Chapter 321 - Where Fairies Gather
"Time's still okay, right?"
Yes. It's 9:30, so shall we make tools for Pan-kun and the others?
"Thanks. Before that, I was wondering if I could go up the cliff first."
Huh? Um, how would you...
For now, I thought it wouldn't be too difficult if I just went and came back.
I could make a ladder, but for right now, this should be fine.
"I'll have Pan take this rope up and loop it around a tree somewhere."
The rope I use for traps can't be torn by a Greydeer, so it should be able to support me and Lupi.
"Sweee, could you ask Pan if he can guide us up the cliff?"
"~~~♪"
Sweee gave a strong thumbs-up and flew off towards Pan. That would probably require a reward later.
Is Lupi-chan staying home?
"No, I plan to put her in this and carry her on my back."
A wooden box where I stored the Magic Nightlights.
The boards didn't fit perfectly together, so there were gaps. If I threaded a rope through there and used it as a belt, I could carry it like a backpack. Or so I hoped.
"Alright. Lupi, get in."
"Woof."
I tried carrying Lupi, who had settled snugly into the wooden box, on my back… It's surprisingly manageable. Considering future events, maybe I should make a carrying frame?
Isn't it heavy?
"It's fine, it's fine. Probably because I have high STR and VIT."
In real life, I feel like it would be quite heavy, but Lupi isn't a full-grown dog… or wolf yet.
"Ryu~♪"
Pan came over with a smile, so I had a feeling he'd guide us.
I handed him the end of the rope and asked him to loop it around a thick tree on top of the cliff and throw it down.
I could have had him tie it, but the length was sufficient, so a safer approach…
"Alright, I'm counting on you."
"Ryu!"
Pan and Sweee climbed the stone wall nimbly, one after another.
After they reached the top and disappeared for a while,
"Ryu~"
"Oh, thanks!"
The end of the rope was thrown down, so I took hold of it and pulled with force to confirm the support was secure.
Shou-kun, please be careful, okay?
"Roger. I won't overdo it."
If the rope snapped, I figured I'd be okay if I shielded Lupi and fell. Probably.
Also, whether I could use [Fixation] magic in an instant…
"Alright. Let's go!"
"Woof!"
Momentum is important for things like this. I felt like looking down would be bad, so I only looked up as I climbed. But carefully.
The rope dug into my hands, but thanks to the Red Armor Bear gloves, it didn't hurt.
"Phew..."
I climbed about 10 meters without a problem and let out a sigh of relief.
I'll put the wooden box down and leave it here.
You did it!
"Somehow, yeah."
Looking back, I surveyed the area behind the church, seeing Fairies playing around the Grapeful fields and flowers, Urisks tending to the fields, and Leda and Roy on patrol.
"Ryu?"
"Oh, I'm fine. Please guide the way."
"~~~♪"
"Woof~"
Sweee seemed more eager than usual, saying "Go, go!" Was there some good fruit, perhaps?
………
……
…
"Oh, it looks like an open area."
It's bright.
After passing through a thicket near the cliff, it opened up into a wide space.
"Wow, amazing..."
It's amazing...
Beyond that, a large tree, not very tall but with a trunk nearly 2 meters thick, stood imposingly.
Its leaves were lush, but it didn't completely block out the sunlight, providing dappled light.
"~~~♪"
"Oh, Sweee?"
Sweee left my shoulder and flew towards the large tree.
I wondered if it was okay for her to go off on her own, but Pan didn't stop her and followed behind, so I guess it's fine?
"Is this alright?"
Sweee-chan will be fine.
If Mion-san says so, then it must be fine. She's a goddess, after all.
Lupi and I would stay put and watch for now.
"~~~♪"
"Ryu~♪"
Is it a prayer?
I couldn't quite see from behind, but Sweee seemed to touch the great tree. Next to her, Pan was kneeling with his head bowed.
I thought something terrible would happen again, but surprisingly, nothing did.
Sweee turned around and beckoned to us.
"Let's go."
"Woof."
As we approached, the trunk's thickness was truly impressive.
Yet, there were no withered spots, and it looked vibrant and alive.
Shou-kun, Appraisal please.
[Divine Tree]
*An evergreen tree said to have been planted by a goddess.
It regulates the surrounding mana, providing peace to spirits and fairies.*
"This was also a Divine Tree..."
So this is what the Divine Tree in the back of the basin where the mountain cabin is will become when it grows.
But in-game, the growth isn't something you can really see that much.
"~~~♪"
"Huh? Sweee?"
Sweee took my hand and pulled.
Beyond that was the back of the Divine Tree…
"No way, there's a tree hollow here too… yeah, there is."
Before, I warped from the Divine Tree's tree hollow in the basin's forest to probably the southern part of the Republic on the mainland.
Is this tree hollow also connected somewhere on the mainland?
"Sweee, I don't really intend to leave the island, you know? I only went before because the Fairies were in a pinch."
"~~~!"
It seems not?
Hm? What did she mean, 'not'?
"~~~…"
"Whoa! Sweee!?"
As I tilted my head, Sweee sighed, then flew off with a whoosh and disappeared into the tree hollow.
"W-what should I do?"
Y-you should follow her!
As Mion and I were flustered,
"Woof."
"~~~♪"
Sweee returned, holding two Greenberry Fruits in her hand.
She gave one to Pan and popped the other into her own mouth…
Shou-kun. Sweee-chan, she might have gone to the mountain cabin and come back...
"Ah, she went to the spring and came back?"
"~~~♪"
A thumbs-up for the correct answer. And a triumphant look.
No, this is definitely a time to look triumphant.
"Sweee is amazing! As expected of the Queen!"
"Woof!"
"~~~♪"
She tugged on my right hand, so I halved the Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit and gave it to her. I gave the other half to Pan, and if he liked it, I'd distribute it to the other Urisks too.
If Sweee-chan is with us, we can get here without going through the Ancient Ruins.
"Yeah. And I'd be happy to be able to call Pan and the others to the mountain cabin."
Yes!
Even if they don't come to do something, just coming to play sounds fun.
Also,
"If there was also a Divine Tree at the harbor, I could call True and the Selkies too..."
You're right.
I glanced at Sweee,
"~~~?"
She was still chewing on her Torotoro Dried Papu Fruit, patting the Divine Tree.
I see, so she means 'if there was a Divine Tree'…