I Became the Cute One in the Troubleshooter Squad-Chapter 157: To Protect Everyone (11)

A sinister, blood-red liquid slowly flowed from the ground toward the sky.

It was an otherworldly phenomenon, as if even the concept of gravity had been consumed by magic itself.

The surrounding forest looked as though it had been drained of life.

In a bizarre atmosphere that would cause anyone prone to fear to lose consciousness, Vespera lightly held the bloodstained box in her hand and smiled.

“Hey, darling, what are you doing leaving something so important around? Wasn’t it something you kept close to you because it was important?”

“....”

“You’re too reckless. Let your big sister hold onto it for you. Not a bad offer, right?”

Her voice sounded light, as though she were simply out for a stroll.

If you weren’t paying close attention, it almost seemed like she was scolding a child who had dropped their important wallet or phone.

But I, who had hurriedly risen to my feet, couldn’t help but break into a cold sweat, feeling the situation I had imagined since meeting Vespera unfold right before my eyes.

Vespera has the World Tree Seed...!

I felt nausea rise in my throat.

I wasn’t facing someone I could outwit with a quick response, and taking the seed by force was out of the question.

If Olvis had the seed, I might have been able to make a stand using the power of the Tesseract, but now that it was in Vespera’s hands, that possibility was completely gone.

The only hope I had left was that Vespera seemed to show some favor towards me.

But relying on such unstable circumstances was becoming increasingly difficult as things progressed.

Could Olvis, a Seven Calamity, also sense this shift in the situation?

She quickly regained her composure, her face twisting into a frustrated expression.

“Tch, of all places...”

“Oh my, you look even more anxious than before. Was it really that important to you?”

Without even touching it with her hands, Vespera lifted the box containing the World Tree Seed into the air with her own blood.

As she flicked her finger, the seed inside the box slowly revealed itself.

The World Tree Seed was about the size of a large jewel.

It was small enough that I could wrap it in my hand and hide it from view.

Was this the first time Olvis and Vespera had seen the World Tree Seed with their own eyes?

The two of them, frozen as if struck with a hammer, remained still, until Olvis hurriedly spoke up.

“Tch... Vespera! Let’s make a deal!”

“A deal? Why would I need to make one when I’m already in the advantageous position?”

Vespera’s leisurely reply was the epitome of common sense.

In a deal, the stronger side typically proposes it to the weaker one.

Having obtained the World Tree Seed, Vespera had no reason to listen to Olvis.

She could do whatever she wanted, and there was no need to engage in a deal.

But perhaps Olvis still had something she believed in.

With a strained smile, she attempted to regain some confidence.

“...No, you won’t be able to fully make the seed bloom on your own. The environment on Earth is too barren for the World Tree to grow. In order for it to fully grow, we... the Liberation Army have the special technology needed. This isn’t a lie. You can test it if you like.”

“Hm, really? You seem sincere. I guess there must be ➤ NоvеⅠight ➤ (Read more on our source) a limit to how much the World Tree can grow in this world with its lack of magic.”

“Exactly! You want to plant the World Tree on this Earth, to bring about the end for those foolish humans, don’t you? Join us! A paradise for all non-humans—that is our ultimate goal!”

With a confident expression, Olvis extended her hand to Vespera.

After all, the World Tree Seed had no purpose other than to be planted.

To properly use it, the technology of the non-human Liberation Army was required.

Though it was irritating to have an outsider interfering, someone like Vespera, being one of their own, would likely be understood by the Commander-in-Chief.

I guessed that’s exactly what she was thinking in real-time.

I, knowing the original story, tried to guess what Olvis might be thinking as I anxiously watched Vespera tapping her lips.

The Liberation Army has the artifact for spatial movement, the Queen's Unholy Tiara.

If Vespera accepted Olvis’s proposal now, there would be no turning back.

The World Tree Seed would immediately be in the hands of the Liberation Army.

In that case, I would have no choice but to use the Tesseract for a final attempt.

As I was deep in thought, ignoring the aching pain in my body, and nervously holding the Tesseract, Vespera, who had been casually rolling the seed in the box, suddenly threw a question at Olvis.

“I’m curious about something. How did you know the World Tree Seed was here? I never imagined anyone else knew about it, other than me.”

“...There was a prophecy. It was said that an item capable of bringing about the end of the world would be here...”

“Hmm, there are prophecies like that in your world too? Impressive. You’re much better than the astrologers who always ask us to fetch things. I spent nearly a year chasing this down...”

“Now, what about it? Do you think you’re ready to accept our proposal?”

Vespera’s eyebrows twitched in disbelief at Olvis’s answer.

She had spent nearly a year to discover this, only to find that Olvis had gained the information through a prophecy—no wonder she was surprised.

As Olvis seemed to almost give in to the shock of that fact, Vespera, holding the World Tree Seed between her fingers, gave a devilish smile.

“But there’s something you’re misunderstanding. I don’t particularly care about making the World Tree grow. I already quite like this world as it is.”

“What...? Then why did you go after the World Tree Seed?! It has no use other than making the World Tree grow...”

“None? Well, I can do this, can’t I?”

Whoosh.

Vespera casually threw the seed into her mouth, as though it were a piece of candy.

Then, with a loud crack, the seed was crushed by her molars.

To think that something I couldn’t even scratch was so easily crushed.

It was undoubtedly a use of magic or power, but even considering that, it was an astonishingly powerful display.

After completely crushing the seed, Vespera swallowed it down in one gulp.

Olvis, who had been watching in disbelief, distorted her face in rage and shouted.

“Ah, ahhh...! You damn b****!”

She had caused such a ruckus just to obtain the World Tree Seed, only for Vespera to destroy it so effortlessly.

The World Tree Seed was a living being in its own right.

Once it was crushed in her mouth like that... yeah, it couldn’t be recovered.

Filled with fury to the brim, Olvis charged at Vespera.

Her speed was so fast that even though she was still some distance away, I could feel the air being displaced.

However, in contrast, Vespera’s response was incredibly calm.

She didn’t even need magic; she simply extended one hand in front of her.

Though it seemed precarious, the result was utterly shocking.

“Gah?! Wh-what...!”

Despite Olvis’s superior physical abilities, Vespera easily grabbed Olvis’s throat as though handling a baby puppy.

Had she grown stronger by swallowing the World Tree Seed?

The aura she emanated was far more ferocious than before.

“Hah... I feel alive again. These humans of this world have no magic in their bodies, so no matter how much blood I drink, it never satisfies me. My body was in so much pain....”

“L-let go...!”

“Heh, with this, I could probably take on Tempest now. You’ve worked hard to get this far. Of course, it was all for nothing.”

“C-crack! This, this is so futile...”

The blood that flowed through Vespera’s hand penetrated Olvis’s body.

The blood felt like a poison, collapsing her body from the inside out—many times more intense than when she had been restrained earlier.

As Olvis, drenched in blood, screamed in pain, her final moments were grotesque and utterly terrible.

Thud.

When Vespera released her grip, Olvis’s body fell lifelessly to the ground.

Vespera stared quietly at Olvis, who no longer moved, before turning her head toward me.

I hoped I was mistaken, but the blood mist swirling around her was even denser than before.

Had she regained her strength by eating the World Tree Seed?

Her presence now was nothing less than a horrifying nightmare.

“Well, then... darling, shall we have a little chat?”

“....”

I half-convincingly nodded at her casually speaking to me.

Clearly, Vespera had reached the same level as Tempest by now.

In that case, there was no point in relying on the Tesseract’s power anymore.

She had already reached a level that I could never stop with my own hands.

I watched her quietly, maintaining a stiff, emotionless expression, determined not to show any weakness.

However, perhaps she didn’t like my demeanor.

Vespera turned the blood mist around her back into her body and spoke to me with a much more relaxed expression.

“Don’t look so scared. I don’t want to hurt you at all.”

“...?”

“Why, you ask? Hmm... Well, there’s more than one interesting thing about you. How you can still be so calm after using your telekinesis, how you knew about the World Tree Seed and managed to secure it in advance, and the secret behind that cute face of yours... Yeah. I almost want to keep you by my side forever.”

Flash.

Her eyes gleamed with a frightening intensity.

Was it obsession? Or perhaps possessiveness?

I couldn’t shake the heavy emotions she was exuding as I swallowed hard.

Having collected all the blood, Vespera confidently reached out to me with a smile.

“I have a proposal for you. Come with me, and I’ll protect you so that no one will ever harm you again.”

It was certainly a proposal I couldn’t refuse.