Chapter 69
Telling Arveda her name and purifying Luminix’s curse.
Just hearing about these two things gave me a rough idea of what to do.
I just needed to find the name and a way to purify the curse.
Even if I didn’t know exactly how to do it, I could at least think of a starting point.
But Pavan’s case was extremely ambiguous.
“How am I supposed to find his memories?”
If it was something like amnesia, did he need psychological therapy? I had no idea.
Since he had lost his memories rather than a specific object,
It was a vague situation where I didn’t even know how to take the first step.
'It’s a relief that the World Tree happens to hold Pavan’s memories as well, in addition to remembering the regressions.'
There was definitely a reason the World Tree had received the 'Villainess' judgment.
It was surprising that it was trying to give the clues to resolve the Executioner’s Covenant to me instead of Mirne.
From the System’s perspective, that was a factor that could easily be defined as evil.
Anyway.
“This is an opportunity to read both Pavan”s memories and the Crown Prince’s memories.'
Since I had absolutely no intention of missing the special event the World Tree had prepared for me,
I continued to ignore the World Tree’s messages that were overwhelming my vision in various ways.
[ World Tree tells you to cut its root boldly. ]
[ World Tree begs to see your sword for the first time in a while. ]
[ World Tree… ]
“…”
Slice.
I cleanly sliced off the World Tree Root that had sprouted above the Ground.
Since it was said to be the root imbued with memories, I wondered if I had to go underground to find it.
But there was no need for that; the World Tree brought the root right before my eyes, making the task incredibly easy.
“Consume… Does that mean I just tear into it and eat it?”
The tip of the root.
Fitting right in the palm of my hand, the root felt like a gnarled root.
Perhaps because it was a World Tree Root, just looking at it gave off a strongly mystical vibe.
I had purposely cut it small, but seeing as no further messages popped up, this seemed to be enough.
“This isn”t easy.'
Holding my breath for a moment.
Pop.
I swiftly tossed the root into my mouth.
Crunch, crunch.
The texture was less like a hard tree root and more somewhere between turnip and yam.
It chewed easily while being strangely crisp.
It felt like a root prepared to be eaten from the very beginning.
“I don”t feel any memories flowing in, though? Do I need to keep chewing?'
I was definitely chewing as instructed.
No situation occurred that fit the description of “reading memories”.
I just kept chewing the root until it was soft enough to swallow.
Gulp.
It was the moment I finally swallowed the root down my esophagus.
Flash!
My vision went dark.
+++++
“…What is this?”
When my vision brightened again, what I saw before my eyes was the Crown Prince lying on a bed as if dead.
I was looking at myself? Was this some sort of out-of-body perspective?
I had that thought and looked down at my body.
“Hah.”
A laugh slipped out naturally.
“Why is this real?”
Because it really was an out-of-body perspective.
My translucent body was floating in the air as if I had become a ghost.
I could float around here and there, but I couldn’t exert any physical force.
It felt like watching a game’s story from a third-person perspective.
It seemed this was how reading memories was represented.
I quietly looked down at the Crown Prince in my ghost-like state.
“…If you ever eat the World Tree Root, the memory reading will begin now.”
The Crown Prince muttered that with his eyes closed, then slowly sat up.
“I don’t know which regression you’re on as you read this memory, but I hope things aren’t too different from this current regression.”
The Crown Prince, having sat up, casually changed his clothes and slowly moved outside.
“43 times. That’s how many regressions it took for me to reach the World Tree. It was only after another 83 regressions that I acquired the information about Pavan’s Covenant and could leave it in the root like this.”
A total of 126 times.
Saying that he had focused solely on the World Tree for all those regressions, the Crown Prince calmly continued his soliloquy.
“Regression is not perfect. It would have been great if I could have retained my memories completely with every regression, but that was impossible. Every time I regress, the most important pieces of information vanish from my memory.”
The Crown Prince speaking right now was the exact opposite of the pushover I had read about in the novel.
The Crown Prince, described in the novel’s text as always smiling and giving off the impression of being too kind, was the pushover I had read about.
“He only has the same face; he”s a completely different person.'
His face was completely devoid of expression, and he looked hollow.
There were dark circles under his eyes, and he gave off a strong impression of exhaustion that anyone could see.
The novel’s description was a peaceful, happy-go-lucky slice-of-life.
But the Crown Prince in the World Tree Root’s memory was straight out of an angst-filled tragedy.
“Every time important information disappears, it takes too much time to find it again. So for the time being, rather than focusing on finding information, I plan to devote my attention to growing my strength.”
Perhaps fully aware that his current appearance was being recorded,
The Crown Prince continued speaking as if addressing a specific someone.
“I requested a sword from Gilbert. The God-Slaying Sword… It isn’t finished yet, but with this sword, I should be able to tear Romper apart. More accurately, I should say it can contain Divine Power.”
The God-Slaying Sword.
The sword I was currently using.
“But the Crown Prince was hoping for the step after that.”
Did that then mean the memory of this regression was from before the third sword was needed?
Just how many regressions had he gone through?
Had he continuously watched the Empire fall during all those regressions?
If so, the fact that he was speaking so calmly right now made no sense.
It wouldn’t have been strange if he had gone mad long ago; I could only marvel at the Crown Prince’s mental fortitude.
“Still, I managed to protect one important memory this time.”
The Crown Prince moved to the park behind the Imperial Palace.
That was the spot where the World Tree stood.
The World Tree was standing in that exact same spot.
“Mirne is a Transmigrator. She is under the protection of fate… no, the System? Anyway, she is under its protection.”
The Crown Prince approached the World Tree and slowly drew his sword.
Srrng.
As soon as he drew his sword, I could see the World Tree shaking its branches.
Was the wind blowing? I might have thought so, but knowing the World Tree’s true nature made it look completely different.
The World Tree was currently rejoicing.
“The System is based on Mirne’s desires. You could call it her subconscious; the System grants whatever she wishes for. Because of this one ridiculous thing, our Empire continues to fall.”
The God-Slaying Sword slowly pierced into the massive tree.
It was like poking a finger into soft fluff.
The tree trunk accepted the blade without any resistance.
“Just what is the original work that makes it act like this? Mirne said that at the end of it, she could do anything. A Hero, a god… a life of being revered… I have no idea why that is so important to her that she’s doing all this.”
Shhk.
When the blade of the Zweihänder sank in up to the ricasso.
The Crown Prince slowly pulled the blade out, and a thick green liquid came out smeared on the steel.
“Regression is not enough. I must also use the same means. But I don’t know the method yet.”
Collecting the thick green liquid into a bottle, the Crown Prince drank it without delay.
As he did, color immediately returned to his haggard face.
“Do not trust Mirne. Of course you won’t, but… she is the beginning and the end. Naturally, the story might change as the regressions progress, but for now, that is the case.”
As if venting his frustrations, the Crown Prince let out a sigh and continued.
“The Covenant must be resolved as the highest priority. The arrangements were left behind by the Great Prophet… Just who is he to have made such arrangements?”
Then, finally.
“I’ve rambled on for too long. I have two pieces of information. One is that Mirne is a Transmigrator, and the other is regarding Pavan’s Covenant.”
He began to talk about Pavan’s Covenant.
“Pavan is… a Giant who lost his memories. More accurately, he lost the memories of his entire Clan. But isn’t it funny? He says he lost the memories of his entire Clan, yet Pavan is the only one from the Giant Race around.”
As if finding it absurd.
The Crown Prince laughed hollowly and tapped the Ground with the tip of his sword.
“In the Imperial Underground, in some underground ruin, the Giants are sleeping, waiting for the Covenant to break… in order to destroy the Empire.”
The Giants were underground?
“This is crazy.”
A curse slipped out naturally the moment I heard that story.
So there were Magic towers in the sky, and Giants underground? Just why was 'Jupeobae' so dead set on killing the Empire?
I was reeling from this shock.
“Go underground, to the Imperial Underground… The fastest way to get there is to plant the World Tree in the Empire and figure out the path, but I know that won’t be easy. The process to steal the World Tree from Mirne is incredibly complicated… So you have no choice but to scour the Empire’s Ground somehow.”
The Crown Prince looked straight at me and continued.
He was definitely speaking while looking into thin air, but it gave me the Illusion that we were making eye contact.
The Crown Prince’s unwavering gaze met mine.
“I believe in you - no… I suppose saying I believe in myself would be more accurate.”
I leave the Empire in your hands.
With those final words,
Flash!
My vision went dark again.
++++++
The moment Bellon woke up after reading the memories contained in the World Tree Root,
At that same time, the Maselin Kingdom was in an uproar.
“Knights of the Maselin Kingdom, listen well.”
Right in front of the main gate of the Royal Palace.
The Imperial Knights exuded a fierce Aura, and continued to speak, their swords drawn.
“To prove that you have not learned the Kailen Marin Cultivation Method, all knights are to disarm immediately, step forward, and bare their necks.”
The elite of the elite.
Even though the true knights of the Empire were speaking fiercely in the middle of another Kingdom.
“Bare your necks and expose your pulse. We will Check your pulse ourselves and Judge.”
No one could call it disrespectful.
“It does not matter if you refuse. No, in fact, if you wish to refuse, speak up now.”
As if the Imperial Knights were actually begging the Maselin Kingdom to refuse.
“We will carve just how harsh it is to be outside the Shadow of the Empire into the history of your Kingdom.”
They finished their words, carrying that very desire.
Such was their power, to show up at a Kingdom without any prior notice and demand they hand over their knights.
Faced with that authority and martial might that only the Empire possessed, the only thing the Maselin Kingdom could do was submit.
“Disarm… the knights.”
“…Your Highness the Crown Princess?”
Nothing but submission.