Dersia touched me a great deal. Both directly and indirectly. It is only sad that she is too powerful for the Empire to judge.
But in the end, she never realized my true identity. Even as a 9‑Star mage.
"..."
I held my tongue. How much did he know? What had he deduced?
Seeing me, Azrael scoffed.
"Why that expression?"
"... To be honest, I was expecting something like this."
I didn't know I had two worlds, but given that I could use normal magic despite having a heart‑realm, I could guess at something similar.
"But it's amazing that you, a shaman, figured out something even my Master didn't know."
"It's not that she didn't know, it's that she couldn't have assumed."
"A mage cannot have two worlds."
"This is an immutable law that is a fundamental premise in the world of magic, so that rigid woman must have only looked for means within that law."
"Is it possible in the world of curses?"
"Absolutely not. Curses don't have a 'world' to begin with."
"?"
"I believe what I see with my own eyes. Did you not manifest a star even after falling into a heart‑realm?"
"I didn't use any magic, how did you know?"
"If you want to hide it, start by wearing an eye patch. A trace is left where a star appears."
So there was something like that.
"Anyway, then you must have a second world. Isn't it a simple matter?"
I glared at Azrael, dumbfounded. That it seemed like I had two worlds, so I must have two worlds—that was the shaman's conclusion. As I was thinking how simply he lived his life, he extended his hand as if he didn't care.
"Now, try using your magic. Rest assured, I can guarantee that I know more about this domain than that Dersia woman."
"... Yes."
Half in doubt, I swept his hand with wind. Azrael, feeling the wind for a moment, observed me as if contemplating something. Soon, his expression sank deeply.
"This... hmm. Just a moment."
"What is it?"
"Ha. Is this... right? Try it again."
"??"
Azrael, who had said something trivial, studied me for a long time. It felt like he was repeating it over and over, unable to believe his own conclusion.
Once.
Twice, three times. Just as the thought that he might be a quack was deepening, he opened his mouth with an expression close to shock.
"How bizarre and mysterious. Truly so."
"What does that mean?"
"... Child of man. Why do you think you survived the burden of the world?"
"Because I worked myself to death."
It was an obvious fact. But Azrael shook his head.
"Yes, well. That seems to be true. Then how do you think you bought the time to make that effort?"
"I was told that because I wasn't yet accustomed to the heart‑realm, the burden came on less severely."
"Why would your world wait for you to grow?"
"...?"
I couldn't understand what Azrael was trying to say. Seeing my puzzled expression, he began to explain with a calm look.
"Your heart‑realm is deep, wide, and vast. Thus, it is called a Great System."
"Um, yes."
"However, your other world is small and wretched."
"It is crushed by that huge world I mentioned before, possessing such a despairing talent that it couldn't even construct the domain of a 'world'."
"... Yes. That my world is insignificant. I've heard that often."
"–No. You are strangely mistaken. It's the exact opposite."
When I replied with a frown, Azrael shook his head with a serious expression.
"I have seen the highest mountains, the highest seas, and the longest rivers. But more than any of those, I am learning from you just how mysterious the world can be."
"What's with all these riddles?"
"It means that while your talent for magic may be low, your talent as a mage is frightening."
"... What did you say?"
It was the exact same evaluation as Dersia's. As I stood there, bewildered, he, with an even more bewildered expression than mine, began to explain.
"Listen carefully. The burden is proportional to the size of the world."
"Therefore, even if you create a Great System, you must not make it 'too large.' If you do, you won't be able to handle it and you'll explode and die."
"And yet your heart‑realm is unimaginably, overwhelmingly large. Whether the burden comes late or early, a child's body cannot withstand it."
"But I'm alive and well."
"The reason is your second world."
Azrael patted my shoulder with a hand mixed with regret and reverence.
"Your other world abandoned everything else it should have as a world, just to save you, its master. It consumed its space, its contents, everything, to cling tightly to your body."
"...?"
"It was an astonishingly fast and accurate judgment. The moment you suffered the divine fever, your heart‑realm must have started crushing that world, so it created such a domain in a single night. In such a short time..."
He looked at my hardened expression and hammered the point home.
"You possess the largest world I have ever seen, and the smallest world, at the same time."
In other words. The heart‑realm belonging to the owner of this body is the Deep Sea. The largest and widest world.
The second, probably my world as a person from Earth, became the smallest world to keep me alive in that Deep Sea. And that's how the ten-year-old me was able to survive. Is that it?
Then that means the 'me' from the Republic of Korea was also a mage. I raised my hand and examined it closely.
"A world is attached to my body?"
"Yes. It is protecting you even at this very moment."
It was strange. It felt like I had an invisible guardian angel attached to me.
"Can you tell how long this fellow will protect me?"
"Until it bursts from being crushed by your heart‑realm."
Then it's soon. The burden is gradually getting stronger. If it becomes strong enough to kill me, it's meaningless.
I knew my world was working hard, but in the end, has nothing changed? As I made a bitter face, Azrael shook his head.
"You shouldn't let it go so easily. It's one of your greatest weapons. It will be a great help in buying time."
"How do I nurture this thing?"
"There is always only one way for a mage to grow. Enlightenment."
"I can't do that."
I clenched my fist in denial.
"I've attained it before."
The flame, and the memory of nearly dying, came back to me.
"But the burden started to come, so I consciously forgot it. In the first place, it was an enlightenment related to my heart‑realm, rather than my small world."
"Remember that your small world is currently struggling to protect you from that heart‑realm. An enlightenment about the heart‑realm is information about the enemy, so it directly becomes an enlightenment for your small world. In the first place, the heart‑realm is already a complete world, so even if you attain enlightenment, it cannot advance further."
Since its purpose is to protect me in the Deep Sea— Does it grow by using what I realize about the Deep Sea? Like if you know an arrow is coming, you gather cloth to make armor? ... Then why does the burden appear?
"It must be unable to protect you for a moment during the process of reconstruction."
"I see... no, then I'll die."
In the end, there was no way to develop my world. Because if my small world goes out now, I'll die, unable to withstand the burden.
"In that case, if you wish, I can give you that additional reward I mentioned."
"..."
I glared at Azrael, who said so with confidence. Azrael was now telling me to entrust my life to him.
"It's an easy task. Just keeping you alive from the burden for the brief moment you attain enlightenment and your world reconstructs itself."
"I'll pass."
I can't just snatch up a reward because it's right in front of my eyes. Whether Azrael has the ability to erase my burden, even for a moment... well, hmm. I think he might be able to.
But whether Azrael would actually do it is another matter. We just met, and considering this man turned all the elves into simpletons for the sake of some 'greater cause'—it would be foolish to just say yes and accept.
"Just telling me this interesting fact is enough. Now let's get to the point. We need to find my Master and stop her."
"... Alright."
Azrael changed the subject with a slightly disappointed look.
"From what I've heard from the others, the World Tree itself raised its branches and wrote on the ground."
"My Master could do something like that from hundreds of mountains away."
"That's not it either."
Azrael scoffed and shook his head.
"Do you think I picked some random tree from the back mountain and called it the World Tree?"
"It was the oldest living tree, a massive one with a circumference of several dozen meters that I made grow even bigger to tens of meters, and I placed all sorts of rituals on it to prevent human mages from gaining control over the elves."
"Ah, yes. Thank you for your hard work in turning the elves into simpletons."
"The way this kid talks... Anyway, no matter if it's Dersia, she cannot break through my rituals and move the tree without directly touching it. But they definitely said no one was seen near it with the naked eye."
"Then what is it?"
Azrael pointed at the ground, looking fed up.
"The roots."
"... The roots?"
"That woman is underground right now."
"..."
It seemed Dersia had become a cicada nymph.
Elf Village, Inn.
"So the Master has become a cicada nymph."
Ciel, after hearing the explanation of the situation, voiced the exact same thought I had. Well, if she's clinging to the tree roots and controlling the World Tree, it's hard to imagine anything else. As I was nodding in agreement, Brimdal muttered as if it were pathetic.
"If we know where she is, let's end this quickly. I can't stand to be part of this mad pointy-ear's runaway act any longer."
"Do we have to dig?"
At Linmel's innocent question, Azrael shook his head.
"No. We have to try talking first. I don't know what Dersia's plan is, so I want to avoid a fight as much as possible. And..."
Azrael then glared at Ciel.
"That one, you were by her side and couldn't stop her?"
"I'm sorry. I should have acted more decisively..."
Ciel sighed and lowered her head. She sure has a lot of connections, from Brimdal to Azrael. Was she some kind of messenger?
"Before we go, let's make one thing clear."
Azrael looked at each of us and gave a firm warning.
"If conversation is impossible, we must flee immediately. If Dersia has prepared for this, we won't be able to respond."
"Understood."
Of course, I didn't think a fight would break out in the first place. I had faith that Dersia would not try to harm me or my companions, that even if she went completely mad, she would still have that much sense left.
"And you."
"Yes."
"Do you really not need my help?"
On the way to the World Tree. Azrael persistently brought up the settled matter again.
"I don't think we've built that much trust between us yet. If you can do it in front of my Master after we talk, then I'll accept."
"Are you going to waste a golden opportunity over something like mistrust?"
"The Director at my orphanage told me to never accept a gift from a stranger if they say it's only good for me."
"... That is sound advice."
Azrael shrugged his shoulders.
"Fine, then I'll do it in front of Dersia."
It seemed he was determined to help me one way or another. Of course, his behavior only made me more suspicious.
"Why are you so eager to take care of me?"
"Because I want to see it, you brat."
I had no idea what he was talking about. Calming Linmel down, who was hopping ahead as if she was just enjoying the situation, we crossed about one mountain and... There was a mountain.
No, I mistook it for a mountain. ...
A tree.
"What the he—is this."
I almost let a curse slip out but stopped myself because Linmel was there. Azrael chuckled and nodded his head proudly.
"What do you think? You can't help but worship it, right?"
"It looks that way."
Even though he said he modified it, I thought it was just about ten trees combined. This was, without any exaggeration, the size of an apartment building. Startled by its size, which made my neck hurt just to look up, I approached it with the feeling that shamanism might not be entirely without reason.
The closer I got, the more it felt like I was looking at a giant brown wall. The roots alone would take months to fully trace.
"What now?"
"Leave it to me."
Ciel stepped forward in front of the World Tree with a confident expression, then clicked open the bag she was holding.
"I'm an expert at getting Dersia out."
Inside the bag... was a lot of oil. I frowned and looked at Azrael, but he just shrugged. It must be tacit permission.
Ciel took out a lighter. I couldn't help but voice my concern.
"Are you really going to do it?"
"Yes. She did this sometimes at the mansion too." ...
No wonder there were burn marks in her room. Still, setting fire to the World Tree... no, even if it wasn't the World Tree, if a tree this big burns, wouldn't it be a real disaster... I watched Ciel with worried eyes as she prepared to actually do it.
Just before the lighter touched the tree. In that very moment.
[... Didn't I write it at the end of my letter?]
The topmost branch bent strangely and came down towards us. It took on a human form. Made of leaves and branches, but if you looked closely, it seemed it could be Dersia.
The branch version of Dersia crossed her arms and glared at us.
[Not to believe Ciel's words.]
It was undoubtedly Dersia. She's really showing up like this.
"The contents were too strange for that."
Is a conversation possible? I took a step forward and met the branch Dersia's eyes.
"I can't understand your actions either. Why on earth are you causing a scene here? If it's for my sake, I can only ask you to stop."
[... Jern.]
Dersia was not flustered. She was not angry. There was no sign of her trying to hide anything.
She was just the usual Dersia, answering gracefully and calmly.
[I am perfectly sane, without a single deviation.]
"You look like it."
For all the fuss about her falling or going insane, she seemed to have no problems at all.
[I apologize for not being able to provide a detailed explanation. However, I had no intention of slaughtering all of my kin. I have no reason to, and even if I did, it is something that should not be done. Turning them into mages was truly a temporary measure, and I can revert it at any time.]
"Is that true?"
[I'll stake my name on it. No elf will be harmed in this matter.]
"..."
She wasn't one to lie. Dersia touched her forehead, shook her head, and muttered.
[I've made you worry needlessly. I apologize for writing the letter so incoherently. I had urgent business to attend to here, so I had no choice.] ...
What the.
[However, rather than checking your condition right after you woke up, I decided to act first and report later, just in case it was the worst-case scenario.]
This is too normal. At least in our conversation, I couldn't distinguish between the Dersia of before and the Dersia of now. What a relief.
I let out a sigh of relief. Dersia hadn't fallen at all. Not even a sign of it.
"Ah, so that's what it was. It seems we went a bit too far."
The situation ended with a whimper. I turned around and saw Ciel staring at Dersia, her lips pressed tightly together.
"...!"
Her expression was unusual.
What's wrong?
Just as I was about to open my mouth to ask— Someone took a heavy step forward.
"Dersia Aspandil."
A heavy voice. It was Brimdal, who had been following quietly without a word. He stood within fist's reach, looking down at Dersia and asked.
"Do you know me?"
[I have heard of a mad dwarf knight who thinks of humans as swords.]
It was a terrible remark, so much so that it was strange there was no hostility in it, but Brimdal didn't seem to care. Instead, Dersia asked back, as if puzzled.
[Ciel, Jern, Azrael, and that knight trainee are Jern's friends, I understand... but why are you here? A strange face, you are.]
"I came here because I have something to say to you."
"?"
Didn't he come so he wouldn't have to skip his body‑refinement training? This was the first I'd heard that Brimdal had business with Dersia.
[As far as I know, we have never met.]
Regardless of whether Dersia refused or not. Brimdal, who had stepped forward, glanced back. —He looked at me.
"To be precise, I came to ask a favor."
[Well, I will at least hear you out.]
"Hand over your disciple."
"?"
For a moment, in the cutting silence, I doubted my ears. Was this a joke? Was Brimdal the kind of person, no, the kind of dwarf, who could make jokes?
[Excuse me? No... excuse me?]
I wasn't the only one who was flustered. To Dersia, who was uncharacteristically stuttering, Brimdal declared confidently.
"While you were away. I took on the role of Jern's Master."
[... What did you say?]
"It was a bother at first. I was just going to teach him half-heartedly to get that gold over there—Linmel—and be done with it."
Brimdal was speaking to Dersia. But the content was for me.
"A good sword is made from good materials. That's a matter of course."
"It's a truth I've never once doubted, yet that talentless lump of rock, no matter how much I beat and struck it to get rid of it quickly, just wouldn't break."
[...]
"Then one moment, I realized an obvious fact. If a stone doesn't break no matter how much you strike it, how is it any inferior to the hardest steel in the world?"
[What are you trying to say?]
Brimdal declared in a low voice.
"I will forge my final sword from that boy."
[...]
"Hand him over. He's too precious a child for you to have. I will raise him well."
[... Hmm.]
After Dersia's hum. A silence fell, so thick that even Linmel read the mood and swallowed her saliva. ... For a long, suffocating time.