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Chapter 312: My Bough

For dessert, we enjoyed apple pie that had been stuffed to the brim with apples. The island stays warm even in winter, so the fruit must’ve been sourced from a region that is quite closer to the north. They didn’t skimp on the butter and sugar, so the sweetness paired perfectly well with the strong tart flavor characteristics of the apples in this world.

I commonly see this delicacy even in commonplace shops but this might be the best among the ones I tasted? At any rate, the freshly baked pie is deliciously crispy.

「Cinnamon… 」
Arina muttered.

「Do you like cinnamon? They also offer cinnamon toast for breakfast in this inn. 」
Soleil loved cinnamon — or should I say there’s an abundance of cinnamon sticks because it’s being imported to the island, apparently.

「It’s from the nest of the cinnamon bird, isn’t it? 」
「Mm. 」
「Eh? 」
Orlando and Gramps, what are you talking about so suddenly?

「What sort of bird is that? 」
「Dunno. Rumors say it’s a huge bird, but that’s about it. I heard that people risk their lives to collect the nests that cinnamon birds build on top of the extremely tall cliffs facing the south. 」

Huh, wait a sec, cinnamon comes from the cinnamon bark, right? They just have to dry it like normal, right!? Eh, but wait, maybe there’s a once in a blue moon chance that cinnamon birds really exist because this is a fantasy world!?

I was utterly confused. With questions still swirling in my mind, our dessert time ended and we left the restaurant.

Hmm, what to do now — visit the spirit boughs first, or go to Soleil first?

「Is that a market? Ahh, but we have to visit the 『Fae’s Bough 』 first. 」
Arina.

So it’s the boughs first, huh. Oh well, I guess it’s fine since we’re closer to『Fae’s Bough』after all.

We headed towards there, and lo and behold, a sentinel was stationed by the entrance of the 『Fae’s Bough』. The sentinels have a limited scope of responsibility in their day-to-day duties, but in exchange, they are granted more authority than the security personnel. They could even kill on the spot if the situation calls for it.

As long as people pay the fees properly and don’t cause any trouble inside, they should be fine… I was about to step onto the short staircase leading to the entrance when the sentinel opened the gate for me.

「Why would the sentinel open the gate before we give the donation… 」
Orlando muttered, while Gramps stared at me.

I was also confused on whether I should pay, but the sentinel already opened the gate before I could do that. The more affluent and powerful folks usually pay by check, but there’s a custom in this world that those who enter 『Fae’s Bough』must pay in cash.

The wealthy folks pay the set base fee on the spot, then they would send the rest of their donation and gifts afterward, apparently. It’s a smart move. Oh well, it’s actually very rare to receive donations after sightseeing, but I heard that’s how they do it in the towns they live in, as well as the boughs they believe in.

「Hoh, I’m looking forward to the future… 」
Gramps stood still and gazed at the courtyard.

The trees were still sparse inside the courtyard. Charles grows flowering plants to balance it, but I’m sure the place will look even more fantastic in time. Actually, that’s true for the entire island. Huge, towering trees were also planted in some areas, but they had to cut the boughs for transportation, and some of them even lost their foliage because of the change in soil.

Still, Charles diligently worked on gardening, so they’ve recovered somewhat. They’re no longer withering and have also taken root properly. Moreover, the plants I brought from my mountain home seem to be doing very well.

「It’s said that the 『Fae’s Bough』 in this place have three boughs, and that they move, dance and even make a ruckus — the building and gardens are beautiful. 」
Hey Orlando, please stop attacking me with those words that you say so innocently, will you.

We slowly strolled while gazing at the scenery as we headed toward the Spirit Boughs’ room. Two sentinels were guarding the door, and two more strode towards them in large strides. The four of them opened the huge, thick double doors together for us even before we reached the room.

No, you didn’t have to open both doors at the same time like that… But what happened to the key? I’m pretty sure only a limited number of people have that since this is a restricted area after all.

「Whoa! 」
A blue thin fabric hung from the ceiling and hovered above us, and the faint scent of the lit incense permeated the air. Light poured from the round skylight, illuminating the surroundings of the pedestal that was hidden behind a cloth.

I climbed the roof in the middle of the night to open the skylight, and the effect on the room was gorgeous. I also installed glass on the window, but skylights also have a risk of leaks, so you guys have to work hard on maintenance, alright.

The thin cloth fluttered, revealing Haniwa. Eh, is that its pose before?

「Two? Ah no, is it a group? 」
Orlando-kun is confused!!

「One Bough-sama that can pierce the high heavens, White and Black Bough-sama are a pair? 」
Arina, are you referring to Haniwa when you said “Bough that can pierce the high heavens”? Yeah, it’s true that it’s standing pretty straight up, but do you have to use that expression?

「It’s completely different from the Wheat Bough… No, wait, is that even a Bough!? 」
Gramps, didn’t we agree (one-sidedly) that you’re not gonna say that!?

「It’s all about individuality, individuality, I say. 」
「But all the Spirit Boughs I’ve seen before appear as plants… 」
Eh, is there a rule like that!?

Clack.

「Hm? 」
I was facing Gramps, when we heard a sound from the pedestal.

「Bough-sama…? 」
「Did it just change its shape…? 」
Arina and Orlando turned towards Haniwa.

No, I have a feeling that it just returned to its previous pose! I stared at it intently — the cloth had gathered in front of the pedestal so unnaturally. Hey, stop it, what are you gonna do if you scare the personnel that I painstakingly captured, huh?

「… There was a clack, right? 」
「No, you’re just imagining things. Alright, let’s move along. 」
I cut Orlando off with a grin.