Taking Root

Beltira looked at Gawain with a calm expression.

Even though her heart ached so much that her leaves had fallen off, she still had to maintain a composed, indifferent bearing. As the last Grand Priest of The End of All Things, this was the last shred of dignity she retained when facing the "Outworld Wanderer."

The Ultimate Book, which had served countless purposes over hundreds of years and helped The End of All Things complete innumerable major projects, had finally ended its long service. Perhaps... this truly was its fate.

The Grand Priest had entrusted this book to her, along with the legacy of The End of All Things. And now, it was time for this mistaken path of inheritance to come to an end as well.

What came next might be an age belonging to the gods, or an age leading into ruin. It might even... truly be an age belonging to the Outworld Wanderer and the New Order he had created. But no matter what, since she had survived in her present form, she should prepare herself to face the fate ahead, regardless of where that fate... might lead.

She revealed a faint smile—she tried her best to make it look human, but every expression on the plant-mimicked face carried a trace of stiffness. "Does this mean we have reached some kind of... cooperation?"

"I believe so," Gawain said with a slight nod. "Within the Cecil Empire, The End of All Things is no longer a threat, and I do not mind having a plant capable of healing the land growing within the territory I rule—as long as that plant is willing to obey the Empire's fundamental laws. As for you... I hope you will cooperate with our further investigation into The End of All Things."

"Of course,"