The Collection of The End

——? ? ? ——

The junction is the royal city of Rodel.

This is the largest and most conspicuous landmark in the junction, right below the golden tree that can always be seen no matter where you are.

If there had been a kingdom at the border, it would make sense to build the capital here.

The reason why this tree seems to be hanging in the air when viewed from a distance is also found: starting from the straight trunk downwards, where it branches like roots, it no longer emits that dazzling golden light.

Whether it is its own characteristics or the influence of this "royal city" built in the roots is unknown.

At this time, Sherlock was at the top of the royal city, in a huge square that almost covered half of a tree trunk, and had just defeated a very familiar humanoid monster.

【LEGEND FELLEd】

"'Malkit, the Omen Demon, and Menggert, the 'Omen King', although their looks are almost the same, there is a big gap in strength. The former is not sent out by the latter to monitor where the 'Faded Ones' are, right?" Sherlock glanced at the [Fragment of the Deathly Hallows (Assassin)] he had just obtained: "In addition, you are obviously fighting with a sledgehammer and magic, but if you suddenly lose a dagger during the battle, you are considered an assassin? Is there something wrong with the judging criteria? "

"Maybe..." Melina, who was still surrounded by golden light, turned her head and said vaguely.

That's okay, Sherlock sighed.

Ever since she was frightened in the magic academy's big library, this "witch"'s attitude has become very strange. She almost no longer materializes. Instead, she will definitely appear in every battle that can "shake people", no matter what she clicks. Not to click on her oversized summoning rune, which almost brushes her face, and then quickly disappears at the end of the battle.

From an overall analysis, she seems to be very worried about herself, but she doesn't know how to communicate, so she behaves in this weird way.

Is this considered shy? It's not in my knowledge base at all. After I go back, I have to ask the senior classmate how he dealt with it after confirming the relationship... Bah, he hasn't confirmed the relationship yet.

And those seniors must not have girlfriends who can disappear into spirit form at any time.

"However, although all the fragments have been collected and arrived under the golden tree, it seems that nothing has changed - where is the 'entrance'?" Sherlock looked at the trunk of the golden tree, and then glanced at the items in the inventory. There are seven golden chess pieces. Let’s briefly recall the origins of the next few.

After "Lienia of the Lake", there is the dangerous "Yatan Plateau", the "Gmir Volcano" covered with lava and flames, and the "Giant Mountain Top" covered with snow.

Although they are large in area and have good views, they are very empty overall with almost nothing. Oh, no, you can still find some dungeons and elite monsters in some hidden corners, but there are no boss-level guys. Didn't see it.

Could it be that... when the "Full Moon Queen" obtained the two chess pieces given to her, she cleared the entire area?

After wandering around on the outing, Sherlock finally found the "Fragment King" - a "Frost Giant" - who was warming himself next to a huge brazier that was burning like a crater at the top of the equally empty Giant Mountain.

After defeating it, Sherlock successfully obtained the "Deathly Hallows Fragment" representing "bERSERKER", and through the illusion shown by the brazier, he learned that the last fragment of the King was hidden at the top of the seemingly empty royal city of Rodel, and one needed to jump to finally reach it. The position is where his feet are at this moment.

——

"So, Melina," Sherlock looked at the witch who had not yet transformed into a spirit: "I defeated all the fragment kings, collected all the fragments of the Deathly Hallows, and did not go to the sewers to touch the epileptic fire. Now the golden tree is close at hand. But there is no entrance, maybe you can now tell me what 'Witch Fire' is?"

"...Ah." Melina's figure flashed as if she was going to disappear directly, but she stopped after thinking for a moment.

Because now she has reached the "end", it is the moment when she should help herself become the "Supreme Mage", and she can no longer escape the problem by disappearing.

"Every 'Witch' has died when the 'Deathly Hallows' was broken," she said slowly, as if she was reading some explanation word by word: "But because of her relationship with the 'Golden Tree' Closely, and in order to guide the faded ones to ascend to the position of the 'Supreme Master' who manages the junction area, they are 'resurrected' in the form of a spiritual body."

She didn't seem to want to say why she was so close, but that didn't matter. It could be seen from the various "golden tree prayers" she used when participating in the battle. Sherlock remained silent and continued to listen.

"Once the faded person becomes the 'Supreme Mage', he can reshape the world according to his own ideas, but this action requires the complete consumption of the power of the golden tree, and the golden tree will grow spikes around it out of survival instinct and refuse to fade. When a person enters, a 'witch' who is closely related to the Golden Tree must burn her spirit body and burn away the spikes of the same origin, so that the faded person can ascend to the throne."

Hmm... Sherlock thought of the dry, black and stiff branches of a huge tree that he saw lying on the ground.

"You can burn the 'Faded One' yourself with epileptic fire, right?" Sherlock asked.

"No, no!" Melina exclaimed: "The 'Witch's Fire' only consumes the power of the golden tree, and it can eventually grow back, but the epileptic fire and the 'Lord of Fire' make the golden tree completely cut off its roots. Crazy and out-of-control power will turn the world into an extremely twisted and weird appearance - if it is Haida, it will most likely become a scorching world where everything is burning. "

From this point of view, the previous generation's Faded One was the Fire Lord, while the previous generation was a normal Supreme Mage, but had poor taste in creating worlds.

"I understand," Sherlock nodded: "So what should we do now? I don't see any spikes, and there is no way to put the 'Deathly Hallows fragments' back together."

"I, I don't know..." Melina shook her head: "This knowledge all appeared in my head when I was just born. I have never seen the actual 'spikes'."

"That……"

Huhuhu——

Sherlock was about to say something when he saw the seven golden chess pieces in the "inventory" flying out at the same time, spinning and merging with each other, and finally turned into a giant golden wine glass.

[Say your wish, Mage Supreme. 】The cup made no sound, but conveyed a clear idea.

"Say"? It seems to be the word play time for the "djinn", who must express clear and unambiguous wishes.

"I hope," Sherlock thought for a moment and pointed to his witch: "Melina will be resurrected and manage the entire world."

"Master Stephen?" Melina exclaimed.

I have no choice, this game is almost over, but I am not "Stephen Strange" but "Sherlock Holmes". Even if I want to follow the example of "Half-Blood Prince" and find a girlfriend from another world, I have to confirm her first. He won't disappear before he can find it again.

[I have indeed received your wish,] the cup said: [Your witch, Melina, will be 'resurrected and manage the entire world'. 】

It seems like... something's wrong?