“I know not of this ‘world tree’ you spoke of, but it certainly sounds magnificent! I could never have asked for a greater namesake!”
Since Alk had cast a spell on Iggy, even the face-like pattern in his bark had started to move, and the sapling was far more expressive than I had imagined. I could watch him for an age and not grow bored!
“I suppose this is the first time we’ve had a proper conversation, Iggy. My name is Francheska, but please call me ‘Fran.’”
“Miss Fran! I see! Although I have to wonder why we can understand each other all of a sudden.”
“We have Alk—the dragon, Alkerag—to thank for that. Remember how he saved you from that ghastly insect too?” I motioned to Alk with my hand.
Iggy’s large body suddenly stiffened like he had been struck by a lightning bolt.
What’s the matter?
“Oooh!” exclaimed Iggy. “Kind sir, had you not been there to deliver me from that predicament, I would have been rendered entirely leafless!”
“Think nothing of it. I had to vanquish that thing to stop this thing from chittering,” Alk said, waving a hand in my direction. He shot me a mischievous glance.
I groaned back. “How rude! I-I simply dislike creatures of that particular shape... It’s nothing to make fun of me for!”
Ah! Maybe I should have just ignored him...
Alk was immensely mean—and somehow had the ability to draw me into such trivial arguments too! Despite what he’d said, I was sure that he wouldn’t have allowed Iggy to get eaten alive, regardless of my reaction. I didn’t see why he wouldn’t just puff out his chest and simply accept that he had done good. In that sense, he could be rather bashful and overcomplicate things in the process...
“Regardless of your rationale, your heroism saved my life. I am profoundly grateful.”
Iggy shook the tips of his branches gently. Alk watched on with his arms folded and a hint of satisfaction in his gaze.
He’s bashful indeed... Oh!
Perhaps a little belatedly, I was struck by a very pertinent question.
“What if another insect like that comes for you, Iggy? We must think of a way to protect you!” I said.
Just picturing that giant bug again sent shivers up my spine. If they had a penchant for trees with a plentiful supply of mana, then Iggy was still vulnerable.
Perhaps we could put a mosquito net over him? Or surround him with some kind of repellent?
The problem was that I didn’t know how to obtain either of those things—not even with my skill. I was still hemming and hawing over it when I felt something soft nudge my shoulder. I turned to see Sylph looking at me with a thoughtful expression. Even her frown looked gorgeous with her absolutely perfect eyebrows—I bet any expression of hers would’ve been equally beautiful, bird or not.
“I may be able to help with your insect problem,” she said. “You struggle with them, don’t you, Fran?”
“Yes, I...I don’t handle them especially well, but that isn’t to say that I cannot deal with them entirely. If they are slow or completely still, I can usually manage...”
“I see. And what do you think about spiders?”
“Spiders...?” I echoed nervously.
Spiders. They were bugs, and they did look somewhat unsettling...but they didn’t dart around like other insects and tended to stay on their webs instead. And once a spider had built a web and I knew where it was, I could simply make the choice not to look. If Sylph was suggesting that spiders ate those other monsters, I could tolerate them even more!
“Spiders don’t particularly bother me as long as they stay on their webs, I suppose.”
Alk looked down at me and stroked his chin. “Fran. Sylph intends to call on a relative of widow spiders. If the sight of it has you bursting into tears, I will only say, ‘I told you so.’”
“Widow spiders? I think I’ve seen one in a reference book before...”
Desperate to recall something, I dug fairly deeply to unearth the relevant memory. I could remember having found a sketch of one in a book in my grandfather’s study. It had a round body and...
“Is it black with red eyes? And excels in hunting?”
“Correct. However, they are rather sizable when fully grown. You nearly cried at the sight of a giant longhorn. Will you be able to handle a widow?” Alk asked.
I swallowed. “It will spend most of its time on its web, won’t it...? I shall simply ignore it, then!”
Seeing as I couldn’t ensure Iggy’s safety all by myself, I had to be ready to make a sacrifice or two. Even if it took a lot of willpower... Besides, unlike that thing from before, spiders were useful! It wasn’t like it would attack me from its web, so surely I’d be okay...right?
“You may turn that frown upside down, Fran. I shall ensure the spider I choose is an obedient one,” Sylph said.
I must have been wearing quite the expression because her wind caressed my back in a highly soothing manner. Compared to most spiders, however, I decided that the round, black creature from the sketch had actually been rather charming! I was sure I would be fine. I could handle it!
As Sylph spread her wings, and I could hear her singing accompanying her magic, Alk lowered his voice. “In any case, giant longhorns will tend to avoid anywhere they sense a moderate human presence,” he said.
“But there isn’t a guarantee of that, is there? Better to be safe than sorry!”
Besides, repelling those insects wouldn’t just benefit Iggy—it would allow the crops we planted to grow big and strong too!
Despite being at the root—no pun intended—of all the hubbub, Iggy was leisurely stretching out his branches.
“I don’t suppose I can blame him. This weather is glorious today.” I looked up at the beautifully clear sky. My hair fluttered in the tapering breeze from Sylph’s spell.
So much had happened again today. It felt like I had been rushed off my feet since the second I woke up. Still, better my day be packed with purpose than opportunities to brood!
“Now that we have a plan of action for you, Iggy, why don’t we plant some potatoes? Hopefully, it’ll all go well...”
“Don’t expect any assistance from me. Just be sure that you don’t hurt yourself,” said Alk, who had firmly settled himself beneath Iggy, who was eagerly warming himself in the sunlight. The two of them were in the spot where Gnome had left some grass, and the sapling was casting a perfect shadow over it, making for an ideal place to relax.
“I’ll be fine! Working in the fields wouldn’t suit you anyway!” I called back.
I didn’t especially mind that he had decided it was time for a break. Besides, I couldn’t imagine him working in the field under the hot sun... Sitting on that underground altar in quiet dignity suited him much better. Daughter to a nobleman, I was unused to labor myself, but with Teiren’s memories, I knew I could be a nobleman’s daughter who was also able to toil in a field.
“There are so many delicious-sounding possibilities! Baked potatoes with butter, potato mochi, potato pancakes...”
“Don’t ya think about nothin’ but your stomach anymore, m’lady?” Salamander chuckled at his own jab.
I giggled. “There isn’t a single human being out there who doesn’t dream of a bountiful harvest.”
Besides, it was difficult not to think about food when I was enjoying myself so much! Salamander and I raced off toward the field where the other spirits were gathering. My body felt so light that I could’ve run laps around this island!