Chapter 87

The Spirit’s Hot Spring (…?) and the Forest Lord’s Parting Gift
After the Forest Lord’s rampage was quelled, Akio and the others returned to the village alongside the spirit. When the refugees who had fled the forest heard what had happened, they were moved to tears and offered heartfelt thanks to both Akio and the spirit—who still lingered around the Tree of Life in the form of glimmering motes of light. They were now certain that Akio’s town was their true safe haven, and they once again swore to live as members of this new home.
The spirit praised Akio and Sylvia’s courage and kindness, promising to continue watching over the town through the Tree of Life—and then, or so they thought, she dissolved back into the tree’s sacred light.

A few days later, life in the village had returned to normal. Akio and Sylvia were finally enjoying a bit of quiet time together in a private bath of the newly opened “Spring of Life.” The gentle warmth of the silverwood tub soothed their bodies and eased the tension that had built up during the recent ordeal.

“… It’s really been a rough few days,” Akio murmured.

“Yes, but Akio—you saved that forest. I’m proud of you,” Sylvia said softly, leaning against his shoulder.

And then—

“Fuuuu… I must say, the creations of humankind are truly fascinating. This thing you call ‘hot springs’ is delightfully pleasant…”

A clear, serene voice—one that sounded awfully familiar—echoed from the other end of the bath.
Startled, Akio and Sylvia looked toward the sound, only to see her—the beautiful woman-shaped spirit—half-submerged in the water, eyes closed in bliss, looking thoroughly content. In one hand she even held a glass of handmade fruit water that Ayane had left in the rest area.

“S-Spirit-sama!? Why are you here!? I thought you’d returned to the Tree of Life!” Akio blurted in panic.

The spirit opened her eyes slowly and smiled as if nothing were amiss.

“Ah, I did return once, yes. But I couldn’t help growing curious about these hot springs I’d heard so much about. And since I’ve taken on a physical form, I thought I might as well experience the many wonders of this world firsthand—its warmth, the delicious things you humans create, and…”

She paused, her lips curling into a mischievous smile.

“… Your daily pleasur— no, your daily ways of living, as you call them.”

(“Did she just say pleasure!?” Akio screamed internally but couldn’t voice it aloud.)
Sylvia, meanwhile, was torn between confusion and amusement, though she couldn’t help feeling a certain fondness toward this oddly human-like spirit.

“Well then, no need for formality. I’ll be staying in this village for a while. After all, sometimes the best way to watch over harmony in the forest is to do it right here on the ground,” the spirit declared cheerfully before closing her eyes again and sinking deeper into the bath.
Akio and Sylvia could only exchange a helpless smile. Clearly, this mystical and beautiful spirit was not only curious but also had quite the playful streak. Her stay would no doubt bring fresh energy—and perhaps a bit of chaos—to their peaceful town.

Meanwhile, in the place where the Forest Lord had once rampaged, something else had changed.
Now restored to its original form as a massive moss-covered ancient tree, the Forest Lord had gathered the many fallen logs it had torn down during its frenzy into a single neat pile—as if offering them as a gift to the village. The timber would become a precious resource for building and fuel.

And in the soil where the Forest Lord had once rooted itself, several unfamiliar seeds remained—each pulsing with a quiet, powerful life force, like tiny symbols of hope for the future. Sylvia carefully gathered them and planted them in a special area near the Tree of Life. Within days, small shoots began to sprout. They were, perhaps, the Forest Lord’s own wish—for rebirth, and for a new coexistence with the people of the village.

Thus, with the spirit’s (somewhat intrusive?) hot spring visit and the Forest Lord’s unexpected gift, Akio’s town continued to grow—bound now by mysterious and heartwarming ties with the great beings of the forest.
Those bonds, surely, would guide the town toward an even richer and more irreplaceable future.

What do you think about this chapter?