Carrying Riley, the Blackwood Elf Luvita was escaping from Squirrel Street. Utilizing her stamina, she ran for half an hour straight from the edge of Norland to Farucci’s Mansion.
The servants of the mansion were armed with swords and stationed around it, guarding the place. The entire mansion has entered a state of emergency.
“You’re late, Luvita.”
Elder Safran was planting ‘surveillance seeds’ outside Farucci’s Mansion. The ‘surveillance seed’ at the main entrance caught sight of Luvita rushing toward the mansion.
“Elder Safran, exactly... what happened?”
“The Holy Tree is about to be reborn,” said Elder Safran.
“Oh no! Riley! I need to go!”
Luvita immediately realized the importance of the matter. She placed down the little demon girl and rushed into Farucci’s Mansion.
The moment she entered the mansion, she immediately sensed the vigorous vitality coming from the World Tree.
With worries and glee, Luvita hurried to the indoor garden in the center of the mansion. Upon reaching the garden, she discovered an enormous magic formation placed around the garden.
The barrier of the magic formation prevented her from entering. She was also unable to see what was going on inside.
“Head Priestess Oranka!” Luvita shouted the name of the head priestess. But alas, she received no reply.
She slowly took a couple steps back and how enormous of a mistake she had committed by sneaking out of the mansion...
To their race, the rebirth of their Holy Tree was something even more important than their very lives.
She could already imagine how Priestess Oranka would punish her later... Unease and distress filled the heart of the young elven priestess at the same time.
At the time when she was pondering on how to remedy her mistake, an unfamiliar voice suddenly sounded from behind her.
“You should stop shouting. That magic formation seemed to be soundproof.”
Luvita immediately turned around. She saw the human, or perhaps demon, sitting on a chair and waiting in the indoor garden.
“You want a cookie?” Joshua handed the container in his hand to the Blackwood Elf.
Due to receiving the missionaries from the Demon Realm, Joshua ended up missing his lunch. As such, when he arrived at Farucci’s Mansion, he grabbed some snacks from the mansion to ease his hunger.
“I... don’t have any appetite right now,” Luvita shook her head to refuse Joshua’s offer.
“Okay. That being said, this is only the germination of the World Tree’s seed, was there really a need to prepare such a complicated and grand magic formation?”
Joshua continued to eat his cookie as he looked to the giant magic formation that enveloped the indoor garden.
The barrier created by the magic formation was tough enough to withstand the attack of a dragon.
“To our race, the rebirth of the World Tree is more important than our very lives!”
Luvita raised the tone of her voice. But, suddenly, she recalled something and covered her forehead.
“But... I missed it...”
“Don’t worry too much, you’ll have chances to make up for it in the future.”
Joshua tried to lift up the spirit of the Blackwood Elf.
“Chances to make up for it...”
Luvita raised her head. She suddenly recalled that the reason why they came to this city was all so that they could meet this man before her, this man who could increase their Holy Tree’s speed of growth.
After they came to Norland, Gallolie had proved to them that her words were true and Joshua was truly able to increase their Holy Tree’s speed of growth.
The germination of the World Tree’s seed that would normally take tens of years was accomplished in only half a month.
Luvita remembers that Priestess Oranka would frequently say that ‘the growth of the Holy Tree is not limited to this,’ that ‘they will also be able to aid the Holy Tree’s growth.’
“Am I able to do anything for the Holy Tree?” asked Luvita.
“About that question... I will answer it when this magic formation disappears.”
While Joshua’s words seemed to be a prophecy of the future, the magic formation surrounding the indoor garden started to gradually disappear the instant he finished saying those words.
This indicated that the Welcoming Ceremony held by the Blackwood Elves has ended.
At this moment, Joshua, for some inexplicable reason, felt like he was...’a husband waiting outside the delivery room for his wife and child to come out.’
The scenery of the indoor garden had changed completely. The cut grasses on the ground had grown up to one’s knees from the effect of the World Tree’s vitality. The trees were also flowering.
Priestess Oranka slowly walked out of the garden. She walked over to Joshua and Luvita.
Joshua felt like Priestess Oranka was going to tell him that both the mother and child were safe.
“Luvita, your lecturing will be put off till later,” Priestess Oranka turned to Joshua and, once again, made the most ceremonious elven gesture of etiquette toward him.
“I thank you, Son of Chaos. The Holy Tree has sprouted. We are able to sense its flourishing vitality.”
“This is not yet the time to be happy. Sprouting is only the first stage. Now, you all will have to speed up its growth,” said Joshua.
“Compared to the germination, the growth of the Holy Tree needed much more ‘nourishments.’ Son of Chaos... please tell us what we must do to aid the Holy Tree’s growth.”
After arriving at Norland, Priestess Oranka began to quietly accept the unusual growth speed of their Holy Tree. If she was to return to the Blackwood Forest now, she would definitely find herself unable to accept the slow growth speed of the World Tree.
“Originally, I planned to inform you all my plan after I finished constructing my new magic network. But, informing you all ahead of time will allow you to make preparations.”
Joshua took a glance past Priestess Oranka. The other seven elven priestesses and Gallolie walked over from behind Priestess Oranka.
Gallolie was holding the newly sprouted World Tree. Joshua was not certain whether or not it would be possible to accomplish video transmission on the magic network with this World Tree’s participation. But, even if that wasn’t the case, he would still have his broadcasting network.
“I plan to hold a competition,” said Joshua, “A competition that all the citizens of Norland could participate in.”
“Competition... our race is not fond of disputes. But, if we must...”
“Don’t worry, the competition is not one about physical battles. Instead, it’ll be a singing competition. In simpler terms, it would be the same program as the Morning News. I’ve decided to name the competition as ‘World’s Singers,’” Joshua took a glance at the elven priestesses. They were still confused. As such, he decided to explain further, “You all will be performing your singing voices on my stage. All the audiences of Norland will be judging your performances. Through voting, they will decide whether you stay or get eliminated.”
“It sounds like an assessment. I’ve experienced such things in my theater college.” Gallolie seemed to have understood what Joshua’s intention was.
“You all can view it as an assessment. But, you will not be the only participants in this assessment. People from all over Norland that are confident in their voices will also be participating. Thus, ladies... if you want to obtain more nourishments for your World Tree, you will have to conquer Norland’s audiences with your own singing voices!”
Joshua had explained things in sufficient details. Gallolie raised her hand and waved it back and forth.
“Can I participate too?” She was immediately interested upon hearing Joshua’s plan.
“With Miss Gallolie’s fame, you will be cheating by participating in the competition. But, you can be a judge instead,” said Joshua.
“We Blackwood Elves are absolutely confident in our voices, Son of Chaos.”
Priestess Oranka seemed to not think they would lose to humans if it was to sing songs.
“Let us hope... that’s the case.”
Joshua knew that there are true experts hidden among normal folks. This would be a major event, a major program. As such, engaging with some dirty tricks are going to be necessary.
For example, a certain demon contestant with vast dreams and a difficult life getting onto the stage to perform...