Chapter 441 – Declaration of War (3)

The 【Forest Guardian Competition】is one of the most significant events in the world.

As the purpose is to gather young talents from various nations and select the best among them, its importance is immense. Citizens can easily access the skilled individuals who will protect their gods through mass media.

The attention the contestants receive surpasses that of world-class celebrities. Since the term ‘forest guardian’ carries the meaning of ‘protector of the gods,’ each generation of forest guardians gains such recognition and honor. As an example, Angelica, the representative of the World Tree of Justice, remains active as a prominent figure within the church.

To invade such a sacred space is nothing short of a declaration of war.

Although the dialogue of bodies took place first, the reason I met Marronnier was to convey this information to the sage.

“…Really?”

Dawn breaks. After getting out of bed, we take a moment to sort out the conversation.

I had been forthright about my plans, and thanks to that, I could hear Blanche’s heartfelt response.

“You know…”

Our conversation unfolded across the table. The black tea had already cooled, offering no warmth.

Marronnier brushed the top of the teacup in front of her with a finger and spoke to me.

“Many people are guarding the cradle, and they’re trying to get what they want from it. That means you’ll have to kill a lot of them.”
“Yes.”
“…Why do you have to be the one to do such a thing?”

For some reason, there was a hint of resentment mixed with her concern.

Having ascended to the position of sage and gained a wider view of the world, she must be aware of the dangers involved in what I’m attempting. That’s why she wore an expression that seemed on the verge of tears.

I comforted her as gently as I could.

“You know, it’s something only I can do.”
“…I know. But I just… I don’t want to see people hate you.”

Her sincerity emerged, bit by bit.

“And King Mokryeong was initially a very kind person.”

Considering it’s the foundation of my power, I must have conducted quite a bit of research. Marronnier, who was fidgeting with her hands, looked up at me as if she had come to a decision.

“But as the war dragged on… little by little, his mind seemed to wear down, and he became a more wicked person.”
“Are you worried that I might become like that too?”

– Nod.

Marronnier nodded.

I couldn’t dismiss her concerns as unwarranted, for even I didn’t know what lay ahead of me. When wielding the power of the crown, there are times when I am astonished by the magnitude of its strength. Perhaps I might lose my sanity someday. Marronnier appeared to be worried about that possibility.

“And…”

Blanche, as though she still had something left to say, gently covered her mouth with her hand.

“I want to love you for the rest of my life. But if something were to happen to you… I’m afraid of how my feelings might change.”

Hmm…

Could this, in fact, be a marriage proposal?

Despite the gravity of the subject, I couldn’t help but feel a tickle at the corner of my mouth.

It’s a gloomy expression, but somehow she always chooses such endearing words.

Kuhh.

“…Why, why are you laughing?”
“Because you’re cute.”
“I’m serious right now! You disappear all the time and only show up when there’s a big problem–”
“Don’t worry.”
“Ugh.”

At my words, Marronnier was left speechless and glared at me with a sullen expression.

“…You say that every day.”

Though she seemed unfairly treated, you can’t make a sauce if you’re scared of maggots.

As I looked at Marronnier with a face bearing a slight smile, her soft cheeks began to swell like glutinous rice cakes placed on a stove.

“I don’t know anymore.”

Her body had grown, but she was still the adorable Bam I knew.

* * * * * * * *

“You know what?”

Squeak, squeak.

The persistent sound of metal grinding echoed. Sweat droplets slid down her pale elbows, leaving marks on the floor tiles.

Squeak, squeak.

“How long are you going to do that?”

Mary, lying facedown on the workout bench, asked with a hint of boredom while watching Shiba exercise.

Squeak.

The iron bar moved without a response. Mary’s hair, twisted like a donut, wobbled playfully like a spring.

“…Not fun.”

Regardless, Shiba remained engrossed in her workout routine.

Squeak, squeak.

The steel rod seemed as if it would bend under the immense weight. The heavy burden, which even a Hunter’s body struggled to endure, pressed down on Shiba’s body.

It was a weight so great that even B-class, no, A-class hunters could not lift it with pure strength alone. Although it was an astonishing sight, Mary’s eyes conveyed her weariness, having witnessed far more impressive feats.

As she dozed off and yawned, time quickly slipped away.

Thud!

Mary awoke to the sound of a dumbbell being set down, rubbing her eyes as she sat up. Before her, Shiba was catching her breath, a towel draped around her neck over a damp tank top.

“Yawn. Are you done?”
“B-beep… Were you still here?”
“Of course! Haaa! I’m in charge of you, after all.”

Mary stretched like a cat, her body shivering slightly.

How could such a delicate girl be a god? Questions flitted through Shiba’s mind, but ultimately, a god was a god.

Mary stood up, brushing off her knees before asking Shiba:

“When did you start exercising?”
“I’ve been doing it since I was really young.”
“Why?”
“Hmm, I don’t know? When I exercise, I don’t think about anything. Sometimes… I just feel a little lonely.”

Exercise was the best way to shake off stress or depression. Whenever Shiba was in a bad mood, she would go for a jog to relieve her stress.

Of course, that wasn’t the only reason.

“And… my mom and aunt are so worried.”

A little discipline might help alleviate their worries.

“I think I understand that feeling.”

Mary empathized with Shiba’s words.

Mary had lived with that same mindset. When her body was exhausted from rigorous growth and she couldn’t think of anything else, she would work even harder on the branches when she missed someone.

“Are you talking about him again?”
“Ah… Got caught? Hehe.”
“It must have been tough.”

Mary shyly smiled and scratched her head.

“Yeah, but I was able to endure it thanks to Mother.”
“Mother? Does the World Tree have a mother?”
“No, it’s just a term of endearment. There’s a mother figure in the cradle.”

The World Tree of Growth that everyone knows.

All the World Trees that were born and raised in the cradle were nurtured by her hands. Many trees actually regarded her as a motherly figure, since they had been together since their early days. It was said that she had lived for a similar span of time as the Five Great World Trees.

Mary, too, was greatly indebted to her.

“I see.”

“I’m going to meet her this evening.”

“Who is she?”

“Well… should I say she’s pure and kind?”

Pure and kind. At those words, Shiba looked down at the petite Mary for a moment.

What kind of person must she be if even the young and innocent Mary thought so highly of her? Shiba was curious, but she had never seen the World Tree of Growth. The World Tree of Growth never showed her face outside, much like a parrot in a cage.

“I’ve never seen her get angry.”

“Just by listening, she sounds no different from the Virgin Mary.”

“Perhaps she is the Holy Mother?”

Indeed, with such qualities, it was no wonder she had earned the nickname, “Mother of Arbor.”

If anything were to happen to her, it would cause a massive uproar.

“Well, never mind that.”

Mary, who had naturally followed Shiba to the shower, casually glanced at her body and spoke.

“You have quite a few bruises.”
“Ah, these. I got them while being trained by my aunts… They just happened.”
“Your aunts again? Who are they?”

Shiba was about to mention that one of them was the president of the Korean Hunter Association, but she hesitated and swallowed her words, forcing an awkward laugh. Depending on the interpretation, it could be seen as boasting about her influential connections.

Regardless, it was thanks to her aunts’ rigorous training that Shiba had managed to avoid getting hurt and become the person she was today.

Of course, none of this would have been possible without Shiba’s exceptional potential serving as the foundation.

“So who is your aunt?”
“…”
“Fine, if you don’t want to tell me, don’t. I’ll leave you to rest for today. Take it easy.”
“Yes.”

With that, Mary dusted off her hands and left the changing room.

Shiva, gazing at Mary’s back, subtly closed and opened her eyes.

Her blue-green eyes scanned Mary’s body, and a translucent window materialized before Shiva’s eyes.

– Flash.

—–
【 Name: Mary (The World Tree of Elegance and Mischief) 】
【 Abilities 】
– Strength 5.3
– Durability 3.0
– Agility 4.1
– Stamina 3.1
– Magic Power 11.6

□ Divine Power (1)
□ Owned Skills (4)
□ Temperaments (5)
– Playful Imp (C)
– Coquettish (C)
.
.

【 Estimated Potential: 2 】
—–

“……”

Once more, Shiva, with the window in her sight, reached out and swiped it away.

A peculiar ability known as the status window had begun appearing before her eyes at some point.

It allowed her to see an opponent’s strength and abilities at a glance. Not only their name but also the direction of their future potential and innate abilities could be directly observed. It was not just once or twice that she had discovered an enemy’s weakness through this.

‘Why… am I seeing this?’

Shiba opened her palm and gazed at it.

-Gradually

Characters emerged as cracks formed in the space of her palm, and soon they were arranged in a specific pattern.

========
【 Name 】
Lee Shiba (1st generation Woodfolk)

【 Age/Height/Weight 】
4 years old / 159 cm / 48 kg

【 Ability Scores 】
– Strength 7.5
– Endurance 5.8
– Agility 8.1
– Stamina 6.8
– Magic Power 9.2

– Charm 9.6
– Intelligence 7
– Potential 17
– Luck 4

⋇ Charm, Intelligence, Potential, and Luck are innate abilities.

□ Powers (1)
【 Azure Eyes 】 – NEW!
□ Unique Traits (2)
[Combat-ready Body (A)][Ashen Magic (-)]
□ Aptitudes (4)
[Swordsmanship (S)][Magic Affinity (A)][Atmospheric Resistance (EX)][Incomplete (F)]
========

Mysterious information with no apparent reason for appearing.

But instinctively, she could discern the meaning of the characters before her eyes.

Shiba tapped the floating window and bit her lower lip.

—
▶Cheongan (-)
[Category: Power]
“Pure, eternal azure.”
– Insufficient information for an explanation.
—

Information was lacking. Perhaps the ability to see the status window was related to this ‘Cheongan.’

‘The status window… I know it’s a system created by the World Tree.’

Just before heading into the shower, Shiba stared at the window for an extended period. She had first discovered it a few months ago, but she had never examined it so closely before.

Reading each explanation one by one, Shiba sighed and tapped her cheek.

“Beep… It doesn’t seem like I’m dreaming.”

One thing was certain: she could interfere with the World Tree’s system. As Shiba scrutinized the window, she came across another system.

‘Store?’

Gacha, selling items for points.

I couldn’t purchase anything due to the lack of points, and there wasn’t a specific method for obtaining them.

After tapping the store interface a few times, Shiba lost interest and ultimately closed the window. There was nothing Shiba could do.

“…Beep. Time to wash up.”

Although she had worked up a pleasant sweat, Shiba couldn’t spend the entire night caught up in this mysterious situation. Entering the shower, she soon began to hum and soothe her tired skin.

-Swoosh.

The sound of falling water. Tense muscles relaxed and gradually loosened.

Had she not closed the status window completely?

-Beep.

【The World Tree of Resentment watches you closely.】

Seeing the sentence that appeared in the corner of her vision, Shiba decided to casually dismiss it.