The Lord Who Levels Up by Devouring - Chapter 257

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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Chapter 257. The World Tree (1)
Territory World Tree Mode.
A mode where the entire territory operates as a single organic life form and grows autonomously.
To borrow Mungu’s words from back then.
◆When the population increases?!
◆Just like the branches of the World Tree spreading out!
◆Villages and outposts expand automatically!
◆Major facilities upgrade automatically based on usage frequency!
◆Resources regenerate automatically through the World Tree’s circulation!
◆Natural disaster occurrence rate: 0%!
In short, infrastructure, facilities, resources, and more.
All territory management functioned automatically.
And if the 【Optimization Monitoring Tool】 was applied on top of this?
Resources would be distributed at optimal efficiency.
Facilities would grow at maximum efficiency.
Population and functions would expand at peak efficiency.
A sort of automatic farming (?) function.
Literally, the territory would run itself without lifting a finger.
◆And moreover!?
◆There are even more broken features, you say?!
This wasn’t even the end of it.
There were even more absurdly overpowered functions available.
◆But I’m not telling you about those!!
…was what I remembered being told.
But I could verify that now if needed.
◆Activate 【Territory World Tree Mode】?
There was no reason to hesitate.
I immediately activated 【Territory World Tree Mode】.
◆Adding 【Territory World Tree Mode】 to “Management Mode”.
◆Loading….
.
.
◆Completed.
Along with the completion message, new options and functions appeared in “Management Mode”.
I immediately executed the corresponding function.
But then.
◆Error: No ‘World Tree’ exists within this territory.
“…?”
My head tilted involuntarily.
No World Tree exists in the territory?
“Could it be… that a real, actual World Tree is necessary?”
That seemed to be the case.
Somehow.
Even with Ian’s abilities, it shouldn’t be like this.
There was no way such an absurd function could operate on mere settings alone.
“Then you should have explained from the beginning.”
Or could it be…?
Mungu had mentioned something about ‘not revealing’ additional functions—
“You didn’t know about it yourself?”
◆Oops! Caught red-handed!
“…?”
In any case, this one was truly something.
It was remarkable how he descended into madness anew each time.
In that sense, I couldn’t even fathom how far he intended to go.
What was certain was that Mungu and Mungu were indeed separate entities operating under distinct mechanisms.
“…?”
The phrasing was a bit odd, but regardless.
“So in the end, you’re saying the Whitewolf Territory needs to have a World Tree to use that function.”
But where in the world would I obtain a World Tree?
First of all, it wasn’t even certain that a World Tree existed.
“I’ve never seen one in my previous life.”
The World Tree.
Simply put, one might call it the ‘dragon of the plant kingdom.’
However, in that it encompassed the origin and structure of The Continent as well as the very source of life itself, it could be considered a concept superior even to dragons.
Thus, all related accounts were equally grandiose.
A pillar supporting the world, they said.
A symbol of the interconnectedness of all natural things, they said.
The root of all living beings, they said.
Nothing but hollow fantasies fit only for ancient myths and legends.
And indeed, it appeared only in myths and legends.
In reality?
“There’s no way something like that could exist.”
If it truly had existed, well…
Setting everything else aside, The Emperor would never have allowed it.
It made no sense that a bloodthirsty madman bent on leading The Continent to ruin would have left the World Tree untouched.
“Or did I destroy it without realizing?”
…Was that it?
This was another thing I couldn’t be certain of.
Had it been mere minutes ago, I would have absolutely denied it.
But now, that was no longer the case.
“If Mungu needs the World Tree, then it must exist somewhere.”
One doesn’t need what doesn’t exist, after all.
Of course, Mungu was sometimes….
No, he was simply not in his right mind.
Yet he never lied.
Which meant that if the World Tree was needed, then conversely, the World Tree existed somewhere on The Continent.
“But I’ve never heard of it before.”
Even searching through my memories from my past life—
“…there’s nothing.”
Absolutely nothing.
Hmm.
Hmm.
Hmm.
“Perhaps Rielin knows something about it.”
Rielin, who had suffered relatively light injuries.
Though she had lost consciousness regardless.
“The Territory Quest has just been cleared.”
In other words, both Broombar and Rielin—
it meant the two of them had regained consciousness.
Sure enough.
Knock, knock.
-Adrian, Broombar and Rielin have regained consciousness.
I rose from my seat immediately.
* * *
A medical ward set up in one section of Count’s Castle.
Upon arriving there, several Elves, including the guards, were moving about busily.
True to the Supply Command’s nature, they were organizing and distributing various medicinal herbs and medical supplies.
Meanwhile, in the critical care section, spirits were healing the wounded with their power.
But their efforts seemed strained.
‘The spirits’ power has diminished from what it once was.’
It was because Sylvandir Forest had been destroyed.
For the Elves, Sylvandir Forest meant far more than merely their homeland.
The spirits answered only when called.
They could not fully manifest their true power.
I made my way toward the central isolation chamber.
Upon arriving, the first person I saw was Broombar.
Broombar sat on the bed, his entire body wrapped tightly in bandages.
‘Even with Iron Fortress [A+] defensive capabilities, injuries of that severity…’
Turning my gaze, I saw Rielin leaning back on the bed in front of him.
Rielin’s condition was far more grave.
A face so pale it had lost all color.
Not a trace of blood remained in her complexion.
Her breathing was shallow and uneven, trembling with each exhale.
“Are you alright?”
As I asked, Rielin’s gaze turned toward me.
Her emerald eyes had dulled considerably in hue.
Even meeting my eyes for a moment seemed to burden her greatly, and her shoulders quivered.
“…I’m fine—”
“You’re not fine.”
Broombar cut off Rielin’s words and answered in her stead.
“Her connection to the spirits has become severely unstable.”
It was plainly evident just by looking.
The same was true for the other Elves, but especially for Rielin.
Sylvandir Forest held tremendous significance for her.
As The Spirit Summoner who communed with nature itself, Sylvandir Forest was the very foundation of Rielin’s existence.
‘That’s likely why her performance fell short of what it was in my past life.’
The strength I had witnessed from Rielin in Sylvandir Forest.
She had been influenced by Mongma.
But that was her true form.
The Spirit Summoner of the Celestial Realm.
Rielin was a being so formidable she could speak for the will of heaven itself.
‘She had been gradually recovering her strength in Whitewolf Territory.’
But this time, she had expended far too much power.
The backlash had left her connection to the spirits nearly severed.
‘It was the same in my past life, though.’
In my past life, The Emperor had destroyed Sylvandir Forest.
Rielin had lost her strength just as she had now.
‘Ironically, it was thanks to the Death Lord that she could recover her power.’
In my past life, the Death Lord was merely interpreted as a form that maximized finality.
In other words, it remained fundamentally a part of nature.
Its essence as the spirit of death remained unchanged.
The Death Lord became the medium that revealed the existence of spirits, allowing Rielin to resonate with them once more.
Through this, she was able to bloom new life in opposition to the Death Lord.
‘Yet ultimately, she could not overcome the Death Lord.’
In any case.
Currently, Sylvandir Forest has vanished, but death has been reinterpreted as ‘cycle’.
The Death Lord is now sealed—or imprisoned?—in Valley of Kardun.
Or perhaps… in an infinite loop?
Well, regardless.
That’s the situation.
Thus, I was in a state where I could not restore Rielin’s sensitivity to mana.
‘I need the power of the World Tree even more.’
I carefully asked Rielin.
“Rielin. Forgive my presumption, but do you know anything about the World Tree?”
“…The World Tree?”
Rielin tilted her head in confusion.
“Is there perhaps something you know about it?”
“There is.”
“Even the smallest detail would help?”
Did I mishear just now?
“You know something about the World Tree?”
“Yes.”
“Does that mean… the World Tree actually exists?”
“Probably.”
Rielin nodded.
Things were progressing better than expected—
“But it doesn’t exist now.”
Of course.
There was no way things would unfold this smoothly.
“Could you explain in more detail?”
“I only heard this from the previous Forest Guardian.”
Rielin took a moment to collect herself.
And then.
“This is a story from tens of billions of years ago.”
She shared with me an ‘Elven mythology’ I had never heard before.
* * *
Tens of billions of years ago.
When the first Eon was formed on The Continent.
There existed a World Tree.
Genesis.
The primordial tree that cradled the origin of all life and the world.
Its roots and trunk embraced heaven and earth.
Its leaves gave birth to seasons and time.
Its fruits held the principles of all things.
“But as time passed, Genesis exhausted its power.”
Thus, Genesis gave birth to three World Trees to take its place.
Irminsul.
Yggdrasil.
Gaokerena.
Each World Tree contained the primordial power that served as the essence of the world and the driving force of change.
Irminsuul embodies the “Heaven” that creates all things.
Yggdrasil embodies the “Earth” that governs the principles of existence.
Gaokerena embodies the “Human” that presides over harmony and order.
Today, they are called the three origins of “Heaven, Earth, and Human.”
Each of the Three Principles dwelt within them.
Among these, the world tree of humanity.
Gaokerena presided over harmony and order, governing unity itself.
“She helped Elves and humans coexist, exchange knowledge, and build civilization together.”
But human greed corrupted everything.
Humans sought not to understand the order the world tree granted, but to possess its power.
“As the Elves turned away from humanity, she withered alongside them—or so the records say.”
Gaokerena vanished from the world in that way.
Next comes the world tree of Heaven.
Irminsuul prepared a new homeland for the Elves, isolated from the rest of the world.
“That is how Sylvandir Forest came to be.”
There, the Elves could live in harmony with nature.
“…But as you know, it no longer exists.”
Sylvandir Forest vanished entirely.
To be precise, I destroyed it.
‘Who could have foreseen this?’
Even if I had known, it wouldn’t have mattered.
Nothing would have changed.
Mongma and Rielin.
The only way to sever their bond was to erase Sylvandir Forest itself.
‘So that’s why Rielin’s power was rooted in Sylvandir Forest.’
Sylvandir Forest held within it the world tree of Heaven.
The power of Irminsuul dwelt there.
Had their bond grown any stronger in that place, even the Heavenly Dragon’s wrath would have been insufficient to contain it.
At least, assuming this mythological account is true.
Well, in any case.
Now only one world tree remains.
The world tree of Earth.
Yggdrasil—
“I heard the Dwarves possess it.”
“…Hmm?”
Broombar’s eyebrows twitched as he listened in silence.
“You’re saying we Dwarves hold the world tree of Earth?”
“That’s what the previous Forest Keeper told me.”
“…?”
Broombar tilted his head in confusion.
He had never heard of it before.
It was not a lie.
There was no reason for Broombar to fabricate his response in the first place.
Broombar crossed his arms and sank into deep contemplation.
He appeared to be recalling stories he had heard from the previous clan leader.
“…I hear of it for the first time.”
But soon he shook his head.
“I have never heard from the previous clan leader that a World Tree exists in Feractrum.”
Broombar, the clan leader of the Dwarves.
If he had never heard of it?
Then none of the Dwarves could possibly know of it.
Rielin did not seem particularly concerned either.
“Myths are merely myths, after all.”
As she said, myths were nothing more than myths.
Distant from the truth, or perhaps.
Or.
Even if true, merely remnants of an age long forgotten—
‘Wait.’
Remnants of an age long forgotten?
According to Mungu, the World Tree exists.
This is certain information.
Mungu does not speak falsehoods, after all.
If so, then Rielin’s account, however fantastical it may seem, is grounded in truth.
Therefore, the World Tree was highly likely to be a remnant of an ancient age and a legacy lost to memory.
“Could it be something your Dwarf ancestors brought with them?”
“Our ancestors?”
“The Dark Elves, I mean.”
The Dwarves.
A race born from the schism of the Elves in the distant past.
Dwarf was merely a name humans had given them.
Properly speaking, they should be called Dark Elves.
But originally, they were neither Dwarves nor Dark Elves—simply Elves.
Elves who wished not to be bound by nature.
Elves who desired only freedom.
Such Elves broke away and descended into the earth below, where resources were abundant.
But the environment beneath the ground, you see.
It was exceedingly inhospitable to life.
First and foremost, there was no light.
One could not even expect photosynthesis in plants, let alone the circulation of ecosystems.
And then there were the unstable ley lines and ore veins.
The ground itself was unstable enough to collapse at any moment.
Geothermal heat, toxic gases, dust clouds—
the inherent dangers of the Underground Vault had never been a suitable environment for the Dark Elves to inhabit.
“Wasn’t it necessary for them to possess a World Tree of the earth to establish a new settlement for the Dark Elves?”
Just as the Elves required a World Tree of the sky to create Sylvandir Forest.
The Dark Elves too had shaped a new homeland through the power of the World Tree.
And so the Dark Elves adapted to the earth.
And today.
they were able to survive as the Dwarves.
Which meant, in other words—
“A World Tree sleeps within our Feractrum…?”

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com

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