Death March to the Parallel World Rhapsody

Satou here. Sometimes, even the toughest problems that experts can’t solve begin to improve just because of a casual remark from someone outside the field.

That said, more often than not, a bigwig’s one-off comment tends to turn a difficult situation into a full-blown disaster.

◇

“Huh? A pest control specialist?”

Stopping my work on the Living Doll, I repeated the words of the elder Elf who had come to visit the workshop.

This is the workshop of Sotolineya, a master of Living Doll creation. Most of the Living Dolls in the recent attraction and around town are his creations.

Before asking for guidance, I was warned that even if I learned how to make them here, I wouldn’t be able to replicate them outside due to lack of materials. Apparently, the core power reactor uses that Philosopher's Stone, and it can only be made in the Forest of Boruenan.

Still, the other mechanisms might be usable, so it won’t be wasted. Especially, I’m desperate to learn about the input/output systems and the logical circuits used for artificial intelligence.

Putting that aside, back to what the elder said earlier.

“I heard from Shaggnig. You expertly exterminated the poisonous insects that appeared in trial grounds number five and seven. We’d like to ask for your wisdom, considering your skill.”

Ah, that.

It must be about when Arisa and the others went to the trial grounds recently and there was a floor collapse accident. Shaggnig and I went to inspect the remaining trial grounds, and apparently my extermination of the poisonous insects that had overrun the attraction reached them.

It was just a simple job where I used the “insect slayer” title and the “bug wiper” spell at full power. I tried removing the title the second time, but the effect was no different. I can’t tell if the title has no additional effect, or if it was already such overkill that I can’t see the difference.

“If it’s me you need, I’m happy to help as much as you want.”

I’d probably even take care of the extermination.

Arise gave me tips on hiding the spirit light, and I’ve received various knowledge and recipes from other Elves.

As I stood up eagerly, the elder calmed me down.

It wasn’t that urgent apparently, so he arranged to send someone to pick me up at the mansion where I was staying tomorrow morning.

That day, the Living Doll I had just assembled couldn’t even stand.

Looks like it’s going to take a while.

◇

“Now then, Satou of the Shiga Kingdom! I’ve come to pick you up.”

It was Arise who had come to get me.

What are you doing, High Elf-sama?

“Satou is fine. Shall we go?”

“Yes.”

Arise blushed and held out her hand diagonally downwards.

Is this an invitation to hold hands?

Maybe we’re going to teleport with spatial magic.

Imagining that, I grabbed her hand.

Arisa leaned out from the balcony shouting “Guilty!” Pochi and Tama joined in with “guilty” as well—I wonder if they even understood what that meant?

Speaking of spatial magic, it was indeed spatial magic, but just like before, the Dryad’s relocation (teleportation) took us to the World Tree Sector.

Maybe it was unnecessary to hold hands after all?

◇

A sky full of stars.

Actually, it’s my first time seeing stars that don’t twinkle with the naked eye.

This place, where the Dryad brought me, is the observatory room on the central tower of the World Tree’s Zenith Urban Area.

According to AR displays and maps, it's nearly 300 kilometers above ground. It probably doesn’t reach geostationary orbit, but it’s well beyond the stratosphere. Maybe just a bit lower than low Earth orbit?

How is 1G gravity maintained at this height? Magic, perhaps?

No, even before that, a tree this enormous shouldn’t be able to support its own weight without collapsing. I cautiously asked the elder about this—.

“It’s amazing the World Tree doesn’t break or collapse.”

“It’s the protection of the gods.”

Don’t think you can dodge this with ‘gods’ and ‘protection’!

Apologize to the physics teacher!