Chapter: 04
The Holy Sanctuary was located in the deepest part of the Imperial Palace.
It was the sacred land where the Creator God, after descending to the mortal world, had given birth to the World Tree, the very first creation.
To Lyris, an extra character, it was nothing more than the nest where the cause of her future death had taken root. Even so, anyone could feel that the atmosphere surrounding the sanctuary was pure and holy.
“As expected of the World Tree. Its phytoncide production is on a completely different level. The concentration is incredible.”
“…Pardon?”
“I also wonder how many ordinary trees’ worth of photosynthesis a single World Tree can perform…”
Lyris was unconsciously admiring it when she sensed someone approaching and turned her head.
Three people had come to greet her. One represented the Magic Tower, another the Grand Temple, and the last was the official administrator of the World Tree.
One wore the robes of the Magic Tower, another had a rosary hanging from his neck, and the last wore a brooch signifying noble status, making their affiliations easy to identify.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m Lyris La Noella.”
“The pleasure is ours, Lady Noella. But… did you just say ‘phytoncide’?”
“Hm?”
“Referring to the World Tree with a term like phytoncide is rather…”
The administrators flinched before finishing their sentence, then awkwardly muttered,
“…A very… refreshing perspective.”
“…?”
“We merely wished to say that…”
Their lips twitched nervously as they hurried through the greetings and lowered their gazes.
Lyris had expected them to foam at the mouth over such blatant blasphemy.
Instead, they remained strangely quiet.
In fact, they were sweating profusely, as though they were facing someone impossibly difficult.
Tch. So it won’t be that easy after all.
Apparently, if she wanted to commit proper blasphemy, actions worked better than words.
Shrugging, Lyris looked for Edrion.
For some reason, he had been wearing a stern expression ever since earlier. The moment she looked at him, however, his face softened into a smile.
“What is it, Lyris?”
“May I examine the World Tree now?”
“Of course. Please follow me.”
As she followed Edrion toward the World Tree, Lyris organized her thoughts.
Treat it exactly like an ordinary tree.
Spray pesticide.
Prune the branches.
Water it.
She had just learned that saying a few words wasn’t nearly enough.
Now it was time to begin the realā
“We’ve arrived.”
Lyris’s eyes widened.
She had already felt it from a distance, but standing directly beneath the World Tree was an overwhelming experience.
So this is the presence of a truly divine being…
“Wow…”
“Are you surprised?”
“Ah… um… no? Not really.”
Lyris quickly shook her head.
The overwhelming sensation had nearly captivated her, but remembering the miserable death of the original Lyris instantly brought her back to reality.
She slowly circled the World Tree, carefully inspecting it.
“There really is something wrong.”
“Oh? What exactly is wrong?”
The trio of administrators, who had been following closely behind her, asked almost reflexively.
Lyris answered,
“The first obvious issue is the discoloration of the leaves.”
“…What?”
“Look.”
She reached up and plucked a small leaf from the World Tree.
The administrators nearly stopped breathing at the sight, but Lyris continued calmly.
“It’s turned yellow.”
“We call that golden…”
“No. It’s just ordinary yellow.”
She turned the dazzlingly radiant leaf over in her hand.
Not every broadleaf tree in the world had green leaves, but most naturally stayed green during spring and summer.
The leaf in Lyris’s hand, however, was unmistakably yellow.
It sparkled brilliantly like a star in the night sky, but it certainly wasn’t green.
“So I’ve decided to call it yellow.”
“There are many reasons leaves turn yellow. I’ll figure out the cause.”
“…Golden…”
Ignoring the trio’s pitiful objection, Lyris gave the World Tree another quick inspection.
Leaves could change color due to drought, excessive sunlight, nutrient deficiencies, overwatering, pests, disease, or toxic substances.
Of course, none of those should technically apply to the World Tree.
Out of habit, she crouched and examined the soil around the roots.
It was bone dry.
“How often do you water the World Tree?”
“…Water?”
“My lady, forgive me, but the World Tree is not an ordinary tree. It is a being created through ancient magic. It requires divine power and mana rather than water.”
“So how often do you water it?”
“About twice a year.”
It wasn’t one of the hesitant administrators who answered.
It was Edrion, who had been silently watching the conversation.
Meeting Lyris’s eyes, he continued,
“Every spring and autumn, during the religious ceremonies, the Grand Temple sprinkles holy water that has been consecrated.”
“How much?”
“One Holy Grail’s worth.”
“…That Holy Grail is about the size of a swimming pool, right? Please tell me it is.”
“…”
“Yes, thank you. That answers my question.”
Wearing a complicated expression, Lyris continued explaining.
“Broadleaf trees have highly efficient photosynthesis and active transpiration, so they consume a tremendous amount of water. That’s why gardeners need to pay close attention to keeping them hydrated.”
“But divine power and mana…”
Ignoring their weak protest once again, Lyris scooped up some soil.
It crumbled into dry dust.
If this had been an ordinary broadleaf tree, it wouldn’t have survived even a year.
Especially since it never rained in the Holy Sanctuary due to the Creator God’s power.
The World Tree really isn’t an ordinary tree after all.
Perfect.
That only meant she could enthusiastically commit blasphemy until she got herself kicked out.
Smiling inwardly with satisfaction, she looked up at the branches overhead.
“There’s also a problem with its shape. This is definitely not good.”
“…Its shape? D-Don’t tell me… you’re planning to prune it?”
“Exactly.”
“You mean… cut off the World Tree’s arms and legs…?”
“I’m cutting away improperly grown branches.”
Apparently, no one had ever pruned it before.
Its branching structure was a complete disaster.
Branches growing inward.
Water sprouts shooting straight upward.
Branches tangled with one another.
Even wheel-spoke branches, where three or more branches emerged from the same point.
It was in such terrible condition that it could have been featured in a horticulture textbook as the perfect example of what not to do.
“If you leave it like this, the tree will develop problems. Branches tangled together interfere with healthy growth, and they also reduce airflow.”
“Still…”
“There are so many things that need fixing that I don’t even know where to begin.”
She had been worrying about how to commit effective blasphemy.
In hindsight, that concern had been ridiculous.
There were countless flaws visible at a single glance.
At her gesture, Xenia suddenly appeared from somewhere.
“You called for me, Doctor?”
“There’s a lake nearby. Go bring back some water.”
“Understood, Doctor. I’ve already placed the ladder and pruning shears over there.”
“Good.”
“W-Wait just a moment! The World Tree may only receive holy water blessed by the Grand Temple! N-No, before that… who are you? How did you even get in here?!”
The sanctuary where the World Tree grew was strictly off-limits to outsiders.
Lyris had received the Emperor’s permission beforehand.
Xenia, however, had not.
She was supposed to remain inside the carriage.
So when had she slipped past the heavily guarded security and entered?
Ignoring the administrators’ frantic protests, Xenia quickly disappeared to fetch water.
The three men clutched their heads with both hands, crying out in despair.
“W-We are so dead… My heart feels like it’s going to burst from fear…”
“It’s okay. Hearts don’t burst that easily.”
After reassuring the trembling trio, Lyris started toward the ladder.
At that momentā
Edrion gently held her shoulder.
“Lyris.”
“Yes?”
“Over there.”
Beneath the very branch she had pointed out earlier, the ladder had somehow already been firmly set in place.
Meeting her gaze, Edrion smiled warmly and held out the enchanted pruning shears.
“You don’t need to worry. I’ll take responsibility, so prune as much as you’d like.”
“Please don’t. These are my actions, so naturally I should be the one responsible.”
“Lyris.”
“I’m not afraid at all. This is something that absolutely has to be done.”
If I want to be kicked as far away from this cursed imperial palace as possible.
For some reason, Edrion’s eyes gleamed with an unreadable meaning as he looked at her.
She decided to think about that later.
Right now, her focus was on committing blasphemy.
Climbing the ladder, Lyris gripped the pruning shears tightly.
The shears were a magical artifact capable of cutting thick branches with very little effort.
They had been extremely expensive, and she’d bought them only after arriving in the capital.
Let’s start with this one…
She carefully examined the crossed branches, deciding which should remain and which should go.
Then, deliberately putting on a show for the trembling trio belowā
Snip.
She cleanly cut off the branch.
“E-Eek!”
Ahhh…
“…?”
Lyris narrowed her eyes while searching for the next branch.
She could have sworn she’d just heard someone sigh in deep satisfaction, like a person finally relieved of ten thousand years of pent-up frustration.
Yet when she looked around, no one appeared to have made the sound.
She decided to ignore it and aimed at another branch.
Snip.
Hooo…
Snip.
Now that’s the stuff.
Snip.
Yes! Exactly!
“…”
Hmm.
At this point, ignoring the mysterious voice was becoming increasingly difficult.
She could dismiss Ahhh and Hooo as the wind.
But Now that’s the stuff definitely wasn’t something the wind could say.
With a suspicious look, Lyris asked,
“Duke Akshad?”
“Yes, Lyris?”
“By any chance… do you know ventriloquism?”
“No, I don’t. But if you want me to, I’ll learn it immediately.”
“Uh… that won’t be necessary.”
She felt as though she were being haunted by a ghost.
Lyris stopped pruning, sat down on the ladder, and let out a long sigh.
She was so bewildered that she needed a moment to think.
Why did you stop?
“…”
H-Hey. You can hear me, can’t you? Hey.
