#965 A Tree’s Qualifications

Here we are, gearing up to celebrate Christmas.

With great solemnity, by the way.

We must prepare a Christmas party where everyone can have a pure and enjoyable time.

...I’ve given up correcting the misconception that Christmas is my birthday.

Well, everyone has a birthday, so I guess it doesn’t really matter.

But more importantly, it’s Christmas.

What preparations should we make to have a proper, festive Christmas party?

Should we call Santa?

But Santa’s real role is after the party, right?

We’ll definitely need a Christmas cake.

There will probably be the usual battle among the girls to get a slice...

We’ll have to make sure it’s a big one, like a wedding cake.

And to make sure it’s unmistakably a Christmas cake, we’ll need something to put on top...

A Santa-shaped sugar figurine.

How do you even make those?

I can’t really imagine, but let’s figure it out while we handle the other preparations.

And then there’s...

Right. The most crucial thing.

The Christmas tree!!!

The quintessential symbol of Christmas!

There’s no other holiday that involves decorating such a huge tree!

As long as we have a Christmas tree, no one will mistake it for Valentine’s or Halloween!

As for Tanabata... nah, we’re good.

There’s a big difference between a conifer and bamboo.

But I must be careful, as the cultural crossover in this world can easily lead to unexpected mix-ups. I might find wish tags hanging from the tree if I’m not vigilant.

I need to keep an eye on that.

No, the important thing is the tree itself before we even think about decorations.

When you think of a Christmas tree, it’s got to be a fir.

It’s a northern conifer, perfect for winter.

I’d love to get a fir tree to use as our Christmas tree, but how do we do that?

As a farm, if it’s something that grows from the ground, we’d prefer to grow it ourselves.

But have we ever needed a conifer before?

So far, we’ve only needed fruit trees... wait, what about the cedar and cypress we’ve used for timber?

A pine tree... might make it too much of a Japanese-style Christmas tree.

Anyway, I’ll head to the dungeon orchard and check out my options.

“Wait a minute!!!”

Someone calls out to stop me.

Who?

“If it’s about trees, you must consult me, Lord Saint! Leave it all to meeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!”

Y-You’re...!

The sakura tree?!

A sakura tree is running towards me from the west, twisting its roots like legs!

A mobile tree rushing towards us is terrifying, but on our farm, it’s a familiar sight.

After all, it’s the world tree, a sakura tree created through our farm’s research and miracles.

Also known as the Sakura Yggdrasil!

This tree was grafted with leaves from the Yggdrasil often seen in RPGs, making it a giant tree with special properties!

Its leaves have the power to restore health, cure all diseases, and even resurrect the dead.

And because it’s inhabited by a special tree spirit, it can move anywhere, despite being a plant!

“Lord Saint! Let me handle the grand task of being the Christmas tree! As the mighty Yggdrasil, my stature will surely make the decorations shine!!!”

“Hold it right thereeeeeeeee!!!”

What now?!

After the Sakura Yggdrasil, another tree rushes from the east; it’s the Plum Tree of Knowledge!

Another miracle creation of our farm, just like the Sakura Yggdrasil!

A plum tree mixed with the divine tree from a certain paradise, whose fruit grants omnipotent wisdom when eaten.

The plums from this tree have the same power as the fruit of wisdom; eating just one bestows endless knowledge and wisdom, ensuring success in any school entrance exam.

Now, the Plum Tree of Knowledge and the Sakura Yggdrasil are staring each other down in the middle of the farm?!

“You cheeky plum tree… Do you dare to defy me, the cherry blossom, who stands as the great tree supporting the world and the epitome of the Japanese spirit? Haven’t you heard the proverb, ‘as the cherry blossom is first among flowers, so is the warrior first among men?’”

“If you want to put it that way, then I, the plum, the harbinger of many flowers! If Lord Saint bestows upon me the honor of being the Christmas tree, do you think I’d let that slide? I won’t ever lose to you, cherry blossom!”

It seems like the trees on the farm consider being chosen as the Christmas tree the highest honor, and they’re about to start a fierce competition for it.

Especially the sakura and the plum—they’re so competitive that there’s bound to be some chaos.

“Cherry blossoms are such an eyesore! If you’re all about the samurai spirit, then I’ve got the soul of a Heian nobleeeeeee!!!”

“Don’t cling to past glories! I’m still a top-notch spot for flower viewing in the modern dayyyyyyyyyyy!”

“All right, I was planning to settle this in spring, but let’s finish it in winter!”

“Bring it on! I’ll bury you in the snowwwww!!!”

The tension is through the roof, and it looks like a brawl could break out any second.

They’re both supposed to be trees...

But there’s something that’s been bugging me, so I step in to say it.

“Er, sorry to burst your bubble, but neither of you will be the Christmas tree.”

“WHAT?!”

“Because you’re both deciduous trees.”

“GUHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”

Come winter, they shed their leaves and turn into bare trees.

Decorating a leafless tree for Christmas would just be sad.

“Even a dead tree adds to the interest of a mountain!!!”

“That’s a nice proverb, but it won’t work here.”

A Christmas tree should be an evergreen, one that’s lush with green leaves all year round.

So, sakura and plum, you guys should focus on making spring amazing…

“Kukuku... It seems it’s my time to shine.”

“WHO’S THERE?!”

A new challenger appears?!

Or rather, another tree, I bet.

“A tree that stays green through all seasons is what it takes to be a Christmas tree… which means it’s my rightful place. I am the evergreen, the undying leaf!”

Enter, the evergreen tree.

And the spirit possessing it is…?!

A palm tree!

“YOU’RE THE LEAST APPROPRIATE TREE HERE!!!”

A retort said in perfect harmony.

“What? Why? But I’m an evergreen?”

“That’s because you grow in tropical regions! You don’t need to shed your leaves! It’s always the right temperature!”

“If we didn’t have cold winters, we wouldn’t shed our leaves either! Do you even know why deciduous trees shed their leaves?!”

Deciduous trees shed their leaves in winter to avoid wasting energy when there is little sunlight.

They grow lush again in sunny summer.

So, in tropical places where it’s warm and sunny all year, there’s no need to shed leaves.

They can photosynthesize all year round.

That’s why the palm tree is always lush!!!

“It’s like exploiting a loophole!”

“Don’t say that yourself!”

Anyway, a palm tree as a Christmas tree is just not happening.

There’s barely any space to hang decorations.

Plus, the tropical vibe totally ruins the Christmas feel.

Even seriously analyzing this feels stupid.

In the end, we decided to pick a conifer from the northern tundra as the Christmas tree and have Veil transport it here.

After it’s brought over, it’ll be replanted in the dungeon orchard, ready to be our Christmas tree for years to come.