Everything around me went dark. Wow, again? Hey, Grida, Fresa, Datil! H-Huh?! I can’t talk anymore!
“Furutsu?”
Hey, Grida! You okay?
“Yup! Are you?”
Yeah. Can you see anything? It’s so dark, but I’m sure you can see something. Right?
“Nope, nothing. Fresa-san and Datil-san are gone too.”
I see. Then where are we? What happened to us?
Bing Bing Bing Ding! “Currently under deliberation. Please wait a few moments.”
Huh? What was that?
“Deliberation?”
Oh, did you hear that too? Deliberating what? This isn’t the usual announcement from the Cards of Fate either.
Bing Bing Bing Ding! “Currently under deliberation. Please wait a few moments.”
It’s just repeating itself. Given my total lack of understanding of the situation, I decided to just sit still and wait. Oh, by the way, Grida—what do I look like right now?
“Like an apple.”
Rats. I thought so. Your voice is echoing from within me again.
Bing Bing Bing Ding! “Currently under deliberation. Please.”
Please?
“Thank you very much for your patience. I am a unit that manages the Theatrum,” a voice said.
Whoa, that surprised me! That sounded way more natural all of a sudden!
“The following ruling has already been decided, and the results cannot be changed. You may not ask any questions. Thank you for your understanding.”
Okay, so this voice is coming from a unit that controls this place then? It sounds polite, but the actual content is a bit much. I guess they want me to just shut up and listen.
“After deliberation, regarding the match between [Gaokerena-sama] and [Furutsu-sama], the victor is [Furutsu-sama].”
Two spotlights suddenly shone on me and a small pot a short distance away.
“Huh?! I never saw that here!” Grida said.
So you couldn’t see it either? I guess we’re not surrounded by darkness, but by something else. I still have so many questions, including about the Theatrum we were just in.
“This is absurd! This match is invalid! Invalid!” Inside the pot was a small tree, shaking its branches as it talked.
Wait, this voice sounds familiar. Oh, are you Gaokerena?!
“This thing is a descendant from the banished Tree of Knowledge, is it not?! It is not a ruler, so it should not have been able to fight in the Theatrum! This ungrateful apple makes a mockery of our ways!”
What?! What are you on about?! You’re the one that challenged me!
Bing Ding! “Confirmed the key terms [banished] and [Tree of Knowledge]. I will now report the results of the deliberation. Our management system has taken into account that [Furutsu-sama] is outside of the ranks. As such it has been decided that [Furutsu-sama] will receive the rank of Quasi-quasi Markt, or Light-Black Tree rank. This has already been reported and accepted by the axis power Ain Soph Owl.”
Nope! Didn’t get a word of that! I’m just gonna ignore it!
“Wh-What?! How can that be possible?!” The tree in the pot trembled.
You’d be a lot cuter if you didn’t sound like an old man.
“Now, based on the results and details of the battle, the post-battle arrangements will begin,” the managing unit said in a monotonic voice, completely ignoring Gaokerena’s cries. The small tree drooped down as though he had accepted his fate.
I take that back. Keep talking, actually. Now I just feel bad.
Ding! “Confirmed the soul links of [Furutsu-sama].”
Glowing letters appeared near my feet on the dark ground.
{Grida} (Currently present)
{Fresa}
{Datil}
“As the matters about to be discussed may affect your fates, the above members will be forcibly shifted.” A thudding noise echoed throughout the room, and two additional spotlights illuminated Fresa and Datil.
Ding! “Adjusting language barriers. Starting Spirit Communication.”
“Ow... Hey there, Apple-san! Where are we?!” Datil asked.
“Phew, I’m glad you’re okay! We suddenly returned to the village, and all the villagers were on the ground, and you were gone! I was sooo worried!” Fresa said.
I’m glad you guys are okay. I have no idea what’s going on here either, but...I doubt you could hear me anyway.
“Whoa, you can talk now?!”
“Wow! That’s totally amazing! I’m happy for you!”
Wait, you can hear me? Why?!
“Really? Can they hear my voice too?” Grida asked.
I doubt it.
“Oh, that voice sounds familiar! I’m glad you’re safe too!”
“Grida-chan! You really are inside of Apple-san, aren’t you?”
You can hear her too?! Seems like you can talk with them more, Grida.
“Your conversations are being translated in real time and will be delivered directly to your souls. Please note that this is simply a temporary measure,” the managing unit said.
Oh, so I guess we can’t talk to each other forever.
“That’s a shame,” Fresa said.
“Hey, what’s with that potted tree over there?” Datil asked, pointing.
Oh, that’s just Gaokerena.
“Seriously?! He’s so small now!”
“He looks like he’s wilting. Is it because he lost?” Fresa said.
Well, I mean, he did end up like that because of us, yeah.
“Sniff... If it weren’t for you lot, I’d...I’d...” he mumbled, briefly glancing at us before turning away. His branches drooped even lower. Of course, Gaokerena didn’t have any eyes, but I somehow felt his gaze.
“Anyway, what’s gonna happen now?” Datil asked me.
You see, I don’t know. The thing said something about a “battle” and “post-battle arrangements.”
“Thank you for your patience. The post-battle arrangements will now commence,” the unit said. A different set of glowing letters appeared by my feet.
{Nursery}
{Throne of Souls}
“The above will now be under possession of [Furutsu-sama]. Firstly, the Nursery that [Gaokerena-sama] had possessed will be handed over in its entirety to [Furutsu-sama], including the organisms that live within.”
Wait, wait? No way!