Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss

Suicide Before Defeating the Final Boss – 99

EP.99 Gift

Jeong-hyeon couldn’t help but recall the time when Daisy, speaking with great pride, had told Lea and Karina about her home.

─ I’ll invite both of you over to my house someday. It’s been passed down through generations of High Elves… It’s unbelievably beautiful. I have to show you both.

Her words, filled with pride about her home, replayed in his mind as he called upon his divine power.

‘I wonder what kind of reaction she’ll have.’

He hoped for nothing less than despair and frustration, hoping that it would break her.

As he watched Daisy’s house go up in flames, fueled by his divine power, a smile spread across his face. There was something immensely satisfying about taking revenge on an enemy, a joy that never grew old.

‘I don’t know why others don’t do this more often.’

Of course, he understood why. Revenge came with its own set of responsibilities. After all, when you succeeded in vengeance, it also meant being prepared to deal with the consequences. Moreover, if you became consumed by revenge, the other parts of your life could fall apart.

‘That’s why most people try to forget and move on.’

But honestly, wasn’t it obvious? Revenge, when it was successful, brought unparalleled satisfaction.

‘Even in games, when you defeat someone who previously beat you, doesn’t it feel great?’

In the real world, those who had actually succeeded in revenge knew just how exhilarating it could be.

He grinned, watching Daisy’s house burn brightly, and then he picked up the heads of the elves.

He had intended to use them as kindling to help the fire burn better but quickly decided against it. Instead, he stored the heads in his subspace pouch.

‘Now that I think about it, using them as fuel might not have the impact I’m looking for…’

Sending the heads directly would leave a stronger impression.

‘That way, when they see the heads, they’ll have to imagine what happened to their home.’

There was nothing more soul-destroying than worrying about something that hadn’t yet happened, so he made the decision to send the heads as a “gift,” much like he had with Karina and the Pope. He turned around, changed his course, and headed toward his final task.

‘Alright, then… time to set that thing on fire.’

The World Tree, now starkly white and dead. Initially, he had considered leaving it alone, since it was of the same species as the one he had with Hana.

But now that it was dead, burning it would surely leave a lasting impression.

‘I’m curious to see how Daisy reacts when both her precious home and the World Tree are gone.’

He thought to himself as he smiled, eager to see the outcome of his actions.

***

However, there was one thing bothering him.

The concern was whether Hana would be upset when she saw the World Tree burn.

Jeong-hyeon briefly checked with Hana, who was nestled in his arms, to see if there was any connection between her and the World Tree.

‘Thankfully, it doesn’t seem like it.’

They were of the same species, but there didn’t appear to be any deeper connection.

He gently patted Hana’s back and decided to continue with his plan, determined to create a bonfire that would be etched in the elves’ memories forever.

‘Oh, and before that…’

He decided to send Daisy a video message as well. He turned to Miria, who had been standing beside him, and made a request.

“Can you gather the elves in front of the World Tree for me? I need to say something.”

“… The elves? I don’t mind, but I don’t think they’ll gather. They’re infamous for avoiding humans. They probably won’t listen to a word I say.”

“If it’s something about the World Tree, they should come. Try it, and if it doesn’t work, just tell them I’ll kill them all if they don’t.”

Miria grimaced but nodded reluctantly.

With that, Jeong-hyeon turned and walked toward the World Tree, ready to put on a show.

‘Let’s see how this goes.’

From this moment onward, Jeong-hyeon had one objective: to use the World Tree to ensure Daisy’s complete banishment from the Elf tribe.

He watched as the elves began gathering, their numbers swelling like ants, and had to stifle a chuckle.

‘I’d love to just set them all ablaze.’

The thought of tossing a Molotov cocktail into the crowd was admittedly tempting, but he restrained himself with superhuman patience. Jeong-hyeon waited until the elves were mostly assembled, then amplified his voice with divine power and shouted.

“The World Tree speaks! It says that its death is entirely the fault of High Elf Daisy! If not for her, everything would have been fine!”

Of course, it was a blatant lie. But the confidence with which he declared it stemmed from one simple reason: Hana.

He glanced at the tiny World Tree spirit nestled in his arms, who nodded her head in agreement. Encouraged by this, he continued with even greater fervor.

“And so, the World Tree has made a proposal to you all! If you disgrace and exile Daisy, it will return to this place someday and restore everything to its original state!”

He deliberately emphasized someday without specifying when.

Whether it was a hundred years, a thousand years, or even after the world’s end, the promise was vague and entirely conditional on the World Tree returning to this land. The offer was flimsy at best, but the presence of Hana, a living embodiment of the World Tree, was more than enough to make his words credible to the elves.

‘To them, Hana is practically a god.’

A tangible god with unquestionable divine power—one they were bound to follow without question.

No matter how implausible or insubstantial the promise sounded, the elves had no choice but to accept it. They were trapped, with no alternative but to comply.

“If anyone wishes to challenge this decree, step forward! I will settle the matter with the World Tree’s guardian in a battle of life and death to determine the truth!”

As Jeong-hyeon’s voice echoed, Hana mimicked an angry stance, glaring at the elves below.

She didn’t seem to fully understand the situation but followed his lead, her small face scrunching into a look of indignation. Jeong-hyeon found the sight endearing and let out a quiet laugh before turning his attention to a few elves who had begun stepping forward.

‘Not sure who these guys are, but…’

Judging by their reactions, they were likely close to Daisy—or at least connected to her in some way.

‘Even if they aren’t, it doesn’t really matter.’

What mattered was showing the crowd what happened to those who opposed him.

Jeong-hyeon handed Hana over to Lucia for safekeeping, then declared loudly, “Sanctuary, invoked!”

There was no need to descend into the fray himself. He would crush them all with divine power.

With divine power surging like a tidal wave, he bore down on the dozens of elves who had stepped forward.

“How dare you oppose the words of the divine! Your sins will not go unpunished!”

Despite the opportunity he had given them to voice their dissent, Jeong-hyeon now condemned them for their defiance. The elves squirmed as if the injustice of it all was too much to bear, but that was all they could do.

Under the crushing weight of divine power, they could neither move nor resist. One by one, their trembling bodies fell lifeless to the ground.

The elves who dared to step forward lay still, unmoving.

Jeong-hyeon watched the lifeless bodies of the elves sprawled on the ground, confirming that not a single one still drew breath. With a satisfied nod, he once again bellowed.

“If anyone else wishes to object, step forward!”

But unlike before, no one dared move.

Pleased with the silence, Jeong-hyeon decided it was time to set the World Tree ablaze.

***

In the Royal Palace’s aerial garden, Daisy found herself resting amidst the surrounding greenery.

‘Not bad. Not bad at all.’

For something created by humans, it was surprisingly tolerable.

As she was savoring the moment, someone suddenly called out to her, their voice urgent.

“D-Daisy!”

Daisy frowned at the approaching man.

‘Why are humans always so noisy?’

Annoyed, she restrained herself from lashing out, knowing she was bound by her contract with the Duke. Instead, she replied curtly, “…What is it?”

Her tone was sharp, her displeasure evident, but the man pressed on undeterred.

“The W-World Tree is burning!”

“…What?”

The mere mention of the sacred World Tree was blasphemous enough, but to claim it was burning? The absurdity of it all made her blood boil.

Ready to execute the man on the spot, Daisy unslung her bow. But before she could release an arrow, the man hastily held out a recording mana stone and a letter.

“Here! This recording mana stone and letter should explain everything!”

Her eyes narrowed as she glanced at the letter. It bore the seal of one of the elders—an unmistakable mark of authenticity.

‘A prank?’

She thought at first, but the seal was irrefutable proof of its legitimacy. Her hands trembled as she broke the seal and opened the letter.

Inside was a single symbol: [Φ].

It was the mark of exile.

Her mind reeled from the suddenness of it all. The overwhelming confusion made her legs weak, and she collapsed to the ground, clutching the letter in disbelief.

‘This can’t be happening…’

Desperate for an explanation, she turned to the recording mana stone. Clinging to a faint hope that this was all some elaborate hoax, she activated it with shaking hands.

[The Elf Council hereby declares High Elf Daisy permanently exiled…]

The voices of the elders rang out clearly. The scene displayed the World Tree, burning fiercely as the elders recited their decree.

‘Why? How?’

The questions swirled in her mind, but there were no answers.

As she stared, a familiar face suddenly filled the screen. The sight of him—Jeong-hyeon, smiling with maddening calm—made her stomach churn with a mix of anger and dread.

“I hope you liked my little surprise. Well, whether you did or didn’t isn’t my concern, but I do hope you appreciate the effort.”

His tone was casual, but every word felt like a dagger.

“Oh, and I sent you a little gift too. You know how people have been sending things in glass jars lately? Your friend the Pope seemed to love his. I’m sure you will too.”

With a flourish, several glass jars began falling from the sky.

She looked up instinctively, her eyes widening as she saw a golden goblin tossing them from above, one after another.

‘Glass jars…’

Her heart sank as she recalled Jeong-hyeon’s words. Approaching one of the jars cautiously, she leaned in to peer inside.