## Chapter 1154 – Confrontation

I need to seriously think about this on the way home.

Excluding Kadia, my other women don’t really have any special thoughts about religion. Even Cloudi said Helkan isn’t important anymore, so Kadia is the only believer.

Since it’s about my women, I need to make a proper decision.

“…”

But… the fact that a god is fragmented is still amazing.

I briefly thought about the strength of paladins. If paladins can exert such power even with a god in that state, how strong would they have been in the distant ancient times when the gods existed in perfect condition?

Probably incredible.

Yeah.

There was no end to strength. Those gigantic beings. If they were in perfect condition, they would probably be unbelievably overpowered ancient hyper-gangsters. I wouldn’t even be a match for them now.

But those things definitely existed.

“Then.”

It’s not fiction.

If it’s not fiction.

ㅡI can reach that place.

No.

Beyond being able to reach it.
I can surpass it.

ㅡThump, thump.

My heart started beating fast. It was a shocking event, but my great mental strength accepted it as an opportunity to transcend limitations.

I saw a god.

“Then, damn it.”

I confirmed that it exists.

“I can become a god too.”

Then there’s no reason why I can’t become a god.

Acknowledged.

I feel incredibly refreshed.
Good.

Let’s set a simple goal for now.

ㅡBecome more overpowered than a god.

That’s my goal from today.

“Good.”

Anyway, it’s clear that various dimensional rifts are opening. The World Tree guessed that the Lich was looking for a god, but that’s just speculation.

Right now, searching for the Lich and finding the power of that god that the World Tree told me about are what I should focus on.

That’s what I was thinking when it happened.

ㅡGush.

“Gush?”

I heard the sound of something liquid pouring from above. I quickly braced myself and looked up, using my superhuman vision to trace the source of the sound.

“Oh.”

Like water falling from a water purifier.

ㅡGush!

Some kind of transparent liquid poured down from above.

“Ah.”

I stood still, receiving the falling `sap` on my head and shoulders. The sap that hit my body bounced off, wetting the floor and walls.

Come to think of it, the World Tree said it would give me sap.

“Is this how you give it to me?”

Couldn’t you give it to me a little more politely?

Anyway, roughly looking at it, the amount of sap that fell seemed to be about 1 liter.

At that moment.

I could feel a strange energy in the middle of the scattered sap… This is the power of the World Tree. It’s almost like an elixir that you can take.

Should I collect it for now?

But how do I store all this?
Should I ask Shahran to bring me a bottle or something?

ㅡSlither, slither.

That’s what I was thinking when.

“Ooh.”

The scattered sap started moving on its own and gathering in one place. The gathered sap formed a crystal about the size of a 1-liter bottle.

“Is it giving it to me like this to make it easier to store?”

Well, the World Tree could do something like this casually.

I immediately grabbed the crystal.

ㅡ…

What I felt from the crystal was an extremely clear energy. I don’t know exactly, but I don’t think the World Tree would give me something useless. If I take it home and show it to Risha, she’ll do something with it. I’m sure I can take it like a good elixir.

I have no doubt about that.

Then let’s go out now.

I immediately went to the door and reached out my hand.

ㅡRumble, rumble.

Then the door opened automatically, and the light from outside streamed in.

Finally, I’m leaving.

“Ah…!”

Shahran, who had been sitting, jumped up and approached me.

“D, did anything happen? I felt a rather ominous energy…”

Ominous energy?

That’s a bit strange.

For Shahran, who is more familiar with the World Tree than anyone else, to say that means that something unusual must have been observed.

“How long was I inside?”
“A little less than an hour.”

Time flowed as I perceived it.

“Anyway! Did anything happen…? Ah! What on earth is that you’re holding?”

Shahran pointed at my hand and was horrified.

“This?”

It’s a World Tree sap crystal.
This seems like it would be a treasure to the elves.

For example, let’s say there’s a cult that worships a goddess. If that goddess personally descended and gave them breast milk as a reward, everyone would consider it a treasure.

“World Tree sap crystal.”

Anyway, when I held it out and answered.

“Ah…?”

Shahran’s mouth dropped open.

“Why?”
“W, World Tree-nim’s… sap crystal?”
“Yeah. It told me to take it.”
“No way!!! How could the World Tree-nim give you something like that…!!!”

Suddenly, Shahran grabbed her head and was horrified.

“Is this precious?”

Certainly. Seeing Shahran making such a fuss, it seemed like it was something special.

“I, I’ve only seen it once!!!”
“Wow. That much?”

Only show it once to the queen she’s raising?

This seems more amazing than I thought?

“Yes! I even received something smaller than what you’re holding now!”
“It was really precious.”
“How on earth did you receive it?! No…! What happened inside?”
“Well.”

How much should I tell this guy?

My thoughts were short.

Let’s just tell him what he needs to know.

“Before that. Tell me about its effects.”
“Effects? Well, to explain, it has the effect of increasing the amount of mana in the body. And… you can get a little closer to the World Tree.”

Does it make communication smoother?

“Is that so? What else?”
“Ah… I honestly don’t know. There are so many legends… I’m just telling you how I felt when I first ate it.”
“No. How can the queen not know?”

Well, besides that, it seems to have the effect of strengthening my power as a god.

“So! How did you receive it! No…! What happened inside?”
“Well, when I went in, the background changed a bit.”
“Background?”
“It suddenly turned into a forest. It was a kind of mental world. And in it, the World Tree appeared, borrowing your appearance. So I had a conversation with it.”

At those words.

“Y, you… You had a conversation directly?”

Shahran’s face was covered in shock.
Her reaction is a bit intense.

“Yeah. What’s wrong?”
“N, no! That’s nonsense!”
“Why?”
“You didn’t just hear a voice, you had a face-to-face meeting?!”
“Yeah. It appeared borrowing your appearance.”
“Kuaaaak!”

Suddenly, Shahran had a seizure and stiffened, about to fall over, and I lightly caught her.

“Get a grip, you idiot.”
“Ah…”

I thought so.

I had a slight thought. It seems that even Shahran was surprised to have directly faced the World Tree in `that way`.

Well, that’s probably true.

Shahran doesn’t have this genuine divine power that I possess. The reason I was able to have such high-sensitivity, accurate communication with the World Tree and see what she showed me is purely because of that power.

“You really are special.”
“I told you.”
“But… to lend me her appearance…”

Tears streamed down Shahran’s eyes.

“…I’m very touched.”

I guess elves are elves.

I silently helped her up.

“I didn’t know I would be so happy… Ah. Anyway, what did you get the sap for?”
“I received it as a reward.”
“A reward?! Did you receive some kind of request?!”
“Yeah. I had a conversation about that. About those demons coming over. About the invaders from another world. The World Tree was worried about that and asked me to stop them. The sap is the down payment.”
“Ah…!”

Her two eyes were filled with emotion.

“Of course. The World Tree-nim was thinking about all those things.”
“That’s right.”
“But why to you…? Not to the elven guardian warriors.”

It’s just because of that power I absorbed by killing and absorbing the Valkyrie.

I think the reason I received special treatment from the World Tree is just because that power… slightly aroused a sense of kinship.

But I can’t tell her this.

“I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’m an existence that’s not bound to the Elven Forest. I also have a track record. It probably means that I should go out and take care of those things.”
“I see… I understand.”

Shahran was convinced.

It was a good excuse, even I thought so.

“Anyway, the World Tree gave me the sap and asked me to destroy those beings. Now that I’ve received a reward like this, I can’t keep my mouth shut. I’m going to listen to the World Tree’s request.”
“Yes, yes! Please do!”

At those words, Shahran grabbed my hand, overjoyed.

“I’ll do it even if you don’t ask me to.”
“Haa… Such a precious thing has happened.”

She seems very happy.
Well, maybe it’s worth it.

“But for you, a human, to carry out the World Tree-nim’s oracle… other elves might not like it so much.”
“Hmm.”

Is that another thing?

Originally, the elf kids had bad personalities.

I might be envied.

“Of course, they will regard you as sacred. From today, you have become someone who can freely enter all parts of the Elven Forest… It’s a very sacred thing.”

In other words, because you are the one who carries out the oracle.

“But the World Tree is the god of the elves. Why give the oracle to a human instead of an elf… They might feel that way. I’m okay with it though.”

But the World Tree didn’t seem to care much about such racial things. As she said, she is an existence that can see the heavens above. Would she care so much about one race?

No… she probably does care.

I don’t know well.

Those gods in the heavens are obsessed with humans even in their fragmented state. I don’t know what that means. But it’s clear that there’s some kind of connection between gods and humans.

“So. What are you going to do? Are you going to announce that I received the oracle?”
“T, this is not to make things difficult for you, but… it’s something that should be done.”
“Do as you please. But do it after I leave. I’m going to go back soon.”

I have nothing more to do here now.

I’ve done everything.

It was a journey with a lot of gains.

I just need to take the written reply that Shahran wrote herself.

“You’re going back…”
“Hmm?”
“It’s nothing.”

But Shahran seemed very happy.

“Why do you look so happy?”
“Of course I’m happy. After all… you’ve become the World Tree-nim’s oracle executor from today, right?”
“Yeah.”

That’s right.

You could say I’ve become a warrior called by God.

“Then you could say that one of the conditions for marriage has been met. If the queen, me, and the World Tree-nim’s oracle executor, you, are together, there’s no problem. And you’ll be able to come here whenever you want in the future.”

Is that why she’s happy?

Certainly, there’s a justification. If the person to be the queen’s partner is the World Tree’s oracle executor, there’s no room for anyone to object.

“But it’s so far away.”
“That’s… yes.”

Shahran nodded for a moment as if she was disappointed, but soon regained her smile.

“Anyway, since you’re going back, I need to prepare for you. I’ll set the date for tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? I want to go right away.”
“…”

For a moment, her eyes seemed to turn cold.

“…There’s something I want to give you.”

Shahran, who immediately lowered her tail when I stared straight at her, said quietly.

“And I need to talk to the World Tree and hear what I should do for you.”

Come to think of it, she said she would help me find the fragments of the god on `Earth`.

“It takes some time. Besides that… I have to send a reply to the letter sent by the kingdom.”
“That’s right. Then do that. I’ll go and rest.”
“Let’s go down together. I have to greet the World Tree-nim tomorrow.”

Is it not good to do too much in one day?

So I went down the stairs with Shahran.

ㅡThud.

While walking down, I look at the sap crystal in my hand.

Damn it.

I want to eat this quickly.