Chapter 582 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint
What is a witch? Commonly known as a vile group dealing with potions and poisons, commanding beasts as familiars, and cursing humans... but that's not always the truth. In many species, females generally outlive males. Humans are no exception. While it's partly due to figures like Tyrkanzyaka and the Archwitch skewing the average, even without such unique cases, women tend to survive longer. Widows, having outlived their partners, often live alone on the outskirts of villages, spending their remaining days raising small animals. Though their aging bodies may hold little value, the wisdom gleaned from years of experience is as precious as gold. These women use their experience to assist those in need as midwives, pharmacists, and advisors. Their knowledge is passed down orally, gradually supplemented, and eventually evolves into a discipline. Those who inherit this progress become witches. Witches are individuals profoundly connected to life and death. [That's ridiculous. How can realizing that life is insignificant be an enlightenment? Something unimportant can't become a god!] The Archwitch was so frustrated about not becoming a deity that her emotions were conveyed through the parrot, which echoed her laments. [I created life. If the qualification to be a god exists, shouldn't I have it?] "You created life?" [Yes.] That's quite astonishing. It's understandable to feel unjust about not becoming a deity. "You're not playing with words saying you created life because you birthed a child, right? By that logic, every mother is a god candidate." [What nonsense to a maiden who's never married? Vampires can't even have children!] "Then, where is this life you claim to have created?" [You saw it earlier. The meat fruit.] The meat fruit — she means the meat-bearing fruit I saw in the room earlier. "You made that?" [Yes. It was my masterpiece, a new hope for all nations.] As the conversation seemed to lengthen, the parrot took a moment to moisten its throat. After drinking some water, the parrot began its tale. [The Great Forest is a blessed land, but not one conducive to living. The earth here, blessed by the World Tree, overflows with vitality, making it difficult for humans to dwell. The trees are dense, the plains scarce; it's hard to farm or raise livestock. All around, dangerous beasts lurk, preying not only on livestock but on humans as well.] The essence of humanity's strength lies in using tools to manipulate the environment to their advantage. Thus, the jungles teeming with every plant and animal were not suitable for establishing civilization. [Though all nations are brilliant and magnificent, compared to their vast lands, their population was pitifully small. Most critically, they lacked food. Hunting was the sole source of sustenance on lands where farming was challenging.] "Hunting isn't as easy as it sounds." Small animals offer no substantial nourishment, and large beasts are dangerous. It's not uncommon for brave hunters to meet their demise. [Right. How could you use such adorable creatures for mere meals?] "...Is that really the issue?" [If that's not the issue, what is? Even if consuming and being consumed is the world's law, it's too futile and sad for a life, having struggled for years, to be consumed in an instant.] "So, is that why you created the meat fruit?" [It wasn't just because of sadness. I, Hexia Agartha, am destined to become the empress of the nation in the forest. Just because beasts are pitiable doesn't mean I can forsake my people, whom I nurture like my disciples and children.] Nurturing people might sound extreme... but many have sacrificed their citizens for their pets. Compared to them, the Archwitch seems fair. [Trees bearing meat fruit were meant to be cultivated and spread across all nations. The amount of fertilizer needed to ripen one meat fruit is just 4% of the feed required by an actual animal. No pasture needed. All it required was a sunlit place with clean flowing water. No waste, no worries of escape. It was poised to be a vast seed of hope for the nations.] "A tree that bears meat? That's incredible. It could revolutionize human diets. What happened to them?" [They burned.] The Archwitch ended her remark succinctly. She seemed reluctant to elaborate. I ventured a guess. "Someone set them on fire. Was it the druids of the Great Forest you mentioned before?" [Yes.] From observing the parrot, one can infer her nature to an extent. The Archwitch is verbose when expressing what she wants to say but avoids things she dislikes. She resembles a child or a simple beast in that regard. [The only flaw of the meat-bearing trees is that they were too perfect. Every creature, from pests to beasts, coveted the nutrient-rich fruits. Without human care, they perished quickly. Hence, we decided to cultivate the meat trees in the shadow of the World Tree.] "Why the World Tree?" [The World Tree possesses immense spiritual energy. No insect or beast approaches it. We planted the meat trees among its roots, in the land blessed by its grace.] Between the roots of the World Tree, it's true no beast, bug, or other tree would thrive... Oh? "Wouldn't such a place inhibit tree growth? The branches and leaves of the World Tree block out the sunlight." [You know? Indeed. So, we borrowed some grace from the World Tree.] "Sorry?" [We let the meat tree draw nourishment from the World Tree's energy.] Though the World Tree is deemed sacred, she had no qualms about utilizing its grace. Life in the Great Forest is a constant struggle. Here, black magic, taboos, and shamanism still thrive, as surviving such a harsh environment doesn't allow the luxury of discrimination by genre. In contrast, the northern Meta Sequoia Great Forest is relatively tranquil. Its cool, serene woods inspire countless who visit. There, humans become invaders, felling trees and trampling grass to expand their realm. Protecting the forest from such humans are the druids of the Great Forest. They possess a near-fanatical love for the World Tree and an unwavering belief in preserving nature. “Did the Druids of the Great Forest witness this scene?” [Yes. Those Druids, with time on their hands, make pilgrimages linking the World Trees when they get a chance. Those outsiders, upon seeing our World Tree, meddled as if it was their own, claiming such blasphemy shouldn't be committed!] The parrot ruffled its feathers and flapped furiously. [It was tolerable for a day or two, but they kept interfering, even trying to uproot the meat trees! I should have killed them all then. It was a mistake to end it with banishment! I won't make the same mistake again!] “Did they burn the World Tree?” [It would have been better if they did!] They didn't, then? Of course, it would be unlikely for Druids to burn a World Tree. But then, why did the World Tree burn down? [They incited a rebellion by rallying the barbarians from the outlands who refused to accept the rule of all nations!] “Wow. They went to such lengths?” [It was an unexpected assault. Disguised as Druid pilgrims, they deceived the guards and infiltrated. While the rebels attacked my mother and her retainers, they set all the meat fruits ablaze!] And the meat-bearing trees were interwoven among the World Tree's roots, causing the hastily set fire to spread along the roots, reaching the World Tree itself. [The fire roared uncontrollably! The flames climbed the trunk, painting the blessed ginkgo in colors of a fiery autumn! Carried by winds, sparks spread throughout the forest! The leaves of the World Tree, once covering the forest, became seeds of disaster, setting the entire land ablaze!] “So that's how the World Tree came to burn and fall.” [The entire nation burned until the fire was extinguished. The palace, the cities, and the people turned to ashes in an instant. In the fall, when leaves were supposed to drop, everything was lost. My mother, desperately trying to extinguish the flames, was killed by the rebels. They, with their ugly jealousy, did her in!] “My condolences.” [Don't need them. You're not the one to offer solace.] Clearly, my sympathy didn’t land well. The Archwitch’s parrot rejected my sentiment and spoke with bitterness. [The Metasequoia of the Great Forest. They will grieve for my nation and mother's soul, which burned with their World Tree.] The Archwitch’s desire seemed destined to ignite a great blaze. Though not currently on the same page, I warmly wished the parrot well. “Hang in there. I hope you achieve your wish of bringing down the World Tree.” “Hey! You can’t say that!” The Regressor protested in shock. “They weren't the Druids who set the World Tree on fire! Revenge should be on those responsible, not on a blameless tree.” [Do you think I'm a fool? Do you think I can't tell the difference?] Although the Regressor's question was understandable, the Archwitch had fielded such inquiries many times before. The parrot tilted its head and replied. [Of course, I hunted them all down. One by one, setting my hounds upon them. I caught them all before they could escape this jungle.] The Archwitch earned her title through the relentless, enduring hunt following the World Tree’s incineration. Many Druids and barbarian tribes were swept away in that bloody endeavor. It may have been the burning World Tree that shattered the once-brilliant nation, but the enraged Archwitch was the one who stomped out any chance of new beginnings. [I brought them in alive, despite them deserving death, simply because I was curious. I asked why they ignited the World Tree with my fangs at their throats. Do you know what they said?] With a sigh, the parrot muttered in disbelief. [They claimed they never meant to burn the World Tree. They said it was an accident. An unfortunate accident.] Yet, the World Tree burned alongside the other nations. To those who had lost everything, such words offered no solace. [And so what of the charred World Tree? If no one takes responsibility for accidents, does that mean it's okay to set the world on fire without consequence? Is it then fine for me to destroy the World Tree, too?] “No, it's not!” [Then save that reason for when enraged individuals confront you after I lay waste to the World Tree. Because your words are sure to rile them up.] The point was brutally clear. The Regressor's words, though driven by pure goodwill, were likely to provoke. But the Regressor wasn't someone who tailored his words to spare people's feelings. “Your aim isn't just to topple the World Tree! You thrive on the despair and chaos that will ensue!” [That’s correct. Both serve the same purpose.] “But it’s different! Even if the World Tree dies as you intend, if they don't suffer enough, you’ll only perpetrate something worse!” [Perhaps. But I doubt further atrocities will be necessary. According to my plan, they'll be adequately tormented.] The Archwitch candidly conveyed her intentions through the parrot. [For they will be the ones to destroy the World Tree by their own hands….] “Archwitch, you've spoken enough.” From outside, Walpurgis, who had been waiting, urgently interrupted the parrot. The parrot, on the verge of spilling everything from an overflow of emotion, regained its composure and covered its beak with its wing. [Ah, is that so?] “Yes. Any more, and you defeat the purpose of your secrecy.” [Seems so, indeed.] Walpurgis, with practiced ease, raised the perch. Settling naturally upon it, the parrot began to preen its feathers with its beak. [Cawed! Quite the meeting, King of Humans. We've learned a fair bit about each other, haven't we?] “Yes, it was indeed a good meeting. Someday, I wish we could open our hearts to each other.” [Uh? Well, that's a bit... The King of Humans is rather intimidating.] “Finding the Archwitch daunting is something we share.” After all, to hear and fulfill her wishes, I have to meet her directly. As the parrot was about to leave, it suddenly fluffed up, recalling something. [Ah, right! Hey, girl. I'm not overly curious, but where did you find my mother's mask?] “…At the Elephant's Graveyard.” [What? There? Why there?] The Elephant's Graveyard is a place where every elephant from the southeast goes to spend its final moments. The end point of the giants that tread the world. In some respects, it is even more perilous than the Mountain King's domain because an enraged elephant can be more terrifying than a tiger. [Ah, of course. It's understandable why no one has discovered it until now. Without Agartha's mask, no creature except elephants can tread there. I'll need to check it out later. Thanks!] The parrot flared its wings energetically as it departed outside.