Twenty-five-six: stuff about getting tense right before the final clash

The day we secure the World Tree is set—seven days from now.

We debated hard whether to march with an army or go in a party, but ended up choosing the party route.

Reason? Secrecy.

If the party can’t handle it, we’ll just throw in the kingdom’s troops and settle it that way.

Meanwhile, I’m buried in research with Professor Jabir.

He’s been flipping through stacks of books, but still finds time to warn me.

"Even if you know it, don’t forget—when the day comes, if we haven’t found a way to deal with the Nidhogg, you’ll have to let it go."

The Nidhogg that’s taken root in the World Tree, wild but not out of control. If even the alchemists’ village couldn’t handle it, I don’t expect some nobody like me to fix it. But that doesn’t mean I’m giving up without trying.

"Yes. I know. But I just… can’t bring myself to give up from the start."

Sweet of you. But I understand the feeling, so I’m helping out like this.

One hundred billion allies, I feel like I’ve got them all!

Uh… yeah. Thanks.

Of course! I’ll do anything for you in return!

Don’t go saying “anything” so casually! Honestly… you’re a misunderstanding machine, you know that?

Huh? Machine?

Never mind. Forget I said it.

Huh.

Thought you might’ve had some fun machine to show me, but nope. Gotta earn more of your trust, that’s all.

So I’ll do anything.

Still, even after reading your rare, precious book, there’s barely a word about the World Tree.

Scouring old records, you start seeing passages that make it seem like there were World Trees scattered across the world. But without knowing that every plant on the ground could become a World Tree, those stories just come off as fancy tales, nothing more.

Think about that—my parents’ few, scattered notes? Now I see just how important they were.

If we could find records from the Alchemist’s Village, our research would advance. But Van… the royal guard’s been searching there, and all they found was rubble. Nothing left.

Now that we’re not making progress on calming Nidhogg’s aggression, we’re pushing forward with research to take it down outright.

We’re modifying Trimochi. We’re negotiating with Van to get a few bottles of Slar wine. That kind of thing.

Would be best if we could alchemize it, but the materials are dragon-tier, so yeah.

Gotta improve the mana potions most. Probably need a higher-grade mana recovery elixir—no matter how much we boost the potion quality, the current stuff won’t fully restore my or Eva’s mana.

So far, no matter how many ingredients we gather or research, the sigil hasn’t taught us how to make a higher-grade recovery elixir.

Legendary-grade potions have no side effects, so you could drink multiple. But drinking that much liquid? Not realistic.

Just imagine fighting while chugging down a whole pot of water. Doesn’t matter if it’s in small portions—still impossible.

You’d just get stuffed.

And the other downside? The ingredients for legendary-grade mana potions are nasty. Hard to make more than a few.

"Okay, what else do we need?"

This time, unlike the sudden ambush with the hydra, we’ve got time to prepare—just like when we faced the dragon. That’s the only silver lining.

We’d tried having the ninja girl Chiyome scout out what kind of monster Nidhogg was and what the situation looked like, but she said once we stepped into its territory, Nidhogg would react. No choice but to give up on direct reconnaissance.

We keep hearing screams at regular intervals. Definitely means it’s holed up near the World Tree—the target zone. Nothing else is clear.

We rushed to prepare mana bombs for Jitarou, brewed potions, and before we knew it, the day was here.

In the isolated sector housing the teleport gate, the king and the others had gathered.

It's one of the first areas connected to the Mizoho Shrine Nation's teleport gate, so it's a bit away from Goldendown and surrounded by walls. Safe, even if something goes wrong.

Next to King Van, there are holy knights like Ikeoji. They’re also guarding the teleport gate behind the alchemist village. Nice to have.

The battle-ready team: me, Persia, Leifan, Jitarou, Eva, Camille, Marilyn, Nobuna, Chiyome.

Alphard wanted to join, but the gate’s defense commander can't just vanish.

Standing in a line, saluting—somehow, the tension’s building up weirdly.

Wait. Thinking about it, standing before the king’s presence? Normal to be nervous. Not with Van.

Must’ve seen right through my thoughts. Van gave a dry chuckle.

"Ah, stiff, stiff. If it’s too much, just go back. Take it easy."

"Hey! I’m putting my heart into this, you know!"

"Too much, you’re overdoing it. I said I’d cover the rear when push comes to shove. Against monsters, an army’s just in the way, so we can’t bring it from the start."

"I *know* that! I’m not worried about our forces! I’m just... acting all serious and tense, that’s all!"

I snapped at Van before I even realized it, and the guys around me winced, rubbing their heads.

Alphard shook his head, grimacing.

"Even if it’s a simple ceremony, the king himself is attending. Can’t you just… hold it together a little longer?"

"Who’s the one breaking the mood, huh? The king himself!"

"I know. I *know*. But still… just a little longer…"

I didn’t ask for this damn departure ceremony in the first place!

But Kyle’s been the talk of the town ever since Goldendawn, and with information leaks reaching their limit, they seem to want to officially set up a situation where they’re going to fetch medicine just so the townsfolk know.

“Could’ve just faked it, right?”

“This departure ceremony? Commoners can’t attend. But the flow of people and goods leading up to it? That’s all watched. …No, that’s exactly what we’re showing off.”

“Pain in the ass.”

“Think of it as how much everyone adores Kyle.”

“Huh. Guess I’ll push a little harder.”

I’d just started getting serious about this when Van bastard climbed down from the podium and slung an arm around my neck.

“Alright, I’ll give you credit for the spirit.”

“Get your damn hands off me!”

My voice split the clouds. Most of the crowd flinched and dropped to their knees, clutching their heads.

◆

The stiff formality of the ceremony ended, and Maina came walking over with Alphard.

She snorted through her nose, giving me a pep talk.

"Craft elder brother... do your best."

The fragile, timid girl who used to shrink back was gone. What stood here was someone strong—worrying about her brother, yet still sending her comrades off with resolve.

I grinned, pulling out the doll tied to my waist.

"Hey! The cursed doll Maina made... having it with me makes me feel safer—"

"Muugh!"

I nearly said "cursed doll" and got kicked hard in the face for it. Maina scowled and stomped on me.

It’s a patchwork rabbit-looking thing—can’t even blame me for getting the name wrong!

And damn, her kick hurts now!?

I’d noticed her power creeping up lately—but since our last few months of adventure, she’s gotten way stronger than before!?

I ruffled Maina’s head a few times, then ducked through the teleport gate like I was running away.

Then, out of nowhere, Jitarou shows up.

“Kinda sneaky, like your husband got caught cheating.”

“Not a single bit of that was real, was it!?”

See!

Why’d I end up getting side-eye from Leifan and Eva and all those girls?

“Probably not my fault, I’d say.”

“I didn’t do anything, did I!?”

Good—those serious vibes just vanished.

I decided to just pretend that was the case.