This is the second update of the day. Please be mindful of skipping portions.
After returning from the Fifth Floor and eating lunch, the first order of business was the summoning of Kouhi.
Mitsuki’s summoning was scheduled for after dinner, as nighttime was considered a better time for it.
Kouhi, who was to perform the summoning, was currently out on the 73rd Floor.
This meant it was time to prepare for the summoning.
The method used for this summoning would be different from the one used to summon Wahid and the others, and it required preparation.
Wahid and the others were considerably strong considering their level in this world, though they were no match for Kouhi or Mitsuki.
(What kind of being requires more effort to summon than those six?)
Kousuke wondered this and asked Mitsuki, who gave a very simple answer.
“Oh, that’s a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding? …What do you mean?”
“The reason it didn’t take much effort to summon those six is because the level of summoning itself is already high. Normally, it takes much more time and effort to summon someone. Well, I don’t know if there are any summoners capable of summoning those six, either.”
“…And then?”
“When I summoned those six, I only needed to set general conditions, but this time, detailed specifications are required, so it will take a little more time and effort.”
“…Meaning?”
“What we need this time is talent to manage the castle and the World Tree, right? As for the castle, it’s one thing, but the World Tree… no matter how you look at it, you’ll need an expert in that field. So, we need to identify and summon that person, or the tree itself will be damaged. That’s why, even if it takes time, we want to summon that talent.”
“…I see. Mitsuki, do you have anyone in mind for that talent?”
“I have a general idea. And, Kousuke, you do too, don’t you?”
Upon hearing this, Kousuke thought of a typical fantasy race.
“I do… I knew there were demi-humans in this world, but I didn’t know they existed.”
“That’s true. I didn’t see them when we were in Ryusen. Well, whether that’s the right answer or not, it’s best to wait until Kouhi’s summoning is over. If I say it now, Kouhi will get Sulky.”
Imagining Kouhi sulking, Kousuke couldn’t help but laugh.
“I will. …So? What about Mitsuki’s summoning?”
“That’s a secret too. In my case, it’s for the castle, so I don’t need to be that particular, but since I have the chance, why not?”
Mitsuki said this with a smile.
Kousuke felt a little mesmerized by her smile and felt somewhat brushed off, but he didn’t intend to push the issue.
While Kousuke was talking with Mitsuki, Kouhi returned.
“Sorry to keep you waiting. Preparations are complete.”
“Understood. Then let’s go. …Oh, before that, should we install the tree first?”
“…Yes. Please do that first.”
“Roger. Wait a moment… … …Alright. That should do it.”
“Then, let’s go.”
After Kouhi said so, the three headed towards the 73rd Floor.
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The three arrived at the 73rd Floor, having placed the World Tree sapling in the center, and headed towards the designated location…
“…This is a sapling?”
Kousuke, who had expected to plant something like a small twig, stared blankly at the sapling. It was supposed to be a sapling, but its height was almost the same as the surrounding trees. It was thinner than the other trees, but Kousuke found it difficult to accept that this could be called a sapling.
“Yes. Although the World Tree is fundamentally a tree, its class is different from other trees. Once it grows, it will become incomparably larger than the surrounding trees.”
“Incomparably… how much?”
“Roughly a hundred meters, perhaps?”
“…A hundred!?”
It was an enormous size.
“When it becomes a proper mature tree, it is said to support the world, a divine tree.”
“…Huh.”
At least Kousuke understood that it was a being different from ordinary trees.
Although the preparation took time, the summoning itself was quick. After the summoning circle glowed for a few seconds, a single man was summoned. As expected, his ears were long and slender, with pointed tips.
“…Is he an elf after all?”
“Yes. To be precise, a High Elf.”
Kousuke, standing a little distance from the summoning circle confirmed with Mitsuki beside him. Although it had “High” attached, it was the standard fantasy elf’s appearance. As expected, he was exceedingly beautiful.
This beautiful High Elf was conversing with the summoner, Kouhi.
“Are you the one who summoned me from my deep slumber?”
“Yes. My name is Kouhi. I summoned you because there is something I want you to do.”
“…Unfortunately, I already… !!!?”
The High Elf, about to utter a refusal, stopped speaking in surprise as he looked in the direction Kouhi indicated.
“…Could it be… that’s…?!”
“Yes. It’s the World Tree sapling. I summoned you to manage it.”
“…If that’s the case, I would be delighted to do so. …However… where did you procure that?”
“We can discuss that later. For now, let me introduce my master.”
“…Master?”
Kouhi, ignoring the bewildered High Elf, approached Kousuke. The High Elf hurriedly followed.
Kouhi, now in front of Kousuke, introduced him.
“This is Kousuke-sama, my master.”
“…Pleasure to meet you. I am Riston, a High Elf. I look forward to working with you.”
“Nice to meet you too. I’m Kousuke. This is Mitsuki. I’m sort of the management chief, but you don’t need to be so formal. Basically, Kouhi is in charge of things here, so please follow her instructions from now on.”
“…Understood.”
Riston, somewhat confused by being introduced to Kousuke as his master by Kouhi, exchanged a polite greeting. Kousuke, either noticing Riston’s reaction or not, casually spoke to Kouhi.
“Well then, can we return for now?”
“Yes. It’s alright. I’ll handle the rest.”
“Understood. See you later.”
Kousuke said so and returned to the Management Layer with Mitsuki.
Riston, left behind, questioned Kouhi.
“Is that Human your master…?”
“…Yes. Is there a problem?”
“To be perfectly honest, you don’t seem like the type to serve someone like him?”
At Riston’s words, Kouhi chuckled.
“Are you saying, then, that you declare your own eyes to be blind?”
“…What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said.”
“…I don’t understand. No matter how I look at it, that Human… you?”
“Silence.”
With just one word from Kouhi, Riston was silenced. The pressure Kouhi exuded made his body tremble, and he involuntarily knelt. Elves are generally said to have high pride. Especially High Elves, who are said to be at the pinnacle. To willingly bend one’s knees is nearly impossible for them. Riston, a High Elf, was forced to his knees and bowed his head solely by Kouhi’s pressure. Instinctively, he was taught that she was a being of a vastly superior level that he could not match, and that his words had touched a nerve.
“I will forgive you this once, but I will not forgive you a second time.”
“…I am truly sorry.”
Bowing his head, Riston finally managed to speak.
“If you cannot understand my master now, then take the time to do so. If you still cannot understand, then that is all you are capable of.”
“…I understand.”
Hearing his reply, the pressure from Kouhi finally dissipated. Freed from the pressure, Riston relaxed his entire body.
“I will give you one warning… no, this is more of advice.”
“…What is it?”
“If you had said the same thing in front of Mitsuki, you would no longer exist, not even as a soul.”
“…?”
“Since you don’t seem to understand, let me tell you: Mitsuki is the only being I acknowledge as my equal.”
“…I appreciate your warning.”
Riston bowed his head again while still kneeling.
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Upon returning to the Management Layer, Mitsuki intertwined her arm with Kousuke’s and asked,
“Was that alright?”
“What was?”
“Heh… you know, so why ask?”
Kousuke shrugged his shoulders at Mitsuki’s cheerful laughter. He had also noticed that Mitsuki’s eyes were not smiling.
“Well… it was so obvious, even I couldn’t ignore it.”
Kousuke also found Riston’s condescending attitude to be quite apparent.
“That’s true.”
“So, as for whether it was alright or not, I think it was.”
“Hmm… and why do you say that?”
“Because if we had stayed there any longer, Mitsuki wouldn’t have been able to hold back, right?”
Mitsuki, as if called out, stuck out her tongue.
“Well, I suppose so?”
“That’s why I decided to leave it to Kouhi and escape.”
“Hmm… Well, if Kousuke-sama is fine with it, then I’m fine with it too.”
“Thank y— mmmph!”
Her lips were suddenly sealed.
“I should be thanking you. Thank you.”
“…You’re welcome.”
Later, Kousuke told Kouhi that Mitsuki had been in a very good mood while preparing for her next summoning.
By the way, this story was difficult to write. I agonized until the very end about whether to include the exchange between Kouhi and Riston.
Next update scheduled for tomorrow at 8 PM.
May 11, 2014 – Typos corrected.
