#124
“Didn’t you say the Priest also cherished me?”
I asked with a half-smile. Naturally, Carlisle didn’t smile.
“…He cherished you, but not as much as this world and the Sacred Tree. He chose one of the two.”
“……”
“And I chose you.”
I was about to ask why, then closed my mouth. But Carlisle answered anyway.
“I love you… and I think the corruption problem of this world is something we people of this world should solve among ourselves. Even if the Sacred Tree disappears because of that, it can’t be helped. It’s all our karma and what we deserve.”
“……”
“I want to save you and send you back rather than sacrifice you. That’s the difference between me and the Priest, and the reason I’m confessing the truth to you like this.”
“……”
“……”
After a brief silence, I asked as if muttering.
“If we collect all the Fragments of the Sacred Tree, will the Priest regain his power?”
“…Something like that.”
I took a deep breath and exhaled.
“If I don’t collect any more Fragments of the Sacred Tree?”
Carlisle shook his head.
“That wouldn’t mean much. The Priest already has three fragments and has recovered some power. He’s at least stronger than you and me. Enough to capture us and… pressure us.”
And Carlisle’s corruption wouldn’t be resolved either.
“Moreover, what’s more important.”
To my hesitation, Carlisle spoke in a stronger tone.
“If we don’t collect all the Fragments of the Sacred Tree, I can’t send you back to your original world. That much is certain.”
“……”
“Trust me and take my hand, Raon. Just think about surviving and returning to your world.”
“……”
Those are really grateful words, and I understand well that he made such a choice for me.
Without realizing it, my lips twisted. Isn’t it a bit too much that he seems to have no regrets at all about sending me away?
“I know it’s confusing and shocking. You’ll need time to organize your thoughts. But honestly, we don’t have much time right now. The Priest is regaining his power and…”
Whether he knew my thoughts or not, Carlisle tried to persuade me.
“Actually, this is our last time searching for a Fragment of the Sacred Tree, so I had no choice but to tell you.”
The last time. At those words, I suddenly came to my senses.
“What are you talking about? Isn’t this the fourth fragment? There’s one more left, isn’t there?”
To my dismayed question, Carlisle answered with a question.
“Where do you think the next target location is?”
The next target location…
Come to think of it.
I frowned. Plains, desert, snowy mountains, and sea. Actually, those were all the target areas that existed in the game. Anyway, the target locations were always told to me when I visited the Mayor, and I thought carelessly that after collecting the fourth fragment, one of the hidden areas covered by clouds would open.
But if Carlisle is right, there’s no game system anymore. If that was all the Priest’s design and the Priest is an untrustworthy being.
I looked at Carlisle again.
“I don’t know. Do you know the answer?”
Carlisle nodded.
“We have to go to the island in the lake.”
But I couldn’t help but frown at his answer.
“Didn’t you say the Priest is trying to harm me? But we’re going to find him?”
“Right. But that’s the last target location, so to speak. That island is like the final hidden dungeon. And the Administrator of the Sacred Tree becomes the boss mob that prevents the recovery of the last fragment.”
Both the final target location and the final boss mob were so perfectly game-like. I unconsciously burst into a hollow laugh, then wiped away all traces of laughter and said.
“Then… whether it’s a quest or whatever, we have to conquer the Administrator of the Sacred Tree.”
Carlisle nodded again and added with emphasis.
“But we mustn’t let what we have be taken away, and we must recover the three fragments we gave him. Of course, we need to get our hands on the last fragment too for the quest to be completely finished.”
“……”
“Of course it won’t be easy. If the Priest finds out that my memories have returned and that I’ve told you all this, the situation will become even more complicated. If you try not to hand over the fourth fragment obediently, there’s no telling what he’ll do. So we need to make full preparations for that… Ah, we’ve finally arrived.”
Carlisle suddenly stopped walking. On the door he was looking at hung a nameplate with the golden letters “CAPTAIN” stylishly engraved.
I briefly examined the door and exchanged glances with Carlisle. After confirming he nodded, I opened the door.
“Huh…”
Beyond the door wasn’t an ordinary cabin. Rather than a large cruise ship’s captain’s quarters, it was like an aquarium tank. A space made of transparent glass walls recreated a deep-sea landscape, and beyond the glass walls was the real ocean, so at first glance it looked like a space connected to the sea.
Wondering if it was just my optical illusion or hallucination, I looked at Carlisle and saw he too had a surprised expression. It seemed to be a special environment unique to this hidden dungeon. We briefly closed our mouths and examined the scenery inside the door.
Coral reefs were thick and long seaweed swayed. Small fish swam peacefully between them. Strangely shaped deep-sea fish stayed still like dirt or rocks, then suddenly opened their mouths to swallow small fish along with water.
The corridor and room were separated by a barrier formed of water. I carefully put my hand inside. I felt the sensation of cold seawater.
“It’s over there.”
Carlisle stretched out his hand and pointed somewhere. A Fragment of the Sacred Tree was sparkling on top of lush coral reefs. Since it was underwater, height wasn’t a problem. I just had to swim in. Both breathing and movement were now quite free. The only thing I hesitated about was…
‘Seaweed, small fish, and even deep-sea fish…’
Just before entering this cruise ship, I was attacked by seaweed and schools of small fish in the ocean. Although I had experienced difficulties every time to obtain Fragments of the Sacred Tree, I had never been attacked by monsters inside a hidden dungeon, so while thinking it would be okay, it wasn’t easy to push my body into the water.
“Don’t worry. I’m right behind you.”
Perhaps noticing my hesitation, Carlisle spoke gently. I glanced back at him but didn’t answer.
‘Right, it’s something I have to do anyway.’
I made up my mind and entered the water. When I swam toward the coral reef, the small fish scattered in surprise. I watched warily from the corner of my eye, but they didn’t clump together into giant fish like before. The fierce-looking deep-sea fish also moved slowly elsewhere instead of attacking me.
The fragment settled in my hand without any interference. It was so easy it was almost ominous. I safely exited the room and returned to the comfortable corridor.
[You have obtained the Chaos Sea Hidden Quest reward!]
[Fragment of the Sacred Tree 4/5]
[Essence of Fire]
[Farmer’s Sickle]
[Quest: Take the Fragment of the Sacred Tree and find the Administrator of the Sacred Tree!]
As always, the system window appeared nonchalantly. Seeing the phrase telling me to find the Administrator of the Sacred Tree made me laugh hollowly. I felt strange. To think all this was manipulated to deceive me. To think such a thing was possible. With an absurd feeling, I looked at Carlisle and pointed at the window.
“So you can see this kind of thing too?”
Had Carlisle been seeing such things all along while pretending he couldn’t? But unexpectedly, Carlisle shook his head.
“No. You mean system windows and such? Only you can see those.”
“Hmm.”
Only I can see them. It’s not pleasing at all. Rather, it’s just creepy.
Essences and sickles and such things must have come in, but I didn’t feel like checking. Until now, I had expected there would be something at the end if I collected all the essences and farming tools, but in the end, it was all meaningless. All that’s needed is the Fragments of the Sacred Tree and my blood.
Suddenly extreme fatigue rushed over me. This and that, everything was bothersome.
“So what do I need to do now? Should I go to the island in the lake?”
Fatigue was evident in my voice too. I wanted to go home. To my real home.
“Where’s the exit?”
Usually after obtaining a Fragment of the Sacred Tree, a passage to immediately exit the dungeon would appear. But nothing that looked like an exit appeared around us. Did I have to go back up to the deck?
Carlisle grabbed my arm as I turned around.
“Raon.”
Body temperature that was still higher than ordinary people’s but much lower compared to before.
Jingle.
I looked at him with an expressionless face.
“…What?”
“We need to prepare before we go.”
Carlisle’s face was serious.
“…Right, prepare. We should. What do I need to do and how?”
“Just in case, will you let me hold the Fragment of the Sacred Tree?”
Carlisle held out his hand.
“You never know what might happen. Since the top priority will definitely be to steal the Fragment of the Sacred Tree, he’ll surely ambush you.”
“…But you can’t touch the fragments.”
At my words, Carlisle showed me a long wooden tube that looked like a pencil case.
“I obtained it with difficulty. It’s a special inventory made from part of the Sacred Tree. Originally it was an item the Priest used. I can’t directly touch the Fragment of the Sacred Tree, but I can store it in here.”
“…I see.”
I stared at the wooden tube for a while. Then I faced Carlisle again.
Jingle jingle jingle.
Carlisle was still holding my arm and the bell sound that only I could hear really made me feel savage.
“Ah, it’s really noisy.”
I muttered.
“Huh? What did you say?”
My patience hit rock bottom at the annoying noise. I shook off his hand and stepped back. Then I drew my sword and pointed it at him, finally spilling out the words I had been holding back.
“Who the hell are you to be imitating Carlisle?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
