[Author’s Note] Thank you. If you enjoyed reading, please hit that recommendation button @[emailprotected] Episode 87
29. The Time of Magical Beasts and Witches
086 – The Time of Magical Beasts and Witches #2
Witch Eve continued her story calmly, though with a somewhat bittersweet expression.
“Of course, the World Tree didn’t initially intend to capture the mythical creatures. Our relationship soured because of a beast that ate dirt and one single human.”
━Are you talking about Adam?
I recalled the name I had heard from Ilgast, the Elder of the West Forest.
Ilgast had spoken of the human named ‘Adam’ with significant caution.
Eve, who looked a bit stunned by my question, narrowed her eyes and tapped her index finger on the wooden table.
“So you heard it from Ilgast. Yes, Adam. Adam and Laplace—the first human and the cunning snake, respectively.”
━I see.
I updated my mental notes with this new information about Laplace. I hadn’t thought there would be any connection to this Adam character.
‘Looks like these stories aren’t separate after all. Everything seems like it’s merging into one.’
“They were quite the dynamic duo of villains. One was a beast that drudged through the ground, and the other was a hairless monkey that only knew how to be sly without any real skills. They both felt out of place in the forest and ended up cooking up quite the mess together. Ultimately, they created the unprecedented monster, the magical beast Behemoth, and brought a crisis upon this forest.”
That was the end of the story. Witch Eve shrugged her shoulders.
I frowned and scratched my forehead with my front claw.
━Seems like a lot was skipped over. Don’t you have more to say?
“This happened thousands of years ago. No one remembers it now. Even I can only recall it vaguely. Honestly, I had completely forgotten about it until I met you.”
━Are you trying to hide something?
“I’ve always played the role of a bystander. Ilgast could have told you more. He was involved in the creation of the magical beast.”
━Hmm. Ilgast…
I began to understand why Ilgast seemed to take a liking to me. He couldn’t help but feel joy seeing an experiment he helped create come to life and move.
━Why did they create the magical beast?
In response to my question, Eve slowly began to scratch the rough surface of the wooden table with her fingernail.
“Well, Adam, humans like to create things. And his friend Laplace especially enjoyed using his brain. Most of the definitions for the numbers, letters, rules, and laws of this world were made by those two.”
━So, they just created me without any reason?
“No, I think they wanted to become gods. Adam and Laplace didn’t want to be mere mythical creatures; they wanted to be the rulers of all things. The endlessly evolving magical beast was their test subject. They claimed that by reaching the end of evolution, one could become a god. And their plans went against the heart of the World Tree.”
Eve leaned in closer towards me.
“Alpha, the day you acquire the Fruit of the World Tree, you will not just be a mythical creature but truly a god-like being. Adam, who gave you your name, is likely hoping for that as well. You will be the beginning and the end of everything.”
Eve laid some monumental praises on me.
In her icy blue eyes, I could see a passion boiling like magma beneath a cold glacier.
But I had a hard time grasping what she was saying, let alone understanding what she meant.
Noticing my frown, Eve casually replied, “Well, once you get the fruit, you’ll understand everything.”
I decided to piece together what I had heard so far.
Laplace and Adam were responsible for creating the Behemoth, which was becoming my body, and they likely had some intentions regarding the Behemoth.
I slowly shifted my gaze to the bubbling cauldron.
‘According to Kaah, Laplace was killed by a huge white beast.’
That giant white beast was likely the Behemoth they had created.
In other words, it could be my ancestor or something like that.
‘So, did Laplace lose control over what he created and d*e?’
The thought of Behemoth being a vicious beast that devours everything flashed in my mind.
It was common in movies and novels for scientists to be killed by the monsters they created. Frankenstein did, and…
‘Who else did, I wonder?’
I recalled the impactful line from the novel Frankenstein I had read a while ago.
‘The reason I’ve become so cruel is precisely this wretchedly lonely life forced upon me!’
The sorrowful cry of a created being echoed in my memory.
I spread out my front paws and stared at my soft, plump pads.
‘Am I also a created being? This second life was given to me like a hand-me-down.’
I don’t know what the selection process was that pulled my soul in, but one thing was clear: there was something I had to do.
‘The Fruit of the World Tree.’
I finally understood the sensation that made my heart flutter when I first heard that name.
‘Tools are made for a purpose, and there’s a reason for their existence.’
I recalled the wheel I saw in the region of the monkeys.
Tools serve as means to an end.
‘So, someone is planning to do something through me.’
A shiver ran down my fur.
The thought of someone pulling strings behind the scenes to orchestrate a huge plot without my knowledge made me uneasy.
━What happens if I don’t obtain the fruit? Will I just live in a tiny tree house, eating fruit day by day until I d*e?
“I don’t know. But sooner or later, you’ll get found out. You’ll have no choice but to fight. Otherwise, you’ll d*e.”
━Found out by whom?
“You mentioned twelve deities earlier. They taught Laplace and Adam a lesson. They are our enemies too.”
━Oh.
I realized I had brought up the twelve deities myself.
━Are they strong?
If they have already reached the level of being called deities, they likely weren’t just any run-of-the-mill individuals.
Eve clicked her tongue at my question.
“They call themselves deities, acting all high and mighty, but most of them are tattered fools. However, they’re annoying because they can roam this forest without the World Tree watching them. That’s their privilege.”
━So those guys can k*ll me?
“Right. They’re the ones who killed the adult Behemoth. If you’re just munching fruit casually, you might end up like that.”
Eve spoke lightly, as if it was a joke.
“You’d better get stronger soon. It’s best if you become an adult as quickly as possible.”
━How long does it take to become an adult?
I felt like a kid asking how many more nights I need to sleep to become an adult.
Eve pushed her chair back and slowly approached me.
Then, she scratched my forehead, chin, and the bridge of my nose.
“What’s important for you is not the time. What you eat matters.”
━But there must be a rough time frame.
“Yeah, um. Adam said that a Behemoth is considered an adult after undergoing four transformations. How many transformations have you gone through so far?”
━Three.
“Well, it shouldn’t be too long before you become an adult. The truth is, this is extremely fast compared to other individuals. Many that died in their fluid stage never even made it this far, and it usually took three to four years to undergo three transformations. You’re the first Behemoth to show this kind of development just a month after birth. Truly worthy of the title ‘Alpha’.”
Eve lifted me high into the air by slipping her arms under my armpits.
It was the same motion Adam, the hunter leader, had used to lift me.
“Please grow and thrive, Alpha. You are our only hope.”
On my way back to Leaf’s hut, I was wrapped up in a tangled web of thoughts sorting through what Witch Eve had shared with me.
‘It feels like there’s more she’s hiding.’
Witch Eve was someone I could trust on one hand, but on the other hand, there was an unsettling side to her.
She deliberately kept some information from me and, even though she claimed to be a bystander, she was well-informed about the magical beast Behemoth, which seemed quite suspicious.
‘Fine, acquiring the Fruit of the World Tree sounds good. I can agree on that point. But it bothers me that someone else’s plans are mixed in with my will.’
I didn’t like the idea of someone else trying to control my life.
Back when I was human, I had moved out of my parent’s place and ended up living in a cramped, damp one-room goshiwon for that very reason.
‘My father trying to force me into a job was nothing compared to now.’
Clunk.
I sat on a creaking cart and continued to ponder.
Clunk.
━Hey, we’re slowing down. Come on, pull faster!
I shouted toward Leaf, who was pulling the cart.
━Wha—hey, I’m pulling as hard as I can, but I’m getting tired! Can we switch?
Leaf looked at me, sweating on his forehead.
I grabbed Yingyi, which I was using as a pillow, and handed it to Leaf.
━I’ll give you this, so keep pulling! I’m so nice, aren’t I?
━Ugh…
Leaf accepted Yingyi with a reluctant nod.
Just then, with a pop, Leaf’s body was enveloped in thick fog.
━What happened? What’s going on all of a sudden?
I leaped up in my spot like a startled cat at the sudden smoke bomb explosion.
━I’m back!
Leaf shouted cheerfully from within the smoke.
As the fog swirled away in the wind, the girl was nowhere to be found, and a brown-furred raccoon stood up on its front paws joyfully.
━Look! I’m finally back to my original self!
━Gyu-ing!
Leaf hopped up and down with glee, hugging Yingyi.
━Yeah, I get that you’re happy, but hurry up and pull the cart.
━Uh, I don’t think I can pull it in this body.
━What?
I felt a vein pop on my forehead at Leaf’s words.
━Wait, what do you mean, your body is different now? You’re too weak and small to pull this cart!
Leaf stammered, explaining his situation.
‘But that’s a valid point, and I can’t argue against it.’
I let out a frustrated growl.
In the end, I had to pull the cart myself all the way from the witch’s hut to Leaf’s wooden house.
The next morning, I headed to the witch’s house the moment the sun began to rise. I couldn’t shake off the anxious feelings from the previous day’s conversation and didn’t sleep well.
‘Witch Eve seemed to act like it was no big deal, but it basically means those twelve deities, or mythical creatures, will be targeting me.’
I thought it would be wise to gather detailed information about the foes I was about to face.
Knowing about your enemies beforehand can help you prepare for countermeasures, whether it’s sharpening a dagger or planning an escape.
With Yingyi and Leaf still asleep in the wooden house, I stepped into the foggy woods towards Witch Eve.
‘It’s always so chilly here. It’s the middle of summer outside.’
I frowned as I looked around at the dark forest and trees even in broad daylight.
Following the winding paths I had memorized before, I soon spotted Eve’s hut perched atop a large tree.
Just as I was about to ring the bell hanging beneath it…
━Sssss!
Someone suddenly grabbed my front paw and stopped me from ringing the bell.
━What? You! Why are you out here?
I took a few steps back, startled by the unexpected guest, Kaah.
I unsheathed my claws, ready for any possible attack, while Kaah waved his arms around nervously.
━W-wait a minute!
Then, he brought his finger to his lips and made a soft “shhh” noise.
━I heard everything from the cauldron yesterday. You’re actually an incredible beast, right? The magical beast Behemoth—I’ve heard that name before!
━So what do you want from me? Are you still not scared?
I kept my guard up and growled, while a fidgety Kaah glanced around nervously and pulled something from between his ample chest fur towards me.
━Thi-this is something I’ve treasured for over ten years. You’ve never seen anything like it, right? The reverse scale of a lamia is a magical item that holds a lot of value in itself!
━Hmm.
I accepted the item he offered, known as the reverse scale.
It was a thin, red object that felt icy cold to the touch.
━So, what’s the reason for showing this to me?
