The Nymph Wants to be Plundered - Chapter 136

Thus the pure white and beautiful unicorn ended up pulling the old-fashioned flower cart that was only used in ancient times and finally arrived in front of the sanctuary. Feeling wronged and resentful for having to run while carrying even Cassis, hot snorts came out when he reached the destination. He swore by the World Tree that it wasn’t because his stamina was lacking.

“You can get down slowly. I’ll catch you.”

In the midst of this, Cassis acted leisurely and even helped her down by embracing her as if she were precious glassware. Though Ruba was angry, when Evelyn quickly approached and fussed over him while stroking his maned neck, he completely softened as if nothing had happened.

「Hmph, hmph.」

“Lord Ruba, thank you. Hor… uh, may I dare call you a horse? This is my first amazing experience riding a cart driven by a unicorn. I’ve only heard about flower carts in words, but it’s really pretty, and I… Lord Cassis. May Lord Ruba also come into the sanctuary with us to see my tree?”

He answered without batting an eye.

“Let’s do that.”

They left the flower cart behind and entered the sanctuary, walking ahead and behind each other. Just like when Evelyn first saw it, the grassland that sparkled with clusters of light and the fragrant scent remained the same. Though it was said to be the season when spring was receding, this place seemed to enjoy spring forever.

Evelyn gently moved her steps, reflecting on the words that all trees and flowers enshrined here were important. There it is, in that spot. Before she could carefully examine the condition of her tree, she turned around and pointed with her finger.

“Here it is!”

A small, small orange jasmine tree. Ruba’s muzzle gaped open wide enough to reach his ears as he stared intently at that tree.

「Th-this…」

“Hmm? If you’re thirsty, shall I fetch some water?”

「…No, it’s nothing. You just stay still.」

The unicorn deliberately softened his hardened gaze and acted nonchalant. Then he threw his brightly shining eyes at Cassis as if demanding an explanation. Of course, there was no response to that.

“…….”

The tree that held Evelyn’s life in its grasp remained in its pitiful state without any signs of recovery. It was only thanks to his power that it hadn’t withered further, but just like when they came here, it was steadily walking toward its end.

Ruba was about to get angry for a moment but stopped. Since Cassis had so confidently suggested going to the sanctuary, he thought some great scheme had been put in place, but what was this! This was Evelyn’s tree?

Unaware of anything, she crouched down under the orange jasmine tree and chattered.

“Look here, it seems like a small branch is trying to grow.”

It needed to be cut immediately. Since it was already at the moment of withering away after losing its life force, if something sprouted according to nature’s providence, it would only pull that moment forward. Cassis gazed at her crouched figure from behind and answered half-heartedly.

“I see.”

“Hehe, the leaves are sparkling differently from when I saw them before. Um… before, leaves used to sprout in my hair too, but now they’ve all fallen off and are gone. My tree must have fully recovered and no longer needs them, right?”

It was the opposite. For example, water nymphs didn’t grow webbing between their fingers, nor did tree nymphs have their perfectly fine arms gradually hardened by layers of tree bark. They all lived in human-like forms until they died, so in reality, there was no connection at all.

Cassis pondered for a moment and then told her honestly.

“Probably, that was a special gift that the tree whimsically bestowed when you became this tree’s nymph. Ordinary nymphs don’t experience that.”

It seemed unlikely that those delicate, soft-veined leaves would ever sprout anew in Evelyn’s hair. Having said it, Cassis actually felt more at ease. If deceiving leaves were needed, he could easily attach fake ones in abundance for her peace of mind, but he hoped that would only be done to that jasmine tree.

Not quite understanding, she tilted her head.

“What?”

“Think about Nike. Was there any mark of Jupiter stamped somewhere on Nike’s body?”

“Um… No. But the village chief saw me unconscious and prevented me from plucking the leaves. Perhaps other nymphs experienced the same thing?”

Ruba interjected with chatter.

「You fool, that’s actually a dangerous sign. If a perfectly fine nymph suddenly turns into a tree, do you think they’ll return to normal? Once their legs turn into roots and spread out, they have to continue living as a tree in that spot. It might be different if they were under a terrible curse.」

“Is, is that so? I… I was human before becoming a nymph, so I’m not sure.”