Volume 7, Chapter 52 – The Water Tree of Taris

“My lord, where is this…?”

“The Water Tree of Taris.”

On the [Omniscient Map], this towering tree, which was hundreds of meters tall and occupied most of the view even from two kilometers away, was named [The Water Tree of Taris]. Just as its name suggested, streams of water cascaded down from its crown like waterfalls, continuously flowing. The canopy, which covered the sky, spanned a distance of over a kilometer. If the tree were several dozen times larger, Yisi would have thought it was the World Tree from [Ragnarøk].

Only a world of magic could possess such a fantastical sight.

“Even in the Age of Gods, there was no life as magnificent as this… To think that such a treasure could exist in a backward era. If it could be planted in the Tower of Babel in the Kingdom of God, it would surely be a delightful sight.”

“Yes, it is indeed very beautiful. But don’t let your guard down, Laxy. There are many monsters here.”

Due to the existence of the Water Tree, this area, which should have been a wasteland, had formed its own unique environment. With the tree at its center, the area was filled with waterlogged grassy patches. Stepping on them would even produce a squelching sound. Not only were there a large number of thickets growing nearby, but it also harbored more than half of the desert’s poisonous insects and snakes. Even many of the vines were a type of monster that would actively devour any creature that passed by. Among all the adventurer quests in Gota, besides those related to the labyrinth, the most numerous were those for clearing out the monsters near the Water Tree.

If one were to compare the monsters near the Water Tree to those in the labyrinth, their numbers and levels were comparable to the monsters on the thirtieth to fortieth floors. The highest-level monster was level 40, while most were between levels 10 and 20. Considering the home-field advantage—most of the monsters here were swamp-type—the actual difficulty of dealing with them would only be higher than their stats suggested.

In addition, just as Derrick had described, on the way here, one could see many of Gota’s residents carrying buckets of water on poles or in their hands. As the city’s only water source, every household had to spend a large amount of time each day fetching water from the lakes near the Water Tree, which resulted in the sight of water-carriers all along the road.

“The lake here doesn’t seem very clean, and the volume is very small. It could dry up at any moment.”

In response to Yisi’s warning, Laxy frowned as she looked at the lake beside them. The two were now at the outermost edge of the Water Tree. The water flowing from the tree would spread out from the core area and form one small lake after another. There was such a pool right beside them.

No, to be precise, it should be called a puddle. From the depth of the lakebed, the original area and depth were at least several times what they were now. But what lay before them was merely a pit with a maximum depth of no more than one meter, mixed with a lot of mud. The sludge that had accumulated at the bottom for a long time was emitting a foul stench.

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Frowning slightly at the smell, Yisi glanced at the lake’s inlet, about thirty meters away.

“There must be something wrong with the waterway. Even though a lot of water is gushing out of the Water Tree, the flow into the lake is very small.”

If the waterway at the lake’s inlet had always been this narrow, one could say that this was how the lake was supposed to be. But the inlet, which had been washed out by water over a long period, was half a meter wide, yet the actual flow was now less than two fingers thick. In addition, the water level was several meters below the bank, while the depth was less than a meter. The water shortage had clearly only occurred recently.

“The lake is getting dirtier and dirtier.”

“I know, right? The water has been slowly decreasing since last month. Now it’s pretty much a puddle.”

“If this continues, it will dry up completely one day. By then, we’ll have to risk going into the labyrinth to get water.”

Gathered around the lake, the residents of Gota complained to each other as they scooped water with wooden buckets. Because the remaining water was exceptionally turbid, people had to bend over, stretch their bodies, and use specially prepared ladles to skim away the floating debris as much as possible, and then scoop water, ladle by ladle, from the relatively cleaner spots. The process was not only arduous, but they also suffered from the bites of mosquitoes and insects that lived around the lake.

“Damn it, if only we could go into the woods to take a look. Something must be blocking the waterway.”

“Calm down. The woods are full of monsters. We should be content that we can even scoop water here. If it weren’t for Lord Dominic regularly organizing adventurers to clear out the monsters, we’d be risking our lives just to get our daily water.”

“Tsk, then let’s hire adventurers to go in and take a look! This concerns all of our futures. Let’s all chip in!”

“We’ve already told Lord Dominic that the lake is about to dry up, but he just told us to be patient. I think he’s just afraid of the monsters inside.”

“How can you say that? Lord Dominic is very anxious too. Everyone knows that the woods around the Water Tree are full of dangerous monsters. Didn’t the Marquis of Taris organize several subjugation parties in the past to wipe out the monsters near the Water Tree? And what was the result? They all returned in failure. You’re asking Lord Dominic to accomplish something that even the Marquis couldn’t. If the people in the city heard you say that, you’d get a beating today.”

“I-I’m telling the truth…”

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“Even if it’s the truth, you have to use your brain.”

While Yisi was listening to the residents complain, Laxy quietly walked up to them. Unlike her usual serious expression, the current Laxy had an approachable aura that put people at ease.

“Is this the only place to get water nearby?”

“White wings… a m-monster!”

The man who had been disrespectful to Dominic shouted as he stumbled backward in panic. The man’s companion immediately stepped forward to correct him.

“What monster? This is the angel lady who was rescued from the seal a while ago! If the people from the Ymir Church hear you, be careful they don’t cut out your tongue.”

“Uh…”

“Lady Angel, my companion is ill-mannered. Please… please forgive him.”

The man’s companion apologized with an obsequious smile.

“It is of no matter. Angels have not appeared on the continent for a long time. It is understandable to be misunderstood. More importantly, it seems you have encountered some difficulties—you wish to hire adventurers to investigate the waterway deeper inside?”

Is she finally starting to do what an angel should do?

Yisi tilted her head slightly.

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If she wasn’t mistaken, Laxy was probably thinking of going into the depths of the forest on behalf of these residents to solve the waterway problem. At first glance, it seemed like she was being a busybody, but Laxy was also doing it for her own sake. Just as she had said half a month ago, since she was the only angel on the continent, her actions would change the image of angels in people’s minds. To maintain the noble status of angels, she had to do her best. Helping people solve their water problem now would not only gain their recognition but also demonstrate her own strength. Although a normal level 41 person might encounter danger by going deep into this forest, Laxy, as an angel, was much stronger than a human of the same level. She would surely receive a lot of praise.

Thinking of this, Yisi nodded in satisfaction. Laxy was finally no longer focused on training her. To be honest, her ears were starting to feel calloused lately. Although she had originally planned to solve the waterway problem quietly, since Laxy had taken the initiative, it was of course better to let her handle it. In the end, the praise from the people would only fall on Laxy’s head, and she wouldn’t be the one being bothered. Yisi silently approved of Laxy’s actions.

However, reality was never as wonderful as one imagined.

“So, you’re saying that whoever can solve the waterway problem for you, you will pay them the reward, is that right?”

“Yes! Please, Lady Angel, save us who are at our wit’s end!”

“In that case, leave it to my lord.”

Huh?

Before Yisi could answer, Laxy quickly came to her side and explained in a whisper.

“My lord, even as the savior chosen by fate, you cannot do without the assistance of ordinary people. Challenging the Demon Lords requires the strength of all humanity. Repairing the waterway will not only hone your skills but also increase your reputation. This is a rare opportunity.”

No, no, no, you were the one who took this on, why are you handing it to me?

After explaining her reasoning to Laxy, Laxy wore an expression of someone disappointed in an underachiever.

“My lord, do you not understand yet? Your reputation is more important than mine. If we cannot defeat the Demon Lords, the image of an angel will forever be just a part of history. Your future determines the fate of all living beings on this continent.”

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That feels a bit too exaggerated.

“No…”

Just as she was about to refuse, Yisi glanced at the residents of Gota who had gathered around her. They were all looking at her with expressions of earnest expectation.

How can I refuse in a situation like this?

After a moment’s hesitation, Yisi clicked her tongue in frustration.

“Alright, alright. But I can’t guarantee I’ll be able to do it. After all, Laxy is the real main force.” Yisi opened her eyes and glanced at the expectant residents, then closed them again and added, “Laxy is level 41, much stronger than me.”

“Thank you! Noble lady!”

“Gota is saved!”

Yisi’s agreement made everyone let out a sigh of relief, and they cheered, throwing their arms around each other’s shoulders.

The one who was also relieved was Yisi.

This way, all the credit in the end would go to Laxy. In the future, if anyone had a request, it would be Laxy’s headache.

Secretly making her calculations, Yisi and Laxy stepped into the forest amidst the hopeful gazes of the residents.