The World Tree is both the central pillar that supports this world and the source of all life.
If the World Tree falls, life will no longer be conceived in this world, and nothing new will ever be born again.
Within such a World Tree, a dragon has appeared for some unknown reason.
That dragon is now trapped inside the World Tree, and because of it, the World Tree has begun to wither away.
‘From the elves’ perspective, it must have felt like a bolt out of the blue.’
In truth, it wasn’t just a bolt of lightning, but more like a disaster that burned their entire house to the ground.
To all elves, the World Tree is like a mother.
Elves are not born from a mother’s womb in pain like humans; they are conceived at the roots of the World Tree.
They may look like humans and love like humans, but the fruit of that love connects with the roots of the World Tree, and a blossom bearing life blooms.
The World Tree provides nourishment to the seed borne of love.
Thus, the World Tree is nothing less than the first mother who raised the entire Elven Race.
And then, suddenly, some dragon barged right into that womb?
Worse still, because of this dragon, something is going wrong with the World Tree, the forest is dying, and that means the World Tree itself is dying.
And if the World Tree dies, it spells extinction for the elves.
‘But even the Elf King doesn’t seem to grasp the situation.’
Come to think of it, even the Five Little Dragons who came from the Heavenly Palace to search for the Thrall didn’t know how that creature managed to escape the Heavenly Palace.
‘To find the cause, I’ll have to start tracing it from the Heavenly Palace.’
But before that, I need to extract the dragon trapped inside the World Tree.
“This is the entrance to the World Tree.”
“Mmm.”
Following Ellesion’s guidance, I reached the entrance of the World Tree, and my vision began to swim slightly.
No doubt, this sensation would only get worse as I proceeded inside.
“I’m ready.”
“Let’s go.”
When Ellesion placed a hand on the World Tree’s base, the entrance opened like a curtain.
Just enough space was revealed for me to squeeze through, and a staircase appeared leading toward the core of the World Tree.
As I followed Ellesion inside, the distortion in my vision grew even stronger.
‘Don’t close your eyes.’
If I closed my eyes to avoid the dizziness, I would fall asleep instantly and lose consciousness.
To stave off the overwhelming vitality, I used the dagger I had prepared in advance to carve long wounds into my hands and arms.
And whenever I felt myself about to drift off, I drove it deep into my abdomen.
With the Hero’s regeneration and the abundant life force of the World Tree swirling around me, the wounds healed in seconds, so I didn’t hesitate.
The moment a wound healed, I stabbed the same spot again, awakening myself with pain—a cycle of endless stimulation.
“……You’re even tougher than I thought.”
Watching me from behind, Ellesion wore a look of horror.
But for me, that was less important than figuring out what questions I needed to ask the World Tree.
So I ignored his reactions.
How far had we walked in this state?
Soon, Ellesion spoke.
“This is the place where you can commune with the World Tree.”
I raised my head, trying to focus my wavering vision.
It was such a vast space that it was hard to believe we were inside the World Tree.
Then I drew the Holy Sword and set it on the ground.
From here on, I’d have to use my own power to communicate directly with the World Tree.
“I’d like the Elf King to make an Oath.”
“Oath?”
“No matter what I do from here, you must not interfere.”
“That’s a hard promise to make. What if you do something that harms the World Tree?”
“That will not happen. I swear it on my name. And there’s a reason I ask you not to interfere.”
The Elf King looked at me intently, then let out a sigh and nodded.
“Fine. I don’t know what you plan to do, but given the circumstances… Still, know this: if anything seems amiss, I’ll intervene immediately.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
With that, I sat down and calmly closed my eyes.
Though my vision was blocked, the waves of life force swirling around me were unbearably distracting.
To fight off the sleepiness that came crashing in, I stabbed my thigh with my dagger and regained my focus.
‘I didn’t think I’d be doing this again after obtaining the Holy Sword.’
Before I became a Hero.
That is, during the process of tempering my soul in the Holy Sword, I had once communicated with the World Tree.
Unlike other Heroes, I had to do this because I lacked the overwhelming life force needed to forge the Holy Sword.
Because of that, I chose to enter the core of the World Tree to forge my Holy Sword, and the Elf King had reluctantly permitted it.
And during that process, I’d gained the chance to commune with the World Tree.
‘But things are different now.’
Now, instead of lacking life force, I’m overflowing with it.
Because of that, my activity inside the World Tree is clearly limited.
I can’t use the same method I used back when I drew in the World Tree’s full life force to commune.
I slowly reached both hands toward the Holy Sword and envisioned the sun in my heart.
The blazing sun shone even behind my closed eyelids.
“God of the Sun, burn me.”
Whoosh!
At my prayer, divine fire rose from my body as the god’s blessing descended.
Yet, the fire would not ignite the World Tree.
After all, the World Tree is the child of the Creator who made this world.
No parent would harm their own child.
“……So, you’re a Hero contracted with the God of the Sun?”
I thought I heard the Elf King mutter something, but I needed to concentrate, so I let it pass.
My body was engulfed in burning pain.
Sounds from around me faded, and the agony wrapping my body made even opening my mouth difficult.
Yet, this flame, while burning me, did not block the life force of the World Tree from flooding in.
My body burned, healed instantly, and burned again, repeating over and over.
Fighting through the pain that seemed to tear my very mind apart, I finally managed to move my hand and seize a strand of the life force flowing in.
This life force, like a thread, served as a direct channel to the World Tree.
Grasping that strand, I reached for the Holy Sword lying on the ground and drove it through my opposite arm.
With the Holy Sword piercing the floor and my arm, the strand of life force from the World Tree connected deeply into me.
As vitality coursed through my body, I sensed the will of the World Tree.
[Warm……]
Communicating with the World Tree is truly mysterious.
It’s not like hearing a voice in my head, nor does it feel like someone is whispering in my ear.
It’s simply a gentle resonance in my heart that carries meaning—the will of the World Tree itself.
Aside from the Elf King, I alone could hear this voice, and I spoke aloud.
“Does the flame of the father feel warm to you?”
[…]
The will of the World Tree trembled in surprise.
[Can you hear my voice?]
“I hear it well. Very clearly.”
[Hah… Communication with Ellesion is blocked…]
“World Tree, I don’t have much time. Please give me only the information I need, quickly.”
[Very well. If you have come this far, you must have Ellesion’s permission. What is it you wish to know?]
“Why haven’t you expelled the dragon inside your womb? Because of that, the dragons nearly invaded the elves’ homeland.”
The World Tree answered simply.
[The reason is simple. If I expel this dragon, the Heavenly Palace will fall.]
At those words, I immediately realized the Thrall’s appearance inside the World Tree was no accident.
“Who put that dragon inside you?”
The World Tree’s will responded.
[The culprit is in the Heavenly Palace.]
That one sentence was enough.
“World Tree. Let’s make a deal.”
[Deal?]
“Yes. I’ll take the dragon with me. I promise on my honor it won’t separate the dragons and the Heavenly Palace with its own hands. If that promise is broken, do with me as you please. But in return…”
[You want me to expel the dragon myself, correct?]
“That’s right.”
The World Tree fell silent for a moment, saying nothing.
Was there still something troubling it?
I was about to offer reassurance when its will spoke again.
[One more Oath is required.]
“What is it?”
[Convince the dragons. They are on the verge of madness.]
“…What do you mean?”
[I cannot tell you more. But one thing is certain: once the one inside me emerges, nothing will stop the dragons from rampaging.]
Rampaging dragons?
I had no idea what this was all about.
But the World Tree would not say such things lightly, so something serious must be happening at the Heavenly Palace.
‘In any case, I’ll have to go to the Heavenly Palace if I want to resolve all this.’
That seems to be where everything began, so I’ll have to go and find out how this whole mess started.
“I promise. The dragons will not go berserk.”
[…The deal is made.]
Rumble!
As the World Tree’s will resonated, a loud sound erupted from within.
With the sound of bark splitting and cracking, something suddenly fell before me.
With one hand fastened to the Holy Sword, I managed to catch the falling body with my free hand.
My vision was still blurred, but it looked like a boy younger than myself, sleeping peacefully with his eyes closed.
As soon as I saw him, something else occurred to me, and I quickly spoke up.
“While I’m at it, I’d like one more favor.”
[What is it?]
“I want to be able to track the location of the Heavenly Palace. I can’t find it on my own.”
The Heavenly Palace is the dragons’ nest, floating through the skies.
Its location changes every time, so unless you’re a renowned Mage or recognized by a Throne Lord, you can’t even find its location, let alone get there.
As the inside of the World Tree shuddered, my vision cleared and a flood of information appeared before me.
[The Heavenly Palace is currently stationary above Vismark Snow Mountain. It will remain there for the next 300 years, so seek it there.]
“…It’s closer than I thought.”
The northern border of the Ellesion Great Forest.
The highest mountain in the snow-covered range.
There was nothing more to be gained, so I immediately withdrew the Holy Sword and spoke to the Elf King.
“I’m going to pass out now, so I’d appreciate it if you could drag me out.”
“What? H-hey!”
Watching the Elf King’s flustered expression, I passed out with satisfaction.
And when I opened my eyes—
“You’re awake already?”
I turned to the Elf King, who was sitting beside me, and asked quietly.
“How long was I out?”
“Not even ten minutes. You recovered as soon as we left the World Tree.”
“Mm. I couldn’t stay unconscious forever, after all.”
Looking around, I saw we hadn’t even made it home yet.
Turning my head to the side, I saw the boy lying beside me.
Black hair, skin pale as snow.
His slender, fragile appearance made him look more like a beautiful youth than a dragon.
“…Wasn’t he supposed to be unable to use magic?”
Why was there a dragon in human form?
To do that, he’d have to know Polymorph, the transformation magic.
‘Didn’t they say the Betrayer couldn’t use magic?’
So how did he manage it?
From start to finish, something about all this just didn’t add up.
“Mm…”
At that moment, the boy opened his eyes.
Just in case, I quietly prepared myself for combat.
The Storm Dragon King Thrall always looked ready to burn any human he saw to ashes on the spot.
And the moment our eyes met—
“Who… are you, big brother?”
The gentle question, far milder than I’d expected, left me momentarily stunned.
The Thrall I knew was—
‘Filthy humans.
‘There’s not a single thing about you I like. I can’t fathom why anyone would bother to protect such wretched creatures.’
‘Fools. You have no future. Only doom awaits you as salvation!’
‘Die! All of you, die! Hahahahaha!’
“Mmm. Mmm…”
As my expression grew grim, Thrall asked me,
“Um… Did I say something wrong?”
“No, that’s not it. It’s just… my own problem.”
The cognitive dissonance was hitting me too hard—I rubbed my temples.