Chapter 113
－POV: Fluffy, the Winged Ball of Yarn－
For the forest, the World Tree is as vital as life itself.
Such a being exists right beside us.
When I lift my head above the lake, I can see the World Tree rejoicing in Master's magic.
What a mysterious sight.
...
There was a time when, with the forest's permission, we could both see and touch it.
But as humans disrupted the forest's order and mindless monsters and magical beasts multiplied, the World Tree hid itself.
It did so to protect the forest, and to protect us.
Humans have been challenging the forest since time immemorial, trying to acquire the World Tree.
The kings drove those people from the forest, sometimes killing them to demonstrate their power and continuing to flaunt the forest's existence.
By making it known that kings dwelled in the forest, they succeeded in keeping people away for a long time.
Elves who respected the forest and beastmen who had lived alongside us did enter the forest,
but they never set foot in its center, remaining faithful to the teachings of old, so there were no problems.
Then, at some point, we were driven mad by the magic eye covering the entire forest.
Master was the one who freed us from that suffering.
Under Master's protection, the World Tree began putting down strong roots.
I only hope time will continue to pass peacefully like this, but...
...
Just as I made that wish, something changed in the World Tree.
Its magic power wavered, and it writhed as though in pain.
Even when we kings poured our magic power into it, it had no effect whatsoever.
The Treants brought Master.
Hurry!
At this rate, the World Tree...!
All the companions gathered around Master wore pained expressions.
I was no different.
I could even sense the uneasy magical presence of the Ice Dragon underground, as though the dragon, too, had sensed the disturbance above.
Master poured magic power into the World Tree.
Its pain seemed to ease by half for a moment, but it soon began to writhe in agony again.
What is happening?
Could humans be attacking the forest again?!
The World Tree and the forest are one and the same.
The World Tree is still newly born, so any attack on the forest will affect it immediately!
If its magic power were a little stronger, it could defend itself, but...
I spread my aura through the forest to check for anything abnormal.
I faintly sense a human presence at the entrance to the forest.
Though it is too far away to be certain, I sense something unpleasant coming from that direction.
If the Wind Dragon were here, there would be a way to investigate, but my power only lets me detect it faintly.
Could it really be humans again?!
I feel Master's magic gradually growing sharper.
I sense a faint trace of anger within it.
This is the first time this has happened, and it leaves me a little bewildered.
Master always protects us with such gentleness.
This is the first time I have ever sensed anger in Master's magic.
The sharpened magic swells, enveloping the World Tree and Master.
Everyone gazes at Master as though praying.
I trust Master, but I also know the enemy is formidable.
If anything happened to Master... I would give my life to save them.
Master's magic continues swelling, becoming greater than ever before.
I cannot help recoiling a little at this abnormal state.
Centered on Master, I sense an aura sharper than anything I have ever felt spreading across the entire forest.
Is it covering the forest?
Can Master really do that?
This forest is so vast that it extends across half the world.
Even we cannot see the entire forest.
We can only barely sense it.
But this is Master. Could it really be possible?
I stare at Master in astonishment, then look around; everyone else is reacting much as I am.
That means the others felt it too.
I knew Master was incredible, but...
The next moment, the World Tree's magic power doubles.
No—not merely doubles.
Having absorbed as much of Master's magic power as it could, the World Tree rapidly transforms.
I am so dumbfounded that I can do nothing but stare at the World Tree.
...Though I was not the only one.
The World Tree has grown tall enough to make us look up, and possesses far greater power than the previous World Tree.
The previous World Tree had defenses as well, but nothing this strong.
This must be the power Master gave the World Tree to protect itself.
As I look up at the World Tree, which harbors an immense amount of magic power,
I suddenly sense an incredible flow of magic power from Master.
I hurriedly look at Master. Magic power wrapped in terrifying fury bursts forth as an oppressive force.
Together with an incantation imbued with magic power.
The blood seems to drain from my entire body.
I do not know where that force is headed.
But wherever it is headed, it will certainly cause damage.
This is the first time I have seen Master's true anger.
It must have echoed throughout not just the forest, but the entire world.
While I was still trembling in fear, Master had already returned to normal.
Or rather, Master is so perfectly ordinary now that I find myself wondering whether the person before me was really the one who released that oppressive force.
I am truly glad Master is not our enemy.