The Lowest-Ranked Hero Has Returned
The Tree of Creation.
The Creator who gave birth to the Eight Gods.
The source of the world, towering to the highest heavens and rooting into the deepest ends of the earth.
A distant past.
According to faded myths, in the era when the Tree of Creation existed, death did not.
No one died.
Nothing disappeared.
Nothing was forgotten.
Theologians called this era the Age of Eternity.
True to its name, the Age of Eternity seemed endless—until its inevitable end arrived.
The Primordial Flame.
The last of the Eight Gods born from the Tree of Creation—the god later known as the Demon God—ignited a fire and burned the Tree of Creation to ashes.
Regarding this event, theologians proposed a hypothesis.
No matter how powerful the Demon God was, he could not have ignited a fire capable of burning the Tree of Creation—a being superior even to the gods themselves.
In other words...
The Tree of Creation had ended its own eternity in what was essentially an act of suicide.
‘But then... why?’
Why does the Tree of Creation, which should have been reduced to ashes, reside within me?
‘Am I a descendant of the Tree of Creation, or something like that?’
I don’t know.
But at this point, does it even matter whether I am a descendant of the Tree of Creation or the Tree of Creation itself?
The only thing that matters is the fact that the Tree of Creation resides within me.
‘...Wait.’
The Tree of Creation isn’t the only thing inside me.
The Primordial Flame is here too.
So right now, inside this small body of mine, both the Tree of Creation and the Primordial Flame coexist?
“...Ha.”
To have not one, but two powers worthy of myth within me...
My mind swirled in confusion.
I slowly lifted my head and gazed up at the towering Tree of Creation.
As the gray mist faded, the sight of the Tree of Creation was so overwhelming it left me breathless.
‘So that’s why the Primordial Flame couldn’t even move.’
Now I understood why the Primordial Flame had occasionally flinched as if in fear.
‘...I should head back.’
Staying here wouldn’t yield any more answers.
Just as I was about to open my eyes and exit the mental world—
RUMBLE!
The ground trembled violently.
CRACK!
The earth split apart as massive tree roots surged upward.
‘What the...!’
The roots coiled around me.
STAB! CRUNCH! CRACK!
They tore through my flesh, crushed my bones, and burrowed into my body.
Even though this was the mental world, the excruciating pain felt real.
‘Urgh!’
FWOOSH!
As if things weren’t bad enough, the Primordial Flame now rushed toward me.
WHOOSH! CRACKLE!
The roots and the fire tangled together, baring their fangs at each other like wild beasts fighting over prey.
‘Oh, come on—both of you?!’
If I stayed like this, I’d be devoured.
A primal warning screamed inside my head.
‘Tch.’
I took a deep breath and spread my arms wide.
The Tree of Creation and the Primordial Flame.
If only one of them were trying to consume me, I wouldn’t stand a chance.
But...
‘Since they’re fighting each other...’
BOOM!
I stomped the ground hard, wrenching myself free from the roots and dodging the searing flames.
CRACK! WHOOSH!
The roots and fire lunged at me again.
I reached out my hand toward the raging remnants of the two myths.
‘Ignite.’
Ashen flames flared to life, blocking the Tree of Creation and the Primordial Flame.
Of course, a mere human’s flames couldn’t possibly stop divine power—
‘—Huh?’
Flinch.
Both forces, which had been relentlessly attacking like hungry beasts, suddenly hesitated at the sight of the ashen flames.
But only for a moment.
They soon surged forward, piercing through the flames to strike me once more.
‘Now!’
A brief opening had appeared.
I seized the chance, opening my eyes and awakening my consciousness.
"Gah!"
Cold sweat dripped down my back.
I clutched my chest, gasping for air.
"D-Dale?!"
"Dale!"
"What’s wrong?!"
The women in the room rushed toward me, their faces filled with concern.
"Huff... Huff... I’m fine..."
"F-Fine? How can you say that when you’re drenched in sweat?!"
Iris grasped my hand and began chanting a prayer.
A radiant, rainbow-colored light seeped into my body, soothing the burning pain.
"Whew... Thanks, Iris."
"Are you sure you’re okay?"
"Yeah."
The pain hadn’t completely disappeared, but it was manageable.
Still...
‘What the hell was that...?’
The Primordial Flame had always been after me, so that wasn’t surprising.
But why had the Tree of Creation, which I thought had been protecting me, suddenly turned against me?
‘Don’t tell me... are they fighting over control of my body?’
Hah.
The Creator, who gave birth to all things, and the flame that once burned that Creator to death...
Now fighting over the body of a mere human.
The absurdity of it all made me chuckle bitterly.
"Are you really okay...?"
"Ah, yeah. Sorry, I was just lost in thought. Anyway... what about the Forest God?"
"Ah... I lost focus, and the communion was cut off."
Iris gave an awkward smile.
It seemed my sudden distress had disrupted the ritual.
"Should I try invoking Divine Descent again?"
"No, it’s fine. We got the answers we needed."
And more importantly—
"You’re exhausted too, Iris."
Having used both divine energy and blessings, Iris's face was also marked with deep fatigue.
"Candidate Dale is right. We'll keep an eye on things, so you should rest, Candidate Iris."
"But..."
"It's okay! We may not be able to use healing magic like you, but we can at least take care of Dale!"
"U-Uh, yeah. Don't worry. I-I know Dale's body well, e-every nook and cranny! If anything seems off, I'll call you right away, Iris!"
The three women, as if to reassure her, gently laid Iris down on the sofa in the break room.
"Dale, you too! Come here!"
"No, I'm fine—"
"Tsk! You always say you're fine, but when was the last time that was actually true?"
Yurina frowned and grabbed my hand, pulling me along.
With no choice, I let myself be dragged onto the long sofa.
"Whew."
As I lay on the soft cushions, my tension eased.
The things I had experienced in the mental world, the thoughts about the Tree of Creation—all of it melted away like snow.
"Lift your head for a moment, Candidate Dale."
"Huh?"
"Hup."
Professor Elisha sat down near my head and placed my head on her lap.
A gentle warmth spread from the back of my head.
"Ah! Professor, that's not fair...!"
Yurina, having missed her chance for a lap pillow, stomped her feet in frustration.
Hmph.
Professor Elisha smirked victoriously as she glanced at Yurina.
"Grr! Then, I'll take his legs!"
As if settling for the next best thing, Yurina swiftly sat down and lifted my legs onto her lap.
"Uh, wait. Putting my legs there is a bit..."
Resting one's head on someone's lap is common between lovers, but...
Placing my legs there felt more like something a servant would do.
"Hehe. I don't mind, Dale."
"But I do."
"I'll give you a massage, so just relax~."
She dismissed my protests and started kneading my legs.
As an expert in handling the body, Yurina found the precise spots where my muscles were tense and applied just the right pressure.
"Ugh."
A strange sense of guilty pleasure mixed with an indescribable comfort spread through my body.
"Ahh..."
Having lost her chance, Lanez looked around with a sad expression, searching for her own place.
"T-Then, I'll take another spot..."
Sliiide.
Her hands slowly crept under my clothes.
"Wait."
What the hell is she trying to do?
"Hehe. Dale’s chest... it's firm and warm..."
"Hey."
"I-I'll give you a massage."
"Don't."
As I struggled with Lanez, who was wiggling her fingers around, suddenly—
[What... are you all doing?]
The three women clinging to me stiffened at the sound of that voice.
We had completely forgotten about her.
Grace had opened her eyes slightly.
She scanned the three women with narrowed eyes.
[Just what is your relationship with my son-in-law?]
"Uh... W-Well..."
I tried desperately to come up with something, but my mind was blank.
I mean, seriously.
'How am I supposed to explain this?'
A son-in-law lying on a sofa, being doted on by three women (not including her daughter)—what could I possibly say to justify this?
[...Wait.]
Sensing the strange atmosphere in the room, Grace's eyes trembled.
[Y-You don’t mean... No way, right? This isn’t like what happened with Reynald, is it?]
She looked at Iris with a desperate expression.
"S-Sorry, Mother..."
Iris, who had been resting on the sofa, turned her head away to avoid Grace’s gaze.
Grace's eyes widened in shock, her mouth hanging open.
Her face twisted in horror as she turned to me.
[Y-You bastard! What the hell?! What does my daughter lack that you had to go after other women too?!]
"..."
[Say something!!!]
Uh...
What was it that Reynald said 500 years ago?
"Mother-in-law."
I sat up on the sofa and bowed my head toward Grace.
"I will make everyone happy."
[A...]
Grace clutched her forehead as she fell backward.
Her already translucent body faded until she was barely visible.
"Kyaaa! M-Mother!"
Iris leaped up in panic and ran toward Grace.
"You can’t disappear!"
[M-My daughter... How did she end up with such a scoundrel...!]
Grace clung to Iris, sobbing in despair.

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