“The forest is huge, isn’t it? I wonder if we’ll be able to find it,” Mei said, looking out from the flying carriage pulled by Persus.

“Hmm, I wonder.”

The forest Mei saw from the carriage was quite vast. Even if they searched thoroughly, would they really find what they were looking for?

“Maybe it’s big enough that we’d be able to spot it from above.”

If it were larger than the other trees, they’d surely spot it if it moved. But Mei’s hope was dashed when Ermine shook his head.

“The trees in this forest are pretty big, you know. You’d notice if it was moving, but it doesn’t move all the time…”

True, it wouldn’t wander around without reason. But Mei was determined to expand her room.

Resolute, she decided to give her all in finding Yggdrasil.

◇　◇　◇　◇　◇

“So, Zeke, please help me out.”

Mei had arrived at the Merchant’s Guild in the town of Lints.

Having visited several times now, the townspeople no longer seemed surprised to see a flying carriage pulled by a Pegasus arriving in Lints. Only newcomers from other towns still gaped and pointed in awe.

At the Merchant’s Guild, Mei was guided to her usual private room. Because she supplied the Guild with potions that had enhanced effects through alchemy, Mei was treated like a VIP.

Victor, the Guildmaster of the Merchant’s Guild, greeted her personally.

“Hello! Could you please call Zeke and the others if they’re around?”

“Please wait a moment.”

Since she was delivering potions anyway, Mei asked Victor to call Zeke and his party. Her primary purpose was, after all, to request their help, while the delivery was just a side task.

Zeke’s group, holding the top Mithril rank in the Adventurers’ Guild, was currently assigned to explore the now-clear “Mist Forest” near Lints.

Mithril-rank adventurers often receive high-priority, direct requests and travel all over the world.

Although Zeke’s group was based in Lints, they were able to stay this long because Zeke and Alex were twin brothers of Herbert Arnold, the lord of Lints.

Additionally, Cloud, another member and alchemist in their party, was also a native of Lints, so he supported making the town their home base.

Thanks to this, Mei could casually reach out to high-ranking adventurers like them for help. Plus, they were content to be rewarded with her potions, making it quite affordable.

“Yggdrasil is in the Mist Forest…”

Holding his forehead, Zeke leaned back into the sofa, his intense blue eyes tightly closed. Alex and Cloud, too, wore troubled expressions.

Did I ask for something really difficult? Mei couldn’t help feeling anxious.

“Do you know about Yggdrasil?”

In response to Mei’s question, Zeke ran a hand through his hair. “How to explain… It’s both a god and a monster, I guess.”

“A… god?!”

Mei was at a loss for words at this unexpected revelation.

“Ermine, that’s absolutely impossible.”

Mei, having recovered from her shock, waved her hands in front of her face. Even with the guardian Koko on her side, fighting a god was out of the question.

“Not really. Just bring some good liquor,” Ermine said.

“Good liquor?”

“Yes. It has a soft spot for fine drinks. Once it’s nicely intoxicated, you can easily take a branch.”

Simple… or so it seemed.

Mei found Ermine’s version of “simple” highly suspicious. She decided to let the sensible Zeke and his team decide.

“Liquor, huh.”

“That could indeed be a good approach,” Zeke and Cloud said, looking intrigued.

“Alright! Let’s go!” Alex, even more excited, declared.

Is this really okay? Somehow, Mei felt like it just might work.

“Ermine, does any kind of liquor work?”

“Why don’t you make it through alchemy, Mei? Yggdrasil’s favorite nectar can only be made through alchemy, after all.”

“Why didn’t you say that earlier?!”

As usual, Ermine shared essential details only after being asked. Relieved she’d noticed in time, Mei flipped through her alchemy book.

“Found it!”

There it was—the recipe for the nectar.