Chapter 590 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

A stranger sent a note tied to an owl's leg, requesting our escape. There wasn't much trust placed in it, but there was no solid reason not to attempt it either. Regardless of the treatment, both Shei and I were under confinement. To resolve this situation, it was worth taking a leap of faith. "What do you think, Shei? We received a note like this." "Let's go." She replied instantly. "Even if we escape, Nevida won't kill you. That makes it worth trying. It’s also good to know who will be my friend or foe here." "But Shei, you might die." "Hughes. It's okay if I die. I'm a Regressor." Meaning she shouldn't die. It would reset the world. "This is hard to grasp." "Don't worry. Just don’t pay too much attention to my death. I'll try to survive, but even if I die, as long as there's something to gain, it's enough." Leaving only those words, Shei approached the owl. Realizing her arm was still immobile, she turned to me with a request. "...Carry me." "How should I carry you?" "Do I have to explain? Just carry me however you like!" "Well, I have to hold onto the owl, so I don't have a free hand to carry you…." When hands are short, tools must be used. I fashioned a sling from vine to secure Shei tightly to me, and then approached the owl. The owl, perhaps not expecting two, widened its eyes in surprise. "Hold on tight so you don't fall." As soon as I grasped the owl's leg while hanging from the window ledge, the owl spread its wings and took off as if it had been waiting. My body felt a sudden pull, and though I was unsure if I could handle it, the owl did not resist my weight but adjusted and sped up. The wind that brushed past my face grew stronger. Invisible feathers seemed to cut into my skin. We seemed to have dropped quite a bit, but the speed did not decrease. Feeling a bit tense, I glanced at the owl, which didn’t seem to be making any effort to overcome the situation. "Isn't this more like freefall than flying? Was this a suicide suggestion?" "...Hughes. See you in the next cycle." "You've already given up on life?!" Should I really prepare for impact? As I worriedly scanned our surroundings, something passed us from outside my field of vision. It then aligned behind and began to approach us slowly. "It's another owl." Shei muttered. The approaching owl joined on either side as if prearranged, grasping my shoulders and arms. One might not have been enough, but the three together began to lift us, allowing our bodies to rise. The rushing wind gradually faded, and the ground came closer. The owls gradually adjusted upwards, eventually placing us gently on the ground. A short whistle pierced the air. The owls spread their wings and flew towards the direction of the sound. A group of people, adorned with padded cloth on their arms, welcomed the owls. The owls sat lightly on the cloth, brushing heads affectionately and earning morsels of meat. While trying to set Shei down, a girl with an owl perched on her shoulder approached. Her hair was elegantly styled, held by a hairpin, and embroidered cloth covered her shoulders and arms. It was more utilitarian than decorative, yet she exuded a graceful charm no matter how much she tried to conceal it. Looking intently at my face, the girl raised her arm to her forehead, greeting me in an archaic manner. "It is most regrettable to meet you under such circumstances, O king of humans." "Regrettable? That's not something you say to someone you’ve just met. Though I appreciate your honesty." I asked, holding the note retrieved from the owl's leg. "Was this written by you?" "Indeed. Time is of the essence, so let us depart posthaste." "Hold on. I’d like to know who you are before we go. I can't simply trust and follow without any clue." "I will answer honestly while we travel. Should my answers not satisfy you, feel free to jump off." Straightforward indeed. Ultimately, it worked out as they wanted, but it was true that we needed to leave as soon as possible. "Well, as long as you’re willing to answer…" "Your companion should stay held as she is. It would be better to remain in familiar arms." "It's not particularly familiar…" Although Shei muttered in complaint, she adjusted herself again. Soon, a man adorned with branches resembling antlers brought forth a large stag. With grayish fur, the stag bore a saddle on its back. "Is that a familiar?" "It's a tamed beast. It is docile. As long as you don’t pull on its fur, there’s no need to worry about falling off." Once I mounted the stag, it started moving without command. Though its large antlers seemed like they might obstruct movement, they merely broke through branches and foliage with ease. Once we were galloping, the girl with the owl caught up beside me. "Feel free to ask any questions you have." Alright, let’s see. What should I ask? First, gauge her with telepathy, then figure out how to justify my telepathy with a question. "Nenyaf of the Watchers. Nevida's disciple. And the last druid of the fallen nations, the warden of the Forest of Knowledge. Is that correct?" Shei abruptly interjected. It seemed she had some prior knowledge of Nenyaf from her regressive experiences. I somewhat grasped the idea, but to achieve the desired reaction, I whispered. "What do you mean? Did you learn that from regression too?" "Yeah, she briefly appeared whenever I fought Nevida." The revelation of her identity seemed to cause a small stir in Nenyaf’s mind, perhaps surprised that her identity was discovered so quickly. "...I have no idea how you came to know us. It is certainly something to marvel at. I meant to answer your questions, but it seems the tables have turned." "Well, it's good that we both have questions. Before that, introductions have already been made by Shei. What’s your purpose for bringing us along?" "It is to protect you from Nevida's grasp." "No, not about the process. I'm not asking about how you'll handle us. I want to know the purpose behind helping us escape." Like any clandestine organization, Nenyaf was also concealing part of her plan. However, since Shei had seen through Nenyaf's identity, she was somewhat compelled to reveal her intentions. "A druid's purpose has only ever been one. To guard and tend the World Tree, ensuring all things move according to nature's order. We have been watching over the Tree of Betrayal to ensure the sins of the past do not repeat, preparing for the day." "Sins? Ah, is that what the Archwitch mentioned?" Nenyaf reacted, reflecting on the Archwitch with a mixture of nostalgia, slight guilt, and considerable resentment. "The Princess mentioned it, did she? What did she say?" "She said the druids burned the World Tree, and she can't forgive that." "...She spoke so." Nenyaf muttered bitterly, carrying the same emotions as before. Suddenly, sensing something, she lifted her head and scanned the surroundings. Kyaaahhhh--. In a jungle densely packed with trees, the wind doesn't flow easily. Even a fierce storm breaks against the centuries-old trunks and countless leaves, dissipating into mere breezes. Yet now, an unfamiliar wind blew from the direction of the World Tree. It felt like the exhalation of the World Tree stretched across the jungle. From behind, a damp and ominous air surged forward. When the strange aura reached us, the stag became spooked, kicking its hind legs. As the line of druids became disordered, Nenyaf swung her arm vigorously, sending the owls into the air. "The princess has come." "Do you mean the Archwitch?" "Yes. The child who was once the cleverest and the wisest now sings of revenge, driven by anger." Dozens, hundreds of beasts rushed through the trees. Their figures, dashing against the night in rage, resembled nothing less than a nocturnal parade of a hundred demons. Dozens of eyes glinted towards us. Amidst the chaos, the voice of an unfamiliar parrot echoed loudly. [You dare...! Killing Polly?! I'll tear you to shreds!] "It seems upset that the owls killed the parrot." "If you truly valued the beast, you shouldn’t have tainted it with cursed blood, transforming it into a familiar. That parrot should have died decades ago. The owls simply followed nature's course." "But it was your owls that killed it." Regardless of nature's course, anyone would be angry if their familiar were killed. The sheer nerve. Despite being surrounded by beasts, Nenyaf calmly drew a bow, seemingly fashioned in a hurry from nearby branches. Even while atop the stag, she stood statically like a towering tree and drew her bowstring taut. "Lower your head." I quickly ducked, pulling Shei down with me. Thunk. Nenyaf released the arrow, which flew almost in a straight line, embedding itself into the neck of a beast running in the distance. The shadow lost its balance, tumbling and rolling across the ground. The arrow possessed the power to pierce tough hide, a demonstration of the druidic archery that harnessed the flexibility of wood. With Nenyaf's attack as a signal, the other druids began to fire in unison. "Release!" Arrows rained down like a deluge. Even atop their mounts, the druids showcased remarkable accuracy, targeting the beasts' vital points. Fallen beasts rolled about, blocking the path of others. An impressive display befitting a warden of the forest. However, most of the struck beasts immediately rose and charged again. Dismayed, some druids found themselves troubled by their unyielding force. "Those creatures aren't stopping!" "They're imbued with a strange power! Those must be…!" Mumbling, Nenyaf selected another arrow. "Children of the Princess…." [Nenyaf!] Ahead, in the midst of the darkened wilderness, a massive bird of prey unfurled its wings. Bearing a hooked beak like a talon and with wings that seemed to cover the world, the creature was a golden eagle. A bird of prey that should have looked down on the earth from above now glared with fierce eyes directly at me... and Nenyaf. Clutched within its talon was the corpse of a dead owl. Nenyaf offered a brief reverence to her owl before speaking. "Have you been well, Princess?" Atop the eagle, a parrot with different plumage from Pero’s perched, shouting in anger. [What nerve brings you here!] "I came to escort the king of humans. Please let us pass." [Ha! Do you think you can appear before me and leave unscathed?] The already slowing stag ceased its motion altogether, not merely out of fear. It had truly reached an impasse. Visible now were the Archwitch's familiars emerging one by one. A horde of fierce beasts with sharp fangs and claws had outpaced us, blocking the way ahead. Even if they were ordinary beasts, the odds were slim, but these were the Archwitch's familiars and her retinue. Beasts birthed from her bloodline, assembled as her personal army. Even for a druid, success was far from assured. Yet, Nenyaf calmly dismounted and greeted the parrot cordially. "Princess, are you intent on repeating the events of that day?" [What? How dare you speak of those days? You who betrayed me and abandoned the kingdom?] "Though I might have betrayed the country, I never forsook the ties of fate. Moreover, Princess... did you not also betray fate and lend us aid?" 'Aid? The Archwitch aided the druids?' Even amidst this assembly of demon beasts, Nenyaf remained composed. While all druids, accustomed to living by the flow of nature, shared this disposition, Nenyaf possessed a sense of assured certainty. It was as though she had a hold on someone's weakness. Throwing a glance at me, Nenyaf initiated her statement. "It seems the Princess shared but one aspect with the king of humans and kept the rest concealed." [What more is needed? You burned the World Tree, ruined my kingdom, and killed my mother!] "Did she not speak of why we burned the World Tree, why numerous tribes of a thousand nations revolted? Nor what sins the Former King committed? Did she keep silent on everything?" [That is not a crime! Nowhere in this world is such a thing considered a sin! Moreover, you, who lived off the country's benefits, have no right to judge Mu Hu's actions!] "It is not about the status of being a Grand Minister, nor does it concern my role as a druid. As a human being, I had to stand against the Former King to prevent my own dignity from being defiled." Leopards, hyenas, jaguars, parrots, hawks, owls, cats, squirrels. Dozens of creatures stared at us, entranced. Even with a predator nearby, Nenyaf showed no fear or caution as she continued. "You know, don't you? You've seen it with your own eyes. That's why, Princess, you can’t face humans directly anymore, isn't it?" [You, you…!] While the parrot struggled to speak, gaping its beak open and closed, Nenyaf directed her words to me next. "O king of humans, do you know how the beastmen came to be?" Caught off guard, I replied. "Yes. It was said that Agartha gave birth to them through relations with the Beast King." "Mu Hu has passed down the power of the monarch for generations. It is the power to connect intimately with humans... and through that power, Mu Hu, who was capable of captivating all, could deeply communicate with the Beast King who took on a human form. The Former King used that power to conceive a being that was neither man nor beast." I had heard as much from Ende, and further confirmed it here, even as I read the feelings within the Archwitch. Honestly, it was shocking and bewildering. It seemed a rather peculiar preference, but not entirely unexpected given how those in power often seek eccentric thrills. "If it were only that, it would not be against the course of nature." However, Nenyaf wasn't speaking for my sake. She was taking advantage of this moment to dig into the Archwitch's painful memories. "One mother could only give birth to so many on her own. While Mu Hu birthed a few beastmen over generations, their numbers were akin to rare mutations that appear and vanish. They might not survive or would vanish into the human population. At best, they might form a small tribe." Just as some centaurs survived clinging to the Founder's legacy, there were beastmen struggling just to persist. Whether extinct beastmen even existed remains unknown. But unlike those, certain beastmen thrived. Profoundly so. "However, that was not Mu Hu's intention. Mu Hu aimed for the beastmen to... form a distinct race. To become the King of the Beastmen." The number of beastmen is immense. They have grown beyond tribes and races, nearly forming a new humanity. An inexplicable growth in numbers—neither spread over several millennia nor multiplying like animals. It's unfathomably extensive to have originated from just a single human. "The fruit of flesh that the Princess crafted with good intentions, discovered for feeding the masses. Mu Hu stole the vital essence from the World Tree and imparted humanity onto that forbidden fruit."