NOVPUBJellyel’s question left Flame’s mind in a whirl. By asking this, she was effectively denying all the rumors that had been circulating about her.
Flame also understood how much courage it must have taken to ask such a question.
In other words, Jellyel hadn’t gotten as close to Baek Yuseol as everyone thought and didn’t know much about him.
“But... why are you asking me what kind of relationship I have with him?”
“You two have been spending time together after classes...”
That statement caught Flame off guard. As far as she knew, Baek Yuseol often disappeared from campus after school to hang out somewhere with Jellyel.
“What are you talking about? I thought you two were going on little dates or something.”
“That’s... not it. He always says he’s busy after class and disappears somewhere.”
“He wasn’t going out with you?”
“I assumed he was spending time with you.”
“No...”
So, Baek Yuseol had been going out every single day after school since coming to Starflower Tree, but not with her.
*Where on earth is he running off to?*
Flame knew well enough from his time at Stella Academy that Baek Yuseol often vanished after school or on weekends.
But Stella was in the heart of the Aether continent, with warp gates, airship stations, and train routes spanning across the land. There was always some trouble nearby to be handled.
But here at the World Tree... Baek Yuseol couldn’t be going far if he left for only short periods after school.
And it’s not like there were many incidents happening around the World Tree, either. In the original romance fantasy story, the tales about Sky Flower Cradle were relatively uneventful and dragged on without much excitement.
*Then again, who knows?*
Even if Flame didn’t know where he was going or what he was doing, there was always a significant reason when Baek Yuseol got busy.
Since the original story had deviated so far, Flame couldn’t predict the future with certainty. In fact, just the fact that Jellyel had approached her like this was enough to make her realize things were not as they seemed.
“Well, he must be busy.”
There wasn’t much Flame could tell Jellyel at the moment, but she was satisfied just knowing that Baek Yuseol was up to something.
**Rumble!**
“Ack, what was that?”
The ground shook, startling Flame, who stumbled and steadied herself against a wall. The tremor was mild and quickly faded.
*Why does this keep happening lately?*
Since nothing like this had happened in the original story, a feeling of unease crept up on her. She was sure there was a connection between these tremors and Baek Yuseol’s constant absences, but she couldn’t pinpoint the cause.
*...I’ll just wait until he tells me.*
The next day, during roll call, one of the Stella cadets was marked absent.
“Baek Yuseol? Cadet Baek Yuseol? Is he here? Has anyone seen him?”
“Huh, he was just sitting next to me.”
“Where did he go?”
“He glanced at his watch and rushed out.”
The professor clicked their tongue in mild annoyance but didn’t reprimand him, starting class since time was short.
As days went by and Baek Yuseol continued to occasionally miss classes or vanish after school, students began to worry.
*Is something serious going on?*
Flame resolved to ask him about it once he returned, but unfortunately, she wouldn’t get the chance. An incident happened before Baek Yuseol came back.
---
The fairy kingdom, *Cradle of the Heavenly Spirit Tree,* was composed of seven cities. The cities began at the roots of the World Tree and ascended in layers, with the Elven King Blossom’s residence—the White Castle—situated in the capital, Sky Flower Cradle.
In the White Castle’s council chamber, the city’s overseers were known as “Protectors of the Tree.”
Normally, it was rare for all seven protectors to convene, given that they governed separate cities. But due to recent disasters in the World Tree, all seven had gathered.
Not only that, but the high-ranking members of the High Elf Council were also present. It was no exaggeration to say that the highest-ranking fairies in the World Tree had all assembled.
“I would like an explanation of the recent tremors, Your Majesty.”
In the highest seat, Blossom wore a troubled expression as she began to speak.
“The unrest from the *Stirring of Damgaltwoil* is growing stronger.”
“Didn’t the headmaster of Stella say he had partially sealed it?”
“Yes, but he also warned that the seal wouldn’t hold indefinitely. This gives our people enough time to evacuate.”
Blossom initially wanted to observe the situation. Leaving the World Tree went against the sacred bond between the elves and the tree.
But the situation had reached a dire point.
The Stirring of Damgaltwoil was breaking free from the seal much faster than anticipated.
“Can’t we gather the mages to reattempt the seal?”
“Why haven’t we made another attempt?”
“Honestly, failing to seal it properly in the first place was a mistake...”
Some of the elders openly criticized Blossom’s handling of the situation.
“Your Majesty, awaken the World Tree with your vast power! For the sake of our people!”
“With the power of the World Tree, we could surely stop this!”
Some elves offered nonsensical suggestions, while others demanded immediate action, regardless of feasibility.
Yet none of them mentioned the best course of action.
“...We should evacuate all our people until the situation is completely resolved.”
The room fell silent.
Had the Elven King proposed such a drastic measure that they were all struck speechless?
Not at all.
She had simply voiced the one solution that everyone knew but was unwilling to consider.
“This is impossible.”
In the silence, the oldest High Elf elder, over 300 years old, raised his head to speak.
“Your Majesty, do you know why the Fairy Kingdom is called the *Cradle*?”
“...Yes, I do.”
“The Cradle of the Heavenly Spirit Tree is both the birthplace of fairies and the repository of our souls. When we die, we become one with the World Tree, and when we are born, our souls come from it. Our bodies and souls originate from the World Tree. Are you suggesting we abandon it in order to survive?”
“I’m not saying we should abandon it! Once it’s safe, we can return...”
“Can you not see that’s the same as abandoning it? Your Majesty, if we leave the Cradle and everything collapses, who will take responsibility?”
“I know there’s a risk, but... isn’t it worth it if it means saving our people?”
The elders shook their heads.
“The World Tree is part of us; we cannot leave it.”
“We feel the same.”
“Cloud Flower Cradle opposes the evacuation order.”
“Mist Flower Cradle does as well.”
“To abandon the World Tree is the same as abandoning my mother! Your Majesty, please reconsider!”
Blossom clenched her jaw and lowered her head. Even with all her authority, if they refused, there was nothing she could do.
All her power came from her ability to communicate with the World Tree. Asking them to leave it behind was unthinkable.
Thus, the meeting ended without a viable solution, and Blossom returned in frustration.
“Did things not go well?”
“...Oh, Baek Yuseol.”
Waiting for her in full gear, Baek Yuseol greeted her with a sly smile.
“Have you been waiting?”
“I couldn’t leave on my own.”
“It turned out to be a bit complicated...”
“Well, those old... I mean, the elders, weren’t likely to listen.”
Blossom sighed deeply and asked him, “What happens next?”
“The earthquakes probably won’t get any worse. According to the headmaster’s estimation, we have about a month.”
Her face brightened slightly at the reassurance, but Baek Yuseol added another note.
“However, there will be other issues.”
“Other issues?”
“The spirits of the *Land of the Dead Giants* will start awakening and wandering the World Tree. We’ll need forces to fend them off.”
Fighting within the city was unavoidable. Blossom had hoped to evacuate everyone, but the very idea of moving an entire nation’s population because of a few tremors had been seen as absurd.
Stopping the wandering spirits within the city wasn’t a real solution. The only answer was to eliminate the source of the problem.
“I’m ready.”
“Are you leaving tonight?”
“I was going to wait a bit longer, but it looks like we can’t delay.”
Baek Yuseol had already discussed everything with Blossom.
*“I’ll go to the Land of the Dead Giants and stop the Stirring of Damgaltwoil.”*
Though it raised questions, Blossom didn’t ask. She trusted that if he said he could handle it, he had a way.
Of course, Baek Yuseol didn’t plan to charge in alone.
He had requested 20 elite magic knights, each at least 6-Class, and Blossom had readily agreed. Baek Yuseol had been surprised, thinking it was a significant request, but Blossom saw no problem with it.
“The knights are waiting at the southern fortress. I told them to move discreetly to avoid drawing attention.”
“Perfect.”
Baek Yuseol packed Althericia’s custom items into his pocket dimension and slung his battle pack over his shoulder.
**Rumble!**
A deep rumble echoed through the room, and Baek Yuseol looked outside with concern. The sun had already set, and a slender crescent moon hung high in the sky.
“I’ll be back. Please take care of the World Tree
while I’m gone.”
“That’s my duty.”
With the moonlight behind him, Baek Yuseol flashed a grin at Blossom and leaped out the window, disappearing into the night.
Blossom rushed to the window, only to watch as his figure shrank into a dot in the distance.
Clenching her fist so tightly that her nails dug into her palm, drawing blood, she barely felt the pain.
She was ashamed of how much she depended on him, yet at the same time, a warm sense of gratitude filled her heart, an irony that left her feeling conflicted.
*I don’t have time to be sitting around.*
Blossom grabbed her staff and turned, striding down the corridor. Moonlight spilled in through the windows, casting a soft white glow along her path, illuminating her figure as she walked like a goddess. But no one was there to witness it.
