novelraw Chapter 421: Tree (5k)
Chapter 421: Tree (5k)
"Please board the carriage, everyone, if you don't mind."
"Many thanks."
As a nation advocating 'Li', even the method of bringing Fisher's group back was extremely interesting. Lu An ordered several other Deer Species to fetch horse-drawn carriages from outside the forest. Their Deer Species generally didn't need horse-drawn carriages; these things were prepared for other races.
Outside the forest where Fisher's group previously landed was an even broader forest, as if this entire continent was a boundless jungle. But relatively speaking, the spacing between these trees wasn't as dense as before.
After expressing thanks, Fisher's group boarded the carriage. Asuka Karasawa tilted her head slightly, secretly looking outside at the numerous Deer Species accompanying their left and right. While somewhat Clicking Her Tongue in Wonder, she turned her head and asked Gou Wen and Fisher,
"They are Deer-men... then does this world have Centaurs? Or Fox-men or Dog-men or something..."
"Yes, but not on this continent."
The one who spoke was Gou Wen. Fisher had discovered previously that he was very familiar with everything regarding the Tree Continent, seemingly related to his previous so-called "medical exchange" here.
Asuka Karasawa nodded. Hesitating for a moment, she continued asking,
"Then wouldn't Centaurs get angry watching us use horse-drawn carriages? I mean, seeing us treat horses as tools or something..."Gou Wen opened his mouth, rendered speechless. Beside them, Helaire clutched her stomach and began laughing, inducing Asuka Karasawa to feel somewhat embarrassed. She seemingly also realized she had asked a foolish question. Beside them, leaning against the corner of the carriage, Fisher asked her without looking up,
"Does your world have monkeys?"
"They existed in my era, let alone her era." The one who spoke was Mikhail, sporting a ferocious appearance yet actually expressionless. The Asuka beside them nodded, agreeing with his statement.
"Do you get angry when you see humans forcing monkeys to perform?"
"Um, only if it's pandas, because they are truly very cute. I've heard that every Chinese person owns one panda..."
Although he didn't know what a panda was, it was probably this kind of reasoning. Fisher didn't speak further at that time, merely silently committing this matter to memory as a potential clue related to the contributor of the Demi-Human Completion Handbook.
Ever since the prior exchange with Helaire, she surprisingly quieted down bizarrely. Seemingly moved by Fisher's inner thoughts, no longer pressing him about his interest in Demi-Human Girls, merely watching the scenery outside.
Whereas Fisher didn't ask further. He suddenly desired to verify a matter regarding the nature of the Completion Handbooks.
He still remembered it was mentioned previously that Completion Handbooks couldn't be seen by anyone other than the Completion Handbook owners. But the higher the Tier, the more they could faintly sense their existence. For instance, when Fisher first met Eliog, she sniffed the scent of two Completion Handbooks upon his body, suspecting him to be the Lord of Life, hence returning to the research institute with him.
Conversely, observing his initial encounter with Renee, she could point-blank see the Completion Handbooks he possessed. This indicated her existence ought to be higher than the Mythic Rank. Furthermore, the noun "Divine Authority" she mentioned seemingly also hinted that she was a deity hidden within the Spirit World.
Currently, Fisher knew of two deities originating from the Spirit World. One was that scarlet nameless fog, and the second was exactly the Mother Goddess who once bestowed Magic upon humans. And Fisher frequently dreamt of the Mother Goddess's symbol, the "Moon," especially when by Renee's side. Fisher felt Renee harbored inextricable connections with the Mother Goddess, and identically suspected the oath traversing deities Renee currently complied with pertained to that Mythical War where the Mother Goddess intervened.
So, the current nature of the Completion Handbooks is: they can only be seen by god-level existences and other Completion Handbook owners, while existences at the Mythic Rank can sense the aura of the Completion Handbooks but still cannot see them.
The question Fisher wanted to verify now was: if the Completion Handbooks all originated from the Creator's Society founded by Asuka Karasawa, then could she, who hadn't even learned Magic yet, see the Completion Handbooks? What about Mikhail, the suspected original Lord Cardinal?
Fisher discreetly took out a bit of the Soul Completion Handbook hidden in his embrace and laid it in his hand, incidentally chatting with Asuka Karasawa about Lu Ming, that female Deer Species she saw earlier. During this time, both Asuka Karasawa and Mikhail had looked at him, but in Fisher's secret observations, they were completely oblivious to the Completion Handbook held in his hand.
Not to mention Gou Wen, he hadn't reached the Mythic Rank and didn't even sense anything at all. Helaire, however, was beyond Fisher's expectations limit... Totally Unexpected, she seemingly sensed nothing just like Gou Wen, quietly humming a tune and watching the scenery outside the window.
It seemed that the current Asuka Karasawa and Mikhail still abided by the rules from when they forged the Completion Handbooks. Well then, he could now safely check on matters regarding the Demi-Human Completion Handbook.
He first carefully skipped over the World Tree Teardrop and the items Renee gave him tucked within the Demi-Human Completion Handbook. Accompanying a trace of twisting golden light, several lines of illusory subtitles identically mirroring Mikhail's gradually appeared before his eyes, and the book's pages automatically flipped to a new page, revealing a new title line,
【Deer Species】
【Please select research individual: 0/1】
【Bindable target: Lu Ming, underaged female Deer Species】
Fisher didn't harbor much hesitation before preparing to consider binding. He intended to rely on the sequence system provided by the Demi-Human Completion Handbook to pry open this corner of the past, because he gradually discovered that the tag entries written by the author of these Demi-Human Completion Handbooks occasionally revealed a bit of useful information, just like in the Northern Border.
Bind.
He thought this inwardly, his body familiarly bracing against the pain. But the illusory text before his eyes merely flashed, surfacing a new line of text,
【Binding successful. Congratulations, unlocked Demi-Human Completion Handbook's DLC (Downloadable Content): 'Shadow of the World Tree' partial data】
?
Just as Before, Fisher completely couldn't comprehend the flighty content of these bizarre texts left by the author of the Demi-Human Completion Handbook, seemingly vocabulary from the other world she lived in. But he understood that currently the Demi-Human Completion Handbook seemingly unlocked some brand-new functions,
【The World Tree that perished within the first war of living beings still stands upon the earth. The Phoenix Race that entered the Northern Border before the Chaos-kin invaded reality still prostrates beneath her immense shadow. And now, you who traveled through time and space to arrive here have also entered the earth where she took root... Of course, there will also be more Demi-human women waiting for you】
【You unlocked brand-new Demi-human sequences, unlocked more ancient material rewards, and unlocked the entire Ancient Clue panel】
The first two weren't difficult to comprehend, but the third thing...
He seemed to have seen the so-called 【Ancient Clue】 once and only once before, precisely in the burrow left by Jasmine's mother, Xuan Can, at the bottom of Nari Lake. When he saw the crown worn by Xuan Can, this so-called Demi-Human Completion Handbook prompt appeared once, but never appeared again after that. He had even thought the Demi-Human Completion Handbook malfunctioned.
Now it seemed that wasn't the case. Rather, the things he encountered previously weren't "ancient" enough, and only Xuan Can't crown barely qualified?
Xuan Can was already born in this incredibly ancient era? Or rather, the crown she left at the bottom of Nari Lake was an item she inherited from her elders?
Both were possible, Fisher was additionally uncertain, but he inclined toward the latter. He'd ask Gou Wen about it later when he had the chance...
Fisher returned his gaze to the illusory subtitles before his eyes, watching a brand-new line of tags float out from the bound Deer Species,
【Deer Species】
【Eastern Continent Species】, 【Beastman Species】, 【Under Li】, 【Silly】
This kind of strange tag again. Initially Fisher might have even complained a bit, but now he seemingly already became Accustomed To Strangeness.
After completing these matters, Fisher didn't relax. He glanced around at everyone resting, flipping the pages back bit by bit to the location recording Demon-kin.
Yes, ever since Fisher knew that Demon-kin didn't exist in the present, he harbored some doubts. He first thought of Eimhart; after all, he was locked up by Baimon for so long, he should have a deep understanding of Demon-kin. Secondly was the Demi-Human Completion Handbook. When he unlocked the sequence tags, Demon-kin possessed tags.
At that time, he had completely read the annotations for many tags. Perhaps he could start from the Completion Handbook contributor's annotations on these tags to obtain more secrets regarding this "post-birth race".
【Demon-kin】
【Mythical Species】, 【Heaven-Destroying and Earth-Shattering】, 【Royal Choice Sequence】, 【Long-Lived Species】
As for the other three tags, he had read about the 【Royal Choice Sequence】 before and knew which Demi-human Races were included in this sequence tag. The remaining two tags could be understood just from their literal meaning. Yet it was exclusively this 【Heaven-Destroying and Earth-Shattering】 that left one somewhat baffled...
His consciousness gradually made contact with the 【Heaven-Destroying and Earth-Shattering】 tag. Accompanying a flash of golden light, the information contained within the tag identical burst forth,
【Heaven-Destroying and Earth-Shattering: They worship the Chaos deemed intolerable by the world and the gods. Hence, like the master they worship, they are symbols of danger and destruction, possessing unimaginable power】
【Included Species: Demon-kin】
【Because there is only one species in this category, no sequence rewards are established】
And beneath those illusory golden subtitles, differing from other sequence tags, there was an extra line of eye-catching red warning,
【Contributor's Note: Please definitely, definitely, definitely be careful of '%@#%&￥'】
Looking at the familiar, unrecognizable garbled text, Fisher opened his mouth, his brows furrowing increasingly deeper, seemingly completely unable to comprehend why garbled text would appear before his eyes.
Firstly, it must be ruled out that the Demi-Human Completion Handbook contributor herself wrote garbled text, otherwise writing this sentence would be meaningless. Then, what content did she write here?
A person's name? A species' name? A concept's name?
Last time Valentina's species displayed as garbled text entirely because she wasn't a complete Phoenix yet. Therefore, the Demi-Human Completion Handbook deviated when viewing her as a complete individual. But here was the Demi-Human Completion Handbook author's personal annotation, yet it still appeared as garbled text...
Of course, there's another possibility: the name she wrote was interfered with by external forces, hence unable to display its true appearance before his eyes.
Then, what was that external force capable of interfering with the Demi-Human Completion Handbook?
Fisher ceased pausing, merely slowly closing the Demi-Human Completion Handbook and tucking it into his embrace again... Subsequently slowly leaning against the carriage wall, gradually blending into the carriage's silent environment amidst messy thoughts.
"There are so many trees here, Earth definitely doesn't have such large trees..."
The one who spoke was Asuka Karasawa. Although she was still very restrained normally, since the people around her were quite amicable, this period of interaction allowed her to slowly lower her guard. She transformed back into the appearance of most young people from the twentieth century, clear-eyed and foolishly naive.
Like a primary school student on a school bus trip, she excitedly looked at a giant tree approaching in the distance. That giant tree was about a hundred meters tall. Although far inferior to the illusory World Tree bordering the continent that was as huge as the planet, to her, it was already a rare, magnificent view.
"Indeed."
Mikhail identically expressed a rare opinion. Merely, distinct from Asuka Karasawa's pure appreciation, he seemingly pondered how such an enormous tree sustained its life.
"Over there is the capital of our Tsubaki Fiefdom oh, and beneath that tree is the Tsubaki Earl's palace. And that tree isn't simple either, it's a giant tree formed by the deceased elders of the Tsubaki Earl oh. Every year we have to go offer sacrifices outside the palace."
"Eh, a giant tree formed by elders?"
Not only Asuka Karasawa, even Fisher, who had been bitterly pondering without finding an answer, additionally opened his eyes. He looked out the carriage window at the Deer Species Lu Ming conversing with Asuka Karasawa. Seemingly, she was identically young and green like Asuka. She felt shy precisely because her words caused the people inside the carriage to look at her, thereby wiggling her deer hooves and stammering,
"Mhm, my father and mother told me this... my grandfather and grandmother also told me this."
Fisher felt somewhat surprised. After all, Elf-kin were Mythical Species, a high-tier Demi-human Race crafted by the World Tree using the Authority of Life. They ought to be Long-Lived Species identically resembling Angel-kin. Yet looking at it now, this seemingly wasn't the case. Hence, he asked,
"Elf-kin can also die? They are Mythical Species, aren't they Long-Lived Species?"
Hearing Fisher's query, Lu Ming's stuttering exacerbated, unable to reply to Fisher's words for a long time. It was the Gou Wen beside her who laughing took over the topic, answering for Fisher,
"Accurately speaking, Elves are also Long-Lived Species, but not existences like Angel-kin who are practically immortal. Their lifespan is roughly twice that of ordinary Whale-kin. Ordinary Whale-kin can live for three or four thousand years on the seafloor, but on shore, they merely live a few decades before exhausting their vitality. Whereas Elf-kin can live for seven or eight thousand years. After their lifespan reaches its end, they will die. This point represents a stark contrast from angels..."
Upon reaching the end of his speech, Gou Wen shot a glance at Helaire beside him who had remained quiet yet seemingly unequivocally didn't appear bored in the slightest. For some reason, Fisher actually felt preserving quietude within the carriage for half an hour constituted exceedingly abnormal behavior for her. And as the protagonist of the conversation, Helaire smiled and waved her hand, admitting,
"Yeah, I'm an old immortal oh~"
Unfathomable to whom this remark was directed.
Gou Wen then continued,
"Legend has it that Elves were created eleven thousand years ago, Angel-kin were additionally roughly born in that era, therefore theoretically most Elves have undergone one iteration. Therefore, as a Mythical Species, Elves had to establish 'Li' nah; this was also preparation for their unique iteration mechanism. The Elves' progeny inherit everything from their elders: noble titles, fiefs, and even names..."
Fisher seemingly spotted a blind spot, asking Gou Wen,
"But you said before that Mythical Species find it incredibly difficult to produce progeny. Their iteration theoretically shouldn't make sense."
Gou Wen smiled and nodded, yet simultaneously pointed at that enormous tree in the distance,
"Correct. And this is simultaneously the reason they plant trees... 'Li' highly values funerals and sacrifices. After an Elf dies, other Elves will use his body as a base to plant a tree upon him. The dead Elf's flesh is absorbed and decomposed by the tree, subsequently growing extremely robust. Until it experiences four springs and four summers, bearing fruit four times, a new Elf will step out from that giant tree grown from the predecessor's corpse's body, acting as his [Next Life]."
Fisher opened his mouth, abruptly realizing something. But before he could speak, Gou Wen seemingly realized what he wanted to say, opening his mouth first,
"You guessed correctly. This process actually circumvents the normal flow of life birth. The Elves' souls don't return to the Spirit World, their flesh doesn't completely perish; instead, the giant tree planted by the Elves produces a brand-new cycle. The soul remains the soul of that Elf, yet washed cleanly without a trace of memories; the flesh is the flesh of that Elf, but their appearance and gender will change..."
Gou Wen raised his hand, drawing a circle in mid-air, displaying the incredibly miraculous culture of the Elves to everyone,
"Elves call this process [Reincarnation], the deceased Elf is the [Previous Incarnation], the newly born Elf is the [Next Life]. The two seem identical yet unidentical, just like a cycle, seemingly immutable yet capable of endlessly producing brand-new content. The reason the 'Li' established by the Elves places such heavy emphasis on sacrifices and funerals originates from this. In their eyes, the cycle of life is important and inexorable. Comprehending this point is crucial to understanding the thoughts and culture of Elves."
"There are also many cultures similar to this... the so-called 'Those below follow the example of those above'. Although the passing of other living creatures on the Tree Continent doesn't possess trees planted upon them aiming to reincarnate, all species here perform such; they worship ancestors, bequeath the wisdom and experiences deposited by ancestors..."
"Er, of course, there are identically a few unpleasant things. For instance, they like to eat the fruits borne by the trees transformed from their relatives. I tasted one, slightly fishy, not very tasty."
Gou Wen clicked his tongue, his expression turning bitter, seemingly recalling some unpleasant memories.
(End of this chapter)