Chapter 150: The Branch
“Did you decide on your weapon?”
“Yeah.”
As we climbed the stairs, Dinoss asked this almost simultaneously with the other two.
“Don’t pull it out here, okay? I don’t want to take a tumble down the stairs.”
“Let’s wait until we’re inside the room.”
It was clear that Retze and the Butler were surprised by this…
Once we reached the top of the stairs, I faced the three of them. The Butler wore his usual smile, Dinoss had his arms crossed with a serious expression, and Retze looked somewhat resigned.
“Well then,”
I dramatically pulled out the Ex-Staff.
“A branch?”
“A stick.”
“A stick, you say?”
The Ex-Staff, when it concealed the Spirit’s presence, resembled a stick that branched out about forty centimeters from the tip, almost looking like a branch. It was a dark green color—though it might seem that way, the bark was a light gray with a hint of green, resembling the smooth bark of a white oak.
Normally, it had buds that looked like leafy wraps at the tip, and even I could tell it wasn’t an ordinary branch. Its shape was just too peculiar.
“Did you pick that up somewhere?”
Dinoss asked, looking a bit taken aback.
“No, I’ll introduce it now.”
It took quite some time and endurance against the cold to obtain it.
“Introduce…?”
As Retze furrowed his brow, the gray color shifted to white, and leaves sprouted from the fine branches at the tip, curling around like buds.
“Hey! I’m the Konkon Staff EX! Just call me Ex-Staff!”
With a pop, the leaves opened up, revealing a cheerful Ex-Staff.
“…”
“…”
“…”
“I can see it, and I can hear it…”
After a few seconds of silence, Retze managed to squeeze out his words.
“Yep! I’m a high-ranking Spirit!”
“I’m tougher than any sword you’ve swung so far.”
I might be able to cut it with the Zanzenken, but I received this from the Konkon Staff’s tree without needing to resort to that.
“I am Note. It is an honor to meet you, Ex-Staff…”
“I’m Dinoss. It may look different, but no one would be foolish enough to target it with their life on the line. Plus, it explains Jean’s strength.”
The two of them looked relieved.
“Even strong Spirits can have attributes that most humans don’t need. I’m just glad to see you happy, Lord Jean.”
“For our peace of mind, let’s get along for a long time!”
“Yeah!”
Ex-Staff replied energetically, striking a victory pose for some reason.
“I’m Retze. By the way, can I ask where you met?”
Retze introduced himself a bit late.
“Beyond the frozen lake in the northeast, at the foot of a mountain with sharp peaks. It’s past the mist of the White Forest.”
“Only the master saw it as mere mist, huh?”
“Huh?”
As I tilted my head, Ex-Staff gestured for me to lean in closer.
That misty area is said to break fragile trees, and for every Spirit consumed, a strong Demon Beast appears. Also, if you mess with a Unicorn, the ground can turn into a poisonous swamp or toxic mist. It’s brutal.
“Hey, Note!”
Dinoss was startled by Note, who suddenly sat down.
“Could it be that the Konkon Staff you gave me came from a tree that grows in the lake and shines white?”
Retze wore a strained smile.
“Yeah. It has flowers that shine gold and white, or rather, white flowers that shine gold.”
“Oh no, that’s definitely the Spirit Tree!!”
When I answered, Retze looked up at the ceiling, appearing half in tears.
“…The King’s Branch.”
Note sat down, pressing his forehead against his knees.
“Wait, wait. Calm down. If that’s the King’s Branch, we’re in trouble!”
Dinoss said, covering his face with one hand. His face was red, but why?
“The King’s Branch?”
“Yep! It’s the branch given to those who pass the trials. I’m the branch sought by the king!”
Is that why it’s called ‘oh’ for king?
“…If the King’s Branch exists, Spirits are born and gather there easily. The reason Shurmthus, who summoned Heroes, remains unshakable as a great nation is because of that.”
Retze sat down next to the Butler.
“Oh, so that’s why they say Spirits don’t move even when using reckless magic.”
I nodded in understanding.
“By the way, the ‘Spirit’s Branch’ has become rare nowadays, but officially, it’s a small branch taken from the King’s Branch and kept in a designated place…”
The Butler’s voice rose from near the floor.
“A small branch?”
“Yep, it grows!”
What I thought was part of a leaf, the petiole, turned out to be a thin branch, and in line with Ex-Staff’s words, one of them extended.
Wait, I thought it was convenient that it could stretch and shrink, but is that its original ability? Now that I think about it, I never wished for that.
“Legend has it that those who seek the branch for themselves or for the king are asked a question. What did you answer?”
Dinoss asked.
“A question?”
“The Spirit Tree asks, and the seeker swears an ideal. If that ideal is betrayed, the King’s Branch is said to disappear…”
Note supplemented while still resting his face on his knees.
“Um, it was about four centimeters in diameter and just over three meters long… If I think shorter is better, will it disappear?”
I asked Ex-Staff anxiously.
“Don’t worry, I’m keeping that four-centimeter body! But make sure to stretch it out sometimes! Your actions can stay the same as before, right?”
Ex-Staff smiled.
It seems I only need to keep one of those promises. I think I remember something about actions being important, but whatever. The grip feels just right, so I don’t think I’ll change it.
“Wait, what am I swearing to? What am I…?”
Dinoss caught me talking to Ex-Staff, but should I really be honest about this?