Living as a Recluse Deep in the Forest - Episode 14: The Empress of the Great Trees

The air in the canyon shifted abruptly.

A different kind of moisture mingled with the heat radiating from the parched rock. From beyond the smell of scorched sand, the scent of soft earth and young leaves gently tickled the tip of his nose. Ahead in his line of sight—there, a "mouth" hung wide open. Beyond what looked like a fissure in the cliff, deep greenery peeked through. In the center of a world that, until a moment ago, had been nothing but rock and sand, a forest appeared out of nowhere. That was the Western Oasis. And—

(From here on out, it’s her garden.)

Yuu came to a halt just a step before the entrance. The texture of the ground changed right there. The end of the cracked, reddish-brown bedrock and the beginning of the moss-covered black soil were divided as clearly as a boundary line. One more step to that border. A distance he could easily cross by just extending one leg.

But—he did not step in.

From here on out, it was the territory of the Warden of the West. It was the garden of a monster that even Yuu would have to go "all out" against, without holding anything back, if they ever truly came to blows.

(Gotta knock properly before entering.)

Yuu let out a soft breath and closed his eyes. Using magic, he "sent" his consciousness forward. He shifted the focus of his awareness just a fraction away from his physical body. Maintaining his bodily sensations, he extended a portion of his senses toward the depths of the forest. Not a voice, but a presence. Not a sound, but a wave. Instead of vibrating the air, he "lightly tapped" on the layer of mana. A massive web of mana enveloped the entire West. He reached out and gently touched a part of it, like a finger knocking on a door.

—Pardon the intrusion.

He placed only the intent to convey that message onto the wave. This act was, in other words, "knocking on the door." And because of that, an answer always came back.

『...Oh?』

A clear resonance dropped into the back of his mind. His ears heard nothing. The air did not tremble. Yet, something that could only be described as a "voice" echoed inside Yuu’s consciousness.

『The Hermit? ...What a rare guest to have.』

A voice like a woman’s. However, it was somehow different from a "human woman's" voice. Neither too high nor too low. It seemed soft, yet it possessed a certain hardness, like an echo. It wasn't exactly androgynous, either. If one had to categorize it, "female" was the only word, but it was an alien tone for which no perfect fit existed in human sensation. And, as if responding to that voice—the ground a few meters in front of Yuu surged slightly.

"...Here she comes."

Right on the other side of the boundary line. On the mossy soil, a pale green "sprout" poked its head out. A tiny pair of leaves, barely the size of a thumb. Without even a breath's pause, it began to grow rapidly. The thin stem reached the height of a human knee in an instant. Then, waist height. Chest height. The stem eventually thickened, transforming into a shape that should be called a "trunk."

The surface was smooth wood. The grain flowed, and vine-like streaks wound around it in places. The upper part of the trunk changed shape as if swelling—and the line of shoulders emerged. From both sides, arms like branches extended.

Curves. Joints. Fingertips.

Near the waist, the trunk narrowed, then widened again, forming the lines of legs. The roots split into the shape of feet and "stood" lightly on the ground. Finally, the head. The tip of the trunk rounded into a smooth ellipsoid. "Hair," looking like a bundle of thin branches, grew upon it.

The equivalent of hair consisted of branches bearing soft leaves. Those leaves shifted in color from pale emerald to deep green, rustling even though there was no wind. The face part was like a mask made of white wood. Narrow slits where the eyes should be. A faint line for the mouth. The carving was shallow, the surface smooth. A "symmetrical expressionlessness" that felt more appropriate to call a doll or a mannequin. A sophisticated mannequin doll composed entirely of trees—

(Yeah, no matter how you look at it, it’s a mannequin...)

From the knowledge Yuu possessed, that was the most accurate expression. However, unlike one standing in a furniture store showroom, the "mannequin" before him was an extension of the forest itself. Minute amounts of mana dwelled in every single leaf. He could sense through his mana perception that, in sync with the movement of her fingertips, parts of her roots were spreading beneath the ground, checking the condition of the surrounding soil.

The Master of this West. The strongest monster in the Western region. A Dryad, whose existence is only rarely confirmed in forests across the world—and the oldest of her kind. An existence that had lived for thousands of years and treated even dragon-kind like infants: the strongest Dryad.

Her name—the Dryad Empress.

『It has been quite a while, Hermit.』

The pure white mannequin face turned toward Yuu. He felt as if those "eyes," which were mere slits, were staring straight at him with pupils that shouldn't have been there.

『Since when, I wonder? Was it around the time you invited the princess of the kingdom into the southern part of the Great Forest?』 

"I don't think it was that long ago."

Yuu shrugged.

"Well, I'll admit it's been a while. Actually, there are a few things I’m looking for."

Saying so, he held up a small wooden box he had taken off his shoulder.

"Here, a souvenir for you." 

『Hmm.』

The Dryad Empress took a step forward. It was closer to "sliding" than "walking." Roots slid through the earth, and her torso advanced accordingly. There were no footsteps whatsoever. However, the surrounding trees rustled in sync with the Empress’s movement.

The Empress approached with a soft rustle. Her white wood face cast a shadow over the wooden box Yuu held out. She extended a fingertip—a finger resembling a thin twig—and touched the lid of the box. With just that, the latch clicked open, and the lid rose silently. Inside were three small vials. Bottles filled with a colorless, transparent liquid. In place of labels, marks Yuu had etched with mana glowed faintly.

General Purpose. Root-Strengthening Type. Fruit-Bearing Promotion Type.

『...Oh?』

A hint of "color" dwelled in that mannequin-like face. A mask of wood grain with ambiguous shapes of emotion. Yet, a flicker of interest and anticipation certainly ran across its surface.

『This... smells of an enchanting nectar.』

The Empress pinched the vial closest to her with her fingertips. By flowing just a tiny bit of mana into the cork, it popped out soundlessly.

"Go right ahead."

Before Yuu could finish speaking with a wry smile, the Empress tilted the bottle. She dipped her fingertip into the liquid. Her twig-like finger submerged into the transparent fluid.

In the next instant. The contents of the bottle diminished at an incredible rate, as if being sucked up through a straw. The liquid flowed into the Empress’s body through her finger. It was an image of it mixing directly into the flow of sap running through the tree. The contents vanished at a speed that almost made a "gulp, gulp" sound.

『...Hmm.』

A slight change appeared in the expressionless white wood face. The line representing the mouth lifted just a fraction. Even though there were no facial muscles, it certainly looked like a "smile." A faint, young-leaf-colored light shone on the wooden skin of what would be her cheeks. Faint reactions occurred throughout the forest. The leaves of the trees behind the Empress rustled softly. A new bud suddenly sparked on the trunk of a distant ancient tree. A minute wave of mana rose from the network of roots spread across the ground. The entire oasis gained just a bit more freshness.

『Ambrosia...』

The Empress said that one word.

『Oh... this is good. It seeps even into my roots. It brings life back to the tips of my branches. ...There is more, I see.』

She peeked into the box.

『Yes. Yes, indeed.』

Like a child presented with a delicious treat, the corners of the wooden mask's mouth gradually softened.

(............)

Yuu scratched his cheek with his fingertip.

(I mean, I'm glad she's happy, but...)

Since she looked like a mannequin, it was incredibly surreal. There was a strange creepiness to it, like a doll in a horror movie suddenly breaking into a bright smile. However, he could tell from the waves of mana that the Empress was truly delighted. The flow of sap circulating through her entire body was clearly more buoyant than before. The nutrients sucked up from her roots and the liquid fertilizer were mixing, creating a vortex of new vitality.

『Hermit.』

The Empress turned her gaze back to Yuu. From deep within the wooden mask, eyes that shouldn't have been there pierced him directly.

『This is a fine thing. Nectar worthy of being gifted to the forest.』 

"Glad you like it."

Yuu shrugged but felt a small sigh of relief in his chest.

(At least the choice of souvenir was a hit.)

The first move went well. The mannequin face's smile was creepy, but he understood she was happy. All that was left was to keep the conversation going and head toward his final goal.

"Ah—by the way, Empress? You changed the gatekeeper." 

『Hmm? ...Ah, the previous one bit the dust. So, I took a new dragon into my service.』 

"I see."

A carefree conversation. But the reality behind it was staggering. Outside the forest—among humans and demi-humans—the idea of "taking a dragon into one's service" simply didn't exist. A race capable of doing such a thing was beyond imagination. Dragons were powerful, a superior species of living being. That was reality, and that was common sense.

But to the Master of this forest, it was more like... getting a new guard dog.

『Hermit. How was that dragon? Though, naturally, it would have no hope of winning against the likes of you.』 "I think it’s got quite a bit of potential. At least, it probably won't lose to any monsters around here." 『I see... well, that will do for a while. If it dies, I shall simply replace it.』 "............"

The Empress spoke of the dragon's future with complete indifference. There wasn't a shred of sentiment. No, based on her conversation with Yuu, she probably did have emotions. However, the way she directed those emotions and the way she conducted herself were far removed from humans. Quite literally, they were the nuances of a plant. Discard if unnecessary. Use if needed. That was the extent of her emotional drive.

(...This is the part that’s scary... I still can't grasp what makes her angry.)

Yuu stuck his tongue out in his mind. No matter how much power he held, the heart of the Empress was far too difficult for a twenty-two-year-old man to decipher. A landmine might be buried right where he casually stepped. Fortunately, Yuu had not yet incurred the Empress's wrath.

However—he knew the end that awaited those who did. That was exactly why he feared her, this Master of the West.

But for now, everything was fine. Having sucked up the nutrients, the Empress was in a good mood. Now for the main subject. Scratching his cheek, he cleared his throat slightly.

"...So, well. Empress." 

『Yes.』

Leaving the first bottle empty, the Empress reached for another vial of nutrients—the Root-Strengthening Type—while nodding lightly.

『You have a request, do you not? It is always so when you travel this far.』 

"I won't deny it."

Yuu could only manage a wry smile.

"What do you think? Would you be willing to hear my request? Just as far as you’re able."

 『Fine.』

The Empress replied instantly.

『Whatever I can grant, I shall.』

Her voice held a softer resonance than usual. Apparently, she had taken a real liking to the nutrients she'd just consumed. As the Empress dipped her finger into the second bottle, she waited for Yuu's next words. Yuu, for his part, felt another weight lift from his shoulders.

(Alright, the opening for negotiations is okay.)

Dealing with the strongest monster that claimed the western part of the forest as its territory. To history, it might be a staggering event. But to the parties involved—it was just a neighborly visit between people who saw each other once in a while. Bringing fertilizer to a neighbor whose hobby was gardening. In return, being given some herbs grown in their garden. It was nothing more than that kind of distance.

"Then—"

Yuu took one step, moving right up to the boundary line. Inhaling deeply the cool wind blowing from the greenery of the oasis, he spoke quietly.

"Do you remember 'that seed' and 'that root' with the strong scents that grow deep in the forest?"

The journey in search of curry was about to begin in earnest.

---

The air in the oasis was a different world from the canyon. The soil beneath his feet was pleasantly damp, and with every step, the faint scent of grass and water rose up. Overhead, layers upon layers of leaves softly scattered the sunlight, and a pale jade-colored light wavered.

Several small streams wound through the roots of the trees. On the water's surface, aquatic plants with round leaves swayed in the ripples, and small white and purple flowers bloomed as if floating.

Yuu walked between them, following behind the Empress. The Empress appeared to be walking—but in reality, she was mostly just "swaying." The part that served as her feet had an ambiguous boundary with the ground; her roots melted into the earth, and only her trunk glided smoothly forward. With every step, new grass sprouted at her feet, and a few steps behind her, that grass had already returned to being part of the oasis.

『Now then, Hermit.』

The Empress, walking slightly ahead, turned only her wooden face back toward him.

『This "curry" you seek—pray tell me about its mechanism in more detail.』

Curry. The moment he spoke the word, his stomach voiced its claim with a sharp pang.

"...I'm getting hungry just saying it."

While groaning internally, Yuu began to explain calmly.

"Curry is, well... to put it simply, it's a sauce or a soup made by mixing multiple spices."

He counted off on his fingers as he matched her pace.

"You grind a root like turmeric into powder for color and scent, use something like cumin for an earthy smell and to stimulate the appetite, add things like coriander or other spicy elements to add aroma and bring the whole thing together... and then you simmer meat and vegetables in it."

The Empress listened in silence. Above her head—from the tips of the vines that served as her hair—several small leaves floated into the air, tracing a circle and beginning to revolve around her.

『Hmm. In other words, you take the power of those children from that region—those aromatic herbs—gather them into a single vessel, and mix them.』 "That's the gist of it. And as for the effects on the body—"

Yuu pulled directly from his memory.

"Improvement of constipation, aiding digestion, detoxification, appetite stimulation, improving liver function, antioxidant effects, sterilization, pain relief... that's about it?"

As he listed them, he thought to himself, Why do I remember so many of these? It was because of his Memoria Reboot. The text of "curry is good for your health" style articles he'd read on the internet in the past was simply being replayed in his brain. The Empress "tasted" those words one by one, as if rolling them on her tongue.

『Constipation, digestion, detoxification, appetite, liver function, antioxidant, sterilization, pain relief... hmm.』

Her eyes, the color of greenish sap, narrowed slightly.

『Indeed, considering the properties of the children in that region, such results can be derived.』

The leaves floating around the Empress all flipped over at once. The undersides of the leaves glowed faintly, and green lines ran across them.

Strings of characters emerged in mid-air. While based on the standard script of this world, they were mixed with unfamiliar "ciphers" here and there. These were the Empress’s unique magical symbols for plants. The glowing characters flowed at a tremendous speed, matching her thoughts.

The main components and effects of the mock-cumin. The volatile components of the mock-coriander. The pigments of the mock-turmeric and their effect on blood flow.

These were assembled in the air as formula-like charts. The Empress's fingertips occasionally touched the floating characters, rewriting what looked like the numbers for the blend.

『One part of this, two of that... no, it will change depending on the humidity. As for the cooking method—hmm, if it combines with the fat of the meat...』

Her thin wooden fingertips moved smoothly. Faster and more accurately than the wind brushing against the grass. Yuu could only watch and admire the sight.

(She's a monster as always.)

He had been surprised when they first met, but he never got used to it no matter how many times he saw it. She knew the "personality" of every plant in the forest. What soil they preferred, what insects ate them, and where they dropped their seeds after passing through the belly of which animal. She was an existence that had continued to observe all of that for thousands of years.

Regarding plants, no one could surpass the Empress. Not a single sage or elf in this world could even come close to her feet.

『...I see.』

After a while, the Empress stopped her fingers. The green recipe floating in the air came together into a single form.

『With this blend—the properties of each child will not clash but will enhance each other, and furthermore, it will be easy on the human digestive system.』

She stated the conclusion indifferently, then looked up slightly.

『Splendid.』

The corners of her bark mouth skewed slightly again. She was smiling.

『As expected of the Hermit. Not even the elves could fully discover the uses for those children.』

The trees of the oasis rustled in resonance with the Empress's voice.

『This one was for fragrance alone, that one for medicinal effect, another for repelling insects... everyone kept their roles separate. But—you have made them all collaborate to create a new "field."』

She paused for a fraction of a second.

『Good. Very good.』

 "A-hahaha... glad to hear it."

Yuu’s laugh was dry. He couldn't exactly take pride in it. After all, the concept of curry wasn't his original idea.

Someone in India a long time ago. Countless people who had refined Japanese home cooking. He was just riding on the accumulation of nameless chefs from Earth.

But even if he told the Empress, it probably wouldn't get across—more importantly, there was no reference point for the word "Earth" in this world. When he first met the Empress, Yuu had tried telling her straight out that he "came from another world." After a few seconds of silence, the Empress said with a straight face:

『It is not in the records.』

Among the knowledge of the Empress, who had continued to view the "records" through the world's forests for thousands of years, neither "Earth" nor "Japan" nor even the concept of "other-world transport" existed. That fact was both a strange comfort and a strange loneliness for Yuu.

(Well, I guess the history of the world I was in is like "graffiti from another universe" to this world.)

Deep in his chest, something slightly bitter and poignant surfaced.

The scenery in front of the station in his hometown. The lights of a convenience store. The retort-pouch curry lined up in the supermarket deli section. Because his Memoria Reboot revived them so vividly, it was hard to "pretend to forget." Yuu shook his head lightly and shifted his focus.

"It's not my own effort."

He said it to the Empress, as if reminding himself.

"I think I told you before. I'm just remembering the wisdom of the chefs from the place I used to be."

The Empress immediately dismissed his words as she flicked away the green recipe.

『Even so.』

Her bark eyes stared intently at Yuu.

『You are the one "rooting" the knowledge of a homeland you cannot return to into this world, Hermit.』

The soil of the oasis trembled faintly. It was as if the earth itself were nodding.

『Then it is undeniably your wisdom as well. Besides—』

The Empress slowly spread her wooden hands.

『How many beings in this world do not rely on the knowledge of others? Even I, when I was newly born, was a helpless existence relying on the protection of the forest.』 "Just how long ago was that?"

Yuu asked in spite of himself. The Empress answered with the lightness of someone remembering "yesterday's dinner."

『A time before there were any human nations anywhere on the continent. The children of men wore no clothes and lived in caves.』

The Empress's voice was calm. Yuu reflexively swallowed a retort.

(The Stone Age...)

It was a story from a staggering scale of time ago. Back when there were no kings or nobles on the continent. No villages or towns, and people survived the night with only stone tools and bonfires. It seemed the Empress was "born" in that era.

『At that time, I was but a small sprout, trembling in a corner of the forest.』

A hint of nostalgia mixed into the Empress's voice.

『If the wind blew hard, I would break; if insects gnawed at me, I would weep; if beasts trampled me, I could only endure the pain.』

At her feet, a single young tree suddenly grew. A thin trunk barely the thickness of a finger. Lanky, unreliable branch tips. It was likely her image of "her past self."

『But—the forest taught me through my roots.』

The roots of other plants wound around the small sapling, extending to support it.

『The location of water veins. How to tell fertile soil. The path of insects. The footprints of beasts.』

The wisdom of the entire forest gradually flowed into the young sprout.

『I was merely receiving it.』

The Empress shrugged her shoulders just a little.

『Most of the knowledge I possess now is the accumulation of the memories of the forest's children. I have simply been here for a long time.』

Having said that, she looked at Yuu again.

『You are the same, are you not, Hermit? Receiving the memories of those you call the chefs of your old world, verifying them with your own tongue and hands, and reproducing them now in this forest.』

 "Well... I won't deny that."

Yuu gave a wry smile. There was no such thing as a complete original, not really. You see what someone made somewhere else, mimic it, and change it a little. The result of repeating that was simply what stood before him.

『Then you should hold your head high and call it "your wisdom."』

The Empress stated it plainly.

『You are not bound by the past, are you?』 

"...I guess not."

He wasn't bound. He just got pulled back sometimes. Yuu exhaled, pushing out the prickle in his chest.

Suddenly, the scenery ahead changed. The trees of the oasis opened up a bit. It was a small "garden." Low-growing grass surrounded the area like a hedge, and inside, plants about knee-high and trees about shoulder-high were arranged in an orderly fashion. The shape of the leaves and the color of the stems were all subtly different. But—among the scents tickling his nose, there were some he clearly recognized.

"...Cumin, coriander, and something like turmeric. It’s like the whole gang’s here."

The Empress nodded with satisfaction at Yuu’s comment.

『This is the garden of those children. Now, observe to your heart's content, Hermit.』

He had finally reached the spice region. The talk along the way had unknowingly become a calm, slightly touching conversation. The Empress of the forest and the Hermit from another world.

Using a single dish called curry as a catalyst, while discussing their homeland, the world, and the nature of wisdom—the two of them slowly made their way deeper into the lush oasis.

Prev            TOC            Next