One day, an abnormal situation occurred simultaneously in various places in Yggurle Kingdom.
This was the sharp drop in the numbers of the countless spirits that existed within the nation.
There are still countless numbers of spirits gathered around the World Tree, but the decrease in spirits could clearly be seen in other places. The elves residing in Yggurle Kingdom were confused, and even when they tried asked the spirits for the reason, they didn’t hear a definite answer.
In Yggule, there are no more Elven Spirit Mages with contracts to the Great Spirits either. Consequently, there should be no one who realized that a Spirit Tree was growing outside of Yggurle and that it had become a sanctuary.
The World Tree and the Spirit Tree are frankly 「All is One, One is All」 existences. Within Yggurle, the Spirit Trees that grew from World Tree seeds amount to three. The royal family, in the extensive history of the kingdom, has not been able to add more Spirit Trees besides those three trees.
And when this new Spirit Tree was born, the World Tree and the three Spirit Trees in Yggurle had connected to it through the ley lines.
In fact, at this point in time, the World Tree has handed over the fruits to the Spirit Tree in the sanctuary, and has stopped bearing fruit itself, but that matter is something Yggurle will notice only in the future.
However, an excellent Spirit Mage will eventually notice. A location outside of Yggurle where spirits are able to gather, and many elves would run about, desperate to locate it.
Forselty van Yggurle had received a report from Prime Minister Balza about the abnormal event that had suddenly occurred within the Kingdom.
「Fumu, a sharp drop aside from the contract spirits, huh…………… this is a first.」
「Yes, I believe it is the first time in the long history of Yggurle Kingdom.」
Forselty brooded with a grave expression. Balza too, as there was no way to do anything, he could do nothing aside from collect information.
「Father, I have returned.」
There came a beautiful elven woman who wore a captivating air of dignity.
Forselty’s third daughter, the third royal princess of Yggurle Kingdom who uses light attribute magic, Mimir, had come back from assessing the state of Yggdrasil.
「So, how was it, Mimir?」
「……yes, the spirits were flying about as per usual around Yggradasil’s surroundings.」
「Fu~mu, your Majesty, do you happen to know the cause?」
「No, the records of our royal family had nothing such as this written within it.」
「Father, the condition of Yggrdasil was that it had regained the vigor it had lost in recent years.」
As Mimir had reported, under the effects of having been linked to the Spirit Tree in the Sanctuary through the ley lines, the World Tree (Yggdrasil) had grown in strength. To substantiate this, the barrier covering Yggurle Kingdom had strengthened.
「Mimir-sama, not even you had discovered the cause?」
「I listen to the voices of the spirits, however, they do not get to the root of the matter. My apologies.」
「N-no, not at all. Mimir-sama, you have been more helpful to Yggurle Kingdom than ever.」
Balza hurriedly assuaged Mimir who talked apologetically for having been unable to learn of the cause from the Spirits. In actuality, the voices of the Lesser and Intermediate Spirits are unclear when they talk, and the best they can do is convey loose intention.
It had taken one month before the excellent spirit mages in the country and Mimir arrived at a hypothesis for the cause of the sharp drop in spirits.
「Balza, have you found out the cause?」
The decline in spirits within Yggurle Kingdom had caused its citizens anxiety. Forselty needed to take control of the situation as soon as possible.
Beside Prime Minister Balza was the Third Princess Mimir, but her expression was not well.
「Yes. While it is not definite, as a result of collecting large amounts of information, and though we are not aware of how it happened, a World Tree seed brought out of Yggurle Kingdom must have sprouted and become a Spirit Tree.」
「Wha!?」
Forselty receiving a shock was deserved. They’ve held ceremonies for many years, and yet they were unable to promote the growth of a Spirit Tree from the World Tree seed. Then to be told that a Spirit Tree exists outside of the country.
「I dare say it is the truth. When we summarized the stories of the spirits, the World Tree seed sprouted and had become a Spirit Tree, and the spirits have gathered there.」
「…………No, wait, Balza.」
Having recovered from his shock, Forselty called Balza to a halt.
「I am aware that Spirits gather at Spirit Trees. However, is it not strange for the spirits within our kingdom to decrease to such an extent and head to that Spirit Tree? The World Tree is here.」
Forselty refuted Balza by applying his own common sense.
「Your Majesty, you must have forgotten. The World Tree is an『All is One, One is All』 being.」
「What do you mean?」
「Speaking in extremes, if a replacement for the Yggdrasil in the royal capital of our kingdom appears, that Spirit Tree could become the World Tree.」
「…………………………」
「Your Majesty, it would not take its place immediately.」
Forselty seemed like he would faint from too much shock. Seeing this, Balza hurriedly made a follow up. But even then, it had only softened the Forselty’s shock by a little bit.
「Pinpoint the location of the Spirit Tree. Find it at all costs.」
「By your will.」
After that day, the spirit mages of Yggurle Kingdom dispersed to look for the Spirit Tree outside of their country.
As if to sneer at the Forselty and the officials of Yggurle Kingdom, who had thought they’d immediately discover it, the location of the Spirit Tree wasn’t found.
When they finally found a suspicious location, two months had already passed.
「You’ve found it, Balza!?」
「Your Majesty, we have found a mysterious place, however it is not clear if the Spirit Tree is in that land.」
「Hm? What do you mean?」
「Frankly, the spirit mages who went out for the investigation could not approach the location.」
「What do you mean by couldn’t approach?」
So Balza told Forselty that the spirit mages were unable to the enter the place they discovered, but they’ve confirmed that spirits could.
「How could that be? Are you saying that the spirits can enter the place that we Elves are unable to?」
「Yes. Furthermore, I have received a report that strong sacred magic power could be felt from that land.」
「Please let me investigate.」
At that moment, Mimir had volunteered.
「Princess, that place is in the savage lands. It is far too dangerous for the royal princess to go to.」
「It will be fine. Despite all things, I am a spirit mage.」
「…………fumu, Bring the royal guards from the Chivalric Order alongside you as your escorts. The worst wouldn’t happen with that.」
「Indeed. ………… The princess may discover something too.」
Maybe, if it was Yggurle Kingdom’s treasure, an excellent spirit mage known as the Saint, Mimir. Forselty and Balza decided to send Mimir out with the royal guards of the Chivalric Order as her guards.
***