A Lot

“Could you tell me about the World Tree’s fruit… no, about the World Tree itself? I’m really clueless about that stuff…”

“Hmm, very well. My nature is not so rotten as to take advantage of someone who knows nothing.”

And so, Simurg-san’s lecture on the World Tree began.

Naturally, the knowledge he held was vastly different from what I knew.

But of course it was.

After all, Simurg-san had actually seen the World Tree with his own eyes many times, not just through hearsay.

“First of all, the World Tree is, simply put, a magical tool for creating a Sanctuary. It can also absorb and convert mana, but those are merely byproducts of generating the Sanctuary.”

“Ugh, Simurg, what you’re saying is hard to understand.”

Nadja, who had woken up with me and had nothing in particular to do, listened at my side.

Meanwhile, Aira had finished packing so we could depart at any time, and was preparing tea for everyone.

But she too kept her ears open, listening to the conversation as she worked.

Still, like Nadja, I found it difficult to understand.

I mean…

“What exactly is a Sanctuary?”

“Simply put, it is a place recognized by the gods as a dwelling of peace.”

A Sanctuary referred to a sacred space.

In places recognized as Sanctuaries, crops grew abundantly, rivers purified themselves, and countless blessings occurred.

Monsters too avoided Sanctuaries, fearing their holy energy.

And in the most sacred of Sanctuaries, it was even possible to communicate with gods.

“Within a nation, most often the church’s altars—the places where aptitudes are bestowed—serve as Sanctuaries. Or rather, they can only be created there. Through mass rituals by aptitude-bearers of prophecy or prayer, they forcibly generate Sanctuaries to turn them into altars for bestowing aptitudes.”

“The church…”

My chest ached sharply.

That word brought to mind my father’s emotionless eyes, and Ashid’s mocking face.

But I quickly pushed away the feeling.

I didn’t want to show weakness in front of Nadja or Aira.

“There are several ways to create a Sanctuary. The most effective method among them is by using the World Tree.”

Hearing Simurg-san’s words about monsters avoiding Sanctuaries, something clicked in my mind.

“…Wait, then this large Tree Barrier I’ve been stacking together…?”

“Indeed. Though crude, that is certainly a Sanctuary. Even for me, this is the first time I’ve seen a Sanctuary created through multiple World Trees. Such extravagance—were elves to see it, they might faint from shock.”

Elves fainting…? Maybe my Tree Planting aptitude was far more incredible than I’d thought…

“Incidentally, World Tree fruit is perfectly balanced in nutrition, prevents aging, cures disease, and on top of that, tastes unimaginably delicious. In the human world, it was traded for at least a thousand platinum coins.”

“Platinum… a thousand…?”

“And that was for dried fruit. Fresh fruit would be worth even more. Ah, and since World Tree fruit is also popular among Divine Beasts, there’s a high chance others may come seeking it.”

“Other Divine Beasts… might come?”

Aira’s eyes went wide as she imagined the scene, tilting her head to the side.

It must have been too outlandish to picture properly.

I understood the feeling well.

—Because sitting right here, I felt the same!

Yesterday, Nadja’s sudden arrival had overshadowed everything, but in terms of importance, this might be even greater.

A thousand platinum coins—that’s a hundred thousand gold. Far more than the annual income of most noble houses.

Just selling one could let me and my grandchildren live in luxury for generations…

And more Divine Beasts might come?

I’d always thought they were nothing more than figures in fairy tales.

Yet here I was, speaking with one, and being told more might arrive. Honestly, my brain couldn’t keep up.

“Somehow… compared to my Sword Saint, Woody’s Tree Planting seems far more amazing…”

“Indeed. In all my long life, this is the first time I’ve seen such an absurd aptitude.”

Simurg-san and Nadja nodded in agreement.

It seemed they had grown close during their journey here.

Still, to be called absurd by a Divine Bird…

“Now then, to return to the point… would you be willing to grant me some World Tree fruit on a regular basis? Of course, I will provide proper payment.”

“Yes, that’s fine. Would one per day be enough?”

“I understand you cannot agree so easily, but of course I intend to offer proper compen… what?”

Simurg-san stared, dumbfounded.

Perhaps I was the first human to ever surprise a Divine Beast.

But… well, giving one fruit per day wasn’t a problem at all.

Because… inside my Storage Bag, there were still plenty more World Trees bearing fruit.