The President froze. The events from moments ago felt so real—the suffocating breath, the near-death experience—it turned out to be nothing but an illusion. The others were just as confused about what happened; their minds were shattered, unable to think clearly.
King Witness squatted down and lifted the President's head, who was looking down, staring at him sharply.
"If you still don't understand human language, do I need to use my language?" King Witness said coldly.
The President trembled. "I understand... I understand!! I promise I won't destroy nature anymore!!"
"That isn't a promise, but your obligation... this country is known as the land with the most beautiful nature. If you destroy it, this country is destroyed too," The Witness said.
The President nodded and contacted all his workers and troops to stand down and return. He canceled all forest destruction projects and chose to look for empty land instead later on.
"You are arrogant, but I'm glad you realized it quickly and didn't prioritize your pride." King Witness stood up.
After everyone dispersed, King Witness was about to leave, but the President called out to him. "Explain to me... who are you really, and what happened just now? And that echoing voice..."
King Witness stopped and looked back. "I told you, I am a witness to punish wrong actions. And that voice... is the sound of nature. Everything that happened was just an illusion—a result of the actions you were about to take. If you continue... it will become real."
King Witness then vanished.
The President stood silent, biting his lip. He stared at the sky with strange thoughts about what just happened until his aide called him.
"Mr. President... should we go back now? They might still be protesting, and it could get chaotic."
The President turned and walked past him. "No need to worry. Let's go back now... I will take responsibility."
The aide could only say okay, feeling that the strange event they just experienced was somehow justified.
---
On the other side, at the Presidential Palace, all the protesting Kyushin residents just sat silently, still feeling the horror from earlier, as did the other citizens.
"What actually happened... this is crazy," Kazumi said, holding her forehead, shivering.
"I thought I was gonna die... what the hell was that? Is nature actually angry? Did a god appear?" Meilin said, lying on the street.
A few moments later, a car approached the palace, and they all knew it was the President. The paid citizens realized that if the President came back that quickly, it meant they also felt the strange phenomenon and likely canceled the destruction.
The President bravely stepped out right in front of the massive Kyushin crowd.
"That's him! The President who wants to destroy the Natural Tree of Heaven territories!!" one of the Kyushin residents shouted.
But Kazumi immediately stepped forward and told them to calm down. Meilin joined her.
"You returned, Mr. President... did you already destroy the territories!???" Kazumi asked coldly.
The President sighed, then bowed. "I apologize for making a unilateral decision. I decided not to destroy the territories I marked earlier. I was awakened by that strange event... did you all feel it too?"
Hearing that, Kazumi was sure it must be The Witness. "Did you meet a strange figure?"
The President nodded. "That figure... was very real and terrifying. Maybe it was the embodiment of nature, angry at my attitude..."
All the Kyushin residents applauded, confusing the President.
"Yeah, that's our leader! Didn't you say when you took office that you wanted to make the Eastern an advanced country, different from others? Then what made you think of removing the very thing that makes the East different?" one resident said.
"I apologize for that. I was blinded by something... I promise to live up to my old motto. And please, you all should rest because that strange event surely confused you. So go back, rest, and do your normal activities. I will handle those who dislike nature," the President said.
After that, the President was allowed to enter the palace, and the crowd dispersed.
---
On the way back, Meilin and Kazumi were wondering.
"Kyumi, it feels like we're living in a fairytale," Meilin said.
"You're right, Shinmei. A weird but real fairytale... a figure like a creature from a story brought something good and positive to this country, and to us as well," Kazumi answered.
"One more thing, Kyumi. That guy named Nic... he's weird too, right? Aren't you curious about him? He could defeat us... and his aura is too strong, but why is he rarely seen?" Meilin wondered curiously.
"Well, no need to overthink it. Maybe he's just a good person, even if he is mysterious," Kazumi said with a smile.
Without realizing it, both their cheeks blushed when discussing Nic.
A few moments later, they arrived at the temple where the Guardians of the Natural Tree of Heaven were hiding.
Kazumi and Meilin went inside, but the atmosphere was very quiet.
"Um... Sakura? Asamine? Are you guys inside?" Kazumi called out.
"HEYYY Aisteria!! Chira!! Everything is safe now!" Meilin shouted.
But there was no answer.
"Where did they go?" Kazumi and Meilin said in unison.
---
In the Natural Tree of Heaven territory, specifically the area that was almost destroyed.
Nic sat there taking a deep breath, his eyes gazing dimly at the sky.
"Yeah, this time it doesn't hurt too much even though I used a lot of skills. Proper preparation really is key," Nic said.
[ Master Nic... they are coming. ]
"Huh, what? Who??" Nic panicked, and when he looked back, the Guardians of the Natural Tree of Heaven appeared.
They stood silent, stared at Nic, then looked around, ran to various other areas, and then came back...
From a distance, Nic saw the Weeping Willow Tree Guardian, Willee, sitting weakly and crying. Raily laughed while crying and hugging his tree.
Flamiya, seeing this, was convinced her territory was safe too. "I KNEW IT!! I TOLD YOU WE HAD TO BELIEVE HIM!!!"
They all returned and ran to Nic.
"Hey, we don't know what you did to protect our territory but... THANK YOU SO MUCH!!" Raily said while hugging Nic.
Then Sakura bowed her head, followed by the other guardians. "As the leader of the Natural Tree of Heaven Guardians, I thank you very much for your service... if you don't mind, may we consider you a special guest?"
"Ah, no need for that... I actually just helped someone who did this... Did you guys not get hit by that strange event?" Nic asked.
They looked at each other and shook their heads.
Internally, Nic was confused. "Huh, Zeta, why weren't they affected by the illusion? Wasn't the range very wide?"
[ Uh, I don't know either, Master Nic. ]
"Are you serious, Zeta?? How can you not know?"
[ There are 2 possibilities. They are a group that loves nature deeply, so they wouldn't be affected by the illusion, whereas the illusion affected everyone who had sinned against nature or something like that. ]
"Hm, makes sense... so how do I tell them?"
Nic stood up. "I just want to say that I only helped someone who truly stopped this event—"
Nic's mouth was immediately covered by Flamiya.
"I don't accept excuses to be humble. My heart is convinced that it was fully you who helped us."
Everyone agreed, then Aisteria put her arm around Nic.
"Didn't you say yourself from the beginning that you wanted to help us? Why is there suddenly someone else involved? Hm? Don't lie. Anyway, we will consider you special as the Boss of the Natural Tree of Heaven."
Flamiya laughed. "Haha, Boss? I agree... Young Boss."
Nic felt like he was being teased like a little kid, which made him shy but annoyed.
Finally, Nic decided to reveal himself specifically to them.
Nic removed her arm and activated God of Charisma. Everyone was instantly mesmerized.
"You're right. I am indeed the one who fully helped protect your territories. I ask you not to leak anything about me. I want to live normally here while helping you," Nic said.
Everyone nodded. Then Sakura raised her hand. "I remember your words... I don't care about appearances or strange things that happen. What matters is that you are the one who changed everything... we will keep our mouths shut, and please let us call you a special guest to repay the favor."
"Hm, what does 'special guest' mean exactly?" Nic asked.
Maple stepped forward smiling.
"Oi... what are you doing?"
And Nic was given a gift by Maple.
"Huh, a key? What key is this?" Nic received a key as a gift.
Casandra answered casually that it was a gift for a special guest, and the key was for opening the hidden temple belonging to the Guardians of the Natural Tree of Heaven.
"Are you serious about giving me this key? What for?" Nic asked, curious.
Sakura wanted to answer, but Aisteria interrupted her. "Relax, it's not a holy temple. It's like our gathering place, like a home... Kazumi and Meilin have been there too."
"Ohh... so I can rest there?" Nic asked.
Everyone nodded.
"What is the name of the temple?" Nic asked.
Everyone called it something different, but the most logical one was the Temple of the Natural Tree of Heaven.
"Um, I'm the boss now, right?? Can I ask for one request...?" Nic said, pretending to be shy.
"EVEN A THOUSAND REQUESTS, WE'D GRANT THEM!!" Raily shouted.
"Hey, not like that, Raily!" Willee pinched him.
"Sure, what do you want to ask?" Sakura asked.
"I want to name that temple the Unity Temple... a resting place for all of us and the others with me... Is that allowed? Is the place big?" Nic said.
"Huh.. is that it?" Sakura said, confused.
They thought Nic would ask for something heavy like treasure or something interesting, but Nic just asked to change the temple's name.
"Of course, but are you sure that's all?" Sakura said.
Nic nodded. "The Unity Temple will be a gathering place for all of us now, and I hope you can welcome new people too."
They agreed and had no objections because that request was far from equal to what Nic had done for them.
To be continued...