The abused merchant’s daughter – 09 | Sousaku – 創作

Chapter 1, Episode 9: The Sacred Tree

"Today's story is a tale about this world."

After coming home from work and finishing his meal, Farne-sama took out a picture book with a large tree on it.
I involuntarily looked out the window.
Because it looked so much like the big tree I could see outside the window.

"You understood very well, Riese.
Yes, I am talking about the Holy Tree.

This world used to be a lush green world.
But the great war turned it into a wilderness where not a blade of grass could grow."

The book described a world of only soil.
This is what we call the wilderness.

"Humanity was starving and parched, waiting to die."

No, no.
I really don't like being hungry.
I also really hate having a parched throat.
Will people perish?

"But then the saint appeared.
The saint planted a holy tree of bountiful fruit.
And what do you think, the area around the sacred tree was transformed into a land full of greenery and water."

Thank God! This will not destroy mankind.
The saint is amazing.

"Thus mankind built cities around the holy tree planted by the saint and lived on."

With that, Farne-sama slammed the finished picture book shut.
That holy tree was such an amazing thing.

"We humans cannot live without the Holy Tree.
In the absence of that great Mother Tree, there is a wilderness where monsters roam.
All the blessings of this world come from the holy tree brought to us by the saint."

Farne-sama said and pointed to it.
Amazing, amazing. That big tree is amazing.
Farne-sama, who is trying to make it sprout, is surely amazing.

As I looked at the sacred tree with excitement.

"Now, it's time for your medicine.
Let's take a bath and apply the medicine before it gets too cold."

Farne-sama then picked me up in his arms.

■□■

Poka-poka-poka.

The warm water felt good.
I plopped into the hot water and Farne-sama washed my body.

"How are you doing? Does it hurt anywhere? "

He asked me questions while combing my hair.

It doesn't hurt. So, I shook my head.
Thanks to Farne-sama's application of medicine to my body, which he said worked well after my bath, the marks on my body, which had been covered with scars from the beatings, have largely disappeared.
I'm a little happy to have white hands like a princess.

"Aaーaaーaaa."

I told Farne-sama that I was fine and it didn't hurt, and Farne-sama smiled.

"All right, if this goes on too long, it's going to drain your energy, so let's call it a night.
Let's dry you off and put some clothes on."

He wiped my body with a fluffy towel and smeared medicine on the scars.
Farne-sama's hands were big, warm, and comfortable.
"The wounds are getting much better.
You seem to have grown a little taller, your clothes are getting smaller.
I'll have to go shopping for new clothes next time."

I stared at Farne-sama's face as he said this.
I am happy to have new clothes, but I don't want Farne-sama to be gone from the house.
I wish we could stay together forever.
Farne-sama noticed my gaze and smiled a little sadly.

"I wish I could take you with me.
But if you go out, the nobles who abused you may find you.
Please be a good girl and stay at home, okay? "

I was told that he might have mistakenly thought that I wanted to go with him.
No, no. I'm fine here forever.
The outside is scary. Because strangers will beat me up.

I want to be here with Farne-sama all the time.

Farne-sama has to go out for work.
I wish we could stay together forever and ever.

Leaving the bath, I stared at the flower pots Farne-sama was growing.
I was given a flowerpot with a seed of the holy tree in it so that I could take care of one, and I carved a flower symbol on the flowerpot.
I pray every day that it will sprout.
Farne-sama always had a difficult look on his face as he tried to put in a mixture of various medicinal herbs, but the flowerpot never sprouted at all.

Will Farne-sama's work decrease if it sprouts in the future?
I hope it sprouts quickly.

Please, please, Holy Tree-sama.
Sprout.
And may we be with Farne-sama forever.

Farne-sama would bring me water if I asked for it.
You have to drink water after bathing, right? And thus, he gave me some sweet water.
I loved it.

"Aaーaaーaaaー."

When I told Farne-sama that I was happy, he looked a little sad.

What is it? What is it? Did I do something to offend him?
Please please don't hate me.

I nervously looked at him.

"Oh, I am sorry. I'm not angry with you, okay?
I have something I need to tell you."

He said and sat down next to me.

The atmosphere is different from usual. Is this important?
Scary, scary, scary. Will I be sent back there again?
I don't want that, I want to stay here with Farne-sama forever.

"Actually―― I've just been transferred."

Farne-sama patted me on the head, saying.

………

Transrefed?

"It means I have to move because of a change in my workplace.
Of course, you're coming with me."

Farne-sama smiled.

Together! Together!
Together with Farne-sama!

Thank God, I won't be kicked out. Anywhere with Farne-sama is fine with me.
I am fine wherever Farne-sama is.
Even in a gloomy, dusty place.
Even in a place where it is extremely hot during the day and extremely cold at night.
Even in a place that is small and dark at night.
If Farne-sama is there, I'm fine.
I smiled and Farne-sama patted my head.