After the martial arts tournament concluded, a few changes began to take root in the village.
First, several members of the Lamia Race from the Southern Dungeon and the Giant Race from the Northern Dungeon who had participated in the tournament decided to stay behind. It seemed they intended to work in the village until the autumn harvest.
The Lamias were helping with the sake brewing, while the Giants were over at Gatto’s place, assisting with the smithing. I wished them the best of luck.
Malbit, the Angel Race Leader, and Ruincia, the Chief Assistant, had arrived during the tournament. Even though the event was over, the two of them showed no signs of leaving; they planned to stay in the village for a while.
"I thought we might impose on you for the winter," Malbit said as she headed straight for the Village Head's Mansion.
She came back out almost immediately.
"The kotatsu isn't out!"
"It’s still autumn."
Ignoring Malbit’s complaint, Ruincia handed me a gift.
"I am sorry for the delay," she said.
It was a book made of parchment and a sapling that stood about a meter tall.
"This is a tree that has been cultivated in the Angel Race Village for generations. If it pleases you, we would like it to have a home in this village."
"Thank you, that’s very kind of you."
If it was a tree from the Angel Race's home, Tia and Granmaria might be happy to see it. I would have to make sure I raised it carefully. I wondered what kind of tree it was, though. I’d be delighted if it eventually bore fruit.
After Ruincia went to visit Tiselle and Aurora, Kierbit came running over in a panic. She stood there, staring intently at the sapling in my hands.
"Uwaaaa... uwaaaaaa..."
She looked stunned. Was it a dangerous plant? I tried asking her, but she didn't answer. She simply averted her eyes, muttered that she hadn't seen anything, and flew away.
Left with no other choice, I went to find Tia.
"Do you know what this is?"
"Eh? Eh? That? Wait, what?"
Tia also decided to pretend she hadn't seen it.
Becoming suspicious, I hid the sapling and sought out Granmaria.
"Granmaria, I heard there’s a specific tree grown in the Angel Race Village. Do you know anything about it?"
"I do, though it’s much like any other village—we mostly grow fruit trees. Oh, wait... do you mean that tree?"
"Is there something unusual about it?"
"It’s not so much unusual as it is a symbol. Would you like me to explain?"
"Please."
"Long ago, back when the Angel Race still called themselves the God-kin, they received a tree through a contract with the God of the Earth."
"A contract with the God of the Earth? That sounds incredibly grand."
"It does. Whether it’s actually true is anyone's guess. However, that tree is revered as the symbol of our race and is tended with the utmost care. Though, from what I hear, it actually grows on its own without needing much help."
"Is that so?"
"Yes. They say it won't wither even if placed in the Searing Land or the Frigid Land."
"That's impressive. Did they actually test it in places like that?"
"It seems the Angels from the God-kin era were quite reckless. It’s honestly embarrassing to think about."
"No, well, I can imagine."
It sounded like a bit of a dark history for them.
"Ahem. Anyway, the tree isn't remarkable just because it’s hardy. What’s truly incredible is the efficacy of its leaves. They say that if you crush a single leaf and apply it, any wound will heal. If you brew two leaves into a tea, you’ll recover from any illness. And if you roast and eat three leaves, it’s said you can even regenerate lost limbs."
"That sounds extraordinary."
"Indeed. But it’s all just rumors. No one knows for sure if it truly heals like that."
"Hahaha, fair enough. I’d be shocked if such a convenient tree actually existed."
"Quite. However, those legends have made it our symbol. Naturally, it is never allowed to leave our village. Even if you were the one asking, Village Head, Lady Malbit might... well, she might consider it, but Lady Ruincia would definitely block it. That is the kind of tree we are talking about."
I see. So that was why Kierbit and Tia were so troubled when they saw me holding the sapling. Still, I didn't think it was something they had to go so far as to "not see." Perhaps because it was a religious symbol, their perspective on it was just fundamentally different from mine.
Since Granmaria was pregnant, I decided to keep the truth from her for the time being.
"By the way, does the tree have a name?"
"I think it’s a bit of an exaggeration, but in the Angel Race Village, it is called the World Tree—Yggdrasil."
"That definitely sounds like an exaggeration."
I left Granmaria's room and went back to where I had hidden the sapling.
Now then. What should I do with this? My intention to raise it properly hadn't changed, but since it was so important to the Angels, I couldn't just stick it in the ground anywhere. The children might accidentally break it while playing.
If I wanted the safest place in the village, that meant either my mansion or the residential area. I decided to plant it right in the middle of the residential area.
To protect it, I planned to build a wall—a four-sided structure surrounding the spot. I asked the High Elves for help, and we had it finished in no time.
...It looked a bit like an eyesore. It was just a plain wall, after all.
I decided to modify it so it looked like a small hut without a roof. That was better. With the structure ready, I moved to plant the sapling in the center of the hut. If the tree grew, it might eventually serve as the roof itself. Actually, I really hoped it would become the roof.
With that wish in mind, I used the Universal Farming Tool to till the earth and planted the sapling.
Some distance away, Kudel found Granmaria.
"Granmaria, is it really okay for you to be walking around so much?"
"A little exercise is good for me. More importantly, have you seen the Village Head?"
"Oh, he was over there building something. I can go give him a message for you if you’d like."
"That’s alright. It’s nothing major."
"Then all the more reason for you to stay put. A pregnant woman shouldn't be wandering around for 'nothing major.'"
"You’re such a worry-wort. Fine, let's go together."
"Good. So, what was this minor thing you wanted to tell him?"
"I was talking to the Village Head about the World Tree earlier, but I realized I forgot to mention something."
"Forgot what?"
"The size of the tree. Even though it's been about two thousand years since they started growing it, it's still only about a meter tall."
"Ah, right. I think the legend says that while it won't wither anywhere, it won't actually grow unless the location is truly suitable."
"Exactly. I figured I should mention that. Though, I wonder why the Village Head was suddenly so curious about the World Tree?"
"Lady Malbit and Lady Ruincia are here, so maybe he heard something from them?"
"If that were the case, I’d think he’d just ask them for the details."
"True. Oh, there he is... Good grief, he’s as fast as ever. Looks like he’s already finished."
"Using a large tree as a roof like that is actually quite stylish."
"Yeah, it looks great. Though, why are the Nyunyu-daphne gathering around that hut...?"
"Are they... worshipping it? Did the Village Head do something again?"
"Probably. But that tree acting as the roof, I feel like I've seen it somewhere before... N-No, it couldn't be."
"...For the sake of the baby’s health, I think I'll just pretend I didn't see anything for a while."
"Yeah... I think that's a very wise choice."