Sensei, first-year student!
Get yourself together, Dr. Glass!
"ugh. ......

　The miasma is a very rare disease.

　The miasma that had filled the area was now infinitesimally thin. The miasma is not only a miasma, but it is also a very serious disease.

It's a good thing ...... you're touching this tree and not moving the whole time.
...... Did Dr. Glass stop the miasma?
No, ...... this divine tree has stopped it. The erosion of the land will also stop for a little while. The demonized plants will no longer attack people.
'Really ......?　Thank goodness ......, but a little while means it's not a fundamental solution: ......
''That's why I need to go back to ...... the fortress and ask the Raquel Knight Captain to do something for me. Once the power is returned to this divine tree, the withered land can be restored to vitality ...... and for that, we will need the cooperation of His Highness Astina.

　The two captains turned tense as they mentioned His Highness' name. That alone showed the depth of respect they had for His Highness Astina.

''What does it have to do with the fact that this is a garden that was managed by the royal family?''
'What ...... Mr. Deethe, how do you know?'
That's the analogy we've been drawing from. This huge ...... tree, towering at the far end of the garden, was probably the symbol of this garden. Dr. Glass was touching ...... this huge tree and probably interacting with it.
''It's just as you say. This divine tree, Eucalyptus, used to be worshipped as a god, but the entire garden was abandoned. But for some unknown reason, the entire garden was abandoned and it has lost most of its power as a god.

　We look up overhead - what would once have been a magnificent branching arrangement has cracked the bark and grown black moss that eats away at the trunk.

'Master Glass, look at the leaves ......
"Huh. ...... This is .......

　I reacted as soon as Lendl-san told me to, and picked up a leaf that had fallen.

　--even though the divine tree is dead and there isn't a single other leaf on it. The leaf in my hand was small, but it was a fresh green color.

　I was able to regain a small amount of power, not only in the illusion, but in reality as well. I must believe even more strongly that this divine tree will come back to life. I believe that this thought will heal this divine tree, even if only a little.

"...... This tree is alive. No ...... you responded to Glass-sama's thoughts.
I don't believe in it, but it's not enough. I want as many people as possible to believe in ...... that this tree will definitely come back to life. I'm hoping that I can bring this garden back to its former glory.
'Well, I'll pray too. I've been praying to the god of war all my life, so I don't know if I'm doing it the right way: ......
It's not so much about the polite way of doing things as it is about just not lying to your heart. That's what faith is all about.

　Mr. Deethe combines his hands and prays. Presha-san follows suit - and so do we.

　The divine tree does not answer anything. But I believed that if I always remembered what I had just prayed for, it would be the strength to support the divine tree.

　　　◆ ◆ ◆.

　The encroachment of the grey land had not only stopped, but had 'receded', albeit only slightly.

　A man who was about to abandon his house and move to another piece of land ran up to us when he saw us returning and bowed his head.

How can I thank you all ...... the gray soil that had been spreading is about to return to normal. Even the crops that were still safe are suddenly alive .......

　The miasma that had been flowing out of the forest had stopped, which immediately had a positive effect on the crops. As I got off the wagon, he took me by the hand and thanked me again and again.

'If the grey soil stays stopped, our crops will grow safely until the harvest. Then we won't have to leave the house.
'If you can harvest it, would you be willing to sell some to our fortress as well? We're running low on food, anyway: ......
'There's no way we're going to sell it, we don't charge you for what we harvest. It's because of the people in the Order that we don't have to live in fear of zirconia. That's what we, the people who organize our farmers, are constantly being told.

　The person who is in charge of the farmers is probably a wealthy family who once governed this area and is now under the protection of the kingdom. Once we can contact them, we can ask them what they are growing on the farmland in this area, and maybe we can discuss the possibility of producing new medicinal herbs.

　First and foremost, we need to revive the divine tree. We need to get one or two more people to believe in it.

''There is one thing I need to ask you to do to restore this gray soil to its original state.
'Yes, if I can do anything to help you, by all means, ...... family, no, all of my relatives, let me help you in any way I can.
'Thank you. It's not so burdensome, but I'd like you to pray for that forest. If God in that place can get his strength back, this area will flourish more ...... so please pray with us.
'I thought that God was ...... oh, we shouldn't be anywhere near that place. It was because we were touched by God's wrath ...... I've lived in this land for so long and I didn't know anything about it. I'm truly ashamed ......
'It's not too late. Everything will be back to normal ...... No, more than the original, the land around here will be fine.

　Presha and Deethe are already praying for the forest. The men brought their families, which numbered ten in all, and they all prayed with us.

　We can't say that the fertility festival will take place immediately. However, His Highness Astina can let all of the western territory's lords and ladies know - he wants them to pray to the God who brings fruitfulness.

　Then, surely, the divine tree Euselisis would be restored to its original form. If the God who once led the kingdom to victory was present, then the current situation, where they could be attacked by Zirconia at any moment, could be changed.

　--no, that must change. If we use our power for the good of the people of the realm, rather than letting our hearts be worn out in battle, both Presha-san and Deite-san will not have to pile on the gloom of killing people.

'...... Shall we pray from now on to remember that morning and evening? Dr. Glass, me and Presha's squad will follow your instructions whenever possible.
I don't know what to do. It would be best if I could convince my sister Raquel ...... I hate magic, I wish I could do something about it. ...... Ah. Speaking of magic, Mr. Lendl, what in the world did you do when you caught up with your teacher from behind?
I have granted Master Glass my magical powers. I have some magical knowhow.

　Because Lendl-san shared his magical power with me, I was able to take the last step to the big tree.

　--Really, is that true? Even though magic power can be shared between mages, it is considered very inefficient. Each and every mage, the nature of magic power is not the same, and unless you are a blood family, you can hardly use someone else's magic power.

(Rendle-san's magic nature is close to mine ...... no. Didn't he use his magic to prevent the miasma ......?)

Hmmm, I'm sure you're right. Hey, can I hold that magic crystal this time?
'It's surprisingly healthy of you to try to score points with Mr Glass by doing that.
I'm grateful to Dr. Glass for the opportunity to help me out, so I'd like to thank him for that.　You don't believe it at all, your face!
'Huh ...... You've been unexpectedly taut since Dr. Glass arrived. You and I both.

　Presha-san's magic power can certainly be used if it's accumulated in magic crystals. However, if you use the magic power of the opposite s*x too much, a problem that cannot be said out loud will occur--that's something I should deal with at my own risk, so I decided to leave it unsaid for now.