Episode 289: World Tree

"Oh, right. Then, let's guide you to the World Tree right away."

"Understood."

The chief's expression becomes visibly brighter at our reply, and he urges us to get up from our seats. If there is such a thing as a World Tree, we would definitely like to see it with our own eyes, so we immediately get up from our seats and follow the chief and Sarion out of the house.

The chief and Sarion proceed along a fantastic road created by the arches of trees behind the house.

"This kind of place is also a fantasy."

"There's something that really hits me."

Amane replies to my mutter.

It really feels like we've stepped into a fantasy world, and it's exciting.

After walking along that road for a while, the field of view suddenly opens up. It is a small hill, and on top of it stands a tree so big that the word 'gigantic' isn't enough.

I couldn't see it from the village, but I wonder if it was hidden by some mysterious elf technique.

Putting that aside, the trunk alone is probably 20 to 30 meters wide. The height is likely to exceed 100 meters.

"That's the World Tree ..."

However, the appearance is completely different from what I had imagined.

"It doesn't look very lively ..."

As Nanami murmured, the tower tree is in a winter-like state without a single leaf. The appearance of looking so weak makes me sad.

In my imagination, it had a lot of lush leaves and had an image of being an existence that exuded a mysterious aura, so the impact is great.

"Is that thing alright?"

I instinctively ask the chief.

"We can't do anything about it right now, but if we don't do anything, it will eventually wither away."

"Really ..."

Without expressly turning around, he answers at length. I can feel the weight of what he has been struggling with, trying to do something about it.

"It's really big."

"Yeah, I've never seen anything this big."

"Nn. Big."

"It's big."

"It's so big."

We arrive at the edge of the World Tree. Even after losing its power, we are overwhelmed by its majestic appearance.

"This is the World Tree. Are you disappointed?"

"No, rather than that, I want to do it as soon as possible."

I say that I would like to give treatment as soon as possible when the chief asks me a little sadly and jokingly.

"You're too kind. Can I ask it of you."

"Yes. Of course. Is it okay with the image of simply sending magic power?"

"Umu. I beg of you."

"I'll give it a try."

The chief's expression breaks at my words.

In response to his request, we gently place our hands on the trunk of the tree.

-Tokun tokuun

Although it's faint, I can definitely feel the pulsation of the wood.

"It's alive ..."

"Oh, yeah. Then, let's send magic right away."

"Yeah, that's right."

Nanami next to me feels the breath of life and mutters. I agree with her murmur and reply. Nanami also nods at my words.

"Well then, let's go? Ready, set."

""Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!""

The World Tree is enveloped in an enormous amount of magical power. The small pulsation gradually grows larger, and at the same time I feel that the magical power possessed by the tree is increasing.

"Oh!! To be this much!!"

"Fumu. After all, my eyes weren't crazy."

Behind us, the chief and Sarion mutter to each other.

The World Tree is visibly recovering due to our magical power.

The freshness of the trunk, which had almost dried up, returns, and the leaves begin to sprout one by one. The World Tree gradually regains its strength as if it were rewinding a recording at high speed.

"I can't do it anymore!!"

"Nn."

"Nothing more will come out. I'm empty."

"I have nothing left."

Ten minutes after that, we pour all our magic into it and collapse on the spot. Perhaps because of that, the World Tree regains its power and grows many green leaves.

On the contrary, it will bloom pure white flowers from now on.

"How can I say thank you ... I never thought you would really do something about it ..."

"Thank you. I've never felt such magical power ..."

The chief and Sarion mutter dumbfoundedly while watching us. It seems that the appearance of the two people has changed quite a bit.

Despite the aura of femininity until just now, the two of them have a manly atmosphere.

The gender difference may have returned to the correct one.

"No, no, I'm glad we could be of help."

"Ah, I would like to give you the reward immediately, but it's nothing something that will bear fruit right away, so please wait."

"Understood."

When I reply to their murmurs, Sarion tells me about the reward.

"Now then, if that's the case, we're going to have a banquet today!! Of course you're going to participate too, right?"

After I finish talking with Sarion, the chief asks us with a happy face. It is an expression that seems to say that it is forced participation without asking whether or not it is necessary.

"Y, yeah. Yes, of course we will participate."

"Umu. I will begin preparations immediately, so please wait for a while."

"Understood."

We were supposed to participate in the banquet ...

"Uuh ... Kuh."

"Nuu."

However, the next moment, it happens.

The flowers and leaves wither and fall as if they are regenerating in reverse, returning the World Tree to its withered state.

In the same way, the manly atmosphere of the chief and Sarion has disappears.

It seems that the problem has not been resolved yet.