Goddess's Yuri harem: Chosing the Empress is hard
Chapter 67: The tree that absorbs magic- Part 1

Chapter 67: 67: The tree that absorbs magic- Part 1

The tree in the magic tower’s plaza had become the center of attention overnight. No one knew where it had come from, nor who had planted it, but its existence was impossible to ignore.

At first, it was simply a curiosity—a strange, leafless tree with a black trunk that seemed to shimmer under the sunlight. However, as more people gathered around it, they began to notice something unsettling.

Mages who had gotten too close to study it started feeling fatigued. Their magic reserves, which should have been stable, were draining at an alarming rate. Some even collapsed, unable to cast spells as they normally would.

At first, the symptoms were brushed off as mere exhaustion from overwork, but by midday, the sickness spread. More mages fell ill, reporting dizziness, nausea, and an unusual chill that seemed to seep into their bones.

Panic surged through the magic tower.

Whispers of dark magic began to spread among the scholars. Theories surfaced, each one more terrifying than the last. Some believed it was a curse, while others insisted the tree was a living entity feeding off their magic.

Despite the fear that gripped the tower, one person remained intrigued—Sophia, the Master of the Magic Tower.

Sophia had always been known for her brilliance, but also for her reckless curiosity. When the reports of the mysterious tree reached her, she found herself thrilled rather than frightened.

"A tree that absorbs magic? What an incredible phenomenon. I must see it for myself."

She mused aloud, tapping her chin.

Her declaration was met with immediate opposition.

"Master Sophia, please reconsider! If anything happens to you, the entire tower will be left without leadership!"

A senior mage pleaded.

"The tree is dangerous! It has already affected many of us. We cannot risk you falling ill as well!" another mage added.

But Sophia merely laughed.

"You’re all so boring

. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. A magic-absorbing organism... doesn’t that fascinate you?"

She sighed, standing up.

Her eyes gleamed with excitement, but the other mages exchanged worried glances.

"Even so, Master—"

"I’ve made my decision. Sorry, but I will not miss this opportunity. Think of all the thrill and the undiscovered magic....ugh, the thrills."

Sophia interrupted, already striding toward the plaza. Her face looked red and had a look that most people would rather not name.

The protests continued, but no one could stop her. Sophia was determined.

When she arrived, the sight of the tree sent a thrill down her spine.

Even without stepping too close, she could feel the tree. It pulsed with energy, absorbing and storing magic like a living battery.

For a moment, she simply admired it, running various possibilities through her mind. Could this be a natural occurrence? Or had someone planted it intentionally?

Then, something extraordinary happened.

As she took another step forward, the tree reacted. Its trunk shimmered, the black bark glowing faintly as if acknowledging her presence.

Sophia’s lips curled into a mad grin.

"This... is perfect."

The other mages, who had cautiously followed behind her, gasped in horror.

"Master Sophia! Please, step back!"

"You’ve seen enough, right? Let’s report this to the temple immediately!"

But Sophia waved them off.

"Why would I stop now? This is the best opportunity I’ve had in years. I need to experiment."

There was a manic gleam in her eyes, one the mages had seen before. It was the same look she had when she discovered a new magical theorem, one that kept her locked in her laboratory for weeks without rest.

The Magic Tower Master was about to throw herself headfirst into the unknown.

Seeing no other option, the terrified mages made a swift decision—this matter needed to be handed over to the temple and the goddess.

If anyone could stop Lady Sophia, then it was those people.

______

The news reached Priestess Lilith just as she was in a discussion with Carol and Goddess Auriel.

Lilith immediately tensed.

The temple had been secretly gathering evidence of dark magic’s increasing influence, but they had deliberately kept it from Goddess Auriel, afraid of how she might react. If she knew just how deep the corruption ran, she might act recklessly and put herself in danger again.

Lilith tried to maintain her composure as a messenger delivered the news about the mysterious tree at the magic tower.

Carol, who stood beside her, frowned.

"That sounds... unusual."

"Perhaps it’s just a rare magical plant?"

Lilith suggested quickly, trying to steer the conversation away.

But Auriel was not so easily fooled. She had been listening carefully, watching Lilith’s subtle reactions.

The priestess was nervous. She was hiding something.

"Priestess Lilith. You won’t try to hide this from me, right?"

Auriel said calmly, but firmly.

Lilith swallowed hard.

"Goddess Auriel, I—"

"Priestess Lilith."

Auriel’s voice carried a divine weight, making it impossible for Lilith to lie.

With a deep sigh, Lilith finally relented.

"...There have been multiple reports of dark magic, and we’ve been investigating them for a while now."

Auriel’s expression darkened.

"And you chose to keep this from me?"

Carol, too, looked troubled but chose to remain silent.

Lilith lowered her head.

"We didn’t want to alarm you. You needed rest after being unable to wake up for the past two days."

Auriel clenched her fists.

She understood their reasoning, but it still hurt to know that her own followers—people she trusted—had been keeping secrets from her.

"...And this tree at the magic tower. You believe it is connected?"

Lilith hesitated before nodding.

"Yes."

Auriel closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

This was worse than she thought.

If dark magic had already infiltrated the magic tower itself, then the situation was far more serious than she had imagined.

She opened her eyes, determination burning within them.

"I will go there myself."

Lilith and Carol immediately protested.

"No! You’re still recovering—"

"It’s too dangerous!"

But Auriel simply shook her head.

"The more we wait, the stronger this corruption becomes. I refuse to stand by while it spreads."

She turned her gaze toward the magic tower, where the dark tree continued to grow in power. Things were getting more and more complicated.