Chapter 547 – The Subjugation Scheme (1)

Upon the successful conclusion of the fairy tale with the crown, I promptly directed my attention towards my forces and broadcasted the news.

Striding across the expanse of the council chamber, I addressed Gu-seul and the others.

“The subjugation is to be advanced. State the number of individuals to be deployed.”

I deemed it imprudent to allow the king to muster strength. There was a fleeting thought that I needed to execute the plan before my camaraderie with Shiba deepened too much.

“Suddenly…? Weren’t we supposed to weaken the World Tree’s influence?”

Gu-seul, clad in her uniform and clutching documents to her chest, cast a questioning glance my way. The other officers followed suit. Both Do-won, on the verge of regaining his vision, and Engahero expressed worry over my rash decision.

“Si-heon, isn’t this risky?”
“Your Majesty, may we inquire about the true intent behind your words?”

I brushed off Engahero as I took my seat. Engahero flinched under the weight of the overt scrutiny. The craven old man’s expression was quite a sight to behold. The issue I learned from the king about him can be addressed slowly later. I casually intertwined my hands and steered the conversation as I pleased.

“The World Tree of Healing, Gu-seul, Hong-Yeon, and you, Patience.”
“Why me?”
“Because I said so. Frankly, we don’t need a large number of people to be employed, there’s only one enemy. The World Tree is also in motion.”

I forcefully suppressed any potential grievances.

Gu-seul, who had raised her hand, stubbornly asked again.

“No, wait. Hold on! The conversation is moving too fast…. What exactly should I do?”

After assessing various elements, I concluded it would be beneficial in the long run to immediately vanquish the demon of trials. Sephirot had shown an interest in the king, and if she approached him once more, there was a chance for the situation to turn sour. Moreover, the fact that the king approached my daughter played a role in my decision.

“…If it’s for that reason, I understand.”

Being aware of how much I yearned for Shiba, Gu-seul had no choice but to fall silent. Next, Hong-Yeon raised her hand.

“Do-won, isn’t this decision rather abrupt?”
“I’ve deliberated extensively and made this decision, taking into account all variables. Please understand.”
“…If that’s the case, I won’t deter you. But, what is it that I should do?”
“I’ll explain that as well.”

We have a lot to prepare for.

The battle is anticipated to be protracted. It’s necessary to gather all the potions.

The premium quality potion, equivalent to a single life, serves as a measure of how many more times reversal warriors can be employed on the battlefield. The reversal warriors, of course, are beyond the mortal realm. I’m the only one in this faction. In essence, I battle and the rest support me.

The World Tree of Healing possesses a healing capability surpassing even my power. Patience can also transfer magical power to me, and Gu-seul can inflict significant damage on an individual of the Three Disasters caliber.

“I may need to use the potion Alba gifted me.”

In this impending battle, Alba’s potion of matured breast milk is, without a doubt, to be employed. Even the highest grade potions I’ve been reluctant to use till now had to be sipped.

“Let’s formulate our strategy and timeline cautiously. We should also observe the movements of the World Tree.”
“…Alright, I understand. Does the alliance policy remain intact?”
“Yes. That part should be monitored by Yeon and Dongbaek. Can you manage it?”

After hearing the responses from Dongbaek and Hongyeon, I found myself a seat and began to mull over our strategy. The King must be relentlessly cornered. To put it bluntly, if the King of Trees is toppled, everything else would be inconsequential.

Once the hour-long meeting, which was essentially my one-sided persuasion, concluded, Ebony, gripping her dark wooden sword, emerged from the training room to find me.

“Master.”
“Oh, have you been training?”

Ebony’s sweat carries a slight scent of charcoal— not a perverse observation, but a simple fact. Having just finished her sword practice, Ebony, holding her sword by her waist, wiped her glistening cheek with an ultra-fine towel and gifted me a faint smile.

“Yes, I think I’ve begun to get a grasp on handling magic.”

Ebony has been training under my guidance and reaping the benefits.

“And the… Heavenly Demon technique? That’s still not within my grasp.”
“That’s fine. It’s a difficult technique to master.”

Even Baekdo would struggle. She wouldn’t know the countless times I’ve been on the brink of death trying to master all the secrets of magic.

Teaching magic first might be out of order, but I’ve chosen to accommodate Ebony’s desire to grow stronger swiftly.

“But remember,”
“That before I use this power, I must seek your permission, Master?”

In circumstances where she finds herself between life and death, or when she wishes for something so desperately she could die, she should always seek my permission. I can’t guarantee the consequences if magic goes on a rampage.

That being said, Ebony has already started handling magic. Although I’d seen the potential before, it’s the first time I’ve had a disciple with such a promising growth trajectory. Ebony is my first student, after all.

“You’ve done well. Shall we freshen up and get some food?”
“Yes, Master, but…”
“What is it?”
“I thought you’ve been quite busy recently… I’m encountering many obstacles.”

Once we’re through with this situation, we’ll have considerably more breathing room. I knelt down, met Ebony’s gaze, and began to stroke her hair. As I caressed her sweaty crown, Ebony slightly retreated.

“I’ve sweated quite a bit… Perhaps you could refrain from stroking my hair.”
“Oh, what’s the matter? A few months back, we would sleep in each other’s arms.”
“We didn’t.”
“Didn’t we?”

Perhaps my memory has been tampered with. One thing is certain— Ebony is one of the secret weapons I’ve been preparing, and I am without a doubt convinced that she’ll soon be vying for Gu-seul’s position.

‘When it comes to swordsmanship, she’s more talented than anyone else.’

While having a good technique isn’t everything, Ebony’s swordsmanship surpasses even that of her teacher. Her aptitude for magic and ability to wield magical power may lag, but it’s a minor setback.

‘…It feels as though a blessing has tumbled forth from a vine.’

Ebony’s battle instincts were on par with those of Mugung. Considering that the comparison is with an entity of such prowess, her growth is accelerating daily.

However, I can’t show it now. I explained the circumstances while caressing the hair of Ebony, whom I abhor.

“Things are tough at the moment. There’s a lot to do. Nevertheless, in a month, all matters will conclude. Then, I’ll oversee your training.”
“Alright, understood, Master. So, please stop with the hair…”
“And, is there anything you need?”

I plan to provide whatever is necessary for her training, regardless of the cost. Upon hearing my words, Ebony perked up her ears and abruptly slipped her hand inside her chest.

“?”

What could she be up to? Upon closer observation, it appeared she had concealed a large scrap of paper in the inner pocket of her attire at her chest.

Ebony extended a crumpled, sweat-soaked sheet of stickers towards me.

“Then, could you… affix a sticker?”

There were just a few empty spots left on the sticker sheet. The time to grant her wish would soon arrive.

“Alright. I’ll give you one.”
“Can I have one more…?”
“No.”

Initially, the stickers, which were solely for praise, started to become a burden. I began to fear the requests she might make.

“…Hmph.”

Ebony’s sullen face was so adorable, I couldn’t help but chuckle aloud.

* * * * * * * * * *

Dust disperses along a single trajectory that has dropped.

A sword split into a pentagonal shape. The avatars of Sisyphus, who rushed towards a man at the center of the frontlines, exploded innumerably.

– Crash!!

“…I should have killed him sooner.”

White light surged from the body of Jung Si-woo, who brandished his long sword, flipping over the thick armor. No matter how much Sisyphus’ avatar tried to seize him from behind, it was only repelled by the wind pressure.

– Grrrrr!

The zenith of swordsmanship.

The luminous trails of the sword in motion are blurred and hard to distinguish. Jung Si-woo, who single-handedly decimates Flower’s army, carries the presence of a weapon of war itself. Regardless of the elite status of the opposing forces, they were supplemented by high-quality mercenaries and Sisyphus’ avatar.

Jung Si-woo’s domination of such formidable opposition drew the collective gaze of the soldiers on the battlefield.

– “He’s said to have received the blessing of the World Tree of Justice.”
– “Unbelievable.”

A warrior.

Over the past three years, the flower he painstakingly nurtured has bloomed today, revealing its power.

Like so.

– Zzzzzt!

The sword’s radiant energy, like lightning, swirled around in a wave-like motion. The mercenaries of Flower, sliced apart, couldn’t even scream as their limbs were severed into fragments.

The battle-hardened mercenary, skilled enough to trade a few blows with Jung Si-woo, had already fled, realizing that a moment’s obstinacy could cost him his life.

“Jung Si-woo.”
“…Why?”

The avatar of Sistus, who had barely evaded Jung Si-woo’s swordplay, approached him and spoke.
The child’s doppelgänger, bearing a disturbing grin, cried out to him.

“Remember this.”
“A dubious honor.”

Jung Si-woo, emotionless, murmured and swung his sword downwards.
Considering the number of infants Sistus had slaughtered and cloned… it was enough to make one sick to the stomach.

-Swish.

A slash marked the child’s head, the body slickly severed and falling.
He yearned to bury the body in the soil and pray for the souls of the sacrificed children, yet the battlefield remained.
Without even a moment to wipe his blood, Jung Si-woo moved forward.

‘Once this concludes, next is…’

The Demon of Trials.
He ought to have led further battles on the front lines, but the tide of the demons had altered of late.
Rumor had it they were consuming countless World Trees.
The World Tree of Justice seemed intent on subduing this beast through Jung Si-woo.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Hong-Yeon and Gu-seul, personifications of patience and healing.

If one sought individuals who could faithfully fulfill the roles of combat and support, these two were among the best within my current forces.

‘However…’

If they believed they could assassinate a king at this level, it was nothing more than a fool’s delusion.

By merging with the crown for a moment, sharing a brief communion with its ‘factors’, I was able to gauge the extent of power the king could wield.

The king did not venture into this world under his own power, but appeared before me in the guise of a ‘trial’.
As such, there were many difficulties in manifesting that power, and it required considerable effort and time to repel it.
One of the reasons I sought to swiftly topple the king.

“The king is corroded by the crown. What this implies is, he’s not in a human form. He’s barely maintaining his sanity.”

The king’s visage was a hybrid of human and Ent, but it was merely a shell, not much different from a rampaging World Tree.

An entity that had pushed the king’s power to extreme limits, devoured by the crown.
Yet, he could maintain his sanity because he had perfectly subjected the king’s ‘factors’.
This was also the reason why he could not wield the power of the Heavenly Demon.

The king’s power and the Heavenly Demon’s power were polar opposites.
He, who had advanced the king’s power at the expense of his own body’s integrity, could not manifest any magical energy, no matter the effort.

‘From the tale I’ve heard… he never had a chance to cultivate the Heavenly Demon’s power in the first place.’

In his world, Heaven had met her end far earlier.
To say nothing of having no experience with the past.

She may have been aware of the Magi, but likely did not sense the necessity to cultivate it. Decision and concentration. No need for such phrases, the King’s might was far more potent, magnifying in power by the dozens. It was a given, considering how she manipulated her body.

“Do you understand?”

I inquired, addressing the woman seated before me. Her armor concealed her substantial breasts, and she bore the epithet ‘Hunter’.

Sansuyu mumbled, a piece of tteokbokki held within her mouth, her head nodding in agreement.

“….Hand me the dish.”

“…Hmm?”

This one always required repetition to comprehend.