The First Living Pine
The Decastras Mountains, where only withered, lifeless trees stood in dense clusters across the Caboni Forest. Though one might have expected plants and animals to thrive in the deep, sprawling forests of the Decastras range, the area where the group had arrived was utterly barren—no living blade of grass remained. The stench of death that hung over the lofty Decastras Mountains extended to the vast lands visible below as well.
“Huuu… There aren’t any living trees here either……”
“At this rate, even if we do find a living tree, we won’t be able to cut it down. We’ll probably have to protect it instead.”
Restoring Terraris, now a barren wasteland steeped in death, to its former state required nurturing flora and fauna while purifying the world. In such circumstances, seeking timber was essentially the same as declaring an intent to fell any usable trees. It seemed contradictory at first glance, yet the plan had been conceived under the assumption that densely forested regions like the Decastras Mountains would still harbor plenty of living trees. However, the area beneath their feet was completely devoid of life.
Neromeltia, who had been surveying the surroundings in deep thought, suddenly gave a nearby large dead tree a light kick with her foot. A spark of realization crossed her face, and color began to return to her cheeks.
“Don’t you feel anything?”
Lusteria and Beatrice, unable to grasp the meaning of Neromeltia’s question, offered no reply. Neromeltia kicked the tree again, this time with greater force. The impact sent the dead trunk swaying violently from the top, the branches scraping against one another with a loud, grating sound.
“Aha! The tree is sturdy!”
“Indeed. If it were a polluted, withered trunk, it would have crumbled or snapped. This tree may be dead, but it appears the contamination is not severe.”
“Right. And even though it sways, it doesn’t break. That means it still retains some moisture.”
“…Which means it hasn’t been dead for long. You are truly remarkable, Master.”
Hope blossomed from Neromeltia’s simple act of examining the dead tree. She hadn’t initially intended to investigate the trunk; the idea had struck her upon noticing a faint bluish trace along one side of its base. Though the tree had withered and died, the mark was unmistakably that of moss. The presence of moss implied the tree had once held moisture, and moisture meant it had not been dead long.
“Let’s head a little farther south along the Decastras Mountains. If the forest grows denser there, we might still find traces of life.”
An hour had passed since they flew swiftly southward along the spine of the Decastras Mountains. The range grew ever more vast and towering. They were forced to climb higher, which expanded the search area and gradually slowed their flight.
“The pollution level has dropped further.”
“Didn’t you say it was already half that of the area around the Demon Lord Castle?”
“Yes. It’s now down to about thirty percent.”
Forests absorbed atmospheric pollution, so the air within them was always clear and fresh. A declining pollution level meant they were entering an increasingly pristine environment—essentially the same as saying they would soon encounter a living forest. Beatrice projected numerous analytical readouts before her eyes, rapidly scanning the region while measuring atmospheric pollution and reporting the results. It was a feat no ordinary living being could replicate, made possible by the full utilization of an Ego Doll’s magical engineering systems.
And it was Beatrice who spotted their goal first.
“Living tree detected ahead. Estimated to be a conifer.”
“Guide us!”
The moment she received her master’s command, Beatrice drew up so much magical power that her circuits burned hot. A circular magic circle formed in the air behind her, centered on her back, its runes beginning to rotate in every direction. From the heart of that circle erupted a pillar of fierce magical energy, propelling her body forward like a comet streaking across the sky. Her sudden acceleration produced a thunderous roar that echoed in all directions, as though an explosion had torn through the air.
BOOOOOOM!!!
“Huu… Huaaaaah…!!”
As Beatrice shot forward at tremendous speed, the surrounding air whipped into a storm. Neromeltia matched her pace to follow, generating another shockwave that slammed through the sky. Caught between the two successive blasts, Lusteria squeezed her eyes shut, lost her balance, and spun helplessly through the air several times. She managed not to fall, but had to pause mid-flight to catch her breath and steady herself.
Though she possessed great magical power, Lusteria’s body was far more fragile than Neromeltia’s or Beatrice’s. Grumbling at the pair’s lack of consideration, she eventually accelerated and hurried after them.
“It’s a pine tree!”
“Evergreen conifers are known to thrive even in harsh environments and resist pests and disease. Finding a surviving pine is entirely plausible.”
The needle-like leaves were coated in black dust, giving them a filthy appearance, yet they still radiated a vivid green vitality. It was the first living tree Neromeltia had discovered since her resurrection—a truly monumental moment.
“Oh my goodness! It really is a pine tree! Good heavens!”
“You’ve arrived.”
Lusteria appeared late, fussing with excitement, her eyes even glistening with emotion. The reality of finally finding a surviving tree in a world where life was precious filled her with deep accomplishment and relief. Yet her joy did not erase her earlier complaint.
“You two flew off so fast that I nearly blacked out from the shockwaves!”
“S-sorry……”
“…My apologies.”
Only after Lusteria’s pointed remark did the two realize they had forgotten her in their excitement. They apologized without protest. Lusteria said nothing more and instead trotted eagerly toward the tree, eager to recapture the moment of wonder.
“Oh… Brewing tea with pine needles is so refreshing and pure……”
Her reaction stood in stark contrast to Beatrice’s methodical listing of the tree’s characteristics and properties. Neromeltia found both responses charming in their own way. Beatrice, clad in an elegant maid uniform yet possessing a highly efficient, intellectual personality. Lusteria, dressed in a businesslike suit and trousers, yet brimming with girlish, sociable warmth. Neromeltia briefly imagined what it would be like if their roles were reversed—Beatrice as the sharp-eyed secretary scribbling documents, Lusteria as the cheerful maid pouring tea with a bright smile. The image felt so fitting it almost seemed unreal.
“Master? Is something the matter?”
Lusteria’s face suddenly appeared right in front of her, snapping Neromeltia out of her reverie. Those clear purple eyes bearing the mark of the Six-Pointed Star gazed at her steadily. The sight was so adorable that Neromeltia nearly pulled her into a tight embrace.
“It’s nothing! Ah, Beatrice—does this mean we’re likely to find a living forest if we keep going this way?”
“Of course. The pollution level in this vicinity is only twenty percent compared to the area around the Demon Lord Castle. At this level, it should be possible to grow not only trees but grains and vegetables as well.”
The words were filled with hope. It seemed the tree they had found marked the edge of a living forest. With nothing left to do but press onward, Neromeltia began organizing the information in her mind. As she mentally unfolded a map of Terraris to trace their route and current position, she casually asked Beatrice, who likely possessed more precise data.
“Where exactly are we headed right now?”
Beatrice answered without the slightest hesitation, as though every piece of information was already prepared and waiting.
“Our current location is the northern Decastras Mountains—Caboni Woods.”