The phylogenetic seedling.
The Lord has heard my stubbornness, did not reject it, and granted the wish of a mere insignificant believer like me. A new miraculous power has settled within me.
Truly a grateful thing, but that’s only from my perspective.
“So, what is this?”
Roka’s words as she saw the seedling-like form revealed between my hands. She clearly thought, ‘Is it edible?’
That’s also correct. For the hungry, this miracle would be less than a piece of bread handed to them immediately. Eating comes first. Sleeping comes first. Only after solving the problems of eating and sleeping can one move on to the next step. Everyone would probably be like that.
“There are many things one can do after being born as a human, but time is not sufficient for us.”
In a span of barely a hundred years, subtracting the time for eating, sleeping, and other necessities, less than fifty years remain.
Few people use those fifty years properly. Where is the person who dedicates their entire life to productive work? One must also play and drink. Sometimes, time is wasted on gambling. I am also like that. The time spent playing with Roka is not productive time.
“Even if it were sufficient, we cannot use that time properly.”
For example, Roka has more than enough time to learn to read. But if I were to hand her a book and tell her to learn, it would be terribly inefficient. It wouldn’t be strange if she threw the book away every thirty minutes and came to play.
I used Roka as an example, but everyone is like that. Being human, one cannot always concentrate. Efficiency drops when doing things one dislikes, and even when doing things one likes, one cannot always maintain a perfect state.
Sometimes, what one wants to do and one’s aptitude differ. There are things one wants to do but is not good at, and things one is good at but does not want to do. When one wants to pursue what one wants to do while doing what one is good at, the phylogenetic seedling can help catch both rabbits.
“The phylogenetic seedling is the Lord’s gift for us like that. You dedicate the karma of the life you’ve lived to the tree, and in return, it brings part of your potential into reality.”
Dedicate your achievements. Offer your life.
Then, like a sprout growing from a seedling, new possibilities will bloom.
What existed only as potential will stretch out as a new stem.
The phylogenetic seedling will be with you.
Those who wish to use the seedling must receive your permission.
The connections one builds while facing the world, what can be called karma, are offered, and in return, what might have been gained in the future is downloaded now. The phylogenetic seedling was an astonishingly powerful authority. I could immediately understand why the tree angel warned not to abuse this ability.
“…?”
“Rather than explaining in a hundred words, it’s quicker to try it once. Roka, put your hand on this tree.”
“Like this?”
Roka placed her hand on the seedling without hesitation. At that moment, we were in that place with neither sky nor ground. Only possibilities stretched out there, and an overwhelming number of possibilities densely filled the space before us.
Like drawing a tree. From what was initially a single line, countless lines branched out. I instinctively knew. That single line represented Roka’s present and past. The unchangeable past, already chosen, was the horizontal trunk of the tree.
‘All those branches are the futures Roka can choose.’
No one can have all their branches. One cannot put in that much effort or have that much time. If the Lord had not helped, it would have been so. Now is different.
“Roka, dedicate your life to the Lord, and you can bring a corresponding future into the present.”
“I don’t understand, but I feel like I do. It’s like my heart is telling me.”
Roka murmured as if entranced.
“It feels like I’ve known this since birth… It’s strange. There’s no way I could have known how to use this.”
Among them, my gaze was drawn to the future where Roka learned to read. About three months of focus would be more than enough. Since it’s a relatively small task, the achievements needed to be offered are also few. Roka’s life has been tumultuous, and thus, much karma has accumulated.
‘Who isn’t living a hard life?’
That was the reason I couldn’t help but worry.
‘Everyone lives hard, everyone has difficulties. As life is hard, everyone must carry their own karma.’
The phylogenetic seedling was an overwhelmingly powerful miracle. What I prayed to the Lord for was merely the small task of Roka learning to read, not this authority that mocks effort and brings only results. Yet, the Lord granted me this miracle. Surely, He thought such a powerful miracle was necessary for me.
‘If that karma can be converted into strength or knowledge… No. The Lord must have a reason for granting me this miracle. He sees more than I do.’
“Master.”
“Yes?”
Roka jumped up and clung to my back. Wrapping her arms around my neck, she whispered in my ear.
“Master, you choose. I don’t know what to do.”
“Roka, Roka, this is your seedling. How you grow this tree is up to you.”
I would respect Roka’s choice even if she chose something other than learning to read. This is her future, not mine, and everyone has the right to decide their own future.
Roka is not my slave or servant but a person with the same qualifications as me. I will only cheer for this child’s life. What right do I have to force Roka’s life?
“Then, Master, I want to do that.”
Roka pointed to a branch with her finger.
“That… it feels like it’s calling me. Just thinking about it makes my tail tremble, and I feel like I hear whispers. I want that.”
“Let’s see, that is…”
A choice that requires consuming all the karma Roka currently has.
That branch represents a future where Roka has trained in the power of the sun for about thirty years.
‘The sun…?’
Was there such a thing as solar attribute magic? I don’t handle magic, so I’m not sure. Anyway, that branch represents a future possibility where Roka, through much hardship, gained the solar attribute. A fragment. It sounds simple, but the details were more complicated.
‘No, it’s not just about gaining solar magic.’
It was a future fragment where Roka, through long training and special exercises, harmonized the solar magic with the lunar magic she already possessed. It’s quite rare for someone to be born with attribute magic, but who would have thought Roka was like that? She never used magic in front of me, so I didn’t know.
“This branch?”
“Yes.”
Looking at Roka intently, she nodded. The child’s intention was clear. She wanted to pour all the karma she had accumulated through a hard life into that single branch.
“Roka, may your wish come true.”
But this is her choice. I approved. The branch, which was just a hazy possibility, brightly connected to the stem. At that moment, Roka’s body trembled. It felt like she had become as warm as sunlight. Her body temperature was so warm, almost hot, that I had to put her down.
“Master, I…”
In one eye, the chilly power of the moon, in the other, the hot power of the sun. The energies of the sun and moon orbited without conflict, as if handled for decades. The phylogenetic seedling had done its job properly.
“I feel… incredibly stronger.”
“Is that so?”
Actually, I wanted you to learn to read, not become incredibly strong. But well, if you’re happy, it’s fine.
“…Master, I will protect you.”
“That’s reassuring, Roka. Thanks to you, I don’t have to worry.”
Look at her smiling like that. Is she that happy? I hugged Roka, and she hugged me back. When I patted her head, she smiled as if she owned the world. What is this cute creature? I like her so much it’s almost embarrassing.
‘My God, who receives faith from me alone, grants such authority.’
While I was pampering Roka, a sudden curiosity arose.
‘Just how much authority can the priest of the Three Divine Gods, believed by half the continent, wield?’
Even if I don’t know, I’m sure it’s terrifyingly powerful. Miracles like the reviving spring water, the sanctuary’s candles, or the phylogenetic seedling would be easily surpassed, capable of truly astonishing the world.
The saint, Araidel, who joined Yurinel’s party in my place. Just how great an authority can she wield? Perhaps she can freely communicate with her god and receive divine protection to overcome crises whenever needed. She would be beyond comparison to someone like me.
‘Everyone has their own path. For me, for them.’
Now, even when I recall the memory of being kicked out of the party, I remain calm because the Lord is still behind me, watching over me.
The memories of being with them no longer make me nostalgic because Roka is by my side, saying she will protect me.
The past that has flowed away is no longer important to me. Only the present I am living and the future matter now.
*
Something created with just a touch of the fingertips. Yet, something that embraces everything in this world. Something all living beings, including humans, unknowingly let slip by.
Karma is the most difficult and arduous concept, something even angels cannot understand. The universe has no inside or outside; there is only the beyond. The phylogenetic tree rooted beyond the world trembled its branches. Its branches continue to grow even at this moment.
Twitch.
An eye opened in the center of that tree, blinking as it gazed at the universe.
-Apostle, never abuse that miracle.
Among karma, the karma that takes root in a person and completely belongs to them. That which is called karma is relatively easy to use. The being Kyle calls the tree angel cannot use karma but can use achievements. By receiving a person’s achievements as a price, it can summon future possibilities.
Frankly, it’s a terribly losing deal. Karma is something even the tree angel cannot properly handle. He is an angel, not a god. But the Lord compensates for that lack of power, so he doesn’t complain.
-That is an ability that should not exist in your world.
All of Kyle’s miracles are like that. Being human and living in the human world, they cannot exert their full power. Only when he finally transcends humanity and accepts his destiny as an apostle, standing beside the Lord with the angels, will all those miracles transcend their limits and become truly great. Then, he will be able to use the phylogenetic seedling without the tree angel’s help.
Ascension is prepared for him, and it’s only a matter of time.
