Barbarian in a Failed Game

In the darkened space where the elders of Paradise projected their consciousness. The figure with the upper body of a beautiful elf and the lower body resembling tree roots—the Tree of Memory—slowly opened her eyes, casting a radiant glow.

“Tree of Memory.”

The illusions of the elven elders immediately bowed in response to the radiant glow.

Cough- The Tree of Memory mimicked spitting out blood. Although she didn’t actually spill any, the state she simulated was akin to severe hemoptysis if she had been a real person.

“What…!”

“Are you alright?!”

The illusions of the elven elders reached out or flinched in reaction, showcasing the urgent concern for the Tree of Memory’s status in Paradise. Smiling, the Tree of Memory waved her hand.

『I’m fine. The resistance was stronger than expected, so I had to use some energy.』

“You are the essence of this Paradise.”

The illusion of an old elf expressing worry for the Tree of Memory furrowed his brows, finding it unacceptable.

His identity was Kenaz, the Second Branch of Paradise. As one of the eldest and most revered elves in Paradise and the head of the Kenaz family, his voice held the highest authority among the elders, being the heir to ancient elven magic.

“Before achieving our great endeavor, you must conserve yourself. You are the one who will eventually encompass half the continent beyond the Karius Sea.”

『Kenaz, there’s no need to worry so much. Although I used some energy, it was merely a minor strain.』

“That is a relief. More importantly, your struggle means that the Sixth Branch has safely met the monster of Sea Dragon Archipelago.”

Kenaz’s illusion wore a warm smile. His laughter, with his appearance unbelievably beautiful for his age, was a pinnacle of beauty that could enchant any human.

“Her sacrifice has advanced our grand cause a little further.”

However, his words revealed his vile nature. Despite deceiving and callously sacrificing his kin, Kenaz showed no remorse. He turned his head, maintaining an untroubled face.

“The Isa family will gain more influence following our great endeavor.”

“We are deeply grateful, second Branch.”

The illusion of a middle-aged woman who received Kenaz’s gaze expressed her gratitude with an upright posture and a stern face.

She was Isa, the Fourth Branch, and head of the Isa family, a supreme spiritist who commanded the highest-ranking spirit of ten-thousand ice.

“However, I must express my doubts about the ability of that alchemist, the mortal mage.”

“…Isn’t it too late for that now, Isa?”

“That’s why I’m raising this point. Was it necessary for the Tree of Memory to expend her power to transport that red gemstone?”

“The Tree of Memory is the mother of us elves. Are you questioning her judgment?”

“Mortals are cunning and habitually use deceit, which is why I express doubt. Do not misconstrue my intentions, Kenaz.”

For a moment, the smile on Kenaz, the Second Branch’s, face twisted.

『You both must not quarrel. I’m truly fine.』

Kenaz was someone who hid the flames of hell within his gentle smile. When his usually suppressed anger erupted, no one could stop him, not even another elder.

Thus, the Tree of Memory smiled and mediated between them.

『And Second Branch… Kenaz, I understand your concern. But there is no need to doubt. I personally feel the power of that item right now.』

The half-elf, half-tree apparition directed its gaze to the empty void. Although the elders could not share her sight, they inferred that she was looking towards Sea Dragon Archipelago.

『Far away, I can faintly sense a sweet aroma piercing my spiritual senses. And that aroma is growing stronger even as we speak. It is perfectly fulfilling its role as a ‘beacon.’』

Taking that as reassurance, Isa, the Fourth Branch, slowly stepped back. The Tree of Memory cast a fleeting smile at her cold expression before speaking again.

『All that remains is to secure the core of Gigantus. Once the core is returned to its original place, our task will be complete. Surely, even the sea dragons could not have imagined that the ancient giant whose heart was extracted would still retain its immense life force.』

“The seed of disaster created by the dwarf race’s madness has fallen into Paradise’s hands. We should thank them for their contribution.”

『Indeed. Although the malevolence perpetrated by distant ancestors, it is nonetheless due to the dwarves’ efforts that this has been possible. We should consider giving them a new home in the restructured world.』

“I will comply with your wishes.”

As Kenaz bowed and pledged his allegiance, the other elders’ illusions followed suit, bowing their heads in unison. The Tree of Memory maintained her smiling facade without any noticeable reaction to their steadfast loyalty.

『However, remember that securing Gigantus’s core is paramount to achieving our grand purpose. To execute the plan for the mutual destruction of the revived giant and the monster of Sea Dragon Archipelago, we need the core to initiate the giant’s resurrection.』

With a nonchalant expression, the Tree of Memory spoke of orchestrating the mutual destruction of the giant and the dragon.

To achieve this, they sent the Sixth Branch to Sea Dragon Archipelago, and the Alchemist’s Stimulant was a preparatory tool to send the revived giant to the archipelago.

Of course, if the elders realized that one of their own was being used as bait, they might start thinking, ‘Could it be me next?’

However, there wasn’t a hint of doubt among the elven elders. The belief that sacrificing their lives for the Tree of Memory was natural was ingrained in all of them.

『However, to target Gigantus without any plan would merely waste your lives meaninglessly.』

The Tree of Memory, seemingly considering this as a matter of course, casually spoke of “expenditures”.

『Gigantus’s strength in naval combat is absolute. Additionally, since they do not easily allow Gigantus to approach close to Paradise, we must fight a war without being able to use our full power. That’s why we called them—the Followers of Truth, successors to the ancient magic order.』

To achieve a more efficient use of resources, they sought to break the delicate balance of power.

The presence of the Alchemist was enough to act as a weight to tip this balance. The prowess of the artifacts created by the Alchemist often had exceptional efficacy on the battlefield, even if not directly a magic force.

『And with another Seeker preparing to revive the giant, we must precisely target the moment Gigantus moves.』

The Tree of Memory closed her eyes. As the mother of all spirits and elves, she could glimpse the memories of spirits that returned to her embrace.

Currently, the spirits sent by the elves to monitor Gigantus in the Karius Sea were continuously relaying memories to her.

『It seems they are just as pressed for time.』

Satisfied with the result of the memories she had read, the Tree of Memory smiled.

“The usurper who seized the throne through rebellion is constantly on edge, fearing he will lose his place. His excessive reaction to the emergence of a survivor from the previous dynasty is hardly surprising.”

Kenaz’s usually unblemished face showed signs of satisfaction.

“Ultimately, Uruz’s death was not in vain. Seeing the false king of Gigantus panic proves that.”

“Haha. Since Paradise sent an elder directly, they must have realized that the survivor from the previous dynasty is genuine, correct?”

A new voice interjected at that moment.

A young man rubbing his half-closed eyes—he was Unjo, the head of the Unjo family, one of the six families of Paradise, and the Third Branch.

“Hmm. Still, it’s regrettable. Uruz was quite noisy, but he sometimes woke me up from sleep, which was nice…”

『Come to think of it, the fiend that killed Uruz is with the monster of Sea Dragon Archipelago. The survivor of the Leonora dynasty is also present there.』

Upon hearing this, Unjo raised his hand with a languid gesture.

“Then, may I personally deal with this fiend, Tree of Memory? I want to leave a work of art made from the fiend’s corpse in front of Uruz.”

The Tree of Memory readily accepted Unjo’s request.

『Then, let the Third Branch and Fourth Branch handle Gigantus. You two will lead Paradise’s forces.』

The fate of a single mortal wouldn’t affect their grand plan. Even if the fiend was the one responsible for the death of the Paradise Bank’s head. As long as the grand plan succeeded, the Paradise Bank could be dispensed with.

‘When we evolve into an even greater existence, no one will be able to oppress the elven race again.’

Having planned everything out, the Tree of Memory quietly closed her eyes. She still vividly remembered. The moment when the mage tore through the boundary of the void in the empty space above the clouds.

The transcendent gaze pouring from beyond that boundary. And the splinter of that great power that streamed down towards her, then merely a colossal tree reaching toward the sky.

If she had fully absorbed that glimmer of power, the Tree of Memory would have truly transformed into a divine being. However, interference from another entity, fearing her evolution, left her stranded on the island of Paradise, unable to move.

But that interfering entity could never have imagined. That thanks to the melding of their essences, she would gain another chance.

『No, Kenaz. You should also assist in striking Gigantus. The core of Gigantus is both the beginning and end of our grand plan. Secure the core, even at the cost of your life, and return it to the giant’s heart.』

Despite the unexpected command, Kenaz, the Second Branch, did not hesitate for a moment and nodded.

“It shall be done without fail.”

***

In the space where all the illusions had vanished, the Tree of Memory, watching the elves advancing towards Gigantus through the eyes of spirits, spoke.

『This should be more than enough to ignite Gigantus, wouldn’t you say? Alchemist.』

“More than enough. It’s overwhelming, hahaha.”

The presence who appeared behind the Tree of Memory, as if he had been there all along, laughed, rolling his mechanical eyes.

“Oh dear! I must hurry as well. I’m eager to test the elixir made from the high-ranking spirits personally harnessed by the elf elder…!”

Muttering words tinged with madness, the alchemist’s illusion disappeared in an instant. Left entirely alone in the dark space, the Tree of Memory quietly smiled.

Her lips stretched into a broad, almost unnatural grin.