213th Episode
Ray arrived at the orphanage with Ulte.
The number of orphans being cared for at the orphanage had decreased compared to before.
Thanks to the efforts of Count Philip and Jimy, the overall living conditions in the baron’s territory had greatly improved, reducing the number of orphans.
They had also tracked down and punished many parents who irresponsibly abandoned their children.
With fewer direct responsibilities, the orphanage had transitioned into an educational institution for the children of the barony.
Though the orphanage was achieving positive results as an educational facility, when considering the budget required, it was difficult to see how it benefited the House of Philip.
Nevertheless, Count Philip maintained the current system for various reasons. Thanks to Ray bringing a substantial amount of funds this time, the orphanage would be able to continue its operations.
Upon arriving at the orphanage, Ray and Ulte entered the courtyard where children were happily playing.
Ray waved casually to the children greeting them and headed toward a corner of the courtyard.
There, a young elf sat with a vacant gaze, sucking her fingers.
“Titi.”
After Ray called out several times, the elf finally turned her head.
Ulte took hesitant steps toward the elf.
When Ulte finally stood in front of her, the previously dazed elf reached out and grabbed Ulte’s finger.
The elf silently fiddled with Ulte’s fingers.
Neither Ray nor Ulte could tell if the emotions on the elf’s face were joy, curiosity, or something else entirely.
Ulte knelt down as if collapsing, swallowing back a sob.
Ray stood there for a while, watching the scene.
*
“So…”
After meeting Titi.
Ray sat beside Ulte on a bench placed in the orphanage courtyard and spoke.
“What is this information about a way to solve the curse?”
Ulte had clearly mentioned finding a clue in the underground city regarding solving the curse on Titi, formerly known as Resina, the hero.
With a long sigh, Ulte pulled out Genesis, which had nearly lost its functionality due to the curse.
“The world tree’s curse isn’t a curse for the sake of cursing. That’s what I learned there.”
“What do you mean?”
“Do you know about the influence the World Tree has on the world?”
“Yes, I have a rough idea.”
In the distant past, the World Tree was almost like a guardian deity protecting the land.
But at the present moment, the role of the World Tree has become even clearer and more significant.
Together with the church, the World Tree plays one of the most crucial roles in suppressing and limiting the spread of the Demonic Realm.
Regions that have been fully demonized become impossible to defend over the long term, so the loss of the World Tree would directly lead to the end of the world.
“The power of the World Tree is not infinite.”
If the World Tree’s power were infinite, it would have already completely purified lands that had been demonized long ago.
However, since the World Tree’s power is not limitless, maintaining the current state puts a tremendous strain on it.
“In the past, it wasn’t like this. Though the World Tree couldn’t purify land that had already become demonized, it was enough to stop the expansion of the Demonic Realm.”
But now, it can’t.
As evidenced by the existence of the ‘Forbidden Forest,’ the World Tree has used most of its strength, yet the Demonic Realm continues to expand bit by bit.
“This curse… it’s like a contract that takes on the backlash—or rather, the burden—that the World Tree must endure while purifying the earth.”
“You mean sharing the burden the World Tree must bear?”
“Yes. Since it’s no longer possible for the World Tree to maintain the current state alone as it did in the past, the burden was transferred to the sinful elves. That’s the true nature of the curse the World Tree placed on Resina.”
“Even a great hero has limits to enduring such a burden, and it seems Resina is actually reaching that limit. What happens if Resina dies?”
Resina probably wouldn’t last more than three to five years.
Ulte answered.
“Either someone else will be sacrificed, or the expansion of the Demonic Realm will accelerate.”
“Hmm…”
Ray paused to organize his thoughts.
Both Resina and Genesis are ultimately part of the power possessed by the World Tree.
So, putting it simply, the World Tree is currently sacrificing part of itself to prevent the expansion of the Demonic Realm.
If Resina dies, another sacrifice will take her place in bearing the World Tree’s burden.
However, this cycle cannot continue forever.
“I understand what you’re saying, but what exactly is the solution to the curse?”
Ray wondered if there was any other solution besides transferring Resina’s curse to another object.
However, Ulte suggested a more fundamental but vague approach.
“There must be some cause—some kind of ‘core’—that has intensified the Demonic Realm’s corruption.”
In the past, the World Tree easily stopped the corruption of the Demonic Realm.
However, starting from a certain point, the World Tree began requiring sacrifices to suppress the corruption.
Since the World Tree’s power hadn’t weakened, it was clear that some factor had intensified the corruption of the Demonic Realm.
“If we remove that cause—that core—the necessity for the curse will disappear, and the curse placed on Resina will vanish as well.”
“It sounds like a plausible hypothesis. But we don’t know what this ‘core’ is, right?”
“…I’m not sure exactly.”
Ulte sighed.
Ray nodded as if understanding and instructed Ulte.
“For now, focus on recovering your body without causing trouble. As for the matter you mentioned, I’ll request an investigation from His Majesty.”
The situation was more serious than Ray had anticipated.
If Ray requested an investigation regarding what Ulte said, it was likely the Empire would respond actively.
Under normal circumstances, it might not have mattered much, but the current Empire had heightened awareness after being repeatedly caught up in large-scale incidents caused by demon worshippers.
Moreover, anything related to the World Tree affects the survival of all nations and races.
It was impossible to ignore.
After gathering the final pieces of information from Ulte that could help solve the case, Ray jotted down the contents of a letter he intended to send to Ernst and the Emperor.
Meanwhile, Ulte clenched his teeth slowly as he looked at Titi, who was still sucking her fingers in the corner.
“Even if someone had to bear the curse, I felt malice in it.”
The curse of the World Tree left Resina’s ‘mind’ intact until the very last moment.
To allow her full awareness while witnessing her own decline, making her suffer even more…
While the true intent of the World Tree was unclear, Ulte sensed a terrible malice in it.
Resina only began losing her memory and wisdom gradually after she had lost all her strength and her body had deteriorated.
Even decades ago, though Resina had lost all her power, her mind remained sharp and clear, retaining the wisdom of the hero from 600 years ago.
Ulte still vividly remembered Resina’s voice telling him stories and putting him to sleep when he was a child.
In the somber atmosphere, Ray also thought about Resina.
Resina’s physical strength deteriorated faster than her mind.
Even during the time when she still retained her memory and wisdom and took care of Ulte, Resina probably didn’t look much different from how she looks now.
As Ray recalled the stories of Resina and Ulte from his previous life while looking at Resina walking around sucking her fingers, he furrowed his brows.
“Count.”
“…?”
Ray hesitated to ask.
“When you were younger, did you ever… sleep with Resina?”
Ray and Ulte stared at each other as if they were crazy.
*
After finishing his day’s schedule, Ray visited Jimy and Bella’s house.
Since it had been a while since he returned, Ray decided to stay at Jimy and Bella’s house for the day.
Jimy had already gone out drinking, so Bella greeted Ray warmly.
“Is my son here?”
“A, mom.”
As soon as Ray arrived, he gave a warning.
“Mom, you saw Count Gadi earlier, right? If Lea somehow gets too close to Count Gadi, make sure to teach her beforehand not to.”
Muttering that the guy had a dangerously weird taste, Ray watched Bella blink in confusion, unable to understand what he meant.
“What did you say, son?”
“Ah, nothing, never mind. I’ll tell you later. Where’s Lea?”
“She’s in her room. Mom will prepare dinner, so play with Lea for a bit.”
“Alright.”
Ray nodded and opened Lea’s door.
Lea was excitedly drawing on a piece of paper with colorful crayons Ray had given her.
Humming a tune—”Daddy Troll Trululu”—while drawing, Lea made Ray smile.
Realizing Ray had come, Lea didn’t turn around, fully engrossed in her drawing.
Ray approached and sat beside her.
“Let me see…”
Ray examined the picture Lea was drawing and pointed to something crawling on four legs.
“What animal is this?”
“Elf!”
“…”
After briefly frowning, Ray spoke.
“Lea, elves don’t walk on all fours. They walk upright like humans.”
At Ray’s advice, Lea turned her head and looked at him with a world-weary expression.
“Big brother is dumb.”
“…”
Ray felt his patience reach its limit.
His patience, which always seemed to crumble in front of Lea.
Unaware of this, Lea continued asserting her opinion.
“Elves walk on all fours! I’ve seen them!”
“Where did you see an elf?”
“At the manor!”
‘Damn.’
Recalling Mineher, Ray cursed internally and then thought of Clemens.
Clemens, whom Ray had brought from the Osiris Countdom and kept semi-confined due to the risk of information leaks, no longer needed such restrictions.
Thinking it was time to lift Clemens’ activity restrictions, Ray advised Lea again.
“Lea, elves usually walk on two legs.”
“No!! Elves move like this!”
Lea got down on all fours and waddled around, mimicking Mineher.
Fearing he might slap her if he argued further, Ray changed the subject while looking at the drawing.
“Um… these two here look like mom and dad…”
“Yeah, it’s mom and dad!”
“And these two here…”
Seeing the figures of a short woman and a man, Ray asked.
“Are these Lea and me?”
“This is me, but this isn’t big brother.”
“Then who is this?”
“Boyfriend!”
Ray’s brow immediately furrowed.
“…Do you have a boyfriend?”
“Not yet. I’ll make one. Lea has to get married!”
To marry, one needed a boyfriend.
Watching Lea grin happily as she said this, Ray muttered.
“Our little sister is dreaming big dreams.”
Lea getting married?
And having kids? Who would clean up the mess?
Even if Ray lived that long, which he doubted, he certainly had no intention of doing for Lea what he had done for Bella.
You can’t just shout “Spread your legs” to your sister, can you?
“Lea, you should remain single. No marriage.”
“No! Lea will make a boyfriend and get married!”
Sighing at Lea’s tantrum, Ray said,
“If you really want to get married, I’ll marry you.”
Lea gasped.
“I don’t want to marry big brother!!”
“No, Lea has to marry me. You’re my bride.”
“Lea won’t marry big brother!!”
Watching Lea stubbornly insist, Ray eventually lost his patience and delivered a light smack.
With a “smack,” Lea fell backward and burst into tears.
“Whaaaaaaa!!!”
Though Ray hadn’t hit her that hard, Lea ran crying to Bella.
“Mommyyyy!!!”
“Oh my, what happened to our daughter?”
“Big brother hit Lea!!”
Hearing Lea’s accusation, Ray stood up with a faint smile.
He was really looking forward to enjoying the rare home-cooked meal Bella was preparing.
