Chapter 27: The Tree and the Core!
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Huh?? A test???
Even I was shocked by what he said...
Did he mean that everything that happened until now was just... a test?
But even so, the situation made it feel as if Sayru had been in control of his own fate since the moment he entered this strange world — with that same unsettling smile on his face.
"Don't look so surprised. I actually forgot about this test entirely… because of you."
"What do you mean, 'test,' you bastard?! You'll never fool me — I won't let you take my world!"
Even though she didn't understand what Sayru meant, her resolve didn't waver.
But... what did she mean by her world?
"Well then, I suppose you're no longer useful to me. But before I decide your fate, tell me — who are you, and how long have you lived, you little brat... or should I say, you old hag?"
"You… you… you!! You insolent fool! You know nothing at all!"
While she screamed at him, Sayru released a horrifying killing intent toward her.
Her entire body froze in place, unable to speak another word.
"'Fool, fool,' is that all you can say? Answer the question — my patience is far thinner than you think."
Sayru could tell she was merely trying to test his temper, distracting him while she attempted to undo the seal on her soul.
But clearly, no one in existence could ever hope to tamper with a seal made by Sayru.
Once he restrained his killing intent, she was finally able to speak again — trembling.
"I-I'm sorry… please don't kill me… please…"
"Talk."
"I-it all began the moment we came to this world.
When my grandson and I arrived, a black window appeared before me, showing a golden lock. Then a voice echoed in my head saying: 'This world is yours. Protect it until its Hero returns.'
Immediately after that, I found myself able to control all the people who were transported here with me…"
When she finished, Sayru pieced her words together:
Upon arriving, she gained the ability to manipulate the people who came with her — including her grandson. She was the one who sent them on that so-called expedition to "explore the world."
But once they left, the connection vanished, and her control over them disappeared. That was when she realized the "Hero" mentioned wasn't her grandson — but someone else who would be summoned later, just like her.
So she decided to protect this world from the Hero himself.
To do so, she created a technique that allowed her to jump between the bodies she controlled. But by mistake…
"You got trapped inside the little girl's body? Not only that, you lost most of your memories because your soul synchronized with hers — forgetting your mission entirely?"
Sayru asked mockingly.
"Y-yes… and if you hadn't killed my father, I would never have remembered my mission at all…"
Sayru sat down, sinking into deep thought, trying to connect the events together, searching for a certain truth.
---
Darkness blanketed the land, the villagers had been asleep for hours.
At last, Sayru stopped thinking and rose to light several candles.
"How long has it been since you came to this world?"
The girl, exhausted, had fallen asleep sitting upright, but Sayru's question startled her awake.
"H-huh?... Sorry… I think… it's been about a century and a half. For some reason, no one here seems to age…"
If I'm right, Sayru thought, they've been aging… but only for a few weeks at a time.
It seemed he'd found the answer he was looking for.
That was his clue — time in this world wasn't normal.
"One last question… Have you ever seen a giant tree in this world?"
"Giant? If you mean really enormous, then yes — we saw one long ago, but it's very far from this village."
Sayru stood, opened the door, and lifted the girl into his right arm while holding a burning torch in his left.
"Show me the way." And with that, he shot forward with immense speed.
"Waaaaahhh!! Too faaast! Sloooow dooown!!!"
"Shut up and tell me the direction."
"R-right—this waaay!!"
How the hell is he running this fast while holding a torch that doesn't go out?! the girl thought in disbelief, amazed at Sayru's flawless control over his movement technique.
"Right, huh? Then let's go even faster!"
---
Half an hour later…
They arrived before the colossal tree.
"Ughh… blegh! I swear I just saw the Grim Reaper staring at me…"
The tree was enormous — no, gigantic.
Its height reached nearly a hundred meters, and its width around thirty.
Even Sayru, known for his tall stature among humans, looked like an insect before it.
"So… this is the Core of this world…"
Sayru began examining the massive roots, searching for something, while the girl was still vomiting behind him.
After several minutes, he found a large opening in one of the roots.
"This is the entrance. Let's go."
"Y-you arrogant jerk… wait for me!"
They entered the hollow root. The torch's light revealed a long, straight stone corridor — clearly carved by someone's hands, not formed by nature.
As they approached the exit, a bright glow appeared ahead.
Sayru quickened his pace.
And when they finally emerged—
Before them floated an enormous, radiant gem wrapped in delicate green roots.
"It's… beautiful…" the girl whispered, overwhelmed by its breathtaking glow.
Sayru stepped closer and touched the crystal. It reacted to his presence — its brightness intensified, pulsing like the heartbeat of a beast on the edge of death.
Thump…
Thump…
The girl suddenly burst into tears.
"Why… why do I feel such deep sadness…?"
Sayru spoke softly. "A mighty tree like you doesn't deserve to die this way, does it? Don't worry. I'll make your world one of the greatest — the most divine of them all."
As his words echoed, the gem filled with pure mana.
The tree began to absorb it through its thin roots, spreading that energy across the entire world —
Through the skies, the plants, the ground, and even the stones.
Sayru and the girl emerged from the tree's core.
She looked at him, confused. "What is that tree… and why do I feel so connected to it? I don't understand…"
"That tree," Sayru said, "is one of the rarest in existence — the World Tree. Even in the Great Domains, you'd only find two or three at most. For one to exist in a small world like this… it's a miracle.
As for your bond with it — that's because the tree gave you your spiritual power and tasked you with protecting this world.
When the tree grieves, you grieve. And when the tree dies… you die too."
Tears welled in her eyes as sorrow painted her face.
"I… I understand…" she whispered, before breaking down once more.
---
After her tears had dried, the two returned to the village.
Morning dawned upon the world — yet it was no longer the same.
The once mana-less realm now overflowed with energy… and the people who lived in the villages suddenly vanished.
"You know why everyone disappeared, don't you, little brat?" Sayru asked.
"Yes… I knew it all along. The people — all of them — and every memory… they were fake. I just kept lying to myself, pretending they were real…
But it's fine. I understand now.
And my name isn't 'brat'... it's Sora!"
As they spoke, the black page appeared before Sayru once again.
[The Owner has passed the First Fate Stone Test — The Trial of Death.]
[The Owner will return to his timeline in… 7… 6… 5…]
"This world is yours… for now. But when I find you again — protect it for my sake. Otherwise… I'll kill you for real."
A spatial portal appeared before Sayru and dragged him in.
"W–wait!!"
Sora tried to stop him, reaching out—
"May fate bring us together again, Sora."
Then Sayru vanished.
---
Moments later, Sayru appeared once more — in the Mana Gathering Lake, where he had been transported before.
He instantly concealed his aura and scanned the area cautiously.
"Ugh… where the hell are we now?"
Behind him, lying on the ground… was Sora.
"Huh?!"