Chapter 80: Revival of the Spirit Tree

Since I obtained a new store, I thought about summoning it right away, but Arisa-san stopped me.

“We cannot allow an unknown summon without a barrier and permission from the Master and Mistress.”

Uumu. I understand what she’s trying to say. But basically, they are stores I have visited, so I don’t think there are any dangerous stores. No, if a gas station appeared, would it be dangerous? Huh? Is a gas station a store? It sells fuel, so I think it’s a store. They sell tires and wax besides fuel too. Or rather, if something like that caught fire by mistake, this area would be burned to the ground… As Arisa-san says, let’s stop for now… Early in the morning, led by Rexrum-san and the others again, we climb the Spirit Tree. Scary as expected…! It’s high! Let’s at least install handrails!

“Wa…!”

The Spirit Tree had recovered enough to be noticeable at a glance compared to yesterday. Glittering things are popping from the leaves. Still, it hasn’t reached what I saw in the game though. Still weak, but a world of difference from yesterday. However, to be absolutely sure, it would be better to have Estelle cast healing magic on it after all. I asked Estelle beforehand, so pretending to retie her shoelaces, she casts [Holy Miracle] healing magic on the trunk at her feet. So that Estelle‘s power isn’t exposed to the elves, I draw their attention, while Bianca, Ritsu, Arisa-san, and Tanya-san act as a wall blocking the elves’ view.

“Th-This is…!”

When Estelle cast healing magic on the Spirit Tree, immediately particles of light began dancing glittering—buwa—from the surrounding branches and leaves, and the elves’ eyes widened in surprise. Ooh! This is it! This is the recovered state of the Spirit Tree. Same as the game.

“The Spirit Tree is…! This is the same light as the Spirit Tree in its prime…! The Spirit Tree has revived…!” “Umu. Since the eyesore external enemies are gone, the Spirit Tree must have regained its power.”

To the surprised Mutilia-san, Kohaku-san says something that sounds plausible. Words with no basis, but when spoken by Divine Beast Kohaku-san, they sound truthful, and everyone in the elf village was convinced, saying ‘I see…’. If it recovered just by the Golden Bugs being gone, it should have recovered every year though. Since a Divine Beast, a messenger of God, has come, they seem to misunderstand that it’s not strange for a miracle to occur… Of course, I have no intention of correcting that.

“With this, we can surely meet Lady Sakuraile‘s wish. Please, take them.”

Saying that, Mutilia-san plucked about ten leaves from the branch—puchiri puchiri—and handed them to me. Even separated from the tree, light particles are leaking glittering from the leaves. This is beautiful. Alright, Spirit Tree Leaves Get! With this, if other materials arrive, we can make the dispel potion!

“If the fruits of Habanero and Chili Pepper grow, we won’t have trouble with Golden Bugs from next year onwards. Thank you very much truly.”

Rexrum-san, the Elf Chief, bows, and the elves behind him follow suit and bow similarly. I thought for sure there would be fellows saying, ‘Being saved by humans is a shame for elves!’, but it seems things proceeded in a good direction. Most likely, ninety percent is due to Kohaku-san’s authority. Well, if the relationship between elves and humans improved even a little, the result is all right.

“…Oboro?” “Eh?”

While I was thinking about future relations with elves, suddenly Ritsu raised her face and directed her gaze beyond the village spreading below. Oboro? What? Is Oboro coming here? I looked where Ritsu was looking, but couldn’t see anything. Can Ritsu see Oboro’s figure?

“No good…! Why…!”

Colors of shock and impatience float on Ritsu‘s expression. Eh, what? What’s really wrong!?

“Lady Sakuraile! Currently, Oboro is under attack! I ask for permission to leave this place temporarily!” “Eh, Oboro is? Yeah, leaving is fine, but what on earth…” “Thank you very much! Excuse me!”

Faster than I could ask, Ritsu ran across the top of the Spirit Tree and jumped down toward the village below. Wait…!? What are you doing!? Jumping from a height of hundreds of meters, no matter how you think about it, she won’t survive. To me trying to rush to where Ritsu jumped in panic, Kohaku-san next to me speaks.

“Do not panic, little master. That one will be fine.” “Eh?”

Looking down, Ritsu seemed to be muttering something while falling. And just a few meters before crashing to the ground… Ritsu‘s fall suddenly slowed, stopped, and then bounced slightly, landing safely while rotating—kurukuru. What was that? Looked like she fell onto something like a cushion…

“She created a mass of air with wind magic and cushioned the impact with it.” “The magic of [Air Sphere], isn’t it. It’s a defensive magic used against charging magic beasts, but to use it to dampen falling impact…”

Mutilia-san supplements Kohaku-san’s explanation. Mass of air? Magic like an airbag? Even so, I want her to stop jumping off suddenly. Bad for the heart.

“Even so, Oboro being under attack means… Oboro… Simurghs are strong, right?” “Simurghs have healing power, but not that much combat power. Still, with that giant body, I don’t think it would be defeated easily. If push comes to shove, it can just fly away.”

Right… Is there a reason it can’t fly? Or became unable to fly? Either way, Ritsu received Oboro‘s SOS. What on earth happened?

◇ ◇ ◇

Ritsu‘s ‘Gift’ [Winged Beast Servant] is a powerful ‘Gift’ to command birds and winged animals or magic beasts, but it is not that simple. She can only command species that have taken a liking to her. Furthermore, it is harder to affect species with high intelligence. Small birds are relatively easy, but when it comes to magic beast species among birds, they have high intelligence so it doesn’t work well. The reason Ritsu could command a Simurgh, also called a Spirit Bird, is because she hatched it herself from an egg. By the power of [Winged Beast Servant], Oboro can understand Ritsu‘s will, and Ritsu can understand Oboro‘s, creating a sensation like siblings, no, even like being half of one another. That’s why when Oboro‘s emotions of fear, impatience, anger, and frustration flowed in, Ritsu instinctively implored Lady Sakuraile to leave the spot. A guard leaving the guarded object is something that shouldn’t happen. Upon return, she will undoubtedly be scolded by her superior Arisa. Heavy-hearted, but now isn’t the time for that.

“Oboro…! I’m coming now…!”

Running through the elf village, Ritsu charges into the forest. The elf barrier present upon entry has no effect on those leaving, and direction sense is not confused. Breaking through the dense forest, she directs her gaze in the direction Oboro is. There, several men dressed in black were in the middle of attacking Oboro, who had a net thrown over it.

“You bastards…! Get away from Oboro!”

Ritsu pulls out short daggers (kozuka) hidden in her wrists from left and right and throws them at the fellows swarming Oboro.

“Guh!?” “Gah!?”

One hit a shoulder, another a thigh. The black-clad fellows surrounding Oboro turn their gazes to Ritsu all at once. All faces she recognizes. She suspected, but Ritsu became convinced they were indeed Uncle’s subordinates. One of them, a man around twenty, steps forward. On the side of his head with a pigtail (bian-fà), a snake tattoo. Eyes looking down on people just like Uncle.

“Been looking for you, Ritsu. How dare you do that to my old man.” “Just avenged Father. Uncle received just retribution. To call that unjustified resentment is shameless.”

The man’s name is In. Uncle’s son, Ritsu‘s cousin. A heretic who likes tormenting and killing people. Under Uncle’s orders, he led the assassination squad. Those who chased to kill Ritsu were also In‘s subordinates. Apparently, they obtained information about the village only now. She thought she defeated every single one of Uncle’s faction in the village, but maybe they sent a fast horse or carrier pigeon before that. Seeing Oboro flying, they seem to have chased after it, Ritsu deduces.

“Keh, father and daughter alike, I can’t stand you…! Your old man was also a noisy man about pride and righteousness till the end. In this day and age, such worthless beliefs are useless!” “As a traitor, do not insult Father!”

Unable to forgive the insult to her late father, Ritsu took out a short sword (tantou) from the small pouch at the back of her maid outfit’s waist. This pouch, like Sakuraile‘s pochette, is a pouch imbued with [Storage Magic]. Bestowed by the Duke, it only holds about a basket’s worth of items, but contains everything necessary for an attendant. Weapons are one of them. Necessary items for a guard. Raising the short sword, she tries to slash at In, but a subordinate man stands in the way and catches Ritsu‘s short sword with his katana.

“Kuh!”

Slashing two, three more times, she succeeded in cutting the man’s leg on the fourth, but In moved away from Ritsu in the meantime. In the Nanane Clan, Ritsu is a genius rarely seen. Receiving strict training since childhood, she acquired techniques and power not losing to adults. However, she is still a six-year-old child. Surrounded by several trained adult men, it was visibly obvious she was at a disadvantage. But for Ritsu, taking down In is secondary; liberating Oboro is the primary objective. If it goes well, escaping from here riding Oboro is also possible. Dealing with In and the others can come after. Dodging the men’s attacks, she reaches Oboro trapped in the throwing net. Ritsu tried to cut the net, but no matter how much force she put in, she couldn’t cut it with the short sword in hand.

“That net is a special make woven with Mithril! Can’t cut it with a normal katana!” “Kuh…!”

Dodging a flying knife, Ritsu rolls on the ground. Mithril is a metal containing magic power, hard enough to be used for Magic Swords. A normal katana or sword cannot possibly match it. Ritsu is completely on the defensive against the slashing men, far from saving Oboro. Including In, there are six enemies, and she is alone. She inflicted wounds on some, but hasn’t reached the point of taking away their combat ability.

“Guh!?”

While dodging incoming blades, Ritsu felt severe pain in her right ankle. Thinking she might have been hit by a throwing knife, when Ritsu looked at her right ankle, there was an eerie black jaw with no eyes or nose, just a visible bright red mouth interior, biting into her ankle.