I Picked Up the Hero Who Banished Me - Chapter 58



57 – [In the Land of Elves – 25]

The inside of the World Tree was more sparkly than I’d imagined.

But it wasn’t a sight that could be considered beautiful in the slightest.

It was rotting from the inside, its condition had turned to near worst.

There was no way I could do anything about this, I couldn’t think.

Even if I used Spiritual Union, it was impossible to replenish its power.

In the worst-case scenario, I had intended to try and save the World Tree even if I had to push myself, but at this state, I’d just be throwing my life away for nothing.

If there was even a chance, it would be worth a try, but even that probability couldn’t be seen.

As I thought, the only way was to contract with the World Tree’s spirit.

‘They say ancient spirits can talk.’

Spirits born from nature can’t speak. Of course, I could understand what they meant, but it was more like I was roughly picking up, “Ah, that’s what they’re saying.”

That intuition of being able to communicate with such spirits, that ability was also included in the talent to become a spiritmancer.

If communication wasn’t possible, you couldn’t even begin.

As I went further inside, I saw something that looked like a pit.

“Hmm.”

Carefully, I fidgeted with the soil near it.

I could feel the abundant power of nature.

There probably used to be water here. It sounds ridiculous to say, but was there a lake in this place, practically inside the World Tree, and was that lake’s water the World Tree’s sap?

I couldn’t know for sure, but at least there was an insane amount of natural power here, and now it’s gone.

I looked around but saw nothing.

A faint green light flickered, but I felt like I could lose my breath any second.

“World Tree Spirit! I’ve come to speak with you! Titania sent me! Please grant me an audience!”

I shouted loudly, and a silent stillness hung in the air for a moment.

Then.

A whooshing sound echoed, and the green light flared up intensely for a flash.

And then.

A green spirit made of tree-like flesh appeared before me.

But its body didn’t look good in various ways, and maybe it was my imagination, but its expression also seemed to be somehow worse for wear.

No, considering the current state of the World Tree, it would be stranger if it didn’t look bad.

“Go back.”

“Huh?”

To tell me to get lost immediately.

It seems I wasn’t a desirable candidate.

I had sort of expected it, and if there was time, I was planning to come back again and again for days, but considering the situation outside now, I couldn’t possibly just leave.

“Those who are not elves are not even allowed to enter the World Tree. Originally, I had no intention of meeting you, but because Titania gave her permission, I came out to tell you ‘go back’.”

I see.

So originally they were just going to stay silent and not meet me, but because Titania asked them to, they still came out to look at my face and tell me to go back, for Titania’s sake?

Sorry, but I couldn’t just turn back.

“Do you know the current state of Elvenheim? A high-ranking demon from the Demon Lord’s army has entered.”

“Yes, two Demon Lord’s army officers have infiltrated along with a flock of wyverns.”

‘So it was two.’

I figured as much.

Livia vanished from the sky, and the fact that she hadn’t reappeared meant that someone was capable of fighting her to some extent. At that point, I had no choice but to think of the Demon Lord’s officers.

Furthermore, the meteor that fell from the sky couldn’t have been prepared while fighting Livia.

So, at least two.

And I was certain that one of them was a mage-type.

“Then we don’t have time to be doing this! What do you need? My lifespan? What are the contract terms? I’ll accept anything!”

Even now, elves are dying, and people’s lives are being extinguished.

But getting the spirit to understand that is incredibly difficult.

As I said, they’re a cranky bunch, and they’re not good at letting others into their eyes.

“Hmm.”

The world tree spirit, who looked like they were about to leave, turned their head, seemingly intrigued by what I said.

“Isn’t a lifespan important to you short-lived humans? You don’t even know that much about Elvenheim, so why go to such lengths?”

“People!!”

I felt a burst of annoyance rise up without me even realizing it.

“Are dying!!”

“…….”

I don’t know what price I can pay, but if I can pay it, let me.

You said you’d give, the price.

You said we’d make a contract.

Even as we’re talking, lives are dying, and if we activate the World Tree right now, there are lives that could be saved. That was enough, no more reason was needed.

“Are you giving up your life to save people?”

“It’s not giving it up, it’s wagering it.”

“What if I make your life the condition here?”

“A contract only has meaning if you live after. Your premise is wrong to begin with. We’re doing this to live, not to die.”

“…….”

“Some fight, wagering their lives to protect their country, others to protect their families, others for honor. The reasons are different but everyone is fighting to live. No, they have to fight to live.”

It was possible to fight with the resolve to die.

Depending on the situation, there had been times when you had no choice but to be prepared to die.

But you absolutely shouldn’t assume you’re going to die.

It’s completely different to say that the worst case scenario might be death and to make death the starting point. No matter how hopeless the situation seems, people must struggle to live.

“So I can’t accept that condition. I’m going to live.”

“……It’s, in principle, impossible to make a contract with a non-elf.”

“…….”

“But the current situation is exceptional, a sudden deterioration, we can no longer hold out. In a few days, the World Tree will completely die. And then I will die too.”

“So? You’re not a race with a personality so good that you’ll make a contract with me because you’re afraid of dying, are you? If you don’t know if I’m worthy of you, you won’t make a contract even if you die.”

“You know the spirits well. Yes, we are a race with a weak concept of ‘other’.”

Even this World Tree spirit was capable of physical conversation, making them quite the exception in their regard for others.

But most spirits didn’t care about others, or if they did, it was solely through sensation and emotion. That could be surprisingly annoying at times, but on the flip side, it also meant that if they liked you, they would help unconditionally.

“Still, you’re there to protect the World Tree, right?”

“Yes, that is so.”

“I’m saying I’ll help.”

“…….”

The World Tree spirit closed its eyes for a moment.

“The World Tree’s contractor must be an elf. The reason is that it’s extremely dangerous due to the extreme incompatibility with non-elf spirit users.”

“……I’m half spirit-like, my ability to connect is overwhelmingly higher than other humans.”

That’s why making contracts with spirits wasn’t that difficult.

Literally, it was like I just reached out and made a contract.

At first, I didn’t even know what a contract was and ended up making one just by touching a spirit.

“No, it’s not a matter of aptitude… Anyways, if you desire it that much, there is a way. However, it will be considerably dangerous.”

“What do I need to do?”

“A spirit and a spirit user’s contract is a contract of the soul. Our bodies are not compatible with each other, so whether we like it or not, the difficulty of the contract is extremely high. Honestly, it’s impossible.”

I understood roughly.

“So, there’s a way to lower that, right?”

“There is a way to make it possible if it’s a momentary contract.”

“Good, can we save this World Tree with that moment?”

“That explosive burst of instantaneous magic… if it’s that powerful, then I could obtain the magic to purify the World Tree.”

“Purify?”

That word… it was catching on something.

But there was no time to worry about that now.

From noble mtl dot com

In this critical situation, with every second counting, I couldn’t afford to interrogate every detail.

I had all the necessary info, so now only one thing mattered.

“I’ll ask again, what do I have to do?”

“Your physical form isn’t compatible, but fundamentally, spirits can contract with any race. It’s about linking the essence of the soul. But I’m a rather special spirit, and my physical link is best suited with Elves.”

“So, in other words, you’re saying we connect souls?”

“You’re picking things up quickly. Do you know that people become stronger when they’re on the verge of death, or facing a life-threatening situation?”

“Huh?”

That was sudden.

But there was a story about that.

They said, when a person is on the verge of death, or in a life-or-death crisis, their soul struggles to survive and manifests itself outside of their body, something that normally couldn’t happen.

“When you’re in a near-death situation, your soul will emerge, and that’s when we can contract.”

“Wait, hold on…”

“Also, that goes for me as well. We have to bring each other to the brink of death with our magic, only then will our souls react to the magic and connect.”

“…”

“I’m made to only contract with Elves, yet you asked me to contract. Did you lack that much guts?”

I paused for a moment, then spoke.

“Couldn’t we just hurt each other? Seems like that would be more accurate.”

“No, we cannot.”

“Why not?”

“You know the answer to that better than I do.”

“…….”

A spirit.

A spirit would never contract with someone they deemed beneath their own standing.

Lesser, lower-ranked spirits often contracted based purely on a partner’s talent, but as the rank increased, all sorts of conditions arose, starting with the contractor’s words and actions.

Even high-ranking spirits would set conditions, and even if it meant death, they wouldn’t contract without those being met.

They would rather choose death.

“I’m a spirit as well, you see. I have to check if you’re worthy of contracting with me.”

“Does it really have to be now? It’s just a temporary contract anyway, right?”

“Even so, a contract is a contract. And you are aware, aren’t you?”

“That spirits have foul tempers.”

“Indeed.”

“…….”

*Whoosh*

Flames flickered at the tips of his fingers.

“You guys aren’t treated like monsters because you don’t harm humanity, you know, really.”

“This life granted to me by the Goddess, how could I kill humanity made by the Goddess?”

The goddess created humanity.

The death god created monsters.

It was a famous creation myth.

“I like testing limits, but I don’t have time.”

“I see.”

“Let’s settle this in one blow.”

“Sounds good.”

There was only one thing to do.

Pour everything I had into it.

The World Tree Spirit was an ancient spirit, higher than even the most powerful high-tier spirits.

A being I didn’t know if I could defeat, even going all out.

Therefore.

‘Focusing all my magic into this one blow is the best I can do right now.’

Spirit Fusion.

My body transformed into flames, and in an instant, my magic surged exponentially.

The World Tree Spirit frowned at the sight.

“I thought you had an odd body, but to think it’d go this far… You must have been exposed to an unimaginable amount of malice, poor thing.”

“You don’t have to look at me like that. I do think I’ve been through some unfortunate events, but I’m not going to let that misfortune consume me and waste my life. I’m too busy being happy, it’d be such a waste to spend it looking at my misfortunes.”

“Indeed.”

The World Tree Spirit smiled and extended a hand, and a green light shimmered on its palm.

I reached out my hand, too, and the blazing fire, as if burning, soon changed its nature and turned to water.

“The raw power would be stronger with fire.”

“Looking at it now, if it’s a spirit’s flame, it might burn down the World Tree.”

“…….”

The spirit of the World Tree smiled.

“Then, I’ll go.”

“Okay.”

Magic swirled, and in an instant, each other’s magic was released.

My water, sharp and vibrating, held the power to slice through even a blade of considerable strength, and it collided directly with the green light the World Tree spirit exhaled.

Magic clashed with magic, creating a preposterous sound, and the green light pierced through my magic, creating wounds on my body.

The sensation of magic not colliding, but rather piercing and entering my body, was utterly unpleasant, and the bleeding was unbelievable for such small wounds.

“Kuh! Ugh…!!”

“Hmph.”

*Thwack! Thwack!!*

Magic pierced and exploded, and the blood gushed from my body, dripping onto the floor.

Magic clashed with magic, growing stronger and more turbulent.

“Are you going this far to save a person?”

“…….”

At the words of the World Tree spirit, I was momentarily stunned before smiling.

Well…

What would it be like.

There was definitely that reason, too.

I helped people, hoping that human kindness would be a thing that goes around and comes around.

Though there were times I was betrayed, or things didn’t end right.

I didn’t want to despair at that malice.

And I smiled, looking towards an ending that would properly conclude.

I thought that kindness definitely held a hopeful light.

But.

Standing here now, it felt like something different.

“…Ha.”

In that moment, I laughed.

Suddenly, the words Titania had said came to mind.

“I guess you could call me simple-minded, I am a man after all.”

“Hmm.”

I said, bleeding.

“I just want to look cool in front of a woman who tells me she loves me.”

“…Is that so? Not a bad answer.”

Kugugugung!!

The entire World Tree shook.

“Hyaaah!!”

KA-KAA-GANG!!

This time I pushed in from my side, and the World Tree Spirit didn’t give in, blasting out magic.

Then, *KWA-JIK!!* a sound rang out.

Our bodies pierced through each other, magic erupting, and a hole tore through the World Tree Spirit’s abdomen.

The World Tree Spirit smiled, knowing it had been pierced.

“Haaah… haaah…”

“Magnificent.”

I raised my head and yelled.

“Contract!! Hurry!! Activate the World Tree!! Now!!”

I was breathless, felt like I was going to die, and couldn’t even speak properly.

Hurry!

There’s really no time!!