Chapter: 10
Chapter 2. It Was So Easy to Rack Up Bad Karma
“Life…”
Standing before the World Tree, Lilith drooped like a rice stalk weighed down with grain.
In her hand dangled a contract stamped with the imperial seal.
There was no way she could refuse.
As Aitana slowly rolled the ring on her finger, she flashed Lilith an ominous, terrifying smile and held out an inked pen.
On the surface, it looked like a polite request.
But Lilith knew better from the original story.
‘Aitana has a truly explosive personality. Even Kairos, the Emperor himself, couldn’t stop her at times.’
The veins on the back of Aitana’s hand bulged as if warning that she wouldn’t tolerate rejection, and above all, the glare she fixed on Lilith was absolutely terrifying.
Her naturally sharp, three-white eyes were already intimidating enough, but when she narrowed them with force, they became even scarier.
The more Lilith nervously darted her eyes around, the heavier Aitana’s breathing became.
The message was crystal clear.
Stop stalling.
In the end, Lilith had no choice but to sign the horrifying contract.
If the contents of this assignment are leaked—your entire family will be exterminated.
If you display any suspicious behavior—your entire family will be exterminated.
And naturally, if the World Tree withers—even your relatives by marriage out to the eighth cousin will be exterminated.
“Waaaah…”
[Hey.]
Bloom flowers on the World Tree? Was this some kind of joke?
Since ancient times, blossoms blooming on the World Tree had been regarded as an incredibly auspicious omen.
The problem was that there hadn’t been a single recorded bloom in over a thousand years—not since the year the first Emperor founded the Empire.
[Hey, human. Why are you lying flat on the ground?]
“Can I use my tears instead?”
[Do you think that would work?]
Still sprawled across the ground while sobbing miserably, Lilith blankly lifted her head.
The dirt where her face had been pressed now bore a wet imprint shaped like her eyes, nose, and mouth.
After Aitana’s request—or rather, threat—that she start work immediately, Lilith had been shipped straight from the Empress’s Palace to the Holy Sanctuary before she even had time to gather herself.
At the moment, her mind was complete chaos.
“Would you please bloom some flowers?”
[Why should I?]
“So I can go back to the South.”
[I don’t want to.]
“…You jerk.”
What a water pig.
Ignoring her muttering, the World Tree pretended not to hear and pointed one of its branches toward the lake with a rustling leaf.
Watching it, Lilith crouched down and gently touched the soil.
It’s still damp.
Not because of the tears and snot she’d shed.
It looked like the water the knights had desperately carried over yesterday hadn’t even been fully absorbed yet.
If she kept giving it more water as requested, the roots might end up rotting from excessive moisture.
“Are you really thirsty?”
[Yep.]
“I don’t think you are.”
[How would a mere human know that?]
“Not all humans are the same. I’m a doctor, after all.”
With a deep sigh, Lilith brushed the dirt off her skirt and stood up.
Only now had her thoughts settled enough for her to organize everything.
It was time to have a proper conversation.
“I have a lot of questions, but I’ll start with the most urgent one.”
[What?]
“Why do you keep asking for water? You don’t actually need it, do you? You’re not an ordinary tree.”
The World Tree was a being created through ancient magic.
It had been born in the form of a tree, but its true nature was completely different.
What sustained its growth wasn’t water, but divine power and mana.
[Haaa…]
After hearing Lilith’s question, the World Tree began speaking rapidly, as though venting years of pent-up frustration.
[Listen carefully. I am the manifestation of the Creator God’s power, taking the form of a tree. Right?]
“Right.”
[Which means that no matter what kind of soul I have inside, my body is still a tree.]
“…?”
[I was born in the shape of a tree, wasn’t I? So in the end, I’m still a tree.]
Whether Lilith tilted her head in confusion or not, the World Tree continued saying whatever it wanted.
[Honestly, I’d already given up. I was just waiting to dry up and die while sleeping. Those damned humans… there’s a limit to how much you can abuse a tree.]
“You were asleep? Wait… then could it be…?”
[That’s right. You woke me up.]
So I was the culprit who gave the World Tree a mouth. I see…
[So take responsibility.]
“What are you talking about? Responsibility for what?”
[Give me water.]
“No, why did we jump to that conclusion?!”
Lilith realized that calming down this water-obsessed tree was now her top priority.
Thankfully, no one else was around to hear it.
But if it started loudly demanding water in front of other people later, her head would probably be the one rolling.
“The roots are still soaking wet. Why are you asking for more water?”
[If not water, then give me death!!]
Judging from the World Tree’s impossible personality, ordinary persuasion wasn’t going to work.
No choice, then.
Lilith quietly wrapped an arm around one of its branches and whispered her secret weapon.
“Say… have you ever tasted rainwater?”
[…]
“The Sanctuary doesn’t get rain, but you’ve at least heard the rumors, right? Cool, delicious rainwater packed with nitrogen and all sorts of nutrients!”
“I think I might be able to get you some.”
Hearing her quiet muttering, the World Tree secretly glanced her way while pretending not to care.
Sure enough, after a moment, it cautiously asked,
[How?]
“If I tell you that easily, where’s the fun?”
[Hey.]
“From now on, I’ll only water you once a week. If you agree to that, I’ll get you rainwater.”
[Seven times.]
“Then let’s pretend this conversation never happened…”
Lilith naturally let go of the branch and turned to leave.
The branch quickly grabbed her shoulder.
[Five times?]
“…”
[Three?]
Even then, Lilith remained silent.
The World Tree’s branches drooped limply.
[Haa… I should’ve known. Who am I to deserve water? If only I could leave this Sanctuary and live freely outside like other trees… sniff…]
“…”
[I’d like to be like the other trees too… sob… hic…]
Sensing something strange, Lilith slowly looked up.
Tiny droplets formed on the World Tree’s leaves before falling onto the top of her head like rain.
“Wait… why…”
Seeing the usually impossible tree crying so pitifully softened her firm expression.
Actually… considering its size and environment, watering it twice a week would probably be fine.
It had gulped down water in desperation just yesterday, only to cry so much that it seemed to throw everything back up.
She couldn’t help feeling sorry.
And after looking around at its surroundings, that feeling only grew stronger.
“Honestly, I’d already given up. I was just waiting to dry up and die while sleeping.”
Judging by what it had said, it seemed to have possessed its own consciousness all along.
Whether it had been self-aware from the moment the Creator God made it or had gradually gained consciousness over countless years like a nature spirit, she didn’t know.
But a being like that had stood alone atop this hill for thousands of years.
How lonely must that have been?
[Sniff… hic… sob…]
“Ugh… Fine. Twice! We’ll compromise at twice a week.”
[R-Really?]
Lilith nodded.
Even so, the World Tree continued shedding dewdrops.
[Sniff… With rainwater?]
“Yes.”
[Sob… How are you going to get it?]
“I’ll ask the Guardian Knights to collect some for me. Sir Jeffrey told me to let him know if I needed anything while staying here.”
Jeffrey was Edrion’s deputy.
During their journey to the Imperial Capital, the two had become much closer.
His cheerful, outgoing personality made him someone Lilith could ask favors of without feeling pressured.
[I see.]
“Right. Now, moving on to the next topic—”
[Then hurry up and ask them to collect rainwater.]
“…Excuse me?”
[How long are you planning to laze around? Why aren’t you running already?]
The miserable, tearful tree from moments ago had vanished.
Now completely dry, the World Tree waved its branch toward the knights.
[Move out immediately! Run!]
“…”
For a brief moment, Lilith sincerely wanted to chop the damned World Tree into firewood.
At the same time, the members of the Guardian Knights were being mercilessly chewed out by an enraged Edrion.
“You lost him again?”
“W-Well, that’s…”
“Down.”
The edge of the desk clenched in Edrion’s hand crumbled into powder beneath his grip.
It was a desk made from premium timber that couldn’t be split even with an axe, reinforced with magic for extra durability.
Watching their commander’s monstrous strength reduce it to dust like paper, the knights silently dropped to the floor in a prone position, pressing their foreheads against the ground.
“How many more chances do I have to give you?”
“We are deeply sorry.”
“How much longer am I supposed to wait for you to catch a single rebel? Or do I have to do it myself before you’ll be satisfied?”
“B-But if you personally step in, innocent civilians might get caught in the damage…”
Edrion’s sword aura was excessively violent and covered an enormous area.
It was perfect for battlefields.
But it was utterly unsuitable for hunting rebels hiding among ordinary citizens.
That was why he’d been excluded from operations to eliminate the Shadow faction.
He had spent most of his formative years on the battlefield.
Until the day he beheaded the tyrant Lazer, he’d lived in a world where the slightest lapse in concentration endangered not only his own life but everyone around him.
He was accustomed to bloodshed.
Accustomed to slaughter.
And destruction never gave him pause.
The knights admired Edrion.
They also feared him.
“Then you should’ve done your job properly. So I wouldn’t have to go after Raven myself. Isn’t that right?”
“Y-Yes, Commander.”
“And yet Raven appeared in the Imperial Capital… and you let him get away.”
“…”
“Haa… You people are really testing me.”
Rolling his stiff neck, Edrion pushed himself away from the ruined desk.
The knights trembled, sensing what was coming.
At that very moment—
Light, measured footsteps echoed down the hallway.
The door opened.
“Hello? I heard Sir Jeffrey was here…”
A young woman cautiously peeked her head through the half-open door.
Perhaps she’d hurried over, because both her cheeks were flushed pink as she caught her breath.
“Lilith?”
“Huh? Lord Akshad?”
The instant Edrion spotted his small, precious fiancée, the fierce light in his eyes softened into the gentle gaze of a lamb.
