Chapter 591 - Omniscient First-Person’s Viewpoint

There was a young girl, whose beauty was already striking despite her youth. She was an exquisitely noble child, one not only cherished but meant to be shielded from harm. This girl, who inherited noble blood, was named Hexia Agartha. She was the princess of myriad nations, destined to someday inherit the mask and become the ruler who would birth a new empire. Beloved by many, concurrently calculating yet pure in form, children like her often grow in one of two ways: they take their blessings for granted, or they strive, admirably so, to reciprocate them. That Hexia Agartha grew into a kind-hearted girl was a great fortune for the myriad nations. "I wish meat would grow on trees! Then my nurse, my father, my attendant—all could eat to their heart's content!" However, Hexia Agartha's enormous talent turned out to be too grand a blessing, one even the nation of myriad could not contain. "So, I have conjured up ginkgo nuts from the blessed ginkgo tree that taste like meat!" The World Tree, the blessed ginkgo tree, was indeed a tree. The idea of meat growing on trees astounded both the revered druids and those who received lesser respect, like the witches. Some argued that the very existence of meat fruit defied the natural order, while others defended it, claiming it was merely fruit that tasted like meat. The chancellor was thrilled at solving the food problem, though advisors expressed hesitation, arguing that it was even harder to cultivate than livestock. Only the witches offered unwavering support. Yet to others, their support held no value. Arguments flared incessantly, knowing that no conclusion would ever be reached, making the debates all the more fervent. It mirrored the cycle of seasons, repeated discussions as persistent as the chirps of birds plugging their ears or the sharp exchange that kept predators at bay. "Proceed." In the end, worldly power prevailed. Mu Hu Agartha personally concluded the matter. "If you have complaints, come to my chambers, but also help me bear the fruit." Thus, it ended. The meat fruit was a very delicate and sensitive crop. Even with the same roots, how it was cultivated led to vastly different results. Even the most skilled druid couldn't fathom how to refine it, spending only time without results. It was around this time that Mu Hu extended an invitation to the ancient druid, Nevida. "Mu Hu has harnessed the princess's pure intent for a forbidden purpose." [Shut up... Shut up!] The ancient druid lived up to the legend. Nevida, with profound knowledge of both animals and plants, diligently embarked on the refinement with her expertise and experience. Dogs, cats, goats, sheep, cows, chickens, pigs, monkeys—every kind of meat fruit began to manifest. Even witches and druids were astonished by her extraordinary abilities. Unable to comprehend, they didn't dare trespass; unable to trespass, the gap widened. Druids, once respected by all, were made fools in comparison, and Mu Hu only spoke with the archdruid and Princess Hexia. The fools dared not intrude, feeling the gap was insurmountable, choosing instead to ignore it. As the chasm between knowledge and ignorance further expanded, one day, a druid from beyond the forest approached the dense woodlands, secretly following the archdruid. YW9peUx5cktZYXhyU2hzY1VsMkQ0WDREODc3Y0luL0MvRWUvalFsamFULzRjNStkSytOSUN3T0dTQ0ViNC8zYg The archdruid, Nevida, known in every druid's tale for the legendary ancient being, had supposedly touched the taboo of union. "Is it true that countless beastfolk were all born from trees? But the life of the primordial tree has its limits..." "Yes, indeed. The beasts born from the meat fruit don't live long. Like fruit that rots once it falls from the tree. It was an inherent flaw of choosing the way of plants, one that couldn’t be overcome." "But as you say, you managed to successfully mass-produce beastfolk, how?" "Beasts in the way of beasts." The beasts born from the fruit quickly deteriorated upon birth. It was inevitable; animals are unlike plants. Thus, Mu Hu gathered children born of Agartha. Beastfolk with the ears and tails of animals, creations of past Agarthas indulged in boredom and lust. "I will become the king of beastfolk, Hexia." Hexia's siblings, equipped with ears and tails, heeded their mother's words. Agartha's command was absolute for those who grew up receiving love meant for beasts, for she was their leader, their mother, their master. "Living days only with the fragments of power seized from the human king will eventually end. Without becoming a king in the true sense who isn't of humans. But beastfolk are superior to humans. If such beasts were newly created..." Moreover, still clinging to the fruit, yet to ripen... countless females... rather stigmas... curled with umbilical cords... Frenzied from taking drugs, hanging naked from the fruit. Each being ravished and defiled. Siphoning off the World Tree's essence. Engendering flesh submerged in pulp. Like insects laying eggs within fruit. "We are becoming living demon gods and, in essence, the king of beasts." However, it was a tremendous harmful blessing for the myriad nations. Hexia was intelligent and compassionate. She couldn't turn away from the meat fruits she created, fruits that gestated unblessed life without love or freedom. Nenyaf calmly conveyed the truth, a pain as sharp as a blade to some. Perhaps Nenyaf had not met the archwitch thus far out of consideration for her. Or perhaps it was to make sure the knife remained sharp. "It was the princess who asked us to stop the former king at that time." The parrot screeched loudly, as if trying to drown out Nenyaf's words. Yet, no matter how much it cried out, Nenyaf's words remained undiminished. “They drove out the original inhabitants and replaced them with beastfolk crafted from trees. By the time it was realized, countless beastfolk were already born and scattered throughout the jungle... The humans, unloved by Agartha and pushed aside, rose up in arms out of jealousy and spite.” The release of enough beastfolk to constitute an entire species naturally resulted in chaos. Were it not for the myriad nations, they would have immediately accounted for such a population. Yet, proliferating throughout territories as wild as unclaimed, the atrocity of Agartha largely went unnoted. By the time the problem was identified, it had long manifested. The delay in rebellion was due to this. “By exploiting the essence of the World Tree, belittling the value of birth, and trampling upon human dignity, the World Tree became littered with countless meat fruits like tumors. Our intention was to scrape off the tumors of the World Tree... Though, in the end, it all was consumed in flames of rage.” Nenyaf, after calmly presenting the facts, hammered in the final nail. “Thanks to the princess, we were able to prevent the World Tree from bearing the fruits of sin.” [Nobody told you to burn the World Tree! To kill the mother, steal the mask, and bring ruin to the nation!] “Regrettably, we lacked the power, just as the princess did then.” It was never Nenyaf's intention either; she simply had no choice. They were a ragtag band of rebels, and Agartha's power was formidable. Had there been even a moment's hesitation, Agartha could have seduced and subdued most of the rebels to become his appendages. To achieve their goal, there was no alternative. The rebellion would have failed without killing Agartha and tearing apart the mask. And it was the archwitch who intended it that way. She was as wrathful towards herself as she was towards others. “Princess, please, release us. Or else that betrayal will repeat.” [Such nonsense!] “Even now, atop the tree of betrayal, humans are being created. The human king is the seed of grave sin for that purpose. Ending the tragedy without repetition requires that.” The reason for bringing me here was to prevent a repeat of that past tragedy. Because if I were to assist, then Nevida could even create humans. [Enough!] The parrot cried out fiercely. Yet, the fervor of the Hundred Apparitions Pilgrimage was no longer present. The rage and wildness that could engulf the jungle weren't there. The archwitch's pet familiars only stood there with their fur upright. In contrast to her ardent words, the archwitch was distressed by conflicting emotions. Her familiars sensed her hesitation. Sensing the momentum, Nenyaf pressed on. “Let's hurry. Now that the princess is aware of the truth, the archdruid will soon arrive.” “Ah, understood. Thank you. Thanks to you, I now fully grasp the situation.” “Did I not promise to explain on the way?” “You anticipated the archwitch's arrival.” “Yes. We had no choice but to kill the princess's parrot to find your whereabouts.” “Oh, of course. I understand. It was inevitable.” The archwitch's thoughts were fragmented and emotional. The memories I read, mostly post the burning of the World Tree, were concentrated around that event. Before the World Tree's destruction, the archwitch was naïve and deliberately unaware of the meat fruits. However, reading Nenyaf's thoughts made everything clearer—what Agartha planned and why he created beastfolk. “You probably didn't want to destroy the nation either. Didn't want to burn the World Tree. But the existence of meat fruit distressed you even more, didn't it? It must have been hard. How did you endure all those years without a country, without the World Tree?” Nenyaf mounted the deer again, answering. “Tree Transformation—a technique to turn one's body into a tree. By waking up in rotation annually and taking care of each other, we managed to continue our sin-laden lives.” “You endured that way. I understand now.” “Then, let's press on.” “No, I said I understand. So, I'm getting down here. Thank you for everything so far. The deer's back was quite comfortable.” Hadn't they told me to jump off if I disliked it? Though I found the story compelling, it made for an easier conclusion. I lifted Shei onto the saddle and jumped off immediately.