◈ Chapter 359. Do Flowers Bloom Even in Abandoned Lands? (2)
Harkon told me.
-“As you must have guessed, Commander-in-Chief, that was no ordinary use of the sword. A trajectory that did not cut through the wind, but seemed merely to ride upon it. There is only one person in this world capable of leaving such sword marks behind.”
The one who had turned Unification Under Heaven into a wreck.
Was none other than Elsidore, he said.
I was honestly impressed.
Trick or not, in any case.
I had reached a higher realm of swordsmanship than Harkon. ‘……
You say I must have guessed, Harkon. I had no idea at all.’ I realized the importance of experience.
Harkon seemed to have recognized Elsidore’s sword strike from the traces left behind alone. Of course, what made that possible was the fact that Harkon had formed a somewhat close relationship with Elsidore.
-“How are you feeling, Elsidore?”
Whenever Harkon stopped by the Golden Palace, he would warmly greet Elsidore. Perhaps because I had heard it was Elsidore’s doing, it wasn’t difficult to accept. ‘Yes, if it was Elsidore, it’s entirely possible.’ Elsidore was strong.
Though he could not be compared to Younaxus, he was an elf who, like a dragon, could be called a direct descendant of the World Tree.
In other words, even if he threw effort to the dogs, with his innate talent alone, he was a being in a realm that present-day players could not approach. ‘Unification Under Heaven is no exception.’ Moreover, Unification Under Heaven was all show and no substance.
Because Liuo Junchun had sucked them dry.
He was a man who had even looked down on high-level guild members, a valuable force.
Would a bastard like that have prepared any nurturing policy for low-level guild members? If he had, he would not have abandoned Unification Under Heaven without hesitation. In a way, it was only natural that such a Unification Under Heaven collapsed helplessly before Elsidore.
Click—
So.
As soon as the Holy War Alliance meeting ended, I headed straight for the Garden of Dignity. His expression had been so twisted that when I released [Hierarchy of Blessing], he had suddenly gone all the way to China and smashed Unification Under Heaven to pieces. ‘Let’s hear the reason first.’ Liuo Junchun.
Or did a player belonging to Unification Under Heaven pick a fight with him?
After entering the Garden of Dignity, I first examined the flowers.
It would have been a shame for my aesthetic eye to simply pass them by. ‘After all, praise can make even an elf dance.’ Of course, if I brought up [Hierarchy of Blessing], I could hear an answer immediately. But perhaps because I had just thoroughly criticized Liuo Junchun’s autocracy, something about it felt a little uncomfortable. ‘And.’
What is always important is justification.
If he had been neglecting his duties, that would be another matter.
But Elsidore seemed to have diligently tended the garden all this time.
The elixir herbs had grown lush beyond comparison with before.
It had already been quite some time since water imbued with Hiel’s blessing had stopped being supplied. Yet far from losing vitality, several elixir herbs could be seen at a glance to have grown into “spiritual medicines.”
[Pentagram of Pure Knowledge]
[Grade: Epic]
[Restriction: None]
[Effect: When equipped, acquire knowledge of all minerals and all plants on the Arcana Continent.]
[Description: A magical tool containing immeasurably vast knowledge.]
Outstanding effects of spiritual medicines surfaced in my mind. ‘The more spiritual medicines, the better.’ Suddenly, I thought of medicinal enhancement.
The name of living proof came to mind.
The Transcendent, Urs of the Iron Arm.
Urs had displayed such remarkable courage that he did not back down even before Younaxus, Argentress’s group of elves, and the Seven Deadly Sin of Gluttony. It must have been a boldness he could show because he had confidence in his own skill. ‘But for me to take them again is a bit…’
However, the reason Urs could continue consuming spiritual medicines was purely thanks to his unique constitution. Even I had once consumed two spiritual medicines at the same time and ended up dipping half my body into the underworld, hadn’t I?
Of course, I couldn’t let precious spiritual medicines go to waste. ‘Then there is only one choice.’ Let’s distribute spiritual medicines to the Holy War Alliance. ‘While keeping only a few that I need.’
If they were spiritual medicines that could never be obtained again, I would not have been able to share them, even out of regret. But looking at the Garden of Dignity, it seemed I did not need to worry about spiritual medicines running dry.
Only after finishing my thoughts did I speak.
“It seems you have pulled out the weeds, Elsidore.”
I did not know how long he had been away.
In any case, he had done his best at the duty entrusted to him, Elsidore.
It was meant to be a fairly warm compliment.
Clang—!
……
Why did you drop the trowel you were holding?
And why are you looking at me with such a startled expression?
I could not guess the reason, but as they say, if you keep your mouth shut, you get halfway there.
Sure enough, when I maintained my silence, Elsidore opened his mouth.
“Yes. Your words are correct. I crossed over to China, pulled out the trash, the weeds, and returned. I will take responsibility for leaving the Garden of Dignity without permission.”
Hey, anyone listening would think I’m some villainous employer. When you used to run wild with a sword, I did order you not to leave the garden. But as you know, that order was rescinded long ago, wasn’t it?
More importantly. ‘I didn’t think he’d admit it this readily.’ Was Granfel-style speech stumbling backward and catching a mouse?
Of course, even if the opportunity had fallen into my lap, I should not waste it.
I brazenly continued.
“I trust there was a reason befitting that action.”
“…….”
When I actually asked the reason, the silence grew long. ‘Surely you didn’t do that for fun, did you?’ What kind of madman in the world would invade China out of simple interest and turn Unification Under Heaven upside down? Of course, considering how he had made Rockkid into that state. ‘If it’s you, it seems like you might be capable of it…….’
I shook off the thought just in case.
The Elsidore of that time and the Elsidore of now were different, starting from the venom one could feel in his eyes. Soon, after much thought, Elsidore answered. At that answer, I flinched.
“Because that was my pride.”
……
Wait a minute, you too with everything beginning and ending in pride?!
Seriously, what incredible infectiousness you have, pride.
I stared into Elsidore’s eyes.
Elsidore’s deep pupils, resembling a forest, did not waver in the slightest.
It did not seem like an excuse to roughly gloss things over with pride.
So my answer had no choice but to be concise.
“If it is your pride, I will ask no further.”
Honestly, that damned pride!
Our Lord Granfel values others’ pride as much as he values his own. If it was an action that came from pride, then he could no longer ask about it. ‘If he had crossed the line, it would be different, but no one died.’
However, there was one thing I had to make clear. That was the very reason I had visited the garden in the first place. This time too, what shone was Granfel-style speech.
“However, you should know.”
“……
Know? What are you referring to?”
I caressed a flower petal.
“What must be done after picking out the weeds.”
“……!”
That’s right.
Elsidore, through an action born of pride, had weeded out Unification Under Heaven. As for the result of that action, as seen, it became the cause for Liuo Junchun to abandon both Unification Under Heaven and his motherland and establish a new nation.
China had literally become an abandoned land.
I looked at Elsidore once more.
“I remember your words. You once said that compared to Cisley, the homeland of the elves, my garden was utterly shabby. But what about now, Elsidore?”
“…….”
Elsidore’s gaze turned toward the Garden of Dignity.
A sight so beautiful.
That anyone would marvel at it.
At that point, I reminded Elsidore.
“If it is you, who brought forth such fruit, then you should be capable of it. Even if it is a land abandoned by its master, I trust that you will make beautiful flowers bloom.”
“……!”
“Do not betray my trust.”
“…….”
I had no memory of telling him to keep his mouth shut.
Elsidore did not answer for a while.
Then, in a low voice, he opened his mouth.
That was.
“……
I shall repay you.”
It was the first honorific I had ever heard from Elsidore.
[You have obtained command authority over the Blood Elf, Elsidore.]
*
China.
From the moment Liuo Junchun entered the Arcana Continent.
[Brainwashing]
Had naturally been released.
The guild members of Unification Under Heaven suffered from the aftereffects of the long brainwashing.
“……
What have we been doing all this time?”
“We worked ourselves to death for nothing……!!”
“Damn it.”
Memories of all that had happened flashed past.
Their blind loyalty toward their lord.
They realized that every one of their actions.
Had instead been eating away at themselves.
It was not a story that applied only to Unification Under Heaven.
The nation’s leadership had to stop the rifts that were forming without rest.
They, too, could not be free from helplessness.
Chairman, Jian Wei.
“Where is the Anti-Giant Beast Combat Unit?”
The aftereffects of escaping Liuo Junchun’s influence.
Moreover, since he was not a player but an ordinary person.
His headache was still severe.
Tremble—
His legs wobbled, making it difficult to keep his balance.
However, as chairman.
Jian Wei went to the operations room to calm the situation.
But this was pus that had festered as much as it possibly could.
There was no way it could be easily dealt with.
The operations staff officer delivering the bad news looked as if he were about to cry.
“All units have been deployed to the Zero Mountains.”
“What?”
The purpose of establishing the Anti-Giant Beast Combat Unit was only one thing.
The moment a rift collapsed.
To eliminate the monsters in a short time with overwhelming firepower.
And yet, why were the very people entrusted with that heavy duty.
Dispatched to the Zero Mountains?
More important than the reason was having them return to their homeland.
“How long will it take for them to return?”
“……
At least three days, we estimate.”
“What did you say? Three whole days in a situation like this?!”
The rift collapse rate was rising in real time. In particular, there were already rifts whose collapse rate had surpassed 90 percent. But the bad news did not end there.
The staff officer continued with difficulty.
“That is assuming the aircraft carriers are intact.”
“What?”
“During the process of supporting Unification Under Heaven’s battles. To be precise, their hunts, the Anti-Giant Beast Unit consumed a massive amount of supplies and suffered fatal damage. There is also news that the stern was destroyed by monsters inhabiting the sea near the Zero Mountains…….”
“You damned—”
Jian Wei ground his teeth with a crunch.
Yes, perhaps he had no right to be angry.
Whether it was because he could not resist the power of players or anything else.
In any case, it was all his own fault that his homeland had handed the initiative to Unification Under Heaven and been dragged around as they pleased. However, Liuo Junchun alone could not be forgiven. ‘I……. truly believed in you.’
Perhaps after the Cataclysm.
He had thought that the leader his homeland needed might be that man.
But Liuo Junchun.
He had trampled on the trust of over a billion people for all to see.
He had irresponsibly thrown away the lives of over a billion people.
Jian Wei clenched his fist. ‘……
AAU.’
Before long, they would likely send support forces in the name of the greater good.
However, Jian Wei could not be glad.
Because it was common sense that they would have to pay an enormous price in return. ‘China may face a future darker than collapse.’
But Jian Wei could not even comfortably grind his teeth.
The collapse rate of the rifts soared steeply.
At last, the staff officer brought Jian Wei despairing news.
“The B-Beijing rift has collapsed!!”
“……!!!”
...
Not every player in China had fallen into despair.
They were an extreme minority.
But there did exist players who had not joined Unification Under Heaven.
“Damn it.”
However, their level was far too low.
[Graveyard Bard]
[Appropriate Level: Lv.400]
[Collapse Rate: 95.6%]
“Kuhuk.”
Escape successful.
Several players spilled out as if they had been flung from the rift.
But all of them had suffered severe wounds and could not flee.
‘This must be a scene unimaginable in other countries.’
A man clutching his stomach spat out self-deprecatingly.
“……
We must be quite the spectacle, huh?”
Level 400 was still considered high level.
But for a nation to be driven to the brink of existence by a single rift with an appropriate level of only 400. Moreover, for China, which possessed tens of millions of players, to find itself in such a situation.
It was only natural that the world would laugh at them.
“We’re about to become the first country to be destroyed by trolls, aren’t we?”
Everything was because of Unification Under Heaven.
Liuo Junchun.
That bastard had brought this about.
Not only had he monopolized experience points inefficiently, he had all but ground down high-level players. There was no way any excellent players remained in present-day China.
The man stared at the rift.
[Collapse Rate: 96.9%]
[Collapse Rate: 97.8%]
[Collapse Rate: 99.0%]
……
“……
May you rest in peace.”
The collapse rate shot up rapidly.
It made him guess what kind of end the failed players had met.
Before long, the rift began to collapse.
The man clenched his teeth.
“I’ll be following after you.”
Clack—
It was the moment he raised his sword and shield with grim resolve, because he could not run away.
A bright light poured out from the collapsed rift.
Amid that dazzling backlight, the shape of a person could be seen.
“……?”
No, that thing had ears far too pointed to be called a person.
Shing—
It was far too strong to be called a person.
One strike.
Just a single slash.
Appropriate level 4
0
0.
That was the amount of effort it took to clear the collapsed rift.
-……
I-Isn’t that Elsidore?
-WTF, why is that monster in China?!
-Wait, that psycho is protecting people?!
Blood Elf.
“From now on, you are flowers.”
“……
Flowers? Wh-What do you mean?”
“Even if you are not sprouts of that sort, you must be reborn as such.”
An abandoned land.
There, in the midst of it.
The first “blood flower” began to bloom.
“Because that was His command.”