The Hero’s Disciple Has Returned

Anyway, I ended up having tea time with the World Tree.

Tea brewed from the World Tree’s body… Even if the World Tree’s true form is a tree and it’s brewed from leaves or something that grows on that tree… Since to me, the World Tree is a woman in the form of an elf… It made me feel dizzy. Still, it tasted good, so I kept drinking it.

But to be able to taste in a dream world. It’s strange, but… It didn’t feel extremely strange. That’s because I’m experiencing an overwhelmingly, no, absolutely amazing moment of ‘I’m meeting and having tea time with the World Tree, a being close to god!’ So being able to taste in a dream didn’t feel that strange. Should I say it’s similar to how something moderately spicy doesn’t feel spicy after eating something extremely spicy?

More than that…

‘I used to be busy running away when superhumans appeared on the battlefield, but now I’m having tea time with the World Tree, who even superhumans can’t meet even if they want to. Jade, you’ve become quite a big shot. Although it’s not like you wanted it…’

There were times when I had to stall for time against superhumans at the risk of my life. But no mercenary does mercenary work because they want to die. Even the most foolish ones die doing things that will get them killed without realizing it, but even they do it out of foolishness, not because they want to die. For me too, it was a natural choice to try to avoid fighting superhumans rather than fighting them. Anyway, it was truly surprising that I, who was just a master far inferior compared to superhumans, was now having tea time with a being close to god.

…It was surprising, but…

‘…I don’t want to get involved with elves or the World Tree.’

Connections that don’t match one’s status often bring death rather than benefits. One might think that connections are always good, but that’s a misconception. To begin with, there are hyenas everywhere who try to benefit from connections. Naturally, the higher the figure who can exert power as a connection, the more such hyenas swarmed around, and it was also natural that these hyenas were engaged in fierce, invisible wars among themselves.

As a veteran mercenary, I had seen many cases where ignorant mercenaries tried to connect with big shots just because they made some connections, only to be left with just bones in an instant by the hyenas around them. And now, to be connected with a being close to god? It’s something that would make my stomach hurt just thinking about it. I was certain that if this wasn’t a dream, it would have really hurt.

“Phew. It seems to have calmed down outside.”

Maybe Mr. Ras was frantically active? That’s about all I could guess right now. Still, I opened my mouth anyway, feeling it would be awkward to say nothing.

“…Couldn’t you just let me go?”
“My, such hurtful words. We’ve met like this by fate, isn’t it too soon to part?”
“Ah… Yes…”

If it had been a rural nobleman in front of me, I would have just shouted “No thanks!” and parted ways, but unfortunately, the one in front of me was a being close to god, so I couldn’t dare to do that. Above all, since there was a possibility that a being close to god might be helpful to Sera, I was in a position where I had no choice but to be cautious.

For the sake of their children, shouldn’t parents be able to be cautious when they weren’t before, speak like a sycophant saying “Yesyesof course~”, and even bow their backs? In my case, it was for my disciple, but since she was precious to me, I could do it as much as needed.

Thinking about this, it seems like the time when I was alone was certainly more comfortable. Back then, I could just live as I pleased and only be responsible for what I did… But since I’m no longer alone, I couldn’t do that. Living as I please and leaving as I please. Isn’t that free and good? There were certainly good points about that time.

But…

The fact that I can be desperate at this moment is possible because I’m not alone. When I existed alone in solitude, I wasn’t desperate at all. There was no reason to be desperate. So that time was certainly comfortable, but it was empty. It was free, but just free. I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something most necessary was missing in it.

What about now? None of that. Desperately, just desperately, I’m living this moment for someone, even if just a little. In that sense, I come to think it’s fortunate that I’m not alone. Because even if I’m not free, I can clearly feel that I now possess something more important than anything else.

“So, Mr. Jade… don’t you have anything you want to ask me?”
“……? You can call me Jade comfortably, though?”
“Hmm… Shall we do that a bit later? Hoho.”
“……?”

There was a very strong feeling that she was hiding something, but…

Since I wasn’t in a position to question the World Tree, I decided to just let it go. Rather, not knowing might be the medicine. One of the maxims that should naturally be ingrained in the minds of those in the mercenary industry was that unnecessary curiosity can get your neck cut off. Of course, lazy mercenaries who didn’t ingrain such precious maxims in their minds died on a daily basis…

“So, is there nothing you want to ask?”
“……”

Of course there was.

“Can the World Tree help in this war against the Demon King?”
“Hmm. I expected you to naturally ask who among the hero candidates is the hero… I was wrong. But why didn’t you ask that question?”
“Because it’s meaningless.”
“It’s meaningless?”
“Whether my disciple is the hero or not, the fact that she is the most precious thing in this world to me doesn’t change. No, rather, in my heart, I’m desperately hoping. ‘That she’s not the hero.’ Because then her path would be at least a little less painful. But the talent that child has… In my view, I think it’s that of the hero. That’s why I don’t want to know. The moment I confirm that child is the hero… I feel like even I will start seeing her as the hero… I’m just afraid of that.”

If there’s a being in this world that should never be trusted

It’s oneself.

The one I’ve been most disappointed and despaired of in this world has often been myself more than anyone else. I’ve made choices I regret many times with excuses and justifications that it couldn’t be helped. Many times, dozens of times, hundreds of times… That’s why I know better than anyone. That the one thing in this world that doesn’t go as I want and betrays my heart more than anything is always oneself.

That’s why I’m always wary of myself.

I’m wary of my own laziness, curse my own pitifulness, and hate my own powerlessness.

Because I’m like that, I’m scared.

The moment I realize my disciple is the hero

I’m afraid that even I will start seeing that child not as a young child, but as the hero…

No matter how much my current self is convinced that ‘I won’t do that’, I couldn’t dare to be certain that my future self would really keep that belief without betraying it. Because just as my past self did, my future self could betray my expectations at any time.

That’s why I decided not to ask.

After all, not giving birth to anxiety in the first place is probably the most rational path.

“…I’m surprised. I didn’t expect to hear such an answer.”
“So, can you answer my question?”
“I don’t think I’ll be able to help much. That would be the answer I can give you.”
“…Why is that?”

It wouldn’t be good for the World Tree either if the world is destroyed. Because it’s hard to think that even the World Tree’s barrier would withstand if the Demon King rampages.

“Or can the World Tree’s barrier withstand even the Demon King’s attack?”

If that’s the case, it seems like a good option to flee into the World Tree’s barrier rather than letting Sera fight a battle where she might lose her life to the point of recklessness.

To begin with, Sera was arbitrarily labeled as a hero candidate by the Empire and made a sacrifice, there’s no reason why that child should be sacrificed. What has the world done for that child in the first place? What has the Empire done for that child? There’s no reason anywhere why that child should shoulder everything and fight to the point of giving up her life for the world and the Empire.

If there’s a path to escape, I’m an overflowing person willing to tell Sera to escape that way. There might be people who would point fingers at me for that, but it doesn’t matter. Because those people would be overflowing with the heart to tell Sera to fight and die for their sake. If it’s a confronting situation, it can only be resolved if one side yields, but I have no intention of yielding, so it’s natural that we can only go to the end. So I didn’t care about them at all.

“Unfortunately, even my power can’t stop the Demon King’s fire.”
“Then why won’t you help?”

♧♧♧

‘…Because that’s how the Demon King will fall into the poison of arrogance.’

For the Demon King, who has no power of omniscience at all, there’s only one way to approach that omniscience. It’s the World Tree’s reaction. By how the World Tree moves, the Demon King can guess what the World Tree has foreseen. The Demon King knows this, and the World Tree knows it too. That’s why, as a result, the World Tree always didn’t fight.

Even though she’s the World Tree, it’s not that she didn’t do anything. Although she couldn’t do perfect regressions like Sera, she was able to leave knowledge to her ‘next self’, so she tried in her own way to create chances for reversal in those numerous opportunities, just like Sera did. But it all became futile.

No matter how much she tried and struggled, it all became meaningless. In the end, everything never deviated from omniscience. Rather, she almost made the Demon King notice the possibility of the hero’s ‘regression’ because of herself. Each time, the hero unhesitatingly committed suicide by cutting her own neck. Because she thought that if he, who was closest to god, knew about the possibility of regression, the worst ending might come.

In the end, the World Tree could do nothing.

She could do nothing but despair.

Because of her ability of omniscience, she could do nothing but frustrate, despair, and break down. Seeing herself like that, the Demon King always believed. That omniscience had prophesied his victory. That’s why she was planning to die burning in that terrible Demon King’s fire this time too.

She hadn’t experienced it directly, but she knew it was the most terrible and cruel pain in this world because numerous versions of her had left that knowledge in their final moments. But by her dying burning in that terrible fire, the Demon King wouldn’t even imagine the possibility that omniscience had been broken. That’s enough, that’s enough, the World Tree thought.

That’s why the World Tree couldn’t tell Jade.

That his desperate heart for his disciple had touched omnipotence and because of that, her omniscience had been broken.

“You think I’m a being close to god, but I’m just imitating it. It’s the ability called ‘omniscience’. I can know everything. But that’s all I can do. In the end, because I don’t have ‘omnipotence’, I’m a being that doesn’t even amount to half compared to god. I’m just a weak being that can only know and accept it. I can’t cause tremendous miracles like you think, and I can’t stop the Demon King. In the end, I’m just a tree. A being close to god? It doesn’t suit me at all. I’m just a shabby being that can only know and exist like that, that’s who I am.”

‘Oh my… I didn’t intend to say this much.’

Maybe some kind of resentment had built up without her knowing. And because hope had arisen, what had been hidden was revealed. Even for the World Tree, who had existed for a long time and experienced all sorts of things, it was enough to make her face turn red involuntarily.

‘But… That’s right. With this, will I be hated by that brilliant soul? That would be a fitting ‘punishment’ for me in its own way.’

Maybe she had been hoping for it in her heart. For herself, who is called a being close to god but can’t do anything… Maybe she wanted to receive anger like ‘Why can’t you do more than that?!’, ‘You’re called a being close to god with just that?!’ Even if it wouldn’t forgive her sin… Even so, maybe she wanted to receive at least some reproach to ease this unforgivable sin a little…

But…

“Hmm. So it was like that after all?”
“……?”

‘What?’

“Indeed, things in the world don’t happen easily, easily. Hmm. I thought it wouldn’t be easy, but indeed, realizing how difficult it is gives me a headache.”
“Um…”
“Yes? What’s wrong?”
“Is… Is that all?”
“……?”

Seeing Jade’s reaction of tilting his head as if asking what she meant, the World Tree could tell that was his sincere response.

“……”

At that reaction, the World Tree could only look at Jade with a face that was hard to explain.

♤♤♤

Ah… Is that roughly how it is?

The World Tree’s face is one I’ve seen a lot somewhere.

Yes, it’s the expression often seen on novice knights who act like they’re something special on the battlefield. It’s the expression they make when they think they’re something special, that they’ve become something tremendous and if they step up, even the war might end, and then they realize the reality. Of course, the World Tree is an incredible being incomparable to such novice knights, so it’s not like that. But it must be similar.

That’s because the World Tree was called a ‘being close to god’ and received praise, right? So it wouldn’t be strange if she developed some kind of will to live up to that. Moreover, since the World Tree has the special ability of ‘omniscience’, it must have been inevitable.

“Don’t tell me you’re blaming yourself?”
“Eh… Well… I am called a being close to god after all…”
“Did you call yourself a being close to god?”
“Well, that’s not the case, but…”
“Or did the World Tree summon the Demon King? Or did you help with the summoning?”
“I never did such a thing!”
“Then what exactly is there for the World Tree to blame herself for?”
“Well… Not being able to save the world?”
“World Tree.”
“Yes…?”
“Are you God?”
“What? Ah. No.”
“Then why is not being able to save the world the World Tree’s fault?”
“……”

Well, it’s an easy trap to fall into. Hasn’t anyone who has received expectations tried too hard to meet those expectations? Ordinary people usually realize ‘Ah! This is too much for me!’ and give up quickly, but… The World Tree was too special a being. As a result, she had no awareness that she was pushing herself too hard even when she was. As a result, her condition worsened to the point of feeling guilty for not becoming a god while knowing she wasn’t one.

‘Perhaps it’s because of the ability of ‘omniscience’ too.’

Originally, the more you know, the more confidence tends to spring up, right? It’s good to see a lot because you know a lot, but if you know too much, things tend to get complicated instead. Even simple problems start to look difficult. It’s like how magicians always waste money and time doing strange research. If even human magicians are like that, for the World Tree who has the divine power of ‘omniscience’, it wouldn’t be strange if the world looks and feels more complicated, and as a result, she can’t find answers even to simple problems because she sees them too complexly.

At times like this, having one stupid friend beside you would solve things easily. But would the World Tree have such a stupid friend who could do that for her? As a result, she fell into a vicious cycle, blaming herself, blaming herself, and blaming herself again, abusing herself like that.

‘Hmm. It feels like the distance has suddenly become closer?’

This is rather better.

Earlier, it felt too overwhelming and distant, almost making me dizzy.

Anyway

At this moment

I decided to convey

The words I most wanted to say to the World Tree.

“It’s not your fault.”
“……!”
“It’s not your sin.”

♧♧♧

The moment she heard those words, the World Tree realized.

Her true heart
Her true intention

She…

Had wanted it.

Anyone would do…

Please…

That it’s not her sin
That it’s not her fault
That it’s not her mistake

She had wanted such words.

But she couldn’t dare to hope.

Because she is called a being close to god, and is actually a special being with the power of ‘omniscience’… Because she, being special, couldn’t do anything, it was her sin and she deserved punishment… So she gave up. So she didn’t even dare to have such a hope. That there’s no sin for her, that there’s no reason for her to be punished… She always thought that no one would appear to say such things to her and she didn’t have the right to hope for it. She had always cut off and thrown away such possibilities without even thinking about them, before even considering them.

But…

There was.

Someone who said it’s not her sin

That it’s strange to feel guilty for not becoming a god when I’m not a divine being

There was…

A person… who said such things.

That was, no matter what anyone says,

A ‘miracle’ itself for the World Tree.

That’s why the World Tree clung to the ‘miracle’ she had never directly experienced in her long life since birth. Just like a newborn child clings to its mother’s bosom…

♤♤♤

‘This is troublesome… This is dangerous!’

Because she was crying so pitifully, I couldn’t bring myself to do anything and just lent her my embrace, but…

‘Why does it feel so clear and vivid even though it’s a dream?!!!!!!!’

Even without this, I was very well aware that I’m a man… Increasingly, something beast-like inside me was trying to run wild, making me feel like I’m going crazy…

Could it be that this was all a dream world created by the Succubus Queen? For a moment, I almost nodded, saying ‘That’s really convincing!’ to such a delusion.

That’s how tremendous the various things I felt from the World Tree were… Go to sleep, you beast-like something inside me! Please! Read the mood, please!!!!!