Chapter 243 - Chapter Eleven: Celebration, Welcome Party, and Farewell Party
=== CHAPTER 243 ===
It became July.
July is a season for partings.
This is because the military and government office exams are in July. Those who pass head to their new assignments.
It was decided that Beowulf would be recommended for the Kingdom Army, and Will would pass the exam and work at the royal palace. Since it's the fourth year since both were hired, they will be heading to their assignments soon. However, since Beowulf's assignment is the Nakanohara Garrison, it's not much different from now. But she might go to the Central Army as early as when she's twenty.
We decided to hold a celebration for the two of them, a farewell party for Will, and a welcome party for the Arachne in the backyard of the Ghost Mansion. The Arachne is now a bodyguard for the scouts directly under the royal palace. In other words, she becomes an employee of the Marcelo Company. So, she's wearing Green Marble with the Marcelo Company embroidery.
She's wearing a special-made one by Matilda with slits in the sides. Since the front and back are well-matched, the inside of the clothes can't be seen unless she puts her legs out. To hide the eye on her forehead, she wrapped Finis checkered fabric around her forehead and tied it in the back with a blue string to stop it.
Incidentally, the embroidery was purple and overlapped with Mary's, but when she said, "We're matching," she was bashful.
Henry-sama and the others are also here. They apparently came to help because the second phase of the waterworks construction is in its final stages. Their lodging is still the orphanage. They'll surely be here until the Water-Splashing Festival in August. When I called out to them, they came happily.
In addition, the Dwarf and the Dryad are also here. The Dryad was apparently invited and brought along for a pleasure flight to go drink mead. The Dwarf was invited on the way back from the altar with the Archbishop and the Priestess.
"By the way, was this the first time the Arachne met Mel?"
When Henry-sama asked, she answered, "Yeah." She met Dune when she moved into the goblin's nest.
"I never thought there would be two of this class here."
Even a B-rank monster is apparently no match for the Four Great Spirits, and she was quite surprised when Mel was summoned.
"We usually play with Jeanne and the others like this. Since you live nearby, you should come when we have a banquet here. We do it once a month."
"Is it okay?"
At Dune's words, she looked at me with upturned eyes. In her hand, she held a beef skewer and a bowl of mead.
"It's okay, it's okay. Here, humans, Revenants, ghosts, spirits, monsters, birds, and goats don't matter. It's that kind of place."
At Mel's words, she bowed her head, saying, "Nice to meet you."
"We have to decide on names."
At Marcelo-san's suggestion, everyone nodded.
This was for the Dryad and the Arachne. It would be troublesome when calling out to them while shopping in town or eating together.
As a result of the discussion, the Dryad became Serena, and her embroidery would be jade-colored; the Arachne became Violet. By the way, the origin of Serena was because her favorite word was 'serenity.'
Then, the Dwarf started saying, "Give one to me too."
"Even though I've been invited like this, am I the only one left out?"
"It shouldn't be a problem even if you're found out, Dwarf. Aren't your peers in the Western Plains heading out to the town's taverns? Besides, don't you call each other by name among Dwarves?"
Eleanor-sama said, but he's persisting that he hates being left out. Since it couldn't be helped, we decided to give him one.
"If I'm going to have one, I want a cool name. Like a legendary knight or king. The kind where everyone around turns their heads when I'm called."
"Then how about Alex? It comes from Alexander, the name of a great king who once conquered the continent."
Eleanor-sama made a bold proposal.
Won't we get scolded?
"Isn't that great! Alright, Alexander it is. You guys, from today on, when you call me, call me King Alexander the Great."
Dune and Mel were hitting him on the head.
The Arachne rustled and extended one of her side legs, poking the tip of her claw into the side of King Alexander the Great, who was breaking into a cold sweat.
"You've got some nerve."
"W-Well, don't say that. It's just a light joke."
In the end, it was Alex, and it was decided that we could call him without honorifics.
He apparently wants silver-colored embroidery. When I said it couldn't be reproduced, he brought out silver thread. It's an incredibly valuable item, but he's saying if we're going to embroider, use this. As expected of a Great Spirit of the mines.
This time, Will is also one of the main characters. After all, she passed the exam for the Royal Capital staff.
"Will received offers from various places. She got a perfect score on the exam, can speak the continental language, has perfect etiquette, is skilled in combat, and looks good. Moreover, she has participated in the Demon Lord subjugation army and received three medals."
According to Eleanor-sama, the Queen wanted her as a direct subordinate. A beautiful woman who can fight might be most suited for the Queen's side.
"In the end, I was the one who drew her, though."
Eleanor-sama is making a triumphant fist pump. It seems she became Eleanor-sama's direct subordinate. It was apparently the result of everyone rolling dice. To be precise, it seems the three of them—Henry-sama, Eleanor-sama, and Wilson-san—rolled dice with others and had conspired so that any of the three could obtain her.
"The job will be flying around here and there in the bowl I control, along with Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama."
Wilson-san explained Will's job, but she's really drawn the short straw. They're the kind of people who wander around without money and think nothing of illegally entering other countries. She might become a wanted person before long. I'm really worried about her future.
"In the Royal Capital, you should live with Mary. Commuting will be convenient too."
Mary opened the third shop in the Royal Capital, specifically in the area where people working at the royal palace live together. After all, even though the ingredients are fresh, the shipping cost is zero except for the box usage fee. She was entrusted with all the ingredient transactions for the Finis ambassador, and she's also selling wholesale to nearby restaurants.
At the shop, in addition to marble-dyeing and accessories, they are selling various things like checkered skirts, tunics, hand towels, mufflers, and pouches, after consulting with Aira on the Finis side and the ladies-in-waiting on the Sertoria side. Since they also sell sweets, they've started charging for drink sets so people can eat in the shop.
Of course, you can just order drinks and sweets and just chat and go home. Until now, there were only shops where an old guy was drinking beer beside you. As a shop where women can take a little break, it has apparently already gained popularity within a month of opening.
Today, she's wearing a blue checkered skirt with a black tunic.
"By the way, have you heard the story about the Northeastern Forest?"
"That a full-scale offensive will begin once Roberts-sama returns?"
"Yes, it's scheduled to begin in October. However, there's something else to be done besides that. It's top secret."
"Top secret?"
In short, it's apparently the construction of a connecting road between the Eastern Plains and the Royal Capital region. He said it needs to be made without other countries knowing. I believe the Lindwurm is still supposed to be alive, and because it will attack, roads can't be made and armies can't move. It seems they're going to make it quickly during the winter and feign ignorance.
"We have a prospect up to around where the Class of 175 fought the Cait Sith, so we need to extend it north from there. That's where I want to ask the Marcelo Company. You all know the reality and the plan."
"From when?"
When Marcelo-san asked, he said from December until spring. It's midwinter. It's not an easy job. Only goblins, who are strong against the cold, could do it.
"The Eastern Plains Corps will advance into the Black Forest on the other side of the river. It's the southeastern part. During that time, the Eastern Plains Jaegers must maintain the position currently under construction. So, we're thinking of assigning about five goblins as new scouts. Besides that, we want the goblins to participate in the construction along with the soldiers as members of the Eastern Plains Jaegers temporarily during the winter. It would be better to have as many participants as possible, perhaps rotating on a weekly basis."
The construction work for the highway connecting the Flatlands and the southern plains will begin in earnest. Eventually, construction from the Flatlands side will start. In other words, the trial excavation of silica will end. Actually, the second phase of the waterworks construction also has a prospect, and the goblins have finished their duty. The pack on the north bank has also become quite acclimated. There should be a way.
"Robinson, Flora, and Violet, what do you think?"
"I-It's fine. If it's the male goblins from the south bank, they can go anytime. We can send ten. They can't speak, but communication via hand signals is possible. We can also send a few from the north bank. The north bank has Flora's companions and Violet, so it's sufficient. Yes, it'll be fine. I'm sure it'll go well."
"If it's for interpreting, my companions can participate. There are still three months, right? I'm sure it'll be fine."
Robinson-san's voice was trembling toward Marcelo-san. Even if temporarily, many will belong to the Eastern Plains Jaegers. It's also their first big mission as scouts directly under the royal palace.
Flora even started promoting her companions.
However, someone voiced an objection.
"Do you have to cut down trees to let the road through? It would be enough if you just had the trees move aside a little."
Serena the Dryad, who had been looking in a bad mood at the talk of logging, spoke up.
But even if you say have them move aside...
"I will give power to the trees and make them move."
"Is such a thing possible?"
Even Eleanor-sama was surprised. Besides, I didn't think a Dryad would cooperate with humans.
"In exchange, there's something I want you to do."
"What should we do?"
"I want you to help me make a new Dryad's Forest."
Dryads apparently grow a new seedling about once every few hundred to few thousand years. In the process of that seedling moving and becoming a full-fledged tree, a new Dryad's Forest is formed.
"What kind of thing is a seedling?"
At Eleanor-sama's words, Serena touched a sawtooth oak in the corner of the backyard and muttered something. The leaves of the sawtooth oak became about twice as large. The branches also grew rapidly, and what was at most reaching the second-floor window now reached the third floor. The trunk also became thicker.
While we were watching in amazement, the trunk split vertically, and a small girl with bobbed green hair came out from inside. She looked to be about three or four years old.
She walked over with short steps and hugged Serena. I thought she had hidden her face, but she showed half of it and was looking at everyone with one eye.
Cute!
"How old?"
When I reflexively asked her age, she thrust out four fingers.
"Four?"
"Forty!"
She snapped back as if angry.
I shouldn't ask a spirit their age.
When Violet extended her four side legs and did a 'high-high,' she was laughing 'kyakya' around the second-floor window.
Serena said she wouldn't manage it directly but would have the seedling do it, so she asked for our cooperation. It's apparently part of the education to grow a good forest.
"Isn't she too young?"
Eleanor-sama's concern is understandable. Regardless of her actual age, her appearance is not that of an age to be made independent.
"A tree grows alone. It interacts with insects, small birds, and animals, learns harmony, and becomes a forest. This girl will surely grow into a good tree while interacting with her surroundings. As the wind... Mel said, this seems to be a place where humans, spirits, and monsters don't matter. If we can occasionally spend time here with the young seedling with all of you, I will undertake the matter of the highway construction mentioned earlier."
The sawtooth oak will apparently become a passage. I was told that since it produces surprisingly large acorns, we can pick and eat them. When Beatrix said sawtooth oaks are very astringent, she removed the astringency for us. We'll be able to make lots of acorn cookies.
Henry-sama nodded, and it was settled easily.
The clone's name became Little Serena. She'll stay a little one for as long as we're alive anyway.
Moving trees is fine, but only humans would know which trees would be convenient to move for highway construction. Since Henry-sama and Eleanor-sama must be at the royal palace in the winter, Wilson-san and Will were put in charge. We became the traffic control personnel. We'll be using Warm and riding in the bowl, so it won't be cold. The reward will apparently come from the royal palace.
"Am I left out again?"
The Dwarf is sulking.
"Alex, aren't you a Great Spirit of the mines? If it were an elf, that would be one thing, but messing with the forest is outside your specialty, isn't it? Even Violet and Flora aren't participating this time."
Just as Eleanor-sama said, the two of them aren't participating. Violet has her patrols. Flora will be heavy with seeds that grow during the winter. She plans to take root in the Flatlands during the winter and stay until spring. Matilda is making a dedicated shed for her.
"I can use Teleport freely, you know. Think about it. Even the trees Serena moves, their roots just walk. If it's me, I can even bring several trees together to the north of the lake. If I do that, traffic control will be easy, and it'll be easier to make the little one's forest too."
It's a wonderful proposal. It will surely make things much faster.
It was decided that we would actually try moving a tree.
Everyone moves to the residential area in the Flatlands.
We have Flora call the Queen of the beehive. It's to have the bees choose which tree is good and transplant several next to the shed dedicated to the beehive. Since they have now increased to two swarms, two Queens came along with several attendants each.
Little Serena was delighted and was greeting them by putting them on her palm.
If we're doing it, a tree that isn't in the neighborhood is better. It was decided that we would scout for young mountain trees with the mother and daughter Serena, Beatrix, and the bees, riding in Eleanor-sama and Wilson-san's bowls.
After consulting with the bees, we decided on a chestnut tree. When it bears fruit, we can eat it, and it can also be an ingredient for sweets served at the shop. We found a perfect three-year-old tree, so we decided to move it.
Little Serena, prompted by Serena, was saying something while stroking the tree with both hands, going "unsho, unsho," and then roots came crawling out of the ground and it started walking just like that. It raised its branches high, leaned its trunk slightly back, and was stretching.
Alex goes to the side of the chestnut tree and holds his hand over the ground. When he chants something, a magic circle emerges on the ground, and one person and one tree inside disappeared. Apparently, they moved to the transplant site where Violet and the others are.
While we were taken aback, only Alex returned.
"How was that? Amazing, right? That tree earlier has already let its roots sink into the ground and stopped moving. Huh? Where's the little one?"
"The mother and daughter are on a pleasure flight."
Beatrix points to the sky. Since it's ultra-high speed, they are already invisible. They might have gone to the Eastern Plains.
As soon as the work was finished, the mother and daughter had begged for it. Their expressions at that time didn't make me think their favorite word was serenity at all.
"What, and here I was going to let them experience Teleport."
"You're naive. We're not short of things to entertain children with here. If it's Teleport, unless you do something like moving from mid-air to mid-air in succession, they'll get bored immediately and won't even look at you."
"I can't really recommend that. Magic is safety first."
"Then give up on becoming a favorite of the children."
"Is that so, is that so. Sorry for not being popular. So, when are they coming back?"
"Probably one hour? Maybe two."
"...Let's go home."
"Teleport, please. Convenient abilities are most welcome."
"Adults are so calculating."
Since we were at it, we had him manipulate one wild boar for dinner, killed it, and brought it back.
When we returned, the chestnut tree was growing.
The honeybees also immediately gathered to see how it was. In the summer, flowers will surely bloom, and in the autumn, we'll be able to eat chestnuts.
"P-Please do it like that."
By the time they finally returned after flying all over the place, Eleanor-sama was exhausted and breathing heavily. I hurriedly had her drink wine and cast Recovery.
Alex was muttering, "Dangerous, dangerous," while looking down.
If they had taken a liking to Teleport, he surely would have been made to do it dozens of times.
"Do you have a candidate site? If a fourth Dryad's Forest is made in Sertoria, another forest that must not be touched, according to the instructions of the first King, will be added."
The revived Eleanor-sama proceeds with the talk. We've only just confirmed that trees move.
As a result of the interaction between Serena and Eleanor-sama while spreading out the map, it was to the west of the newly constructed highway. It's the place we first went for training, in the middle of where the Northeastern Forest and the stray orcs are fighting.
Apparently, if they go too far, they have trouble acclimating to the soil. That said, a place where hunters currently enter is problematic. Along the border is also a problem if there's a war. A place that doesn't include such negative factors is only north of Nakanohara. Among them, for the isolation of the Northeastern Forest and northern Nakanohara that Eleanor-sama is aiming for, it would be perfect if there were a Dryad's Forest in between. The highway will detour slightly to the east, so the distance will increase, but we shouldn't begrudge that much effort.
"It's to the east of the region I'm currently managing. It's perfect. I can patrol it occasionally."
Her statement has become that of a boss, not a bodyguard.
Recently, she's apparently been parading around with the goblins.
Since she walked around dragging two ogres that had meddled with the goblins, skewered by her side claws, everyone has apparently become quiet. She's not demanding protection money or anything. We can probably leave it to her.
"If Arachne... Violet is nearby, I'll be relieved."
"If it's sandwiched by Dryad's Forests, the Demon Realm can become a safe Demon Realm. The Dwarf's mine, the Dryad's Forest, the place where the orcs that Violet patrols live, then the Dryad's Forest, our highway, and then the Northeastern Forest."
"After that is the normalization of the Northeastern Forest. Is it going to be okay?"
"We have a prospect up to the nearest river from this side. Beyond the river is for the future. We will defeat the remnants of the Demon Lord's army and return part to the Dryads and the rest to those who should live there. I believe my son Roberts will accomplish it."
Those who should live there likely refers to the elves. The Black Forest shouldn't be human territory.