We live at the foothills of Dragon Peak.
Hearts that understand each other.
Towards the Sacred Mountain, I activate Spatial Jump with all my might.
“Wait for me, Spirit Tree-chan!”
“I’m waiting!”
“Did my voice reach you!?”
“It reached, it reached.”
Even though I haven’t even reached the edge of the Sacred Mountain’s foothills yet, I’m surprised to get a reaction from Spirit Tree-chan with the spirit I entered alone.
The Sacred Mountain, visible beyond the deep forest, is beautiful, dyed in autumn colors.
But, the figure of Spirit Tree-chan, which should be standing in the hollow at the mountaintop, cannot be seen from flat ground.
This is because Grandma Yuuri and Ares-chan’s Bewildering Technique has been applied to the entire Sacred Mountain.
So, even if you know of Spirit Tree-chan’s existence, ill-intentioned people cannot climb the Sacred Mountain, and cannot even catch a glimpse of Spirit Tree-chan.
I, too, cannot see Spirit Tree-chan from the flat ground.
And yet!
“Is it something like a Dragon Heart? If it’s the relationship between me and Spirit Tree-chan, can my voice reach?”
“It reaches, it reaches.”
“It reached!”
“This is just like how my voice reaches Ares-chan, no matter how far apart we are, right?”
“It’s the same, it’s the same.”
Well, in my and Ares-chan’s case, Ares-chan can hear my voice no matter how far apart we are, but I can’t hear Ares-chan’s voice.
“Lack of training.”
“I’ve been declared out!”
Dejected, I dropped my shoulders on a thick branch at the Spatial Jump’s destination, and felt a presence like Spirit Tree-chan laughing at the summit of the Sacred Mountain.
“Alright, please wait for me, really! I’ll be there immediately!”
Renewing my resolve, I unleashed Spatial Jump with all my might towards the autumn-colored Sacred Mountain visible in the distance.
The foothills of the Sacred Mountain spread out vast and gentle slopes.
The low-lying foothills blend with the surrounding Treacherous Forest, where trees grow densely. However, as the altitude increases to the mid-slope and above, the trees gradually decrease, and are replaced by grass and trees.
With autumn’s arrival, the dazzling green of summer is gone, and the Sacred Mountain, covered in golden dead grass and fallen leaves, is beautiful.
Without resting, I continuously activated Spatial Jump, rapidly ascending to the summit of the Sacred Mountain, now entirely dyed in autumn colors.
“I’m here!”
“Welcome back!”
“I’m home!”
My true home is by my wives’ side, in the Mansion of the Forbidden Territory, and at the base of Spirit Tree-chan.
So, “I’m home” is correct!
“That’s right, that’s right. You can come back here directly from your travels once in a while, you know?”
“Ugh. I’ll do that next time!”
When I reached the summit of the Sacred Mountain and entered the hollow.
The scenery of the sky, which had seemed close until now, changed in an instant, and the massive figure of a Great Tree covering the sky above the hollow dominated my vision.
This is Spirit Tree-chan, rooted to the ground!
Spirit Tree-chan swayed its branches and leaves, welcoming my arrival.
I, too, was filled with emotion, seeing Spirit Tree-chan’s magnificent form after so long.
“Isn’t this bigger than the Spirit Tree in the Dragon Forest now!?”
“Flattery, flattery.”
“I still can’t compare!”
“That’s a venerable Spirit Tree that has been protected by Old Man Sleigsta for over two thousand years. But, Spirit Tree-chan will surely catch up!”
“Alright, I’ll grow bigger with Elnea’s protection!”
“Ooh!”
“Do your best, do your best!”
Ares-chan also seems to be in a better mood than usual.
Of course, the Spirit Tree Spirit is happy to be by the Spirit Tree’s side.
“Food!”
“Food, food.”
“Were you feeling like a hungry monster waiting for meals!?”
It seems I made a mistake.
Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan were in good spirits because it was before mealtime!
“Well, well, there’s no helping it.”
With a good mood, I activated my final Spatial Jump.
I leaped over the shallow lake in the hollow in one go, arriving at the base of Spirit Tree-chan.
I sat down, leaned my back against Spirit Tree-chan’s giant trunk, and entered meditation.
Immediately, Ares-chan climbed onto my lap.
The main flow of the Dragon Vein passes through the summit of the Sacred Mountain.
Simply closing my eyes and calming my consciousness, I sensed the fierce yet majestic flow of the Dragon Vein.
The presence of Spirit Tree-chan drawing up the Dragon Vein with an intensity that rivaled a torrent was strongly transmitted from behind me. The amount of Dragon Vein I can draw up through meditation is negligible compared to Spirit Tree-chan.
“Even so, I want Elnea’s food!”
Even while meditating, I can clearly perceive Spirit Tree-chan’s form.
Spirit Tree-chan, having absorbed the power of the Dragon Vein, fills its life force to the tips of its branches and leaves that cover the hollow.
From Spirit Tree-chan’s perspective, I may be a tiny existence.
Nevertheless, it makes me happier than anything that Spirit Tree-chan relies on me and still desires the Dragon Vein I drew up.
Therefore, I will respond to Spirit Tree-chan’s feelings.
I direct my consciousness to the Dragon Vein flowing fiercely deep beneath our feet.
If I tried to scoop up the Dragon Vein roughly with a bucket, the torrent would instantly sweep away not just the bucket but my hands and body, and I would drown.
Therefore, no matter how rushed I am, I must not forget caution.
With a small ladle-like vessel, I gently dip it into the Dragon Vein. Then, I carefully scoop up only the necessary amount that matches my skill.
I circulate the power drawn from the Dragon Vein throughout my body, as if spreading it throughout my entire being, and refine it.
Then, the power that was the Dragon Vein itself transforms into Dragon Energy and permeates my soul.
I gave the refined and transformed Dragon Energy to Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan.
“Yay!”
“Thank you for the meal, thank you for the meal.”
I am enveloped by the feeling of Spirit Tree-chan’s heartfelt joy.
Not just me.
The aura of Spirit Tree-chan’s joy fills the hollow of the Sacred Mountain and overflows down to the foothills.
“Hee hee hee. To let Spirit Tree-chan feel the Autumn Harvest Festival too, the feast will continue to be grand!”
Next, after refining it into Dragon Energy for food, I will bestow the power of the Dragon Vein itself.
The minute amount of Dragon Energy I drew up may be insufficient for Spirit Tree-chan right now. Nevertheless, if Spirit Tree-chan desires food from me, I will give my all!
Of course, for Ares-chan too?
“Thank you, thank you.”
“The food I get from Elnea is the most delicious!”
“When you say so, I become happy too.”
Even in a deep meditative state, the voices of Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan reach me clearly.
Perhaps, Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan already exist in my meditative world from the start?
“… Hmm? Wait a minute.”
Does that mean?
“Did you have an idea?”
My heart, Spirit Tree-chan’s heart, and Ares-chan’s heart are connected. So, Spirit Tree-chan, sensing my sudden thought, laughs and says, “You’ve thought of something strange again, haven’t you?” Then, Ares-chan and I read Spirit Tree-chan’s heart and laugh.
While we all laugh together, I continue to provide food one after another, of course.
As I do so, I voice my newfound thought.
“Because we are connected in such a deep way, our voices reach each other even when we are far apart, right?”
It’s not so much voices, but rather intentions.
Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan nod vigorously to my words.
“But, only I can’t hear Spirit Tree-chan’s voice or Ares-chan’s voice when we’re separated.”
“It’s a shame!”
“Immature, immature!”
To their teasing, I sigh and give a bitter smile, my shoulders slumped.
But, I will not be discouraged!
“So, I’ve been thinking about this and that. Right now, we are deeply connected like this in meditation, aren’t we?”
Even without saying it out loud, my intentions are conveyed to Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan, and I can understand Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan’s feelings as if they were my own.
In other words, if this connection expands…
“Even if we are far apart, if we can feel the presence of Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan closely through deep meditation, we can be connected, right? If so, our feelings will surely reach them!”
Or rather, Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan probably heard my voice and conveyed their feelings to me in that way before.
“Correct, correct!”
“All that’s left is to train hard!”
Before I knew it, the answer was actually right beside me. I was just too immature to notice.
Also, I ponder the future.
If I acquire this ability, won’t there be wonderful applications?
It’s not just Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan that I’m deeply connected to.
I’m also connected to my wives, and I’ve forged deep bonds with Old Man Sleigsta, Nimia, and Revalia.
If I develop new abilities based on these deep connections, won’t I eventually be able to communicate with everyone telepathically!?
“Do your best, do your best!”
“A new goal?”
“That’s right. It will probably be a very difficult training, but I won’t give up!”
I won’t say “time is infinite.” Because I want to acquire this ability quickly.
Besides, I want to teach it not only to myself but also to my wives and everyone else, and achieve it together. Otherwise, it would be one-sided for me alone.
“Goal decided! Well then, tell me your adventure stories, won’t you?”
“Leave it to me!”
“Everything is going smoothly.”
It is from now on that I will start running towards my goal.
But, before that.
I will tell Spirit Tree-chan many of my past adventure stories.
The disturbance caused by the Puppet King, the great commotion in the Verdant Demon Lord’s country. The subsequent great commotion, and the Autumn Harvest Festival.
While feeding them, I will talk aimlessly.
Ares-chan will interject with comments and retorts. Spirit Tree-chan will laugh and rejoice.
The shade created by Spirit Tree-chan’s branches and leaves is pleasant under the clear autumn sky.
The summit of the Sacred Mountain is at a high altitude, so the temperature is much lower than on flat ground, but it’s only just after the transition from summer to autumn, though. I still miss the shade more than the sunlight.
“… And then. In the end, the Puppet King and Astel became friends, and things have gotten out of hand!”
If the Puppet King did something bad, I would break off relations. But I hadn’t made such a promise with Astel.
That was my mistake!
With the clever reasoning that it’s not the Puppet King’s prank, is it? Astel started playing pranks using the Puppet King a few days ago!
The Puppet King, knowing it was Astel’s trick, deliberately gets involved.
But, that’s just Astel’s trick, not the Puppet King’s prank. So, it wouldn’t be a break-off, right? That seems to be their excuse…
“Those two are troublesome…”
“But, they’re enjoying it from the bottom of their hearts.”
“They’re enjoying it, they’re enjoying it.”
“When your true feelings are transparent like this, problems like this arise, don’t they!?”
We laugh together again.
The enjoyable time spent with Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan continued without end, and when I realized it, the surroundings had changed to the scent of night.
“Today’s meal is over.”
“Thank you for the delicious meal.”
“I’m full, I’m full.”
With a sigh, I finished meditating and looked up at the sky while leaning against Spirit Tree-chan’s large trunk.
The night stars are not visible through the branches and leaves spread by Spirit Tree-chan.
That just goes to show how widely and deeply Spirit Tree-chan’s branches grow.
“So, in the time I haven’t met Spirit Tree-chan, I’ve been on another great adventure like this?”
At that, I reached for the White Sword I wore at my left hip.
“To defeat Kongo no Kirisame, the White Sword was necessary. And to overcome Warren’s trial. But, as expected, I relied on it too much, and I think I got caught up in another big commotion.”
From here on, it’s a slightly serious talk.
In pursuit of power, we indulge in it and crave even more power.
To avoid that, we temporarily put away our weapons.
Of course, the White Sword is a precious weapon, and I want to wear it constantly at my left hip in the future.
However, I still lack the resolve and the strength.
My skill may not be commensurate with the White Sword’s original abilities, which is why I may be seeking excessive power.
“So, are you returning it to Grandpa again?”
“Yes. That’s a promise. We haven’t reached the level where we can take back our weapons yet. That’s why we got caught up in this commotion again.”
So, what should we do?
Simply putting away our weapons won’t lead to growth.
Our first mistake was ending with simply putting away our weapons.
“Putting away our weapons is just a trigger. We needed to make an effort to get them back next.”
How can we formally get our weapons back from Old Man Sleigsta?
Just putting them away is just running away from the desire for power.
“Spirit Tree-chan and Ares-chan, will you help me think about this difficult problem together?”
“Of course!”
“Leave it to us, leave it to us!”
I was happy with the generous reply of my reliable partners.
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