Chapter 127
－POV: The Treant Mistaken for a Walking Stick－
When I realized that the World Tree had decided to hide itself, I wanted to hide alongside it.
But I was still small and weak.
It was terribly, terribly sad to be separated from someone precious.
But for the sake of the World Tree that protected the forest, I decided to fulfill my duty as a treant.
It took a very long time wandering through the forest before I finally settled atop a single tree.
If an enemy came here, I would attack to keep it from advancing any farther into the forest.
Even if I was weak, reducing the enemy's numbers even a little would be enough.
I felt my spirit fading many times.
Even so, I wanted to fulfill my duty for even one more day...
The time when I couldn't sense the World Tree was painful, and I was increasingly drawn toward something called the Magic Eye.
That's why I decided to sleep.
I cast sleep magic on myself so I wouldn't put the forest at a disadvantage.
So I would never wake up again.
Suddenly, the World Tree called to me.
I hear a voice.
Odd. I had cast sleep magic, yet I had awakened.
And then I felt the World Tree's presence.
But its magic power was different. The magic power I knew had been much colder.
The magic power permeating this body was warm and pleasant.
What had happened?
Tracing the World Tree's magic power, I hurried here, feeling uneasy.
The sight of the World Tree surprised me.
Everything about it was different from the World Tree I knew.
Maybe the warmth I felt in its magic power was because the World Tree was happy.
I asked a companion who had been with the World Tree.
I was astonished.
The World Tree had died once.
Then what was this World Tree standing before me?
I heard that the Forest God had brought a new World Tree into being in this forest.
The Forest God.
I was bewildered; I'd never heard of such a being.
Apparently, a god was a being that brought forth the life the forest needed.
Since that being had brought forth the World Tree, there was no doubt it was a god.
Those were the words of the companion who had been with the World Tree the longest.
Then that must be true.
And now, the World Tree was with the Forest God.
Amazing!
We treants were allowed to stay with the Forest God too.
I was so happy.
The Forest God I met for the first time had a humanlike form, but the magic power flowing from that figure was gentle and pleasant.
The World Tree's magic power felt good too, but so did the Forest God's.
I'm glad I woke from my sleep and got to meet the World Tree again.
...
I was startled.
All my companions had frozen too and were staring at the water spirit.
Because the water spirit was threatening the Forest God.
When I was wandering through the forest, I was shocked and saddened when I saw that.
It was the sight of river spirits hunting monsters.
River spirits only raised their upper bodies out of the river when threatening something; it was a trick they used to make monsters let their guard down.
Spirits lived on magic power they received from the forest; for river spirits, it was the magic power flowing through the river.
They had to hunt because they could no longer receive magic power.
That was proof that the forest was weakening.
Magic power was overflowing here, where the Forest God was—so why were they threatening the Forest God?!
Were they planning to betray the Forest God?!
When I tried to approach the water spirit, my companions called us together.
A water dragon came over to us treants.
I wondered why it wasn't stopping the spirits, but apparently the spirits were showing the Forest God their strength.
Showing their strength?
The kings of the forest and their offspring competed before the Forest God, showing off their strength to one another.
Apparently, the spirits had done the same.
Is that so?
I calmed myself and took another look at the spirits... I see.
They want the Forest God to acknowledge their strength.
But perhaps because the Forest God was watching them, warmth was flowing through their magic power...
Warm magic power is coming from them, though. Is that okay?
Is that bad?
The water dragon looked at the spirits as though unsure what to do.
Right. Even though they were threatening the Forest God, it wouldn't do for the Forest God to envelop them in warmth.
Next came the earth spirits.
These ones weren't hiding their happiness at all.
Ah, the earth dragon was clutching its head.
What?! Are we treants up next today too...? No way!
Cries of "Impossible!" rose from all around.
Since I'd slept for so long, I wasn't sure I even remembered the dance.
After discussing it, we decided to have the contest tomorrow.
It was decided that the Forest God would watch the Treants' Dance of Destruction.
We'd better start training hard right now.
Hm? You too? Let's do our best together.
Huh?
Was it to the right?
Jump here... Ah, that's wrong.
Which way was it again?
Do you remember?
I don't remember... Somebody help~.
Spin to the right, jump, jump, spin to the right.
Put my heart into it... Ah!
Along the way, I made several mistakes and staggered.
Even the Forest God looked a little troubled... I have to train!
I need to train harder and show the Forest God some results.
What? Tomorrow is the Dance of Extinction?
Ah... Somebody teach me from the beginning!
Hm? Joy is radiating from my whole body?
Even though the Forest God was watching me, I couldn't hold back my joy... It was impossible.
A little is okay?
Was it that bad?
I see. I need to be careful.
What? I was sending destructive magic power to the Forest God?
Waaah, I hadn't been controlling my magic power at all!
Still, my attacks didn't have any effect at all—just as expected of the Forest God. Amazing.
Huh? Control... I know!
Tomorrow, for sure!