219: The thing about moving forward when you can't find the first step

With Kyle sealed in ice like he was asleep, me and Professor Javir head back to the meeting room where everyone’s waiting.

I take my seat. King Van rests a hand on his chin.

“Got it all clear?”

“Yeah.”

I nod slowly, eyes locked with resolve.

Van seemed satisfied with that.

“Once more, I command you. Use any means you like. Make the revival elixir. Bring Kyle back!”

“I’ll see it through— but was it really okay to mention the resurrection elixir like that?”

I hadn’t even told anyone else… that burden…

Van crosses his arms.

“Given the circumstances, I’ve chosen to inform those present. Naturally, they’ve all promised not to speak of it.”

“What circumstances?”

"Just asking for cooperation—sharing intel was the main thing. But the other was the magical communication device. I’ve been watching the situation, and I’m tied to the people involved."

Ah, right. Chiyome was watching things closely, so she couldn’t hide anything from her superior, Nobuna. And even if she wanted to, she couldn’t just ignore reporting to her superior. So the upper ranks of the Mizoho Shrine Nation already know.

Maybe I should just explain the situation and ask them to keep it secret.

Jitarou saw it too, so I know he’s here.

Van sighed, dropping to one knee.

You don’t need me to say it—solving this problem’s a top-tier difficulty. And yet, due to confidentiality, we can only pick from these people here.

So that’s it. Even a little boost in odds—shared the info with someone trustworthy.

"Craft. If you request it, one of these people here will cooperate directly—or indirectly. Batista and Zaid will be in the background."

Zaid frowned at that.

"Of course, Your Majesty will be in the background too, right?"

"U... yeah, I get it."

"If you understand, then it's fine."

Ugh. Seriously? Did he actually think he'd be helping directly!?

Zaid caught that fast. Damn, he’s sharp. This guy’s a damn genius at bureaucracy.

I shook off the thought and stood up.

"Of course I’ll do anything for Kyle! I’ll do it!"

I slammed both hands on the desk to emphasize it.

But. But here’s the thing.

"But what the hell do we even start with!?"

That’s the real problem. I don’t know. Whether it’s a resurrection potion, a revival elixir, a soul-returning draught—whatever it is! How the hell do you even make one?

Jabir pressed a hand to his forehead, then pointed a finger toward me.

"Then. You said there’s a material essential to Soma that’s impossible to obtain. What is it?"

He murmured softly, almost to himself. "I’ve got a rough idea already."

"Only one material essential to Soma and currently impossible to acquire... the leaf of the World Tree."

The announcement hit everyone—except the king, Van, and Zaid—like a sudden gust. Murmurs rippled through the room.

"World Tree? Does it even exist?"

"Always in old tales, right?"

"If it’s needed, we’ll just go find it!"

"Old records definitely mention it existed... but..."

"Back in the day, there was an idiot who brought thyme instead of World Tree leaves, pretending they were the real thing."

Teacher. Your tone makes it hard to tell if that fool was ever fooled... or if he just got away with it. Honestly, I’m starting to worry.

"Assuming the World Tree exists—would we even need its leaves, really?"

"True enough. If we go through all that trouble just to find out they weren’t needed at all, that’d be more than just a wasted trip."

The brain trust of the Mizoho Shrine Nation is impressively practical. Always thinking ahead—no surprise there.

I pull the sealed chest from my spatial storage. Professor Jabir glances at it, gives me a nod.

I open it wide so everyone can see. Inside, a black plant is packed tight.

Zaid peers in—something about it makes him grimace, like he’s remembering the Hydral. Back then, he was at the peak of his mess-up phase.

Only Muten, the blind one, sits perfectly still, looking strangely lonely.

I’d fix him when I get the chance. But no time to gather materials now—gotta keep moving!

Hold on a sec until Kyle gets back on his feet!

"This black plant... we think it's what causes the monsters to stampede. Not confirmed yet—still investigating. As for what this plant actually is..."

Van raised one eyebrow, his gaze flicking between me and Javir. The look said it all: *You didn't hear a damn thing.*

Javir shook his head slightly. Van sighed, then nodded.

That was enough. He got it—Javir was the one who’d kept quiet.

Van lifted his chin, signaling me to continue. I did.

"It's likely a fragment of a corrupted World Tree."

"Likely? You didn't鉴定 it?"

"鉴定的结果……有点模糊。大概是因为知识不够。先生布置的课题，反复研究黑植物质，做实验，后来纹章就低语了，说复活药需要世界树的叶子."

Van rubbed his chin.

"Come to think of it, I remember suddenly remembering techniques during sword training. Was that what they called the whisper of the sigil?"

"Exactly. I've never heard of the sigil's whisper spreading wrong knowledge. So that means the World Tree, and its leaves, actually exist!"

But Master Javir shook his head.

"Craft. The fact that the World Tree's leaf is needed as a material, and the fact that the World Tree exists in this world—those aren't the same thing."

"Wha—?!"

"Think simply. What if the World Tree only ever existed... in the past?"

"……Oh."

No way! Then what the hell are we supposed to do?!

Wait—hold on. That’s just a matter of possibility. It might not exist. But it might.

"Isn’t it possible that it’s here right now?!"

"Indeed. But the problem lies elsewhere."

"Elsewhere?"

"Can’t you see it? The fact that we’ve already found the World Tree."

My thoughts freeze for a second.

"Ah… ah! Even if it’s changed, this *is* the World Tree!"

"Indeed. We’ve already found the World Tree."

"So then, all we need to do is find one that hasn’t changed, right?!"

I jumped up, fired up—goal set! But Javir sensei just stared at me, deadpan.

"Uh… did I miss something?"

"Not wrong, but… you’re clearly not seeing it."

"What did I miss?"

The World Tree’s existence is confirmed. All that’s left is to find it. Right?

"There’s no telling how many World Trees there are… but all of them might already be corrupted."

A cold jolt runs down my spine.

"Even worse… suppose we find a normal World Tree. Whether it even has leaves is another question entirely."

He’s right. That’s true. But—

"I’m still going to look. For Kyle. I’ll find leaves from a proper World Tree! I’ll find them, no matter what!"

I clench my fist tight, reaffirming my resolve.

"...But where the hell do we even start?"

Shoulders shrug, and one by one, the others deflate.

"Hey, don’t jinx it!"

"Craft…?"

"Blind luck’s our usual plan, isn’t it?"

"Should we start with the black plants?"

"From what we’ve studied, that’s exactly what leads to corrupted World Trees."

"Knowing the state of the World Tree is black, we might predict how the monsters gather... but this is still a mess, isn’t it?"

"Then what we’ll find is just the corrupted ones, right?"

"Yeah... that’s the problem."

And so, from the very start, everyone’s head is in their hands.

Just one person—Evra, the mage—stays untouched.

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