Guardians of the Divine Spirit Forest/Story

*There is a wide, great forest in Northwest Lilywood called Ellenburg. Inside of which is an area called Oz's Spirit Forest.*
*A little after the decisive battle against the Mizuworm colony, a certain task was being carried out in Oz's Spirit Forest.*
---Lilywood City Centre---
**Winter Daphne:** Thank you for bringing the luggage, Danchou-kun. It's a lot bigger than I thought, and would have been a lot of trouble for a granny such as myself.
...If Danchou-kun hadn't... Don't pull such a wry smile, gee.
Well, shouldn't it be about time to meet up?
**Dogwood:** Excuse me!
Would you be Blossom Hill's Flower Knight Commander and Winter Daphne-sama?
**Winter Daphne:** Yes, that's correct. Will you be our guide for today?
**Dogwood:** Yes, my name is Dogwood. I may be inexperienced, but I hope I can help you in your success.
**Winter Daphne:** Fufu, you're very welcome. It won't be too hard. I won't be asking you to do too much.
**Dogwood:** Y-yes. Winter Daphne-san, it's a pleasure to meet you!
**Winter Daphne:** Yes. A pleasure indeed.
But saying that, I have been requested directly by the Lilywood royal family.
I need to treat the trees of Oz's Spirit Forest in Ellenburg and strengthen their defences. This is going to be a big job.
**Dogwood:** Yes... Because of the results of the decisive battle, all the plants in the forest were badly damaged...
There are surveys and treatments being carried out in the other forests, but the Spirit Forest is special, so we need to be extra careful in guarding and treating it.
Therefore, the famed arborist Winter Daphne-san, was asked to come at the request of Rough Cocklebur-sama and other members of the royal family.
**Winter Daphne:** I'm not sure if I'm that famous, but I'll be happy to help in any way I can. But I'm just an old lady with a lot of knowledge, fufu.
**Dogwood:** Eh? O-old lady...?
Ah, sorry! I didn't mean to stare...!
**Winter Daphne:** Fufufu, what a cute reaction. It would have been nice if Danchou-kun had the same reaction, but he's recently been hiding behind that wry smile.
**Dogwood:** By the way, I was reading past reports on forest conservation activities in preparation for this mission and I saw someone by the name of Winter Daphne, it couldn't be... the same person...
Eh, s-sorry! That can't be correct. It must be somebody else with the same name, surely!
**Winter Daphne:** …........................
**Dogwood:** Winter Daphne-san? S-sorry, Did I make you feel bad?
**Winter Daphne:** Ah, no no, not at all! I was just thinking about something else. Please don't worry about it.
Fufu, we've spent a lot of time talking. Shouldn't we start making our way to the mission location?
**Dogwood:** Yes, let's go! This way please!!
**Winter Daphne:** ….. By the way, I did receive a similar request a long time ago. But that was a in different location than this time.....
That must have been some decades ago now. Back then, Lilywood didn't really rely on other countries, so it was a really valuable experience.
Ah, let's not. I've already said we've been talking too much. Let's go Danchou-kun!

### Intermediate – Deep Forest Conservation Tasks

---Oz's Spirit Forest---
**Verbascum:** Su-....haaa... Uhh, it's almost the promised time... What should I do, will I be able to speak properly... What should I say at first....?
I couldn't manage to speak well when Annabelle and Quince came to guard. I, I need to speak more frankly.
Of course! What would Captain Planter do, I need to think about what to say... Hmm, hmm...
I-I've been waiting for you baby! Let our souls burn together today!
**Dogwood:** Ye-Yes! Let's work hard today!
**Verbascum:** E-Eh!? Waaaaaaah!!?
I-I'm sorry... I'm such a mess....
**Dogwood:** It's no problem, I'm sorry too. I wanted to greet you just as energetically.
**Verbascum:** Aauuwa.... I-I'm so embarrassed....
Huh! N-No, I need to do my best....!
U-Umm... Dogwood-san, Flower Knight Commander and Winter Daphne-san... right? I've been expecting you...
I'm one of the mages protecting Oz's Spirit Forest, Verbascum... is my name. I l-look forward to working with you today.
**Winter Daphne:** Yes, we're counting on you. It's very reassuring to have the assistance of a mage protector.
**Verbascum:** Th-Thank you very much...! I'll t-try to do my best to make myself useful...!
U-Umm, well then I shall explain things simply.
A long time ago, the Oz family who are the relatives of the sage Eda, lived in Oz's Spirit Forest....
I'm not sure of the reason why... but the Spirit Forest is overflowing with a mysterious blessing, so we mages are working to protect this special environment.
**Dogwood:** Certainly the Spirit Forest does have a sacred atmosphere about it, doesn't it? Every time I visit, I get a solemn feeling.
But, it'll be quite difficult to avoid affecting that balance.
**Verbascum:** Yes b-but, it is said that Winter Daphne-san is a super, super reliable arborist, so you've really helped us out by coming here.
No matter how strong the land is, it still suffered considerable damage in the battle against the Mizuworm.
**Winter Daphne:** Fufu, I'm honoured to hear that. Of course, I'll do everything I can.
**Dogwood:** …......
**Winter Daphne:** Dogwood-chan? What's the matter?
**Dogwood:** Ah, nothing... It's just I heard that when it came time to treat the Spirit Forest, the royal family and the senators' first choice was Winter Daphne-san.
**Verbascum:** M-me too. The protector mages said....that they only wanted Winter Daphne to come.
**Dogwood:** So that means... It's amazing even though Winter Daphne-san is so young and...
**Winter Daphne:** Ara ara, not that again? You missed it before, but I'm a good age, even if I look like this. Right, Danchou-kun?

* *(If answer 1 - “It's hard to answer that...” is chosen)*

***Winter Daphne:*** *You don't need to worry about Grandma. Once you go over three digits, you stop caring about your age.*
***Verbascum:*** *Over three digits... E-ehhh!?*
***Winter Daphne:*** *Ufufu, that's a nice reaction.*

* *(If answer 2 - “In regards to age...” is chosen)*

***Winter Daphne:*** *That's right...Once the third digit passed, I stopped counting... How old am I again?*
***Dogwood:*** *Th-third digit!? That means that the Winter Daphne in the records is the same person...?*
***Winter Daphne:*** *Fufu, that's correct.*

**Winter Daphne:** I become immortal by the blessing of the World Flower. It looks like there are rare instances where such a child is made.
**Dogwood:** O-of course.... There's a person like that in Lilywood.
**Winter Daphne:** I want to use this blessing to gather the knowledge and experience required to improve Spring Garden's environment. So it really is a great honour to be relied on in this way.
**Verbascum:** Winter Daphne-san....
**Winter Daphne:** S-so, shall we begin our work?
**Dogwood:** ...Yes! I may be an amateur, but please let me help you to my best!
**Verbascum:** I-I'll do my best too!
**Winter Daphne:** Yeah, I'm counting on you!

### High Class – Young Buds and Caretakers

---Oz's Spirit Forest---
**Dogwood:** Winter Daphne-san! This tree has a crack in it's trunk!
**Winter Daphne:** It was torn and eaten when the Mizuworm divided. I don't sense any toxins in it, and it doesn't look like it can split any further, but bad fungi can still enter.
There are probably other trees that are similar, so let's summarise them by symptom.
I don't want to take too much, but we'll need to do some pruning.... Verbascum-chan, I'd like to ask to you and the mages about this area.
**Verbascum:** S-sure! I'll go and contact the other protector mages...!
**Winter Daphne:** Thanks. Well, let's go and examine the trees over there. I'm curious about why the colour of the leaves there are different.
**Dogwood:** The calm atmosphere from earlier has changed to something more serious...
**Verbascum:** You're right. What should I say...It's super cool...
**Winter Daphne:** ? What's the matter?
**Dogwood:** Ah, n-no! That's... amazing...
**Winter Daphne:** Amazing?
**Dogwood:** Yes, it might be a matter of course for Winter Daphne-san, but when you're carefully inspecting the trees and making accurate diagnoses...
I'm a citizen of Lilywood so I'm used to the forest, but I don't know anything about your profession. I'm very sorry that I have to leave it all to you.
**Winter Daphne:** You don't need to apologise for anything. You help me with the luggage and other things. The elders give out their wisdom in return for youngster's strength.
**Dogwood:** But, I can't do anything to help! I'm still so inexperienced, so I want to gain lots of experience!
**Winter Daphne:** That's a very good thing to keep in mind. But being able to do anything isn't the way to become experienced.
Actually, Dogwood-chan is working as a Flower Knight at the behest of the royal family. Along with Verbascum-chan, the two of you are supporting Danchou-kun and myself.
There are things that only you are good at doing. I think it's important to work on those.
**Dogwood:** Winter Daphne-san
**Winter Daphne : A**nd with that, Verbascum-chan too.
**Verbascum:** Fuee!? M-me...?
**Winter Daphne:** You're always nervous, and it worried me a little. You're not good at talking to people, right? The cheerful way you were speaking before isn't the way you normally are, right.
**Verbascum:** Y-yes... I find it hard to talk to people for the first time... So I try to imitate the hero I admire...
**Winter Daphne:** Ara, so would that be Captain Planter?
**Verbascum:** Y-yes! It's Captain Planter! Do you know him Winter Daphne-san?
**Winter Daphne:** Yes. He's the hero of those picture books, right?
**Verbascum:** Yeah, th-that's right....! Captain Planter is so strong and kind... But, I'm nothing like that....
**Winter Daphne:** It's ok, it'll happen.
I'm sure Captain Planter didn't start off as a hero. Everyone has dreams. Just like Verbascum-chan needs to follow her own inspirations.
So let's work hard without rushing too much. When they aren't posturing and sticking out their chests, people tend to be able to relax and talk.
When I tell a joke, you should butt in as the straight man, to get more laughs.
**Verbascum:** The straight man? I don't think I can do that...!
**Winter Daphne:** Ara, surely Captain Planter does it, right?
**Verbascum:** E-eh!? Does he...?
**Winter Daphne:** Fufufu, it's good to let out those kinds of reactions. If you break out of your shell and express yourself more, you'll be pleasantly surprised.
**Verbascum:** Is it, is that really true...?
**Winter Daphne:** Yeah, of course. If that fails, you can come and find me. Old granny will spoil you, fufu.
**Verbascum:** Spoil me...fufu...
**Winter Daphne:** Mmhmm, that's a nice smile. Look, you two have settled down a bit.
If you get nervous or too fired up, you won't be able to see what's right in front of you. Let's take a clearer look at the forest's trees.
I'll teach you as much as I can. But how you can use that in your own special ways... That's up to you to figure out.
**Dogwood:** …! Thank you very much, Winter Daphne San!
**Verbascum:** Me too, I'll do my best...!

### Top Class – The Guardians of the Spirit Forest

---Eda's great forest, near the shrine---
**Winter Daphne:** Fuu... This tea is delicious... We can drink such delicious tea without needing to go back to the city.
**Dogwood:** I'm glad that it suits your tastes. It's a srvant's duty to make tea, so I've been practising a lot. If you would like more, please go ahead, Danchou-sama.
**Verbascum:** A servant... Are you someone's servant...?
**Dogwood:** Yes, my family has been serving Lilywood's royal family for generations. I've been chosen to serve Corn Cockle-sama in the future.
**Verbascum:** Wow... That's amazing...! Serving the royal family, so cool...!
**Dogwood:** Ehehe, thank you very much. I haven't met Corn Cockle-sama directly yet... But if I can complete this mission successfully then...
**Winter Daphne:** Fufu, sounds exciting.
...Well, it is a shame that we have to stop drinking tea, but shall we move to the next area?
**Verbascum:** I was talking to the other mages about the next area, and it seems it was especially damaged... We'll need to be extra thorough when examining and repairing it.
**Dogwood:** That's... Of course it's the worst up until now.
**Winter Daphne:** Ara, this scarring. Everyone, please look here. It looks like it was made with an axe, but take a closer look at the wound.
**Verbascum:** Ah... I feel a trace amount of pest toxin from the wound... It's different from the Mizuworm's.
**Dogwood:** So that means... In more recent times there has been pests damaging the Spirit Forest!?
**Winter Daphne:** Or, pests have returned after the disappearance of the Mizuworm... For example, a long time ago there were witness reports received... of dream changing pests, and such.
**Dogwood:** I-It can't be, that dream changing pest...!?

* *(If answer 1 - “The dream changing pests aren't very aggressive.” is chosen)*

***Verbascum:*** *You're right. It's said that dream changing pests aren't aggressive, or don't intentionally damage the forest.*

* *(If answer 2 - “The dream changing pests haven't been active at this time.” is chosen)*

***Verbascum:*** *Of course... Recent research has concluded that there have been no cases at this time, so it's highly likely that there has been a halt in activity. Danchou-sama is very knowledgable.*

**Winter Daphne:** I see... If that's the case, there may be another swarm trying to expand it's territory in the absence of the dream changing pests. That'll be a bit of a problem.
**Dogwood:** Then, let's ask the Flower Knights who are kindly helping with the conservation activities for their assistance. We need to defeat the pests damaging the trees and treat them as quickly as possible!
**Annabelle:** So pests are trying to expand their territory... I was certainly thinking there were very few pests to guard against.
**Hollyhock:** I wonder if they were scattered after a turf war? Then we have no choice but to repel these pests.
**Quince:** That's right! It'll be flash if we call all the cute and strong people.
Ah, of course I'll fight too! I'm super excited to be able to fight alongside the cute Flower Knights.
**Hollyhock:** C-cute!? Really... c-cute...?
**Annabelle:** Hollyhock-chan?
**Hollyhock:** N-no, nothing. So, do you know the location of the pest's nest?
**Verbascum:** Y-yes! Dogwod-san and myself have figured out the location by assessing the level and types of damage on the trees.
**Annabelle:** Funfun... Of course that location's terrain is great for nest building. Ok, let's go take a look!
**Axe carrying pest:** Kaka----n!! Ka---n!!
**Dogwood:** O-over there...! There's a pest carrying something that looks like an axe!
**Winter Daphne:** An axe... It matches the shape of the marks on the trees. There's no mistake that's the pest that's been expanding it's territory.
**Annabelle:** Well then, let's split into two teams from here...
**Verbascum:** Ah, w-wait! Over there...!
**Torch bearing pest:** Merara....Booo...
**Verbascum:** There's a fire carrying pest here...! Don't tell me it's going to burn the forest...!?
**Quince:** If that happens, there'll be a huge forest fire!
**Torch bearing pest:** Meraa...Meraraa....
**Winter Daphne:** Ugh! It's lighting the trees...!
**Verbascum:** We can't let that happen! Eei!!
**Torch bearing pest:** Meraaaa!?
**Axe carrying pest:** Ka!? Kaka---n!!!
**Hollyhock:** Ugh! We're off! Support Verbascum-san!
**Verbascum:** B-burn only the soul, baby!
F-for damaging this forest, I won't... definitely won't forgive you...!
**Dogwood:** Exactly! We won't let you burn the forest that the people of Lilywood love!
**Winter Daphne:** Danchou-kun, please give everyone their orders. Especially...fufu, don't let that pair get too fired up.
But... as a protector of nature, I can't overlook this. I'll deal with them with all my power!

### End

*Once the subjugation of the pests destroying the Spirit Forest and the examination of the trees were complete, everyone returned to Lilywood's central city.*
**Annabelle:** We've safely finished examining the trees, and it seems that the treatment will seriously increase their protection! Even so, those kind of pests that we subjugated this time have never been seen in Ellenburg's great forest.
**Hollyhock:** That's true... They must have come from far away to expand their territory.
**Quince:** Bu-ut, when it comes time for the dream changing pests to wake up, will they need to withdraw again? Because of that, their actions are a somewhat cute. They'll have to again fine another territory.
**Dogwood:** That's right. Let's discuss and clearly confirm their appearance and characteristics so that we can dispatch an investigative team in the future.
I'll make sure the information is shared with all the other Flower Knights and the higher ups.
**Verbascum:** M-me too, I'll tell all the mages that are working on conservation tasks about any future measures.
**Winter Daphne:** Yes, please do. Since Verbascum-chan is a party member, I think there will be plenty of chances for you to take the lead.
**Verbascum:** Th-that's ok. There are other mages that I can talk easily with. Most importantly...In order to protect this forest... I'll... do my best...!
**Winter Daphne:** ...Thank you, Verbascum-chan.
**Hollyhock:** So with that, we shall return to our guard duties. Danchou-san, thank you for your hard work.
**Annabelle:** Thank you for you work! The next time you're in Lilywood, let's go for a stroll during our time off, ok! I'll show you around Ellenburg's great forest.
**Quince:** Aah! A date between cute Flower Knights in the great forest...! Mufufu—How wonderful...
Ah! P-please wait! Excuse me everyone, later!
**Winter Daphne:** Fufu, so young and energetic. It makes this granny's heart flutter.
**Verbascum:** A-ahaha...
**Winter Daphne:** Ara, has your reaction has become more like Danchou-kun's? It would be nice if you laughed a bit more... Well, it is what it is.
Again, I'd like to say I'm really happy you to came along. The treatment of the Spirit Forest has just begun. I will be coming back regularly, so I would love it if you would help me again.
**Dogwood:** Of course! I'm still an amateur... but I think I can earn a lot of experience and improve myself. So... I'm definitely looking forward to working with you again!
**Verbascum:** M-me too... I have my duties, but I want to speak more with Winter Daphne-san and Dogwood-san...
**Winter Daphne:** Yeah, me too. Next time, let's talk about a lot of different things.
**Verbascum:** Y-yes!!
**Dogwood:** Ah, excuse me. I have to go now! I need to submit my report about the pests we met earlier by the end of the day!
Winter Daphne-san, Verbascum-san! Thank you very much! Now, please excuse me!
**Verbascum:** By the end of the day... It's already evening, will she be ok...?
**Winter Daphne:** But where there's a will, there's a way. I'd rather she didn't stay up all night, but...Fufu
**Quince:** E-excuse me!
**Verbascum:** H-huh, Quince-san? The guard team has already left...
**Quince:** Haa, haa... I met Corn Cockle-san on the way and hurried back.
**Verbascum:** Corn Cockle-san... Huh, does that mean...
**Corn Cockle:** Good work everyone. I was told by Quince-san that I would find Dogwood-san here.
**Winter Daphne:** She just left a moment ago, unfortunately.
**Corn Cockle:** Ara, is that so? That's a shame...
It has been decided that in the future, Dogwood-san shall be helping me, but I am yet to meet her...
Earlier, I had heard from Rough Cocklebur-san that Dogwood-san was selected to assist with Oz's Spirit Forest's conservation tasks. So I thought I would go and take a look, but I had an unavoidable appointment, so I couldn't make it in time.
**Winter Daphne:** So you only managed to make it now, after meeting Quince-chan.
**Corn Cockle:** Yes, I always hear about Dogwwod-san's activities from the Knights and the people at the castle, and everyone is always praising her. She's a very earnest and hard working person... So I want to meet her as soon as I can.
**Verbascum:** Y-yes! Dogwood-san gave it her all. Also, I believe Dogwood-san also wants to meet Corn Cockle-san!
She keeps saying she's still inexperienced... But I'm sure you'll meet soon...!
**Corn cockle:** Hmm, really? That makes me happy. I couldn't manage to meet her today... but I'm looking forward to the day.
**Winter Daphne:** Yes... If you give young buds lots of nutrition, they will grow quickly and a wonderful flower will bloom.
Fufu, compared to others, I live a long life and there are things I don't like... But in a way, it's a good thing for us immortals to take care of and watch over all you young children.
...Ara, well you don't need to pull such a rare and wry expression, Danchou-kun. Well, it's not like I was entirely joking.
Of course, you'll let me look after you for a looong time, won't you Danchou-kun? That's what this granny lives for, after all.
*Healing the trees, loving the young buds, and protecting all life as it grows up. That's the circle of life that leads to new generations.*
*As the girl's tasks are tied together, it won't take a long time for the Spirit Forest to regain it's greenery.*