OKIH 48

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Chapter 48

[I will surely find a way to return to the previous world]

After we finished our mission in the Elf Village, Sailor Soldier immediately went out on a journey in order to find a way back to our world, leaving only those words behind. As for me, I am not going to search for something when I don't know if it really exists or not.

Isn't it shameless of me when I'm also an otherworlder? No no, but what a good result would be...... is something that you have to try to find out, right? 

In any case, we're divided.

Instead of that, I have something that I must do.

""I don't mind. Elves are faries in the first place. There's no reason to refuse if one hails from them" -so the Queen was quick to give her permission. I think I'd like to build Naito-san and Kuma Emon's house-"

The news received a well-deserved applause, then I raised my hand.

I wouldn't listen to the pair that just came from the Elf Village when they said that they wanted to build their own house, then I forced my way to take over.

After all, they'll be living like they're camping until the house is complete, so this is the natural order.

Doesn't it follow that the construction of their house should be considered as an urgent matter?

"We cannot possibly bother you to lend us a hand. We can do it out by ourselves......"

It's a problem that Naito-san is obstinately refusing the help.

"Eh? ...... you don't need my help?"

"Yes, we can't just inconvenience you just after arriving......"

She told me that decisively, and my powerless body slumped over, then I looked at the sky.

"......I see, that's right. Wahah, what was I getting worked up for? I'm an idiot...... yes, they can build their own house...... quite easily"

I kicked a stone that was near my feet.

Oh, I was able to kick it.

Even me, who's at the level on an insect, can actually do something like kicking a stone.

"Aah, Naito-san, you made Taro sulk"

"It would be really annoying if this continues, you know?"

Enter Tonbo and Kawazu-san's supporting fire, Naito-san flinched.

As if she failed after trying, she hurried to say,

"...... ! N-no! That reminds me, there are a lot of things that we might have trouble with! Kindly help us with those!"

"Oh! Then let's get pumped up for it! Why don't we start by planting acorns!"

"I think you've become energetic all of a sudden but...... um, acorns?"

Of course everything would be great.

There's no way I'd pass on something so interesting!

We immediately searched for a suitable area where the pair's house would be built, and found a place with a flat ground and good sunlight.

There were a lot of bushes, and it would be hard to spot.

It wasn't much, but it was a good foundation.

"I thought of building a hut right around here, it would be easy to hide"

Ah I see, the criteria that they're basing on is already different.

For a moment, I wondered what values of mine could I force upon the spartan-like pair.

But immediately behind her was Kuma Emon, whome I noticed was sporting a restless look, I grinned.

It seems like the ideal minimalistic lifestyle is only for Naito-san.

If that's the case...... then there's no need to hold back.

"A hut, you mean like the one found in the Elf Village?"

"Yes. That was also something that we built ourselves"

Naito-san says it matter-of-factly, but a handmade hut of all things?

Do you intend to live there again......?

If memory serves me right, I think that hut looked like a very narrow warehouse.

You can't really build something big with only two people working on it.

I don't want to say anything bad but you already have us, and it would be a disgrace for a wizard to compromise for that.

"But would we really allow them to live in such a hut? Heh, of course not!" (T)

"No! We can't!" (Tonbo)

"Naturally! That's out of question!" (K)

"You guys look like you're having fun somehow......"

Naito-san and Kuma Emon were left confused, as they can't keep up with our tension.

I understand that feeling.

Kawazu-san was also like that in the beginning.

"But see, it's actually really fun to build a house with Tarou, you know? It's that"

Even Kawazu-san is saying so, there's one more here that wants to fulfill some expectations. Let's raise up our spirit then.

"On that, I have a propasal for the house design this time...... this!"

With some fanfare, I presented something I drew yesterday without sleeping. I made sure that everything was laid out.

"Um...... what could this be?"

However, I got a lackluster reaction from the house that I drew on the imitation paper.

Since Naito-san looked like she didn't know, I said,

"A treehouse!"

Yes, a treehouse.

Just like that, a delightful house built on top of a tree.

But hasn't everyone felt it?

Looking at a treehouse, huh? There's something that's kinda different from what I imagine......

Firstly, in my imagination, there would be a house around the top of an enourmous tree where you feel like you can sleep normally. But reality isn't that kind.

Such a huge tree isn't easily found, and the branches just won't be strong enough to support a whole house.

However, this is a world of fantasy, dreams and romance.

Where you can solve everything with magic, like a fantasy.

"Then to start, let's grow a tree!"

"The meaning of what you just said sounds messed up"

Kawazu-san was being nitpicky about what I just said, but I already knew about that issue.

"Then just to check, you two don't have a problem with heights, right?"

"Well yes. It would also be convenient for standing watch, but we can't really wait that long......"

Naito-san also thought that I plan to rear up a tree from scratch, and was trying to half-heartedly refuse it.

Of course we have to grow it from scratch.

But well, not normally.

"Come on now, trust me on this. Then is there anything else that you'd like?"

"Something that I like? It would be enough to keep the rain and wind out"

"Disqualified! The bar is too low!"

"Disqualified......?" (Naito)

I turned away from Naito-san.

Let's continue with trying Kuma Emon's suggestions.

"How about you, anything?"

"Gaugafu gafu!"

"What what? You want some tatami mats? Hmhm, you're the type that could adapt! Then again, I also have some tatami for me...... so then, other than that, I'm free to do whatever I want, right?"

Since an unexpected response was received, let's take this chance to push it further.

"As expected of the master! So opportunistic!"

"Stop it! You're making me embarassed!"

The dragonfly's motivation was also nicely rising, so we immediately went with finalizing our plan.

"For starters, it should have a bath, a kitchen, and a washroom, right? A bedroom, a livingroom, a dining room, and since they want to keep watch, a spacious veranda would be great"

"An important aspect to consider would be, what about the water? Should it be magic again?"

"No, let's just improve the tree's taxonomical construction, and make it able to pump groundwater up. In reverse, the waste that is just produced through living could just be sent to the roots and serve as fertilizer"

"...... could that be considered as taxonomy improvement?"

The dragonfly was expectedly doubtful about it, but we have a chance to do this.

"There's nothing impossible for me when I remodelled a frog to be bipedal!"

"So this is about me?!"

Without further ado, we immediately started working at the previously agreed-upon spot.

First of all, let's have the place's vegatation make enough room, then prepare the ground.

Then on the center of the construction site, I started to plant the seed I prepared beforehand.

It's not acorn, by the way.

Then it's finally this guy's turn.

In fact, you can say that this was all for the sake of the treehouse that I've proposed.

"Alright, hold this"

With my chest pounding in excitement, I handed the equipment that I brought to the two people who, in my opinion, would be the best choice.

"Gau?"

"Ah, so we're doing 'That' again"

"Precisely! I have high expectations of you!"

It seems like the dragonfly remembered, so I just gave them a thumbs-up.

"But won't it be faster with Taro's magic?"

I made an X with my hands and  firmly shook my head sideways in response to Tonbo's words.

The dragonfly was mystified, but it was pretty clear that using another method is out of question.

"We have to do it this way, don't we? Since we only have two of those, I want to make Tonbo and Kuma Emon execute it"

I depended on the dragonfly to be the guide, and Tonbo reluctantly accepted the bat with an 'it can't be helped, but she was grinning and clearly motivated.

Tonbo-chan was putting on some airs and was showing off.

"Alright! Let's go! Then Kuma Emon, follow my lead!"

"Gau!"

The bats energetically opened up.

They were umbrellas, one big and another small.

"Spin first!"

"Gau?"

Spinning and spinning.

Both of them spun.

"Gather up your spirit......"

"G-gau?"

When they stopped rotating, they began to concentrate on the umbrella.

Gathering and collecting that feeling, and release it on the sketchy but right timing!

"Release it!"

"Gau!"

The pair forcefully thrusted their umbrellas.

Naito-san was scratching her neck since she doesn't know what any of these means.

"Um...... what is this?"

"It's coming!"

At that time, I felt some signs of change and I called attention to it.

"?"

A strong bud sprouded from the ground.

"Alright!"

"Eh?"

In the next moment...... the bud immediately took of from the ground and started growing.

It had a growth rate that defied common sense.

"Pra! For it's expansion and contraction wholeheartedly! Jumps are sometimes effective!"

"Gau!"

The fairy was bouncing and bouncing.

Growing towards the sky, a gigantic tree stood proudly.

There was some strangeness to it, as the huge tree was growing, it emitted a strong majesty to it, while it burrows it's roots deeper.

"...... just what kind of seed did you sow? Don't you feel like there's an aura that compels one to bow down to it?" (K)

Once he noticed it, Kawazu-san's reaction was a little weird. Looking closely, the wood was indeed too splendid.

"Um let's see, I think it was a souvenir from the Elf Village? They said it's a World Tree or something. The leaves are usually used as medicine......"

"......! Don't care! I heard nothing!"

The moment I mentioned the World Tree, Kawazu-san's face turned blue. I decided to act as if I didn't see anything.

"Yeah? ...... maybe I should also act like I don't know anything and leave it be?"

"Do that! I won't say anything bad so do that!"

I might have done something that I shouldn't have again.

Fortunately, most people won't notice things like a tree's aura unless they've advanced far enough in magic. The ones that will notice would just be Kawazu-san and the Queen...... probably.

But the huge tree had grown this big, and I'm satisfied with it's progress as it had even overreached the goal.

"...... a-ah"

Looking up to the point where her neck would hurt, the Naito-san that had her mouth agape was to be pitied as this was just the beginning.

"Phew...... this should do it!"

In contrast to Naito-san, the dragonfly looked pretty satisfied and did a high-five with the dancing Kuma Emon, who was unexpectedly playful.

Kuma Emon has a high capacity to adapt.

I would have to thank the pair for a job well done.

However, while he was checking out this huge tree, Kawazu-san remembered the gargantuan tree that I grew back when I just came into this world.

"I've managed to grow a huge tree before, but this one has the perfect size, doesn't it?" (T)

"That's right, that one from before reached the clouds after all"

"Right, I wonder what was on top of that tree? Maybe it saw god or something"

"Who knows...... the only thing we're sure of is that there's definitely gonna be clouds there"

"Isn't that a given? Kawazu-san, hahaha"

"That's right. Hohoho"

"Please don't act so relaxed! Just what is this preposterous tool?!"

Once Naito-san came back to her senses, and made a commotion while pointing at the umbrellas. It was the tool that we made, that's general knowledge now.

"Huh? No, it really doesn't have any deep meaning. It just makes things grow"

"Yes that's right, very impressively......"

"Right? Then let's go to the next step!"

"Are you done explaining with that?!"

Naito-san, I really want this to be done before the evening of this day, so please don't say weird things.

I rested my palm on the huge tree that had just grown, and immediately activated the magic to develop the tree.

Magical power poured into the magical array, and changing it's structure into the form that I envisioned.

After the operation was done, a big tunnel opened wide before my eyes.

"Great, then shall we go on?"

I conjured a light source and entered, and although I was the one that made it, it was still a surprising structure.

Inside the thick walls of the tree was an incredibly wide space. There was a large pillar right at the middle.

The pillar thoroughly expressed the vitality of the tree, as the sound of running water had even reached to our ears.

Moreover, an endless spiral staircase was attached to that pillar. You can't really determine how long it is, due to the darkness and it's overall height. It was supposed to reach all the way to a big branch that could be seen from the outside of the tree.

"Let's hurry and go up and-...... Tonbo's the only one following?"

"Yup, everyone's gonna wait outside"

Hmm, it's really to dark and staying outside might be for the best.

The dragonfly and I eventually started to climb up the stairs with just the two of us.

On the way, I slowly climbed up while attaching proper lighting, as the footing may be dangerous. This is quite fun.

It feels a bit adventurous.

I prepared magical lamps that gives off a mysterious light without heat, so that it won't hurt the tree.

At that time, the dragonfly was the one that gave detailed instructions, and it resulted in quite an elaborate design.

I was skipping up when I first started climbing, but unfortunately, it didn't last very long.

"*wheeze*...... haaa...... *wheeze*...... haaa......, no good, it feels like something important will escape my mouth"

...... the spiral staircase is too long.

My legs were heavy, and it was hard to breath, it was too much exertion for my weak frail constitution.

I should have made an elevator......

Although I have reached this state, the dragonfly that was following me with her fluttering wings was looking fine, and staring at me in disappointment.

"How pathetic, Taro...... look! There's one place left for a lamp!"

"...... wait a minute. Give my heart some time to recouperate it's strength"

"Hur-ry-up! We haven't finished builing the house yet!"

"...... that's right"

While the dragonly was kicking my butt, we finally arrived at the top branch, and I became more tired then.

Because the three figures of Kawazu-san and the others were already there.

"Hey, you're slow"

"...... how come you're here"

Hearing what I said, Kawazu-san stared at me with eyes full of disgust, and he said with a froggy face that only a frog could make,

"How you say? We flew up here from the outside, using wind magic. Promptly."

And he was together with the apologetic-looking Naito-san and Kuma Emon.

That cheat magic.

I don't know what to say, doesn't this mean that the stairs are unneccesary?

Even though I tried hard and did my best.

I felt a bit defeated, but I don't have time to consider such a thing.

"Whatever...... I'm tired. Let's hurry up and make the house"

It's the realy thing from here, and I can't afford to feel down.

I was about to consolidate the image of the building, but I unexpectedly received a request from Naito-san this time.

I would fulfill mostly anything that you would request for, so don't hold back and bring it on.

"I'm sorry, but can you make it so that it doesn't stand out? Being exposed makes me uncomfortable"

Naito-san is unexpectedly more uneasy about the prospect than I thought.

But whatever the reason, it's finally something that she took interest in, so I had to put it into order no matter what.

"Really? Something inconspicuous huh......"

What should I do about it?

So far, I planned to build the house around the trunk, but that would be too noticable.

Then should I make it look like an ordinary tree if seen from a distance?

Right then, I remembered the spiral staircase used to climb up, and modified my plan.

The interior had a lot of space.

Then, isn't there a readily available space even without going through the trouble of making a cabin?

Near here, there are faries that use the tree itself as castle just over there, there's nothing we can't do.

"I thought of something interesting"

"Oh? What are you planning to do this time?"

Kawazu-san's interest was also piqued, I smiled fearlessly and formed the image in my head. I prepared the magic once again.

"Hehe, just watch"

I concentrated my conciousness into executing the magic, but there weren't any visible differences after.

But I can't say the same for the interior.

After I attached an entrance with a handle, it was complete.

"What did you do?"

"I made some rooms inside the trunk, three floors of it"

My new piece of work, the inconspicuous Tree House is complete.

No, I think that this is also a form of a dreamy treehouse, how about it?

"Ooh, isn't this nice, it has a similar feel to the Queen's place" (K)

"Well that's about right. Let's hurry and enter, I'm also unsure if it's made properly"

Then again, it would be inferior in terms of size compared to the Fairies' castle, but I think this is quite good as it is.

When all of us got in, the finished room really looked like a doll house.

Maybe because it was shaved down, or because it's just the tree, there was a dense green smell.

Once we install the windows and have the water service running, it's overqualified for people to live in.

"The bath should be big...... that's right! Why don't me make it an open-air bath while we're at it!"

An open-air bath at the top of the tree would be too high.

Naito-san was struggling a bit when the house was almost finished.

"U-um! You don't have to go that far!"

So you've chickened out at this stage, you might want me to hold back, but there aren't any self-restraint left on my after coming this far.

"Eh? Doesn't Naito-san want to bathe?"

"No, um, I just usually go with a steam bath or just cold water-...... that's not the point!"

Hmm, It's not that I've never heard of her style before, but I decided that it's really better to enter with warm water and take your time.

Kawazu-san and the dragonfly are in favor of it as well. It's not that I can't do it.

Besides, immersing in hot water will improve blood circulation, and it would ease one's tiredness.

I'm going to push through with Japanese style dogmatism and prejudice.

"That's unacceptable! I'll have you use this bath, by all means! The bath will heal your body and mind. Kawazu-san, I'll leave her shampoo and conditioner to you!"

"Of course, leave it to me!"

"Tonbo-chan, think of the bath's design!"

"Hey heeey! Let's make a our size of bathtub?"

"That's why, it's determined to be an open-air bath! No more counter-arguments!"

"O-okay......"

On that day, by the time the sun has set, a splendid treehouse filled with our hopes, had been completed.

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