Who said summer wasn’t going to be too painful here?! What an idiot! Yes, I know it was me!
It was the hottest weather I’d ever experienced. It must’ve been the peak of summer—at least, I prayed it was the peak, because the alternative would mean that we were still experiencing the onset. It was painfully hot. I didn’t have a thermometer, but I was sure it must have been at least forty degrees.
Maybe I could ask someone... Wait, there’s no one to ask. The heat’s making my brain go all funny... Ha ha. It’s too damn hot.
Aah... So refreshing. Thank goodness we have a river.
It was a real-life lazy river, like at a waterpark. The cool water was crystal clear, meaning that, unfortunately, I could see everything in the water underneath, which I was currently trying my best to ignore. I pretended not to notice the weird shrimplike creatures. I looked away from the mysteriously appearing fish. If I acknowledged any of the strange life-forms in the river, I’d never be able to relax in it again—and it was the only thing keeping me sane at the moment.
Aah... It’s so nice to just float around. Come to think of it, what am I floating on? I don’t remember making an inflatable tube.
I looked down to see what appeared to be a transparent amoeba, except that it was large enough for me to lie on.
Um... Is this thing alive?
I examined the amoeba-like lump warily, to no avail.
I don’t even know where the face would be. I’m not even sure amoebas have faces— Oh. This one does. Well, it’s got eyes, at least. Just eyes? It’s probably got a mouth somewhere too... Also, the eyes are kinda small compared to the rest of it.
The giant amoeba-like creature was entirely transparent, which made it difficult to determine how big it actually was. It had to be at least three meters long, if not more, but it was too hard to see where its body ended and where the water began. Apart from being large and transparent, the amoeba was also cold to the touch.
This feels so good... Well, it seems friendly enough, so I’m gonna stay right here.
We drifted along, passing the fields on the far side of the mountain and entering the orchard zone. Trees loomed on both riverbanks, all planted by the Farm Brigade. They’d expanded the orchard twice since I’d first seen it. Thankfully, it hadn’t required any major landscaping or deforestation, so I hadn’t needed to help too much. It was now about five times larger than it had originally been. I wasn’t convinced we needed such an extensive orchard, to be honest. However, waking up to find thirty sentient dolls standing at the foot of my bed had rendered me speechless with fear, which the Farm Brigade had taken as approval for their request.
It had been like a scene from a horror movie. In my half-awake state, I’d felt like I was about to be sacrificed or something.
We floated along under the leafy canopy. And along. And along...
Jeez, this orchard is big... It’s not too big though! It’s perfect! No complaints here! Phew...
I lay back on the amoeba raft and looked up as leaves gave way to open sky and a tree flew overhead—
Wait a minute... Trees can’t fly!
I frantically asked the amoeba to stop. It willingly obliged.
What a nice amoeba! Right, the tree. Ah... Okay, I get it now.
The tree wasn’t flying, but floating—roots, fruits, and all—toward the orchard, which explained how the Farm Brigade had filled it with fully grown trees in a single morning: They’d taken them from elsewhere in the forest.
Good to know because I was starting to think I’d gone crazy. It’s so weird being able to see all the roots. I wonder how many more trees there are gonna be.
Trees flew overhead one after another.
It’s not too scary, but it’s still weird. It’s kinda like watching... I can’t think of an analogy, but it’s definitely weird.
A baby spider rode on each of the trees too. Each time one passed over me, the accompanying spider would—for some reason—leap down like a trapeze artist showing off their favorite tricks. It was very cute. The more I watched, the more impressive the tricks became. I gave each passing spider a wave and a smile of encouragement.
More trees passed, as did Shion and Kurou, sprinting alongside in the sky—
Huh. I didn’t know they could fly. They don’t even have wings.
I did a double take.
Nope, I was right—that’s them, and they haven’t grown wings or anything either. Magic, I guess? I kinda assumed the wolves could only make fire... Ah, Shion did float that one time. I wonder if Koa and the others can fly too?
I’m kinda jealous.
The last tree bobbed past us, captained by Shuri. I waved at the giant ant. It waved back, holding on to the trunk with just its feet. Itsy-bitsy ant faces popped out from behind the leaves, and I waved at them all until my arms ached.
Did you guys help get the trees out so neatly? I bet you did. You’re great with soil. But you shouldn’t be working in this heat!
Once the final tree had passed out of sight, the amoeba began to move again, bobbing gently through the water. I lay back and sighed.
Flying trees, flying wolves... Parallel worlds sure are crazy. Every time I think I’ve gotten used to it, something else surprises me... Well, I just gotta keep focusing on ignoring everything.