Chapter 99: Seeds of the World Tree (1)

Kim Ki-Rok was lost in thought as he read the message sent to him by the World System. Could it be that all hope for saving the world now rested on Kim Ji-Hee? He had regressed seventy-six times, and not once had events unfolded like this.

He hoped these seeds were truly from the World Tree he remembered. In past Attempts, he'd entered a Gate where the World Tree still stood. Upon entering the dimension under its protection, five messages had appeared.

[Entering the territory of the World Tree...]

[Experience gain increased by 30%.]

[Stats and Elemental resistances increased by 10%.]

[Stats of monsters, Black Wizards, demons, and individuals possessing mana of the demon realm or contaminated mana decreased by 10%.]

[Those with talent will awaken the first form of an Elemental ability.]

Each message conveyed a blessing granted just by entering the World Tree's territory: enhanced experience, boosted stats, weakened enemies, improved resistances, and awakened hidden abilities.

If these seeds were truly from the World Tree, what did that mean for this Attempt?

When he noticed that Kim Ji-Hee was approaching hand in hand with the elf, Kim Ki-Rok returned to the moment and readied a greeting. "Greetings, I am the DG Guild's Guildma—hrm! No... that's meaningless to you. I'm Kim Ki-Rok, Ji-Hee's Guardian."

The spirit replied, "I am the High Elf once known as Aylphirane. Please, call me Ayl."

"Yes. Understood, Miss Ayl."

"Oh my." Aylphirane smiled, clearly pleased at how she was addressed.

"Ugh!"

𝙛𝓻𝒆𝓮𝒘𝙚𝙗𝒏𝙤𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝒐𝙢

"S-she's so pretty."

Ignoring the gawking Hunters behind him, Kim Ki-Rok focused on the spirit. "Miss Ayl. I would like to explain our situation—why someone from another dimension crossed over, what being a Hunter means, and the mission we received when Ji-Hee met you. Would that be alright?"

"Of course, Sir Ki-Rok. Those are the questions I would have asked myself."

"Understood. But first, we need to destroy the demon realm's mana stone to close this Gate. We can talk afterward. Is that acceptable?"

Aylphirane tilted her head. "You're closing the Gate?"

"Yes. There's no need to worry. You can follow Ji-Hee and leave with us."

"That's true." Aylphirane nodded. "I have already agreed to go with the young Spiritualist."

Even as she smiled and stroked Kim Ji-Hee's head, a trace of loneliness lingered in her expression.

"While you wait, it might help to talk with a friendly face," Kim Ki-Rok offered.

"A friendly face?"

Kim Ki-Rok pointed toward Kan Cho-Woo.

Aylphirane gasped. "Oh my. Is that you, Sir Kan Cho-Woo?"

"It's been a long time, Lady Aylphirane," he replied.

"Have you died too, Sir Kan Cho-Woo?"

He hesitated. "Ah, yes."

"And you're helping Kim Ji-Hee too?"

"That's right."

"Oh my. By any chance, are there other spirits whom I might be familiar with?"

"I'm afraid no—ah!" Kan Cho-Woo turned to Kim Ki-Rok. "Master Kim."

"Yes, Sir Kan Cho-Woo?"

"Could you summon Mandong and Miss Maria for a moment?"

Kim Ki-Rok nodded, pulling out the spirit mana stone and infusing it with mana.

"Hm? It's good to see you, Master Kim, and Kim Ji-Hee too, but why have you... Lady Aylphirane!" The vampire Kashmaria lit up in recognition.

Meanwhile, Mandong was neighing with his wings outstretched, clearly trying to look cool. After spotting Aylphirane, he immediately flew over to her side.

Whiihiihiing!

(Ajuma!)

"Oh my?" Aylphirane was taken aback.

Mandong neighed again, rubbing his head against her leg with a tail-wagging enthusiasm more fitting for a golden retriever than a mythical creature.

Whiihiihiing!

(It's been so long! How have you been?!)

"Oh my, oh my." Aylphirane raised a hand to her cheek.

Whiihiihiing!

(Oh, right! Since you're dead, I guess you haven't been doing great, huh, ajumma?!)

"Miss Spiritualist," Aylphirane said, her troubled gaze shifting to Kim Ji-Hee, "would you mind suspending your translations for a moment?"

After Ji-Hee paused and gave a tiny nod, Aylphirane turned back to Mandong with a sigh.

Bruhuhuuu?

With a tight but composed smile, she said, "Please come with me. I need a word with you."

Gripping his mane with surprising firmness, Aylphirane lifted off the ground and flew behind the World Tree, Mandong forcibly trailing behind her.

After some time had passed, Mandong returned, ears drooping and tail limp. Aylphirane followed, her expression unreadable.

"Mandong, is something wrong?" Kim Ji-Hee asked, noticing his obvious gloom.

Bruhuhuuu.

"You're saying it's nothing?"

Whiihiihiing.

"You want me to stop asking... because it'll hurt you?"

Bruhuhuuu.

"Alright," she said softly. "I won't ask anymore."

Mandong stepped forward and gently rubbed his head against Kim Ji-Hee's cheek before retreating a step.

Meanwhile, Aylphirane turned to Kashmaria and asked, "By any chance, are you the young lady of the Raident clan—Raident von Schutzendier Huntvar Agnilli Arghan Kashmaria?"

Kashmaria straightened, visibly stiffening under Aylphirane's gaze. "Yes, that's correct, Lady Aylphirane!"

"I can't call myself a true High Elf anymore. Consider me just another spirit. Please, feel free to speak casually," Aylphirane said with a gentle smile.

Kashmaria's eyes wavered. She glanced at Mandong, who was still visibly sulking, then hesitantly parted her lips. "Ayl... unnie?"

Aylphirane beamed. "Oh my. It seems our young Miss Maria is still just as cute as she was eighty years ago."

"

Ha... haha..

."

***

After fulfilling the Gate's clear condition by destroying the mana stone from the demon realm that had been buried deep beneath the forest, Kim Ki-Rok turned to Lee Ji-Yeon.

"I'll lead the guild members who don't have other appointments back to the guild..." He trailed off mid-thought. "Right. The headquarters is still under construction. Let me think..."

After a brief pause, he settled on the DG General Sales Office, the building next to their headquarters that was typically used by Potion Brewer Lim Yoon-Joo and Scroll Maker Cha Min-Ji.

"I'll call everyone available for a meeting soon. It'll be in the conference room on the third floor of the Sales Office. What are your plans, Miss Ji-Yeon?"

"I'll go with you," she said without hesitation.

"It's alright if you'd prefer to rest before returning to work."

Lee Ji-Yeon shook her head. "No, I was already prepared to accompany you and Ji-Hee to the other Gates."

Kim Ki-Rok raised an eyebrow. "Have you informed your parents?"

"I have."

"Understood." He nodded, then turned to address the others. "As I just told Miss Ji-Yeon, I plan to call a meeting for all guild members who aren't otherwise occupied. Who would like to return with me?"

There was a ripple of motion as hands were raised. Everyone present was free enough to have traveled all the way to Eumseong on the mere chance of meeting a real elf. Naturally, all the guild members who had taken part in the search opted to return together.

"Then let's move out," Kim Ki-Rok said. "If you drove here and have seats available, please take any guild members without transport and return to Seoul right away."

One Hunter asked, "What about you, Guildmaster?"

"Since Miss Ji-Yeon didn't bring her luggage, I'll stop by her home first before heading back to Seoul."

***

Kim Ki-Rok rarely summoned the entire guild for a meeting.

This time, he limited the call to those without other plans and those who hadn't left Seoul. Still, major events or incidents would generally follow whenever Kim Ki-Rok felt the need to call such a meeting. So, whether free or returning from vacation, nearly everyone made it.

It was 3 p.m., and the air buzzed with construction noise.

The Hunters, gazing up at the still-renovating headquarters, eventually turned and walked into the neighboring DG General Sales Center. Kang Seh-Hyuk was walking among them alongside Jeong Man-Kook, who happened to live in the same apartment block as him.

"Why do you think the Guildmaster suddenly called everyone for a meeting after that elf-search trip?" Kang Seh-Hyuk asked.

"Huh? An elf?" Jeong Man-Kook tilted his head, as if hearing it for the first time.

Kang Seh-Hyuk turned toward him, exasperated. "You were invited to the group chat too, you know."

Jeong Man-Kook frowned in confusion. "Was I?"

"Yes, you were. You really don't know what I'm talking about?" Kang Seh-Hyuk raised his eyebrows in disbelief.

"Mhm." Jeong Man-Kook shook his head with a noncommittal hum.

Suddenly recalling something, Kang Seh-Hyuk let out a sharp exhale and nodded. "Ah, so you were the one person who didn't accept the invitation."

It felt like he had just solved a riddle the universe never meant to answer, but then another question surfaced.

"Hold on," Kang Seh-Hyuk said, frowning. "If that's the case, why are you even here?"

Jeong Man-Kook tilted his head the other way. "Hm?"

"You didn't even read the message in the group chat. So how did you know to come here on time?"

"I was just on my way to the convenience store."

That made sense. Kang Seh-Hyuk had thought it was strange for Jeong Man-Kook to be dressed so casually for something this important.

"So you really don't know anything?"

"Mhm."

Kang Seh-Hyuk unconsciously came to a halt and stared at Jeong Man-Kook for a moment before asking, "So you're not even curious?"

"Not really."

"

Haah.

Alright then."

"Seh-Hyuk," Jeong Man-Kook said suddenly, his tone unusually serious.

"What is it?"

"A lettuce wrap restaurant[1] has recently opened near our apartment block."

Kang Seh-Hyuk nodded, immediately understanding his friend's train of thought. "So you want us to go there and grab something to eat on our way home?"

"That's right."

"Fine, let's go," Kang Seh-Hyuk eventually responded, his voice tinged with resignation as he started walking again.

Jeong Man-Kook, still unaware of the meeting location, followed.

When they entered the three-story building marked with a sign that said "DG General Sales Center," they were quickly surrounded by familiar faces.

After greeting their fellow guild members waiting by the elevator and heading up to the third floor, they entered the conference room.

"Wow!"

"Holy..."

Their gazes were immediately drawn to the woman who was floating in midair. She was wearing a dress embroidered with various flowers and leaves, topped with a crown of blossoms. They couldn't look away even if they had wanted to.

"So they really did end up meeting an elf," Kang Seh-Hyuk remarked in amazement.

"Not only that, they even brought the elf back with them," Jeong Man-Kook added, visibly impressed.

As expected of their Guildmaster, that Crazy Bastard. He never failed to exceed expectations.

Kim Ki-Rok hadn't just met a real elf. He had brought her into the guild.

***

In front of them stood an elf, an exceptionally beautiful one at that.

It wasn't just the male Hunters, even the female Hunters couldn't keep their eyes off of Aylphirane.

Kim Ki-Rok clapped his hands to bring their attention back.

"Miss Ayl has agreed to lend her aid to our dear Ji-Hee. In other words, she'll be staying at the DG Guild, just like the other spirits. So if you can, please stop staring at her and making her uncomfortable," Kim Ki-Rok politely requested.

The Hunters who had entered the Gate along with Kim Ki-Rok burst into chuckles. They couldn't help it, realizing this was exactly how they had acted a few hours ago.

Kim Ki-Rok continued, "We met the High Elf, Miss Aylphirane, while searching for the spirit of a Spiritualist, someone who could help guide Ji-Hee's growth."

"It's nice to meet you, everyone," Aylphirane said, bowing.

The Hunters responded with enthusiastic applause.

Kim Ki-Rok went on, "After meeting Miss Ayl, the World System gave us a mission."

"A mission?" someone echoed.

Kim Ki-Rok nodded. "That's right. Since the World System appears to have been designed with video game-like elements, you could call it a hidden quest."

The Hunters all raised their voices in excitement. "

Oooooh!

"

"Now, what does the quest involve? It's related to the World Tree that Miss Aylphirane had been guarding. To be specific, we're to plant one of its seeds," Kim Ki-Rok revealed.

Kang Seh-Hyuk raised his hand.

"Yes, Mr. Seh-Hyuk."

"Are we planting the seed of the World Tree here in our world?"

"No. On the fifteenth of February, a Gate will appear in front of Ji-Hee, who was the one to receive the seed of the World Tree from Miss Ayl. We will enter that Gate and plant the seed of the World Tree in the space provided. But there's a problem..."

A brief silence fell over the room. Kim Ki-Rok's footsteps were the only sound as he walked toward the blackboard.

"We'll have to fend off attacks from Black Wizards, monsters, and demons, all of whom fear the World Tree's power," Kim Ki-Rok said gravely.

1.

Ssambap or lettuce wrap

is any leafy vegetable wrapped around rice with fillings like meat, kimchi, etc ☜