Chapter 413 – The King’s ‘Influence’ (1)

Lee Si-heon’s heresy suppression battle.

The resolution of the case seemed within reach, but eventually, it spiraled out of control.

─A Level 5 disaster has been declared nationwide. Today, on the 14th, Cheonma, the leader of the Do-won Mercenary Group, which is contracted with the Hunter Association…

South Korea now faces a state of emergency, with the fate of the nation at stake. The military forces of the sect have amassed in Seoul, and the number of casualties has surged into the thousands.

─’Cheonma’ is a figure who formed a priestly relationship with the heretic Lee Si-heon…

The media’s reporting was swift, but for how long can such exchanges of information continue? With the sealing of the barrier’s sight, information on the Heavenly Demon has been severed.

As a result, the citizens of Seoul have no choice but to pray incessantly. To make matters worse, other calamities have arisen.

─The Three Disasters (삼재) Mokrang, concealed… with the possibility of reemergence.

– Will the national disaster rating be lifted? Government: ‘It’s not the time yet.’

With the announcement of Lee Si-heon’s death, this calamity seemed to be resolved, providing a brief moment of relief.

However, the situation became chaotic due to the consecutive acts of terror by the Heavenly Demon and Samjae. Following these events, a creature of unknown origin appeared.

– Wood Demon.

It was noted as a significant matter, but the true nature of the creature remained uncertain.

From the center of its head grew countless tree trunks. No leaves or flowers could be found on them. The creature’s body was split open in places, with blood seeping through the gaps. Its arms, as massive as its body, were thick enough to swallow a person whole. The color of the bark that covered its body was pitch black, as if it had been burnt. The head, adorned with a haphazard array of horns, resembled both a dragon and a human.

The eyes were completely hidden. The enormous beast had no signs of life, moving aimlessly and without purpose.

Countless reports of a wandering spirit losing its reason emerged one after another, leading to multiple attempts at subjugation in a short span of time. Nobody knew the origin of this spirit.

It was the moment when a monstrous being, mimicking the forms of various plants that emerged from the ground, was born.

Those in the vicinity of the spirit lost consciousness without exception. The vast majority of Korean households were plagued by psychological repercussions for some time.

Despite the chaos, efforts were made to provide relief to the civilians.

“Snap!”

The gazes of those nearby converged on a single point.

A young girl stood with her arms crossed, adopting an elusive authoritative posture, as she snorted and clicked her fingers.

“Are you not leaving in haste?”

She had become a top-tier spirit capable of soothing the turmoil of those who fled from the disaster.

It is said that when an unknown foe appears, an unknown hero is born as well.

The internet was brimming with accounts of a nameless spiritist’s spirit saving innumerable lives.

There were rumors of two women who would occasionally exclaim, “Chirp!”

“Hmph! If it were up to the master, I would have severed that neck before anyone even had the chance to yell ‘Quickly! Quickly!'”

– Murmurs and whispers.

“Who is that?”
“Can’t you tell? It’s a spirit.”

Eleanor chirped as she watched people carrying relief supplies to the bunker.

“What are you looking at!!!! You know I’m pretty anyway!”

The struggle between Heavenly Demon, the Association, and the Order made it difficult for people to live in Seoul, as a palpable sense of oppression pervaded the city. If it weren’t for the spirits and wizards working to neutralize this tension, countless lives would have been lost.

People would perish from the mere aftershocks of magical power. Without ever coming close to the epicenter, news of the damage spread far and wide whenever a gate incident occurred.

“If it weren’t for me, they’d be panicking right now… They should be grateful to the master.”

A former wood nymph, idly twisting her chestnut hair with her index finger, sat on a bench near a fire hydrant, quietly mumbling to herself.

In front of her, Azelin and Perpatua, the representatives of the World Tree of Sacrifice and Prosperity, were dashing about, sweat beading on their feet as they treated the injured.

‘…That girl is incredible.’

A woman with brown hair like her own. The magic emanating from Azelin’s body was significant. She had undoubtedly awakened and saved people before.

Perpatua, standing beside her, was no less remarkable. Her actions were befitting a proxy hailing from a saintess lineage.

If it weren’t for those two, the relief efforts would not have gone smoothly. Her own body was as frail as a sparrow’s… after all, she was a wood nymph.

“Miss!”

A blonde woman approached Eleanor, who was wearing a bored expression.

“…?”

It was not a bird, but a familiar face and hair color. She bore a striking resemblance to Lucy from the spirit realm.

“What are you? Why…”
“It’s me, miss.”

“…Huh?”

Eleanor, with her eyes wide open, tilted her head. For a spirit to reveal itself directly in the mortal realm, the essence and qualities of the spirit must be at their peak.

Many eyes were once again drawn to Lucy, clad in her silver armor. It was only then that Eleanor looked at herself.

A charming pink dress, adorned with delicate embroidery of sheep and rabbits. Unlike Lucy, Eleanor had been summoned while eating snacks in her bedroom.

“Chirp?”
“What kind of chirp is it?”
“What’s going on here?”
“…Don’t adopt your master’s manner of speaking. Miss. It seems… there’s no other explanation than your master’s affinity suddenly surging… there’s no other answer.”

Eleanor, sweeping her long hair behind her ears, blinked several times. She was not an ordinary high-ranking wood spirit but rather a royal princess of the Spirit Kingdom. Lucy, too, had taken on a form befitting her position.

She didn’t understand what was happening. Perhaps there had been a significant shift in the nature of the contract itself.

“…Are you going to investigate?”

Upon hearing Lucy’s words, Eleonor took a moment to consider the situation.

With her cheeks slightly flushed, Eleonor adjusted the adorable spirit stickers adorning her clothes.

“For now, let’s proceed as the Master instructed.”

Eleonor hunched down, shaking her arm to ensure the stickers on her fingers didn’t easily come off.

“Ugh!”
“My lady…”

Lucy gazed at the princess with sympathetic eyes.

However, her judgment was not incorrect. The order was, after all, a rescue mission. Regardless of the Master’s absence, Eleonor had to carry out the tasks assigned to her.

It remained a mystery why she had transformed from a tiny bird back to her true form…

At that moment—

*Startled!*

A tremor engulfed the entire city.

“…Ah!!”
“Eh!?”

Both Eleonor and Lucy were caught off guard, their shoulders shaking in response to the immense surge of magical energy felt from a distance.

“What’s going on?”

The fragile barrier they had just managed to erect nearly crumbled. The people within the barrier sensed it and tensed up.

*Gulp.*

Saliva involuntarily slid down their throats.

“Um… Excuse me, Spirit.”

In the midst of this, a Hunter’s tactless comment shattered Eleanor’s concentration.

“Why?”
“Could we find out which Elemental Lord you’ve contracted with?”

What would that accomplish? The Hunter tried his best to flatter, sensing the emotions behind Eleanor’s gaze.

It was natural to want to know the name of the hero who appeared amidst such a catastrophe. A Spirit actively involved in relief efforts, and one with extraordinary talent at that. Surely, they must have reached the pinnacle among the S-class Hunters.

However, Eleanor simply stared at the Hunter and stuck out her tongue.

“Get lost.”

She couldn’t reveal her master’s name to someone like this. As she glared with narrowed eyes, the Hunter finally bowed his head in shame.

“You must listen well to your master!”

Perhaps it was due to being overly well-educated. As Lucy observed the subdued princess, she could only let out sighs.

* * * * * * * *

-Jerbuck.

The world within my mind, where the red energy had subsided, was utterly serene, devoid of any life.

-Thud. Thud.

When I closed my eyes and focused, the outside view would briefly flash before disappearing again.

No matter what technique I employed against the attacking hunters, I had no chance and would often end up being defeated instead. It seemed as though they fought even better than me, despite having transformed into monsters.

“So, how do I escape from here?”

My strength had returned, enough to move at least. If I opened my eyes like this, it wouldn’t be difficult to conceal part of my body.

If King Mokryeong’s power were removed from me, it would likely be like this.

I raised my right arm and clenched my fist.

Though I could still perform martial arts, it wasn’t enough to handle magic. It felt as if all the traits and abilities I had acquired as King Mokryeong had been drained away.

Everything except for my own accomplishments had been taken from me.

“…”

The crown of thorns above my head remained in place. I surveyed the area around me.

*Swish.*

About 50 meters away, I noticed the rubble shifting. Something small and nimble was hurriedly fleeing.

*Thud!*

I moved my foot, stirring up a whirlwind of sand.

【Earthquake】

As I stomped on the ground, a fissure formed and raced towards the escaping figure.

*Koo-goo-goo-goo!*

With a thud, like an arctic fox unearthing a mouse, something black emerged from the mounds of dirt.

Leaping into the air, the creature was caught in the quake’s grasp and soon plummeted to the ground, headfirst.

“Argh!”

Upon awakening, he immediately grasps the top of his head with both hands. He looks around, appearing restless.

Rolling his legs, he begins to create distance between us.

‘Female?’

Now there’s even a child running around in my head.
*Papat!*
With a few swift kicks, he moves away. The person holding their head jumps back in surprise.

“Kuk.”

A woman donning the same crown of thorns as me.
I dare not assume, but I hope it isn’t so.

“Are you the king’s offspring?”
“… …”

Could it be that a monster, as large as a mountain range, was trying to devour me?
As I glare at her, the woman furrows her brow and readies herself for a fight with both hands.

“…I will never relinquish my power to you!”

I thought to myself.

I’m cornered.
It must be true.

After all, the Heavenly Demon is a woman, the Vice President of the Hunter Association is a woman, and even the World Tree is a woman in this world. What more could one ask for?
There’s no good in harboring prejudice.

I had no time to waste, and I needed to leave this place immediately. I bent down to align my eyes with his, compelled to bend my knees due to the significant height difference.

“If you lose, release me.”

“…Don’t make me laugh!”

My eardrums nearly burst from the volume of his voice.

The ‘man’ glared at me as if intending to kill and pulled a steel rod from the floor, swinging it menacingly.

-*Clang*!

As my strength returned, it was easy to resist. Grasping the rod with one hand and bending it effortlessly, the woman’s body followed along, seemingly devoid of strength, like a complimentary gift attached to the steel.

“Ah, ugh!”

Apparently offended by my power dragging him around, the ‘man’ spat out a mortified moan.

“What’s your problem?”

“…You’ll never get out.”

Had he gone mad after taking a hit? His sanity seemed to have deserted him.

“You’re already as good as dead, Lee Si-heon. You can’t live without my power, and I’ll never hand it over to you.”

I scanned his face and pondered my next move.

It seems the only way for me to escape is to gain favor from this creature.

Flattery alone won’t change a thing. After waiting a moment, I posed a question to it.

It wasn’t as if I didn’t have questions to ask.

“What are you?”
“…I won’t say.”

It appears childish, and its temperament is no different. Did the previous King Mokryeong also travel with a creature like this?

As I pondered, the ‘factor’ reacted. It looked up at me and furrowed its brows into an angry glare.

“Don’t insult my parents.”

So it spoke. Now it even reads my thoughts. Perhaps it’s because we share the same body.

King Mokryeong and the ‘factor’ that emerged from the power he once held. Thus, it claims the source of King Mokryeong’s power as its parents. It’s a difficult concept to grasp.

“…From the start, you would have died if it hadn’t been for her. You have some nerve to act so smug.”
“Who is she?”

“Do you think you can survive by accepting my power now?”
“What can’t I endure?”
“You know nothing.”

The trembling figure explained everything one by one.

“…Aren’t you severed from the World Tree’s connection?”
“Yes.”

My connection was entirely severed through death.
Forever, without the ability to untangle and reclaim it as before. I can’t use the auxiliary system, let alone the status window.

In other words, I am now completely beyond the World Tree’s sight.

“It was that system which allowed you to live without being crushed by me.”
“…So, whoever gave me the system saved my life?”

No answer returned. It seems the understanding was clear.
My body, now free from the system, is in mortal danger when exposed to the king’s influence.
It was a tug-of-war between the power of the World Tree and the power of King Mokryeong.

‘It seems entering my body was not intentional… Is it innocence?’

The one who had never shown his face before.
I observed the Son of Man’s reaction and sighed.

“But isn’t it good for you if I die?”
“Fool. If the bowl breaks, it is natural that the water in it also leaks.”
“Doesn’t that mean you’ll be free?”
“Idiot. Then I’ll die, too.”

Our conversation grew increasingly terse.
I had no reason to be proud, so I just decided to calmly accept the criticism.

“No matter how I look at it, I think it would be better if you willingly handed over your strength to me, and let the four months pass.”
“Didn’t you hear me?! Without the system, you’re nothing.”
“It was fine when I disconnected the status window.”
“… …”

The ‘Son of Man’ quickly closed his mouth.

“And now that I see a crown above my head, I’m not completely tactless.”

It is true that the status window left by the World Tree of Purity saved my life.
It’s just that my body has grown as well.

In short, he cleverly deceived me by mixing facts and lies.

“…Tsk.”

The ‘Entity’ clicked their tongue. Though it was unclear why their form was that of a woman, one thing was certain.

“Isn’t this a matter that could end if you just acknowledge me?”
“…”

The Entity was being stubborn.