I wasn’t hurt. Instead of harshly piercing me, the branches gently embraced me. They were benevolent yet firm enough to make any thought of resistance futile.

The sound of leaves rustling, branches brushing against one another, and a soft breeze passing through played a melody on the tree. A chaotic yet beautiful, disordered tune filled my ears.

"Maximilien, this wager is your victory. Though I believed that he would not appear until all cried out his name, you have defied that path and found him nonetheless."

Amidst it all, I heard the sound of the tree splitting. I looked toward the noise and saw a knothole gradually growing larger, one that hadn’t been there before. From the dark depths within the tree, a dry voice emerged.

"He himself stands before us. I am overwhelmed, for I do not know where to place my joy."

Then a hand extended from the knothole.

A long hand grasped the edges of the knothole, pulling it apart. Through the now door-sized opening, a figure emerged, squeezing through from within the tree.

They say that the spirit of a tree lives within its knothole. Perhaps the notion that something might live in such a hollow space is a simplistic idea that has been passed down as folklore. But now, that legend had become reality.

If there were such a thing as a forest spirit, it would look exactly like her. With an androgynous face that made her gender indiscernible, she had long, green hair that fell to the ground, adorned with small leaves like vines. Her silk robe was secured by vines, and it was loose enough to reveal her elbows through the sleeves.

She was already peculiar enough, but her most distinctive feature was the antlers on her head. They resembled a deer’s, yet they were not animal horns. They were simply branches extending from her temples.

I murmured to myself.

"…A druid?"

There were few druids, but among them, she was the most famous and powerful. The observer of history, having watched all of it from ancient times to the present.

An agent of nature. The most beautiful beast.

…And, as I had just learned, the leader of all sentient beings.

"I am Navi. The beast that could not die greets the King of Humans."

The ancient druid, Navi.

She gathered her robe, knelt before me, and bowed her head. There was a soft thud as her forehead touched the ground.

Um… uh…

I was simply bewildered. Anyone would feel the same if a figure suddenly emerged from a tree and bowed before them.

And above all, the person bowing to me possessed power that surpassed that of ordinary superhumans—a being with absolute strength. As a leader, she would see someone like Maximilien as insignificant.

Strange. I knew Maximilien had called for backup, but to arrive from another country in just a few hours… Where are my allies? Aren’t they joining me? Or maybe it’s better if they don’t?

They would lose anyway, even if they joined.

A chill ran down my spine. Navi was an opponent I couldn’t resist. She was a force capable of destroying nations on her own… more powerful than Tyr.

And the bigger problem was that she had a clear purpose regarding me. Hiding the skewer behind my back, I forced a smile and spoke.

"Ah, it’s an honor to meet you. I am Huey, the current King of Humans. Please, lift your head."

At my words, Navi raised her head sharply. Her oak-colored eyes held a deep emotion directed toward me. Admiration, anticipation, longing, and… desire.

If there were no emotions there, I could rebuild the relationship from scratch, like I did with Tyr.

However, with someone who had such a strong, clear purpose regarding the "King of Humans," convincing them was impossible. I was certain of that just by looking into her eyes.

The only fortunate part was that this monster was among the kind that revered the King of Humans the most. Just a moment ago, she had even bowed to greet me. She wouldn’t kill or harm me.

Hmm. Should I try prodding her? I gave a nonchalant command.

"I have business with Maximilien, so could you step aside for a moment?"

In response, Navi lowered her head again, hitting it against the ground. While I flinched, Navi, still pressing her face to the ground, replied in a voice that reverberated through the area.

"Forgive me. This unworthy servant lost a wager with him and must pay the price. I beg for your understanding."

Is she saying not to kill him? But I am the King of Humans, aren’t I? I spoke with a dignified tone, hoping to project the authority of a king.

"I am the true King of Humans. You’re not doubting me, are you?"

"I would not dare question you, my lord."

"The King of Humans commands you. Step aside."

"Forgive me."

Navi simply repeated her apologies, pressing her head to the ground once more. She had no intention of obeying me.

What is this? She’s calling me lord and the King of Humans, but refuses to listen? Why go through all the formalities of treating me like royalty if she won’t obey?

There’s no choice. While Navi kept her head bowed, I discreetly grasped the skewer again. Maximilien was dying with his thinking gear stopped, but Navi, a primeval druid skilled in healing and herbal arts, might be able to save him if she took him with her.

Just one hit. He’s already on the verge of death. All I need is one final blow.

"I won’t say more. This is your last chance. Move."

"Forgive me."

I counted in my head, timing Navi’s bow, then pushed off the ground. The sounds of my movements and her bowing overlapped as I leaped over her head. I aimed the skewer at Maximilien and lunged toward him, reaching out for the seemingly lifeless body…

I leaped, but I wasn’t falling.

Branches and vines held me suspended. A tree had sprouted in the blink of an eye, so quietly that I hadn’t even noticed it growing until it held me. By the time I realized it, I was dangling in mid-air like an insect caught in a web.

…I read her "intent," but I couldn’t evade it.

She wasn’t manipulating the tree; she was "protecting" Maximilien. The tree had interpreted her will autonomously, suspending me to separate me from him.

She was entirely different from Maximilien. He designed mechanical devices with gears, controlling each movement consciously.

In contrast, Navi only needed intent. The trees naturally followed her will. That’s why, even if I read her thoughts, I couldn’t predict the outcome.

The trees acted on their own? What kind of…!

At that moment, Navi, still bowing her head, spoke.

"If you were whole, you would not have allowed even this minor defiance of mine. However, the curse that vile woman bound upon you still remains. It pains me how far your journey has yet to go."

Navi let out a deep sigh, so long that I worried she might suffocate. When she finally exhaled, she slowly rose.

I noticed the spot where she had struck her head. Instead of blood, a soft green sprout had sprouted like a cushion beneath her.

A trick, huh? Why bother hitting your head at all? Was it all just a political display?

"I have not sought you out, my lord. The King of Humans is not to be found, but only to be awaited with the people’s yearning. However, Maximilien—he dared to challenge fate. He succeeded. He achieved it. I shall honor his will and assist him."

With Navi, my body began to move. Or rather, the tree that held me started shifting sideways, pulling me along. It seemed as if the tree was about to consume me, opening its knothole wide while pulling at the vines.

Wait. At this rate, I’m going to end up inside. I struggled, but the more I did, the tighter the vines enveloped me.

This is dangerous. Navi didn’t originally plan to take me, but Maximilien would experiment on me if I was handed over to him, and now Navi would help him!

Forget the King of Sin; I might die right here!

"Wait! I won’t kill Maximilien, so can you let me go?"

"I shall serve, my lord. This way."

"Listen to me for once!"

"Forgive me."

Damn it. Who are these lunatics? I cried out desperately.

"Somebody, save me!"

Just then, Navi noticed something and smiled faintly. Her eyes reflected a shooting star. Something was falling from afar, wrapped in wind and leaving a trail of partially burned magical light.

It would land in one second. Navi gripped a branch to face it. A sharp blade aimed at Navi came hurtling down with a familiar voice accompanying it.

"Cheonaaaeeeeng!"

The sky split apart.

A familiar silhouette fell like a lightning bolt before me, flanked by fluttering robes. Split branches and leaves dropped a beat later. The vines and branches that had bound me were all severed, allowing me to regain my freedom.

In that brief moment, I saw it clearly.

Facing Cheonaeng, who descended wrapped in wind, small branches sprouted to intercept.

Cheonaeng, the Blade of Heaven. A blade honed through compressed space could split even rocks. Such a simple branch shouldn’t have survived her strike; it should have sliced right through Navi’s arm along with it.

Yet, the branch wasn’t cut.

Far from breaking, new branches and leaves sprouted at the point where Cheonaeng touched, as if growing by consuming her power.

Despite her attack’s failure, the regressor smirked confidently.

"Hah! You managed to block it! Then, how about this!"

A bold expression, overwhelming confidence in her strength, and the power to back it up.

The regressor swung Cheonaeng with a challenging smile, aiming a fast, light strike at Navi. Yet Navi didn’t dodge. Small twigs and leaves extended from the branches to block the attack.

"Impressive!"

The regressor shouted confidently, flipping backward. Navi stepped back as well, scraping her foot along the ground. Leaves scattered beneath her feet rose on a small whirlwind, almost as if they were protecting her with some mysterious power.

Navi spoke.

"I heard that there is a child who goes around destroying the ‘roots’ with the relics of the demonic gods. So, it was you that Maximilien spoke of."

"Ha! That’s me. So what are you going to do about it?"

Oh, as expected of the regressor. Facing down an ancient druid without the slightest sign of intimidation. Is this the true face of a regressor who doesn’t fear death…?

‘Ahhh! This is bad! Why, why is she here already? It’s way too early for her appearance! No, I can’t win this!’

Never mind. This must be the true face.

Reading her thoughts, I nodded in understanding.