Eat The World Tree-Chapter 325: Collapse Of The Cradle (10)

Deep inside the Cradle.

A massive invasion by the Flower had begun, leading to the loss of many trees.

“Damn it, damn it.”

Archbishop Vin Mark clenched his teeth, slamming the table with both fists.

-Bang!

His trembling fists clenched tightly.

“Summon all priests and holy knights immediately! What the hell were you doing until it got this bad!?”

“Uh, Archbishop….”

“What!”

“There are cadets and National Trees at the hotel….”

“Does that matter right now? The World Trees are dying! Ignore all that and bring everyone here. Gather all the hunters at the hotel and redirect them to the altar, quickly!!”

-Whirring.

The Archbishop shouted, while the other bishops flustered around him.

The surveillance cameras recorded their chaotic reactions.

-Bang!

-Boom!

The continuous sound of explosions.

Cistus’s avatars were self-destructing, completely dismantling the Cradle’s critical systems.

“Damn it, damn it….”

The Archbishop gritted his teeth, expressing his growing anxiety.

-Boom!

At this moment, the Cradle continued to turn to ash.

Cistus’s avatars were catastrophically destructive, leaving no effective countermeasures.

Each avatar was as strong as a skilled hunter, and the destructive power of their self-destruction exceeded that of grand magical spells.

Their appearance, resembling a young girl, demoralized the hunters.

Most hunters caught in the self-destruction within a 100-meter radius died.

Even those lucky enough to destroy a Cistus avatar suffered mental aftereffects, with many ending their own lives.

A nightmare on the Flower front.

Now, Cistus was targeting the Cradle with full force.

Adding to the Flower’s typically chaotic warfare, intelligent tactics spearheaded by Hong Yeon were now creeping into the Cradle.

‘…What should I do?’

There was no solution in sight.

Sitting in his empty seat, the Archbishop kept questioning himself.

How could this crisis be overcome?

-Footsteps.

A robed man standing behind him spoke.

“Archbishop?”

It was Priest Aaron.

Aaron was the reason Vin Mark had risen to power within the church—a skilled combat priest.

When Aaron had first appeared and proposed an alliance, Mark didn’t realize it was an opportunity.

He thought the sudden arrival of this upstart was arrogance.

But Aaron soon demonstrated brilliant strategies and power, quickly becoming the key figure who helped Vin Mark ascend to the position of Archbishop.

“Priest Aaron… tell me what I should do now?”

“You seem troubled.”

There had been many crises before.

Aaron’s cleverness had always paved the way out of them.

The Archbishop trusted Aaron obsessively. Thus, Aaron smiled faintly and placed a hand on his shoulder.

“I trust you, Priest. How can we repel those vile, cunning Flowers?”

“That might be difficult. Would you do anything?”

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“Anything.”

As always.

Aaron’s hollow eyes scanned the Archbishop’s face.

His gloved hand fell from the Archbishop’s shoulder.

“I see.”

Aaron swung his hand.

-Thwack!

Under the light, a round shadow flew through the air.

The head rolled to the floor, unaware of its own death.

The Archbishop’s trembling body convulsed before collapsing, blood spurting from his neck onto the ground.

Aaron removed his robe.

As the saying went, “A house that takes the Lycoris will burn.”

【Flower Executive Rank 6 :: Lycoris Radiata】

【Alias :: Red Spider Lily 】

Known to the world as the Red Spider Lily.

The ashen-haired man stretched out his hand to grasp the Archbishop’s corpse.

His fingers tore into the flesh, and the blood inside was completely absorbed into his body.

“Even someone like this has plenty of magical energy.”

Despite his cowardice, the Archbishop’s skills were genuine.

If he had cast magic himself, it would have been a nuisance.

Lycoris put his robe back on and opened the door.

There was no one left to defend the Cradle.

‘I hope not too many young talents have died.’

Many National Trees had entered the hotel.

Their betrayal of the World Trees had been a significant asset.

Although the Cradle was collapsing, there was no way to assist the hotel.

The Archbishop, the priests—none of them mattered. The true strength lay with the World Trees.

Once the trees began their resistance, not even Flower could guarantee victory.

That was a nostalgic dream.

“Oh, are you the National Tree of France?”

When they were young.

Two people, who were still shorter than her, were looking at Maronnie.

“Nice to meet you. This is Abie, and I’m Bell. We’re the National Trees of the UK and Germany. Just like you!”

“…Oh, uh. Nice to meet you.”

The UK, Germany, and France.

It was safe to say they were the main pillars of Europe, but in fact, they didn’t get along well in the past.

When the war of the Tree Spirit King occurred, Germany sided with the Tree Spirit King.

Due to Britain and France only checking each other, the public sentiment was ripe for backlash.

“Wow, your hair color is really pretty.”

“…Really?”

Maronnie, who was timid due to her confusion as a new National Tree.

Thanks to these two who actively approached her, she gained courage many times.

“I almost died during training today. How about you?”

“I… don’t know. I’ve been studying at the research institute.”

“So you’re a magician~ Wow. That’s something I never even dreamed of. Oh, should I show you Excalibur?”

Bell, who was innocent and playful.

Abie, quiet but enjoyed playing, always sincerely answered even the silliest of jokes.

The story of these three spread throughout Europe, bringing the countries closer together, which was now a case study in textbooks.

They contributed to reshaping Europe’s diplomatic relations.

The photo of the three holding the peace award given by the European Union is still one of the items in Maronnie’s diary.

‘…This is fun.’

Good people.

Bell was reliable, even though sometimes his pranks went too far.

Abie often brought things like commoner’s food that she had never experienced.

The first appearance of the National Trees at the Forester Selection Competition.

There was definitely a friendship between the three.

They had many enjoyable experiences and unforgettable memories.

“But why.”

-Flash!

Rain fell.

A cold drop from the sky fell on her long eyelashes.

“Oh, are you awake, shorty?”

Familiar voices caused her heart to constrict.

“Cough, cough!”

Maronnie, shackled by magical cuffs, leaned against the wall of a building.

She opened her eyes to check her surroundings.

A place where a huge building stood face-to-face.

In the center, there was a fountain.

She knew this place because she had been here before.

The location where everyone gathered when the Forester Selection Competition first began.

The grand arena with vines and trees sprouting up.

The darkened space had no one in sight.

Bell and Abie were standing near Maronnie, watching her.

“…You guys.”

Her throat was so tight she could hardly speak.

Maronnie bit her lip hard as Bell spoke gravely.

“Listen, shorty. We don’t particularly want to be enemies.”

“…The cuffs. Take them off.”

“That’s not possible. Just wait a little.”

“Why, why are you doing this, why?”

No matter how much she struggled, she couldn’t move.

Even the magical core inside her was sealed tight.

‘Round Table’.

Bell’s authority.

It completely controlled the magic within a certain barrier.

Of course, it had the disadvantage that even he could not use magic.

But Bell had physical abilities strong enough to overwhelm opponents.

“Maronnie.”

As Bell spoke her name, Maronnie grimaced in pain.

“Don’t call my name.”

“You need to know.”

“Know what? That you… betrayed me? As a National Tree… Do you know how significant this is? Why do you have so much to say after betraying your country?”

“Who betrayed whom?”

Bell tilted his head towards Maronnie.

“Authoritarian rule is over. Public opinion in our country has completely shifted. Even if we were chosen by the World Tree as National Trees… we are nothing but trees serving our nation.”

“……”

“France. Our situation is a bit different from yours.”

“So what.”

“Listen. Right now, the church is completely chaotic. Does it make sense that one bishop in a country has as much power as the head of state?”

It was different from Korea, where people generally lived well.

Korea had a hero named Mugung.

On the other hand, the actual economic indicators of other countries were dire.

Exploitation continued, and the luxury of the Trees pierced the sky.

National Trees were also part of this.

The World Tree created the National Trees to guard against the Flowers and the Tree Spirit King, but even these trees turned a blind eye to the current state of affairs.

The cost to create one National Tree was 45 trillion won a year, comparable to the budget of a nation’s defense ministry.

With such money being extracted from the families of the Trees and humans, how could there not be discontent?

Above all, Bell and Abie directly faced this discontent.

“People are tired now.”

There were many examples.

“…There’s an oil field in Kent, England.”

“Why bring that up suddenly?”

“It was created by magic. But that area was once under the control of the Tree Spirit King, you know?”

Some areas taken by the Tree Spirit King could not be developed.

The benefits of developing a massive oil field were astronomical.

The same went for other places.

The unilateral and arrogant actions of the World Tree caused an untold number of people to suffer.

“So… you betrayed us?”

“You know. More and more people are dying.”

Bell gave a bitter smile.

It was the first time she had seen Bell’s sad face, he who was always playing around.

“I don’t want to see this anymore. Not now.”

“…So you joined the terrorists?”

Abie interjected.

“We just choose the lesser evil.”

Maronnie fell silent.

Still in shock from the betrayal, she showed signs of anxiety.

No, tears were already falling from her eyes.

Betrayed by friends who were unique to her.

“…….”

Her heart felt like it was being torn apart.

“Think carefully, Maronnie.”

Abie spoke up. His eyes honestly met Maronnie’s.

Maronnie looked away.

“Ideology has always been used by politicians. It’s all about power struggles. The world is shaped by those who monopolize power and profit.”

The Flowers were not much different.

“At the end of this war, whether it will end in coexistence or dictatorship, we’ll see.”

However, the Flowers were the only ones challenging the power of the World Tree established in this era.

National Trees must save people.

Abie and Bell were beings rooted in that spirit.

“We can make things right in the middle.”

“…So, kill people?”

“For the victory of the Flowers.”

The students inside the hotel were civilians.

But in other words, they were also potential enemies for the Flowers.

Abie explained it as an inevitable casualty.

“…But.”

“Take your time to think. I know what you’re struggling with. I won’t ask you to change your mind instantly.”

Abie’s voice entered her ears.

Maronnie was anxious. She understood, but it was horrifying.

All of this situation.

This situation, filled with the stench of blood from battles, Maronnie could not accept.

Why must there be fighting?

Why must there be death?

The war of factions was inevitable.

-Drip.

Tears blurred her vision.

‘I am.’

Abie’s words pierced through her headache.

“Or is it because of that man?”

“…What?”

“Lee Shiheon. No, calling him that… that’s kind of awkward.”

He whispered softly.

“Tree Spirit King.”

A name that suddenly stabbed into her mind.

A figure feared by many Trees, symbolizing terror up to now, was someone Maronnie, born into a noble family, held many prejudices against.

-Oh Great King!

Lee Shiheon, whom the Sage approached closely.

Sephirot, who followed him, shouted strange words.

The words and situations she had thought nothing of until now connected in one line, confusing Maronnie’s mind.

“Ah… What?”

-Boom!

The sound of immense magic spreading.

Abie closed his mouth and murmured to Bell.

“He’s here. Get ready.”

Bell nodded and drew his sword.

Abie glanced back once before meeting Maronnie’s eyes again.

Her eyes were trembling.

The feeling of looking directly into an abyss.

“Maronnie. I’ll ask one last time.”

“……”

“Help us out a bit.”

It felt like being sucked into his eyes.

This sensation, she had felt it somewhere before.

‘Brainwashing.’

She had the power to resist now.

“……!”

As the brief headache subsided, Maronnie shivered.

Her mind was clear, but the following fear made her lips tremble.

Her whole body tensed.

Breathing became difficult.

Abie’s eyes opened.

“I was wrong.”

A voice that whispered regretfully.

At that moment, his face turned cold.

-Crackle!

Black magic rained down between the three, who were once friends.