Chapter 1138 — Book 2: Chapter 335: Me? (6)
14 min read ·
Pssss—
The flower petals on the World Tree were shaking.
“…Grand Elder-nim. What is happening right now?”
Elza was the only Inquisitors to make a switch and stand on Cale’s side.
This Elf, as one who used to follow Axion at one point as well, cautiously asked her Grand Elder.
However, her gaze was directed only at the man who was relaxed as he sat down and leaned back against the World Tree and the World Tree itself.
‘Cale Henituse-’
Who would dare to lean so relaxed against the World Tree like this?
“I'm not sure-”
The Grand Elder responded after a while.
Elza turned toward him.
It was not just her.
The World Tree that had regained its sanity…
No, they had learned that the World Tree had been through an arduous battle this whole time to protect the world.
Furthermore, the foundation of this world was slowly regaining its powers.
As soon as they learned about those two existences, the Elves that had gotten away from the suppression of the Dragons had gathered here.
Of course, this did not include the Inquisitors who had bowed their heads to the Dragons.
The Elves who were near the World Tree alongside the Grand Elder were all ones with high positions or fame in the Elven society.
The Grand Elder opened his mouth.
“Our question…do you think an answer is important for such a trivial question?”
The Elves closed their mouths.
The Grand Elder watched the World Tree and Cale in the silence.
Shaaaaaaaaaa-
A breeze blew by.
Flower petals fluttered.
Cale Henituse's red hair fluttered with the wind as he relaxedly leaned against the tree.
It looked so peaceful and beautiful.
The sun shining down on them was floating in the clear sky…
The ground supporting them was full of fresh greens and warmth.
Cale Henituse was the person responsible for creating all of this.
“I'm sure those revered beings are having conversations we can't even fathom.”
The World Tree and Cale Henituse…
As well as the foundation of this world that would be in that domain with them…
“The world has returned.”
The air they were breathing had changed.
The Elves, who had been alive before the cataclysmic period, could clearly feel the peace that this single breath of air brought them.
“Nonetheless, our enemies have not disappeared.”
The Hunters.
The Elves had learned about the Hunters.
They had also learned about the gods cooperating with those Hunters.
“The weight of their conversation is probably something we can’t even handle.”
Stories that surpassed worlds and gods.
The Grand Elder felt suffocated, just trying to imagine the sort of conversation the foundation of this world, Cale, and the World Tree would be having.
However, facing the world that had returned to normal, he could feel that the weight was something that they had to handle.
"That is why, rather than having questions, I believe it is time for us to trust and follow.”
He lifted his head up.
Shhhh—
One of the shaking flower petals on the World Tree fell and flew away with the wind.
The flower petal seemed to have no limits as it flew through the sky.
“The answers to all of our questions…isn’t it answered by the place we are standing at and the air that we are breathing?”
The Elves showed their agreement with silence.
They had seen the results, so it was now time to believe.
“I heard that this fight was not yet over.”
The Grand Elder calmly continued.
“If a time comes when they need our help, what should we do?”
Elza answered him.
"We must pay them back for their benevolence.”
“Yes. That’s it. The question we should have is not what these esteemed beings are doing. It should be what we can do from here on; what we should do. Those are the more important questions for us.”
All of the Elves bowed their heads and agreed with the wise words of the Grand Elder that came from his years of experience.
The cataclysmic period.
The Elves who had become Inquisitors or chose to serve the Dragons as their subordinates had survived, but…
The Elves who chose not to do so had barely managed to continue their lives.
To them, this moment was ever so precious. They needed to grow the race again and protect this world and the World Tree.
In order to do that, they needed to move for this world and fight against the enemies that had aimed for this world as well as the enemies that would continue to aim for this world.
Shaaaaaaaaaa-
A gentle breeze brushed past him.
Pssss—
Flower petals shook as if in response.
Everybody looked at the flower petals, the World Tree, and Cale with serious gazes.
Cale, who had stepped into the World Tree's domain, was speaking seriously.
“Hey you.”
He looked extremely stoic.
He showed no openings at all.
“Are you going to make me repeat myself?”
He continued in an extremely relaxed but emotionless tone.
“Time for the reward. Hmm?”
Gulp.
The young boy under the flower tree gulped.
A young girl with long flowing hair was hiding behind him while slightly shaking.
“Hey you.”
Cale started to scowl.
“People are going to think I’m threatening you or something. What? Do you really want me to threaten you?”
The foundation of this world, who had been hiding behind the young boy, shouted.
“No, sir! Don’t threaten us!”
She then slowly avoided Cale’s gaze.
Cale scowled.
“Hey. You both need to think about it.”
Gulp.
Both of the children gulped.
“I really almost died. You know that, right?”
“……!”
“!!”
The two kids flinched at Cale’s words.
The corners of Cale’s lips twisted up as he watched them.
“But you are going to wipe the slate clean like nothing happened?”
Of course, the aura of life the foundation of this world had shared with Cale had been quite helpful when his plate broke.
Cale would not have gained the power to consume his plate and survive if he did not have that.
But that was that and…
Cale needed to receive the things he deserved.
"Shouldn’t you give me the things you should give me?”
As those casual words came out of his mouth…
“Soooooooooooob-!”
She was crying.
The foundation of this world started to cry.
Plop!
She plopped down on the ground and started to cry.
“I’m sooooooorry—!”
The young boy calmly spoke as well. He touched his bruised wrists that showed the signs of the chains that used to bind him down and bowed his head.
“I'm sorry.”
‘What the? These guys-’
Cale’s face subconsciously turned serious at the two of their responses.
– No way-
The cheapskate seemed anxious.
Cale felt the same way.
– Cale!
The cheapskate spoke urgently.
– What if these guys don’t have anything to reward you with?
‘I know, right?
Is that really the case?
Isn’t this obviously that kind of reaction?
Now that I think about it…’
Cale recalled that the condition the foundation of this world offered him for acting as an air purifier was to ‘make his plate stronger.’
Of course, she said that she would reward him, but they had not discussed that in detail.
‘Did she give that as the condition because she had nothing to give?’
The Super Rock despondently mumbled.
– Cale, if you really think about it, what would they really have? One survived while having her energy sucked out while the other was chained down to the point he almost went crazy. What would these kids have to give us?
‘…I guess so?
Now that I think about it, that is true?’
– Plus, you don't even have anything for them to do for you.
That was right.
This was also true.
“Ha-”
He felt his strength leaving his body.
Cale just plopped down on the grass.
He couldn't receive a magic stones mine as well as many other mines as he received from Xiaolen.
He couldn’t receive the numerous elixirs he had received from Central Plains.
After all that effort and suffering… the only thing he could get was his plate turning into dust and residing in his heart?
“My goodness.”
A despondent voice flowed out of Cale’s mouth.
– …Cale.
The cheapskate teared up as he pitifully called out to Cale.
But Cale didn't even have the strength to answer him.
The children’s pupils started to shake after seeing Cale like this.
Dragon Lord Neo.
This angel had not had such a look on his face even when he went up to face the bastard who tried to destroy Aipotu.
He had not been shaken even when his plate broke because he held onto a strand of hope.
But such a person was now blanking out.
“Soooooooooooob—!”
The foundation of this world couldn’t help but cry.
“I'm sorry!”
She really was sorry.
“Seriously, no matter how much we think about it, there's no way to match the reward to meet everything you have done, sir-”
‘Seriously, no matter how much I thought about it…
No matter how much I discussed it with the World Tree…’
“A, all we can do for you is to give you some magic stones mines, artifacts, treasures-”
Cale flinched.
The girl didn't care and continued to speak.
Her voice sounded extremely apologetic.
“All we can offer are materialistic things such as the locations of the lairs of the dead Dragons and their treasures!”
Pat pat.
The young boy consoled her.
He opened his mouth with a calm look on his face.
“…But there is no way those things would be at the same value as your life. Furthermore, it cannot compare to the peace we have gained.”
The World Tree and the foundation of this world knew it.
The Dragon half-blood.
They knew of the sacrifice made by one of Cale’s friends and the fact that he was still ‘alive’ but not whole.
How could we console people who have faced such pain?
What kind of reward would heal the scars in their hearts?
It was impossible.
“No matter what we reward you, nothing will be at the same level as the things you have given us. I'm sorry.”
"Sooooob- angel-nim, I'm sorryyyyyyy-”
The two children were unable to hide their apologetic feelings.
It was at that moment.
– Wow.
The Super Rock commented.
– Maybe they are the angels?
And…
“?”
“!”
Two hands were gently placed on the young boy and girl's shoulders.
They looked up to see a smiling Cale.
“It’s plenty.”
“Huh?”
“Sniff, excuse me?”
Pat. Pat. Cale patted their shoulders with a benevolent smile on his face.
“I had full trust in the two of you. But I had fallen into a stupor of disappointment, thinking that you two had betrayed my trust and were not going to give me anything at all.”
“Ah-”
“But I want you to know that you both showing me your highest level of sincerity is enough to fill my heart. I mean that.”
The young girl asked in a teary voice.
“I, is that really enough for your reward?”
“Of course.”
Cale wiped the tears from her eyes.
He then smiled brightly.
“The greatest level of sincerity you are able to show. That is enough for me. I'm sure my friends will understand as well.”
‘Oh my goodness.’
Cale started to think.
‘These are kids who know what’s what!’
The cheapskate's voice echoed in his mind.
– Kahahaha! Mines! Money! Treasures! And what else? The location of the Dragon lairs? How much money must be in there- kahahahahaha–
The young boy bit down on his lips before finally opening his mouth to speak.
“Thank you. If that is enough to reward you, the foundation of this world and I will do our best.”
“Yes. Yes.”
Cale patted the young boy's head with a satisfied look on his face.
‘Man, these really are decent kids.
I guess that's how they were able to survive two hundred years of pain and difficulty to protect Aipotu from Neo.
‘They were taught good fundamentals.’
The young boy continued as Cale smiled with satisfaction.
“Plus, I heard about your situation. You need to fight in that New World now, right?”
“That’s true. That’s true.”
The now happy Cale agreed without any hesitation.
The young boy continued with a preoccupied look on his face.
“You are going to set up a base there and draw allies in?”
“Yeah. Yeah.”
“Umm, that world, well, the existence that is like the foundation-nim of that place, I heard that she wants to help you but it is difficult because of the Transparent Bloods. Oh, Axion was the one who told us.”
“Correct.”
Cale happily agreed.
The AI created by the system wanted to help, but it had to avoid the eyes of the Transparent Bloods. There were limits to what the AI could do.
“In that case…”
The young boy hesitated for a bit before cautiously asking.
"The seed of the World Tree you possess. Why don't you plant it there?”
“Hmm?”
Cale flinched.
He looked toward the boy.
He could see the boy's sparkling eyes.
“I don’t know if that world has a World Tree as well, but… Originally, a World Tree is an existence that views the flow of the world. Wouldn't it be good to use the World Tree to communicate with that system thing?”
‘This little guy.’
"Furthermore, if the Elves and Elementals of our world are to help you over there, it would be better for a World Tree to be there.”
‘He’s quite smart.’
Cale smiled as he spoke.
"That is a great idea.”
The Third Evil, the Hell of Darkness.
That place was not suitable for a World Tree to grow, but…
The Seventh Evil, the Time Hell…
‘What if we plant the World Tree in a new field being added to that beautiful fairytale-like world?
And if we were to build our base in a World Tree?
“Hahaha-”
Cale could not help but laugh.
‘This sounds like it will be very fun!
The greatest of all evils, a World Tree there…
I like it.’
“That is a great suggestion.”
Cale patted the boy and girl’s heads until he was satisfied before he said anything else.
“So, where did you say the lairs of the dead Dragons are?”
Smile.
The Super Rock commented after seeing the smile on Cale's face.
– Raon would ask if you were going to loot somewhere if he saw your face right now.
That hypothesis was correct.
That night…
Less than two days before they would head to the Demon World…
“The Heinous Dark Bear said he would protect Eden Miru! He should be safe because Choi Han is there too!”
Raon puffed up his chubby tummy as he spoke solemnly.
“Meeeeeow!”
“Meeow!”
On and Hong looked just as solemn next to him.
The children averaging ten-years-old. They were all looking at Cale’s hand.
“Human, is that it?”
“Yeah, this is it.”
Cale shook the map in his hand.
‘This tells me the location of the Dragon lairs and the treasures.’
The location the World Tree and the foundation of this world told him about…
Not only did it have the dead enemy Dragon lairs, it also told Cale where the living enemy Dragons were located.
Furthermore, it even had the locations of the lairs of the Dragons that had died from Neo and the enemies.
‘They really are all on this map!’
Supposedly, the Elementals had told the World Tree about this information.
Maybe the Elementals were the Dragons way of getting revenge.
The living enemy Dragons of Aipotu were currently locked up and being interrogated.
“Hehe-”
So before they found out-
“We will loot all these plates tonight.”
Gulp.
Cale confidently spoke while looking at the gulping children averaging ten-years-old.
“The allies have approved of us doing this.”
The humans, the other races…
Did they have the ability to reward Cale’s group?
Because of that, they told Cale to at least take these.
Of course, they didn't know about the mines, treasures, and other things that the foundation of this world was secretly telling Cale about.
‘The important thing is that everybody has allowed it!’
The Black Castle.
Cale needed to pack quite a bit as numerous people had come and struggled with him.
“Hehe-”
Cale laughed and the children averaging ten-years-old laughed as well.
As for one person who was looking at them…
“You said you wanted to chat but it looks like we are doing something fun?”
Cale had pulled someone in to take Choi Han’s role.
“Kim Hae-il, you truly are a funny guy.”
The Heavenly Demon.
He was gasping in disbelief but still entertained.
The Heavenly Demon.
The center of the Demon.
The sky of the Demon.
An existence who was already basically a god to his followers was about to loot some Dragon lairs.
“I am indeed a bit funny. Hehe. Plus, you don’t have anything to do these days anyway.”
Cale handed a black outfit to the amused Heavenly Demon.
“Put this on.”
“…….”
The Heavenly Demon stopped talking for a bit before accepting the outfit.
—
Translator's Comments
The Heavenly Demon is fully integrated now that he has become a part of the R.E.A.L. A.R.M. TCF is currently posted Mondays and Fridays at evening time GMT. Join our discord to be notified as soon as the chapter posts!