She felt a biting cold and a tightening pain in her chest at the same time.
Lee Ye-Eun exhaled without realizing it, and felt the illusion that her breath was freezing.She had only taken one step, but her lips trembled and her teeth made a clashing sound as they collided.It's only one step now.
When she felt her hope was being cut into pieces, she felt something touching her cheek.Mandragora, hanging over her shoulder, was rubbing her cheek with his roots, as if to say hang in there.
"…… ."
"I, I'm okay."
Thank you for supporting me.Lee Ye-Eun muttered like that, and took another step.She instinctively knew that if she fell, she would never come back to her mind.Behind her, she heard a freaked-out Svengali shout."What, are you crazy now!? Come back right now! If you do it wrong, you will really die!"
Svengali's urgency was no lie.Yoo Ji-Hyuk's death would be quite regrettable, but in Lee Ye-Eun's case, the story is different.
And not even in his body, but in Yoo Ji-Hyuk's memory?It was something he had to stop.He clanked his beak roughly at the thought that the whole plan might go down the drain.
"It is not too late now! Hurry!"
Lee Ye-Eun ignored his words.She just clenched her teeth and moved forward, one step at a time.
"… Yo, you and I are so much alike."
Lee Ye-Eun muttered as she made her way through the calm waters.She really had a lot in common with him.The fact that they are cowards who just wait or run away, hoping that the situation will not change.The fact that they regretted endlessly, saying that it was just their fault in the reality that they could not resist.The fact that they just felt sorry for the existence of their younger sibling.The fact that they had no one around them whom they could trust.The fact that they were afraid and wary of people's favor.And the fact that they were unknowingly shaken by a relationship that they had never experienced before.Maybe that's why she felt more affection for him.
"I, I, too, always ran away… I, too… ."
She muttered.She almost lost consciousness for a moment, but thanks to Mandragora, who slapped her on the cheek as if to wake her up, she barely managed to open her eyes.
Fifty steps now.She could see his face.
"…… ."
For a moment she resented him.She thought he had deceived her and betrayed her like anyone else.But she knew better herself that was not the case.
She knew it even better because he was just like her.He was just afraid.Just like me, like me when I was young.
She now knows better than anyone that she should no longer just run away.That's why she wanted to tell him, too.
"haa, haa… ."
Thirty steps now.She can see his surroundings swaying.The shape of the mind may have changed, but the weight of it remains the same.The time she spent with him was definitely enjoyable and priceless.For the first time, she could treat him not under the name of the next head of the clan, but only under the name of Lee Ye-Eun.That alone was definitely a salvation for her.She must have been getting help from him before she even knew it.
"…! ……!!!"
Ten steps now.Mandragora freaked out and began to throw something at the stream that was trying to submerge Lee Ye-Eun's body, as if resisting it.The streams moved as if they had a will.Each and every one of them that began to cling to her whole body was cold and damp.
"Now."
Five steps.Four.Three.Two.
"I'll."
One last one.
"Help you."
Whispering like that, Lee Ye-Eun fell forward as if hugging Yoo Ji-Hyuk.She didn't budge, even though she felt the streams of water restraining her ankles and feet tightly to keep her from moving.Lee Ye-Eun hugged his head and whispered quietly to his ear.
"Listen to my voice.""…… ."
He was silent.Lee Ye-Eun didn't care and whispered to him.Mandragora, who was right next to her, did not try to run away even though the stream was gradually approaching him.He was just staring at him.
"I am calling you now. Hear my heartbeat, listen to my voice. I am by your side."
Just like I am, you also have other people by your side who will save you.And as it is for people like us, it will be enough for you.Because you're strong.
"So listen to me. Raise your head already and look at me."
A stream of water wrapped around her neck.Even though she was strangled, Lee Ye-Eun clenched her teeth and tried her best to hold on somehow.
"……!!!"
"Ah!"
Meanwhile, Mandragora suddenly flew into the sky.
The guy who jumped up from Lee Ye-Eun's shoulder and climbed onto Yoo Ji-Hyuk's head began to rip off his hair as if telling him to stop already and get a grip.
In an instant, the pressure of the stream weakened.Without even catching her breath, Lee Ye-Eun spat out the last words she had kept in mind for him.
"Even though the people who are precious to you aren't here, the people who cherish you are here. So… ."Lee Ye-Eun laughed softly.It was such a relieved laugh that she wondered how long it had been since she laughed like this.
"Stop being such a baby and get up. Sister is really tired now."
"…… ."
He carefully opened her eyes.And when their eyes met, the two of them closed their eyes at the same time, regardless of who was first.It was a really terrible moment.Despite the fact that they had closed their eyes, the other shone so brightly.
[A new branch of the World Tree reveals itself to the world.]
[Your branch of the World Tree attempts to communicate with the other branch of the World Tree.]
[Your branch of the World Tree and the other branch of the World Tree share their power and their properties get mixed up.]
[The being who did not tolerate you finally forgives your sins and acknowledges your existence… .]
[You feel the blessings of a giant being descending on your back.]
[Karma value has decreased by 5.]* * *
"…… ."
The man who had been lying on the ground began to get up, his body shaking.Tears were constantly streaming from both of his eyes.
The pain and loss instantly brought back all the memories he wanted to forget.And it was for the reason that one by one his shameful parts were revealed to others.
"You, son of a b*tch… ."
He exhaled and gritted his teeth.A branch of the World Tree revealed itself as it flowed out from his right arm.
"Uu, uuh… ."
Lee Ye-Eun, who was lying behind him, groaned as if in pain.From her left arm, a thinner and more delicate branch of the World Tree flowed out.Two branches are intertwined to form one.
And they took root, and gradually began to make the surroundings their territory.Svengali who finally woke up at the absurd sight of his body being made into their own territory, shuddered in surprise and fear.
They were like cancer cells.Not the kind that could advance my plans, but the kind that could eat away at my very existence.Svengali thought so.
"I, will, really… ."
Kill you.At the sight of him sobbing and letting out his emotions, Svengali twisted his body in surprise.
It was an instinctive act to get them out of his own body.* * *
― Euuh, uhuhuhuh… .
The fire giant let out a feeble breath.Ahn Joo-Hyuk was looking at it with sharp eyes as it gradually disappeared as if burning.He was clutching the giant's neck, ignoring the burning of his right side.Nam Hyun-Hwa, who was watching that, carefully put the sword into the scabbard and muttered."I don't think you need to hold it anymore. Aren't you hurt?"
"It's worth enduring."
Ahn Joo-Hyuk shrugged his shoulders and lifted the giant in his hand once.The fire giant, whose limbs were cut off by Nam Hyun-Hwa, moved helplessly according to his gesture.
"Thanks to you."
Ahn Joo-Hyuk glared at the giant with his intact left eye.
"It might suddenly rush toward the citizen as it had done when I thought it was dead, so I can't just let it go."
"Then I won't stop yo… ahem, ahem. You."
Nam Hyun-Hwa, noticing that her tone had returned for a moment, coughed and looked around.Fortunately, the situation seemed to have settled down to some extent.
"Tsk."
Before long, the fire giant returned to its original form.Ahn Joo-Hyuk carefully laid down the burnt-out human body.Na Il-Jun, the child whose face and name he remembered, he never expected this to happen at all.Feeling bitter for no reason, Ahn Joo-Hyuk brushed off his ashen clothes.Unlike normal wounds, it seemed that it would take a while for all to heal."Uncle."
"Oh, Do-Hoon. Are you done clearing the surroundings?"
Ahn Joo-Hyuk, who laughed in an audible voice, hardened his expression for a moment in surprise.He must be looking very ugly now.However, contrary to his worries, Ahn Do-Hoon looked him straight in the face without any reaction.
"… Is your right eye okay? Are you having trouble focusing?"
"Oh, my vision is blurry. It'll get better in a little while."
Ahn Joo-Hyuk smiled at his question as he noticed something was wrong with his eyes.He couldn't help but smile at his nephew's concern, which he hadn't received in a long time.
"You know what, even if my limbs are cut off, I'll heal with time. I'm so glad your handsome face didn't get hurt like this."
"What are you saying now?"Ahn Do-Hoon muttered as if asking, are you talking nonsense even in this situation?He had a large lance in his hand.
"…… ."
I guess he still doesn't intend to raise the flag.Ahn Joo-Hyuk thought so and looked around.
Fire giant, Thorns Cross Society members, and monsters that he doesn't know why the hell they are here.Despite the sudden attack, they were able to defeat them without much damage.And, of course, the top contributors were the students who attended with Yoo Ji-Hyuk.Those five moved as if they were one body, effectively subduing enemies and protecting people.Their appearance was that of heroes who were worthy of praise.
‘They're young, but they're amazing.'
If possible, I want to take them all to my guild... .Ahn Joo-Hyuk made a pained sound and patted his back.Then he examined the dead monster's body under his feet and immediately concluded.
"Suggestion… ? No, this level of suggestion is almost at the level of brainwashing... ."
He drooped at the ominous sight of something like tree trunks sticking out of its eyes and ears.It would be harder than I imagined.
"What's the situation?"
He started receiving reports of the current situation through the radio from his guild members.The detailed information has probably been grasped by the World Tree clan, but it was impossible to demand it from them in the tense situation where the current head has disappeared.
― The fire is almost under control. We are in the process of putting out the fire, just in case.
― We have also completed the suppression of the Thorns Cross Society members and monsters that invaded the streets where we were on. We are currently moving to save lives and provide support.
― Currently engaged in battle! Anyone who has any hands left, come volunteer! The coordinates here are...!
"The situation is not bad, but… ."
Ahn Joo-Hyuk felt some unknown anxiety and repeatedly urged his guild members not to never let their guard down and move in connection with their surroundings.And thinking that he should first go to support those who seem to be in danger, he turned her head to ask the woman with whom he had just teamed up.She, who had such a strong power that he wondered how he had never heard her name before, was now caught by Han Soo-Young and Choi Hyun-Woo, showing embarrassment.
"Um, excuse me, but do you know our Master?"
"I don't know what you mean… ."
"Her name is Nam Hyun-Hwa… You really don't know? Ah. Sorry. I'm Choi Hyun-Woo. This is Han Soo-Young. May I know your name, if you don't mind?"
"I, I'm Hyun-Ah, but… And I'm sorry. I don't remember."
"Oh, is that so? I'm sorry. The figure you showed us before is so similar to our master...… that we made a mistake without realizing it."
At Choi Hyun-Woo's apology, Nam Hyun-Hwa waved her hand as if to say, it's okay.Then he coughed and looked at them, pretending not to know.
"It's, it's okay. Umm, more than that... It looks like you respect Master a lot?""Yes. Of course."
Choi Hyun-Woo answered without hesitation, and Han Soo-Young nodded immediately.Nam Hyun-Hwa had to work tirelessly to catch the corner of her lips that were about to go up without realizing it.
"Ahem, ahem."
Coughing, she turned away, afraid that she would be caught.Ahn Joo-Hyuk approached her, picking up a piece of cloth that had fallen on the floor and covering his wound.
"Um, excuse me."
"Ah yes. What's going on?"
As Ahn Joo-Hyuk approached, she looked at him with a casual look, as if asking, when did I look disheveled?
"It's just that the situation hasn't been sorted out yet. If you don't mind, can I ask you to accompany me?"
To his polite request, Nam Hyun-Hwa answered as if saying, don't worry.
"It is natural for a person with a sword to save people in danger. Of course, I will help."
"I really appreciate your help. Then… ."
The two turned their heads almost at the same time.Han Soo-Young, Choi Hyun-Woo, and others also looked there.
"That's… ."Something was growing rapidly in the distance.It was something in the shape of a large tree, like a young World Tree.
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