Episode 30. Face to face with the world tree (2)
“Then let’s talk.”
Now that the stomach was full and I had Phoenix wash the dishes, it was time to get to the point.
Naiad took a sip of the tea I made. Putting the glass down on her table, he nodded her head and said,
“I received permission from the World Tree.”
Oh already?
With permission, there is no need to lengthen the story.
Even right now, I go to the spirit realm to find out the facts about the information I don’t know, and get a means to win the battle against man and horse.
“Originally, he wanted everything to end, but he said the situation was changing rapidly.”
Things change rapidly?
As expected, is it a problem that the monsters have disappeared in the border area?
It can be said that the situation has changed dramatically just by greatly shortening the time when the Great War between Man and Horse takes place.
“They told me to come with the warriors. He said it was definitely a time when he needed his strength.”
When you need your own strength…… ?
…… After all, do you know all the world trees?
Is it because they are beings outside of causality? Or is it because he has been watching the warriors all along?
If you know either way, there’s no need to cumbersomely add justifications.
I’m sure you’re paying attention to the War of the World Capital, so maybe you can pass on the secret to growing the warriors through this meeting.
“I see. Then when are you going to start?”
“It’s okay even now.”
“Then…… !”
I was going to tell her to go right then, but I stopped. It was because the warriors were yawning and showing their fatigue.
“…… No. I’d rather go tomorrow morning than now. The kids must be very tired.”
“Oh no! I am not tired at all.”
Iris stopped yawning and hurriedly denied it.
“I am tired. I am with the Master!”
“Right. If Master wants to go now, we will of course follow.”
Tina and Maria are also in denial, but their eyes are more closed than usual.
For the past few days, I’ve seen them train until dawn and get up early in the morning to break through their limits.
I don’t know if it’s because I want to live up to my expectations or if I don’t want to see people die by demons, but I’m doing my best.
It was impossible to deprive such warriors of their sleep.
“There is no need to overdo it. Relax a little.”
I couldn’t help but feel impatience as I knew I didn’t really have time. However, I was just grateful that they listened to my unreliable words and worked hard.
“As expected, I can’t hide it from my master.”
“Then I will follow Master’s words.”
“Oh! So, does Master sleep with you too?!”
“…… Why is that?”
“Well then, I should take a bath soon. Soon it will be time to go to sleep.”
“Let’s go. Hey guys.”
While I was dazed for a moment, the three warriors, who proceeded with the story on their own, enter the room. After a while, I packed my clothes and went into the bathroom. It’s only really quick when it’s like this.
I stared at them and sighed. I was careless for nothing, but something annoying happened.
“It’s always popular. Prause.”
Phoenix said with a meaningful smile.
“Okay. I wonder what’s the use of being popular with kids with a big age difference.”
I hung my chin and snorted. I don’t know if the age difference is less, but a 9 year age difference is too big.
“I mean. Did you know that warriors suffer? I want you to be happy when everything is over.”
Phoenix stared at me and said out of the blue.
“That is something I agree with. I will go ahead of anyone else to save this world, so in the end, even the warriors must be happy so that it can truly be said to be the end.”
Looking at Naiad who agrees with his words, he nods his head vigorously. Phoenix pointed at me with a serious face.
“And you hold the happiness of those warriors, Prause.”
“…… I always have a wish for the warriors to be happy. When everything is over, I will do everything in my power to help them be happy.”
“Didn’t you understand what I was saying? Are you the only one who can make the warriors happy?”
“What?”
“You didn’t notice, did you? Those kids like you.”
I already know all too well. At least the fact that the warriors care about me.
Isn’t that why when he hangs out with other girls, he persistently digs into them?
“…… What you like when you are young gradually changes as you grow up. Even more so, if you are a member of the opposite s*x with a difference in age, it is difficult to maintain that mind.”
Right now, it’s time to judge based on appearance, and he’s helping in many ways, so it’s probably just a bean pod.
“From my point of view, I don’t think there will be much difference between now and 5 years from now when I become an adult.”
“…… Still, it’s something I can’t guarantee, so it’s not too late to think about it then.”
“You must be tired of being popular.”
“Better than anyone who isn’t popular.”
“Is that what you are saying to me?”
Raising the glass, Naiad glared at Phoenix.
“Isn’t it? Looks like you got stabbed?”
“Phoenix, you seem to have let loose lately. I’ll shove water down your throat.”
“Ha! Have you ever tried it!”
I thought while sipping black tea as the battle between water and fire suddenly started.
I don’t know who will die while going through the man-majeon war, but I didn’t want to put a death flag while talking about happiness already.
Because of the bond we built up over the five years we lived together, I’m sure if I gave away more than that, I’d end up feeling even more depressed than I was with Leones.
* * *
“Are you really going to sleep together?”
Looking at the warriors who left the bed and spread the blanket on the floor, I asked again. They agreed as if it were natural. The head shakes vigorously up and down.
“Come here and lie down!”
Tina knocks on the seat next to her own. It seemed fluffy because it was a blanket full of her cotton.
“But if you sleep like this, won’t one person be able to lie next to Master?”
“Then why don’t you go upstairs Master?”
“Oh! Genius!”
Tina raised her thumb at Maria’s words. He makes long, absurd sounds.
“Aren’t you also aware that you have grown up? Why do you want to sleep with me when you’re 15 in the first place?”
You have to play a fool according to your age.
From noble mtl dot com
“Even when I turn 15, my heart is the same as when I was 10 when I met my teacher!”
It seems like a grown-up girl is saying, ‘At heart, I’m a girl!’ I prevented a bitter laugh from coming out.
“Come here anyway!”
As I’m standing there, Tina quickly approaches and grabs her wrist and pulls it. Of course, as I had no power, I had no choice but to be led as it was.
“Pretending to like it and not like it, but to bounce it once!”
“…… Tina, are you really getting more brazen by the day?”
“That’s my charm! Now, please lie down here. I even prepared a storybook to read before going to bed!”
As I lay down in a very natural flow, the warriors huddled together on their stomachs on the floor.
“Isn’t it okay if Iris and Maria don’t read children’s books?”
“Isn’t Master reading to you? I really want to hear from your side.”
“Because these are all precious memories with Master.”
“…… Is that so?”
In the end, I got a children’s book from Tina. I don’t know how it ended up being a recital, but I’ll have to pay my respects for the brave warriors who will suffer in the future.
I skimmed the title of the children’s book.
The title was ‘Call me by my name.’ What kind of children’s book is the name of this? I opened the first chapter with interest in the idea that the standard for assimilation in this world may be different.
“Then let’s begin.”
“Neeet!”
“Hmmm.”
Clearing my voice, I turned over the bookshelf.
“Once upon a time in a village———”
I recited the letters with the correct pronunciation without spoiling the calm atmosphere as much as possible. It could have sounded a bit indifferent, but it was much softer than when he first fell into this world.
“——That way I was able to call him by name, and we were able to be friends for the rest of our lives. …… End.”
At the time I finished reading the storybook and closed it, I heard a quiet, even breathing sound from the side.
“Sure… …. I’m sorry…….”
“Umm… Master…….”
“Don’t go anywhere… ….”
The sleep-talking warriors were holding onto my body. I went to my room and fell asleep.
I took turns looking at the three warriors who were soundly asleep and said quietly.
“Sleep well, children.”
* * *
“Are you ready?”
“I am perfect.”
Thanks to sleeping early, I could say that my physical condition was at its peak. It would have been better if the kids weren’t tossing and turning around.
“Let’s go.”
As Naiad reached out into the air, the gate opened. Look at the door that transcends dimensions.
I started to throb at the thought that I could finally go to the spirit realm. Certainly, going to the spirit realm where the World Tree is located would be my only chance to learn things I didn’t know.
Starting with the word heterogeneous player, it is a hologram window that only I can see, and I may come to know the sense of incongruity I felt while living in this world for 5 years, such as questions about my skills.
Perhaps even the ‘reason for coming to this world’.
As long as I seize the opportunity to know everything, I will definitely pick out the mulberry.
“Let’s go.”
I entered the gate slowly, as tense as ever.
The moment you enter, the sensation of floating your body grips your entire body. My vision, which had been bright, gradually darkened, and by the time I felt like I was left alone in the world, I began to see a light in the distance.
I had no choice but to close my eyes to the light that grew stronger as time passed, and when I opened it again, I was in a forest with dense trees.
That too was a forest made up of trees over 10 meters tall. Even the grass was so huge that each one was beyond common sense, so I involuntarily spit out exclamations.
“Is this the spirit realm…… ?”
From the air, it was a different dimension.
It was so easy to breathe. I exaggerated it a little, and it felt like all the impurities in my body were drained out just by breathing.
At the time the other warriors were looking around in admiration, a rustling sound came from the side.
Looking toward the source of the sound, the basket had fallen and the fruit inside, which looked like a green apple, was leaking out. And behind him, a little girl was pointing at us.
“Hey! Everyone, who the f*ck was that?!”
A spirit with green skin and butterfly wings on its back is startled.
Similar to Frost and Nympha, this spirit with a height of less than 1 meter was Wendy, a low-level wind elemental spirit.