Well! Back to where ever Kodori has ended up. :)

And I will note, I have ordered the rest of the translated LN's up to 22. Maybe I'll get that far, maybe not... But I have the materiel...

Chapter 112

I felt what ever it was that Rishia did, then saw a pinpoint of light from where her and Itsuki were stationed turn into a spotlight filled with magic arrows. It took a moment to focus, but with a burst of light, sound and energy, the falling mass of rock was burned away to powder. And a moment later, Itsuki and Rishia stopped what ever it was I felt them doing, and their hilltop went dark again.

Soul. It all came down to soul.

"damn..." said the man who looked like a manged bag of sticks in a person sized crater. "but I like a challenge..." And with one last attempt at a cough, his soul vacated his body, its former container turning into black sludge.

Except I held out the soul trap that held his friend, "Well S'yne?" I said, putting the soul trap away, "A bit of a scare there, but-oh!"

And she was giving me a hug. She may or may not have regretted that, since I was wearing my armour, but she did her best to hug me all the same.

The huge wolf/panther grumbled, "I helped too... no f..." Only to have Tetsu's huge clawed hand give very careful ear scroofles. "Well... okay."

S'yne let me go, and we all started to limp back to the wagons in the middle of the 'compass' we'd split up into. Motoyasu gave my shoulder a clanking pat, "I did not expect them to go after you."

"Yeah. Nearly punched my ticket too. I have got to figure out how to get around defence rating attacks... Anyhow... Let's get patched up and rest until first light."

After a round of bandages, healing salve, a recap of what happened while the others waited in the middle, and a snack for anyone who wanted one...

Ren asked the first of two significant questions.

"What are you going to do with them?" He asked me as we sat around the little fire.

"Them?" Erhard asked, since I'd left the 'soul trap' thing out of my own report... You know, since necromancy was a great way to become unpopular in 5 out of 5 worlds...

"From what Motoyasu reported, at least one of them could leave their dead body behind and come back to life later. I used an improved version of what I did to Glass and Ost, and trapped their souls before they could come back."

Itsuki and Rishia were looking a little pale after their combined power attack, but were shoulder to shoulder as they ate their soup in time with each other. "That doesn't... answer the question." Itsuki said between spoonfuls.

"Well, I was thinking of talking with them." I rubbed my chin, glancing at faces and hoping I didn't get too many dirty looks.

Most of them looked unsatisfied with the reply, "Can they get free?" S'yne asked, saving me from whatever Erhard was going to ask.

"Not from the inside, no."

That got a collective sigh of relief. I'd be a bit nervous too if my enemy could drop a castle on me, too.

"Are we going to be safe to sleep?" Kuro asked, her 'human' mouth yawning so wide I could see her back teeth... before she covered her mouth with a little embarrassed "sorry..."

S'yne nodded, "Sadeena and I worked on a thread trap. And Clive and Usa will cover what it doesn't."

"Yay." And Kuro flopped over against Motoyasu.

Then the second question. "We're going to be going by boat, right?" Itsuki asked.

"Afraid so." I confirmed, "This time I have proper stomach medication. And since you've figured things out, I'll even share."

"hey boss." I heard very quietly in my ear. "almost time to wake up."

I opened one eye, and after a half second of remembering where I was, SITA's face slipped into view with Delly's super sparkly smile on her face. Thankfully, her sunny personality didn't give off any actual light, and a few seconds after that, I was slowly sitting upright. Of course, since she had woken me up when I told her, I gave her ears a mild scroofle.

By the time I had left the wagon, tossing a little spark of foxfire into the fire pit to get it going for morning tea and breakfast, others were starting to wake up. "I have news too." SITA said, a little fur brush appearing in her hand before she went about brushing the first of my tails to volunteer. "It's a tiny bit late for what went on last night, but..."

"Is SITA-prime okay with the power requirements?"

"Oh that's not much trouble at all." She waved off my concern, "It's only a strain on her core until one of us gets to where they are going. I know we're in a hurry but..."

"I know. But I'm not going to order you around like some kind of tool. Even if you are literally defined as a tool, you are still a friend." Unlike a base machine, HIDA and all her branches did care when you pushed the 'on' button.

"Well, SITA-nine got to the Cal Mira tree about an hour ago. Twenty minutes later, coordinating with all the others at your trees, we've set up near perfect triangulation. Boss... This world is..."

Raphtalia chose that moment to grumble her way out of the wagon, her eyes squinted nearly shut against the first streamers of sunlight coming over the horizon. It had been ages since I'd seen her look so... scruffy. Even her tail had bits of fur sticking up.

So I interrupted what SITA was about to say, "Gonna need another brush." One was provided, and I reached out to capture Raphtalia's hand before she could walk past me to sit on the other side of the campfire where I breakfast I had cooking.

"still mad at you..." She mumbled, but sat down next to me all the same.

"Well, take out your anger on breakfast. We'll be in Siltvelt a little after lunchtime I think.

She relented and poked at the pot and pan over the fire, accepted a cup of tea from SITA, and let me fuss over her. She said she was mad, but her tail was doing its best not to wag out of my hands as I brushed it.

A bit later, as we got within sight of the walled, multi-tiered city of Siltvelt, Sadeena plunked her nice rear down on the driving bench beside me. I readied myself for some verbal sparring, just like I would with Aisha, and waited for her first 'jab'.

I wasn't disappointed, (well, maybe a tiny bit? It was a bit of a low blow), "I know that look." She gave my armoured ribs a nudge, "Hmm not as fun when you've got all that armour..." She mumbled then continued when one of my tails swished at her, "Got plans to visit someone in particular?"

I parried the jab with one of my own, "Jealous?" I was sure Usa was about to catch fire... someplace... Poor boy.

"Maybe a little." Came the counter, her body leaning close enough I could feel the beginnings of her warmth seeping through the magical 'climate control' of my armour. "I mean, a few too many ears around, and then there's my own duties..." Yup, she was in on the Usa teasing. Just like Aisha would be when we talked naughty around Haruhime.

Her finger was drawing little circles on my shoulder, and I felt the urge to evade the match, "Speaking of duties?"

She pouted, but sighed and nodded, half turning on the bench so she could lean her back on me. This prompted my tails to shift over to support her, "Oh, I like this." She giggled, a hand finding one of the tail ends and scratching just under the fluff as she wiggled her back a little into my tail collection to get comfortable.

Not quite like Aisha. But just enough to make me smile, and sigh.

She took my sigh for disappointment, though it wasn't directed at her. "Well, her father didn't have many he could trust. And it is my duty, the duty of the Water Miko, to be the spiritual guide to the one on the seat." Her hand stopped playing with the floof of my tail, and flopped down to the blue bladed harpoon under the driver's seat.

"So when her father left, you did as well... But after the first Wave, you chose to stay and protect Raphtalia." I nodded along, "But if the assassins had any sense at all, they would have attacked right after that."

I heard a little motion inside the wagon, then a few very quiet mumbles. Through the status screen, I sent a party request to everyone I could see. Motoyasu and Kuro joined first, since they were driving the other wagon (though, it was more Motoyasu sitting there etching some metal to try and learn enchantment, and Kuro walking). Through him, the other two heroes joined when he glanced back into his wagon to say, "Hey, grab some steel? Thanks." And accepted a little rectangle of metal.

"Well, the corruption was starting to take hold, and her father saw his rule was going to be either very short, or pointless. I honestly have no idea what the mess is like back home, but-" She sat up suddenly, and threw her harpoon.

"DEATH TO THE PRE-" A black clad assassin with droopy dog ears and a serrated katana started to jump at Sadeena, but was literally cut short by her preemptive throw, the top half of his head flopping to the dirt while his body rag-dolled limply against a wagon wheel.

Like Sadeena had said, the assassins stealth magic made them as insignificant as the blades of grass at your feet. But if you knew what to look for, and she did, and had followed 'dungeon rule (as yet unnumbered), sharing information saves time and lives...

Prepared code phrases had done the rest, and before the first ninja's body had hit the dirt, all four heroes, three combat capable animals, two were-tigers, two vassal weapon holders, and three 'exceptionally not normal' people were out of the wagons with weapons up and pointed outwards.

"You will never get to Q'ten Lo!" A voice said as two dozen ninja seemed to appear out of nowhere.

I was about to say something witty, enacting my usual 'make them mad' tactic. But Raphtalia beat me to it. "You're just making me want to go there even more! And I'm going to do it, just to make you mad!"

I was kind of proud of her. Growing up and stealing my lines...

"Engage!" Another voice said, their assortment of weapons taking on that strange aura again, "They will be powerless without their heroes support!"

And as one, Raphtalia, Ren, Motoyasu and Itsuki took a weapon out of their inventory. Exceptionally made, they were the 'real' versions of what their weapons were copying. "Huh, you kept the fire katana?"

"Romina said it went with my eyes." Raphtalia glanced back at me, the Vassal Katana resting on her hip while she readied the real weapon.

"Let's get started then." I sighed.

Ren, using the 'real' version of the Starlight Edge, surprised the first ninja to try and parry it by just... cutting clean through his weapon. The ninja's armour and flesh offered a tiny bit more resistance, but that wasn't saying much, and he fell in two neat halves before needing to jump back to avoid throwing weapons. Solitaire was there however, lashing out with armoured paws to swipe the projectiles from the air.

Rishia covered Itsuki while he used an actual bow, with a real bowstring, to counter the knife throwers going after Ren. He wasn't very strong yet, no where near Clive and his heavy war bow, but the arrows were special made for armour piercing and making the most of his (improving, but limited) strength.

Motoyasu and Kuro basically waded into the first knot of assassins, the big feathery Kuro deceptively small under all her feathers. This let Motoyasu appear to stab through her, while her wind magic and rock crushing kicks kept their opponents at the exact range her master needed.

Someone tried to get into one of the wagons, only to have a half ton anvil just... materialize over their head with SITA sitting on it as they not only didn't get into the wagon, but made a horrible crunching noise as they hit the dirt. Erhard then went to cover SITA, his hammer just as capable of shaping skulls as metal.

Sadeena and Raphtalia fought back to back, Raphtalia's katana leaving behind waves of fire, while Sadeena lashed out with her harpoon and jags of lightning. Of all of them, they almost seemed to be... catching up on lost time, as much as fighting together.

Clive and Usa, brothers in arms, were covering each other's weaknesses as they'd always done. Usa was joined by Syne however, since she'd been forced into a support role.

Just like I was. Though, with a very large dragon with gauntlets similar to Ren's sword, and two tiger siblings near me to let me cast all the support magic... I could probably have stood still.

"Such a waste." I said ironically, as my third soul trap of the journey so far gathered up the 'leftovers'.

Motoyasu sidled up to me as everyone else went about 'cleaning up' (you know, checking for wounds, loot, and starting a nice little pyre). "What are you really going to do with that?" He mumbled, his eyes following the crystal held between my thumb and index finger as it started to swirl with lights.

"Remember the story I told you?" He nodded, "Everything takes energy. Swinging a sword, starting a fire, sneezing. Everything. But what if you could change something..." I motioned with the cube once, before putting it into a pouch around my neck and hiding it under my armour. "Into... anything?"

"I... but... oh..." He stood there dumbstruck for a moment. "But that would mean..."

I looked past him to Ren, "Hey, you okay?"

Motoyasu saw the topic drop and let it fall, "Ah... yeah... monsters are one thing..." He gave me a look that said he wasn't finished questioning me, but we went to give Ren a bit of moral support in the mean time.

Of course, when you start a little bonfire within sight of a country's capital, you're going to attract attention. Fohl and I were getting in some fire senjitsu training by making the fire as hot as possible (he added heat, I added air), when a patrol of a half dozen shiny armoured guards rode up on filolial.

"What-" Was as far as they got before they spotted me. "Ah! Shield Hero! You've returned."

I didn't usually let my mood show so plainly, but it felt really good to have such a total change of tone when going someplace. But I stopped my tails from betraying too much of my mood, and gave Fohl a pat on the shoulder to keep going.

"We have a bit of an issue. And it tried to bother us on our way here." I explained. "I'm really sorry for the mess."

They looked at me, at 'us', then the pile of shrivelling bodies as Fohl mumbled his new mantra, "No blood, no bones, no ash..."

They seemed at a bit of a loss. On the one hand, I was now well known, trusted, and in good standing with three of the four 'ruling houses'. On the other... we were burning a couple dozen bodies on the road side leading to the city.

"How about this... Let us clean up a little, and you can escort us into the city? Maybe send a couple people ahead? Part of this is going to need some... official work."

This got a slow nod from the patrol leader, who gave a backward look to ones in the back of his formation. "Well... Since we're here Lady Kodori, did you need... firewood or something? We're going to have to ask questions you know..."

"Once we're done. Can't have too many ears around." I smiled a perfect Akeno smile, the one she liked to use to make people nervous. "Try not to have them throw a party on our way in."

It felt good to be respected.

After leaving nothing but a very thin layer of ash and a sprinkling of medicinal plant seeds behind, we were 'escorted' the rest of the way into the city. If the 'cleanup' for the assassination squad hadn't given us away, we'd have sent no warning to our arrival.

Politically? This would have been very rude. As much as I didn't like it, I was 'nobility' by right of bearing the Shield. This meant I had some obligation to at least let them know I was visiting especially for business. However, my recent 'vacation' from saving the world so I could work towards my own projects had given me a LOT of 'unspoken power'.

The Shusaku was given access to a lot of my new merchant connections, as well as more influence with Hickwaal's network. It was a rare gift indeed when someone carrying the thing you named your country after doubled your merchant network.

The Aotatsu Elder, as well as his inner circle, had all been given their own dragon-noodle egg. Thanks to Kyo (weird to thank him for anything...) taking such amazing notes on his experiments, I was able to make as many 'Kotetsu eggs' as I wanted. Well, that, and the knowledge of the 'Phoenix Clones' I helped with back in Kuoh. Giving the leadership of an entire religion their very own 'object to worship', made from an 'object they already worshipped', from a person they 'did not worship despite the rest of their country doing so'... Well, I had their support. Of course, one might think having so many dragons suddenly appearing would be dangerous, but... Well... Kyo also had ways to hard code things into his experiments.

And the Genmu? Well... after my 'performance' the first night we'd met... It was like the world hadn't figured out foreplay or something! ... Well, that, and I'd saved the founder of her entire bloodline, Ost Horai, and now the two of them regularly had tea together.

That only left whomever had taken over for the Hakuko. Last I heard, Jiralis had thrown a tantrum and ran away to Faubrey. Having no reason to go there, I didn't chase the lead. They were, as far as I knew, reasonable people and Queen Mirellia hadn't given them special mention after we'd rescued her.

Except, as we got through the city gates, our four escorts joined again by the two they sent ahead to announce us, I saw Jiralis standing at the top of the steps of the second 'tier' of the city. He and I had locked eyes just long enough for him to frown at me, before he turned and left, him and his two guards vanishing from sight a moment later.

With an internal sigh, I got to helping sort out parking spaces for out wagons, and who was doing what while we were here.

The city's design and... weird power dynamic... didn't really lend itself to bringing 'pedestrian' wagons up the various tiers of the city. I'd found out later that they DID have ramps. But our wagons were not the standard size, and wouldn't be able to go up them safely. That was fine. Fohl and Atla were remembered at the bar from my first visit here (no, I had no idea how a blind crippled girl and over protective brother could be all but celebrated after only a single visit) so 'parking' was handled.

After parking, a little light refreshment, (where I learned that Fohl was a great story teller, solving the mystery of how likeable he was here) one of the Shusaku's 'house officials' arrived. He wasn't one I knew, but he was wearing all the right colours, had a little badge of office, and greeted me directly, so he was the one I dealt with.

"Your visit is unexpected, but welcome." He greeted as most of our party stood outside the tavern, drink/finger food in hand while we waited for someone (like this guy here) to find us. "I hear you have business? And the other heroes are here as well? Last we heard..."

The four of us gave him our best 'holding drink/food' bows of acknowledgement, just to show him we respected his presence, if not his authority. Like a handshake.

"Well." I said after swallowing my mouthful of fried pyku (ball shaped chickens, related to filolial). "We need to commission a ship to a certain place." Being the house that dealt the most with Q'ten Lo trade, I was sure he'd get the hint. "That aside." I took a half step back, "My fellow heroes have earned my respect, and I thought they'd enjoy your city for a day or two."

It was clear that the other three heroes were... lesser in his eyes. But considering all the extra zero's I'd added to their ledgers with the things I'd shamelessly copied from Kizuna's world, and my endorsement of respect, he kept that idea to himself. At this point, I probably owed Rias, Sona and everyone else over there so many cookies, I'd need to start an baking empire next.

"I see." The official smiled after a tiny look of distaste, "Knowing your preferences, would a formal dinner be welcome?"

The other three heroes were giving me something close to 'slack jawed' looks, while my party was sighing at their surprise. "Sure. Don't hurt yourselves, please. They aren't as worldly as I am, and Melromarc's former king left them blind to the rest of the world in most ways."

"Very well." Mirellia and her demigod levels of diplomatic ability made sure everyone knew why Melromarc was such a mess. "Are any of you adverse to any foods?" He looked past them all to Usa, "Fish? Meat? Vegetables?"

Itsuki held up a hand, "Ah... I'm troubled by spicy foods."

No further complaints were mentioned, and the official bowed, "Noted. Bring who you wish, Lady Kodori. I will have a rooms for all, and a call when dinner is ready. Past that... I am not sure how soon a ship will be ready, it's..."

"I am commissioning the ship and crew." I repeated.

"Ah! Well, messengers will be sent then." Realization, and a little relief playing over his face.

We four watched him leave, and the other three looked to me. "You're like royalty or something..." Motoyasu said what the other two were clearly thinking.

"You are who you know." I said with a smile, "Now, my word will get you tolerated, but it's up to you three for acceptance. Let's sort out a couple things, then you guys can get a tour. Oh, clear the wagons of anything you might want to bring. Last thing we want is some ninja putting a bomb under the seats."

I used the Vassal Book to get the two wagons to the Lurolona tree, then a Portal Shield to get to the Siltvelt hourglass. They weren't coming on the boat with us, so why leave them collecting dust someplace we didn't quite trust? I might be a local celebrity, but still had to pay for parking.

The other three heroes waited at the hourglass for me, Tetsu and Kuro. By then, we had a second official join us, and this time it was the Aotatsu Elder. The 'miracle medicine' I'd given him had changed him. Not like say, Clive and his slow shift to something more 'chameleon' than 'human' as he gained levels and power. But the Elder was acting more like 'young man'.

After his own introduction/bow/welcome to Siltvelt, he introduced me (and everyone else) to Silver. His very own dragon-noodle was less like Tetsu and more like Kuro, with patient eyes and regal acceptance of affection. That said, he was very popular.

We then went on a little tour of the city then. Nothing special or exciting, but certainly a way to pass a little time before dinner without barging into what was basically their parliament building before things were ready. I mean, sure, some of us had been there before. But for my party, it was after breaking out of their parliament building... Or in some cases through it.

"I enjoy this." Silver said from on top of my head, his body draped over and around both my horns.

"That's your mother's favourite spot too." I said, twitching an ear. "I see Jiralis is back." I commented as our tour inevitably turned towards the staircase and the uppermost tier.

"He returned only two days ago. Full of himself as always, yet slightly more humble than we're used to." The Elder sighed, "His house is once again in motion as well. I would warn your fellow Heroes against him."

Motoyasu, far more comfortable than the other two in this new city, overheard him from his place two steps behind us. "Eh, what's his deal then?"

The Elder waited for him to catch up and stand on his other side, "As you may have noticed, we are a city of demi-humans." His new energy made the Elder a little bit more of a hand talker, and the hand not on his staff motioned to the nearest group of pedestrians, "Your status as Heroes is about all that lets you this close to our country's heart."

"Oh... Now I know why I'm getting all those looks." He nodded to himself. "And this Jiralis guy?"

"He and his house are the most... vocal of their dislike of humans." The Elder said after a moment. "His return from Faubrey may have new connections, and he may try to erode your popularity with the other three houses." He said to me, "That said, if he makes any of the same mistakes..." He smiled, his teeth flashing under his fancy dragon skull mask, "Try not to make too much work for our maids."

Motoyasu looked over the Elder's head at me, "What's that about?"

"He threatened Alta and Fohl last time we were here, and tried to blackmail me into becoming his personal Hero. The other three house heads told me they weren't involved, let my party go or escape without resistance, and I was a single eye blink from killing him." I explained as simply as possible.

He blinked at me, smiled, then started chuckling, "Oh! Ha! Heehee... That's like every button at once!" He leaned down just a little to speak more to the Elder, "See, the former King? He only pushed her buttons one at a time."

While younger looking, the Elder still had a perfect 'sagely nod'. "Arrogance and pride are usually shattered by someone who lacks both." He gave my shoulder a pat, "Silver?"

"Don't wanna... It's warm here."

We, that is, our various little 'cliques' divided up after we were granted entrance to the centre castle of the town. There was no fanfare, no celebration. At most, it was a few extra people to help sort us out until dinner time. Just to be sure though, I was the last to be 'sorted out', just to make sure/assure everyone they were being put into the 'non-security' rooms. Unlike the last time where my party had been put into rooms with iron bars over the windows. We were also allowed to keep our weapons (those who could put them down at least), but asked firmly to keep our hands off them. I also asked everyone to follow the request, since it would fall on me if they didn't play nice. We were their guests, I was their captain. Just like back home.

This eventually left me with S'yne, Silver (who still didn't wanna), and the Elder, back at the first room I'd been given the first time I stayed the night (and not the last time, since that was at the Genmu residence...)

"And here we are, Lady Kodori, Miss Lokk." The Elder said with a final 'tap' of his staff on the stone floor. "Someone will fetch you for dinner..." He took a moment to look into the 'middle distance' of his Status screen, "In a little over an hour. Silver?"

"But..."

"Here." I said, "If I take this..." I took a little star sapphire from my inventory, held it up as if I were about to do a magic trick with it, and then wrapped my fist around it. "And think really hard" Not really, but you know, mysterious Kitsune magic stuff! "about all the things a person loves about being indoors while its cold outside..."

I felt the very nature of the crystal in my fist change, realign, and conform to its new reality. A memory stone of a warm hearth. Everything I wished for once all this was done...

I opened my fist, then held it up for Silver. "There. Here. You will always feel warmth, no matter where you go."

I felt Silver uncoil from around my horns, then a little clawed hand take the gem. To me, it was about as big as the last joint of my thumb, to him, it took his entire hand to hold it. "It's so... sparkly..." This was then followed by a slither/crawl/slide off my head, down my arm, and into the palm of the Elder.

"Ah, you will spoil this child. But, that is the privilege of a grandparent, is it not?" He smiled up at me, laughing as I failed to hide a blush. "At dinner then."

S'yne and I watched him walk off, Silver making happy little noises around its first(?) gem for his hoard. "I hope the double room doesn't interrupt your personal time?" She teased.

I looked down at her, "Considering I have like... four different ways to leave this room without using the door or window? Don't worry, if any of that happens, I'll leave a note." I gave her a friendly push to turn her back into the room, "Use the bath first. I've got things to check in on."

She laughed as I failed to look offended at her teasing me.

'Checking in' was really just me selecting a bunch of Occulus, having a short conversation, then saying goodbye. While being friendly was great and all, when business needed to be done I'd much rather speak to someone who's time was precious.

The Queen, in all her stately glory, told me all was as it should be, with the addition of some extra trade and small upgrades for her knights. Since it was dinner time, Melty was there as well, and told me to say hello to everyone, especially Kuro.

Hickwaal understood my need for 'petty cash', wished me a safe voyage, and to maybe make an attempt at cracking the Q'ten Lo market isolation. The Shusaku House was nice and all, but you know, a little more influence wouldn't be a bad thing...

Wolven reported that he had heard nothing but good things from L'arc about the people we were sending to help him. Some of Kyo's experiments, and supporters, needed a firmer hand to deal with, and L'arc was thankful for extra 'specialists' the Hearth could supply.

Kizuna said she caught an even bigger fish than the one that supplied the three metre narwhal horn. Oh, and that she was stocking up on dry pasta. Glass didn't say anything, but she did stand behind Kizuna and give me the 'please save me' look.

Ethnobalt got an encouraging word. This was really just to turn him into a stuttering idiot, since the other rabbit I had here wasn't nearby, and Bell was a literal world away.

Ost said her bees were doing well, and that a small town had started to settle around the roots of the tree itself. Considering it was a tree that had cracked a literal mountain? There was space for sure. But it was also something that Ost still felt guilty about. After all it was her former self that turned the little country inside out in the first place even if Kyo was the overall cause. But her new ability to provide for what amounted to refugees put a big smile on her face.

Calling Mirellia back about this, she gave me a royal nod, her blessing, and promise she wouldn't just annex what was left (since there really wasn't much). Ost was called again, given congratulations, and to think really hard about what to name her new country.

SITA and HIDA were hard at work on... stuff. Like all the triangulation and networking for my trees.

The first tree was something I'd made out of desperation, with inspiration from things I'd tried to learn while in Kuoh. Land holding, purification rituals, symbolic curse mitigation, dragon vein manipulation... I just kind of mashed it all together and threw my will behind it hoping it worked.

The second tree? I was more informed, more powerful, more confident, and more than enough people to make it a full on ritual.

Third? Another ritual, this time fed by hopes and dreams. The tree protecting Lurolona was by far the most significant one. There was no curse to purify, no guesswork, no danger. The people wanted a tree, believed it was possible, and supported me as I made it happen. It was the most firmly anchored spiritually by far.

Forth? The Spirit Tortoise's corpse. The shade of this one was the biggest, the trunk the thickest, but it had been fed from the souls of thousands, and when we returned from Kizuna's world? Thousands more. It represented the circle of life, the effect of time, and now the hopes of the survivors.

Fifth... Kyo's lab. A tombstone, a memorial, and a warning. Kyo had done some terrible things there, and while he worked with the very stuff of souls, the leftovers would have become so much worse given time after I killed him.

Sixth. The Hearth. The Hourglass made the mini-world mine 'physically', and gave me a foothold into the weird Status System everyone had. But the Tree that I grew around and through the central tower, my very own (very small and unimpressive) tower of Babel, gave me true insight on how the hell the creator of that place did it.

Seventh? Cal Mira. I'll admit to that one being a little bit of a flex just as much as it being important. The former hourglass 'chapel' resting in its trunk was my way of saying thank you to a previous generation of heroes, and goodbye to the defenders who tried their best. Oh, it also put the Cal Mira lighthouse to shame, that was the flex.

And Eighth. The little tree in Kizuna's yard. Of all of them, it would seem trivial. But for me? I was providing for a friend who had opened her door to me, and her heart to me and my friends. Even after two years of isolation and her title of 'hunting hero'... She had every chance to skin me for a new hat, but didn't. Saving her world seemed less important than making sure that even in the leanest of times, she could find food, firewood, and shelter under the tree I'd given her.

Lastly, well...

The last tree was in Q'ten Lo. Ost's connection to the Tortoise's tree told her there was one there. Maybe not the same as the ones I had made already, but that was okay...

So yes, the last tree didn't know it was mine yet. And now I had a firm excuse to take it.

NOTES!

I was counting, were you counting?

Thank you for reading! And if you want to see any full colour art, join the discord!

aKAQg4bnYu for the discord! As well as ways to support me!

And my actual book, Were Too? is on Inkitt.

And! I'm looking into getting some story themed merchandise made. Join the Discord to find out more!