541 - - Art. 539. What is the Spirit Tree?

When I went to scout for the Great Spirit of Snow, I found that he was supposed to be the Great Spirit of Snow Leopard, but he was a cat-like home guard ...... plus an eccentric Great Spirit with a tremendous attachment to bedclothes. I felt uneasy about scouting him, but it would be enough to make it snow and have him stay indoors, so I'll give it a try.

"Hmmm, that's impossible.

"What?　Even Nomos can't do it?"

To be honest, I thought I could get by with nomos if I asked. That's why I did my best to smile even though I didn't understand the story about the bedding of the Great Spirit of Snow. .......

I managed to get the word that <> and returned to paradise in high spirits, but this is the result. Is there anything Nomos can't do?

Find other bedding?　But the Great Spirit of Snow will not be satisfied with half-baked bedding. The various furs that were touched during the boasting were a touch of something to be proud of.

Moreover, each fur has its own characteristics, and they are so particular about their bedding that they change it according to their moods on any given day. Half-heartedly trying to do anything will only put him in a bad mood.

Another scouting failure?

"Well, I misspoke. I can do it, but it's not very efficient. Glass can be reinforced, but it breaks when it rubs against each other. Metal is too heavy. It is possible if you select the right materials and mix them, but there is no need to go that far.

"Well, what do you mean by ......?"

The word "not impossible" gives me hope, but it's a gigolo's trick to drop the ball and then raise it.

Are you trying to make me fall in love with you?

"What Yuta wants to do, even a plant can do. Ask Dory."

"Dolly?"

"Mm. It would be better to use trees and sap, which are better suited for this than metal."

...... I guess I'm still bound by earthly norms. Since magic exists in this world, it's not surprising that there are trees and sap that can be substituted for plastic.

"Well, thank you Nomos. I'll ask Dolly about it."

"Mm."

Whew. I'm a little nervous, but I think we're on the verge of something, so let's check on Mel and the others and then go see Dory.

"Mel, how are you doing?"

I talked to Mel, who was watching us and not participating in the conversation while Nomos and I were talking.

"Yes, well, it's very difficult, but it's very rewarding. I have been taught ancient knowledge that I ...... don't even know ......, no, not only me, but that is lost in today's world. ...... Is everything okay?"

"...... Nomos, I thought you were teaching about Damascus steel?　Isn't ancient knowledge dangerous for some things?"

Without replying to Mel, he turned around and spoke to Nomos. This is a very unfashionable matter.

"Damascus steel is also ancient knowledge, isn't it?"

I can't even hear a sound when you say that.

"...... Mel. If they reproduced Damascus steel, albeit in a degraded form, it would attract a lot of attention. I don't need any more attention than that, so don't publish what you've learned."

With my backing, you're probably safer than the average person, but there's no need to add more danger for no good reason.

Yes, sir. Then it is better not to learn any more.

Mel looks a little, maybe a lot disappointed. He is a craftsman and has a thirst for knowledge.

"You can learn as much as you want, since it's all hidden. But be very careful with your knowledge. Okay?"

"Yes!　I understand!"

You look so happy. I knew he wanted to learn.

I'm a little worried about the leakage of information, but Mel is a small man and will be very careful.

"Mel, Meral, Meryl Serio, I'm sorry for interrupting your training. Nomos, take care of them."

Feeling that any further discussion would lead to more stomach-churning stories, he quickly leaves the workshop, leaving Mel and the others in Nomos' hands.

Now, let's forget about the things that might make us anxious and go see Dolly.

I'm going to go see Dolly.

"Then let's ask Sakura-chan to help us."

"Sakura?　Why?"

I explained to Dolly what had happened so far, and somehow Sakura's name came up.

Nomos, Dolly, and now Sakura. I feel like I'm being passed around.

Yuta-san seems to have forgotten that Sakura is a thought body of a spirit tree. It is Sakura who has the right materials for what you want.

Come to think of it, the cherry tree is based on the spirit tree.

I knew that, but seeing her smiling and waving her arms and legs around as she ate delicious meals and snacks, I had disconnected the sakura from the spirit tree in my perception.

"Dolly, what do you need the genie tree for?　I mean, I thought all the materials for spirit trees were precious.　Can we make bedding out of such things?"

The fruit of the spirit tree had the effect of curing anything that was not dead. I remember hearing that the leaves, branches, and sap also have some value.

"It is true that the material of the spirit tree is very valuable. But that is because they grow in places where people cannot set foot, and the will of the spirit tree, which hates greed and roughness, refuses to provide materials to the unruly.

What?　No rowdy people?　The only people who can reach places where people can't set foot are usually people who are used to roughing it.

And those who come to such unexplored places are usually looking for treasures.

I see...that's why the materials of the spirit tree are so precious.

It's a shitty or impossible game if only a strong, kind and selfless person can get it.

"Huh?　I don't mean to sound self righteous, but I'm not Abnegation, okay?　I don't like to do rough ...... work, but I can be rough in the right mood. Why do you miss the cherry?"

I am aware that I am the type of person who is rather disliked.

"Yuta-san is like a parent to Sakura, so unless you do something really bad, she won't hate you.

Family privilege. That makes sense.

"So, if a cherry blossom girl offers it to me, I can use it without any problem, right?"

It's a bit of a waste, like blowing your nose on a bill, but I guess it balances out when you think of an extra snow island in paradise.

"Yes. He is still too young to be reckless, but the amount Yuta-san would like to eat is no problem at all.

With Dolly's endorsement, we can rest easy.

"Then let's go to Sakura's. Sylphy, do you know where she is?

"You're playing with Belle and the others at the spirit tree."

"Oh, they're with us. Oh, the Bells are with us. Do you think they like the slide?"

If so, I'm very happy that I made it.

"The slides are fun, but the spirits are also comfortable around the spirit trees.　　

"Oh, I didn't know that. Well, I hope they are enjoying the slide.

"......Yuta. Try to think a little deeper. You know that it has something to do with spirits, since its name is the Spirit Tree, right?"

I never thought about the origin of the name!

...... no good, I thought about sulking like a cute little girl, but just imagining it makes me sick.

It's best to be honest.

"Okay. I'll try to pay more attention to things. By the way, how did you come up with the name 'spirit tree'?"

"In the old days, there were more spirit trees than there are now. There were so many that a person could reach them with a little effort. Then, a person with a talent for spiritism felt that spirits were gathering there and named the tree the Spirit Tree.

"I see. Why do spirits gather in the first place?"

"Because it is comfortable, but most of all because of the scent.　I told you that the spirit tree enriches the land, didn't I?　The fragrance emitted during that cycle is a wonderful healing for the spirits."

Does it have outstanding aromatherapy effects?

"...... Does the sap of the spirit tree also have a smell that spirits like?"

I think I've heard that the sap is somehow made into incense.

"Well, I don't know.　Dolly, do you know?"

"Yes, ...... the sap smells good before it solidifies. Even after it solidifies, I think it still has a faint scent.

......, which means you can make bedding that smells faintly good and feels wonderful.

"There is no possibility that the Great Spirit of Snow doesn't like the scent of the spirit tree, is there?"

"I doubt it.　But I've never heard of any spirit not liking the scent of a genie tree. How about Dolly?"

"I don't think there is any spirit that doesn't like the scent of the genie tree, unless it is a very unusual spirit."

Except for the most unusual spirits. .......

"Is a spirit that loves to sleep in furs, using its magical powers, and the bedding to make that sleep comfortable, a very strange spirit?"

I think that's the big point.

"...... can't deny that. But since the Great Spirit of Snow's hobby is to sleep, isn't the fragrance the same as the general genie's tastes?"　　　

"Yes, that's right. If you are concerned, there are saps that have little or no sap fragrance, so you might want to make some as a backup.

Well, there is a good chance that you like the scent of the spirit tree, but if you have some left over, you can use it yourself, and making non-scented bedding as a spare is not a bad choice.

While I was on my way to the tree to meet Sakura, I came up with a pretty good idea. Thanks to Shilfi's in-depth explanation of the tree of spirits.

It's a bit of a pattern, but I'll offer you some sake as a thank-you later. And of course, to Dolly for her help in making the bedding.

......I feel like I'm always giving out drinks to the Great Spirits. Well, I guess that's how much they've helped us.

"Ah!"

"Yuta...... what did you miss?"

I love you, Mr. Sylphy, who can tell just by the sound of my voice that I've made a mistake. Yes, I failed.

"...... I was thinking only about what's inside the bedding and not about what's outside to put it in. I have some fabrics from the labyrinth treasures that have a good texture. ...... Sylphy, can you sew?"

Sylphy looks away quickly.

"Well, what about Dolly?"

"I've never sewn before either. I mean, I don't know any spirits who have sewed before.

That's right. Genies don't have to sew.

I wonder if Gina or Mel could do it."

""......""

Mute.

If Gina and Mel can't sew, they'll have to travel to ...... Labyrinth City.

What started out as a simple idea has turned out to be quite a challenge.