In the pitch-black darkness of a dream where not a single ray of light broke through, something with blazing red eyes glared fiercely at Flower.

That gaze—it felt like it was peeling her skin off and licking the flesh beneath. It drove her to the edge of madness. Breathing was difficult, her head spun, and she felt as if she’d vomit everything inside her at any moment.

After enduring the pain by sheer will, the creature approached her as if amused, letting out a low growl.

—Grrrr…

With that sound, Flower awoke, realizing it had been a dream and that the creature before her was gone.

But she couldn’t escape. Even in the safest place in the world, she couldn’t avoid that monster. How much longer would she have to live like this? Until when?

“I… I just want to die…”

Fear, anxiety, and despair gnawed at her mind. Her power, etched into her very soul, began to react to her emotions.

And that was why the ancient tree in N City went berserk and started to destroy the city.

Every day, new incidents and accidents unfolded in the world. Today was no exception.

[As you can see, herbicides don’t seem to have any effect…] [Heroes capable of emitting flames are working hard to burn the roots, but it’s insufficient…] [N City has entered a state of emergency, fully mobilizing to resolve the incident…]

N City, where the environmental organization leader Flower was hiding, was in an uproar. The city’s pride, the ancient tree, had started to grow abnormally and act strangely.

There was no doubt about who was responsible. I knew that only one person in the city had the power to cause such a thing, and there were witnesses who saw Flower climbing up the ancient tree at the time.

The city government and heroes of N City seemed intent on resolving the situation, but stopping Flower, whose power was practically invincible, wasn’t going to be easy.

‘If she keeps this up, she could end up dead… She sure has guts.’

Watching Flower cause chaos on the news, I couldn’t help but marvel. In a world where villains could be summarily executed without question, she was being incredibly bold. How many lives and how much property damage had she already caused?

At this rate, even if she were the president of the World Government, she wouldn’t escape being labeled a villain. In fact, the Association was already moving to designate her as such.

However, her abilities were still somewhat uncertain, and a superhuman with powers of this scale would normally be ranked as an S-Class villain. Still, due to the caution in assigning a new S-Class villain to the list, her name hadn’t been added yet.

‘I suppose I’ll have to send some support.’

As I started to develop a few herbicides that might work on the ancient tree, which seemed resistant to artificial compounds due to Flower’s influence, my smartphone began to ring incessantly.

When I glanced at the screen, I saw an unfamiliar number. Assuming it was a misdial, I ignored it, but the phone rang again immediately. Only then did I realize it was no mistake, and I answered.

“Hello?” […Dr. Eight?] “Who…?”

A voice I had heard somewhere before. While it wasn’t familiar, I racked my brain, catching a fresh scent from the voice—a natural scent, like refreshing mint, like a forest.

There was no way a scent could travel through the phone, yet only one person could evoke such a sensation. Like me, a being who had crossed into this world. And if it was someone with the scent of a forest…

“Dr. Auxilion?” [You remember. Good.] “How did you get my number?” [I hacked the telecom company. It wasn’t hard.] “That’s… not exactly something you say lightly…”

Hearing Auxilion casually mention hacking a telecom company, I let out a few incredulous chuckles. She quickly got to the point, sounding as if time was of the essence.

[Are you busy?] “If you consider being busy and having free time, then yes, I have some time.” [Good. Lend me a moment of your time.] “Are you asking me on a date?” [Something like that.]

True to her age as an elder elf, Auxilion brushed off my teasing easily and began to explain why she’d gone to the trouble of hacking the telecom company just to call me.

[Are you interested in environmental preservation?] “…I had a bad experience with that recently, so I’m not particularly inclined.” [Is that so? Then how about a plan to create the world’s largest tree?] “Now that sounds interesting.” [Come on out.]

A sly smile could practically be heard through the phone.

[I’m right in front of the building.]

She’d caught me. Hooked by her bait, I left the lab, feeling like a fish on the line. But how could I resist?

How could I say no to a plan to create the world’s largest tree?

Slurp.

As she sipped her tea, the scene itself could have been an ad, transforming the surroundings into something fresh and elegant. With that simple gesture, she turned this place into a luxurious tea house.

Despite it actually being just another franchise café, her casual sips of dark coffee attracted glances from men and women alike. Even the barista, lost in the moment, let out an “Ouch!” as a hot coffee pot burned him.

“This tea isn’t bad.” “Coffee is made from beans.” “Oh, is it? I can’t tell, given my age.”

Using age as her shield, Auxilion casually dismissed the distinction between coffee and tea, setting her cup down and looking at me with eyes as green as nature itself.

No matter how many times I saw those eyes, they were hard to get used to. Perhaps it was because, not long ago, I’d seen someone very much like her, yet completely different.

‘Rather than her being special because she’s an elf… it feels like she’s just special. It’s not like I can just get an elf to dissect…’

While her aura seemed to be more her innate ability than a racial trait, her lips curved slightly, casting a glance at me with the kind, patient look of an elder.

Her soft gaze swept over me, exuding the comforting warmth of a grandparent.

“So, you said you wanted to plant the world’s largest tree—is it what I think it is?” “What do you think it is, I wonder?” “Well, I have some ideas.”

When I tilted my head in curiosity, Auxilion put aside her doubts and took a seed from her pocket. It was so large it looked more like a pumpkin or tropical fruit than a tree seed.

She gently placed the seed on the table, brushing dust off it as she spoke.

“It’s a World Tree seed.” “Just as I thought…!” “Hmm—so you’ve heard of it. Are you perhaps from another world, like me?” “Yes, well. I am.” “You admit that quite easily.”

Auxilion’s eyes sparkled in surprise as she looked me up and down. Meeting someone from another world was rare, and even if one did, it was unlikely they would openly acknowledge it.

Until a few months ago, even I was preoccupied with hiding my identity. If not for the boss’s orders, I’d have kept it a secret.

But now, there was no need.

“It’s not like it’s dangerous to reveal it… Besides, I trust you, Dr. Auxilion.” “Oh? You trust me? I don’t recall giving you any particular reason to trust me.” “To be precise, I trust your superior.”

I grinned at her. Auxilion was one of the otherworldly beings who had come to Earth with her master, the dragon Hysberk. As in many fantasy stories, they were bonded in a spiritual master-servant relationship, one that had endured for centuries even after they crossed into this world.

Auxilion had bent her honor and pride for Hysberk, their bond forged by a binding force that made breaking the contract nearly impossible.

Recently, Hysberk had lost a conflict with our organization and was bound by an unfair contract. Thus, even if Auxilion learned of my identity, it wouldn’t be a problem.

“Something like that happened.” “…Another thing I didn’t know.” “Anyway, what are you planning to do with that World Tree seed?”

If it could grow anywhere, she wouldn’t have sought my help. It likely required special conditions both to plant and to grow.

After glancing around cautiously, Auxilion tapped the table twice, casting an invisible barrier around us—a familiar wave of magic Arima often used.

Ensuring no sound would escape, Auxilion looked down at the World Tree seed and began to speak.

“This seed requires an immense life force to grow—something akin to the vitality of a tree that’s lived for over ten thousand years.” “…So you mean—” “Exactly. I plan to replace the ancient tree with a World Tree.” “But N City is practically at war right now, with that ancient tree going berserk.” “That’s why I came to you.”

Auxilion narrowed her eyes, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.

“Surely you have a few tricks up your sleeve, don’t you? Evil scientist.”

“…You’ve come to the right place.”

I shivered, like a child caught red-handed.