My Disciples Think I’m Strong – Chapter 216

“You’re saying you’re my contractor?”

The World Tree nodded its head vigorously.

So the source of my power is the World Tree, huh?

Thinking back, I had no idea where the power I possessed came from until now. To be honest, I never even thought about it.

In those possession works, the moment you possess someone, you get special advantages and gradually become the best. Or you start as the best right away.

I tried using this power to navigate my situation, but I never questioned where this power originated from.

But to think the source of this power is the World Tree…

I really can’t tell how many times I’ve been surprised in such a short conversation.

“The mana you’ve used until now, Lee Han-gyeol, is a part of the power I possess. It may be unpleasant that I’ve made a contract without your consent, but it couldn’t be helped. Praus wasn’t born blessed like the heroes, so I couldn’t lend power without a contract.”

“…So why did you choose Praus as the person to possess me?”

“That wasn’t my choice. The soul went to find its body.”

“…So did I originally take over Praus’s body?”

“Well, having Praus’s memories means that soul fusion has occurred. That phenomenon only happens when the body’s owner permits it. Thanks to that, you can have the memories that Praus possesses.”

Soul fusion…

That was a setting outside the game.

“Whenever Pasma possesses Praus, he can’t read your memories, right?”

“Correct.”

“That’s because soul fusion hasn’t taken place. Furthermore, in most cases of soul fusion, the identity of one side tends to disappear.”

Does it really disappear?

Reflecting on how I had treated Paroco, it felt like Praus was mixed into my thoughts and emotions. It wasn’t definite, though.

“Then why did Praus accept me? Giving up his body means death, right?”

“I’m not sure myself. However, since Praus had been living weakly even before you came to this world, he might have needed someone to replace him.”

According to the World Tree, Praus’s memories were saturated with feelings of wanting to give up on life. However, he didn’t resign himself to death.

It seemed something odd for him to hand over his body so willingly.

But since the World Tree admitted it didn’t know, there was no way for me to find out—unless I revived Praus’s soul.

“This is probably all the information Praus wanted. Has your curiosity been satisfied?”

“…I understand now why I was possessed by Praus after coming to this world and where the source of my power comes from. I’m not sure I can believe it, though.”

Till now I had praised the developer, but the truth was it was all manipulated by the World Tree. It was quite shocking.

“Please trust me. I may hide things, but I don’t lie.”

I looked at her skeptically. The World Tree, aware of my gaze, fidgeted with her fingers and looked around nervously.

“Now that I think about it… I know it’s meaningless to apologize, but… I sincerely apologize for summoning you to this world without any explanation and for trying to use you without your consent. I’m truly sorry.”

The World Tree bent her waist, showing a different shy demeanor from when she first appeared. Is a being at the peak of this world bowing to me…?

I stared at her intently and spoke.

“Don’t apologize in the form of Praus’s mother…”

I’d understood that the temporary deactivation of the expression management skill would only happen when I genuinely felt emotions towards characters in this world.

If so, then I had to act as if I had truly become Praus now and was under hypnosis.

“O-Okay. Since you’re my contractor, it’s only natural I show you my true form.”

With the World Tree snapping her fingers, she transformed into a young woman with teal-colored hair.

Her appearance was quite youthful, only slightly taller than a low-level spirit. While she wore the attire typical of spirit kings, it didn’t fit her at all, causing the sleeves to flutter. Her skirt trailed along the ground but didn’t get dirty.

Every time she moved, the teal fabric shimmered. And I knew this person with that appearance.

“Primordial Spirit…?”

At my mumble, the World Tree’s teal eyes brightened.

“You remember well. That’s right. I was the first spirit I created. Do you know my name as well?”

“Initina.”

“Correct!”

Initina.

The Primordial Spirit King, one rank higher than the current Spirit King.

“Does that mean Initina is your true form?”

“It’s a bit different. The reason Initina looks like me is that I created her with the thought that she would act on my behalf in the future.”

“Then, if both you, the World Tree, and Initina, the Primordial Spirit King, were both here, what would happen?”

“You’d have two beings that look the same, wouldn’t you?”

It’s not a twin setting or anything…

“Anyway, I’ll sincerely apologize while showing my true form.”

“Apologizing doesn’t mean much, does it? I can’t go back to that world—”

“You can.”

Before I could finish my words, the World Tree spoke firmly. I momentarily failed to grasp her statement. Blinking in confusion, I stared at her.

“…What?”

“You can go back.”

The World Tree emphasized her words again.

Only then did my halted mind start processing again.

“R-Really?”

“Yes. But… I can’t give up on you now. I know you’re angry about the unfair treatment you’ve received, and I know it’s shameless of me. Still, I want to ask you. Please, could you save this world together with the heroes?”

Even so…

I couldn’t agree to the request of killing the Demon King alongside the heroes. Unlike the high-ranking demons, if I even approached the Demon King, I’d be swallowed by magic and die.

Even if I canceled the expression management skill, I would just end up draining the World Tree’s mana without possessing any resistance to magic like the heroes.

And I couldn’t possibly face the Demon King while holding onto all the shards of the Purification Stone. Without the Purification Stones, even the heroes wouldn’t be able to approach the Demon King.

“If you, Lee Han-gyeol, fail to slay the Demon King and the world is destroyed, I won’t blame you.”

“…But if the world is destroyed, I’ll eventually die too, won’t I?”

“No. Lee Han-gyeol, you are my contractor. I won’t let you die. If the world were to perish, I would send you back to your original world.”

“What do you mean?”

“Of course, sending you back to that world would consume a lot of karma. Plus, I’d need to reverse the world too. Therefore, I can’t wipe your memories of this world or offer you any compensation. Please understand that.”

It was absurd; it felt like I was writing down all the shocking things I’d experienced in my life here.

If this was true, then there had never been a risk of me dying from the start.

“What would you have done if I had died before getting here?”

“If it was something I couldn’t revive you from even with my powers, I would have adjusted karma to save you, just like the protagonist buffs often seen in works from your side. But if I couldn’t save you even with those powers, I would’ve sent you back to your original world. Since the karma from this place wouldn’t apply, it might have been possible to reverse your death.”

Can I trust her?

Is it alright to believe her words that she doesn’t lie?

To be honest, I really want to trust her.

Experiencing things that others can’t, yet having no risk of death…

Who could refuse such a thing?

“I thought it would be right to say all of this after everything is settled, but since it’s my fault, I’ll lay everything out. Plus, revealing everything might be proactive in saving us from the enormous crisis ahead…”

“But why did you show up in the form of a mother knowing you did wrong?”

“I-I was just testing! I was worried you still thought of this world as a game…! I had no ill intentions, I swear!”

It’s already bad enough to desecrate the deceased.

If I were truly Praus, I would’ve unleashed all sorts of curses by now.

“Even if the world is reset, the Demon King would break free from karma, so wouldn’t that mean you won’t reset it?”

“Fortunately, memories do wipe clean. Every time I meet heroes, they react like it’s their first time, so it’s confirmed. However, their strengths from the previous world carry over.”

“That sounds like the Demon King gets stronger the more resets happen.”

“…”

She didn’t deny it. Is it really true…?

Is this why they can’t kill the Demon King?

“Do you really think you can defeat the Demon King?”

“Yes. I don’t think it’s impossible.”

“Just to ask, how many worlds has this been?”

“This is the tenth.”

What the hell. The tenth?

This is like being told to take a puzzle that’s been smashed to pieces and go put it back together!

“E-Even so, that doesn’t mean the Demon King is ten times stronger than the first world’s Demon King. The reset period lasts until the second hero is born and dies, which usually finishes within 20 years. Plus, since they lack awareness, the Demon King doesn’t even train.”

So, if we’re talking about when the heroes are born, we’d need at least twenty years, which could mean up to two hundred years.

But two hundred years is more than enough time to turn into a munchkin! What a terrible game this is.

“Even so, if you can’t kill him, I have no right to say anything.”

“Yes… you’re right.”

The tenth, huh…

…The tenth?

“Wait, then does that mean there are four more times until the expression management skill is deactivated…?”

“That’s right. This is the tenth world.”

Then if it were the seventh world, I could have used the World Tree’s powers. I’m getting a bit annoyed.

“So if I deal with the Demon King, will I receive a proper reward?”

“Of course! You can wish for anything from me, and you can return to your original world, too. I won’t need to reset anything.”

“I see…”

“Will you accept my apology and take down the Demon King?”

She had an especially eager expression.

Honestly, it was hard to refuse. It was true I was brought here under unreasonable circumstances, but I felt good knowing there was no risk for me.

Besides, I had already resolved more than half of this world’s episodes. Would anyone ever say they want to return after coming this far?

Absolutely not!

“Alright. I’ll accept.”

“Really?!”

The World Tree cheered and approached me, tightly gripping my hand. Her touch was warmer and softer than I expected.

“Ah… Do you not like this kind of thing?”

As the World Tree seemed to hesitate and was about to let go of my hand, I said flatly.

“No. I just felt comfortable because your hand was warm.”

“!”

The World Tree blinked her eyes wide in surprise at my words. Then she chuckled with a devious smile and intertwined our fingers.

“You’ve got me wrapped around your finger, don’t you? The heroes.”

“…I’m not wrapped around anyone.”

I forcibly unwound our interlocked fingers.

“I’m accepting because I want to see the end of this world too. I’m curious if it really ends like a game or if it ends differently.”

“Is that so?”

The World Tree reacted exaggeratedly, nodding her head continuously.

“By the way, what’s your real name?”

That was one question I really wanted to ask. In the game, she was only referred to as the World Tree, so I didn’t know her real name either.

“That’s a rather sudden question. You want to know my name?”

“Yeah.”

In response to my answer, she snorted, seemingly pleased that I was showing interest in her.

“My name is Yggdrasil Sequoia. Praus.”

Yggdrasil. Such a common name.

Is it just because most works refer to her as the World Tree that I find it so common?

“…Alright. I’ll be counting on you, Yggdrasil.”

“Thank you in advance.”

The immediate issue was how quickly I could deactivate the expression management skill. To properly use Yggdrasil’s powers, I would need to deactivate the expression management skill four more times.

However, this was something I couldn’t control at will, and it was quite frustrating.

“Now, shall I release the hold on the world?”

Yggdrasil said as she brought her thumb and middle finger close together.

“Ah.”

“What is it?”

Suddenly a question came to mind, and I unintentionally spoke. Yggdrasil looked at me in confusion.

“I’m just asking, but did you manipulate that stone to make Dink trip and die?”

I had fought countless battles until now (mostly Pasma did), but it felt particularly awkward when facing Dink. It was too off for it to be just a coincidence.

“Ah, Dink? Hehe. You’ve got sharp instincts. I did manipulate that. What are the odds that rock would just happen to be there?”

“…That makes sense.”

Protagonist buffs are, after all, things that couldn’t happen in reality.

“If your questions have been resolved, I’ll now deactivate it.”

With a smile, Yggdrasil snapped her fingers.