EP.303 Let's Protect Nature
I was not hurt. Instead of wildly stabbing me, the branches embraced me warmly. It was merciful, yet so resolute that I couldn't even muster the thought of resisting.
The rustling of leaves. The snapping of branches. A stream of wind flowed in and played the tree. The chaotic yet beautiful disorderly rhythm of the tree filled my ears.
"Maximilien, this bet is your victory. I believed the King would not come until all people cried out for Him, yet you chose the opposite path and managed to find the King."
Amidst this, I heard the sound of wood splitting. Looking toward the source of the sound, a knothole, whose origin I couldn't fathom, was gradually growing larger. From deep within the tree, from a dark and profound darkness, a dry voice flowed out.
"Since the King has personally graced us with His presence, this humble servant is so overcome with emotion that I know not what to do with myself."
And then, a hand reached out from the knothole.
A long, slender hand gripped the knothole and pulled it apart on both sides. From within the knothole that had split open as large as a gate, a human figure squeezed their way out.
It is said that the spirit of the tree dwells within the knothole. The simplistic notion that if there is a hole, something must live there eventually morphed into folklore passed down through generations, but right now, that legend was reality.
If spirits existed in this world, they would look exactly like her. An androgynous appearance that made it difficult to even guess her gender. Vine-like small leaves grew abundantly on her green hair that cascaded down to the ground. Her silk robe was tied and fastened with vines. Even so, it had a generous fit, revealing her arms up to the elbows from inside the sleeves.
Already peculiar enough, but the most distinctive feature was the horns hanging from her head. They resembled a deer's, but they were not beastly horns. They were simply branches extending from her temples.
I murmured.
"...A Druid?"
Druids were few in number, but among them, there was one who was the most famous and powerful. A watcher of history who had witnessed all of history from ancient times to the present.
The proxy of nature. The most beautiful beast.
...And something I just learned, the head of the King of All Beasts.
"This humble servant is Nebida. A beast who could not die greets the King of Humanity."
The ancient Druid, Nebida.
After adjusting her robes, she knelt before me and bowed her head. Thud, the soft sound of her head striking the ground rang out.
Uh, um.
I was simply bewildered. Anyone would feel the same way if someone burst out of a tree and bowed to them.
And above all, the problem was that the other party was a powerhouse with absolute martial prowess beyond that of a superhuman. Fitting for the head, someone who could treat Maximilien as triflingly as this.
That's strange. I knew Maximilien called for support. But I never expected them to reach here from another country in less than a few hours. What the, where are all the people on our side? Aren't they going to hurry up and join?
No, actually, is it better if they don't join?
Even if they join, we'll lose anyway.
A chill runs down my spine. Nebida is an overpowering existence that cannot be resisted. A being capable of destroying a nation alone, with purely individual power... someone even stronger than Tyr.
And the bigger problem was that she had a clear purpose for what she intended to do with me. I hid the skewer behind my back and smiled as I spoke.
"Uh, nice to meet you. I'm Hugh, the King of Humanity of this generation. Please raise your head for now."
At my words, Nebida quickly raised her head. In her oak-colored eyes, boundless emotions toward me spilled forth. Admiration, expectation, longing, and... desire.
If she had no feelings at all, I could have built a relationship from the ground up. Just like how I built a bond with Tyr.
However, if the other party has such a clear business with the "King of Humanity," persuasion is impossible. I was certain of it when I looked into her eyes.
The only relief was that this monster was the type among the King of All Beasts who sought the King of Humanity and worshipped him the most. Just a moment ago, didn't she smash her forehead to greet me? She won't kill or harm me.
Hmm. Should I try prodding her once? I commanded with nonchalance.
"I have some business with Mr. Maximilien, so could you please step aside for a moment?"
Then Nebida smashed her head against the ground again. While I flinched, Nebida pressed her face to the floor and spoke resoundingly.
"I am sorrowful. As this foolish servant has lost the bet with him, I must pay the price for his sake. Please understand."
Is she telling me not to kill him? But I'm the King of Humanity? Come on, hoping for the king's authority to carry weight, I spoke sternly.
"No, I'm telling you I'm really the King of Humanity. You don't disbelieve me, do you?"
"The King is whole and complete; how could this humble servant dare doubt?"
"I'm commanding you as the King of Humanity. I said step aside."
"I am sorrowful."
Nebida only repeated her apologies and smashed her head again. It seemed she had no intention of listening to me.
What the. Then why did she put me on a pedestal, calling me the King and all that? If she's not going to listen, why bother with the etiquette and treating me like a King?
It couldn't be helped. While Nebida was bowing her head, I secretly gripped the skewer again. Maximilien's thought-gears had stopped and he was dying, but the opponent was a primordial Druid skilled in medicine and herbalism. If I let her take him away, who knows how she might revive him.
Just one strike. He's on the verge of death anyway. I only needed to land the final blow.
"I won't say much more. This is the last time. Step aside."
"I am sorrowful."
I counted internally and kicked off the ground timed with Nebida's head-banging. Smack, thud. The sounds overlapped, and my body leapt over Nebida's head. Aiming the skewer, I dashed toward Maximilien. I reached out my hand toward him as he lay fallen as if dead....
I jumped, but I didn't fall.
Branches and tree vines were holding me. Trees had sprouted without my noticing. It was so still that I hadn't even realized they were growing until they appeared. By the time I noticed, my body was dangling in midair as if caught in a spiderweb.
...I read her 'thoughts,' but I can't dodge this.
She didn't control the trees. She 'protected' Maximilien. However, the trees arbitrarily carried out her will and hung me to isolate me from Maximilien.
She's completely different from Maximilien. He designed devices with gears and controlled each one individually to make them move. All of his actions were conscious.
In contrast, Nebida only possesses will. And the trees follow her will on their own. That's why even if I read her thoughts, I can't predict what result will come about.
The trees fulfill it on their own? What even is this...!
At that moment, Nebida spoke with her head still bowed.
"If the King had been whole, He would not have permitted even this petty rebellion of mine. However. The binding spells that wicked woman tied are still intact. I lament that the road ahead is still so endlessly far."
Nebida let out a deep sigh. She exhaled for so long that I worried she might die from lack of oxygen, then clumsily rose to her feet.
In the meantime, the spot where she had smashed her head caught my eye. Instead of blood, soft green sprouts had sprouted abundantly like a cushion.
...What a cheap trick. If she was going to do that, why did she smash her head? Was it a political action for show?
"This servant did not seek out the King. The King of Humanity must not be sought out, for He will only truly come when beseeched by the will of the people. However, Maximilien. He challenged. He accomplished. He fulfilled. As this servant honors his will, I shall aid him."
Along with Nebida, my body moved. No, to be exact, the tree hanging me moved furtively to the side. The tree widened its knothole as if to swallow me and pulled on the vines.
Huh. If I stay like this, I'll go inside that thing. I struggled, but each time I did, my body was gradually buried deeper into the tree vines.
This is dangerous. Nebida originally had no intention of taking me. But Maximilien will try all sorts of things with me, and now Nebida will help him!
I might die before even considering things like the King of Sins!
"Wait a moment. I won't kill Maximilien, so could you please let me go?"
"This servant shall attend to you. My King, this way."
"Just listen to me!"
"I am sorrowful."
Damn it. What kind of lunatic is this! I shouted desperately.
"Someone save me!"
It was then. Nebida discovered something and smiled faintly. A meteor reflected in her eyes. Wrapping wind around itself and trailing uncombusted mana light, something fell from far away.
One second until impact. Nebida grabbed a branch in response. A sharp blade aiming for Nebida approached along with a familiar voice.
"Cheon-a-a-a-a-a-eng!"
The sky split.
Fluttering clothes appeared before me, and a welcome back fell before me like lightning. From the shattered scenery, broken branches and leaves fell a half-beat late. Thanks to everything being cut—branches, vines, and all—my body regained its freedom.
While falling, I clearly saw it.
The sight of small branches rising to meet Cheon-aeng, who was falling wreathed in wind.
The Sword of the Heavens, Cheon-aeng. The blade forged through compressed space could split even rocks. It should have split an ordinary tree branch all the way up to the arm holding it. It might even cleave Nebida's body like firewood.
However, the branch was not cut.
Far from splitting, new branches and leaves were growing from the part that touched Cheon-aeng. It looked as if it was growing by consuming Cheon-aeng.
Even though her strike was rendered futile, the regressor calmly scoffed.
"Hmph! You blocked it well! Then, how about this!"
A confident expression. An overwhelming belief in her own power. And the strength to back it up.
The regressor swung Cheon-aeng with a challenging smile. Fast and light sword strikes targeted Nebida. But Nebida didn't even dodge. The small branches and leaves extending from the branches blocked the sword strikes on their own.
"Impressive!"
The regressor shouted confidently and performed a backward midair flip. Nebida matched her by taking a step back and sweeping the ground with her foot. The leaves on the ground slowly rose, caught in a whirlwind. It looked as if the leaves were protecting her with a mystical power.
Nebida spoke.
"...I heard there was a child running around destroying the 'roots' with a relic of the Demon God. So you're the one Maximilien spoke of."
"Ha! That's me. So what?"
Oh, as expected of a regressor. It's amazing how she isn't intimidated even against the ancient Druid. Is this the true face of a regressor who doesn't spare their life...?
'Ahhh, ahhhhh! This is bad, this is really bad! Why, why is that thing here already? There's still a long way to go before your entrance! No. We can't win!'
Nope. This is her true face.
I nodded as I read her thoughts.