How to Survive Against Villains Chapter 191

Chapter 191 – Alliance

The "Master of Divine Na" refers to a chosen existence that influences the world or has the potential to do so.

No one knows the criteria for selection.

Just as created beings cannot define "God," the reasoning behind it remains unknown.

However, there was a prevailing trend where humans were more commonly chosen as Masters of Divine Na, though, in rare cases, animals, plants, or even monsters were bestowed with a divine na.

Yet, the situation before was sothing entirely unexpected.

"This wasn't in the novel."

A Millennium Tree being the Master of Divine Na?

I tried recalling any information about the Millennium Tree from the novel, but there was no ntion of such a thing.

It was more accurate to say that very little information existed about the tree at all.

"Because it was the first to burn down in Demtor’s attack, wasn’t it?"

Along with the massacre of the witches and the downfall of the Ordor Forest, the tree had been erased from existence, leaving behind only fragntary details.

I stared up at the Millennium Tree, lost in thought.

Had it always possessed a divine na? Or did it acquire one due to the changes I had caused in fate?

That was when Reto’s voice rang out.

[How fascinatingly twisted.]

“What are you rambling about now?”

[The flow of existence has been denied and warped. This is the first ti I’ve seen such a case. Intriguing.]

“...Denied? Like a seal or sothing?”

[Hmm, it's difficult to explain.]

“You sure are terrible at explanations.”

I always thought this, but this old geezer Reto had a way of making everything sound needlessly complicated.

“Maybe I’m just slow at understanding...”

Sotis, his words sounded like complete nonsense, but after so ti, there were monts when they suddenly made sense. This ti, however, it wasn’t so easy.

What was the divine na of the Millennium Tree?

If I could just grasp that information, it would help judge the situation better. I turned my gaze toward the elder.

Elder deia.

She was the very one who had used the Millennium Tree as a "dium" to create the Ghostly Forest. On the day of the witch massacre, she had ford an enormous sealing formation at the cost of countless witches' lives, a terrifyingly powerful barrier that sacrificed more than half of the Dortas.

If anyone knew about the divine na of the Millennium Tree, it would be her.

Sensing my silent gaze, she turned to and asked,

“What is it?”

“I was just admiring the sight. This is my first ti seeing the Millennium Tree in person.”

“It is a precious existence to us.”

Her gaze, as she looked up at the tree, was warm—just like when she looked at Lily.

“It’s even bigger than I expected. It has a sacred presence... Has it received a divine na?”

“A divine na?”

She looked at with interest before shaking her head.

What did that an?

“It doesn’t have one?”

“No. It possesses a divine na, but we cannot read it. Just like you.”

“Like Lily…?”

“For Lily, that tree was both a playground and a friend. No, for all witches, it was a haven and a shield. We lived alongside it, coexisting, yet it never allowed us to see its divine na.”

“It didn’t allow it? But as witches, shouldn’t you have had ways to forcefully reveal it?”

“We cannot see it. It would be shaless to demand such a thing from sothing already making sacrifices for us.”

The fact that the Millennium Tree refused to reveal its divine na to the witches was surprising.

And she had ntioned “sacrifice.”

What had they done to the tree?

This was the first ti I was hearing about this, which only made more curious about the tree’s divine na.

Noticing my expression, deia’s eyes glead.

“I hope my prediction is correct.”

“What do you an?”

“I thought you would sense sothing the mont you saw the tree.”

“?”

“In the garden, your gaze always stopped at the Dortas. The sa happened when you found as well—it was curious how you managed that. And now, you stand before the tree and speak of divine nas. If you had no connection to them, this wouldn’t be possible, would it?”

“Are you perhaps... one who serves a god?”

"What an old crone."

A chill ran down my spine.

I had rely followed the radiant flows in the garden unconsciously, yet from just observing my line of sight, she had deduced that I might have a connection to divine nas.

"As expected of the one leading the witches."

The oldest among them.

The woman who had put Lily to sleep in an instant. The strongest presence in this forest.

I stared at the radiance emanating from deia.

What was her divine na?

The abilities of the elder, who was bound to the fate of the Millennium Tree and the Dortas, were never fully detailed in the novel.

Tis like these made resent how protagonist-centered the novel was. The lack of information on minor characters was frustrating.

"If only my awakening hadn’t faded..."

Had I still been in my awakened state as the Divine Na Hunter, I might have been able to see the divine nas of both the elder and the tree. But my awakening had ended by the ti I entered the Ghostly Forest.

"Overusing my abilities would be reckless..."

There had to be a reason why my divine na remained veiled. Recklessly pushing through penalties wasn’t a wise choice.

I had only two conditions for awakening as the Divine Na Hunter.

When I was certain I could completely eliminate my prey.

Or when my life was hanging by a thread.

Outside of those conditions, I planned to avoid awakening as much as possible.

“You're mistaken. I am not one who serves a god.”

“What a pity.”

“You accept that so easily?”

“Do you think one who serves a god could deny themselves?”

Well, witches had never denied their own existence either.

“…Did you bring to the village just to show the Millennium Tree?”

“That was part of it. But also, soone who knows you has co to the village. He wishes to et you. So I brought you here as well.”

“? Who is it?”

“Before that, don’t you have sothing to tell ?”

deia stared at .

She wanted to share anything I had sensed from the tree. But I shook my head.

If I knew anything, then deia likely already knew it too.

Ah, there was one thing.

The words I had heard from Reto monts ago.

“There’s a feeling that the flow has been distorted.”

“A distorted flow… Is that all?”

Her response was surprisingly calm, which made more certain that this distortion was the result of the sealing formation.

“Well, for now. I need to investigate further.”

She nodded in understanding.

Turning back to the tree, she gave a faint, bitter smile before turning away.

“Follow .”

In the distance, the largest hut ca into view.

I quietly followed, watching her back.

She was within arm’s reach.

Her figure was small, frail.

Fragile enough to break with a single surprise attack.

Co to think of it, at so point, she had stopped keeping her guard up against .

If I attacked now… Could I kill her?

A thought crossed my mind.

“May I ask you sothing?”

“Go ahead.”

“Do you trust ?”

“I do not trust humans. But I trust Lily.”

So, in the end, it was because Lily had brought here that she had opened up to . deia seed to have certain expectations of .

What did she see in ?

“Then, what about the others? Will they be released?”

“They were not brought here by Lily. The only one permitted entry to this forest is you. That is why I brought you here.”

“They are under my protection. If anything happens to them, you will regret it.”

“I will convene a witch’s council. You proposed an alliance, did you not? We will hear the Dortas' opinions and decide.”

I nodded.

From how she had reacted to the cursed dolls, I believed the Dortas would have no significant objections to forming an alliance.

Moreover, the alliance was not proposed as rely a coalition of human forces but as a united blood pact comprising dwarves, elves, and humans.

By putting forward Dorneth Gader, the sovereign of the non-human races, the witches would be more inclined to accept the alliance without hostility.

“Has the Millennium Tree always possessed an awakened divine na?”

“No.”

deia pondered for a mont before slowly opening her mouth.

“It has been less than a year.”

“...What? Do you know the exact timing?”

“Is it important?”

“Depending on the circumstances, yes.”

“Hmm, if you want an exact date…”

She turned toward and continued,

“The divine na shrouded in mystery… Ah, it’s just as I thought. It was just before your own divine na awakened.”

“Just before? You’re saying the Millennium Tree awakened its divine na right before mine?”

“Yes, about a week before.”

“A week…”

I calculated the dates in my head, and after a mont, I let out a dry chuckle.

I knew exactly when my divine na had awakened—Lily had told before.

It was the very day I decided to use the na ‘Arthur Clayton.’

I had realized my awakening the mont I first spoke my na to Lochter.

And if the Millennium Tree had awakened a week before that…

“That was the very day I first opened my eyes in this world.”

The day I woke up and got beaten like a dog by those assassin bastards—that was when the Millennium Tree awakened its divine na?

The timing was too precise to be re coincidence.

The problem was that there was no one I could discuss this with.

I an, who could I tell that I had transmigrated into a novel?

That was a surefire way to get labeled insane.

deia, standing in front of a hut, gestured toward a small, roughly built tent nearby.

“You will find soone waiting for you there.”

“You’re not coming with , Elder?”

“I apologize to the guest, but the matter at hand is too important. I must convene the council imdiately. I will gather the Dortas and hold the eting. Co to the hut at sundown—I will inform you of the decision.”

“I look forward to a favorable outco.”

deia entered the hut with Lily, and I made my way to the small tent.

Lifting the drooping fabric of the entrance, I stepped inside—

And was t with an entirely unexpected sight.

“No way… You?!”

A short figure at my waist level.

But broad shoulders that could put any warrior to sha.

The familiar dwarf looked at , smacked his lips, and approached.

“So you really entered the forest, huh? You must have a death wish.”

“Dorneth Gader?! What brings you here?”

The sovereign of Beneta, Dorneth Gader, was visiting the Ordor Forest.

It was an unexpected encounter, but I saw it as an opportunity.

If the witches approved the alliance during their eting, I could imdiately put Dorneth forward and formalize the pact on the spot.

With Kal Blazer capable of stirring up anything at any mont, reducing delays was always a good thing.

But one question lingered.

“You left your stronghold? Did sothing happen in Beneta?”

“Sothing did happen. While I was enjoying the festival, Blyer provoked us. I had to toss aside my beer, strap on my helt, and get to defense duty. Just thinking about it pisses off again. That damn naked brute, Kal.”

“The bastard really is a nace.”

Having almost died in the mines because of Kal myself, I gladly joined in with Dorneth, exchanging a few choice curses as we sat down.

After a brief pause, I asked what I was truly curious about.

“Is Blyer’s army still stationed at the border?”

“They hadn’t made any noticeable moves by the ti I left for the forest.”

“So they’re still holding position.”

“Fenry Chaser is keeping an eye on them, so there’s no need to worry too much. We’ve also reinforced our defenses.”

It seed he had entrusted Fenry with guarding Beneta in his absence.

That was the difference between a united blood pact of different races and a re human coalition.

It was a relationship built on absolute trust.

But if Dorneth had co all the way to the forest, this wasn’t just a casual visit.

"With the Black Rose’s intelligence network, they must have figured out that Etor has fallen into Kal’s hands."

A joint attack from Blyer and Etor.

That ant Tobaron was now isolated.

That explained why the sovereign of Beneta had co to Ordor Forest.

It was a precautionary asure.

“Did you co here to form an alliance with Ordor Forest?”

At my question, Dorneth let out a heavy sigh and nodded.

“It won’t be easy. The witches are even more reclusive than we are.”

“That’s true. That old crone is really strict.”

I let out a chuckle as I leaned back in my seat.