Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 269. Discussing Fortuna’s Fate.

After hearing Liu Shu explain her reasoning, those in the room couldn’t help but feel that it was actually not that crazy of an opinion to have. Forgiving Fortuna and trying to assimilate her would increase their overall strength against the people who they already considered their enemies. 

Of course, there were worries about it that they vocalized. For starters, Flor spoke up, her face showing a conflicted expression. “I understand why you want to try to assimilate Fortuna. However, unlike a normal forest, assimilating Fortuna should not be an easy task for you, right? Are you sure that doing so won’t have repercussions on your own self?”

“I don’t know.” Liu Shu answered Flor softly. “This is not something that has been done in the past in the first place… Or, well, at least it hasn’t been recorded in any of the books I’ve absorbed. Therefore, I don’t know what will happen.”

Cinderielle spoke up, her tone clearly worried. “What if this is Fortuna’s last attempt at attacking you? She lets you enter her domain, and then she attacks you from within.”

Tempestria agreed. “It can be a tactic like that.” Then, she added. “Not to mention, will the <Azure Rose Confederation> stay silent as we swallow one of their World Tree cities?” 

Verdantia shook her head. “I am also a bit doubtful, Liu Shu. Assimilating a World Tree means making her existence part of yourself, as you’ve done with the Golden Sap Forest. The trees in the Golden Sap Forest are mostly non-intelligent, so you weren’t affected in that regard, but another World Tree’s influence can be too much to bear.”n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

The opinion of the three Sylvans came as a surprise for some of those gathered. After all, these three were always very supportive of Liu Shu’s decisions. Ignatia looked at them and asked with a small, knowing smile. “Are you three worried that Fortuna and Liu Shu will develop some extraordinary relationship?”

“Eh?” Liu Shu made a slightly silly sound and looked at the three Sylvans. Their faces were somewhat stiff, basically confirming Ignatia’s words. This made those sitting at the table chuckle, while Liu Shu exploded with strange embarrassment. “Y-You three! I would just need to coordinate my root net with Fortuna’s! Nothing more, nothing less! Like holding hands between humans!” 

Verdantia murmured, somewhat miffed. “Oh… so you were just holding hands with me…”

“Huh?” Cinderielle looked at Verdantia with a squint and asked. “When did you and Tiantian interact at that level of intimacy?”

Tempestria looked sideways with a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. “Hey, Verdantia, are you trying to get ahead without telling us, eh?”

Verdantia laughed awkwardly, fiddling with her hands. 

Interrupting their interaction, Flor tapped the table twice and said. “Okay, that’s for later. Also, I wouldn’t worry. I don’t think Liu Shu will develop any fancy toward Fortuna in that regard.”

“Oh?” Wert asked Flor, curious. “What makes you so sure?” 

Everyone looked over, and even Liu Shu was interested in what Flor had to say about this. “Right, right. Why are you so sure?”

Liu Shu’s question made Flor’s eyebrow twitch as the expressions of the three Sylvans gained a faint chill. Flor almost begged aloud but couldn’t. ‘Love, I am trying to protect you from these three ferocious Sylvans! You don’t know how scary they become when others show romantic interest in you! One time, they made a mature Sylvan cry in the streets because she verbally spoke about wanting to be closer to you!’

Flor cleared her throat and answered in the only way she thought would completely pacify the situation for now. “I am sure because you love them very much and wouldn’t easily betray them.”

“WAH!?” Liu Shu exclaimed instantly after, protesting. “WHAT ARE YOU SAYING, FLOR!?” 

“Sorry love, it must be done…” Flor glanced sideways and saw the three Sylvans blinking and then relaxing, their lips trembling as they tried to hold their grins from widening into lovestruck smiles. 

“Regardless,” Flor continued. “The most intimate parts are not what we should worry about.” 

Ignatia leaned forward, placing her chin on her hand. “Let her try.”

Everyone looked at the Ant Queen, and Ignatia smiled. “This is a conclusion and decision that Liu Shu has reached after thinking about it for a long time. She said that Fortuna made the proposal more than a month ago, right?” Ignatia smiled faintly as Liu Shu looked at her. “Then, I am sure that our big lady has thought about it for a long time.” 

Flor frowned. “But…”

Ignatia shook her head. “Liu Shu’s existence is unique, Flor. Usually, all World Trees are unique in their own sense, but they all fall into similar ‘World Tree-like’ behaviors.” Ignatia asked everyone in the room, her gaze eventually landing on Mariane. “Does Liu Shu feel like any other World Tree?”

Mariane was just listening, but when Ignatia looked over, she decided to speak up. “Liu Shu is certainly different. I’ve met many World Trees, some stronger and some weaker than Liu Shu. All of them are similar in one regard. Complete indifference to their surroundings until something affects them.”

Everyone was slightly confused because Liu Shu had clearly exhibited such an attitude several times in the past. Not only that, Liu Shu has allowed many bad things to happen under her watch. 

Mariane knew what everyone was thinking, but she added. “Liu Shu has been vocal about not caring about her surroudnings, but what are the Tree Houses? Why would Liu Shu bother creating more farms? Expanding her arable terrain in the inner circle to plant more crops? Or why would she care about the criminality in our town and stop people from committing those crimes?” 

The mothkin was very clear about this particular trait of their World Tree. “Liu Shu won’t intervene directly, but she will make sure that committing those atrocities under her canopy’s shadow is as difficult as possible.” Mariane opened the wings that hung from her head and leaned back on the chair, closing them again. “Her indifference and no action nature are her allowing the course of the natural cycle to continue, but the natural cycle that she takes care of is already touched not to be as cruel as usual. Moreover, if any evil syndicate or group tries to settle down anywhere in her domain, what has Liu Shu done in the past?”

Wert answered her question. “She instantly tells us…” After muttering those words, Wert smiled. “I see… That’s what you mean from different.”

Liu Shu was confused. What Mariane said felt like the normal actions that a World Tree should take, so she asked. “Um… Is there something wrong with acting like that?”

Everyone laughed at Liu Shu’s innocent question. Flor smiled resignedly and commented. “There is nothing wrong with it, love.” Then, she looked around and spoke. “Liu Shu can do as she pleases, but at least she should know our opinions. We’ll do a quick vote before Liu Shu decides. Who is not in favor of Liu Shu assimilating Fortuna? Place your hands on the table.”

The three Sylvans understood what everyone meant, but because of their profound love for Liu Shu, they still felt worried and felt that killing Fortuna was the correct path forward. Therefore, all three of them placed their hands on the table. 

Verdantia spoke softly. “I will respect whatever you do, Liu’er. However, I still feel that’s not the correct path forward.”

Tempestria smiled faintly. “I feel the same way, Shu’er. If you think that doing so is the correct thing to do, I’ll support you. However, I won’t lie to you and say that I am comfortable with your opinion.”

Cinderielle sighed, rubbing her head. “Similarly, I want to be honest about my feelings in this regard, even if that means opposing you. Still, know that, like the rest, I will always support the path you decide to spread your roots through.”

Seeing their honesty didn’t bother Liu Shu in the slightest. Instead, it made her happy. Knowing that they were expressing their opinions, even if they were contrary to hers, made her realize that these three were always honest and forward with her. ‘Hehehe~, they are so cute~.’

Other than them, Eric and Damian also placed their hands on the table. Eric explained his point of view first. “I think that if we assimilate Fortuna, we’ll be stepping on the roots of a carnivorous plant that has been looking at us with just curiosity. If we destroy Fortuna, we’ll be doing ‘as usual’ and won’t call so much unwarranted attention.”

Damian spoke. “Morals aside, my knowledge as a <Floriculturist> tells me this can become very dangerous. If something goes wrong while assimilating, you might become gravely injured, Liu Shu. Of course, I know that you’ve probably taken this into account, but I don’t feel comfortable agreeing with you risking yourself this much.” Damian added somewhat softly. “Patricia wouldn’t have wanted to see you injured…”

Flor looked around, and seeing that nobody else had anything to express, she nodded and said. “Hands off. Now, votes in favor.”

Everyone else placed their hands on the table, agreeing with Liu Shu. The World Tree looked at them and felt gratified. She knew that these people were worried about her on a personal level, and that’s why she trusted them. They didn’t look at her as “Golden Sap City’s World Tree” but as “World Tree Liu Shu.” This fact is what made it more comforting for her to ask them for advice. 

Terra, the mole woman, smiled faintly and said, “Liu Shu, now that this is spoken about, I wanted to ask… Are you really in the process of wanting to upgrade the mines?”

“Indeed!” Liu Shu answered energetically. “The mines are currently not giving too much money compared to our other ventures. Therefore, I wanted to try and upgrade it!”

Wert looked at Terra and asked, his face confused like many in the room. “Upgrade the mines… Is that even possible? Also, what about the Terragore threat nearby?”

Terra pondered. “I am unsure about the Terragores, Lord Wert. I might need to ask the Explorer Association’s aid to defend our miners. However, I have previously heard about the possibility of upgrading ore mines. These mines are created due to <World Energy Veins> that spill their energy into the ground. If we can make something that allows the ground minerals to absorb that energy more efficiently, it’s not impossible.” 

Terra sighed, her facial expression showing exasperation. “Still, to do such things, the whole place is usually excavated and filled with runes and arrays. The process is too complicated for us at the moment. I can only rely on Liu Shu and Lady Mariane in that regard.”

Mariane tilted her head. “Me?”

Terra looked over and asked. “Um… Wouldn’t Lady Mariane want to participate in a massive-scale Runic Field that would interact with the profound and invisible energies of the world? If not, I can find another-”

Mariane interrupted quickly. “Hey!” She slapped the table with all four of her arms. “Who said that I don’t want to do it? I was just surprised!”

Terra internally smirked triumphally while outwardly showing a grateful face. “Thanks a lot, Lady Mariane.”

Everyone else smiled wryly. ‘She got played.’