I opened my hand.
It did not let go.
I waved my hand.
It did not let go…
The small clone of the Spirit Tree remained stuck to my hand…
「What is going on…」
What is this…
Could it be that it will never leave my palm?
Will I no longer be able to feel various softnesses with my left hand in the future!?
No way…
「It has taken a liking to you splendidly.」
「Reagaia… You sounded like you knew something. What is this…」
「Hmm… I do not understand everything, but simply put, it seems the Spirit Tree has taken a liking to you.」
「Ehhh…」
I do not recall doing anything to make the Spirit Tree like me…
If it thinks I saved it, the Elves and Renge also helped save the Spirit Tree, so I do not think it is limited to me…
「If you think about it, it is inevitable. I did not expect it to prepare another clone even when it was this small, though.」
「What do you mean?」
If you know something, please tell me.
If possible, please tell me how to return my hand… the hand that touches soft things. Please.
「Hmm… First, I received magic power from the magic power balls you infused with a large amount of magic power, and I transferred that magic power and spiritual power to the Spirit Tree, correct?」
「Yes…」
「And the Elves in the village recovered using the magic power recovery potions you made when their magic power ran out, correct?」
「That is… right.」
「You also poured in a considerable amount of magic power yourself. Considering the overall balance, it became biased toward things originating from your magic power.」
「O-Oh…? But if magic power is refined through a person, does it not become that person’s magic power?」
「Hmm… It is slightly different. Well, I think you would not understand unless you were a race for whom magic power is most important, like us.」
Is that how it is…
Even so, Reagaia is a long-lived dragon, and if she says so, it must be true…
「So, at first, it liked your magic power and wanted to be able to get more whenever it wanted… But you are not having your magic power absorbed now, are you?」
「Ah. It is just stuck and will not let go…」
Look.
No matter how much I shake it, it does not fall off.
If I turn my hand over, it looks like I am performing levitation magic without any tricks.
「So, is that it? It probably thinks you are the central figure in this incident. So, it is sticking to you to repay the kindness… perhaps?」
「Eh, repaying kindness…?」
「Or, since it was just born, it might think of you as its parent. Since a large amount of your magic power was used for its birth, that possibility exists as well.」
「P-Parent…?」
I never thought I would have a tree child before my own children…
「…Hm? Hnn!?」
H-Huh? It was supposed to look like a wooden sword until now, but is it wriggling?
In fact, is it moving?
It is starting to wrap around my arm?
「What is this!?」
It is gently wrapping around my arm as if alive, but I am extremely anxious that it might strangle me to death!?
「Ah… Even though it is this small, it is still a Spirit Tree. It originally possesses a considerable amount of magic power, and since it has a will, it can move. However, because of its small size, it seems easy to control.」
「Is… Is this safe?」
「Is it not safe? It is just attached to you because it likes you. However, it seems to require magic power to move, and it is absorbing magic power corresponding to its movement… Even though it is my magic power…」
Ah, so that is why you shouted loudly.
You were telling this child, “That is mine”, referring to my magic power.
Hah!!! Come to think of it, since it wrapped around my arm, it has left my left palm!
With this… With this, I can once again touch breasts, buttocks, thighs, and tails…
I can fully embrace my beloved partners again!
However, having it wrapped around my arm is also problematic.
「Um, I understand that it has taken a liking to me, but will it not eventually let go?」
Having it wrapped around my arm is a bit…
It is not as obstructive as before, but… if this continues, I will become the person who wraps wood around their arm.
Anyway, a person who constantly wants to wrap string-like objects around themselves is somewhat questionable…
「Hmm? Then I will peel it off for you!」
「Eh? No, wait, wait, wait. If you do it, I feel like my arm will be torn off…」
「It is fine, it is fine. Ora. Hurry up and let go! This! Is! My! Magic! Power!」
「It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!!! My finger! My finger is being crushed! It is not my nail, but my finger that is being crushed, ahhh!」
You shoved your fingers between my arm and the Spirit Tree… No, they are digging in!
It will leave a mark! Not a red one, but your finger shape seems like it will remain on my arm permanently, so stooooop!
「Gnununu! Hiiya!」
It… let go… My arm is… still attached… Thank goodness.
It seemed the Spirit Tree was still attached, but the branch that had wrapped around multiple times was now just once, and the remaining part had returned to its wooden sword-like shape. It seemed to have hit Reagaia on the head.
Huh? Although it was a surprise attack, Reagaia’s hard scales… To hit with enough force to make her cry out from above her skin and fat without breaking is an amazing tree.
Ah. The Spirit Tree is amazing.
「A counterattack!? Bring it on!」
Angered, Reagaia grabbed the Spirit Tree and pulled with tremendous force. I was pulled for a moment as well, but luckily, the Spirit Tree stopped clinging to me smoothly.
Wait… Could it be that it let go because I was getting caught up in it?
「Hahaha! You brat! Just because you are a bit hard, do not get cocky! I am a dragon! Shall I crush you along with the magic power inside you!」
「Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!!!! Really, wait! Look. Here is a magic power ball. It is a bit concentrated! I will make plenty!」
「Grrrrr. Tch. I will forgive you this time for the sake of the concentrated magic power ball!」
Saying that, Reagaia yanked the Spirit Tree out of me and thrust it firmly into the ground…
It was stuck deep like a legendary sword, but it is a wooden sword.
「For now, this should be fine. If I stick it here, it will give up and take root here.」
「Ah…」
Certainly, it no longer clings to me, and this is probably its proper form as a tree… But I cannot shake the feeling that it is asking for help.
It is a gentle tree that sacrificed itself so that my arm would not hurt from being pulled by Reagaia’s strength.
Besides, it simply took a liking to me…
As I glanced back reluctantly, the wooden sword shape shifted smoothly into a small tree, returning to its original form, but its branches hung limply… Ah, I cannot do it. I cannot abandon it…!
Without thinking, I dashed toward the Spirit Tree, hugged the small tree, and dropped to my knees.
「Hey, hey, hey… What is wrong with you?」
「This tree…」
「Hmm?」
「I will raise this child at home!」
「No, no, no… It is small now, but it is a Spirit Tree, you know? It will live much longer than your lifespan, grow much taller than you, and become much thicker than your torso. Besides, would it not be troublesome if it kept sticking to your arm?」
Ugh… Certainly, having it stick to my arm is troublesome, and if it grows as large as the previous Spirit Tree, it might cause trouble for Einzheil… But!
「I will train it so that does not happen!」
「Train a Spirit Tree!? You truly say the most outrageous things… Haa… Well, why not? If you plant it in the ground occasionally like this, you can return your magic power to the earth and control its size… But can you really train it?」
「I can. …I can, right? If I tell it not to grow too large or stick to my arm, it will listen, won’t it?」
When I asked the Spirit Tree, it bent its tip to nod.
Amazing. My child is amazing!
This child should be able to do it properly!
Furthermore, since it can take the form of a wooden sword, it might even serve as a substitute for the Yin-Yang Blade I gave to Shion.
「Aah… Make sure you leave some magic power for me.」
As expected, that was the part you were most concerned about…
It is fine. As before, I will have it passed through Cassandra properly.
…Though I will not forget to dilute it slightly.
Alright. Now that it is decided, let us pick up this child again and take it with us.
Ah, but I should probably inform Ielo-san first.
It is a Spirit Tree, after all, and it is attached to me and will not let go… Hm?
Huh? Were these plants growing around where the Spirit Tree was stuck?
They seem to be of the same species, but I am sure nothing was growing there before. Did they grow rapidly?
…Hm? They look familiar… Wha!?
Is this not 『Yggdrasil』, a plant that can only be obtained if one is lucky!?
Eh, does it grow when you stick the Spirit Tree into the ground!?
If that is the case, I absolutely cannot let it go… Hey, let me check! You can absorb as much magic power as you want, so let me check!
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