Chapter 145 - 142 : Blessing (1/2)
”What you saw a moment ago happened two hundred thousand years ago.”
One blink was all it took for Arthur to find himself returning to the present, still floating a distance away from the World Tree. A blue blob of light was in front of him, just like earlier.
”Two hundred thousands years ago?”
Arthur still couldn't believe the disparity in power between and him and individuals like that Joker or the Demon but the surprise was even bigger when he learned that it happened a long time ago.
If that Joker was alive until now, he would have become much more powerful, which is something Arthur would rather not think of.
'There's no way.. right?'
”Yes.... for you it's been a long time but for me, it wasn't that long. A World Tree fully matures when it reaches a Million years. So I'm considered young.”
Arthur remembered when he heard earlier and asked the World Tree without holding back, after all, it showed him its past so why not answer a few questions now that the truth was seen. perhaps it would help him see think more clearly.
”So you're the seed of the World Tree of Heaven but what does that even mean?”
”The ancient World Tree of Heaven is what the angels and archangels relied upon to fight the demons. It's at the same time a blessing, a fortress. I don't know too much apart from what Zodiak told me but It is highly valued by the angels.”
”And why did Senior Zodiak steal it from that ship?”
”He purposely did it to weaken the angels. He didn't tell me the exact reason by I know for a fact that he hates them.”
Arthur subconsciously put his hand on his chin and began pondering on all that happened. There was just too many information so he needed a bit of time to let his mind process everything. There was the thing about the ship, the skull, the seed and the relation of Zodiak and the angels.
”Do you have any more questions?”
”.... One last thing. What happened to the Joker?”
Hearing about that Joker, the World Tree remained silent for some time before answering.
”I don't know. Zodiak apparently went back to where the ship was supposed to be but all he found was shipwrecks and nothing else. I can only assume he managed to escape.”
Arthur nodded his head but he wished he didn't hear that answer. It would have been alright if the Joker died but knowing that a strong and eccentric figure like that is still lurking somewhere made him a bit fearful. If he ever encountered him, he really doesn't know what to do.
An unknown amount of time passed and the silence was broken by the enigmatic voice of the World Tree.
”Now that your curiosity is supposedly satisfied, let me ask you a question: Arthur, what are you going to do?”
It's true that his curiosity was satisfied, not completely but more or less. But what was asked by the World Tree is in fact what's important, because after all, what matters is what you do and not how you interpret it.
”Honestly... I don't know.”
He saw all of that but as for what to do, he really didn't know. Does he search for Zodiak before finding Lucy? What does this World Tree want him or expect him to do?
”Then let me give you two options. One: You turned around and leave, however, you will never come back here again. Two: Make an oath with me.”
In response to it, Arthur frowned and showed some dissatisfaction. To make an oath he doesn't know the contents of is an idiotic thing.
”An oath? Be more detailed.”
”It's as it sounds. You swear to protect me from any invading angels if the time comes and in return, you receive my blessing which is something not easy to earn.”
'A blessing huh?'
It sounded simple and he would be the one benefiting from the oath but in reality, it's a dangerous choice. He saw the angels and how strong they were, he can't beat them like how he is now. If they were to invade right now or even a month later, it would be his doom.