I Became the Guild Leader in Exile

27 – 5 # The Lion King of the Valley (7)

At first, I didn’t understand.

The fact that it was possible to rule with a different person’s name for much longer than one’s own age, 47 years. However, greed made it possible.

The power of the privileged surpassed Zeke’s imagination. That’s power. Power could even turn a deer into a tiger. All they had to do was kill everyone who called them deer.

Zeke staggered, unable to regain his senses. Isaac quickly supported him. It was still a complex and dirty world for Zeke. Isaac cautiously asked,

“Are you okay?”

“T-Thank you. I’m fine now.”

“Is what I’m doing truly the right thing?”

He thought that being a hero meant just saving people. But whether it was Selend or now, he couldn’t erase the thought of whether saving humans was the right thing to do.

But Zeke forcefully swallowed the doubt that arose in his mind. He didn’t want his master to know his thoughts. If by chance, the master finds out. They will surely be disappointed…

Isaac, confirming that Zeke was okay, stepped confidently again. Zeke realized once again how amazing his master was. How can the master be so intact?

How can they walk so carefree and confidently like that? Can I become strong like that too? Pondering various questions, Zeke cautiously asked his master.

“What do we do now?”

“We need to catch the culprit.”

“By any means necessary?”

“We’ve already thrown the bait.”

Zeke recalled the moment when the master handed the letter to the commander. As Zeke suspected, the bait that the master threw was that letter. The commander must have caught on.

“But we need conclusive evidence.”

“Can’t we recognize the handwriting?”

“Whatever it takes to catch them.”

They needed undeniable and solid evidence. Fortunately, Isaac knew why the culprit did what they did and even where they were. He knew everything without missing a single detail.

“Do you remember the Hongyeol Tree that I mentioned before?”

“Yes, you said it’s a very rare medicinal herb.”

“That’s right. It’s known as the Panacea that is worth the call.”

It’s not actually a Panacea, but it was a medicinal herb that could treat almost any illness or wound and also had the effect of delaying aging to some extent. So it was quite expensive.

“But what if you could get a stable supply of the leaves of such a Hongyeol Tree? Then you would be able to obtain immense wealth.”

“But isn’t that difficult?”

“You guessed it right.”

Zeke expressing doubt was natural. If something like that could be easily distributed, the number of people dying from diseases or wounds would decrease significantly. But the Hongyeol Tree couldn’t be grown by human hands.

Based on the original work, the Red Fever Tree was more akin to a miracle than a plant. It bloomed once a year, regardless of location or climate, across various continents. However, after some time, it vanished without a trace.

It stayed in one place for as long as half a year, but could disappear in just a week. Seeking the tree’s leaves was as difficult as catching a star in the sky. Hearing this, Zeke exclaimed in astonishment.

“But you’re saying they use those leaves to make tea?!”

“The rarity of Red Fever Tree leaves makes those who recognize them few and far between. Few people have even heard of it. So, it’s quite plausible.”

“It’s not about that…!”

Using such a rare herb for a mere tea leaf? Especially when people are dying before our eyes? Zeke couldn’t comprehend it. It would be more understandable if they sold it for money.

“Why on earth…?”

“Superiority.”

“What?”

“I feel superior to those trivial things. That’s where the satisfaction comes from.”

At least, that’s how it was in the original work Isaac read. What began as mere greed eventually twisted into a sense of superiority. Power, in essence, was like that. It rotted when held too tightly.

Soon, Isaac’s steps halted in front of a deep valley. It was a cliff located to the west of the Nemea Fortress. So deep that even the bottom was not clearly visible.

Isaac pondered briefly. Going back would take too long, but going straight ahead was dangerous. However, the contemplation didn’t last long. Isaac embraced Zeke.

Caught off guard, Zeke blushed, surprised, but he didn’t dislike the feeling. If only until they fell off the cliff.

“Just bear with me for a moment.”

“Kyaaa?!”

‘Why is he screaming like a girl?’

Isaac had such a thought for a moment, but soon he dismissed it by shaking his head. Zeke was a man, just as the original knowledge indicated. So, Zeke must unquestionably be a man.

Meanwhile, Zeke himself was still caught up in the speed.

* * *

“Please don’t do something like this again!”

“Sorry.”

Isaac apologized with a bowed head to Zeke, who was squirming and shouting like a chick. But there was no time to turn back. Zeke confidently stepped out of Isaac’s embrace.

“So, why did you suddenly jump off the cliff?”

“In the Nemea Fortress, they dispose of parts of corpses by throwing them off the cliff.”

“Good Lord, they don’t even bury them?”

While the anger had subsided to some extent, Zeke’s voice was still harsh. Isaac tried to calm Zeke down and began explaining why he suddenly jumped off the cliff.

“Of course, it happens without the commander’s knowledge.”

“How is that possible? No, why on earth?”

“The reason is right in front of us.”

With those words, Isaac walked forward. Zeke, fueled by curiosity, followed closely behind Isaac. Before long, they came across an incredibly massive and crimson tree.

It was several times thicker than an ordinary tree, and its thick roots seemed to pulsate throughout the cliffs as if siphoning nutrients. Is that the Scarlet Fever Tree?

“Wow, is that what these trees are normally like?”

“There’s no way. It’s sustaining the tree through abnormal means.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mentioned it earlier. The Scarlet Fever Tree is close to being a miracle. But what if this Scarlet Fever Tree ceases to be a miracle?”

[aaah!!! aaahhh!!!]

A piercing scream echoed, as blood-red branches shook violently. Thanks to the noise, the tree appeared to convulse, screaming in agony.

The horrifying sound froze Zeke’s legs. Just hearing it, he felt the tree’s pain piercing his chest like arrows. Eventually, Zeke hesitated and sat down.

Covering his ears and leading the sitting Zeke, Isaac stepped back. Perhaps he had burdened Zeke too much. Isaac comforted Zeke, blaming himself.

“Zeke, Zeke!”

“Ugh! Ugh!”

“Is your body okay?”

“Yes, yes. Somehow, right now…”

As they hid behind a rock, the false scream ceased. Zeke could finally calm down. Tears had welled up in his eyes. Isaac gently patted Zeke’s head.

“It will be over soon. Can you endure a little longer?”

“Uh, I’ll try my best.”

“Thank you.”

Though they only exchanged glances for a moment, the sensation of pain spreading through every corner of his body was indescribable. Nevertheless, there was only one reason Zeke could endure hell: the presence of the Master.

The Master’s firm hand instilled an inexplicable sense of security in the girl. Having calmed Zeke down, Isaac immediately took action. There was nothing good in prolonging this.

Isaac kicked the ground and ran forward. The Scarlet Fever Tree turned monster and three wizards managing it. They were portrayed as somewhat skilled wizards in the original work.

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Isaac paid no attention. They would all die anyway. Finally, like a projectile, Isaac’s fist struck the stem of the Scarlet Fever Tree. The stem couldn’t withstand the blow and burst.

“What, what is this?!”

“Intruder! It’s an intruder!”

“No! The tree is vanishing!”

Although one of the wizards skillfully tried to sustain the Scarlet Fever Tree, the already damaged stem couldn’t maintain its form. Blood flowed from the ruptured stem.

[The Scarlet Fever Tree is a miracle bestowed by the gods for the sake of humans.]

[The gods wished for everyone to receive miracles equally.]

[Unfortunately, it was humans who rejected the will of the gods.]

[Even to the point of offering the same human as a sacrifice.]

The fragments of the stem, stained with blood, looked like human entrails. Isaac frowned. He had seen it described in novels, but seeing it firsthand was more horrifying and disgusting than he had imagined.

The Hongyeol tree was a miracle bestowed by the gods. Therefore, it could not be restrained by human hands. That’s why they chose to turn the miracle into a curse, binding it forever to this land.

And, of course, the price was humanity itself.

The magicians unleashed their wrath on the intruder who had suddenly invaded, ruining everything. However, that wrath did not reach Isaac. It was too slow to reach him.

‘What… has happened?’

They had tried to use magic to deal with the intruder. His comrades had done the same. But the magic did not activate. Instead, he witnessed it. The sight of his own arms being severed.

At least he was in a better situation than his comrades. Because their necks had been mercilessly severed. As he sat there, suffering, a voice reached his ears.

“If you don’t want to die, move now.”

A demon.

At least, that’s how it appeared in his eyes.