I Became the Youngest Summoner in the Strongest Guild

21. Arcana Online

When I accepted the quest, she handed me a pouch.

"I've put everything you'll need in there."

«Subspace Pouch»
Can store various items.

She gave me a look telling me to open the pouch, so I checked and an item list appeared.

It contained not only top-rank magic stones but also various items and even gold coins.

"This is too much!"
"This is for saving the demon realm. Use it freely."

With those words, she pointed towards the door.

She said there would be a guide waiting outside.

After greeting her, I left the audience chamber and someone was waiting.

Part of their face was covered with black scales, and their pupils were like those of a snake.

"It's been a while."

When they smiled, their mouth split up to their ears, looking like a scene from a horror movie, but with a familiar face.

It's the cultist I saw under the World Tree.

"It's that cultist from before!"
"Cultist..."

They looked at me with a dumbfounded expression, but why are they here?

"I was surprised when you suddenly disappeared back then, but why are you here?"
"What was there was my avatar. I was surprised when it suddenly vanished."

They walked ahead, saying we should talk while moving, and I followed closely behind.

"Back then, we were working on creating a passage connecting to the demon realm under the World Tree, but it all came to nothing in an instant."

With those words, they looked at me.

"Is that so? But why are you looking at me like that?"

It feels like they're looking at me as if I'm the culprit.

"Well... Never mind. Since this is the last chance if I die this time, I'll let it go. This way."

What are they muttering to themselves?

I wondered where we were going, but it was closer than I thought.

A place just 1km away from the castle.

A huge magic circle was drawn on the ground.

"Plant the World Tree seed in the center of the magic circle."
"Understood."

I took the seed out of my inventory and planted it in the center of the magic circle on the ground, and with a huge light, the magic circle activated.

[You have used the Seed of ???.]
[Due to the effect of the magic circle, the Seed of ??? germinates.]

A small sprout emerged from the ground and started growing rapidly.

[Due to the effect of the magic circle, it grows.]

[Congratulations! You are the first traveler to successfully germinate the World Tree!]
Gained 100,000 Fame points.

[Due to the Passive Skill: Growth, the World Tree grows!]

[Congratulations! You are the first traveler to successfully grow the World Tree!]
Gained 100,000 Fame points.

The World Tree, which had grown to a certain extent, stopped growing.

It was much smaller than the size I saw in the middle world.

[The World Tree begins to purify the pollution of the demon realm.]

[Warning! Warning! The World Tree lacks the power to purify the pollution!]

Red alert windows kept popping up, and it seemed like something bad would happen if I just stood still.

While I was thinking about what to do, I took out all the magic stones from the subspace pouch I received earlier and scattered them on the ground, and an alert window popped up.

[Using Passive Skill: Gluttony.]
[Due to the effect of Gluttony, the World Tree is strengthened.]

As the magic stones scattered on the ground disappeared one by one, the World Tree, which had stopped growing, gradually increased in size until it grew to about the same size as I saw in the middle world.

And thanks to the alert that popped up, I could feel relieved.

[The World Tree purifies the pollution of the demon realm.]
[Time remaining until purification is complete: Unknown.]

Green energy spreading widely around the World Tree.

The pitch-black ground gradually began to take on a green hue and was being purified.

While I was feeling relieved, stroking the World Tree, the cultist approached.

"Good job. From now on, living beings will be able to survive in the demon realm."
"That's a relief. By the way, we haven't properly introduced ourselves yet. My name is Yuna."
"My name is Krotheirn, the high priest of the demon realm."

If he's the high priest of the demon realm, which god does he believe in?

"May I ask one irreverent question?"
"It would be better if you didn't."

I was flatly refused, and Krotheirn said he would guide me back to the Demon King's castle.

He told me to report to the Demon King and receive my reward, but it wasn't over yet.

Because a blue window had just appeared before my eyes.

[Protect the World Tree from pollution.]

Reward: Unknown.

"I don't think that's possible."
"Why?"

I pointed in the direction where the window appeared, and he turned his head to look in that direction, his face turning pale.

In the distance, black entities were swarming towards the World Tree.

"I'll mobilize the troops right away!"

With those words, he took out a horn from his bosom and blew it.

'Pwooooooooo!'

With the sound of the horn, the bone dragons flying above the Demon King's castle all flew in at once and engaged in a fierce battle with the black entities.

And soon after, numerous troops were dispatched from the Demon King's castle as well.

As I was watching the war unfold near the World Tree, I heard a voice that sounded like a whisper.

[Mother. It's dangerous here.]

"Who is it!?"

As I looked around in confusion, someone tapped my shoulder.
When I checked who it was, it was a tree root...?

[Mother, it's me.]

"World Tree!?"

The World Tree was talking to me and calling me mother!? Is this the responsibility without pleasure that I've only heard about!?

I don't know how to express this feeling of suddenly becoming a parent overnight.

The World Tree whispered to me, telling me to evacuate because it's dangerous here.
However, I couldn't run away.

"What kind of parent would run away leaving their child behind?"

[Mother...]

With a touched voice, it emitted a bright light.

[Using Passive Skill: Empathy.]
Combat ability is enhanced due to the effect of Empathy.

A huge green light from the World Tree enveloped the world, and the black entities began to disappear one by one.

[The World Tree purifies the pollution of the demon realm.]
[Time remaining until purification is complete: 10...]

"10 days!?"

[9...]
[8...]
[7...]

[The World Tree successfully purifies the pollution of the demon realm.]

As all the black entities disappeared, the demon race members who had been looking around with blank expressions let out tremendous cheers.

As I watched this scene and stroked the roots of the World Tree that had been protecting me, the World Tree laughed, saying it was ticklish.
After laughing for a while, the World Tree whispered softly.

[It's all thanks to you, Mother.]

"But I didn't do anything?"

[No. If it weren't for you, Mother, I wouldn't have been born.]

"R-really?"

Since I'm weak to praise, a smile began to spread across my face.

While talking with the World Tree, I heard someone walking towards me.

When I turned my head to check, Demon King Echidna was approaching.

"I came to thank you. Would it be alright if we talked in the castle?"
"Yes! That's fine!"
"Then let's go to the castle together."

She held out her hand to me, and when I took it, my vision blurred for a moment and we were instantly transported to the castle.
But the place was different.

It wasn't the place where I first met the Demon King.

Following the Demon King down a dark staircase, there was a huge iron door. The Demon King took off the ring she was wearing and inserted it into a small hole, and the iron door began to open.

A sight I've never seen in my life.

It was filled with numerous treasures, and various weapons were displayed in glass cases.

"This is the gift I promised. Choose whatever you want."

[Quest Clear!]
You acquire Demon King Echidna's gift.

[Select the reward you want from the treasure vault.]

There were numerous weapons along with various armor hanging on the walls, and our Yong-yong was looking around curiously too.

Then Yong-yong looked at a piece of armor hanging on one side of the wall.

"Kyuung!"
"Huh? You want me to choose that?"
"Kyuung!"

When I went closer to check, it looked like traditional Japanese clothing.

«Divine Dragon Shrine Maiden's Robe»
Clothes once worn by a shrine maiden who served the Divine Dragon.

[When equipped, greatly increases the stats of your summon.]
[Ability is sealed.]
[Ability is sealed.]
[Ability is sealed.]

It had as many as four special abilities, and although three of them were sealed, it was still good enough.

"I'll take this!"
"A good choice."

You acquire «Divine Dragon Shrine Maiden's Robe».

It was time to change out of the ordinary traveler's clothes I had been wearing since the start of the game.

As soon as I pressed the equip button in my inventory, my outfit changed with a bright light.

You have equipped «Divine Dragon Shrine Maiden's Robe».
[Greatly increases the stats of your summon.]

The fluttering shrine maiden's robe felt a bit awkward, but the Demon King complimented me, saying it suited me well.

"Clothes make the man."

That's a compliment, right?