During the time I was busy with living a double life in Volton, on one such day by the Spirit Tree in the Sanctuary, Yggurle Kingdom’s Princess Mimir arrived with a maid after a long while.
Yggurle Kingdom’s King and Prime Minister have somehow given up on this land, but the information had already been disseminated to the nobles within the country. There are also others aware of the Spirit Tree, adventurers and illegal organizations dreaming to strike it big were eyeing this land.
The materials of the World Tree are strictly managed by Yggurle Kingdom and aren’t distributed generally. And going by this fact, if they get their hands on the materials of the Spirit Tree, it is unknown just how high that could be sold for. It was truly a nectar that attracts the avaricious.
The troops of various countries were still stationed on the outer edge of the Sanctuary. No country has, of course, made any accomplishments, and there were countries that wanted to withdraw on the monetary front, but it’s become a game of chicken with other countries.
Though, thanks to that, Wedgefort is receiving the benefits………….
On one such day, something that stumped us on a decision had appeared outside of the Sanctuary.
Undine had noticed beings approaching the outer edge.
「………… How troubling. This was unforeseen.」
「H~mm, it doesn’t seem like they’re bad children~」
「About that, you guys know?」
「We are still the Great Spirits, you know.」
「Besides, matters related to the good and evil in people can be left to Nyx and I.」
「………… Bad people can’t enter the Sanctuary.」
The ones who took over the selection of individuals who could enter the Sanctuary after Sylph were the two pillars Light Spirit Selene and the Dark Spirit Nyx who had just manifested just the other day.
Selene is a beautiful woman with characteristically glittering lovely blonde hair, and Nyx had the appearance of a refreshing young lady with beautiful black hair.
With them, the existing Great Spirits in this Sanctuary were now seven pillars. According to Undine, the manifestation of this many Great Spirits has no historic precedence.
「Selene and Nyx are spirits that specialize in sensing the good and evil within people so it’s fine to leave it to them.」
「Well then, let them in for now.」
Since Undine has given them her stamp of approval, we’ve decided to meet them first.
「Still, it’s good how they managed to arrive here safely.」
「I will prepare food.」
「Then I will lend a hand as well.」
「Lulu will help too!」
When Maria stood up to prepare some food, Marnie and Lulu-chan followed to help.
The figures that could be seen outside of the outer section of the Sanctuary were 10-odd children of Human and Beastkin descent. The eldest being around 12 to the youngest being 4-5 years old, they were scraggly children wearing worn out clothes.
Coming from a regional town of Valkyra Kingdom, they were children who came after hearing a rumor about the Sanctuary. As orphaned and abandoned children, they lived desperately in the slums of a regional city that had no orphanage.
Now, there were rumors on the street saying that the Sanctuary being a paradise-like place.
「Just hold on! We’re almost there!」
The older kids were piggybacking the younger kids while encouraging those around them.
The kids were gauche children who lived in the slums without, unusually, having gotten involved in crime. The older children protected the younger children with all their might, living with their shoulders huddled together. Hearing the talks about the Sanctuary where the Spirit Tree was at such a time, the kids felt hope as they would die in that town at that rate if they didn’t go. After that, they somehow managed to prepare preserved food and headed for the Sanctuary.
To the fortune of the children, the path was cleared of monsters thanks to the the troops of Valkyra Kingdom and Lomaria Kingdom passing by, and they barely managed to reach the Sanctuary.
「Oniichan, my feet hurt nya~」
「You can do it, Sara! It’s already in front of us!」
The little Catkin girl called Sara walked desperately so she wouldn’t fall behind everyone.
The moment the 12 walking children passed the barrier, the short lush grass of the grasslands underfoot had changed, the gigantic Spirit Tree, a clear water-filled spring, a thicket on the rich grasslands, and three erected mansions had barged themselves into the kids’ views.
「You must be tired. You did your best getting here safely. You must be hungry. Come this way.」
The children, stiffened by the sudden change of scenery, were met by Akane.
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My name is Wappa. I’m just a Catkin probably turning 12 years old. Why I say “probably” is because I can’t remember the exact date I was born.
We lived in an abandoned building no one else would live in at a regional town in Valkyra Kingdom.
That was a place where children who had lost their parents and those who had been abandoned by their parents lived. I am the eldest there, and even though it’s just to getting a little something, I did chores to earn money everyday so the smaller children could eat.
But I knew that if this kept going on, everyone is just waiting to die. At that time, I had heard rumors around town that the Sanctuary of the Spirit Tree had appeared in the savage lands.
We had bet our last hope on that Sanctuary of the Spirit Tree. I had thought to move to another town or village, but no matter where we go, there would be children with no relatives. So we thought we had no place we belong.
「Oniichan, my feet hurt nya~」
「You can do it, Sara! It’s already in front of us!」
My little sister is only 6 years old. She walked her hardest with her little feet so she wouldn’t be left behind by everyone.
Colette, a Human girl the same age as me, was walking with her 5 year old sister on her back. The 5 year old Shirona was too young to walk the whole way.
At that moment, all of a sudden, I thought it felt like I passed through something and in the next second, the scenery that appeared before our very eyes made our feet stop. We saw a dreary scenery just a while ago, but a blooming flower-filled greenery is suddenly in front of our eyes.
At that time, a female voice greeted us, and a pretty Oneesan was in front of us before we even noticed.
「You must be tired. You did your best coming here safely. You must be hungry. Come this way.」
That voice pervaded our splintered hearts, and before we knew it, everyone started crying.
When we were living in the slums, no matter how hard it was, no matter how hungry I was, I didn’t cry. But that me now had tears along my cheeks.
Embracing Sara and leading the other small children by the hand, we were taken to a mansion.
Ah, I’m glad to be alive.
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「Well, I’m beat.」
「It’s fine, Takumi. Those children were raised in an environment where it couldn’t be helped if they go astray, and yet have miraculously grown to be pure and upright.
「…… yes, they’re very good children.」
I think it’s a miracle how the thinning children wearing visibly worn out clothes managed to arrive at the Sanctuary. Selene and Nyx said it would be fine and let them pass, so it would probably be alright for me to do what I can.
「Maria, give the kids a bath when they’re done eating. We don’t have clothes their size, but could you girls do something with the clothes that had been prepared for Lulu?」
「Master, Kaede will make clothes for everyone right away!」
「Lulu will help too!」
Kaede said she’d make the clothes for the kids and Lulu-chan’s tail shook in eagerness as she would help too.
「Un, then could I ask you to do so too?」
「「Leave it to me! (Please)」」
In any case, I had to discuss this with Undine and the Great Spirits.
We can’t afford for anything malicious to ever live in this Sanctuary. The purification of the Earth Pulse is progressing thanks to the Spirit Tree, but that might hinder it.
「It might be better to prepare a place for people to live in by the sea.」
「Un, that is acceptable.」
Since we can’t throw those kids out, I agreed to Undine’s suggestion.
I’ll have to do my best with carpentry work again………………….
***