CH 84

Contract with Dolly.

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“Dolly, what do we do now?”

“Just wait a moment.”

As Dolly closed her eyes, magical energy started gathering rapidly in front of her…

“Um, hey, Silphy. This feels really unusual. Is everything okay?”

Silphy and the others also noticed the abnormal situation and stood frozen.

“Don’t worry. It’s one of the abilities of the forest spirits.”

I understood that everything was fine because the spirits seemed relaxed, but it was still frightening. Tamamo, in particular, was extremely interested in what Dolly was doing and wagged her tail vigorously. Something incredible must be happening.

The gathering magical energy became dazzlingly bright and gradually subsided, leaving a seed floating between Dolly’s hands, about the size of a baby’s fist.

“Yuta, please plant this seed in the center of this place.”

“Oh, sure.”

Without thinking, I accepted the offered seed. It’s definitely not an ordinary seed. What’s going to happen?

Holding this seed, which exuded an unusual power, I headed towards the center of the northern block.

“Um… Is this spot okay? Dolly, how deep should I plant it?”

“Well, a bit deeper… About fifteen centimeters, please.”

Following Dolly’s instructions, I planted the seed and covered it with soil.

“Now, Yuta, please come over here. Oh, and please tell Sara and the others to stay away.”

Huh? What’s going on? Is it dangerous to make a contract with the Forest Grand Spirit? Just to be safe, I informed Sara and the others to keep their distance and faced Dolly.

“Let’s begin, then.”

Dolly smiled gently.

“Uh, okay.”

I returned a forced smile. Dolly confirmed my response and extended her hands forward, just like Silphy and Dyne had done before. The seed, infused with the power of attributes… Wait, it’s not a seed, but more like a wind or water orb?

“I am Dolly, the Forest Grand Spirit. If you wish to form a contract, press this ‘seed’ against your heart.”

…I had my doubts about it being a wind or water orb, but now a seed? Won’t something like a plant start growing from my heart?… No, there’s no way Dolly would do something dangerous to the contractee. Steeling myself, I received the seed and pressed it against my heart.

Oh, the seed unraveled and turned into magical energy, which was absorbed into me. I was relieved that the seed didn’t get absorbed along with me.

“The contract is complete,” Dolly said with a gentle smile. Huh? Is it done? Honestly, it’s the most unremarkable and somewhat anticlimactic experience so far. But I guess this is just right. As I felt satisfied, Dolly smiled back at me and pointed to the spot where I planted the seed. When I turned to look…

Sprouts emerged from the spot where I planted the seed… They were growing rapidly with popping sounds. What? I feel like I’ve seen this scene in a certain movie. While I was in a daze, the tree grew steadily, and the trunk became thicker and approached me with each passing moment.

“Um… Dolly, what is this tree?”

Looking up, my neck hurt. What is this tree? It’s too huge, isn’t it?

“It’s a Spirit Tree. It’s a good tree that lends its power to enrich this land.”

“Oh… I see. That’s amazing.”

I couldn’t help but let out a flat response, but I suppose it couldn’t be helped. Is it really okay to grow such an impressive tree in the Land of Death?

Bell and the others were already flying around the Spirit Tree, playing. Well, I guess it’s a good thing to have more greenery. Yeah, it’s a good thing.

“Yes, Silphy and Dyne put a lot of effort into the production, so I have to do my best too.”

Dolly smiled with a smile. Oh, right. The Spirit Tree is just part of the production. Is it tasteless to say that the Spirit Tree is created as part of the production?

“Uh, yeah. I was really surprised. But thank you, Dolly.”

“I’m glad you’re happy. With this child, the surrounding vegetation will also thrive. Let’s make it a wonderful place.”

“Yeah, I’ll do my best.”

Dolly, I thought she was a refined and elegant young lady-like Grand Spirit, but she certainly takes bold actions.

“M-M-Master, what on earth is that tree…”

Sarah was flustered. I completely understood her feelings.

“It’s a Spirit Tree. Dolly made it grow after we formed a contract.”

“A Spirit Tree, like in fairy tales? I remember reading about it in a picture book that the maid showed me before…”

A fairy tale… So a Spirit Tree is that level of tree. It’s obvious just by looking at it that it’s not an ordinary tree, but it’s what happens when a Grand Spirit does their best. It’s no joke.

Speaking of which, Sara must have been a well-off child to have maids read her picture books. And there’s an intriguing keyword. Maids, huh? If I build a big house, I’ll need maids. But would there be maids willing to come to the Land of Death? It seems unlikely, which is quite sad.

“Master! Can we climb that tree?” Marco asked excitedly. Hmm, children usually enjoy climbing trees, but I wonder if it’s a good idea for Marco to try climbing that particular tree. Kika is standing behind, with a face that looks like she’s about to cry, shaking her head.

“Wait a moment. Dolly, is that tree considered sacred? Would it be forbidden to climb it?” I asked.

“As long as you don’t cause any unnecessary damage, it should be fine to climb. The branches are sturdy, so building a treehouse wouldn’t be a problem either,” Dolly replied.

…A treehouse, huh? It would be quite challenging to go up and down such a tall tree. But if I ask Silphy, she can easily travel between the tree and the ground. Should I go ahead and make one?

When I have enough money, I could have a proper house built in the Labyrinth City, maybe even two. If it’s designed to be movable and detached from the ground, it should be fine. Marie-san might know someone suitable and I could ask her.

No, there are plenty of thinned-out trees around, so maybe I should try making it myself. With the pioneering tools, I might be able to build a small cabin. It’s also a good idea to dry the wood quickly.

“It’s okay to climb. Shall we ask Silphy to take us there? Is it okay, Silphy?” I inquired.

“Yes, that’s fine,” Silphy nodded lightly. I hope she doesn’t give me that look, thinking that I’m making a frivolous request. After all, she’s the only one who can fly.

“Since Silphy says it’s okay, let’s go,”

Marco exclaimed, jumping up and down in joy, while Kika wore an expression of betrayal.

“Kika, don’t be scared. You’ve flown in the sky many times, right? Silphy is the one who will take us up to the tree, so it’s definitely safe,” I reassured her. After pausing for a moment and contemplating, she nodded in agreement. Since we were together yesterday during Sarah and Marco’s level up, her wariness seems to have diminished quite a bit. Her expressions have become more apparent.

“Is Sara okay too?”

“Are we going to climb the Spirit Tree? …Yes, I’ll be fine,” Sara replied.

It seems like Kika is more concerned about whether it’s appropriate to climb the Spirit Tree rather than being afraid of heights. I can imagine that the tree must be incredibly impressive, but I didn’t expect it to be to such an extent. I should try searching for books or picture books that mention the Spirit Tree.

“Well then, let’s go. Silphy, please,” I requested.

“Sure, let’s go,” Silphy replied.

Silphy enveloped me, Sara, and the others in a cocoon of wind, and we gently floated up. Since Sara and the others have experienced this before, they stayed calm and still.

We ascended with a sensation similar to riding an elevator, and Silphy landed us on a branch near the top.

“Master! This is amazing!” Marco exclaimed with excitement, moving around on the branch. I feel a bit anxious watching him, as it seems like he might fall, but the branch is quite thick, so as long as he doesn’t trip, he should be fine.

“Marco, be careful not to fall,” I warned him.

“Got it!”

He gave the right response, but I hope his actions match his words. I’ll ask Silphy to keep an eye on Marco. I’ve enjoyed the view from higher places with Silphy before, but this feels different.

The ground beneath my feet feels stable, and I can hear the sound of leaves brushing against each other in the wind, along with the scent of greenery. When flying in the sky, there’s a sense of detachment from reality, but being on top of the tree, my senses are fully engaged.

Bell and the others are happily darting through the branches, flying around. Sara and Kika are sitting on a branch, enjoying the view.

By the way, the Spirit Tree has a pleasant and calming fragrance. Come to think of it, in the game, the World Tree’s leaves had special effects, but I wonder if there’s something similar with the Spirit Tree.

“Dolly, can the leaves of the Spirit Tree be used for anything?” I asked.

“Oh yes, they can. The sap and leaves can be used as high-grade healing potion ingredients, and they make excellent tea and honey. But the fruit is the most recommended. It’s incredibly delicious and can even heal severe illnesses. As long as you’re not dead, it’ll work!” Dolly explained.

“I see… That’s amazing, the Spirit Tree.”

Is this a ticking time bomb? If it’s discovered, all countries might attack here. It’s not good to create something like this for the sake of spectacle. Saying it’s okay as long as we’re not dead, the impact seems too extravagant.

“Hey, um, isn’t it dangerous if the existence of this tree is discovered? It’s so big and conspicuous, we should think of some countermeasures, right?”

“It’ll be fine, won’t it? No one comes this far, so it won’t be exposed. And even if it is, we can handle it.”

Silphy said so casually… Is it really that simple? Well, if no one comes, it’s true that it won’t be discovered.

“Don’t many people come here?”

“They don’t. It’s been a considerable time since this place became a desolate land. In the beginning, there were explorations, but the results showed it’s a harsh environment and there’s nothing here. Unless someone really loves mysteries, they won’t even bother to confirm. And… if what Nomos is working on succeeds, it will be even more secure.”

Nomos seemed motivated about something related to the sanctuary. That’s what I’m curious about.

“What will happen with the sanctuary?”

“Well, Nomos said they would talk about it once they have made progress, so let’s wait a little longer.”

Silphy apologized.

“Hmm, I see.”

It’s probably not something bad. When I asked Nomos before, he said something amazing will happen, so I’m looking forward to it. It feels like they’re aiming for some kind of surprise.

If there’s no point in thinking about it, then the Spirit Tree won’t be exposed. Let’s think positively that something enjoyable is waiting. Actually, just the name Spirit Tree sounds like it has incredible benefits.

I feel like my mood lightened when I shifted my mindset to a positive direction. I’ll relax and enjoy a forest bath, then work hard in the afternoon. Thanks to the Spirit Tree, we’ll have shady spots and the House by the Spring will become more comfortable, right?