Chapter 675
Chapter 675
Zeon watched every moment of Damho and Jetoya's battle from atop the mana stone mine's wall.
Damho led Jetoya deeper into a dangerous area.
It was a place where stronger Monsters than before had gathered.
Brielle spoke with a worried expression.
"Shouldn't we stop that?"
"It's fine."
"It's that dangerous, though."
"He's pushing Jetoya only as far as he can handle."
"Really?"
Even after Zeon's answer, the worry did not leave Brielle's face.
"The method may be extreme, but he'll never let Jetoya die."
"Even so, raising a disciple like that... What if something happens to Jetoya?"
"Because he's confident."
"Hm?"
"He's confident that he can protect Jetoya no matter what happens."
"How does Zeon know that?"
"Because I knew someone who was just like that."
Smiling, Zeon gently patted Brielle's head.
Seeing Damho reminded Zeon of Dyoden.
Dyoden had been exactly the same.
He threw Zeon into danger and made him survive on his own.
But he had never truly abandoned him.
Just like Damho now, he had left only the smallest opening—just enough to breathe—while driving him to his limits.
Thanks to that, Zeon's strength had grown explosively.
Only later did he realize
how precious that consideration had been.
You only truly gain something when you overcome danger with your own hands.
The experience earned that way becomes the greatest driving force for growth.
Just like the Zeon of the past.
Just like Jetoya now.
"As long as that man is here, there's nothing to worry about. Let's go back."
"Already?"
"There's no reason to stay any longer, is there?"
"Okay."
Brielle nodded.
If it had been up to her, she would have stayed to watch over Jetoya, but there was no place for her to interfere.
At this point, even Jetoya himself would not want that.
The determination in his face as he fought more seriously and fiercely than ever made that much obvious.
Together, Brielle and Zeon returned to Neo Seoul.
Unlike the fiercely contested mana stone mine, Neo Seoul was still peaceful.
That did not mean people were doing nothing.
Countless people were preparing for war to defend Neo Seoul.
They busily reinforced barriers, installed weapons, and erected barricades.
The diamond wall Zeon had created gave those preparing for war a sense of reassurance.
Countless structures and barricades were being built around the diamond wall, so tightly packed that not even a drop of water could slip through.
The plans to stop the Monsters were proceeding smoothly.
By the time the beasts that passed through the mana stone mine arrived, all preparations seemed likely to be complete.
Thinking that was fortunate, Zeon continued walking.
Just then, someone stepped in front of him.
The woman wearing a red top and skirt was none other than Jin Geumho's secretary, Seo Taeran.
"It looks like you've been somewhere."
"I just came back from the mana stone mine."
"How are things over there?"
"As you probably already know, they're holding out for now."
"That's a relief. I was very worried."
"For some reason, there weren't any S-rank Monsters at the mana stone mine."
"At least that's fortunate. Do you happen to know why the S-rank beasts didn't go there?"
"I have a guess."
"What is it?"
"Because there's bigger, more appetizing prey."
"Neo Seoul."
"Yes."
Seo Taeran's expression darkened at Zeon's calm reply.
She had already suspected as much, but hearing it directly from Zeon weighed heavily on her heart.
After studying her face for a moment, Zeon continued.
"Were you waiting for me?"
"Yes. Could you spare me some time? There's something I'd like to discuss."
"We'll need somewhere quiet."
"Could we go to the World Tree Village?"
At Seo Taeran's words, Zeon stared at her.
At present, there were very few people who could freely enter and leave the World Tree Village.
At most, Zeon, Brielle, and a handful of elves.
Seo Taeran had not yet been granted permission to come and go as she pleased.
That was why she was asking Zeon.
"Let's go together."
"Thank you."
"Then I'll come too."
Brielle, who had been quietly listening to their conversation, chimed in.
And so the three of them headed for the World Tree Village.
They immediately took the portal.
As soon as they arrived, Brielle spoke.
"I'm going to see my mom, so you two go ahead and talk."
"Okay."
"Thank you."
Seo Taeran thanked her for the consideration.
Surprised by her reaction, Brielle stared at her for a moment before speaking.
"It's nothing. Then go ahead."
Without waiting for Seo Taeran's reply, she ran toward the house.
The sight of Brielle running while calling, "Mom!" looked just like a child.
Once they were alone, Zeon asked,
"What did you want to talk about?"
"The Mayor has been acting strangely lately."
"Hm? What do you mean?"
"He's been handing over too much authority to me."
"Authority?"
"The Mayor's authority."
"Haven't you already been handling a great deal of the Mayor's work?"
There was virtually nothing in Neo Seoul, big or small, that did not pass through her hands.
Jin Geumho merely gave the final approval; Seo Taeran was the one who actually did the work.
"Even so, the final decisions were always made by the Mayor. But now, even those final decisions are increasingly being left to me."
"Hmm."
"I know it's because he wants to focus on Divine Judgement, but it's going too far. It's almost as if..."
"He were someone preparing to retire."
"Or preparing for what comes after his death."
"Considering the Mayor's age, it wouldn't be strange if he retired at any time..."
"If it were retirement, that would at least be a relief..."
Seo Taeran trailed off.
Lately, Jin Geumho seemed to have weakened noticeably, and that troubled her.
He was holding himself together solely through his determination to launch Divine Judgement.
Otherwise, he looked so frail that it would not have been surprising if he collapsed at any moment.
Only his outward appearance still seemed normal.
Zeon asked her,
"Are you afraid?"
"Of what?"
"Of the responsibility you'll inherit."
Seo Taeran immediately shook her head.
"I'm not fit to be Mayor. I don't have the confidence to lead a megacity of twenty million people."
"No one is good at it from the beginning. The Mayor must have been the same."
"But..."
"Every human dies. Not just humans, all life does. The Mayor is no exception. One day he will die as well, and preparations have to be made for what comes after. I think the Mayor chose his successor well."
"Ha..."
Seo Taeran let out a sigh.
It wasn't that she didn't understand what Zeon was saying.
Jin Geumho was human.
One day he would die, and she had to prepare for what came afterward.
But understanding it with her head and accepting it with her heart were two different things.
She could not even imagine Neo Seoul, or herself, without Jin Geumho.
That was why she had sought Zeon out for advice.
Zeon spoke.
"Even to me, it looks as though the Mayor is burning the last of his strength. I don't know what will happen after Divine Judgement is safely launched into space. But I do know one thing, the Mayor would never want the satellite he risked everything to launch to become useless. Someone has to inherit his legacy."
"Ha..."
"If Divine Judgement is used properly, it will become a light for humanity. But if it is abused, it will become a disaster. It has to be controlled by the right person."
Zeon looked straight at Seo Taeran.
Personally, he did not like Seo Taeran.
She lacked warmth.
But that was separate from her ability, which he fully acknowledged.
She drew a strict line between public and private matters and knew how to work efficiently.
There was no one in Neo Seoul better suited to use Divine Judgement than her.
If control of Divine Judgement fell into the hands of someone like Sedon or Xiaolun, it would become not humanity's blessing, but its disaster.
It was far better for someone as cold-headed as Seo Taeran to hold that authority—for humanity's sake.
Seo Taeran bit down hard on her lip.
She bit so hard that blood seeped out.
"The truth is..."
After hesitating for a long time, she quietly revealed her secret.
---
Zeon looked up at the World Tree.
After finishing his conversation with Seo Taeran, he had come to it alone.
The World Tree seemed to have grown even larger.
If it continued growing at this rate, there was no telling how enormous it would ultimately become.
True to its name as the tree that supported the world, its growth rate and size were extraordinary.
Just then—
"It seems you have something weighing on your mind, Lord Zeon."
Latricia's voice came from behind him.
"Lady Latricia."
"What has you looking so serious?"
"I just have a lot on my mind."
"Is it something you can share with me?"
"I'm sorry. It isn't something that concerns only me..."
"It seems it's related to Seo Taeran."
"I guess Brielle told you."
"I heard you came together."
"Yes. Seo Taeran already went back."
"I see."
Latricia nodded and walked over to stand beside Zeon.
The two of them stood side by side, looking at the World Tree.
After a moment, Zeon asked,
"What exactly is the World Tree?"
"In what sense are you asking?"
"Can the World Tree grant someone divine authority?"
"Hmm. Is that person Seo Taeran?"
"Yes. You knew?"
"I guessed. I saw her after the Mayor left, when she was alone."
After Jin Geumho departed, Seo Taeran had spent a long time beneath the World Tree.
Latricia had assumed that something had happened between her and the World Tree during that time.
Zeon asked,
"Does the World Tree grant divine authority often?"
"Of course not. Even for the Mother Tree, granting divine authority to a human rather than an elf is no easy matter. Even so, if it granted that power, then it must have been absolutely necessary."
"Absolutely necessary..."
"Even if you don't understand it now, with time you'll come to realize that it truly was something that had to be done."
"Then... is the World Tree a god?"
"That depends on how you see it. To us elves, it is a divine being. But to humans, it may simply be a very large tree. There is one thing that is certain, though. From the moment the World Tree took root on Earth, the two became bound by a shared fate."
"If the World Tree dies, Earth dies too?"
"Yes."
"Hmm."
Seeing Zeon fall silent, Latricia added,
"The world's destruction began for many reasons. But if the World Tree had remained intact, Kurayan would not have perished so helplessly."
"Then the World Tree must be protected no matter what."
"Yes. Fortunately, Lord Arisedon is here. As long as Lord Arisedon remains, the World Tree will never perish because of an external threat. Lord Arisedon possesses power comparable to that of a dragon."
Latricia's gaze turned toward the sky.
Between the dark clouds, a massive black silhouette writhed.
There was no need to confirm whose silhouette it was.
There was only one living creature with such an enormous and lengthy body.
Arisedon.
The gigantic dragon drifted through the skies above the World Tree once again today, faithfully carrying out its role as the guardian.