Beneath the Sacred Tree

They called it facing away because this camphor tree had an extraordinarily human-like appearance. As its crown and branches grew, they had naturally taken shape. From a distance, without much imagination, one could make out a majestic figure resembling an arhat or heavenly king from a temple.

Years of growth had split the camphor tree's main trunk into two massive, thick legs planted upright on the ground. It also had a huge, clearly outlined "head"—its main trunk and crown. In addition, around where human shoulders would be, a particularly well-developed cluster of side branches stretched out more than ten meters, like a powerful arm extended straight ahead.

That arm stretched across the seemingly tranquil ripples of North Mountain Lake. The lake water gently undulated, surging back and forth against the imitation city-wall granite patterns of the breakwater. There were slight twists and turns, but overall, it never crossed the extension of that outstretched arm.

"Is that Sagaemon?"

"Yes. During the Third War, an earthquake altered the mountain terrain. Floodwaters from upstream poured down and swiftly submerged the ancient capital, threatening other downstream cities. Yet due to the terrain and a series of coincidences, the floodwaters that might have caused even greater destruction stopped here instead, forming an enormous Barrier Lake. Over the following decades, although there were repeated crises, the lake water generally remained behind this camphor tree and never advanced another step. The citizens of Ban City considered the tree miraculous and gave it the local folkloric name 'Guardian Gate,' roughly meaning a guard who protects the royal court. It is said that this tree species was transplanted from Saga Prefecture on the now-submerged Kyushu Island. Saga was once called Saka, hence the name Sagaemon."

Ronan had already gained a preliminary understanding of the details through his own observations