The Red Lamp of Lacorinto
Ulrich tied the boat, now at land, to a wooden post with a rope.
Roberta watched from a few steps away. Thirteen people on that small boat…
Six from Ulrich's group, and seven from Count Luogallan's—thirteen in total. If the rower had lacked skill or if waves had risen, it could have ended badly. Roberta quietly let out a breath of relief and turned her head.
The others were all looking at the wall.
No—at the bluish-green light emanating from beyond it.
It was the light of the World Tree, but it was not particularly bright. It was like a candle in the dim light of evening. And the glow flickered like a mirage.
"I don't like this feeling."
Elias said.
He wasn't referring to the atmosphere.
Each time the World Tree's light flickered, Roberta felt it—the damp wind clinging to her skin, a heavy fullness in her chest, a dizziness shaking her head. The flow of mana was unstable, disrupting her physical senses.
"Is every demonic realm like this?"
The fairy Vermelani shook her head.
"No. Places that affect the body to this extent are rare. It is likely because we are so close to the World Tree."
Roberta drew her sword and infused mana into the blade. It trembled, and a pale light wrapped around its surface—but it was weaker than usual. The glow was dim and unsteady. It lacked sharpness.
When she focused her mind, the blade regained some of its edge—but would she be able to maintain that focus in the middle of battle?
"It will be worse once we enter the city. It would be wise not to rely on mana here."
Count Luogallan said.
Glancing at Fritz, she saw the branch of the spirit tree on his back flicker faintly before dimming again. Unable to rely on it, he shook his head and removed it, placing his hand instead on the sword at his waist.
"That seems best."
Soon, everyone looked to Ulrich.
What now?
Ulrich set down the rope and walked toward the wall, grabbing hold of the vines. Though thin, they covered the entire wall and were so entangled that even pulling with force would not break them.
"Follow me."
He climbed up using the vines.
Atop the wall, weeds had grown thick between the stones, but there were no monsters. Ulrich crouched low and pressed himself against the battlements facing the city. Roberta followed closely and peered through the gaps.
Though it was not yet time for sunset, the city looked like night.
The clouds were the cause.
Thick, dark clouds hung heavily above the city center, blocking out the sun. At their center, they swirled in a slow rotation. A wind that could not be felt outside the city blew within it.
It looked like a storm could break at any moment—thunder, lightning, and rain.
Beneath that oppressive sky stood the World Tree.
The light did not come from its trunk, but from its leaves. From this distance, their shape could not be discerned, but their glow illuminated the entire city like a moon in the night sky.
"…It's smaller than I expected."
Elias muttered.
The World Tree stood atop a pile of rubble. Looking closer, the rubble appeared to be the remains of a collapsed building. It must have grown from within, breaking through the roof as it rose. The structure had crumbled, but the World Tree stood tall, unaffected.
Still, as Elias said, it was not that large. According to the records, the last World Tree had been vast enough to reach the heavens—but this one was nowhere near that scale. It was perhaps the height of a five-story building—large, but not extraordinary.
"It's not small. It's only been a month since it sprouted."
But a month—just one month.
In only a month, a seed had grown into a towering tree. If another month passed, perhaps its full form—not just its light—would be visible even from beyond the walls.
"…It certainly grows quickly. Are World Trees normally like this?"
Or is there some other reason? Roberta asked Ulrich.
"No. A World Tree doesn't grow faster than other trees. The difference lies in how large it can become, not in how quickly it grows. The reason it has grown this fast… is likely due to external influence."
Ulrich placed a hand on his chin.
"Didn't I mention? This place stores the relics of Lacorinto. It's not special because the World Tree seed is here—rather, the seed was placed here because this place itself is special."
He was about to continue, but fell silent.
Below the wall, several kkul approached. Sniffing the air, they seemed to catch the scent of humans—but after making strange noises, they wandered off.
"We need to reach the World Tree first. We can't linger here."
Roberta gauged the distance between the wall and the tree.
"It's quite far."
"Far—and filled with monsters."
"We'll have to go on foot, then?"
"…Yes."
The old fairy city was as vast as any great metropolis of the present day. But after so many years without inhabitants, the buildings had collapsed into rubble, and grass and trees had grown across the streets, forming a forest.
And within that forest, monsters roamed.
Everywhere the light of the World Tree touched, monsters wandered.
"The moment we descend, we'll encounter them. But don't lose focus fighting them. Our objective is to reach the World Tree. Your task is to ensure Vermelani arrives there safely."
Ulrich drew his sword and looked down from the wall.
"And you, Brother?"
Beatrice asked.
"Do not worry about me."
Ulrich leapt down.
At the very moment he landed, he swung his blade, cutting down a nearby kkul in a single motion.
Roberta and the others followed, jumping down after him. After confirming everyone had landed, Ulrich dashed toward a nearby building.
Inside the single-story structure—still standing despite the passage of time—were two four-legged beasts. He dealt with them as easily as the kkul. Without even leaving behind a scream, he moved on to the next building.
Like stepping stones, he leapt from one ruined structure to another, cutting down the monsters between them.
From above, the city had seemed filled with monsters—yet along his path, there were remarkably few.
"Damn it…"
After some time—perhaps halfway there—
A kkul that Ulrich had failed to kill in a single strike let out a sharp, dying scream.
That final cry became the signal.
From all across the city, howls erupted in succession. The entire city seemed to tremble, as if struck by an earthquake.
"What are you doing?! Why are you stopping?!"
As the startled group instinctively halted, Roberta shouted.
In the brief moment they paused, Ulrich had already left the building and moved far ahead.
"Get outside!"
Snapped back to their senses by her command, the group hurried after him.
They exited the building and entered the main road—a wide avenue leading from the eastern gate to the central plaza. They had avoided it before because it was too exposed.
And the moment they stepped onto it, they were surrounded.
The monsters scattered throughout the city began to converge, drawn toward their prey.
"Nodin!"
The Count called out the name of the fallen knight.
The man had been struck by a kkul and sent tumbling to the ground. Separated from the group, he was immediately surrounded by monsters.
Roberta turned her head away.
She didn't need to see the outcome.
They could go back and save him—but then there would be no escape afterward. There were simply too many monsters. Individually, they could be cut down with ease—but not in such numbers.
"You damned beasts!"
"Don't stop—keep moving!"
Ulrich—who neither died nor tired—might have been able to fight every monster in this ruin.
But he could not protect everyone here.
If that had been possible, he would have done so long ago.
Silently, he carved a path forward.
Those at the rear ran, avoiding the monsters—but Ulrich charged straight into them.
"Brother!"
He did not spare himself for even a moment.
He didn't even avoid the crude spear thrusts of the kkul. Even as a spear pierced into his back, he cut down the monsters before him, forcing a path open.
Then, pulling the spear that had pierced through from his back to his chest, he hurled it forward at the monsters charging toward him.
No matter how many wounds he suffered, he did not utter a single groan.
The two beside him—the fairy and the inquisitor—stared in shock.
But Ulrich remained calm.
By the time they reached the World Tree, his body had been covered in countless wounds—
Yet when he finally stopped, there were none.
They stopped.
Roberta breathed heavily and lifted her gaze.
Leaves glowing with a bluish-green light grew thick along the branches.
She stood beneath the World Tree.
After a long run, they had finally reached their destination—and instead of shadows, that bluish-green light now bathed them.
Strangely, the monsters did not approach.
As soon as Ulrich's group reached the World Tree, the monsters halted, then retreated. Keeping their distance, they howled—baring their fangs like predators watching prey from beyond a barrier.
"…What now? We've come this far following your lead."
Count Luogallan said, glaring at the monsters.
Ulrich stood before the trunk of the World Tree.
Behind him stood Beatrice and Vermelani, both staring intently at his back—expressions of people holding back countless questions.
"Place your hand on the trunk."
Vermelani did as he said, extending her right hand and touching the World Tree.
But nothing happened.
"Come to think of it," Ulrich said, "even if we restore the World Tree, it would be difficult to say the matter is resolved. Wouldn't you agree?"
As Vermelani tried to pull her hand away, Ulrich pressed it back against the trunk.
"Someone guided the World Tree to sprout. I don't know how they learned of something your lineage had forgotten—but unless we identify and capture that person, even if we purify it now, there's a risk it will be corrupted again."
"…That's true."
"So I devised a countermeasure. Capturing the culprit would be ideal—but since that may be difficult, I thought… what if we simply take away their authority to interfere?"
Vermelani fell silent, staring at Ulrich.
"I must ask you to bear that responsibility. From now on, it will not be the blood passed down from your ancestors—but blood that begins with you—that will carry this duty forward. As a mere guardian, this is the only path I can take."
"…What do you mean? That it begins with me?"
"You'll understand soon enough."
The moment he finished speaking, the light of the World Tree changed.
The bluish-green hue faded into white, shining more brightly than before. The chaotic flow of mana became pure, and the senses regained their stability.
The monsters retreated even further. Some lowered their heads, baring their teeth no more. Others tucked their tails and fled.
Then—
A faint spiritual form appeared in the air.
A young, beautiful man, with long, pointed ears.
A fairy.
The spirit slowly descended to the ground, standing before Ulrich. Placing a hand over his chest, he smiled gently and spoke:
"It has been a long time… Father."
Ulrich did not answer immediately.
Roberta thought his eyes—fixed on the spirit—were slightly wider than usual.
"…So the World Tree has chosen you."
"Yes. It seemed frightened—afraid it might burn, like the others."
Ulrich gave a bitter smile.
"I see… I understand. It has been a long time."
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