I stared at a rock in the forest.
I moved Gaseous Mana finely. The mana wrapped around the rock. When I pulled it up, the rock floated, and bits of soil fell pattering down.
Woohoo, it's telekinesis.
Its operating range was my entire Influence Radius.
[Influence Radius]
45,850cm
I suppose Influence Radius really is Influence Radius.
However, if I wanted to use telekinesis immediately whenever I pleased, I had to scatter mana throughout the whole atmosphere, so I clearly felt my mana reserves were lacking.
It gathers even if I only sleep anyway, so there's no need to think impatiently.
I touched a blade of grass I could see and tapped the neighboring pink flower that was still blooming.
I couldn't feel a detailed sense of touch, but it was roughly similar.
[You have acquired 【Gaseous Mana Operation Technique】.]
【Gaseous Mana Operation Technique】
Operates mana by using the autonomy of Gaseous Mana. Physical action can be freely operated in the desired manner, but high synchronization with nature is required.
Woohoo, it really is telekinesis.
When I condensed Gaseous Mana and changed it into solid form, one mud slab was made in midair.
Thanks to the know-how I had built up through mana crafting, it was a mud slab that nearly imitated the color and appearance of mud.
I also made a pointed wooden stick and tried writing letters on the mud slab.
The letters were written awkwardly, like primitive humanity writing words.
Waaah, a sma-art sapling who even writes.
It was a very awkward sensation, so I should take time to practice writing.
***
The slaver subjugation around the village proceeded smoothly.
The slavers weren't bold enough to wander around a rebellious territory while employing large numbers of mercenaries. They were each surviving on their own and kidnapping elves on a small scale, so defeating them individually was very easy.
The village chief, who had been a famous mercenary, efficiently cleared the surrounding area in no time by looking at a map and finding one by one the places where slavers might hide.
"We left some people alive to run away, so rumors will gradually spread. After this, if we widen the range and subjugate them mainly along key roads, I think the slavers will completely withdraw within the summer."
—Even though we win every battle, getting rid of them all takes longer than I thought.
"With a regular army, victory or defeat is decided by one large-scale field battle. But in cases like this, we have to make each slaver hear rumors and withdraw on their own, so it is unavoidably sluggish. If rumors spread strangely midway, there are many cases where subjugation must continue for a long time."
I think I understand why he said it wasn't a matter for the village chief to decide.
During that time, Termia and the elves returned from the city.
Several carts were filled to the brim with daily necessities, farming tools, and weapons. The farming seeds had very little volume compared to their high price, so they didn't stand out.
They had originally planned to buy only a suitable amount of weapons for the increased village population. However, because of the slaver subjugation, they became necessary here and there, so they squeezed out cash and procured them.
Thanks to Teacher discussing it with the guard captain and obtaining old weapons from the guards, they could acquire them more cheaply than expected. They were old from the perspective of a regular army, but at the level of a rural village, they were very high quality.
"Actually, the most important thing is this."
Termia pointed at a box of soap. It was high-class soap that cost quite a bit.
"As elves whose calling is hunting, we make soap roughly at home by squeezing animal fat, but soap like this, the kind nobles or royals would normally use, is truly rare."
One bar of high-class soap was carefully taken out.
"Even though it was midwinter, we went through the procedure of washing in river water before visiting the holy tree, right? As in, this is an existence you meet even after enduring such painful cold."
—Yes, the effect was good. Everyone knelt.
"......That wasn't because of the river water."
Termia quietly refuted, then continued.
"In any case, right now, it's hard to force an initiation rite on the level of midwinter river water. So this time, we'll have them use high-class soap before meeting you. Like going to meet a noble or royal. That's how noble the holy tree is~."
Is that so?
—I'll think about that too. I've gained various little tricks lately.
"Little tricks?"
—Yes, this and that.
Termia was curious, but she did not dig into it.
Instead, she met village chief Eldrin and heard explanations about the rescued slaves and the elves who had migrated during that time.
"We have gathered them all in temporary lodgings. Once the initiation rite is finished, I plan to formally accept them as members of the village. When can it begin? The sooner we do it, the easier it'll be for the village to stockpile food."
"When would be good for you, Tree?"
—I don't mind doing it quickly. But aren't you tired from the journey?
"I'm fine. Then tomorrow is, maybe too soon? Let's do it two days from now. Please prepare, village chief."
"I will."
Unlike peaceful me, the village's spring schedule seemed very tight, because the discussion moved quickly at the village level.
"After experiencing it last time, I don't think we need to meet them as one big group like before. That will? Is that what it's called?"
—Yes, will.
"Yes, that. I think it'd be good to concentrate it strongly on a small number of people and make them kneel."
—I feel like there's no particular need to make them kneel. Wouldn't it be nice to calmly talk while conveying sincere hearts to each other? Like we usually do.
Like how I talked with the crown prince too.
"No. You're wrong about this part, Tree."
Termia made a serious face, unusually for her.
"You absolutely have to make them kneel. Only when those people experience what every villager experienced will they become true villagers."
That might be right.
—All right. Then I'll pour it in with strength.
***
There is something almost every elf agrees on.
The idea that elves turn into robbers and commit robbery when they become poor is definitely a mistaken prejudice of humans.
They shoot bows well because hunting is their calling, are skilled at hiding in mountains because they mainly live on village outskirts, and their movements are nimbler than humans, making them perfect for fleeing after robbery, but surely there are no elves in the world who actually do it.
The trio of elves here also strongly agreed with that thought.
What elf would commit robbery? No elf would do such cruel, bloody work. Human prejudice was far too excessive and ignorant.
Even they themselves didn't commit robbery. Thievery was their livelihood.
The trio of thieves moved again to steal.
Their target was an elf village said to be actively accepting migrants.
Since it had received support from the lord's castle, the village warehouse should be generous. If so, there would be nothing sweeter than entering as migrants, taking everything, and running away.
Although they had suffered after being captured by slavers on the way, they had been rescued by the village guard and received help, so it might instead be a good thing.
Surely no one would think migrants who had received a favor would steal from the village warehouse.
As fellow elves living poorly under human heaven, it pained their hearts, but wasn't that how life worked? They were elves too, so if they used it well, that would be fine.
"You only need to wash cleanly and come out. Please dress as neatly as possible too."
The girl in pure white clothing, guarded by the village guard, pointed to a building.
It was some pure-white building standing alone in the middle of the forest path to the self-proclaimed holy tree.
When the trio entered, an interior filled with hot spring water welcomed them. It was a warmth that melted the chill of spring cold all at once.
Among the trio, the boss grew bewildered.
"Why is there a hot spring here out of nowhere?"
He had only heard of one all his life and had never seen one, so he hadn't expected to see one here.
It seemed as if nature itself had arranged it so they could meet the holy tree in a clean state, even on a cold winter day.
"Wow, it's warm."
The trio took off their clothes and soaked themselves.
A very quiet whispered conversation continued.
"Maybe the tree really is holy? There's even a hot spring right in front of it so people can wash before going. There's no volcano or mana stone mine, so it really is mysterious that this is here."
"Hey, what do you mean, maybe it's holy?"
The boss scolded him.
The enormous tree they could roughly see on the way was certainly majestic.
But there was no way it was truly a talking tree like the rumors said. They probably worshipped it because the enormous tree was extremely big, and this village must have a musty old tradition.
Instead, the boss gathered his younger companions and warned them.
"From what I saw, everyone uses respectful speech for the tree, so the villagers' minds definitely aren't normal. If we go and they force us to eat some unknown mushroom or weird grass, you know we have to run, right?"
"I know."
"We know, we know."
"What we need to do is get recognized as migrants, then do village work as they tell us, and once they don't suspect us, rob the village warehouse and run. Not get impressed by a mere hot spring."
"Then should we take this?"
One younger companion held up the high-class soap. It was stolen goods with great value compared to its volume.
"Should we......?"
"Hey, wouldn't they have counted all of them? Once we leave, they'll check immediately."
"That's true, isn't it? Put it down. Let's aim for something big."
After washing, they changed into neat clothes and came out.
The girl in pure white led the way.
"Please follow me. Tree does not like commotion, so please be as quiet as possible."
The trio silently followed the girl.
The gigantic tree gradually filled their view.
It was an enormous greenness that looked down on the forest alone and covered the sky alone.
It was a majestic giant tree just to look at. If he had been born in this village, he might have called it a holy tree and worshipped it.
They arrived at the grass clearing. With a giant tree that should not exist in the world as the background, the sight of the girl in pure white leading the way was a strange and mysterious experience.
"Tree, I have brought them."
After saying that, the girl looked at the giant tree for a while, then turned back to the trio.
"Tree wishes to converse. Please sit in the chairs."
The trio, who had been staring blankly, paused. There were no chairs anywhere in the grass clearing.
Where were they supposed to sit?
Suddenly, the ground stirred.
Stone chairs and a table rose from the earth.
Wind blew and brushed away the dust by itself, and leaves flew over and settled one by one at the table seats, as if saying to sit here.
The trio's mouths fell open.
The girl silently pointed to the seats.
When they sat, the guiding leaves flew away on their own and disappeared into the distance.
Then, as if the girl had heard something, she quietly bowed her head to Tree and walked backward to withdraw.
Only the trio remained in place.
Suddenly, a small light flashed in the air.
Within the light, a shape gathered and a tablecloth was made. It flew by itself and covered the table, then bowls, knives, and forks were made in the air one after another and placed at each seat.
The trio's lips trembled.
Suddenly, the nearby ground stirred slightly.
A sprout grew, a stem rose, and it became a sapling, then grew into a tree and spread green leaves. Between the leaves, red fruits formed and showed off their freshness.
The fruits fell on their own, flew over, and were placed on plates. Then they spun by themselves, peeled their own skins, split themselves apart, and arranged themselves to be easy to eat.
The trio's bodies trembled, making it hard to breathe.
Only after all the preparations for welcome were finished did words descend from the sky.
—Thank you all for coming.
Mighty will swept over their weak souls.
—But alongside my happy heart, I also think how wonderful it would be if those of you who came here were people who confessed your wrongs on your own and repented. Is my hope too great?
Ah......
They couldn't help repenting.