"Is this the World Tree?



　I shouted in astonishment when I found out that the spiritual tree worshipped by the elves was in fact the World Tree.



"What?　The World Tree is the legendary tree?



The mother of all mythical trees?



　My words made everyone realize that this tree was the World Tree, and they showed their surprise.

　No wonder. Because another name for the World Tree is the world's biggest weed!



　It is true that in mythology it was said to be the world's first tree planted by the gods, and the various materials from the tree could be processed into many high-quality materials......, but it was also famous for being a very troublesome tree.



　First of all, when it grows, it grows very big.

　It grows by overpowering everything around it, so if you build a town or a facility near the tree, it will cause a catastrophe, or in some cases, it will cause a catastrophe by damming nearby rivers or collapsing mountains.

　Moreover, the World Tree is so large that the town will be in the shade and the laundry will not dry at all if the World Tree is in the neighborhood.



　Also, there was no end to the troubles caused by the World Tree, such as when strong winds caused demons riding on the leaves of the World Tree to fall and cause havoc on the ground, so when buds or young trees were found, they were cut down or planted and moved to new locations.



　Even the elves, who are in favor of harmony with nature, had no choice but to thin out the World Tree, because it is such a huge tree.

　After all, it's that big. The nutritional requirements for growth are so great that they could not be left to grow inexhaustibly, considering the growth of other trees.

　What is the meaning of protecting the World Tree, a synonym for such a nuisance plant?



"I didn't think that Mister Lex knew about the World Tree. ......?



　But for some reason, Sharaza is surprised that I know about the World Tree.



"No way, it's so obvious!"



　It is, after all, the world's largest weed. You can always see it no matter where you are, and it was famous as the first weed that a small child learns the name of.



"No, it can't be. This world tree is the last remaining plant in the world.　You can tell just by looking at it.



"What?　Last?



　This is the last tree in the world!　The world tree that is said to grow endlessly even if it is left alone?



　Hmm?　Huh?　...... but thinking back, I don't seem to remember seeing the World Tree since I was born in this life. ......

　It was so obvious to me that I never really cared if it existed or not.

　However, I still can't understand that all the trees in the world have disappeared except for this one.

　What the hell happened!



"Yes, that's right. This is the last world tree. And the fruit it finally produced is being targeted by the demons mentioned earlier.



"I see. If it's the fruit of the legendary World Tree, it's no wonder that demons are after it.



"Yes, that's right. The fruit of a legendary tree must be very powerful. After all, it was the first tree created by the gods.



　As I was recalling my memories of the past, everyone was saying, "I see.

　No, no, no, the World Tree is indeed a troublesome tree that tries to suck up all the nutrients from its surroundings, and its fruits are also nourishing in their own way, but they are still not so legendary!

　However, if no one has ever seen the World Tree in this time period, I wonder if it is treated as a rare thing.



　Oh, but maybe the old people got fed up with the growth of the world tree and sprayed it with some kind of herbicide.

　Maybe that's why there are no World Tree in these countries.

　The World Tree is the world's largest weed. I don't think it will disappear from the world just because we use a world tree remover. Like this tree.

　So the only people around here who don't have the World Tree are the people around here, and if you look around the world, you will find countries where the World Tree exists.

　And in those countries, the world tree is growing again and they are in trouble.



　Anyway, if you think about it, it makes sense that people don't know about the World Tree.

　If you get rid of vermin, it's only natural that more and more children won't know about the danger of vermin.

　I guess now that the World Tree has been exterminated, people don't need to be told how troublesome it is anymore.



　However, the request we received this time was not for the management of the World Tree.

　It is to exterminate the demons that are after the fruit of the World Tree.

　Adventurers don't do anything unnecessary. They are professionals who accomplish only what they are asked to do.

　If the world tree grows too big, the elves will take care of it by themselves.



"Oh, could it be that the demon that is after the fruit of the world tree is a demon that someone brought in to get rid of the world tree?



　And the descendants of those demons, which became wild because of the disappearance of the World Tree, may have found this tree and gathered here.

　Well, maybe I'm not wrong after all.



"What's wrong, Lex?"



　While I was pondering, Liliela approached me to ask me what was wrong.



"No, I was just thinking about the World Tree. I was wondering how to protect it from demons.



　Yeah, it's none of our business where demons come from.

　Focus on the job.



Let me introduce you to the chiefs. Follow me."



""""""Yes""""""



"Cue!"



　Sharaza leads us to the township elders.






This way.



"What?"



　Sharaza pointed not at the fortress covering the World Tree, but at the path stretching upward from the base of the World Tree.



"Is this a road carved out of the trunk of the tree?"



The paths are made by using the wrinkles of the trunk of the world tree, or by cutting away the parts without wrinkles to form a half-tunnel.



"Wow, it's interesting that they made the passage like this.



　As we climbed up the pathway of the World Tree, amused by the unusual pathway of the big tree, we found an amazing sight above the branches.



"This is ...... town!



　Yes, there was a huge town spread out on the branches of the World Tree.

　The top of the branch had been cut down to form a flat road, and a number of houses were lined up on the road.



"Wow, that's amazing!"



"Wow, there's a house up there. ......"



　If you look, you can see the shadows of man-made structures on the branches above.

　And the house is not just on a branch. There is also a house with a door dug into the trunk.



"I never thought they'd build a town on top of the World Tree. ......"



　This is a surprise. I never thought they would build a town on top of the World Tree.

　But is this possible ......?

　After all, the area around the World Tree cannot be built bypassably due to the World Tree, which grows bigger and bigger every day.

　Considering this, it may be a surprisingly good idea to build a town on the World Tree itself, which will not be damaged by the World Tree.



"Some people have come up with a great idea!"



　My hat is off to you.



"The elders are in the meeting hall in the trunk just down the road."



　Sharaza pointed to a room, or rather a meeting place, halfway around the trunk road, where a trunk had been dug out.



"Surprising. When you said you were an elder, I thought you were up there.



　Yeah, I thought the same thing.

　I didn't expect them to be so far from the ground, or rather in the lower strata.



"In this spiritual tree township, the lower stratum is a good location because it has become so hard that it can never be processed again. That's why the elders and the elderly live in the lower stratum, while the young people live in the upper stratum, where processing is easier.



"Wow, interesting."



　Hmm?　Is the world tree too hard to process?

　Another strange statement seems to have flown off the page: ......



　I was going to ask him about that question, but before I could, Mr. Sharaza opened the door and went inside.



"Elder, Sharaza is back. He is back with the strong warriors of the human race."



　We entered the room after a delay, and behind Ms. Sharaza, on the other side of the room, we saw a number of old men sitting on chairs carved out of the world tree.

　I see, those are the elders.

　The dimness of the room makes it difficult to see their expressions.



"You're back, Sharaza. And where are the warriors of the tribe?



"This way."



　Mr. Sharaza introduces us.



"These are the mighty warriors of the human race who have done me a favor.



"...... what?"



　But when the elders see us, they sound distinctly displeased.



"Sharaza! Have the humans deceived you?"



"What?"



"I told you. Men are a race whose lives are far shorter than ours. How can a human child be of any use in our fight against those monsters?



No, that's not true!　They have successfully defeated the demons that attacked the township with their awesome magic!　They are real!



　Oh, that's the scene I just saw downstairs.

　As if to prove it, the argument between Ms. Sharaza and the elders seemed to ...... continue, but a loud noise echoing through the room stopped it.



"Shut up you old elves!"



　The man who stopped him was a small, stoutly built old man with a full beard.

　Yes, definitely a dwarf.

　He must be the head of the Dwarves if he is here.

　That sounded like him hitting a shield against the wall with an axe.



　And if the Dwarven elder has stopped talking, that means that after this ......



"If you don't know what you're capable of, you'll know it when you fight."



　Right.



"Take up arms, boy."



The dwarf chief holds an axe in his hand and without a moment's pause offers to fight.



"Yes, sir."






　I also draw my sword and hold it ready.



"What?　Wait a minute!　Why do we have to fight all of a sudden?



　Liliela, in a panic, stops me, but the Dwarf chief doesn't seem to stop there.



"Out of my way, girl! You'll get hurt!



"Liliela, this is the way of the Dwarves."



"I've never heard of such a style before!



Dwarves are a race of people who value strength, and in their culture the quickest way to persuade them is to show them strength.



What is that?



You know what I'm talking about, kid.



　The dwarf chief listens to my explanation, and his eyes widen in surprise.



"I heard about it from a dwarf I knew a long time ago," he said.



"I see. That saves me the trouble of explaining."



　With that, the chief of the dwarves came forward, and I did the same.

　The dwarf chief's weapon of choice is a double-bladed battle-axe.

The battle-axe has a long handle and is twice his height, which covers the difference in size between the two races with room to spare.

In fact, the Dwarf's muscular strength allows him to wield it with ease, putting him at a disadvantage in terms of reach.



　In this situation, in a normal fight, we should use magic, but in a test of dwarves' strength, we should not use magic.

　They will recognize the strength of a warrior including the strength with magic, but they will be more receptive to a fight with weapons and physical strength.



"Let's go!"



　A dwarven chief charges at us, his battle-axe thrusting out like a spear.

　The spear has a prong at the tip, so that if it sticks in the head, the attacker will be in big trouble.



"Pow!"



　I evade the chief dwarf's attack with a leap, not with a last-minute evasion, but with a leap to avoid the attack.

　Then the dwarf chief pushes his battle-axe with his left hand using his right hand as a fulcrum, turns his axe half-turn and comes after me.

　This is what I fear about dwarves, because they fight without feeling the weight of their heavy and powerful weapons.



　Anyway, thanks to my evasive maneuvers, I succeed in avoiding the pursuing attack of the dwarf chief.

　However, it was a very slow attack, did you check if I am a worthy opponent for a serious fight?

　If so, this is probably a good place to start.



"Good."



　The dwarf chief grins.



"Next time, you attack first."



　With that, the dwarf chief readies his battle-axe.

　His stance requires no evasion. He was confident that he could catch every attack.

　I see. I know I can avoid my attacks. Now you want me to prove to you that I can do enough to kill my enemy.



Then go to ......!



Come on!



　I brought my sword up to my waist and swung it sideways at the side of the Dwarf chief's battle-axe.



"Iron cleave!



　The Iron Crossing is a Dwarf tradition in which the two sides compare the performance of their weapons.

It is a sword technique for a one-on-one test, in which the attacker must use all of his strength and joints, risking everything on a single blow with no thought of the consequences.

　It is literally the ultimate in inefficiency.



　Liliela.



　I saw.



"Iron cliff!"



　Just as I thought Rex's body had disappeared, I heard a strange high-pitched hissing sound.

　The next moment, a storm raged in the room.



　Gosh!



What?



　I couldn't even hear my own voice over the noise of the storm.

　The storm lasted only a moment.

　The wind stopped soon after, but the sound was so strong that it seemed to have made my ears stupid, making it hard for me to hear the sounds around me.

Then there was a light in the dark room.



"Hmm?"



If you look, you can see light leaking from the wall behind the dwarf chief.

　I wonder if there is a window for lighting in that place?



　The light was long and thin, as if it had been cut with a blade.

　It was as thin as if it had been cut with a ...... blade. ...... You don't ...... mean that, do you?

　I looked quietly at Mr. Lex, and he said, "Oh no!　He was looking at the light leaking from the wall with a look as if he wanted to say, "I'm sorry, I can't help it.




　Oh, yeah. Okay. No need to explain. In fact, please don't explain.



I'm sorry!　I overdid it!



　Oh, I explained!　I wanted to just go through this like it never happened!



"I'm so sorry!　I even cut the back wall because it cut more cleanly than I expected!"



"......"



　The Dwarf chief stood motionless, holding his battle-axe, the blade of which had been sliced in half.



"Ah. That ......."



　Mr. Rex looks fearfully at the dwarf chief's face: ......



"...... kakun."



　The chief dwarf had fainted.

　Yes, that's what happens.