"Mister Lex, I need a favor."



　After I finished offering my blacksmithing skills to the dwarves, I went out of the workshop, and Sharaza-san looked very formal and asked me for a favor.



"A favor ......?"



"Well, actually, I was wondering if you could show me how to make the elixir that Master Lex made for me the other day.



"Yes, that's fine."



No, I know. Elixirs are legendary even among us elves. It's true that we are far too brazen to ask you to teach us how to make it. ......?　Are you sure?



Yes, it's good.



"Well, that's very kind of you, but are you sure?　An elixir?　The legendary drug?



　Don't exaggerate. It's just an elixir.



It's fine. It's nothing to hide. But why all of a sudden?



　Sharaza and your team are supposed to be focused on their roles as warriors. Why would they be interested in making medicine, which is not their specialty?



"As Lex and the others already know, the people of this township are survivors of a great disaster in the past. The adults who knew of that time were wiped out and only the young and inexperienced survived. Because of this, we have lost much wisdom and skill.



　As I recall, it was the white plague that went on the rampage.



"And now the demons have attacked. This time the situation has been improved with the help of Rex and the others, but you are human beings with a short life span. It is not certain that you will be able to borrow the same power next time. Therefore, we wish to regain some of our lost wisdom and strength!



　I see, you wanted each one of us to memorize as many skills as possible in case of emergency.

　And you thought that this should be done by the young elves who are currently learning and who will be responsible for the future of the township.



　Well, you think about the younger generation and the township very carefully. You are a warrior chief!



I'd be happy to help you with that!"



Thank you. I really appreciate it, Mister Lex."



　Ms. Sharaza bows deeply to me and expresses her gratitude.



"And one more thing. I want you to teach us how to fight."



"And how do you fight?"



Yes, the power of Lord Lex and his men is far beyond ours. Therefore, if we learn how to fight, I believe we will be able to deal with the demons even after Lex and his men return.



　I understand what you mean, Sharaza, but I don't think I have anything to teach the elves.



"But I can't teach you spirit magic, can I?



　Yes, the elves' fighting is spirit magic.

　They make a contract with spirits that ordinary people cannot perceive and use their power.

　That is the greatest power of the elves, but we can't teach it to other races because they can't use spirit magic.



"I know. But I think there is a way of fighting that can be taught only to other races.



"How to fight because you are another species: ......"



　I see. So that's how it is.

　The mainstay of elven warfare is spirit magic.

　But that is why the elves are greatly weakened when they cannot use spirit magic.



　Sharaza-san wants me to teach you how to fight without relying on spirit magic for such a situation to arise.

　That's what I'm talking about, Sharaza-san. You wanted the young warriors not to be drowned by the strength of spirit magic, and for them to have the power to rely on something other than spirit magic when the time comes!



　Well, Sharaza is really good at nurturing people.

　She is a great instructor!　He really is a man, or rather an elf, who cares for his people!

　Well, if that's the case, I guess I'll have to cooperate!



"Yes, sir. I'll take care of it!"



"Oh, you'll help us!　I appreciate it!　Oh, yeah. I forgot to mention that there will be a separate reward for the elixir making method and training, so don't worry."



"No, if it improves everyone's chances of survival, it's part of the job."



No, we have already been more than grateful for your help with the Dwarves and the World Tree Fields. I cannot make you bear the burden any longer. If we do not pay them a fair price, we will lose our Elvish pride.



　He really is a law-abiding person.

　But that's why I like him.



"Okay. Okay, then.



"As for the additional reward, please take what you want from the materials that can be collected from the World Tree. Also, if you wish, Lex, I will give you priority in providing materials from the World Tree even after the request is completed."



"Are you sure?"



Yes, that's fine. We have no money in the outside world. Instead, we would like to be paid in materials.



　Materials from the World Tree.

　The World Tree can obtain most of the materials other than those from demons, but the production of each individual material is small.

　Moreover, this World Tree is still small, so it is even smaller.

　So, if we offer them as a reward, Sharaza-san and his team will have to cut back a lot, don't you think?



　...... Well, then, we should fertilize not only the fields but also the world tree itself.

　That way we will not only get our reward, but also enough for Sharaza and her family to use. ......



　◆Sharaza






　It happened in the middle of the night.



　Gogo gogogo gogogo!



What's going on?



　Startled by the sudden tremor, I jumped out of bed, grabbed my weapon, and ran out of the house immediately.



"Captain Sharaza!



　My men, who had also come out of the house, rushed to my side.



What the hell is going on?



I don't know. But first, get in touch with the fortress on the ground. Demons may take advantage of this earthquake.



"Ha!"



　My men rush to contact the ground.

　The earthquake is still continuing, and everyone in the township is rushing out of their homes.



What's happening?



　I looked at the voice and saw Liliela and her friends.



"I don't know. It seems that there is an earthquake, but we have never experienced anything like this before.



"The elves are experiencing an earthquake for the first time. It's scary because we don't know how the demons will behave.



"Chief Warrant Officer!　We have contact with the fort on the ground!



How are the demons?



So far, there are no indications that demons are attacking.



"I see, but I still don't feel safe. There is a danger that the earthquake will destroy our houses. Lead the people of the township to a safe place.



Ha!"""Ha!"""



　The earthquakes continued, and we spent the night in a state of growing anxiety.

　When dawn finally broke, we saw an extraordinary sight.



The earth is so far away!



　Yes, the ground was surprisingly far away from the branch we were on.



What is this?　How can a world tree grow so easily?"



　We were not the only ones surprised; Lady Lilieira and the others were also puzzled by this sight.



"No, it can't be. At least the trees I remember don't grow this fast!"



　Yes, I have never seen anything like this in my hundreds of years of life.

　I wonder why the tree has suddenly grown so huge.



What in the world could have caused it?　What caused the World Tree to suddenly start growing?　What could bring about such a dramatic change ......!"



　At that moment, a young man's face appeared in my mind.

　And it seems I was not the only one who had this image in my mind, as Lady Lilieira and the others also turned pale and looked at me.



"I have an idea who might have caused this situation. ......"



"That's funny, me too."



I can think of one person.



　I see, so that's what this is all about. ...... but why on earth would you do such a thing. ......

　While I was struggling to understand his motives, the door of the house he rented to Lady Lilieira and her friends was opened.　



"Whew, I'm still a little sleepy."



　It's Mister Lex. Apparently, he's been asleep all this time.



"Mister Lex, I have a question."



"Oh, good morning, Ms. Sharaza. What is it that you want to ask me?



"Well, that's the thing. ......"



　I hesitate slightly.

　Is it right to question the man who is working so hard to protect this town, Lex?

　In the first place, what can one person do about the huge existence of the World Tree?

　d*mn!　Yeah!　I am the guardian of the township!　What if I don't ask here!



"Mister Lex!　What were you doing last night?　Do you know anything about this situation at the World Tree?



　Please!　I hope you're innocent!



"Yesterday?　I was fertilizing the World Tree yesterday."



　But, to his heartless surprise, Lex readily confessed that he had been involved in the matter.






"Oh, you've grown quite a bit."



　On the contrary, they are innocently happy that the world tree has grown.

　I don't understand!　What is Lord Rex thinking!



"I guess it's Lex after all."



"Hey, Mr. Lex. Why did you make the world tree grow?



　Lilieira and her friends don't hesitate to ask him what's going on.

　What in the world could be the reason for this?　



"Oh, that's it, for the reward of Mr. and Mrs. Sharaza."



""""" reward? """"



　Ours?　What do you mean?



"Yesterday, when you asked me to train the elves, you said you would pay me with materials."



　I did say that.



"He also promised to give us priority in providing materials."



　Yeah, we talked about that too.

　But," continued Mr. Lex.



"But this immature world tree can't be refined in large quantities, so if we provide the materials, there won't be enough for the people in the township to use. So I thought that by enlarging the world tree and increasing the yield of materials, we could ensure that there would be enough for the people of the township to use even if we were to provide them with materials."



　I see, so you made the world tree bigger .......



That's it!



　What?　That's the reason you made the World Tree grow?

　Isn't there some greater reason?　Is there a more important reason, like to protect the township from demons?

　Is that the only reason why you achieved the feat of growing the World Tree?



"Is that the only reason?"



Yes, that's all there is to it.



　Yes!　It really wasn't much of a reason ah!

　Thus, Master Lex made the World Tree grow in the blink of an eye.

...... Oh, we appreciate you thinking of us. I do, but how will I explain it to the ...... elders?

　I wonder if they will believe me when I tell them what happened.