Chapter 138: Elven Village (3)

Chapter 138: Elven Village (3)

"Then, on behalf of the elves, I ask you to please heal the World Tree, Luteria."

"This is my specialty. Leave it to me, Your Majesty." Kai nodded confidently and then lifted his head. Even without looking far, the enormous World Tree was easily within view! “They say you should strike while the iron is hot. Let's go right away.”

Following the elf queen's guidance, Kai made his way to the path leading inside Luteria.

"Kai, this is as far as we can go. If we get any closer, the poisonous fumes will cause us to lose consciousness..."

"Right. This is close enough."

Leaving the elves behind, Kai slowly approached Luteria. He had already felt the tree's majesty upon first entering the village, but seeing it up close was even more awe-inspiring.

I can’t believe this is a tree... It’s as tall as a skyscraper.

It was a building crafted by nature, without any human intervention!

At the same time, Kai realized why the elf queen had given such stern warnings.

It’s similar to the situation with Aosa.

A thick red mist clung low around Luteria. Moreover, this poison was not something Kai could simply dismiss.

Ding!

[Poison Master skill activated.]

[Due to your Poison Master skill, you are highly resistant to Akasha's Judgment.]

[You receive 2,000 damage per second.]

[Recovery rate of HP, Mana, and Holy Power is significantly reduced.]

"This is even with resistance from the Poison Master skill?!"

Shocked, Kai quickly used the Sunlight’s Warmth skill.

[HP has been restored by 4,000.]

[You have purified Akasha's Judgment.]

[Poisoned status effect removed.]

With a sigh of relief, Kai stared at the thick red mist and said, "Analyze poison."

[Poison Master skill activated.]

[Analyzing...]

[Poison analysis complete.]

[Akasha's Judgment]

Grade: Legendary

This poison is the culmination of a thousand years of research by the dark clerics of the Church of Muldine.

Just a small amount inhaled from the air causes fatal damage.

While poisoned, all forms of regeneration are significantly slowed.

Rarity: ★★★★★★★

Toxicity: ★★★★★★★

The moment the potion was analyzed, Kai let out a breathless gasp.

"Kai, are you alright? If it's too much, quickly come back this way!"

When the elf queen saw his reaction from a distance, she called out in concern, but Kai shook his head.

"No, it's not because I'm poisoned..." Kai’s words trailed off as he stared at the interface window in front of him.

The toxicity and rarity aren’t just five stars? And it's a Legendary-grade poison?

It was a poison perfected by the Church of Muldine after a thousand years of research!

As Kai calmed his surprised heart, his eyes sparkled.

Wait, when I appraised Rare-grade and Unique-grade poisons...

His appraisal skill proficiency had increased before, so he now wondered what would happen since he just analyzed a Legendary-grade poison. And that question was quickly resolved.

Ding!

[You have analyzed a Legendary poison!]

[Appraisal skill proficiency has greatly increased.]

[Appraisal skill level increased.]

[Appraisal skill is now Advanced Lv. 1.]

Satisfied, Kai allowed a smile to form and nodded.

I can’t believe the proficiency that was stuck at Intermediate Lv. 9 has finally been resolved at once.

This was a classic example of killing two birds with one stone.

Now I can appraise the sacred relic as well. But for now...

There was something more urgent to do.

Kai walked straight through the door leading into the massive World Tree, Luteria.

***

The interior of Luteria wasn’t very large. In fact, there was only a narrow corridor, making it easy to find his way around.

“But something’s strange,” Kai muttered, squinting.

[Akasha’s Judgment has been purified. 3%...]

The healing process didn’t end in an instant, and instead went through a healing shower that continued until all the poison was purified!

Before long, Kai saw the message he had been waiting for.

[Akasha’s Judgment has been purified. 100%...]

[Akasha’s Judgment has been fully purified.]

[The World Tree Luteria’s recovery is complete. Its consciousness, which had been submerged, is now surfacing.]

The ginseng, Luteria, stretched and lifted its upper body. It blinked its black eyes and then stood up proudly, looking directly at Kai.

“Is it you? The one who helped heal me?”

“Yeah... I mean, yes...”

“Thank you very much. I am the World Tree Luteria, guardian of the forest and the parent of the elves.”

“My name is Kai. Are you completely healed now?”

“Yes! Now I can once again care for my children. This is truly fortunate.”

It spoke as if a child were mimicking a father’s tone, which made Kai struggle to suppress his laughter.

“But now that I look at you, I sense a very familiar aura. Are you perhaps an apostle?”

“Yes. Allow me to formally introduce myself again. I am Kai, the fourth Solaris Cleric.”

“Ah, as I thought! I always end up receiving help from the apostles.”

After pondering something for a moment, Luteria, who was no bigger than a thumb, nodded and said, "My savior, Kai. As past apostles have been, I recognize you as my friend. From this moment on, you will be loved by nature, and in the forest, nothing will be able to harm you.”

“What does that mean...”

As Kai blinked his large eyes in confusion, a flood of message windows overwhelmed his vision.

Ding!

[Special title acquired: Friend of the World Tree.]

[You have completely healed Luteria, a legendary being likely found only in fairy tales.]

[Special title acquired: Legendary Healer.]

[With Luteria fully recovered, the future of the elf race has brightened.]

[Main Episode: The Withered World Tree and the Corrupted Elves quest activation condition has been nullified.]

[The Withered World Tree and the Corrupted Elves quest no longer exist.]

[1,712 related quests no longer exist.]

[Solarian God Helik laughs heartily and praises you.]

[+20 Benevolence.]

[Level increased.]

[Level increased.]

.

.

.

[+30 Stat points.]

[Contribution to the Church of Solaris greatly increased.]

[The hostility of the Church of Muldine has greatly increased toward you.]

[The archbishops and inquisitors of the Church of Muldine are extremely displeased with this event.]

[From now on, the assassins of the Church of Muldine will come for you. Never let your guard down.]

“W-what’s all this...?”

The number of messages was draining, taking him a full minute just to read through them. Of course, simply reading and fully understanding them were also two different matters.

I just deleted another episode quest again?

Even Kai, who was known for his strong nerves, started to feel a bit anxious.

... I think the number of quests I’ve wiped out has surpassed three thousand now, right?

Thinking about how much work the developers and Ramus must have put into creating those quests sent a chill down Kai's spine, but even now, he remained unashamed.

What, then should I have just let it die right in front of me? I’m a Cleric, after all.

It was a flawless logic that left no room for argument! Having reaffirmed his justification, he reviewed the message details again with shining eyes.

Two special titles, 20 Benevolence points, six levels up... and 5,000 Fame?

Kai’s face lit up with a wide grin, but his smile didn’t last long.

The messages regarding the Church of Muldine are concerning.

How much they must have despised and resented him to the point of sending assassins after him!

And how do they even know it was me who healed Luteria...!

It was a system that overwhelmingly favored the game against the players, but currently for Kai, assassins of the Church of Muldine weren’t what mattered most.

I have special titles. Two of them, in fact.

With his eyes shining, he opened his title book like a child unwrapping a birthday present.