I am back – Chapter 187

“Hoo…”

If a person experiences being shot up like a rocket, it’s only natural to be dazed for a while.

But honestly, I’ve been through this a few times already. Not too often, but there were times during battle when I had to retreat. Plus, in situations where I was completely surrounded by enemies, this magic came in really handy.

Well, it makes sense why Dana chose this magic.

There must be no negative feelings. It’s just that the World Tree is remarkably high.

Using floating magic too leisurely could have terrified my older sister even more. You know, they say the ascent is scarier than the drop on a roller coaster.

So in that sense, Dana probably picked this magic to get us up the tree as quickly as possible.

Well, I guess there really wasn’t a choice. It was a matter of either trembling in fear for a long time or just getting scared for a moment.

The only problem was that before I could explain to my sister, the method was already set in motion.

“Are you okay?”

I asked my sister, who was catching her breath.

“Ah… yeah, I’m fine.”

She was slightly bent forward, grabbing my arms. Her legs seemed a bit shaky, so it looked like she was pretty scared.

…After all, when you’re flying in the sky and the only safety hold you have is your own partner, that could be quite terrifying. I remember I was horrified the first time I experienced this magic.

No, not just me; everyone in the party was shocked.

But thanks to that, we did survive.

I gently stroked my sister’s back for a while. She was breathing a bit roughly, but being close to me seemed to calm her down a little.

“But we really shot up fast.”

After calming down a bit, my sister smiled faintly at me.

Once we flew up here, landing was also done safely. I had confidence in my magic-making skills. No matter how urgent the escape was, if we were to fall and get hurt or die, that would completely defeat the purpose. Plus, among those flying with us, someone could be seriously injured and still need treatment.

Of course, the magic was created with considerations for a safe landing.

“…Right.”

Indeed, the speed we shot up was comparable to riding a high-speed elevator, or perhaps even faster.

This wasn’t my first time being at the World Tree.

For Elves, simply being able to touch the World Tree is a huge honor. Naturally, most Elves don’t even think about going up the World Tree. While many Elves may go their entire lives without ever touching it, very few ever make it up here. Those who do are usually only the Elves coming to pick the leaves or fruits.

And not just anyone had the right to do that.

“…”

My sister moved her feet slightly, as if worried.

The World Tree below us felt very solid. Well, it’s obvious since we were on a thick trunk.

The World Tree is a tree that has stopped growing.

Actually, that phrase might be a bit odd? At least, it has stopped growing “upwards”. While the roots deep underground continue to spread, it is said that the part of the World Tree above ground no longer grows.

And the top area we were at… was surprisingly flat for a tree. I’m not sure if it was made that way for those who might think of climbing up, or if it’s just a characteristic of the World Tree as a species of plant.

“Are you okay?”

After not too long since we arrived, Arna, who followed us up, asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

As my sister spoke to Arna with a much better expression, the worried look on Arna’s face eased.

Slowly floating down, Arna bent her knees and lowered herself to touch the World Tree. She stayed that way for a moment before standing back up with a small sigh.

“Are you going to have a conversation or something?”

When my sister asked cautiously, Arna nodded.

“Well, it’s different from the conversation we have with words. But even if the method differs, we can at least exchange greetings.”

I wasn’t sure how talking to a tree worked.

“…Hmm.”

After a brief silence, Arna opened her mouth.

“So, what’s your impression so far?”

“My impression?”

“Yeah. This is the highest place in the world… well, except for mountains. In fact, even among mountains, there probably isn’t a higher spot around here.”

“Ah…”

Only after hearing Arna’s words did my sister look around.

And her eyes widened.

Yeah.

Just like I felt the last time I came, seeing the view from such a height creates a completely different atmosphere. No matter how much you fly high with magic, or climb onto a ridiculously tall building, the position where you’re looking from is bound to be different.

“You probably can’t see it well from here.”

Although Arna said that, the grasslands barely visible through the tree branches looked vast.

“Come this way. Don’t worry about the others; they’ll figure it out themselves.”

Arna called us to guide us, and we silently followed behind her.

My sister clung to my arm again, looking scared.

Being up on a thick tree trunk and walking on the branches extending in all directions feels vastly different.

Well, walking on the branches isn’t necessarily super dangerous. Even Arna wouldn’t make my older sister, who is just an ordinary person, do something acrobatic like that.

The very top of the trunk had a wide flat area. The large branches seemed to be about as wide as a four-lane road. They weren’t so round that there was no room for foot placement, and they didn’t sway when we walked. They seemed wide enough not to budge at the slightest breeze.

But even so, walking on such a high bridge would give off a feeling of immense height, so a little fear couldn’t be helped.

Yet my sister didn’t refuse to walk and followed me and Arna because… perhaps the surrounding scenery was that captivating.

As we continued toward the middle of the branches, the view opened up all around us.

The sun wasn’t high in the sky, but the sky was still blue. The air in Irrelaysia was incredibly clear, untouched by even the slightest dust, allowing us to see clearly far into the distance.

The endless expanse of blue sky connected to the expansive blue land below. From the edges of the widely spread forests to the tiny capital city visible in the distance. And the small towns located not too far from the capital.

It was all visible in a single glance.

Objectively speaking, this height wouldn’t match the sky bridges in our world that we visited. But still, it was more than enough to savor the beauty of this world.

“Wow…”

My sister murmured like that.

I was just as amazed.

*

“…”

“…”

My sister and I silently gazed at the vast scenery.

In fact, the atmosphere here was quite different from when I last visited. There hadn’t been endless blue grasslands spread out like this before. Back then, there were clearly the Demon King’s army and the Demon King’s castle in the distance, with the land tainted black by magic.

But now, none of that was visible at all.

Even the tension that had felt like it was prickling my skin from so far away, and the surge of worry, was completely absent.

All that was visible was the endless grasslands stretching far away and the cities where people gathered.

“What a beautiful place.”

“Yeah.”

I replied softly to my sister’s murmur.

It is indeed a beautiful place. It was close to being completely erased.

“I wish mom could have come and seen this too.”

My sister murmured again softly.

“Yeah.”

I answered calmly again.

“…”

“…”

And like that, we were silent for a moment.

“Next time, let’s come together.”

“Huh?”

When I said that somewhat out of the blue, my sister turned her wide eyes to look back at me.

“Let’s come together. With mom.”

Right.

What reason would there be not to come together?

Well, if the World Tree doesn’t permit it, we might not be able to ascend… but honestly, I’m a little confident.

This isn’t something I achieved alone. That’s for sure. Many heroes have sacrificed their lives to save the world. Everyone who fought on the battlefield was a hero.

But even so, if I really think what I did was worthy of gratitude…

Well, I think it’s reasonable to think that much could be done.

“Yeah.”

My sister nodded and smiled.

“Let’s definitely come together next time. Not just here, but to see other places too.”

“Yeah.”

Holding my older sister’s soft, warm hand, we stood there, gazing endlessly at the far-reaching scenery.