacious proposal. It felt like they were on the verge of discovering a clue.
As usual, Iriliana preferred handling things discreetly, but as Lila said, the qualities of a “true Saintess” were not publicly known.
In reality, those recognized as Saintesses were individuals born with recovery powers, and like Lila and Rina before they learned the truth from Iriliana, most people thought this way.
Even if they openly sought candidates, it would not be known that it was a search for the Saintess.
“Coincidentally, the organization has a number of contaminated relics piled up, and there are communication networks planted throughout the continent.”
For Ethan, who was making a fortune disposing of relics through Iriliana, relics from the Mythical Era had become familiar and approachable.
He had no hesitance in planning to utilize that, knowing well that they could be bought and sold for a high price.
“Alright. Let’s push ahead. I’ll deploy members and informants in dozens of cities where the Leap Pillar is set up to begin with. If we can’t find them in those cities, we can check nearby towns or smaller villages.”
Ethan immediately called for his loyal subordinates. With just one command, his words could spread to countless locations through the organization.
This was the power of the organization, which Ethan had always desired.
“Let’s do it here in Su’an as well. You all take charge of that. I’ll give you one contaminated relic, so take Patrick with you and explain. Since it’s her task, she won’t refuse, right?”
“Of course.”
Additionally, Ethan instructed both Lila and Rina to search for Saintess candidates in this city.
Strictly speaking, neither of them was his subordinate, but they couldn’t refuse that proposal. After all, it was based on Iriliana’s instructions.
“I’ll head to Patrick.”
Rina conveyed this to Patrick, who was resting at his house. As for Patrick, he had no choice in the matter, as he too was oblivious to who Ethan was.
“While there’s nothing wrong with your words, drawing attention isn’t necessarily a good thing.”
“I think we have to take that risk.”
“Well, we are adventurers who will do anything as long as we get paid, so it doesn’t matter. The bigger problem is how you two are dressed.”
Hearing this, Patrick sighed and looked back and forth at Lila and Rina. At the mention of their attire, they looked down at their own bodies.
The maid dresses that had become so familiar were fluttering in the air. This was true for Rina, and even Lila, who had grown up as a wealthy daughter.
“You two are supposed to be following that woman. But Iriliana also wears a mask and dresses in such attire when she goes out. What do you think others will think of me, walking around with three women like that!?”
After all, Patrick had already become the envy of many by succeeding as an adventurer after seven failures, surrounded by women, even to those who knew that Rina had disguised herself as an adventurer.
“Is it really that big of a deal?”
“… Let’s just carry on with what we were doing.”
Of course, saying this was an incomprehensible issue to others.
Sighing, Patrick held the item Lila had brought.
The fist-sized item was covered in a black aura akin to a barrier, making it impossible to discern what it was other than its shape.
“When it comes to spreading rumors, there’s no one better than the loose-lipped adventurers. You all just stay put. Once the crowd gathers, let them all touch the relic.”
With an instinct to fulfill the assigned task, Patrick immediately started working on what he had to do.
The city’s residents passing by on the street watched their actions with curiosity as they moved along.
