Chapter 155

After the Great Tree of Enyunien was born, Reno gave us a tour inside his body.

It was already equipped with what it would have in the Magical Age, including the cla.s.sroom, the Staircases of Guniel, and the cloud corridors.

The small castle at the top of this great tree seemed to serve as Renos residence. This was where we would find the Spirit King 2,000 years later, so this castle was probably the residence of whoever governed Aharthern.

After we returned to the cla.s.sroom lined up with stumps, she spoke to us.

Well, I guess weve seen most of it for now. Its s.p.a.cious here, so there are still many other rooms, but you can try asking Eniyunien about them. Just so you know, he keeps his magic eyes active to make sure theres no violence inside the great tree, so even if a divine beast attacks, youll have nothing to worry about. (Reno)

So the Great Tree of Enyunien is a spirit born in preparation for an attack from the G.o.ds?

The Great Spirit Reno can give birth to any spirit at will, huh. (Anos)

When I said that, Reno squatted down so she could make eye contact with me.

Its not like I can do it at will. Sure, as you saw earlier, my tears can turn rumors and legends into spirits. But its only the spirits that I wish to give birth to from the bottom of my heart that will be born. Sometimes, spirits are born different from how I imagined them, and at other times, I give birth to them unconsciously. (Reno)

Hmm? But if spirits can be born when you deeply wish for them, cant you give birth to them at will? Eleanor asked curiously.

Ahh, well yes. Thats half-right, and half-wrong. Because my wishes are made up of the rumors and legends spread by everyone. And as the Great Mother of all spirits, I give birth to spirits that suit those rumors. (Reno)

So even her own desires are influenced by rumors and legends, huh.

Living as a spirit is pretty inconvenient, I see.

Besides, spirits are more often born spontaneously than from my tears. Im sure thats how Lena was born as well. (Reno)

She made a good point. If all spirits could only be born from the tears of the Great Spirit Reno, then we would have to wonder how Reno herself was born. Its not like she was the oldest spirit alive, either.

Perhaps it was reasonable to a.s.sume that the Love Fairy Fran was born naturally after Renos death.

I would ask her for more details, but Lena was nearby right now. Reno said she would disappear if she realized she was the love fairy.

So I had no choice but to wait for another opportunity.

Anosh, will you and your friends be staying in Aharthern for a while? (Reno)

Wed like to be under your care, if possible. (Anosh)

Sure, thats fine. I discussed it with s.h.i.+n earlier, but you dont seem like particularly suspicious demons. And traveling entertainers dont come here very often, so everybody will be overjoyed. Feel free to use whatever you want here. (Reno)

Were in your debt. (Anos)

After saying that, Reno walked away.

s.h.i.+n, come with me. (Reno)

s.h.i.+n followed Reno without saying a word.

Now then. (Anos)

I stood up from my stump.

Lay, Misha. Keep an eye on the two of them. (Anos)

Nh. Misha acquiesced.

What about you? (Lay)

Im just going to check on a few things. The rest of you can do as you please for the time being. (Anos)

I opened the cla.s.sroom door and walked out.

Then, I heard footsteps coming from behind me.

It was Zes.h.i.+a.

You want to come along? (Anos)

As yourbodyguard (Zes.h.i.+a)

Zes.h.i.+a stood right next to me, as if to protect me.

Why? Did s.h.i.+n have an impact on her?

It looks like now that youre so small, Anosh, she thinks of herself as your older sister. Eleonore declared while walking up to us.

Hmm. Its true that Ive become shorter, but not so much that I need Zes.h.i.+a to protect me. (Anos)

Zes.h.i.+a will be your big sister! (Zes.h.i.+a)

I had a feeling Zes.h.i.+as expression was s.h.i.+ning brighter than ever.

*Giggle* Looks like shes in high spirits because shes not the shortest of us for once. (Eleonore)

Anosh Zes.h.i.+a will look after you Be at ease (Zes.h.i.+a)

Zes.h.i.+a patted my head.

Good grief. Cant help it, then.

She was a.s.serting her emotions more than ever. I couldnt disregard that.

Ill be counting on you. (Anos)

Leave it to me! (Zes.h.i.+a)

Eleonore, Zes.h.i.+a and I proceeded through the Great Tree of Enyunien.

We followed the same directions Lena gave us two thousand years later, and pa.s.sed the same places several times.

As we turned right at the three-way junction, we found a statue in the pa.s.sageway.

It was the humanoid frog in armor. In our time period, it wouldve been holding a s.h.i.+eld sliced in half, but right now, it wasnt holding anything in its hands.

Without paying any attention to it, we went ahead and opened a certain door.

It led to a small room. There was nothing in there. I turned around and immediately reopened the door.

What we found behind it was a vast forest.

It was the Forest of Books, where the Book Fairies Leelan resided.

I briefly glanced at the green books that were growing in the trees.

Hmm. Id say theres about a hundred of them. (Anos)

Need to findsomething? (Zes.h.i.+a)

I thought itd be here, but apparently not. (Anos)

Itsnot here? (Zes.h.i.+a)

Zes.h.i.+a casted her eyes down, looking dejected.

Well, we can still look around, just in case. Can you find me the green book that has the Love Fairy Fran in it? (Anos)

Zes.h.i.+a nodded happily.

Ill do my best! (Zes.h.i.+a)f??e????oe? ??m

Zes.h.i.+a dashed through the forest and started collecting the green books.

If there are only about a hundred books, does this mean that the Leelan arent born yet? Eleonore asked curiously.

In all likelihood. I thought I could find the book still intact in this era. (Anos)

After I said that, a hoa.r.s.e voice echoed throughout the Forest of Books.

I apologize. Im not quite ready for your education yet. In due time, the Book Fairies Leelan and everything else should be ready. Then cla.s.s may begin. (Enyunien)

It was Enyuniens voice.

If everything was going to be ready later, then maybe we should investigate the Love Fairy Fran only then.

Zes.h.i.+a, hows the search coming along? (Anos)

I havent found it yet (Zes.h.i.+a)

Zes.h.i.+a had a dozen or so books piled up on the top of her head, and was playing tag with the Book Fairies Leelan. She did so with impeccable balance, without actually dropping any book.

Ive got business to attend to in a different place. What would you like to do? (Anos)

Zes.h.i.+a looked at me and the Leelan alternatively, as if she couldnt decide.

I had a feeling she still wanted to collect the books.

In that case, Im putting you in charge of collecting the Leelan. This is a top secret mission. Dont tell anyone. (Anos)

Very wellSir (Zes.h.i.+a)

She knelt in a lovely manner, as if imitating someone.

Looks like she was all up for it.

And so, I let Zes.h.i.+a take care of everything here.

Ill take a look around here as well, so dont worry. Eleonore said while raising her index finger.

Let me know if anything happens. (Anos)

Kay. (Eleonore)

I left the Forest of Books, and contacted Misha via

.

Are you guys with s.h.i.+n and Reno? (Anos)

Yes. Weve crossed over the invisible stairs at the end of the Staircase of Guniel, and are on the other side of the invisible door.(Misha)

Over there, huh. I proceeded to walk through the Great Tree once again.

After climbing the Staircase of Guniel, which would be used for the Spirit Trials two thousand years later, I proceeded up the invisible staircase and opened the invisible door.

What I found on the other side was a wasteland.

Two thousand years later, flowers would be blooming all over this land, but right now, there wasnt even a single blade of gra.s.s.

Okay, s.h.i.+n. Guess what these are. (Reno)

When Reno opened her arms, five flowers were floating in the air. Just like her hair, they were as bright blue as a lake.

I do not know. (s.h.i.+n)

These are called tear flowers, and theyre the ones that absorbed my tear. You remember how earlier, there was a flower that gave birth to the Great Tree of Enyunien, right? Well, these are the flowers that were born from the remnants of that same tear. (Reno)

Does this mean that they will give birth to new spirits? (s.h.i.+n)

They may, or they may not. If the tear flowers bear fruit without withering, they will turn rumors and legends into spirits. If they wither, then my tears will disappear along with them. (Reno)

In the center of the flower garden, Reno gently lowered the flowers with her magic power.

In an instant, the flowers took root in the earth.

You have to pour love into the tear flowers so they dont wither. Like this. (Reno)

A small ball of water appeared in Renos palm.

Like watering a flower, she used the water ball to sprinkle them.

Upon doing so, the tear flowers grew quickly and gained large petals.

In the blink of an eye, new buds sprouted from the ground, and the number of tear flowers increased.

In no time flat, half of the wasteland had been turned into a flower garden.

I guess this is about as far as it will extend. You should give it a try too, s.h.i.+n. Reno said with a pleasant smile.

s.h.i.+n turned to her with a sour look on his face.

Me? (s.h.i.+n)

Yup. Now lets see (Reno)

Reno drew a magic circle and put her hand inside it.

What she took out of it was an iron watering can.

Here. I bought it on our way back. (Reno)

Why would youwant me to? (s.h.i.+n)

Well you see, I think you should be a little more in touch with living beings, and with life. Once you do, Im sure youll enjoy yourself. (Reno)

s.h.i.+n gently pulled out the iron sword at his waist and gazed down on its blade as he said the following.

If were talking about the amount of times Ive touched the lives of living beings, then there are countless of them. (s.h.i.+n)

Thats not what I meant! (Reno)

Reno yelled at him, but s.h.i.+n was being serious.

Im afraid I fail to understand what you mean, My Lady. (s.h.i.+n)

s.h.i.+n sheathed his sword back.

Youll understand if you give it a try. Come on, do it. (Reno)

Reno forcefully shoved the watering can into s.h.i.+ns arms.

Then she used magic to fill it with water.

Reno smiled cheerfully.

Very well, then. (s.h.i.+n)

Overcome by the smile of the Great Mother of All Spirits, s.h.i.+n used the watering can to sprinkle the flowers all around him.

When he did, the flowers began to wither at an alarming rate.

Wait, wait! Dont do that, s.h.i.+n! What you need to nurture tear flowers is love. Love is the key. If you water them with such violence in your heart, theyll wither in the blink of an eye. (Reno)

Whatever should I do? (s.h.i.+n)

Smile. First, you need to smile. Its a sign of affection. (Reno)

s.h.i.+n showed a smile that could only be described as emotionless.

Like so? (s.h.i.+n)

The flowers withered even faster than before.

Geez! Like I said, you need to show love. Love, I tell you. Take this more seriously. (Reno)

I do not know anything about love. (s.h.i.+n)

Ahh, you shouldnt be so stubborn. I mean, s.h.i.+n, dont you love the Demon King Anos? (Reno)

s.h.i.+n stared at her in wonder, as if surprised.

Thats what we call love. So just water the flowers while thinking of your love for the Demon King. (Reno)

Reno drew closer to him with an innocent look on her face.

Even simply harboring feelings of affection toward My Lord would be disrespectful to him. I served him not out of love, but out of grat.i.tude. I was nothing more than a blade, and His Majesty himself saved me. Hes my one and only ally. (s.h.i.+n)

What do you mean? (Reno)

Please do not pay it any mind. Its an irrelevant story. (s.h.i.+n)

Reno glared at s.h.i.+n in dissatisfaction.

At that moment, I could hear some giggles.

Reno and (t.i.ti A)

Mr. Swordsman (t.i.ti B)

are such (t.i.ti C)

good buddies. (t.i.ti D)

It was the t.i.ti fairies who appeared.

How nice. (t.i.ti A)

Im so jealous. (t.i.ti B)

I wanna play. (t.i.ti C)

t.i.ti wants to play with him too. (t.i.ti D)

The fairies went to fly around s.h.i.+n, and they all spoke up.

I wanna play; I wanna play! (t.i.ti A)

Hey, wanna play? (t.i.ti B)

Mr. Swordsman! (t.i.ti C)

Lets play! (t.i.ti D)

s.h.i.+n glanced at the girls, looking slightly perplexed.

Reno burst out laughing.

Theyve grown attached to you since you saved them earlier. Why not play with them? (Reno)

I do not know anything about games. s.h.i.+n said as he turned on his heel.

Then, how about we play tag? (t.i.ti A)

Lets play tag! (t.i.ti B)

Spirit tag! (t.i.ti C)

Youll be it, Mr. Swordsman! (t.i.ti D)

The t.i.ti flew around while making a fuss.

Come out, everyone! (t.i.ti A)

Gennul! (t.i.ti B)

Gigadeas! (t.i.ti C)

Cenetello! (t.i.ti D)

The spirits gathered in the flower garden.

They were all staring at s.h.i.+n, wanting to play with him, as if trying to repay him for saving their lives.

Do you guys want to play too, Anosh? Reno asked.

No thanks, well pa.s.s. Were still tired from our long trip. (Anos)

Okay. Then well be playing with all the spirits. Everyone! s.h.i.+n said that if you can escape from him for a minute, hell do whatever you say! (Reno)

As soon as Reno said that, all the spirits ran away at once.

I will have to decline as well. (s.h.i.+n)

s.h.i.+n turned away and was about to leave.

At that moment, Reno made a mischievous face.

Well, well. So the Demon Kings right-hand man isnt confident he can catch us, I see. (Reno)

s.h.i.+n stopped right in his tracks.

I cannot ignore that remark. s.h.i.+n said as he turned back.

His gaze was still.

Lets do it, then. Are you ready? (Reno)

s.h.i.+n nodded.

His entire body was exuding killing intent.

I wasnt even sure he really knew how to play tag.

Youve got one minute, okay? Now lets go! Run, everyone! (Reno)

Forgive me for this, but (s.h.i.+n)

As soon as s.h.i.+n said that, he disappeared.

Kyuuh! (t.i.ti A)

A t.i.ti trembled a bit, as if she had been hit by something.

One after another, the other fairies reacted the same way.

Ive been tagged! (t.i.ti B)

Hes so fast! (t.i.ti C)

Youre so fast, Mr. Swordsman! (t.i.ti D)

The t.i.ti laughed and cackled, like they were enjoying the game.

In no time, both Gigadeas and the Cenetello were also tagged by s.h.i.+n, who was running at blinding speed.

It would not be a proper game of tag if I did not settle it in at least ten seconds. (s.h.i.+n)

s.h.i.+n came to a halt and closed his eyes.

Probably to catch Gennul. The invisible spirit of vanishment was running through the flower garden. However, s.h.i.+n easily caught him just by sensing his presence.

I must say, you are quite fast on your paws. (s.h.i.+n)

s.h.i.+n put his hand on Gennuls head.

The latter wagged his tail, like a dog receiving affection from its master.

However, if it were My Lord, he would have surely caught all of you in less than half my time. (s.h.i.+n)

Keep stroking him. Reno said.

s.h.i.+n turned his head toward her, with his eyes still closed.

Theres hardly anyone who can run around with Gennul, after all. (Reno)

Indeed, there was hardly anyone who could run around with Gennul, who couldnt appear to you unless you closed your eyes.

Like so? (s.h.i.+n)

s.h.i.+n stroked his head.

The giant wolf sat down on the spot, as docile as a cat.

Youre like a spirit, s.h.i.+n. (Reno)

Whatever do you mean? (s.h.i.+n)

A sword-wielding spirit who has forgotten how to love. Thats the impression I get. (Reno)

s.h.i.+n remained silent, without showing any interest.

Say, s.h.i.+n. Have you ever lost at a game of tag? (Reno)

I havent played it much before, but I have never let a single bandit escape me. (s.h.i.+n)

Then I guess you lose for the first time today. (Reno)

s.h.i.+n turned a questioning look at her.

Because this is a game of tag with all the spirits. Including myself. (Reno)

One minute had already pa.s.sed.

You could say that Reno won this game.

I guess I cheated a bit, but a win is a win. Ah, of course, I do realize how incredible the Demon Kings right-hand man is, though. Reno said, as if knowing how to handle s.h.i.+n.

I have no excuse for this. (s.h.i.+n)

Now then, what shall I have you do for me? (Reno)

At that moment, a hoa.r.s.e voice echoed throughout the garden.

Reno, a visitor has appeared. It seems he wants to see you and s.h.i.+n (Enyunien)

Reno immediately had a serious look on her face.

If the guy was a visitor, then he couldnt be a spirit.

Who? (Reno)

He calls himself the Conflagration King Eldmed, and apparently, he has something to tell you about the G.o.ds. (Enyunien)