The divine tree that had brought victory to the kingdom was marginalized, and various human agendas were believed to have been involved in the abandonment of this garden.

　However, not all the mages who contracted with elemental spirits must have set a trend of not valuing any spirits other than those they contracted with.

　The battle mages who are currently making great contributions to the military - those who have obtained their current authority by separating the spirits of the divine tree from the royal family. Some of them have distorted their values towards spirits.

　Accusing them doesn't mean that we, who signed a contract with the 'outlier' spirits, will be immediately restored to power. The accusation itself means treason to the country - the court mages are deeply entrenched in both the military and political aspects of this country.

...... When you were worshipped as a god, did the royalists ever come here, too?
At the fertility festivals, which celebrate the harvest of crops, the priestesses of the king's blood came to me and offered me songs and dances with my people.
'In the blood of the king, the priestess ...... when that person was around, you were able to gather faith. So that's what happened.

　Just because it is a big tree does not mean that people's faith will be gathered. It is only because the royal family led a festival to worship and venerate this large tree that faith was gathered and she was able to exercise her power as a god.

The ...... priestesses are chosen from the maidens of the king's blood. She conveyed the oracle to the people and sometimes brought the god down on her person. By contracting with the maiden, I was able to exercise the secret art of being a god. People called it a 'miracle'.
Miracles ...... then, the priestess was treated like a present-day god ......
...... The last priestess who made a contract with me was called 'The Saint'. But that contract was unilaterally broken. And I and my consorts were discarded.

　I was abandoned - a being who was called God, and that's how I perceived my situation.

　I had always thought of God as a more supernatural being. I had imagined that he would give people grace and punish them, all at the mercy of God's will.

　If the spirits, having gained divinity, are called gods. It would mean that we mages are close to God and can relate to him in a deeper way.

'My life is already running out. Once you are called God, if you lose your faith, you lose the meaning of your existence. If I try to resist the disappearance, it will consume the world. If I live on, the earth will wither away without end.

　The sooner the remaining lives run out, the sooner the withered earth will stop eroding.

　If that's why they were keeping us away - the divine Tree Spirit has not yet hated people so much that she wants to destroy everything.

　In order to cure her, she needed to restore people's faith in her. As soon as possible - but time would inevitably be needed.

　How do we make sure they have that time? Even if I, the people around me, the members of the Order - even if that's all the people believe in her at first, will she regain some of her strength?

' ...... a royal priestess. The third princess I serve is called the 'Sword Princess General', and being a priestess is a bit different. But she is of the king's blood.
...... of Raseneian blood here ......?

　Raiseneier - the name of the royal family that rules this country. When she said that name, the color of emotion dwelt in her eyes for the first time.

　The divine tree and the priestess were closely related. I don't know if I can advise His Highness Astina and get her to listen to me - but it's the only way.

'I will ask Your Highness to come to this place. And I call on you to make sure that more people believe in you and want you to be as well as you were. All we can do now is just a comforting band-aid ...... and I think it's a terrible thing to ask you to endure that, too.
...... The daughter of the royal family will not come to me. For the royal family has abandoned me.
'His Highness Astina may not have been informed of this place yet. Even if he did know and didn't come here, we'll have to find out.

　All I can do is keep telling him to trust me - Mr. Raquel might even have difficulty with me advising His Highness in some cases.

　Still, I can only ask. If we can save the divine tree, everything will change. Both the Order and the lives of the people living around here.

'...... why ......'
What ......?
Why would ...... try to save me so much? Why do you believe that I am worthy of ...... when no one needs me anymore?

　That's because - the place I'm in now, this forest was the beginning of my spirit mage and the place I should aim for.

　This place is an illusion of the former divine realm, shown by the divine tree. If I return to myself, the huge, dead tree as it was in the beginning will be right in front of me.

I ...... have been feeling called to this place for a long time. I had hoped to reach it while I was still alive. But I've already found it.
...... who can communicate with the spirit of the plant. That also means that you can communicate with me. I owe you an apology if my voice has been heard.
'There's nothing to apologize for. I've always loved plants. If I can heal you from now on, that would make me happier than anything.
'...... I'm not the kind of person to get people to say that much. But .......

　She offers me a drop that has slipped down the leaves of the giant tree, pooling in the girl's hand.

　I thought about whether it was okay, but if she's recommending it, I put my mouth on it - and then.

'Huh ...... this is ......'
I can only create ...... so much now. The drops of the divine tree will be able to be created by the power gained from the earth, the faith ...... and the prosperity of my kinsmen. I thank you, O human being, for your thoughts. A heart that wants to heal me, which is also faith.

　--I'm not going to be able to get rid of it.

　A few transparent drops that pooled in her palm gave me an overflowing sense of vitality.

...... I still want you to get your energy back. I'm sure you'll be able to help a lot of people out of their illnesses.
'I'm not all-powerful, and now I do harm to people just by existing. I can't even put the dead soil back together ...... but I can stop my family members. Those born in this forest will now be put to sleep.
'Thank you. I'm sure the people who farm around here will feel comfortable with it.
I don't think I'll be able to get faith in ...... considering the fact that my family members have attacked humans so far. When you do, send me to .......
'Please don't ask me to let you die. But ...... if you have no choice but to do so. Then I will do what you want.

　I can't let it end like that - but if I just impose my hopes on her, I'm going to make her suffer.

　I hope it will work out, and while I hope so, I am well aware that people's hearts cannot be changed so easily.

　But even if I alone believe in it, I've certainly helped her. I have tasted that fact with my own body, so there is no hesitation.

Can I ask you ...... one ...... now?
...... My name is 'Euceresis'. That's about all I can answer for.

　She showed me a glimpse of the power of the divine tree that had given the king an oracle. She tried to anticipate my question.

　The sunny forest is covered in white light - I must leave this place now.

　But I will come back here. I'll show it back to the way it was, not as a phantom, but as a reality - both the divine tree and this forest she lives in with her attendants.