After defeating Mother Yggd Eater, the Yggd Eaters who had surrounded the World Tree fled like spiders.

　This is a natural reaction since the boss who gives the orders has been defeated.



　But thanks to this, we were able to go after them without worrying about the World Tree's defenses.

　We asked the slower dwarves to defend the tree just in case, and we and the elves teamed up to destroy the Yggd-eaters.



　After all, the Yggd-eaters are creatures of the world of the demons.

　They are an invasive alien species. If we don't exterminate them properly, they may reproduce and target the world tree again in a few hundred years.



　The Lost Forest is a big place, but it's easy to track them with our search magic.



"Cu-cu-cu!"



　Mofumofu also smelled the yugd-eaters and helped us track them down.

　After several days of hunting in the forest, we succeeded in exterminating all the Yugd-eaters.



　We were able to get rid of all the Yugd-eaters.



"Thank you all for your hard work!"



Thanks for all your hard work!!!""""""



　After the extermination of the Yugd Eater, we returned to the World Tree and had a party to celebrate.



"Ha ha ha ha!　Unbelievable!　We finally saved the World Tree!"



"Ah!　We defeated those demons with our own hands!"



　The elves and dwarves are proudly praising each other with tears in their eyes that they were able to defeat the demons by their own hands.



"Great!　I walked through the forest and that demon wasn't there at all!"



"Now even those of us who can't fight can walk through the woods!"



　Over there, the races that were not suited for battle are now happy to be able to walk safely through the forest.



"It's all thanks to Lex and the others. I am truly grateful."



　While I was watching this scene, Ms. Sharaza came in with a bright smile on her face, carrying a plate of food in both hands.



"Please eat this plate too, Mister Lex. This is a dish made with ingredients found in the forest. We have not been able to gather ingredients since the demons started roaming around, but thanks to you, we are able to make this dish for the first time in hundreds of years.



　It seems that this dish is a local delicacy of Sharaza's hometown.

　From the looks of it, it seems to consist mainly of mushrooms and wild vegetables.



"Bon appétit!"



　As I take a bite of the dish as recommended, a tangy sensation spreads in my mouth.

　This dish seems to be a mixture of several spices.

　The mushrooms are well seasoned and chewy.

　Not only the spices stimulate the taste buds, but also the wild vegetables themselves have an interesting taste.



They are delicious. You can't taste this kind of food in a human town.



"Of course. If you don't eat this wild vegetable right after harvesting, it tastes bad and becomes something else.



　Well, it's not suitable for transportation, so it's a local dish that can be eaten only in the area.

　Oh, but I guess you don't have to worry about that if you use the magic bag.

　While we were talking about this, a group of dwarves arrived with a platter of food.



"Your honor King Lex!　And eat this dish too!　It's a dish of wild vegetables and wild boar meat!　The uniquely bitter wild vegetables and the juicy steak go great with sake!"



"Mr. Lex!　You should try our food too!"



You should try our food too!"



　Other tribes rushed in with their own dishes.



"Whoa!



Come on, eat up!



It's so delicious.



"It's so good, it'll make your cheeks fall off too!"



　I was inundated with people with food like that, and I was squashed.

　But it was thanks to the hard work of everyone who worked together to defeat the Yugd Eater that the people of the township were able to eat so much food with smiles on their faces.

　We enjoyed the banquet, feeling very proud of this scene.



　We enjoyed the banquet, feeling very proud of the sight of them.



　The next day we decided to return to King's Landing after the chiefs acknowledged that we had successfully completed our request.



"It's a pity that you have to leave already.



"I would have liked to learn more from Master Lex."



"We would have liked to learn the art of blacksmithing from His Majesty the Honorable King Lex: ......"



　...... I wish the dwarves would stop calling me that.



"We are rootless adventurers. We can't stay in one place."






"I've heard that the human race moves around so fast, and you and your people are the best of the best, aren't you?



　While they were laughing at each other, the elders of the township showed up.



"You have saved our township from a crisis," they said. We thank you.



No, please don't worry about it. I'm just doing my job.



No, your work here is too much for a mere bouncer. Inheriting the lost skills of the Dwarves of the township, training warriors, teaching them how to make fertilizer and elixir that will bring an amazing harvest, and the explosive growth of the world tree that had not grown for a long time. ...... Honestly, the reward we have prepared is not enough for your work. It's not worth it."



　Well, I didn't do that much.



I mean, Lex is almost entirely to his credit.



"""" yeah yeah """"



　Lilieira and the others in the back voiced their modesty, and Sharaza voiced his disapproval.



"No, thanks to you, the damage to the township has been greatly reduced. Without a doubt, we are saved because of you.



　To this, not only Ms. Sharaza but also the township's warriors shouted "yes, yes!



"It's because you fought with us that we all survived!



"Yes, when we were surrounded by that horde of demons, I thought we were doomed. But you didn't flinch and went straight for them. You may be young, but you are great warriors!



　Liliela and the others scratch their cheeks in embarrassment at the praise.

　Yes, there are people who recognize the achievements of those who fought earnestly to protect the township!



"His Majesty the Honorable King Lex. This is an additional reward from us Dwarves. We have prepared for you the best we can offer using the ancient art of smelting that you have taught us. Please accept it.



　With these words, the Dwarf chief presented a number of ingots of metal.

　The various metals such as copper, iron, steel, and mithril, which must have been refined from the bark of the world tree, were of much higher quality than the first time I had seen the weapons they had made.



"The purity is magnificent. It's a feat that only dwarves can achieve such high quality in just a few days. I am happy to be able to return the work my master taught me to you all.



"Oh, what a waste of words!　The next time we meet, we will have more than we have now!"



"""" Stay tuned!!!""""



　The dwarves declare to me with a motivated look in their eyes.

　With their motivation, it won't be long before they climb to even greater heights beyond the skills they have regained.



"Mister Lex, I would like you to accept a small amount of foodstuffs and medicinal herbs from the forest as an additional reward.



　Sharaza and his friends offered us several gifts from the forest and a mountain of medicinal herbs.



"We were worried that those demons might have devoured them, but fortunately they were too small to eat, and as far as we were concerned, they had not been destroyed.



"That's great!"



　I thought it would take a long time for the forest to be restored to its original state if it had been devoured by demons, but fortunately, I am relieved to hear that this does not seem to be the case.

　It seems that the Yggdrashers were not interested in ordinary foodstuffs.



"We helped them gather medicinal herbs too!



"Yes, yes, gathering in the forest is our specialty!　You can get all the berries you want from the tops of the tallest trees!"



　With these words, the dwarves and beastmen arrived with bundles of medicinal herbs.

　They were not willing to run away from the forest and had dared to stay in their hometown, but they seemed to be really enjoying the harvest in the forest after a long time.



"Some of the goods are difficult to find in the outer forests and are very expensive. I would like you to accept these as an additional reward. You can sell them or use them yourself.



　Sharaza explains about medicinal herbs to us.

　Come to think of it, I haven't seen any medicinal herbs around here since my rebirth.

　Maybe I should build a greenhouse in the palace and cultivate them.



"Hey, hey, take these with you too!



"Please take this one, too!"



　While I was thinking about this, people in the township started bringing in gifts one after another, and a little pile of them started to form.



"Well, I'd better get going.



　After putting the gifts in the magic bag, we turn our backs to the World Tree to leave the township.

　That's when it happened.

　The tree shook softly and loudly.

　Then something fell from above.



Hmm?"



　I catch something that just fell on my head and see what it is.



"Is this ...... a nut?"



　Yes, what I caught was a nut.

　But it was a big nut, as big as a person's head.



"This is ......."



　Huh?　I think I've seen this somewhere before: ......



"Is that it?



　Sharaza suddenly shouts loudly when she sees the nuts.



"I think it's the fruit of the World Tree!"



""""""Yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!



　Sharaza's words startled everyone in the township.

　Oh, that's right. This is the fruit of the world tree.




　In my previous life, after cutting down the overgrown world tree, I used to look around for the fallen fruits and collect them.

　They were collected and incinerated so that they would not multiply again.



　But in this day and age, there are fewer trees around here, so we can't do that.



"Yes, Ms. Sharaza, I'll give it back to you."



"Oh, yeah."



　Sharaza is surprised and tries to receive the fruit of the World Tree.

　But the elven elder stopped her.



"Wait! This is probably the will of the World Tree.



""""""Will of the World Tree? """"""



"Well, the World Tree must have given you the fruit as a return gift for protecting you. Will you accept it?"



"Chou?　Are you serious?



You, elf!



　The other chiefs and the town's inhabitants are surprised by the elf chief's comment.



"What's so surprising? The demon that threatened the tree has been successfully exterminated by them. And the World Tree, which had not ripened for a long time, has grown and ripened thanks to his fertilizer. Then, the World Tree will continue to bear fruits in the future. Then shouldn't the first fruit be given to him according to the will of the World Tree?"



""""""......""""""



　The elven chief's words cause everyone to be quiet and thoughtful.

　No, to be honest, I don't want to get the fruit of the world tree. ......

　It's the biggest weed in the world, after all.

　It just happened that it didn't grow well in this forest due to the soil conditions, but if it were planted in other places, it would surely soak up all the nutrients and grow to a huge size in no time.

　I'd like to have everyone in the township do their best to return the land in a peaceful manner. ......



"Surely, the elven chief has a point."



　Do you have a point?



"If that's what the tree wants, then that's what it will do."



　No choice?



"Yes, it is. That's all they've ever done for us. Let's wait for the next fruit of the world tree!



"Yeah, let's do that!"



"As the World Tree wishes!"



　Oh, my God. Contrary to my wishes, the air is no longer conducive to the return of the fruit of the World Tree.



"Please take care of the new World Tree, Lex!"



"...... yes."



　Sharaza's sparkling eyes pushed me away, and I had no choice but to withdraw my proffered hand.



"That's my brother!　I can't believe they gave you the World Tree!"



"The fruit of the world tree. ...... I wonder if you could share it with me, even if only on the surface. I'm sure they'd make great medicine."



"The fruit of the world tree. I got a great treasure ......!"



"The fruit of the tree from which the elixir is made. This is a great gift, Mr. Lex!



　No, guys, it's not that good!



"Well, that's just great, Lex. You've been rewarded with the fruit of the world tree that you're supposed to be protecting. You're like a hero who gets to keep the princess he rescued."



　No, no, no!　What are you talking about, Liliela?　This is more like a demon king who sucks up all the nourishment from the neighboring lands!



　But I couldn't say such a thing in front of the overjoyed people in my hometown, so I quietly accepted the fruit of the World Tree.



　I was not going to say such a thing in front of the overjoyed people of the township.



"Wow, I'm back at last."



　After returning to King's Landing from the World Tree Country, we were relaxed at home after a long absence.

　It seems that everyone feels at ease at home, and even Mr. Norb, who is usually sober, is leaning back on the sofa.

　Gyro-kun took over the other sofa and slept on it, using the fluffy blanket as a pillow.



"Giggle!"



　Oh, I got kicked off by an angry Mohammed.



"Well, anyway, what should I do with this?



　I hold my head in front of the fruit of the World Tree on the table.

　It would be a nuisance to the neighbors if I planted them in the wrong place.

　But it would also be a problem to keep the ones I got in the back of the warehouse.

　I wonder if you have any good ideas. ......



"Someone who understands the hassle of world tree fruit in this country and will take good care of it: ...... Oh!"



　Then I remembered a face.

　Yes, that person would make good use of the fruit of the World Tree!



"Okay!　Let's leave the fruit of the World Tree to Mr. Gunray!"



　Yes, I decided to entrust the fruit of the World Tree to Mr. Gunray, who is researching edible chimaeras in my home village.




　Well, it's a good thing I know just the right person!