## Chapter 1478 – Demon God Kim Katte

The World Tree, which had melted into the barrier, wasn’t destroyed.

Unlike the other fragmented Outer Gods who accepted their deaths and passed their power to me, the World Tree, which had preserved its strength to some extent, simply offered its existence to me.

The meaning was simple.

Its home wasn’t within the World Tree’s domain anymore.

It had been changed to within my barrier.

To put it simply, it was like a Chikorita stuck inside an inhumane Monster Ball. A Chikorita I could take out and use whenever I wanted. Of course, no one ever takes out Chikorita. It’s a cursed being that must remain trapped inside the ball forever.

But the World Tree would be more useful than a Chikorita. So, I’d take it out and use it when necessary. More than anything, there wasn’t much difference between it playing alone in its domain and sleeping inside my barrier.

ㅡTsupat.

After completely accepting the World Tree, I shrunk the barrier again. The barrier, now a pure white sphere the size of a real Monster Ball, rested on my palm.

“Uh, respond, World Tree.”
“…Where is this?”
“Inside my barrier. How does it feel?”

Honestly, it was my first time putting such an existence inside, so I didn’t really know what would happen. But judging by the fact that it was talking, it seemed to have worked out well.

“…I cannot resist.”
“Of course not. Look at the difference in power.”
“…”

Roughly sensing it, it seemed like it wasn’t very happy.

But what could I do?

“Hey. You were supposed to be annihilated, you know? I just decided to let you live.”
“…”
“If I let you go with me around, wouldn’t you just become a soul-devourer? It’s more certain and effective for me to protect the elves than for you to protect them.”

That was the thing.

In any case, as long as it existed in the world where I was, it would just be a soul-devouring monster. So, imprisoning it inside my barrier like this was a very good measure.

“I understand.”
“Good.”

Looking at it like this, it felt a bit similar to Andromalius, so I felt somewhat attached to it. Of course, that didn’t mean I would let it out.

Anyway.

“Hmm.”

The World Tree’s domain was collapsing.
Was it obvious since it wasn’t there?

“Demon God Warp Gate.”

ㅡSwish.

I immediately created a gate and returned to the point where I first entered. Inside the giant tree. But wait a minute.

“Hey. What happens to this tree if you’re not here?”

Is this tree going to wither?

That wouldn’t do.

The elves worship this tree. Whatever the reason, everyone would despair if it withered. I’d be managing the elves from now on, and I couldn’t let them despair. I couldn’t let this World Tree wither. I had to care about the elves’ happiness.

“It will wither if no measures are taken.”
“Then what measures should be taken?”
“I must infuse it with my power.”

I understood.

“Oh. Then it’s fine.”

Since I could use the World Tree’s power as I pleased, there wasn’t really a problem.

“I’ll have to manage this well from now on.”

I just had to come regularly and inject power every so often. It was a simple task.

“…Are you going to manage it?”
“What kind of obvious question is that?”

The World Tree, asking that, seemed a bit surprised.

“I said I’d take responsibility for the elves, right? Then I have to take good care of this tree, which is their spiritual pillar.”

This was Fusion Confucianism.

No one would be able to harm this big tree.

“Then shall we try it once?”

I placed my hand on a suitable spot and sent power to the World Tree inside the barrier. The power, changed through the World Tree, was discharged from my palm.

ㅡOooooong.

The discharged power of the World Tree settled into the tree. Should I put in more? No. It was the first time, so doing it forcefully might have a bad effect on the tree.

“I put in a little for now. How long do you think it can last with this much?”
“It should last for a few months. But you must be careful, as injecting too much power hastily can have side effects.”
“I have to handle it delicately, huh.”

Then I’d stop here for today.

Let me just ask this last thing.

“Anyway, World Tree. There’s something I’m curious about.”
“What is it?”
“What do you think of the elves?”
“…”

Was it because it was a sudden question?

It was silent for a moment.

“…They are precious to me. Enough that I think they must be protected.”

I see.

“Then what about Shahran? Your priestess.”
“The being who can communicate with me from the closest place. Are you talking about Shahran?”
“Yeah.”
“…”

The World Tree’s emotions fluctuated for a moment.

“…She is also precious.”
“Is that so?”

I could clearly feel its emotions. Okay. So it cherished the elves. I guess it would. Anyway, I had something to tell Shahran.

ㅡTsupat.

I immediately turned off the barrier.

“…”

Then the World Tree fell silent. It had fallen asleep. It wouldn’t wake up until I opened the barrier again and called it out again.

“I’ve finished all the important things with this.”

With this, I’d completed the traffic control with the divine beings existing in this world. I felt a sense of accomplishment and was in a good mood. But the fact that the other gods were gone meant that I had to take all the responsibility as a god from now on.

“That is a natural thing.”

Thinking about the truly obvious thing.

I came out of the inside of the tree.

“Fusion Confucianism is the ideology of doing the obvious thing obviously.”

I would protect the elves from now on.

* * *

“Ah. You’re out.”
“Oh. Shahran.”

When I went outside, Shahran was waiting for me.

But.

“Huh?”

Shahran tilted her head when she saw me.

“Something’s…?”
“Why?”
“Well… I felt like I sensed the World Tree’s energy.”
“Of course. I just met it.”
“I knew it.”

How should I convey this shocking news to Shahran?
Of course, I’d already thought it all out.

“How was it? The World Tree?”
“It was weaker than me.”
“Pardon?”
“My status as a god is higher. So the World Tree has decided to cooperate with me from now on.”
“Co, cooperate!!!”

Shahran covered her mouth and widened her eyes as if that was very surprising.

“Th, that means…! That you and our World Tree will be working together from now on? Is that what it means?!”
“Pretty much.”
“Oh my…! Such a blessed event!”

Was she taking it as a good thing?
Then there was nothing bad about it.

“Ah. By the way, Shahran. What happens to you elves after you die?”
“Yes? Of course, we go to the side of the World Tree.”
“Hmm.”

So they thought so.

The elves imagined that when they died, they could go to where their mother World Tree was and live happily.

But the reality was that they would just become food.

Like… a big dog raised in an apartment. The child liked it, but the cruel parents who couldn’t handle it took the dog away from the child.

`N, no way! Mom! Why Doldol!`
`Doldol can’t be raised in an apartment.`
`But!!!`

The child protested in sorrow.

Her friend Doldol had been taken away.

To that child.

`It can’t be helped.`

The parents said.

`But Doldol will live well at Grandpa’s house in the countryside. It’s better for Doldol to live in nature than in this city, right?`
`Th, that’s…!`

The child could only.

`H, heuk…! If Doldol likes that better, even though I’m sad…`

Just accept it with a logical answer and an answer that seemed to be for Doldol’s sake.

`That’s right. That’s right. Then shall we eat pork cutlet today?`
`Heuk…! Yes…!`

Raising a big dog was hard.
But it was also hard for the child to cry.

`Don’t cry. Doldol will live well with Grandpa.`

The mother said that to comfort the child.

“Hic, heuk… Really…?”

The child asked for confirmation, shedding tears.

`Of course.`

The mother hugged the child with a smile.

In fact.

It was true that Doldol lived with Grandpa. It was just that the Grandpa in the countryside had eaten it. Since it had been eaten and become blood and flesh, it could be said that it was by its side.

Doldol had become like that.

`Doldol…! Live happily with Grandpa!!!`

Nevertheless, the child believed that the dog she cherished would live happily with her grandfather. She thought it would have fun playing in the great nature of the countryside.

The elves’ belief was like that.

I couldn’t stand it.

“Wulkeoeooeok!!!”

I felt like tears would burst out in an instant, so I covered my mouth with my hand…!

“Yes? Yes? Wh, what did you say?”
“…No. It’s nothing.”

But I was God Kim Katte.

I could hide my emotions right away.

“Ah… yes. Anyway. Why did you ask that?”
“Just curious.”
“I see. By the way.”
“What I asked you earlier?”
“Ah. Yes.”

There was something Shahran had asked me earlier.
To ask about the elves and herself.

“I asked and heard it directly, and it said that the elves are precious beings to it. So it thinks they should be protected.”
“Ah, ah!”
“And when I asked about you, it said your name and said you were precious, right?”
“Th, that means!!!”
“It knows your name.”
“K, kheuk…!”

In the end, Shahran burst into tears. I comforted her a little. Whatever the reason, I was deceiving the elves. But. Was that a problem? I would take good care of them from now on.

“Anyway, so I think I’ll have to come here once in a while from now on. To meet the World Tree.”
“Yes, yes…! You’re always welcome!”
“Ah. But listen to this last thing.”
“What is it?”

I spoke to Shahran appropriately.

The World Tree was in a very weakened state right now. It had consumed a lot of power due to the recent Lich’s great offensive. So it had almost no power left.

If I didn’t explain this, I didn’t know how they would take the World Tree’s absence.

“No way…!”
“But don’t worry. Even though the World Tree is in that state, I’m here.”
“You…!

Shahran seemed to be in despair for a moment, but she came to her senses at my words.

“I will protect the elves from now on.”