We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
The people of the sanctuary.
“Kts! What are these tree roots?!”
“Can’t you tear them off?”
The Battle Priestesses struggled to break free from the Spirit Tree’s roots that had wrapped around their entire bodies. Suddenly, a sharp rebuke flew towards them.
“Stop! No matter what the reason, you must not harm the Spirit Tree!”
Alice-san shouted.
Even as she spoke, she herself was bound by Spirit Tree roots that had grown from the pearl-like floor, shimmering with seven colors.
Hearing Alice-san’s reprimand, the Battle Priestesses finally seemed to grasp the situation.
“S-Spirit Tree-sama…!”
“So, that young tree was…!”
“But how did he manage to reach that tree, which even we, who were confined in this room, couldn’t approach…?”
“What about that child?”
Since they weren’t bound by curse magic, their eyes, mouths, and necks could move. With that, the Battle Priestesses finally turned their attention to me and Ares-chan, who stood at the very back of the audience hall.
What a pain.
So for the Battle Priestesses, who had been so determined to forcibly bring Alice-san back, everyone else was just a negligible matter outside their purview?
The Battle Priestesses still hadn’t noticed Charlotte, with her sideways rolled golden hair, standing before the grand entrance of the audience hall.
Well, even so, I’m grateful they paid attention to me.
I say again.
“This is the sacred ground of the Spirit Tree. Killing or fighting is strictly forbidden for anyone. No matter how noble your purpose may be?”
I want to persuade Alice-san and bring her back to her hometown, the sanctuary. For that, I wouldn’t shy away from any means. That resolve is admirable, but…
However, if the mistress of the Treasure Orb Palace does not wish it, Ares-chan and I will quell the conflict on her behalf.
A small Spirit Tree swayed beside me and Ares-chan.
It was truly a small Spirit Tree.
Its trunk only reached my shoulder, and its spread branches were about as wide as my outstretched arms. The leaves on its branches could hardly be called lush.
Nevertheless, it powerfully drew the Dragon Veins from the atmosphere, sharing its power with Ares-chan, who was using the Spirit Tree’s magic.
“Thank you, my cute boy and spirit.”
The Spirit Tree vibrated its branches.
I nodded. Ares-chan was also smiling.
And Alice-san was watching us with keen interest.
Alice-san must have known.
What kind of place this Treasure Orb Palace was.
Who the mistress of the Treasure Orb Palace was.
That’s why Alice-san, who moved with the skill of a warrior, was bound by the Spirit Tree’s roots without any resistance.
“Perhaps there are Spirit Trees in the sanctuary where you live, Alice-san?”
But, aren’t there only a select few who can interact with the Spirit Trees growing in the sanctuary?
Michelle-san and the four Battle Priestesses, while knowing of the Spirit Tree’s existence and preciousness, lacked deep knowledge because they couldn’t interact with it.
On the other hand, Alice-san, as the guardian of the sanctuary, the Battle Priestess, must be in a position to interact deeply with the Spirit Tree.
“Ares-san, who has changed her role from Battle Priestess to Guardian Priestess to protect the sanctuary. But isn’t the being you are truly protecting the Spirit Tree of the sanctuary?”
In response to my words, Michelle-san and the four Battle Priestesses’ faces hardened with surprise.
Conversely, Alice-san broke into a smile.
“You are indeed remarkable, messenger of the Dragon God. However, while you touch upon the truth, you have not seen through its entirety.”
In other words, there are other beings besides the Spirit Tree in the sanctuary that need to be protected.
Could it be the “Princess in the Inner Quarters” and the “Princess Priestess” that one of the Battle Priestesses mentioned earlier?
Though they didn’t say it aloud.
Michelle-san and the four Battle Priestesses, who had overheard the conversation between Alice-san and me, now stiffened not just in expression but throughout their entire bodies.
“M-Messenger of the Dragon God-sama!”
“W-What!? Elnea-kun?”
I nodded at Michelle-san’s bewildered expression.
“I’m sorry I couldn’t convey the truth earlier. That’s right. I am Elnea Eris, one of the Eight Dragon Kings of Dragon Peak and a messenger of the Dragon God. And she is Ares-chan, a Spirit Tree Spirit who is one with me.”
Ares-chan has taken the form of a young girl.
Even so, anyone who knows of the Spirit Tree’s existence should understand how precious Ares-chan is.
Indeed, the gazes of the four Battle Priestesses were beginning to change to ones of awe towards Ares-chan and me.
However, only one person.
Only Michelle-san directed a different emotion towards me.
“Why? Elnea-kun, who claims to be a messenger of the Dragon God and one with the Spirit Tree Spirit, why are you interfering with me? Why won’t you save my mother!?”
Ignoring Alice-san’s reprimand, which sounded like a mother scolding her daughter, Michelle-san continued.
“My mother is sad. After losing my father, she’s lost her future, to the point of wanting to follow him. So, instead of offering salvation by killing her, please show her a path to the future and help her! I don’t want to lose any more precious family! Hey, messenger of the Dragon God! Help me! Save my mother!!”
Michelle-san continued to shed tears.
I deeply understand the feelings of a daughter who cares for her mother.
If my own mother and father back home were sad or facing difficulties, I would want to help them with all my might.
However.
“That is not right, is it?”
Fufufu, Charlotte, who had been observing quietly until now, smiled at the entrance of the audience hall.
And with that.
“Wh-what!”
“Who are you!?”
“W-What a presence…”
“Th-this aura!”
The four Battle Priestesses turned around.
And upon recognizing Charlotte, who merely smiled, their faces turned pale with terror.
Similarly, Michelle-san finally recognized Charlotte’s presence and shifted her gaze from the very back of the audience hall towards the entrance.
No, to be precise, Charlotte made her do so. Releasing her suppressed aura, she revealed her presence to those in the audience hall. Was it because Michelle-san directed an incorrect thought towards me? But why?
Even if I were misunderstood or misjudged by someone, it should have nothing to do with Charlotte. Rather, Charlotte and the Giant Demon Lord would likely find it amusing to watch and scheme how to toy with me.
But this time was different. Charlotte mercilessly rebuked Michelle-san’s misguided thought.
“Regardless of Elnea-kun’s position, it has nothing to do with your worries and problems, does it? It was your Priestess Knight who indiscriminately involved Elnea-kun. Even if she wanted to die, or if you were trying to stop her, it has nothing to do with Elnea-kun.”
Charlotte’s words are correct.
I am merely being dragged into this.
Just because someone somewhere in the world is worried or troubled, I don’t feel I need to interfere and help with everything.
Therefore, although it may sound cold, I cannot help but agree with Charlotte’s opinion.
If you want to save Alice-san, Michelle-san and the people of the sanctuary should be fully committed to it. To throw everything at me, just because I am a messenger of the Dragon God, is wrong.
Moreover, if you don’t want to lose your precious mother, I believe Michelle-san should face it herself, no matter what.
However, if at some point you absolutely need someone’s help, or if my presence can lead to a better outcome, then I will gladly cooperate?
Perhaps Charlotte intervened to protect me from Michelle-san’s reliance?
“Fufufu. It’s just a little help. These conflicts are trivial matters to me. Rather, I wish to interact more with Elnea-kun.”
“That means, the secret of this Treasure Orb Palace and the Spirit Tree, right?”
Charlotte had been using me for her schemes from the beginning, hadn’t she?
She only used Alice-san and Michelle-san for that purpose and wasn’t interested in their situations.
Therefore, by intervening in Michelle-san’s statement, she brought the conversation back to the main topic.
However, I cannot ignore the circumstances of Alice-san and Michelle-san.
So, I’ll have Charlotte wait a little longer.
Shall we have a proper debriefing later?
Fufufu, I judged Charlotte’s smile as agreement and turned to Michelle-san.
“Michelle-san.”
At my voice, everyone’s eyes and attention shifted back to the very back of the audience hall.
“I am a messenger of the Dragon God. However, there are things I can do and things I cannot do.”
“No!” Michelle-san, suffering from despair.
Tears, larger than ever before, continued to stream down her face, her lips, colored purple with deep sadness and desperation, trembling.
But I don’t want to plunge Michelle-san into the depths of despair.
So, I looked directly at Michelle-san and said forcefully.
“However, even for things I cannot do, there are things that you, Michelle-san, can achieve. And I can cooperate with you in such endeavors.”
So, I turned my intense gaze, this time, to Alice-san.
“I will not commit the great sin of priestess-slaughter. Please have that resolve as well, Alice-san.”
What did Alice-san think upon receiving my unwavering gaze?
Nothing could be read from her warrior-like expression.
Alice-san just stared directly into my eyes.
What is the means to crush Alice-san’s will and save Michelle-san and the others?
I still haven’t found the answer.
However, there is one thing.
There is one thing I can do now.
That is to show my determination to never kill Alice-san.
Alice-san is stubbornly determined to go to the small island, the hometown of her deceased priest husband.
And why she wants to die there.
Surely, Alice-san has her own deep reasons.
But I don’t know them.
Perhaps even her daughter, Michelle-san, doesn’t know.
Therefore, we, who do not know the deep reasons held by Alice-san, cannot arrive at a resolution that will satisfy everyone.
However, the answer will surely be shown at the culmination of Michelle-san’s unyielding confrontation with her mother.
I should also be able to assist Michelle-san.
For that purpose, I first need to deal with Charlotte.
I need to unravel the secret of this Treasure Orb Palace and confront the Spirit Tree that grew in the belly of the giant deep-sea creature.
“Fufufu. Well then, Elnea-kun. I shall ask you again. What is the secret of the Treasure Orb Palace?”
To Charlotte’s question, I replied without hesitation.
“The pearl-like walls and floor that compose the Treasure Orb Palace are all… Spirit Tree jewels.”
At my assertion, Charlotte narrowed her eyes and smiled.
Then, the nearby Spirit Tree happily swayed its branches and leaves.
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