#864 Rivalry of Local Warlords

A battle was unfolding in the heart of the forest?

What’s going on?

“The tree spirits are lending a hand in our reforestation efforts.”

Ah, I get it now.

Those words alone painted the whole picture.

How sad.

Oblivious to my frustration, Elzariel continues explaining.

“Tree spirits are handy. They possess trees and move them freely, right? They use this ability to transplant saplings grown in nurseries. No hassle at all.”

Indeed, involving tree spirits simplifies tree-related tasks considerably.

The trees themselves walk around like people.

It would be so much easier if trees could move independently for transplanting without needing to be carried by people.

Tree spirits have taken up residence on my farm, too, so they’re familiar figures.

I’m well aware of their convenience.

“Anyway, we relied heavily on the tree spirits for planting. After transplanting, they inhabited the trees and settled in the forest.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Before we knew it, they started claiming territories, dividing the forest into realms like in the Sengoku period.”

Cedar, tea, pine, birch, bamboo...

Each species vying for dominance in the forest, like some kind of arboreal “Nobunaga’s Ambition.”

Who would’ve thought this would happen...?!

“Though I’d let them fight to their heart’s content, doing so would shrink our newly expanded forest. So, to solve this delicate issue... Since you’re already here and all, do you have any ideas, saint?”

Before I knew it, I was being roped into their problems.

But then again, this was the usual treatment.

“To think the forest we expanded through planting is now in such a state...!”

The tree spirits, given a chance, compete for superiority among different species.

Are they naturally competitive beings (or spirits)?

Well, anyway, conflicts achieve nothing, so I might as well volunteer to mediate.

“Let’s start by hearing out the tree spirits.”

If communication is possible, I’ll try persuading them to lay down their arms.

So, which tree should I start with?

“The cedar area is closest from here.”

Cedar, huh...

Unbeknownst to me, they’ve also taken root in this other world.

Personally, given their pollen issues, I’d prefer to eradicate them.

“Cedars are sturdy and straight-growing, excellent for construction. The humans and demons pay a hefty price for them. They’re already placing orders for timber, making it a lucrative business.”

Elzariel sounds quite excited.

Well, somebody’s pretty invested in this.

“So, ideally, even if other species perish in the conflict, we’d like to preserve the cedars.”

From the perspective of someone with pollen allergies, it seems like a plea to eradicate them instead.

I now understand why this national affliction persists.

“Let’s meet with the cedar spirit then.” 

“Oh my, I’m too valuable for my own good...!”

The cedar spirit appeared too soon.

“I am the Cedar Spirit, Uesugi Kenshin.”

“Right.”

“My rival is the Bamboo Spirit, Takeda Shingen.”

How conveniently they match up.

But isn’t the bamboo spirit Takenokkon or something?

 Do tree spirits change with the locale?

“We, the trees, honor ‘wood’ and fight for it! 

“‘Wood’ is our castle, ‘wood’ is our rampart, ‘wood’ is our moat.”

Suddenly, the bamboo spirit appeared, and together, they commenced a battle reminiscent of Kawanakajima.

If it follows the original story, this won’t end quickly. There will be second and third rounds to this fight.

I might as well check on the others since this seems under control for now.

The next key player in this forest’s power dynamics is...

***

It’s the birch spirit.

Birch trees, as their name implies, are slender trees with white bark.

They’re also suitable for firewood due to their easy ignition.

But setting aside such trivia, what kind of conversation could be had with the birch spirit?

“We are from the White Birch Society,” says the white birch spirit. “We pursue true literature! Literature is the highest form of art, the expression of the soul! We must distinguish ourselves from mere popular entertainment! Thus, we shall erect a monumental literary beacon in this land...!”

“Okay, okay, stop, stop, stop...!”

I had to intervene before things escalated.

Why do tree spirits insist on such relentless individualism?

“No good! If we go along with their demands, it’ll be an endless period of warring states! Someone needs to bring order to this chaos!!”

“Then, maybe we should turn to the cedars...!”

Elzariel, that’s precisely what we’re trying to avoid!

If they thrive, the world will be overwhelmed with pollen!!!

“How about the tea trees?”

“That’s a strong bias!”

These elves’ partiality towards their favorite trees is intense.

Most of their obsession with tea probably stems from Aileron, but the elves have been fervently promoting a green tea movement.

However...

The one I’m seeking to take charge of this chaotic, war-torn world isn’t just anybody.

I have someone in mind.

In fact, over at the farm, there’s this capable mediator among the tree spirits who’ve settled in, instantly calming any who start to vie for superiority.

Even Veil, the dragon, has a hard time with these farm tree spirits, but the one who firmly reins them in is...

* * *

“Earth Spirits, go!”

“Okey-dokeyyyyyy!!!”

The earth spirits.

They are the embodiment and personification of the earth’s life force and its rhythm.

Their appearance is like that of cute little girls, but in reality, they are spiritual beings that support the earth’s operation, usually invisible and intangible.

Only on our farm, thanks to the blessing of Hades, the guardian of the underworld and protector of the Earth, can these Earth Spirit girls materialize, and here in the revived Elven Forest, they display their valor.

“Step back, evewyoneeee!!!”

“We are taking part in this fighttt!”

“This calls for a twuceee!”

As a species, earth spirits are many, so when summoned, several of them come forth.

They leap at the tree spirits, overpowering and neutralizing them.

Even the endlessly clashing tree spirits, Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin, are swiftly subdued.

“Guooohhh! Wait! My destined confrontation with my rival...!”

“That’s why you keep twipping each other up; you get outpaced by Odacchi!!!”

“The Tenka Gouf Custom!!!”

Even the Birch Faction tree spirits, who are fond of spouting complex ideas, are powerless before the earth spirits, like so...

“Literature is the liberation of humanity...!”

“Pubwications must sell!”

“The appeal of a pubwication is determined by the diversity of its contents!!!”

All trees sprout and grow from the soil.

Without the earth, there would be no trees.

Thus, for the tree spirits, opposing the maternal earth spirits is impossible.

They end up getting one-sidedly trounced.

“Peacekeeping compwete!”

“Confwict resolved!!!”

The earth spirits strike a sharp pose.

They shouldn’t be able to materialize outside the farm, but thanks to the Elven Forest’s sufficient restoration, there’s plenty of earth mana.

Moreover, since I was recently recognized as a saint by the Three Realm Deities, it seems they can also materialize here.

Spirits exist wherever life thrives.

So, naturally, they exist in the Elven Forest, too, and if I wish it, they can materialize.

“Earth spirits... Could you mediate whenever the tree spirits start quarreling?”

“Easy-peasy!”

The little earth spirits, confidently thumping their chests, agree to the task.

“From the gwound, we’ll ewadicate all disputes!”

“Those who dare to fight, beware!”

“Peace is forged atop the resowution of confwicts!”

All right, I can leave this to them.

With the Elven Forest revived and the new Human Kingdom flourishing, I can consider my job here done.

Time to check out another place that’s been on my mind.

----------

references:

The Battles of Kawanakajima were a series of battles fought in the Sengoku period between Takeda Shingen and Uesugi Kenshin.

take=bamboo

sugi=cedar

The Shirakaba-ha was an influential Japanese literary coterie, which published the literary magazine Shirakaba, from 1910 to 1923.