Eat The World Tree

Chapter 323: Collapse Of The Cradle (8)

“Once again.”

Bang!

Lemon slammed the desk hard, glaring icily at the surroundings.

“If we don’t fortify the Cradle immediately and gather all the S-grade hunters, it will be too late.”

The Captain of the Golden Knights.

The golden lion emblem on her chest signified her position.

The seven knight orders directly under the Pope. Their power was officially equivalent to that of an archbishop.

If someone was judged to be a heretic, they could be executed on the spot.

“It’s absurd. Do you know where this is? You’re saying Flower would dare to invade here?”

“By now, certain clues must have emerged.”

“At best, it’s one or two spies. You should consider that it might just be Flower’s deception.”

Concentrating the military in the peaceful Cradle during heightened combat would only invite public outrage.

“And, as far as I know, mutual respect is the standard in this position.”

“What?”

After all, she was merely the Pope’s representative.

Although Lemon held a higher position, it was still superficial power.

It couldn’t be helped.

The Golden Knights suffered rapid decline following the Heavenly Demon Subjugation War.

Even Lemon, the captain, still bore the injuries from that time.

-Throb.

A sharp pain pulsed in her chest. Lemon furrowed her brows.

“Once again, I reiterate. This is the will of His Holiness, the Pope. Defying it without just cause will result in severe consequences.”

The archbishop’s reasoning was sound, but this was the Cradle.

This place must never be invaded.

It was one of the reasons why sanctity had been emphasized, and why the World Tree could remain as a god.

If Flower’s influence has even slightly touched this place, vigilance is mandatory.

‘That damned old fool.’

Lemon gritted her teeth inwardly.

Every other sacred site of the World Tree, except the Cradle, had raised their defenses.

There was a reason for it, and it was non-negotiable.

As they said, if the battle intensifies, vigilance becomes even more necessary.

Lemon had changed significantly from the past.

From her first deployment in the Heavenly Demon Subjugation War to now. Her magical core had been completely destroyed, and her combat abilities were steadily declining.

But she had regained her reason over immature emotions. She was much more composed than before.

“Captain Lemon, you sometimes display a disregard for humanity, don’t you?”

“What?”

“Since Priest Aaron and I are human, are you dismissing our opinions too easily?”

“Enough wordplay.”

The more they talked, the more her rigid attitude grated on him.

It made one wonder to the point of madness how someone like this could rise to the rank of archbishop.

She knew the reason.

Lowering her gaze calmly, Lemon issued a cold warning.

“Archbishop Vin Mark.”

“Yes?”

Noticing the change in her tone, Mark’s eyelids slightly twitched.

“Your achievements are well-known even to His Holiness. You’ve eradicated many members of Flower and gained great trust from the surrounding priests and bishops.”

“What are you suddenly saying?”

“Do you still not understand the meaning of my words?”

Manipulated achievements.

A common occurrence.

“Faith in the Church wanes, and even the World Tree laments. Where did you learn to misuse your pitiful brain, which isn’t even as good as a child’s?”

“W-What nonsense!”

The air grew tense.

As Lemon stepped forward, the observing priest guards became visibly uneasy.

-Thud.

A man stepped in front of Lemon.

Aaron looked down at her with an expressionless face.

Lemon let out a laugh, seemingly in disbelief, and turned her gaze to Archbishop Mark standing behind Aaron.

“The only reason we haven’t put you on trial is that you still have some usefulness left.”

“.......”

“Do you still not get it? Quietly. Let it go.”

Her voice rose.

It became hard to breathe.

“Did you think the World Tree wouldn’t notice anything? Or that we’d continue tolerating senile fools in the temple forever?”

Though her power had waned, Lemon was still the captain of the Knights.

She was not someone to show incompetence in such a place.

“Sir Aaron.”

“Yes.”

“Following orders is fine, but going too far invites disaster.”

“My apologies.”

The archbishop, his face pale, stuttered and hurriedly protested.

“T-Those baseless accusations. Watch your words!”

“If you’re confident, then why are you stuttering?”

Lemon turned her back.

“Today’s situation is the result of people like you. Keep that in mind as you act. Please.”

Discrimination against humans.

Corruption and military misconduct.

Even in religion, discrimination against humanity remained prevalent.

It wasn’t something that could be eradicated in a day or two.

Even Lemon, the captain of the Knights, knew that fact all too well.

‘I didn’t kill people I didn’t want to just to protect scum like this.’

Duty and obligation.

She understood them deeply, yet her anger boiled over.

“Immediately arm the remaining priests and stand guard. Do not allow even a single second of laxity.”

“.......”

“Can’t you even answer? You were quite eloquent when it came to self-preservation.”

Near her room, a man was loitering.

“Hey, shorty.”

“Bell?”

“You’ve been busy lately. Did you pass the trials?”

Bell, the National Tree of England, chuckled as he patted Maronnie’s shoulder, causing her to sway.

She nearly fell but managed to regain her balance.

“...What? Why are you so weak?”

Bell, flustered, asked Maronnie.

She frowned as she looked at him.

England, France, and Germany—the three nations maintained excellent relations among their National Trees.

Normally, she would have included Bell and Abie in this plan.

‘...Abie.’

The German Spruce.

She didn’t think someone she had trained with since childhood would betray them, but personal feelings aside, it was better to exclude Bell and Abie.

“You okay? Your eyes are twitching.”

“Shut up, Bell. I’m tired, so just go. What’s with the sudden concern?”

“Listen to that tone. Classic French temper.”

Bell’s usual teasing annoyed her even more.

Maronnie sighed as she tried to pass him.

“I’m leaving.”

A quiet statement followed by the sound of footsteps.

-Thud.

Bell reacted to the footsteps echoing behind them.

“Abie?”

That man.

The one Lee Shiheon was slightly wary of, and Maronnie’s friend.

Normally, she wouldn’t have thought much of the situation, but an unease began to bloom in her mind.

1:30 AM.

Three National Trees were gathered here.

And it was right near her room.

Maronnie wasn’t one to dismiss such an oddity as coincidence.

Her drowsiness vanished with a chill.

She glanced around, both in front and behind her.

“Maronnie.”

Abie stepped closer, one step at a time. Bell continued to grin.

The same as they had been two months ago.

But something felt off.

Her heightened senses detected an ominous atmosphere.

Maronnie’s eyes turned icy blue.

‘.......’

A thought rippled.

Somewhere in the depths of her expanding consciousness, Bell’s voice echoed.

-Twitch!

Her hand, which had reached for the wand at her waist, was stopped by Bell effortlessly.

“Take a quiet nap.”

-Thud!

Pain struck her lungs, leaving her breathless.

The voice echoing in Maronnie’s ears was much darker than before.

Bell, as if disgusted, wiped off a drop of saliva that had fallen and slung Maronnie over his shoulder.

“I told you, you need to work out.”

“...Crazy bastard.”

A faint voice slipped through her fading consciousness.

“You’re way too weak.”

I had anticipated the possibility of something like this happening.

One of us being attacked.

However, I hadn’t expected it to happen inside the hotel.

‘I didn’t expect it, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t prepare for it.’

I had assigned a spirit to Maronnie.

Not just any spirit—the most combat-capable one, Luci.

The command was simple: if her life were in danger, act immediately.

It seemed, however, that killing Maronnie wasn’t their intention.

Her power held value for both Flower and the World Tree.

They wouldn’t kill her so easily.

Now I could sense movement rapidly leaving the Cradle.

Inadvertently, Maronnie had become bait.

But there was no choice.

At the moment, even if I wanted to rescue her, it wasn’t possible.

-Thwack!

“Gugh, kuhak.”

An attack.

This wasn’t something that concerned only Maronnie.

A woman lay on the ground, her face partially caved in, unable to even scream.

“Hey.”

“...Cough, cough.”

“Answer me.”

-Thwack!

Her flesh squished under the blow, and blood smeared stickily onto the knuckles.

“Stop, please stop....”

The pain seemed to have worn her down; she began to cry.

If I had more time, there might have been a chance to brainwash her. But I didn’t.

I silently raised my fist again.

-Bang!

Blood spread across the floor in a beautiful pattern.

True to the name “Flower,” it resembled petals.