66. The Intruder
66. The Intruder
66. The Intruder
The World Tree's voice, which I heard after a long time, wasn't good.
I'm not sure if it's very difficult or if it hasn't been able to absorb nutrients properly, but we need to transfer it as soon as possible.
"Yong-yong, I need your help."
"Kyuung."
A blue light enveloped the entire World Tree, and its size gradually decreased.
Once it had shrunk enough to pass through the gate, we moved to the Red Revolution Group hideout located in China.
We decided to transfer it to China because there's already a World Tree in the Arcana continent, which could cause a conflict, but a problem occurred.
Whether it was the World Tree's power blocking the pollution or not, pitch-black beings began to reveal themselves one by one.
"Hurry! Quickly!"
"Y-yes! Mom!"
It was a word I couldn't get used to no matter how many times I heard it, but there's no time.
We need to evacuate the dark elves as soon as possible and get out of this space.
As expected, without the World Tree's purifying power, Yong-yong screams at the fierce resistance of the pollution.
"Kyuuung!"
"J-just hang on a little longer!"
I barely stop him from returning to his original form and saying he'll chew up those things, and after evacuating the last remaining dark elf, I threw myself into the gate.
I sealed the gate to prevent the pollution from escaping and approached the World Tree, which was absorbing nutrients from the newly rooted land. I could see its withered body, like an old tree, slowly recovering.
"How long do you think it will take?"
[It will take about ten days, Mother. This land lacks magic power compared to the demon realm.]
One of the advantages of demon land is its fertile magic power, but unfortunately, such land doesn't exist on Earth.
Is there no other way?
Suddenly, a thought crosses my mind.
We can just pour in magic stones, right?
As I take out a bunch of magic stones from my subspace and throw them on the ground for easy absorption, Yong-yong cries tears of blood and wails.
"H-here! Take this and go play over there!"
"Kyuuung!"
Only then does Yong-yong accept a bundle of magic stones, turn his head, and enjoy a feast in one corner.
Who did he take after to become such a glutton?
Is it... me?
After absorbing the magic stones, noticeably more green leaves appeared than before, and I'm glad it's regained its strength.
[Thank you, Mother. Thanks to you, I was able to regain my strength.]
"There's no need for thanks between us. It's fine."
I say casually as I check the magic stones in my subspace, and I've used quite a lot, so I need to replenish them.
I should go to the hideout once.
I took care of Yong-yong, who was burping after eating all the magic stones, and opened a space.
"I'll be back soon, so rest."
[Understood, Mother.]
It's still awkward no matter how many times I hear it.
I crossed the space and returned to the Red Revolution Group hideout located in the Arcana continent.
On the way to the warehouse, greeting the monsters welcoming me.
Yong-yong follows, swaying his body back and forth, what's he doing...?
"What are you doing?"
"Kyuuung!"
Our Yong-yong says he's digesting.
Don't tell me he's planning to eat more magic stones from the warehouse?
"I won't give you any."
"Kyuuung!?"
He whimpers, asking if I wasn't serious, and my heart weakens.
This guy... He knows my weakness exactly.
"E-even if you use that cute voice, I won't give you any."
"Kyuung..."
I finally give in to Yong-yong, who says in a dejected voice, 'What's the point of living anymore.'
When we arrive at the warehouse, I fill my subspace with magic stones and give him a bundle, which he happily eats.
"That's it for dinner today."
"Kyuuung!"
He's making a fuss, saying he's only eaten two meals today when even humans eat three meals a day.
And what do you mean two meals! You've eaten four meals today!
I hug Yong-yong, who's exercising his right to remain silent, open a gate, and return to the World Tree, where I see collapsed dark elves around.
I rush over to check the condition of the fallen dark elves, and they each have a bump on their head.
Then the Silver Fox Clan twins reveal themselves.
"What happened!?"
"We gave them a lesson in manners."
"......"
The dark elves complain to me with teary eyes.
"Mommy!"
As I pat their heads and listen to their story, I realize the dark elves were wrong.
From speaking informally to strangers to making disrespectful remarks about the Silver Fox Clan.
Character education for children is essential.
"You guys were wrong, weren't you?"
"B-but! But!"
"Hey! When you've done something wrong, you shouldn't make excuses, you should apologize!"
"W-we're sorry!"
The Silver Fox Clan twins accept the dark elves' apology and say they should get along well from now on.
How mature.
"Something seems off about their eyes..."
"Not at all."
When I pat the twins' heads, they look at me with bewildered expressions, and their faces are identical.
Twins will be twins.
*
*
*
The executives of the Red Revolution Group gathered in one place.
Today's agenda is just one thing.
[Main scenario quest conditions have been met.]
[CHAPTER 7: Conquer the tower.]
[Time remaining: 47 hours 59 minutes 59 seconds]
Two days left.
We've removed all the towers that appeared across Asia, but anything beyond that is impossible.
It's not just one or two that appeared, but really over hundreds, and it's impossible to remove them all.
We persuaded with the help of numerous travelers, but there were also significant casualties.
As we hold a meeting about what will happen in two days, the optimistic view is that the monsters in the towers will pour out and gather in one place.
Then we can persuade them all at once, but pessimistically, if those many monsters scatter all over the world...?
From there, there's no answer.
Or if we could find the Demon King, we wouldn't have to struggle like this, but where on earth is she?
I sigh and finish the meeting, staring blankly at the scenery outside the window when someone enters with a knock.
It's Kraken, my friend Lala.
"Why do you look so down?"
"There are only two days left. That's why I'm worried."
"There's nothing more tiring than worrying about things that haven't happened yet?"
My friend comforts me, saying everything will work out somehow.
Did she come to see me because she was worried even though she must be busy? Really. I'm blessed.
"By the way. I need your help."
I take back what I just said.
"Get out."
"No, it's not really a big deal. It's just a tiny favor, really?"
"What is it...?"
After hesitating and pondering for a while, she cautiously spits out shocking news.
"My dad, you see. He's searching the sea to find me, so could you stop him?"
Lala's father is a Kraken.
And a Kraken of such enormous size that it could swallow an entire city.
In short, is she planning to use me as a sacrifice?
"It was nice knowing you."
"What are you saying!? Is this all our friendship amounts to!?"
"Friendship? You're trying to sell me out right now!"
"But, my dad listens to you well, you know."
I don't know if it's the effect of the magic stones or not, but he does listen to me relatively well.
But that's relative. It's not absolute.
Before, when Lala didn't come home, he turned everything upside down, and the scene from that time remains as a trauma that sometimes appears in my dreams, and it's so terrifying.
"I'm scared too!"
"I'm more scared!"
We fought, both screaming "Bwaaa!", and finally agreed to compromise.
"If you can just persuade my dad well, our trading company will take care of Yong-yong's food expenses for a while!"
"Ha? Do you think I'd fall for something like that!?"
"Kyuuung!"
I was about to refuse outright, but our Yong-yong fell for it.
And she sealed the deal with her final words.
"Plus, unlimited provision of unique-grade magic stones!"
"Kyuuung!"
"W-wait a minute!? H-hold on!"
Because of Yong-yong trying to push me into the gate he opened, I couldn't even spit out my last words and was sucked into the gate.
The last scene I saw.
With Lala smiling wickedly, I sank into the deep sea.
Our Yong-yong, who had somehow prepared it, put the pacifier in my mouth.
Well, thank you.
"Zook zook zook!!"
"Kyuung."
I was dumbfounded by his words telling me to hurry and find the Kraken, but since it's come to this, I should do it with a happy heart as a change of pace.
With a very happy heart, I'm going to tell everything about what Lala has done from start to finish.
You dare to entrust me with such a task? I'll make you regret it.
After searching around the sea for a long time to find Lala's father, the Kraken who used to be the gatekeeper of Atlantis, I saw a huge Kraken in the distance.
As I approached, the atmosphere was ominous.
"Zook zook zook!"
"Kyuung."
Has an intruder appeared in Atlantis?
How pitiful...