Chapter 12, Fight?

Translator: Kazumi

Editor: Silavin

 

Standing on the stage, Spica surveyed the crowd of Elves staring at her before turning her attention back to Collete. “Well, I have descended in response to your call, but what do you need my help with?”

 

Collete tilted her head, appearing confused. “Well? I called you here for the World Tree, but I don’t really know what the World Tree wants you to do…”

 

The audience tensed, sensing the impropriety of summoning a Goddess without clear purpose, but Collete remained oblivious to their concern.

 

Spica’s expression turned incredulous. “What? Was I being called merely to demonstrate your power?”

 

“I wonder about that? I simply followed the instructions I was given,” Collete replied. “Please ask the World Tree or the shrine maiden here for more details.”

 

Though Collete’s words could have been interpreted as discourteous, Spica merely offered a gentle smile before shifting her gaze to Shiomala. “Is that right? Surely there must be more to this than simply having Collete summon me with no further purpose?”

 

Shiomala glanced at Collete, momentarily suspecting some attempt at mockery, but Collete’s panicked head-shaking quickly dispelled that notion. Of course, that had not been her intention at all.

 

Yet even Shiomala lacked clarity about the purpose behind this summoning. The World Tree had only informed her that Collete would perform a ritual, without specifying its nature. While she had been told the Spirit Goddess would be summoned, she had expected merely a shadow or manifestation—not the actual Goddess herself.

 

As if perceiving Shiomala’s thoughts, Spica turned her attention to the World Tree. Though a barrier concealed its form, such measures proved ineffective against a Goddess.

 

“Hmm. Your shrine maiden doesn’t seem to be of much use.”

 

“Please don’t bully my shrine maiden.”

 

The World Tree Fairy materialized instantly at Spica’s words, her expression notably stern.

 

Spica shrugged at the sight. “Don’t make that face. This situation arose because you’re being shy and had refused to show yourself.”

 

“You know better than anyone that I can’t appear casually,” the World Tree Fairy responded.

 

Though nothing physical transpired, a palpable tension filled the air between them. The World Tree Fairy’s attitude seemed unthinkable given her position before a Goddess, yet considering her role in maintaining the world’s balance and her daily influence, it was somewhat forgivable. Moreover, as the oldest of all existing World Trees, the Sewri Forest’s World Tree possessed power exceeding that of lesser Gods.

 

Still, if Spica were to unleash her full Divine Power against the World Tree, its destruction would be swift—though such an act would render the surrounding lands uninhabitable. Perhaps understanding this delicate balance, Spica chose not to comment on the World Tree Fairy’s frank behavior.

 

As the situation threatened to escalate, only one person present could intervene. Seeing the state of affairs and catching Collete’s pleading look, Kousuke sighed and stepped onto the stage.

 

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The assembled Elves watched with suspicion as a human suddenly appeared on stage. To them, Kousuke—who concealed his Divine Power—appeared entirely ordinary. They could not fathom what role a mere human might play in this situation.

 

Though they had heard rumors of a human recently entering the village at Shiomala’s invitation, they doubted this person could contribute anything meaningful to the current circumstances.

 

Feeling their skeptical gazes, Kousuke addressed the Goddess and high-ranking World Tree Fairy. “Yes, yes. You two, stop messing around.”

 

The audience thought him foolish. How could anyone characterize this serious situation as ‘messing around’?

 

Yet surprisingly, the tense atmosphere dissipated immediately at his words, regardless of the onlookers’ reactions.

 

“We’re not messing around or anything,” Spica protested.

 

“That’s right. Don’t get the wrong idea,” the Fairy added.

 

As Kousuke approached, both beings’ fierce expressions softened to their usual calm demeanors. Kousuke privately thought their behavior resembled that of tsunderes, but wisely kept this observation to himself.

 

Ignoring the confused audience’s inability to process these developments, Kousuke pressed forward. “So? Wasn’t there something you called Spica here for?”

 

Spica nodded emphatically. “That’s right. You didn’t call me here for no reason, right?”

 

“Of course not,” the World Tree Fairy replied, deliberately ignoring Spica’s annoyed tone. “Well, I wanted a name as well.”

 

A moment of stunned silence followed this blunt declaration.

 

“Huh? Eh?” Kousuke’s inelegant response earned no reproach, given the circumstances.

 

Spica, however, appeared unsurprised. “Don’t make me go to the trouble of being called here for something like that. Just ask Kousuke to give you one.”

 

“I asked him once and he refused.”

 

Spica’s surprised expression matched the World Tree Fairy’s irritated glare.

 

Kousuke observed their exchange with mounting disbelief, eventually pressing his hand to his forehead. “Okay. Basically, is it because I refused to give her a name that this whole thing had become such a big deal?”

 

The expressions on both Spica’s and the World Tree Fairy’s faces confirmed his reluctant conclusion.

 

Collete and Shiomala, still on stage, appeared equally incredulous.

 

Sensing the atmosphere, Spica sighed and offered support to the World Tree Fairy. “Well, don’t make that face. You already know this, Kousuke, but the more powerful the being, the more important the name becomes. This is even more so when it comes to this particular World Tree. There’s not many people she can ask for help.”

 

Though Kousuke wanted to protest after being forced into such a role, he recognized the delicacy of the situation and held his tongue.

 

“In that case, why don’t you let Spica give you a name?” he suggested instead.

 

“There’s no way. Even if I give her a name here and now, it won’t become established in this world. It’s important that it be someone on the ground who gives the World Tree a name.”

 

The Goddesses in Sanctuary faced restrictions on their earthly influence, making the act of naming something far from casual. If they could not name an entity as significant as the Sewri Forest’s World Tree, Kousuke remained the only suitable candidate.

 

As Spica calmly explained this, Kousuke’s expression grew increasingly trapped. He realized he might have no choice but to name the Sewri World Tree Fairy after all.

 

Recognizing that continued resistance would only stall progress, Kousuke finally yielded to the combined pressure of Spica’s composed demeanor and the World Tree Fairy’s hopeful gaze, accepting the naming task he had initially declined.

 

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