Chapter 10
Chapter 2. Accumulating Karma Was the Easiest
“Life…”
Lilith, standing before the World Tree, slumped like a bowed stalk of rice.
In her hand dangled a contract stamped with the imperial seal.
She couldn’t bring herself to refuse.
Aitana, idly rolling the ring on her finger, flashed a deeply ominous and menacing smile as she extended an ink-dipped pen to Lilith.
It was presented as a suggestion, but Lilith knew from the original story.
‘Aitana’s temper is truly like fire. Sometimes even the emperor Kairos couldn’t stop her.’
Her refusal would not be tolerated—the veins on the back of Aitana’s hand stood out starkly, and above all, the glare in Aitana’s eyes as she looked at her was utterly terrifying.
She already had those piercing three-hundred-degree eyes that were scary enough, but with the added intensity in her gaze, it was even more frightening.
Moreover, the more Lilith rolled her eyes in distress, the rougher Aitana’s breathing became.
The clear message was: don’t drag this out.
In the end, Lilith had no choice but to sign the horrifying contract that stipulated ‘annihilation of the family upon disclosure of the commission details, annihilation for any suspicious behavior, and naturally, annihilation down to the eighth cousin if the World Tree withers.’
“Sob sob sob sob.”
[Hey.]
Making flowers bloom on the World Tree—was this some kind of joke?
Since ancient times, flowers blooming on the World Tree were considered highly auspicious.
The problem was that there were no records of flowers blooming on the World Tree in over a thousand years since the year the first emperor proclaimed the founding of the empire.
[Hey, human. What are you doing lying on the ground?]
“Sob sob sob sob.”
[You’re the new caretaker, right? Stop lounging around and go fetch some water.]
“Would tears work instead?”
[As if.]
Lilith, who had been sprawled on the ground sobbing pitifully, blankly lifted her head.
On the ground where she had been lying face down, water marks formed the shape of eyes, nose, and mouth.
Due to Aitana’s request—more like threat—to start work immediately today, Lilith had been shipped straight from the empress’s palace to the sacred site without even a moment to collect herself.
Right now, her mind was in utter chaos.
“Could you please bloom some flowers?”
[Why should I.]
“So I can go back to the south.”
[I don’t want to.]
“……Tch.”
Water hog.
The World Tree, brushing off her small mutter with one ear, pretended not to notice and pointed toward the lake with its leaves.
Lilith, looking up at it, lowered herself and touched the soil on the ground.
‘It’s damp.’
Not because of the tears and snot she’d shed, but because the water the knights had poured with all their might the day before hadn’t fully absorbed yet.
If they kept pouring water as demanded, it could lead to overwatering and root rot.
“Are you really thirsty?”
[Yeah.]
“It doesn’t seem like it.”
[How would a mere human know that.]
“Humans vary, you know. For what it’s worth, I’m a doctor.”
Letting out a deep sigh, Lilith brushed the dirt from her skirt hem and stood up.
Only now was her head clearing a bit, and the tasks she needed to organize came into view. It was time for a conversation.
“I have a ton of questions, but I’ll start with the most urgent one.”
[What.]
“Why do you keep asking for water? You don’t need it anyway. You’re not an ordinary tree.”
The World Tree was a being created by ancient magic.
It was born borrowing the form of a tree, but its essence was entirely different from a tree.
Therefore, what it needed for growth wasn’t water, but divine power and mana.
[Sigh.]
Upon hearing Lilith’s question, the World Tree rapid-fired its words as if unleashing long-held resentment.
[Listen up. I’m a manifestation of the creator god’s authority borrowing the form of a tree. Right?]
“Right?”
[That means, no matter what’s in the soul, my body is a tree.]
“……?”
[I was born borrowing the form of a tree, right? So ultimately, I’m a tree.]
Whether Lilith tilted her head or not, the World Tree eagerly continued with what it wanted to say.
[Honestly, I thought it was over. I was just waiting to wither away in deep sleep. Those damned humans, there’s a limit to abusing a tree.]
“You were asleep? Uh, then could it be…?”
[Yeah, you woke me up.]
So the damned culprit who gave the World Tree a mouth was me, huh!
[So take responsibility.]
What is this nonsense? Responsibility for what?
[Give me water.]
“No, why does the conclusion jump there?!”
Lilith sensed that placating this water-obsessed freak with its deep grudge against water was the top priority.
It was fortunate no one was around right now, but if it threw a tantrum demanding water in front of others later, her head would be the one to roll.
“No, the roots are still this damp— what water?”
[If not water, then give me death!!]
Given the World Tree’s damned temper, it was clear that ordinary methods wouldn’t calm it down.
‘No choice, then.’
In the end, Lilith recalled her secret weapon and slyly put her arm around a branch.
“Hey, have you ever tried rainwater?”
[……]
“It doesn’t rain in the sacred site, but you’ve heard rumors, right? Cool, delicious rainwater packed with nitrogen and various nutrients!”
I think I can get that for you.
Feeling the World Tree sneakily glancing her way despite pretending otherwise upon hearing her low mutter.
Sure enough, after waiting a bit, the World Tree slyly broached the subject.
[How?]
“It wouldn’t be fun if I told you easily.”
[Hey.]
“I’ll give you water only once a week from now on. You have to agree to that for me to get you rainwater.”
[Seven times.]
“Then let’s pretend my offer never happened…”
Lilith naturally turned away after releasing her arm from the branch.
A branch quickly grabbed her shoulder.
[Five times?]
“……”
[Three times?]
With still no answer from Lilith, the World Tree’s branch limply drooped.
[Sigh, of course. Who am I to ask for water. If I could, I’d be free outside instead of in this sacred site… Sniff.]
“……”
[I want to be like other trees too, sob, hic, sniff.]
Sensing something off, Lilith slyly lifted her gaze.
Dew formed on the World Tree’s leaves, and soon it began dripping like rain onto the top of her head.
“No, why…”
Lilith’s resolute expression softened a little at the sight of the World Tree crying sorrowfully in a way that didn’t suit it.
‘Actually, for the World Tree’s size and environment, twice a week would be fine.’
It had guzzled water greedily the day before, and seeing it spit it all back out while crying didn’t sit well with her.
Looking at the surroundings only made her feel worse.
[Honestly, I thought it was over. I was just waiting to wither away in deep sleep.]
From what it said, it seemed like it had always had a sense of self, regardless of her involvement.
Whether it had consciousness from the moment it was born by the creator god, or if it developed over time like a spirit of nature from living so long, she didn’t know.
The thought of such a being standing alone on this hill for thousands of years made her wonder how lonely it must have been.
[Sniff, hic, sob.]
“Ugh… Fine, twice! Let’s compromise on twice a week.”
[Sob, really?]
Lilith nodded.
Even so, the World Tree was still dripping dew.
[Sob, with rainwater?]
“Yes.”
[Sob, how are you going to get it?]
“I’m planning to ask the guardian knight order to collect rainwater. Sir Jeffrey said to tell him anytime if there’s anything inconvenient while staying here.”
Jeffrey was Edrion’s adjutant, and they’d grown quite close on the way up to the capital.
With his cheerful and sociable personality, it wasn’t a big burden for Lilith to ask him for something.
[I see.]
“Yes, now moving on to the next topic—”
[Then hurry up and go tell him to get rainwater.]
“……Pardon?”
[How long are you going to loaf around? Aren’t you going to run over there?]
The sorrowful appearance of dripping what might be dew or tears had vanished somewhere; now the perfectly dry and fluffy World Tree gestured with a branch toward the knight order.
[Execute immediately!]
“……”
In that moment, Lilith wanted to use the damned World Tree as kindling.
* * *
At the same time, the members of the guardian knight order were being thoroughly chewed out by an enraged Edrion.
“You lost them again?”
“W-Well…”
“Forehead to the ground.”
The edge of the desk Edrion gripped crumbled to dust under his strength.
It was top-grade wood that wouldn’t split even under an axe, enchanted with magic for durability.
The knights, witnessing their captain’s monstrous power tearing it like paper, prostrated themselves without a word, slamming their foreheads to the floor.
“How many more chances do I need to give you?”
“We are ashamed.”
“Just how much longer do I have to wait for you to catch one rebel scum? Do you want me to handle it myself to be satisfied? Is that it?”
“But if the captain steps in personally, there could be damage to civilian areas…”
Edrion’s sword aura was excessively ferocious and wide-ranging.
It was perfect for wielding on the battlefield, but unsuitable for dealing with rebels hidden among civilians.
That was why Edrion had been excluded from the Shadow Forces extermination operations.
He had spent most of his formative years on the battlefield.
Until he beheaded the tyrant Rajer, he lived in an environment where a moment’s carelessness threatened not only his life but everyone’s safety around him.
He was accustomed to blood and slaughter, with no hesitation toward destruction.
The knights admired such an Edrion while also fearing him.
“Then you should have done better. So I wouldn’t have to go after that Raven bastard myself. Right?”
“Y-Yes, sir.”
“Moreover, he appeared in the capital, and you lost him.”
“……”
“Sigh, you lot are really…”
Edrion, loosening his stiff neck, straightened up from leaning on the desk.
It was right then, as the knights trembled in ominous anticipation at the sight.
Light, small footsteps approached down the hallway, and soon the door opened.
“Hello? I heard Sir Jeffrey is here…”
A woman peeked her head through the slightly open door.
Perhaps tired from the walk, the girl’s cheeks were flushed red, and she was breathing a bit heavily.
“Lilith?”
“Oh, Duke Akshad?”
Upon spotting his small and precious fiancée, Edrion’s fierce gaze instantly softened like a lamb’s.
