86 - Episode 84 Contract with Dolly

At Dolly's request, the north block was filled with dirt and watered by Rain. Now we are ready to sign the contract with Dolly.

"Dolly, what are you going to do now?"

"I'll let you know in a minute."

Then Dolly closed her eyes, and the magic power gathered in front of Dolly with a bang. .......

"Hey, hey, Sylphy. I feel unusual, are you okay?"

Sarah and the others are also frozen, as if they have noticed something unusual.

"It's okay. It's one of the abilities of the spirits of the forest.

I could tell that the spirits were taking it easy and seemed to be doing okay, even though I was scared. Tamamo, in particular, is very interested in what Dolly is doing and is wagging her tail at full throttle. Maybe something great is going on.

The magic power that was gathering was so bright that it was dazzling, and when the light slowly subsided, a seed the size of a baby's fist was floating between Dolly's two hands.

"Mr. Yuta. Please plant this seed in the center of this place.

"Oh, yes."

Unintentionally, I take the offered seed. I don't know what's going on, but this seed is obviously not normal. What's going on?

I head for the center of the north block with a strangely powerful seed, even though it is supposed to be a plant seed.

"Let's see. This is the right place. Dory, how deep is it?"

"Right. A little deeper ...... about 15 centimeters, please."

Plant the seed as Dolly instructed and cover it with soil.

"Now, Yuta, please come over here. Yuta, please tell Sarah and the others to stay away from me.

What? What?　Is it dangerous to make a contract with the Great Spirit of the Forest?　I tell Sarah and the others to stay away from me and face Dolly, because I don't want anything to happen to them.

"Well, let's get started, shall we?"

Dolly smiles at me.

"Uh-huh."

I return a tight smile. After confirming my reply, Dolly put her hands out in front of her, just like Sylphy and Dine did, and then she put a seed with the power of an attribute into ...... the seed?　Aren't they balls, like wind and water balls?

"I am Dolly the Great Spirit of the Forest. If you wish to make a covenant, press this seed to your heart."

...... I was wondering about wind and water balls, but what about seeds even more?　Wouldn't a plant grow out of the heart?　...... No, you wouldn't do something that dangerous to a contractor. I take the seed with determination and press it against my heart.

Oh, the seed breaks loose and is sucked into me in the form of magic power. I am a little relieved that the whole seed is not sucked into me.

"The deal is done.

Dolly smiles gently. Hmm?　Are you done?　To be honest, it's the best I've tasted so far, and a bit of a letdown. No, this is about as good as it gets. While I'm satisfied, Dolly smiles at me and points to where we just planted the seeds. I turn to look at her and see .......

A sprout appeared from where I had just planted the seed. ...... Mimikimiki?　Gnarly?　Mekimeki?　It began to grow rapidly, making a sound that is hard to describe.

What?　I've seen this scene before. While I was stunned, the tree was growing and the trunk was getting thicker and thicker, and it was getting closer and closer to me.

"...... Let's see... Dolly. What is this tree?"

My neck hurts when I look up. What is this tree?　It's too big.

"It's a spirit tree. It's a good tree that helps to make the land rich.

"...... Oh, yeah. That's great.

My voice comes out flat, but I think I can't help it. In the first place, is it right to grow such an amazing-looking tree in the land of death?

Already Bell and his friends are flying around the spirit tree, playing with it. Well, it's good to have more greenery. Yeah. It's good.

Yeah. Sylphy and Dine have put up an elaborate show, so I'll have to do my best too.

Dolly smiles. ...... I see. The genie tree is a performance. Is it tactless to say, "Don't grow a genie tree for effect?

"Uh-huh. I was so surprised. But thank you, Dolly."

"I'm glad you're pleased. The vegetation around her will be richer with her. We're going to make it a wonderful place."

"Uh-huh. I'll do my best.

DOLLY. I thought you were a classy, innocent, ladylike grand spirit, but you're a daring one.

"Oh, oh, master. What is that tree ......?"

Sara's flustered. I know exactly how she feels.

"It's a tree called the Spirit Tree. They grew it for me when I made a deal with Dory."

"A tree of spirits?" "Of fairy tales?　I had a maid read it to me in a storybook once: ......"

Fairy tales...... Spirit trees are such a level of tree. I can tell just by looking at it that it's no ordinary tree, but that's what happens when a great spirit works hard. It's not half bad.

But Sara must have been a good kid after all to have a maid read her a storybook. And there's a key word we can't miss. A maid... you'll need a maid when you build a big house. But who will come to the land of the dead?　It's sad that there seems to be little hope.

"Master!　Can you climb that tree!"

Marco asked excitedly. Well, I guess kids like to climb trees, but what about Marco who sees that tree and wants to climb it?　Kikka is behind me shaking her head, looking like she's about to cry.

"Wait a minute. Dory. Is that tree sacred?　I'm not allowed to climb it or anything, am I?"

"As long as you don't damage it unnecessarily, you should be able to climb it. The branches are also strong, so there is no problem to build a tree house or something like that.

...... Treehouses. It's too big to climb up and down. But we can easily go back and forth if we ask Sylphy to help us. Shall we build it?

When the money comes in, it might be a good idea to have a couple of proper houses built in the labyrinth city. We could have them built off the ground so that we could move around. I'm sure Marie can introduce us to some good people, so let's ask her.

No, I have a lot of thinned trees, maybe I can try by myself. I think I can make a hut with pioneering tools. We should dry the trees as soon as possible.

He said we can climb. I should ask Sylphy to take me there. Sylphie?

"Yes, I'd like that."

Sylphy nodded lightly. Deanne, only Sylphy can fly, and I'm not asking you to do so lightly, so don't look at me like I'm saying something different.

Sylphy says it's a good idea, so let's go.

Marco is jumping for joy, but Kikka looks betrayed.

"Kikka! I'm not scared. You've flown over me so many times. Sylphy is the one who will take us to the tree tops. We'll be safe."

......This time I thought for a moment and nodded my head, saying so. He seemed to have lost a lot of his guard since he was with Sara and Marco yesterday when they were leveling up. His facial expression has become more expressive.

Are you okay with that, Sara?

"Are you going to climb the spirit tree?　......Yes, I'm fine."

It seems that they are not afraid of heights, but rather they are worried about whether they can climb the tree. I can imagine that it is a great tree, but is it really that great? I'll look for books or picture books that mention the tree.

"Well, let's go there. Sylfie, please?"

"Yes, I'll be there."

Sylphy wraps me and Sarah and the others in a cocoon of wind and we float up in the air. Sarah and the others have done this a few times before, so they stay still and don't make a fuss.

We quickly ascend as if we were riding an elevator, and are lowered to a branch near the top of the mountain.

"Master!　That's awesome!"

Marco excitedly scurries around on the branch. I am nervous that he might fall off, but the branch is quite thick, so he should be fine as long as he doesn't fall down.

"Marco! Be careful not to fall off."

"Okay!"

Perfect score in reply, but not in action. I'll ask Sylphy to take care of Marco. I've seen the view from a higher place with Sylphy, but it's a different feeling.

The sound of leaves rustling in the wind and the smell of greenery... When I'm flying in the sky, it doesn't feel real somehow, but in the tree tops, I feel like all my senses are fully engaged.

Belle and the others are jumping around, slipping through the branches. Sara and Kikka are sitting on a branch and looking at the scenery.

But the spirit tree has a nice, calming scent. I wonder if there are any special effects on the leaves of the World Tree in the game, or on the Spirit Tree?

"Dolly. Do the leaves of the spirit tree become any kind of material?"

Yes, we do. The sap and leaves can be used to make high-grade restoratives, and they are also excellent as tea and nectar. But the fruits are the best. They are very tasty and heal even serious illnesses. As long as you're not dead, you're fine!　

"...... Oh, yeah. That's a great spirit tree.

I thought this was a bomb.　If they find out, all the countries are going to invade. You can't let something like this grow for effect. It's too flashy to work if you're not dead.

"Hey, you know, this tree is dangerous if it's found out. It's so big and conspicuous, we might have to think of some countermeasures."

"I think we'll be fine, don't you?　No one will come this far and they won't know. And even if they do, it won't matter.

Sylphy says simply. ...... is it really that simple?　Well, they certainly won't know if no one comes.

"So many people don't show up?"

"No, they don't. It's been a long time since this place was a deathtrap. In the beginning it was explored, but the result is a harsh environment and nothing. I doubt that anyone but the most dedicated would even bother to check it out. Now all that's left is ...... to do what Nomos is trying so hard to do, and it'll be even more solid."

Nomos was motivated by the guy who was talking about the sanctuary. That's what I'm concerned about.

"The sanctuary thing. What about that?"

"Well, Nomos said he'll tell me when he's ready, so you'll have to give him a minute."

Sylphy says apologetically.

"Um, okay."

Maybe it's not a bad thing. I asked Nomos about it before and he said it's going to be great, that I should look forward to it, and he seemed like he wanted to surprise me or something.

If we don't think about it, the tree won't be exposed. Let's think positively that a fun event is waiting for us. In fact, the genie tree sounds like a great boon just by its name.

I feel more at ease when I keep my mind in a positive direction. I'm going to enjoy a leisurely forest bathing and work hard from this afternoon. Thanks to the spirit tree, the shade of the trees will make life easier at Izumi no Ie.