NOVEL NEXT chapter 78
78 – Chapter 78 – The Mark of Wood 5 –
I don’t know how much time has passed, but it’s been quite a while.
The method the Elemental taught me to see souls was definitely useful.
Even if I don’t know what experiences a person has gone through, I can definitely sense their emotions.
It’s similar to physiognomy, but different.
While faces don’t bear the marks of experiences. Souls do.
“I can clearly see my own appearance. There are clearly visible traces of strangeness. My face is the same…”
“It’s different in terms of dimness and other various factors.”
“I never knew this would be so difficult… If a person with a lack of understanding learns this, they might not comprehend the essence even if they study swordsmanship.”
“It’s true that there is no skill that makes you stronger just by learning it. What’s important is the user. Just like how a person who can catch a dragon with a strand of hair doesn’t make a strand of hair the strongest.”
Oh, I think I might have given a wrong example.
Of course, there was no reason to argue and make the Elemental uncomfortable, so I stayed quiet.
“So, it seems we’ve made some progress. The rest will be quickest to learn through direct experience in reality.”
“Thank you. And about what I mentioned earlier…”
“You are the son of a god, so it’s right for me to tell you. The Gyeheon Martial Arts. The foundation of this technique is not of human origin.”
What an odd tangent all of a sudden.
I asked him to tell me about factors that can speed up the process of time, but now he’s talking about something entirely different.
If I’m not careful, I might have to confront Yggdrasil and fight for control over my body.
And humans can learn Elven archery as well; where can we find something that is exclusively human?
Except for the power of dominion that comes down to the demon-like vampires, the nobility, there isn’t much that distinguishes different species.
In fact, even the techniques themselves don’t necessarily align with specific races.
“The foundation of this technique is rooted in the spirits. So, you’ll have to go to the Fairy Forest.”
Since they’re spirits, their thoughts and way of communicating seem quite different from humans.
No, it’s actually challenging to follow the flow of the conversation.
It’s supposed to be an interaction, but it feels more like looking at an NPC in a video game.
I didn’t think I’d experience this feeling again after being reincarnated.
“I understand. So, what are the factors that can shorten the time for creating a physical body?”
I need to know this as well.
Normally, the physical body wouldn’t be created for quite some time from now.
The ingredients might also be a problem.
In a few years, they might be available, but they might not be at this moment.
“To complete the Dragon Form, you need the fruit of the World Tree that grants strong vitality. An alchemist capable of creating anything. And a being who can manipulate spirits.”
“I need to be able to manipulate spirits?”
“Having a completed physical body and life force doesn’t necessarily ensure a stable soul placement. That’s why you need spiritual beings like elementals.”
Elementals? Wait, what does this mean for what happened back then with the 1,500-year-old dwarf and the World Tree fruit I produced in the Empire?
“The dwarf you were looking for originally was indeed a spirit tamer, but she lost all her spirits. To replace them, she became a great magician, but it seems there’s a back and forth. I’m not sure why you’re looking for her, but it’s better to go to the Great Forest. Even if you complete the Dragon Form without the help of spirits, your soul won’t find a proper place.”
His words were enough to send me into shock. The dwarf who had lived for 1,500 years. But there was hardly any information available, so there had been many questions up until now.
She was a spirit messenger.
“In the main story of WFS, did they recover the spirits? I’m not sure.”
One thing is certain, there are many things that WFS did not reveal.
And I would like to reveal such things if possible.
“The technique you call the Guihon Swordsmanship is originally derived from spirits. Although only spirit magic remains now, the original spirits also had sword techniques.
So, having this technique will be helpful if you go to the Forest of the World Tree.”
His words were truly helpful.
However, there were many questions.
The relationship between Yggdrasil and this existence.
Who he was, what kind of being he was.
What kind of being the dwarf was.
And what relationship there was between the world tree that connects to the homeland of the spirits, the spirit world.
But the spirits were not human.
They could not understand my curiosity and just told me to find out for myself.
“I don’t know if we’ll meet again someday. But if that happens, I hope it will be helpful.”
After saying that, he bid me farewell.
And this world began to crumble.
Originally, it was a world with a slight bluish-green hue, but cracks began to appear in white, and those areas gradually widened.
Like a hole that grows bigger the more you carve it.
The cracks that began to take up my space eventually covered the entire land.
And when this entire world was dyed white.
Even though I had opened my eyes, I found myself opening them once again.
“Awake? hehehe. So, it seems you’ve realized it?”
Yggdrasil’s voice reached me.
And the metallic smell of blood.
The edge of the sword.
I had returned to that place.
“So, did you succeed in realizing it? Tell me once. hehehehe.”
“It seems like I did succeed.”
“Then you’ve mastered the basics. hehehe. Now you’ll have to hone your skills for quite some time, hehehehe.”
Yggdrasil’s declaration.
And that declaration, in reverse, meant it was just the beginning now.
I’ve only just passed the written test.
The practical part begins now.
“hehehe. You do understand that the Guhong Swordsmanship isn’t really about the sword, right? You know it well, don’t you?”
“Yes, if you intend to use it, you can even use it bare-handed.”
Guhong Swordsmanship may bear the name “swordsmanship,” but in reality, it’s closer to the art of manipulating aura than swordplay. It’s just that the sword happens to be the most compatible weapon for Guhong Swordsmanship. “The less you learn about the technique, the easier it is to learn… Because it’s not a style of moving the body but a method of manipulation that’s completely opposed to traditional techniques.”
The reason I simply strike, hit, and press with aura is that these methods aren’t efficient for utilizing aura. It’s more like simply hitting with force.
“What’s this? You haven’t learned anything? Then it’ll be easier than I thought! hehehe. Oh, you deliberately avoided learning about this, didn’t you?”
Once a habit is formed, it’s hard to change. The saying that habits are formed at three and last until eighty is not in vain. So, I deliberately refrained from learning it, and the result came as a great reward.
“Though I did consider learning different techniques at some point… this is the only means to easily obtain multiple aura awakenings…”
That’s why I didn’t polish my skills, no matter how weak I may be. The Guhong Swordsmanship, which is entirely opposed to traditional techniques, can never be combined with conventional aura cultivation methods. There were quite a few situations I could have regretted, but luckily, I got through them all. So, I’m satisfied.
“hehehe. Are you prepared then? It’s going to be incredibly painful. If you’re really good, it should take about a month.”
“Yes, I’m ready. I have one month and a week for the period. That should be more than enough to learn it perfectly.”
“Before that, you did prepare the Contract Magic, right? If you haven’t prepared it, I’ll kill you right here. hehehehe.”
“Are you worried I haven’t prepared that? It’s a top-tier item in its own way. Take a look.”
I immediately retrieved the prepared Contract Magic scroll. Even though it was expensive magic, the scroll cost me a fortune. But if I can learn this technique, I’m more than willing to pay the price.
As the variety of awakening approaches increases, my strength will become tremendously powerful.
“If I were to master various skills in addition to this… before meeting the incarnation of evil, I might be called the strongest along with the Black Star.”
Of course, the incarnation of evil is a being I haven’t even encountered.
Since WFS was an online game, there might be something else out there.
That’s why I must always be prepared.
Even if it’s for what’s to come next.
“Then let’s start preparing!”
“Heh heh. I always like your enthusiasm.”
That was how the second most challenging period in my life was passing by.
—-
The capital of the Empire, Jido.
The massive tower located there, the Gold Tower.
At the only tower outside the Magic Republic, the highest two individuals were engaged in an intense conversation.
“Lord of the Gold Tower… the public opinion is quite serious.”
“…It seems the exposure of the branches of the World Tree was shocking to the elves.”
The branches of the World Tree appeared in the black market.
This event caused a tremendous stir worldwide.
The legendary tree, managed by the elves.
Although living leaves have been sold, the branches have never been offered for sale even once.
Unless in a deceased state, the product extracted from the living World Tree remains alive as long as the tree is alive.
Therefore, the leakage of a living branch from the World Tree meant that someone had cut a living branch.
“The Guardian of the World Tree, the Black Star, cannot guarantee victory either. In simple terms, if someone were to deceive the vigilance of the Black Star and steal something from the Imperial Treasure…”
“The elves will be in uproar.”
“Yes. Unless the opponent is of that caliber. If… there’s a security issue.”
“In the worst case, something might have happened to the Guardian of the World Tree.”
The reason for the elves’ agitation was simple.
Something might have happened to the Guardian of the World Tree.
This meant the might of the strongest elf was not as it used to be.
It also meant they could be vulnerable to attacks from other factions.
“So when will the auction take place?”
“I’m also… because the elves are causing a commotion, demanding the return to the Great Forest…”
“Tsk. Even the Archdruid is involved in that. The market will definitely be affected.”
If chaos breaks out, the economy will suffer.
However, they couldn’t punish them haphazardly.
Elves were a closed-off race to the extent that they rejected the teachings of the Sage Court.
Yet the Sage Court had the power not to be underestimated from the beginning.
Of course, if a conflict arose, the Sage Court would likely emerge as the victor.
“Let’s stay out of this incident for now.”
“Indeed… it’s difficult to deal with the elves. In the worst case, they might send their Guardians.”
“It’s true. How many people can handle something like that? Wait a moment.”
But a thought crossed the mind of the Gold Tower Lord.
Someone capable of achieving anything if given the opportunity.
“I wonder how they obtained the Dragon Heart… but on the other hand, they must have a certain level of information.”
The Gold Tower Lord thought of Abraxas, who had lent the Dragon Heart to the Gold Tower, and immediately instructed the Assistant Tower Lord.
“How about making a place for the person who leased the Dragon Heart to come and meet us next time?”
“For what purpose? The branches of the World Tree?”
“Yes, that should suffice. Even if we can’t target it directly, if we provide the opportunity, they might obtain it on their own. We don’t even know their identity.”
“That sounds fine. If that person can acquire the branches or twigs, they might ask for leaves or branches.”
“Yes, it’s the best option for our benefit.”
The Gold Tower began to plan a new strategy.