Seal (2)
It’s a really hectic day today. Oh, it’s not hectic, but hectic.
After being enveloped in a halo of light this time, I looked around and saw that it was floating in a pure white space that no matter how I looked at it, it didn’t seem real.
Fortunately, this time I didn’t have to worry about what to do.
Before I could take action, something glowing white appeared in front of me, similar in color to the surroundings, but oddly distinct.
Hmm… The words ‘Will of the World Tree’ around that halo are very impressive. It seems that there really is such a thing as a World Tree in this world.
Yes, there is a dragon, but there is no law that there will be no world tree. There is no way that the world tree, which was growing again somewhere in the world, noticed the incident and tried to communicate with me through the tree… there is no way!
If that were the case, the Dwarven God would have told me right away!
Whether I was embarrassed or not, the will of the world tree emitted something like a tree stretching its trunk.
And at the end of the four lines that sprouted like the stem, they began to bear a certain shape as if they were bearing fruit.
At the end of the first trunk, there is the image of the academy here, and the image of a huge tree that has grown to protect the academy. At the end of the second trunk, something in the shape of a monster attacks the tree, and the tree subdues the monster through numerous trunks. At the end of the third trunk, the roots of a tree grow endlessly downward, and the roots are entangled to form a huge structure like an underground labyrinth. A sleeping dragon appeared.
And the halo did not stop at creating four shapes, but began to add something to them. A circle mark was placed on top of the first through third shapes, and an X mark was placed on top of the last shape.
It was a very intuitive expression of intention to the extent that there would be problems if you did not understand it.
Moreover, when I look at the feasibility of the labyrinth inside the academy that I just inadvertently came up with, and the dragon sealed in it, with such a specific image…
“Could this be… the will of the tree you just touched?”
As soon as my question, which was almost like talking to myself, came out, I drew a circle mark again in front of the glowing self to express my affirmation.
Seriously… Why did a tree that was said to have only survival instincts have been given a brilliant name like the World Tree?
Could it be because I said in the middle of a conversation with the dwarf god that I should make a world tree and present it to the elves?
No matter what it is, the world tree is too prominent. I can’t tell anyone, and the name seems to have such a huge story.
When I thought about that and got no response, something like a stem that grew out of the halo again touched my shoulder.
And when I turned my attention, the stem again pointed to the dragon sealed in the X-shaped labyrinth.
It was like asking what to do when this is not feasible.
…Does it seem a bit cute?
There are a few useless parts such as the academy growing to the extent of covering it, the labyrinth, etc., but those were all scenes that I inadvertently recalled, and seeing how they are trying to realize them, I wonder if the trivial parts don’t matter anyway. started to lift
The name of the world tree. If I don’t reveal it, no one will know about it, and no one will know about the labyrinth if I don’t disclose it.
If you feel uncomfortable, you just have to inform the imperial family. If the imperial family has an idea, they will move the academy on their own.
And as for the part about how difficult it is to seal the dragon… I think the world capital has come to the conclusion that it will be difficult to keep a hold of the dragon if it goes on a rampage, as I was initially worried about.
“I’ll try to do that somehow.”
In fact, I said that I was confident, but I was still unsure of what to do.
All I know is that the dragon’s will is currently being swayed by the intense emotions of a wizard experiencing it for the first time, and the dragon will listen to me to some extent.
That irresponsible god, saying that opening my mouth so that the dragon could be sealed meekly was my domain and ran away.
If you don’t do it, the world is in danger of perishing right away, so you can’t run away and it’s really crazy.
“To do that, I have to face the dragon self. Do you know where it is?”
According to the dwarf god, in the process of sealing, there will be time to face the pure dragon self…
At my words, the world tree moved its stem over my shoulder without hesitation.
The moment you turn your head without thinking along the stem.
[It’s really surprising. Is it the will on the verge of awakening the ego beyond simple instinct?]
In the white space, a somewhat heterogeneous group of red lights was visible, and at the same time, a familiar voice began to be heard in my head.
It was a voice I had heard tirelessly all day today, but unlike before, it was a voice with a clearer pitch and emotion.
The words Dragon’s Self floating next to it added confidence to my reasoning.
“Is this your first time meeting you like this?”
[Yes. Until then, I was in a state similar to that you created. The will to achieve the goal existed, but it was not yet something that could be called an ego. Through your advice I have reached the realm of perfection. Thank you again.]
I was able to sense what the Dwarf God had said in that attitude that didn’t show clear hostility, but rather felt even a hint of goodwill.
I can’t believe it, but this strange guy really seemed to be listening seriously to whatever I was saying.
Now that we have confirmed the veracity of the information we had in advance, let’s start in earnest.
“If you’ve already achieved your goal, there’s no need to come here to the academy to get the tree, right?”
Fortunately, the conversation was not difficult, perhaps because the other person had feelings close to crushing on me.
[I thought I would be perfect by perfecting my self. But something was missing. I have come to the conclusion that I need the tree you created because I judged that the knowledge I possessed should take the same divine power of yours as Hwagwan possessed.]
“What I need is the divine power I possess? If I share the divine power, will you just step back?”
Contrary to the expectation that the answer would come easily when I asked, the dragon did not answer as if he was in trouble.
Is this such a difficult problem?
Talk tok
In the meantime, I looked back at the world tree at the feeling of the stem touching my shoulder, and the world tree was facing the dragon and the labyrinth sealed with its own stem.
It looked like he was protesting that if he left like that, he would not be able to achieve this condition.
If you don’t need to seal it in the first place, you won’t have to bother holding on to the dragon.
As if whining to see if this will was a little out of line with such an ordinary human way of thinking, it continued to emphasize the stems pointing to the sealed dragon’s figure.
Somehow, those four goals seemed to have important meanings that must be achieved, rather than being simply annoying to the World Tree. Just as the dragon’s heart, before awakening to its ego, was only faithful to its goal of completing itself without knowing why.
[That’s… I don’t know.]
Fortunately, there was no embarrassing situation where the dragon said that it didn’t matter, so he would leave if I gave him the necessary amount of holy power.
The dragon continued to speak in an uncharacteristically confused voice.
[I judged that I was already sufficiently accomplished. It is difficult to materially complete my appearance right now, but it is more of a matter of time.]
Um…? Didn’t I need my holy power to become a perfect dragon?
“Then why do you want my divine power?”
[I don’t know that.]
“yes?”
What is this? are you kidding me?
It was such an absurd statement that I inadvertently had to ask if I had heard it wrong.
[I’m not sure why I want your divine power either. I just think that I need more divine power.]
Where is this broken? What kind of dragon is this?
“So you’re saying that you don’t know how much I need my holy power or why I need it?”
[Yes.]
What is he so proud of?
It was absurd, but thanks to that, I started to get a feel for which way to lead the story.
“Then how about doing it this way? You… Oh, come to think of it, what should I call it now? You still can’t call it a thing.”
[name…? Isn’t my name Ludmilla?]
What kind of bullsh*t are you talking about? He said he was swept away by the feelings of a wizard, so he forgot his own identity.
“That’s the name of the mage you fused with.”
[…Right. Then what is my name?]
Is that such a difficult problem…?
It was a question to form a bond by calling names appropriately, but Yong fell into trouble again.
Is there no original name in the memory that the heart has? Is it all reset?
[I… wasn’t finished…?]
The shape of the flames began to become more and more unstable, and heat began to radiate out.
Suddenly runaway? Really out of the blue!
“Vermillion! How about Vermillion?”
As I hurriedly shouted out whatever came to my mind, the flames that had gradually increased in heat quickly died down.
[Vermilion?]
“Yes, your name. How about Vermillion?”
Actually, there is a name that comes to mind when you think of a dragon sealed in the world tree, but that doesn’t fit the image.
It was a simple name at the level of White, which was derived from the miraculous association of fire dragon = red dragon = red = slightly unique red color = vermilion, but the dragon repeated the word vermillion several times as if he liked the tone. was
[Is that my name?]
“It was up to your will. Now you have to make your own choices and take responsibility for those choices. That’s another meaning of having a self.”
[Choice and Responsibility.]
Ugh, it looks like raising a child, what is this doing?
[good night. My name is Vermillion from now on. You didn’t even complete me, you left me a name. What do you want from me?]
Fortunately, the dragon accepted my proposal and seemed to have a crush on me, even asking me if I wanted anything.
I’m not the kind of person who would give up if they spread the plates that far.
“I don’t want anything in particular. But you’re unstable right now. You know?”
[Am I unstable? It can’t be. I’m done.]
“Completed doesn’t mean it’s not unstable. You achieved your goal, you just achieved your goal, and achieving that goal doesn’t solve everything.”
In my honest opinion, if the goal of becoming a dragon-god-level being is achieved, I think it would be more strange to be unstable… Well, even a dragon-like great being may be immature at the time of its birth.
In novels, it is not often seen that the protagonist raises a newborn dragon who seems to know that he is a bird, wandering around.
“What Vermillion-sama needs is time. You said it yourself too? With time, your physical body will also be completed. Besides, you said you need my divine power, right? I’ll make a very huge cavity here underground. .”
I didn’t lie. It’s a seal for dragons, so it’s a place for dragons.
[Are you going to prepare a place for me to stay?]
“Yes. There, you will have time to refine your own instability. In addition, I will replenish my holy power periodically through this tree. Then, won’t you understand why you want my holy power someday?”
Special sale! If you enter prison now, all food, clothing and shelter, including luxurious meals, are free!
[Hmm…That’s something I’ll only receive from you again. do not do that. The balance must be minimally balanced. Otherwise, I cannot exist as myself.]
What do you mean by this? Is it that if you feel too much debt to someone, you will have problems?
Well, if you say so.
“This is not a one-sided advantage for Vermillion-sama. Did I just tell you? Choice comes with responsibility.”
[Yes.]
“How many lives has Vermillion sacrificed so far in order to reach perfection on her own?”
[sacrifice? I am not a being born as a burnt offering.]
“Yes. You weren’t born as a burnt offering. But what about the people who died for Vermillion’s purpose? The dwarves who died trying to retrieve you, the people you killed to hide in the royal family, the humans you killed while contacting Lady Ludmilla, and escaping from the academy. The dwarves who used them, the people who died in the church today…”
Ah… I’m pissed off again after talking about it. It’s a really absurd setting that the world could perish without this.
[…]
The dragon didn’t answer whether he felt something from my words or if he felt my feelings and decided to keep his mouth shut.
“This is also responsible for the choices Vermillion-sama has made so far. Because you had no malicious purpose, you didn’t have a clear self until then… that’s too many lives to pass on.”
[Then is this punishment?]
“It depends on how you accept it. If Vermilion burns her anger against me for making this decision in this space, she will punish it. If she remembers the people who died and prays for them, it will be penitence.”
[Is that also my choice?]
“is it so.”
[If this is the result of that responsibility, will I live forever remembering them in the space you prepared?]
There was nothing I could say about it.
According to the Dwarf God, the reason why the dragon is rampaging right now is because it is swept away by the magician’s emotions, and by the time that emotion disappears and only the ego as a dragon remains, it will stop rampaging.
But looking at it now, it seems reasonable enough that there would be no problem if I released it right away.
But if I said that it needed to be sealed, there must be something I don’t know about. I said that this is a pure dragon’s ego, so if you leave this space, it might go rampant again.
“Well, I don’t know that far. If this is punishment, I can’t set a deadline because I can’t dare to pay for the lives of those who died, and if it’s penance, the moment I feel unnecessary, I can’t be penance anymore.”
I said something, but in the end it meant I didn’t know.
Of course, there was no answer from the dragon as if he couldn’t accept such clumsy words.
It seems like you persuaded yourself well, but in the end, things go wrong in the end?
The moment I thought so, the shape of the flame gradually changed and began to change into the shape of the huge dragon I thought of.
Are you attacking so suddenly?
The moment I panicked and tried to raise my holy power to fight.
[I am Vermillion. And you, Saint Ronan, are the beings who perfected me, gave me a name, and taught me the rights and duties of an intelligent being. Therefore, I bow my head in homage to your teachings and submit to your will.]
Suddenly, he started uttering outrageous oaths.
[Until the day I remove all my insecurities, until the moment I finish commemorating all those who died because of my choices, I will not be willing to step out of the space you have prepared for me, and even after all that, if you oppose me, I will not be free. I will not flap my wings for you.]
While I was in a daze, the white halo gradually began to change into the shape of a tree, as if the will of the world tree also responded to the words of the dragon, as if it were natural.
And the numerous roots that grew from the tree began to entangle the dragon slowly.
As I turned my gaze to the world tree, the world tree formed the four goals that had been floating in front of me so far, and began to draw a circle on the shape of the sealed dragon, the only place where the X was marked on it.
It was a bonus that one of the slender stems, which looked strangely happy, shimmered and moved around.
The stem that was moving like that touched me again as if it had suddenly remembered something.
“Is something else wrong?”
The stem pointed once at herself as a tree, once at the flames as a dragon, and then turned the stem toward me.
…What is he saying now?
The stem was repeating the same action as if it were frustrated, and just as I was perplexed, I heard a voice from the dragon, which was now almost entirely covered with roots.
[The tree also wants to get a name from you. Every ego has a name.]
Is it a way to connect things that originally had no self? How on earth can you know that you want a name just by looking at that?
By the way, wasn’t his name World Tree?
Isn’t it a name that can’t even be called by others?
The stem started spinning round and round as if time was running out.
You can name it as many times as you want. Without worrying, the name to give to the World Tree is virtually already set.
“Yggdrasil. How is Wig?”
At my words, the tree began twisting its trunk….You mean it’s good, right?
[Yggdrasil. That’s a good name.]
A guy who didn’t even have a name a moment ago is commenting on that.
The moment I thought that, the roots of the tree completely covered the dragon, and the tree and the dragon disappeared with the light.
It was the moment when I instinctively sensed that the sealing was successful and that everything was over.
