---

“Hey kid, how much do you really know about the power you possess?”

It was a tough question to answer clearly.

How much did I know about my powers? Were they asking about the power I had before this body, or the one I regained now? Or perhaps it was about that divine artifact that Eriantina mentioned?

“That… ”

It seemed the atmosphere suggested it was indeed the power bestowed upon me by that fate deity. Yet, it was hard to guess what kind of power that deity had actually given me. My answer inevitably began to stretch out longer than expected.

“You seem unsure about that. Well then, we should start from the beginning… Unlike Shianella’s descendant, it seems we’ll have to rush through all the details regarding you.”

The World Tree paused for a moment in thought.

It was clear they were pondering where to start.

“Kid, what do you think that unique power you possess is, that sets you apart from the people of this continent?”

A unique ability that only I possessed, as opposed to the inhabitants of this land.

Archery and Spirit Magic, those were skills anyone could practice. Martial arts and swordsmanship? There were plenty of knights more skilled than I was. The only thing that truly belonged to me was one single ability.

“The Status Window I gained because I was a Hunter.”

Just as this thought crossed my mind, I wondered if Eriantina could read my mind, as they effortlessly continued the conversation.

“You’ve finally figured it out. So, let me ask you, do you really believe that what you call the Status Window is still alive and actively reading and interfering with the fate of the continent?”

Before I fell to this land, the Status Window served only two purposes for me as a Hunter.

One was to quantify and display my physical might. The other was to provide just the fundamental and necessary information for cleaning up a world line that had already perished—

“…Ah.”

In reality, even the scenarios of tackling foes historically impactful in other dimensions were only fragmentary glimpses of history and methods, never showing the repercussions like the butterfly effect or the changed fate, only hinting at insights for clearing enormous dungeons to come.

I could never witness the long-term accumulation of butterfly effects changing the future, as was happening here in this continent.

So right now, the Status Window—

“You seem to have grasped at least a little, huh?”

“…Yes.”

“What you have is not just the item you once knew. To be precise, it can be viewed as a divine artifact strengthened by the deity of this continent pouring out his power.”

At that moment, the memories of the phrases that had appeared before my eyes in the past Status Windows suddenly flashed back.

[You have ascended atop the fate of a doomed world.]

[The will of the world’s persistence starts to lead you towards a new fate.]

The will of the world’s persistence.

It was indeed written in the first phrases I saw when I awakened from behind iron bars.

[Would you like to receive information for smoother adaptation?]

It seemed nonsensical that information was being provided for adaptation rather than a smooth conquest. Only now could I notice the subtly questionable details.

As I thought this, Eriantina began to display a visibly satisfied tone.

“He sought out you, one of the chosen, after reading the fate following the continent’s ruin, to clean up this place. He willingly dulled his existence to ignite the dying spark of your soul once more. He granted you a second chance and entrusted your future to you.”

There were so many questions lingering.

In the party of Hunters, there were those stronger than me. There were those with fiercer survival instincts, and those with sharper minds.

Why on earth did he choose me?

I couldn’t easily understand it.

I could only watch with a deeper smile on my face as I looked at the World Tree, who spoke with increasing joy.

“Furthermore, I also contributed even a little to his creation of the artifact, which is why I was so eagerly looking forward to meeting you… and your question of how I interfered with your Status Window becomes clearer now.”

With that last statement from the World Tree, I became convinced that they had completely grasped my heart’s thoughts.

I felt like asking why the World Tree had avoided answering earlier, having just read my recent ponderings, but—

“Moreover, he wishes to grant you a gift despite his dwindling power, so I’ve temporarily delayed the manifestation of the insight you feared. Now, let me provide you with that gift.”

The World Tree quickly busied themselves putting their gift into my pocket.

In that moment, an even more intense energy erupted from the World Tree than before.

A chilling pressure suddenly transformed into pure mana focused on me.

‘……!’

There was no time to speak.

I was entirely focused on controlling the mana that was flooding into my body.

The mana from the World Tree coursing through my bloodstream stirred my nerves perfectly.

“You needn’t be that flustered. If it’s beneficial for you, it’ll only bring you good fortune. Just let it settle naturally.”

Not long after the World Tree spoke, the wild mana began to calm down, gradually coalescing around my heart without any issues, creating a stronger and more flexible mana.

It was then that the Status Window I had seen after the defensive battle at the Count’s mansion finally appeared.

[You gain power according to the achievements and paths you have established.]

[According to the trajectories of your life and the strong will of the World Tree blessing your future, your abilities will awaken.]

[Your awakened anti-magic power will grow stronger. Beings infused with magic will instinctively take caution against you.]

The anti-magic enhancement I gained previously was indeed a significant achievement, but the most important thing came next.

“Transformative power awakens.”

The awakening of a new ability called Transformative Power.

“From now on, the future you change will create an even more positive outcome than before.”

An ability that would allow me to roll the snowball, creating situations more favorable for me.

Even outside of combat, if I could weave destinies through subtle connections with individuals, it could create unexpectedly positive relationships.

As joy at this success began to show on my face, the voice of the World Tree rang out once more.

“In addition to the rewards gained from your achievements, since you have also been blessed by me, using Spirit Magic will become easier for you. Moreover, all spirits in the world will embrace you with warmth.”

“…Thank you.”

Finally, I voiced my gratitude to her for the first time.

At that, the World Tree appeared to be pleased by my words.

“I’m truly sorry for not being able to share amusing stories after all this time meeting. However, from this conversation, you will acquire even greater opportunities─”

Her atmosphere shifted abruptly.

“Kid, seek out the items left behind by the dead deity.”

“Items left by the dead deity?”

“He despised demons and did not believe in those beings referred to as angels. To counteract both, he devised two measures.”

The deity, who was worried about the fate of the continent, had not trusted the angels that humanity believed in more than anything else.

“One of his weapons, which lost the war against the two, was sealed by the angels and demons.”

“The weapon for combating demons lies beyond the Beltorin Mountains in the Demonic Realm. And the weapon made to counter the angels sleeps within the angelic sanctuary existing within the Empire.”

“Kid, never forget that angels are not our perfect allies.”

The World Tree warned as well.

Those not originally from this continent, or those who have not fully integrated into this world from another dimension, cannot be trusted at all.

Then, it wasn’t long before the World Tree’s granted time seemed to have run out as she bid farewell and vanished.

I stared at the spot where the World Tree had disappeared, letting out a deep sigh.

“Ha…”

For someone who welcomed my presence so warmly, why was the conversation just filled with such head-spinning topics?

Of course, there were gains.

The affinity with spirits I possessed now was at a level incomparable to before, and I had acquired even greater physical might thanks to the achievements I’d built.

But beyond that, I had uncovered something much larger.

I turned to see Shione, who had reappeared and was looking around.

“Oh, Ray! The World Tree has just been here—”

“Princess Shione.”

“Hmm? What’s wrong…? Why do you look so exhausted?”

“It has to do with the Demonic Realm next to our house.”

“Are you talking about beyond the Beltorin Mountains? Monsters have mostly been cleared out, and the priests are conducting purification work too. Why is that?”

“Would you believe it if I told you that a weapon for hunting demons is sealed there?”

“Come on, that can’t be true. If that were the case, our retainers would surely have already taken care of the recovery process!”

“……”

“……”

As we quietly held eye contact, Shione appeared to gauge my reaction before asking.

“…Is that for real?”

I nodded at her words and replied.

“I don’t believe it myself.”

 

---