Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint - Chapter 582



581 – The Day the World Tree Burned

What is a witch? They are primarily known as a wicked group that handles potions and poisons, commands beasts as familiars, and curses humans… but that’s not entirely the case.

For the majority of beasts, the lifespan of females is longer than that of males. The same goes for humans. While Tir and the great witch are extending the average, even excluding such special cases, on average, women tend to live longer.

The old woman, having lost her partner, survives alone, spending her remaining days raising small beasts on the outskirts of the village. Her frail body holds no value, but the knowledge gained from long experience is as precious as gold. Drawing on her experiences, the old woman helps those in need as a midwife, a pharmacist, and a counselor.

Their knowledge is passed down through oral tradition, gradually supplemented, evolving into a discipline.

The one who continues that progress is the witch.

Witches are those who resonate deeply with life and death more than anyone else.

[That’s absurd. How can realizing that life is nothing special be enlightenment? Something unimportant could never become a deity!]

The great witch, expressing how unjust it felt not to have become a deity, conveyed her emotions through the parrot. The parrot echoed the great witch’s words as if complaining.

[I created life. If anyone deserves to be a deity, isn’t it me?]

“You created life?”

[Yes.]

That’s quite surprising, isn’t it? It’s understandable to feel wronged for not becoming a deity.

“I just want to clarify, you’re not making a pun about giving birth in pain and calling that creating life, are you? By that logic, every mother would be a candidate for deityhood.”

[What are you saying to a virgin who hasn’t even married? Vampires can’t give birth in the first place!]

“Then where is the life you claim to have created?”

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[You saw it earlier. The meat fruit.]

When she says meat fruit, is she referring to the fruit that bore meat in the room earlier?

“You’re saying you made that?”

[Yes. That was my masterpiece, destined to become a new hope for the world.]

Seeing that the conversation might drag on, the parrot preemptively quenched its thirst. After drinking all the water, the parrot began to speak.

[The great jungle is a blessed land, but it’s not a livable one. This land, blessed by the World Tree, is overflowing with vitality, making it difficult for humans to survive. The trees are dense, the plains are narrow, and it’s hard to farm or raise livestock. Dangerous beasts that threaten not only livestock but even humans lurk everywhere.]

Using tools to manipulate the environment to one’s advantage is the true power of humanity. Thus, the jungle, teeming with all kinds of flora and fauna, was unsuitable for establishing civilization.

[The Empire is a splendid and great nation, but its population is woefully small compared to its vast expanse. Above all, the biggest shortage is food. The land is difficult for farming, so hunting is the only source of sustenance.]

“Hunting isn’t as easy as it sounds.”

Small game is scarce, and large beasts are dangerous. It’s not uncommon for the brave hunters who venture out to be slaughtered.

[Right. How could we possibly consume such cute creatures for just a single meal?]

“…Is that a problem?”

[If that’s not a problem, then what is? It’s the nature of the world to eat and be eaten, but it’s too fleeting and sad for a life that has struggled for years to be consumed in an instant.]

“So, that’s why you created the meat fruit?”

[It wasn’t solely out of sadness. I, Hexia Agartha, am to be the Empress of the Empire. I can’t abandon my people just because I feel sorry for the beasts, right? My disciples and citizens are those I care for as well.]

Even if it sounds a bit harsh to say I nurture my people… many rulers sacrifice their subjects for their pets. Compared to them, the Great Witch seems relatively fair.

[The tree that bears the meat fruit was supposed to be cultivated and spread throughout the Empire. The amount of fertilizer needed to produce one meat fruit is only 4% of what an actual beast consumes. It doesn’t require pastures either. Just a spot with plenty of sunlight and flowing clean water is enough. It produces no waste and there’s no worry of it running away. It was truly a gigantic seed of hope for the Empire.]

“A tree that bears meat? That’s amazing. It would revolutionize human diets. Where did it all go?”

[It burned down.]

The Great Witch finished her sentence briefly. She didn’t seem keen to elaborate. I gathered roughly what happened and asked.

“Someone set it on fire, then. Was it the druid from the great forest you mentioned last time?”

[Yes.]

Just by observing the parrot, I could guess its personality to some extent. The Great Witch keeps talking about what she wants, but avoids mentioning what she dislikes. There’s a childlike, or perhaps animal-like, aspect to her.

[The only drawback of the tree that bears meat is that it’s too perfect; all sorts of pests and beasts target its nutrient-rich fruit. If it’s not tended by human hands, it quickly withers away. So we decided to grow the meat tree in the shade of the World Tree.]

“Why the World Tree?”

[The World Tree has incredible life force. No insects or beasts dare approach it. We grew the meat tree in the land filled with its grace, between its roots.]

Between the roots of the World Tree, surely there would be no beasts, insects, or other trees there… Huh?

“Hmm? If it’s near the World Tree, the trees shouldn’t be growing well, right? The branches and leaves of the World Tree block the sunlight.”

[You know well? That’s right. So I borrowed a bit of the World Tree’s grace.]

“Excuse me?”

[I made the meat tree suck the essence of the World Tree.]

Though the World Tree is regarded as sacred, there’s no hesitation in using its grace. A picture begins to form.

For the people of the dense jungle, every moment is a struggle. The reason black magic, taboos, and sorcery still thrive in the lands of all nations is that the environment is not forgiving enough to allow survival while picking and choosing genres.

In comparison, the great forest of northern Metasequoia is relatively tranquil. The cool forest is beautiful and serene, evoking deep emotions in many. In that forest, humans are usurpers, cutting down trees and trampling grass to expand their territory.

The druids of the great forest have protected the woods from such humans. They are a group with a puritanical love for the World Tree and a belief in the necessity of preserving nature.

“…Could it be that the druids of the great forest witnessed that scene?”

[Yes. The druids, with nothing to do, often take pilgrimages connecting the two World Trees when they have some time to spare. Those who came from outside meddled with our World Tree as if it were their own. They said such desecration must not be allowed!]

The parrot fluffed its feathers and flailed about.

[It’s one thing to let things slide for a day or two, but they were so intrusive that they even tried to uproot the meat tree! I should have killed them all then. It was my mistake to end it with just an exile! I won’t make that mistake again!]

“Could it be that they set the World Tree on fire?”

[It would have been better if they had!]

But they didn’t, did they? Well, a druid wouldn’t set the World Tree on fire. Wait, then why did the World Tree burn down?

[I incited the barbaric tribes of the remote areas who wouldn’t accept the rule of all nations to rebel!]

“Wow. They went that far?”

[It was an unexpected ambush. They used their status as druid pilgrims to deceive the guards and infiltrate. Taking advantage of the moment when the traitors attacked the queen and her subjects, they burned all the meat fruits!]

And the tree that bore the meat was nestled among the roots of the World Tree. The fire, carelessly set, spread through the roots to the World Tree itself.

[The flames spread uncontrollably! The fire climbed the trunk, dyeing the blessed ginkgo in the colors of autumn leaves! Riding the winds created by the flames, embers scattered throughout the jungle! The leaves of the World Tree, encompassing the jungle, became the sparks of disaster, burning the entire land!]

“So, the World Tree has burned down and fallen, just like that.”

[The nations burned until the fire went out. The palace, the city, the people—all turned to ashes in an instant. Everything vanished in the autumn when the leaves were falling. My mother, who desperately tried to extinguish the flames, was killed by a traitor. Those vile creatures were jealous of her!]

“Oh dear. I pray for the soul of the deceased.”

[It’s unnecessary. You’re not the one to pray for her soul.]

Not even a bit of comfort was offered. The great witch’s parrot, rejecting my feelings, spoke with hatred.

[The Metasequoia of the Great Forest. I will comfort the souls of my country and my mother, burned as the World Tree.]

The great witch’s wind seemed poised to spread into a great fire. Though she couldn’t empathize at the moment since she wasn’t reading my thoughts, I warmly encouraged the parrot.

“Stay strong. I hope you can bring down the World Tree and fulfill your wish.”

“Hey! That’s not right!”

The startled reincarnator immediately protested.

“You said it was another druid who set fire to the World Tree! If you’re going to take revenge, it should be on them, not on the innocent tree!”

[Do you think I’m a fool? Do you think I can’t tell the difference?]

The reincarnator’s question was understandable, but the great witch had faced such inquiries countless times. The parrot tilted its head and replied.

[Of course, I killed them all. One by one, I unleashed my hunting dogs. I caught them all before escaping this jungle.]

The reason the great witch came to be known as the great witch was due to the long and relentless hunt that followed the burning of the World Tree. Countless druids and barbarian tribes were swept away in that bloodbath. While it was the blazing World Tree that toppled the once-glorious nations, it was the enraged great witch who trampled even the new sprouts that were about to emerge.

[Even if I killed them all, it wouldn’t have been enough, but I had a question, so I spared one and brought him before me. I bared my teeth at his nape and asked why he set fire to the World Tree. Do you know what he said?]

With a small sigh, the parrot spoke incredulously.

[He said he never intended to burn the World Tree? That it was an accident. An unfortunate accident.]

Yet, the World Tree burned along with the nations. For someone who had lost everything, those words offered no comfort.

[Then what about the burned World Tree? If it was an accident and no one will take responsibility, does that mean I can set the world on fire as I please? Is it okay for me to kill the World Tree?]

“Don’t!”

[The reason you can’t is that I’ll deal with those who are angry after I kill the World Tree. Your words seem like they’ll burst their costumes.]

It was a perfectly valid point. The words of the Regressor were even more likely to burst a person’s costume because they came from pure goodwill.

Of course, the Regressor wasn’t someone who selectively burst costumes.

“You don’t want to bring down the World Tree! The despair and chaos that arise from its fall are what you desire!”

[Right. Isn’t that the point?]

“It’s different! Even if the World Tree withers as you intend, if they don’t suffer enough, you’ll commit even worse acts!”

[That might be true. But worse acts won’t happen. If my plan goes as intended, it will be painful enough.]

The Great Witch answered coolly, conveying her emotions through the parrot.

[They will end up killing the World Tree with their own hands….]

“Great Witch, you’ve said too much.”

Valpurigis, who had been waiting outside the door, hurriedly intervened, stopping the parrot. The parrot, overwhelmed with emotions and about to spill everything it knew, regained its composure and covered its beak with its wings.

[Oh, really?]

“Yes. If you say any more, there will be no reason to keep it a secret.”

[…That’s true, isn’t it?]

Valpurigis raised the perch with familiarity. The parrot, naturally settling on the perch, began to tremble and preen its feathers with its beak.

[Eek. It was a good meeting, Human King. We’ve come to know each other, haven’t we?]

“I also enjoyed the meeting. I hope that one day we can open our hearts and face each other.”

[Oh? That’s a bit much. The Human King is a little overwhelming.]

“I feel the same about the Great Witch.”

You have to meet in person to read each other’s minds, or it’s not going to work.

Before getting up from the wooden bench, the parrot suddenly flapped its wings as if it had just remembered something.

[Oh, right! There, girl. I’m not particularly curious, but can you tell me where you found my mother’s mask?]

“…It’s the Elephant’s Graveyard.”

[What? There? Why there?]

When I say Elephant’s Graveyard, it’s a place where all the elephants in the southeast come to die. It’s the final destination of the giant beasts that trample the world. In a sense, it’s more dangerous than the mountains of the gods. An angry elephant is more fearsome than a tiger.

[No, that’s why no one has discovered it until now. If the Agartha mask doesn’t exist, it’s a land where no beast except the elephant can set foot. I’ll have to check it out later. Thanks!]

The parrot spread its wings wide and flew out.