d up towards one tree.

Lime saw Carol who was looking up at the tree, and Tomoe who was watching over this with a satisfied expression.

It seems like things have gone according to the plan of his superior, is what Lime thought even through this dangerous situation.

“I think this tree is the source of the scent.” (Carol)

“Umu, it is most likely correct-ja na. A sweet scent like that of sugar candy, right?” (Tomoe)

“Yes, it is wafting out even now.” (Carol)

“Waka said it smelled like cotton candy. I see, it is this tree, huh.” (Tomoe)

“Tomoe-sama?” (Lime)

“I was wondering if something like that could be formed between a tree and a person though. There was a need to gather facts. Now then, should this be called a pact, or divine protection? From what I see, it would be the latter-ja ga.” (Tomoe)

Tomoe was looking at the individual and was reminded of a Superior Dragon that does something similar as she speculated.

Her thoughts were correct.

“Carol, that tree is the wood used when making lacquer ware. It is fit when making containers, and it is called a Katsura Tree .” (Tomoe)

“Katsura Tree...” (Carol)

“There’s other trees that have this kind of affinity, but the one that suits you the most is most likely that Katsura Tree.” (Tomoe)

“Suits me, you say.” (Carol)

“There should be no loss in doing so. Try touching the trunk.” (Tomoe)

As if controlled by the words of Tomoe, Carol takes a step forward towards the Katsura Tree and touches it with her hand.

Her body quivered for a moment, and her little sister reflexively tried to go to where she is, but Tomoe stopped her.

Carol had been touching the trunk with her fingers, but eventually she placed her whole palm on it, and as if the Katsura Tree was welcoming her, the golden leaves that one could mistake for gold shook.

Slowly.

Tomoe felt that something was circulating between the Katsura Tree and Carol, Carol and the Katsura Tree.

And then, the smile of Tomoe deepened further.

It was a face as if saying ‘this is it’.

“So you will allow me to use you. Yes, I will do my best. I will show you technique that is befitting you.” (Carol)

It must have been waiting for the resolve of Carol.

After waiting for her to finish speaking, one branch as thick as the waist of Carol fell.

Looking at the size of the tree, it isn’t that big of a deal, but it is quite the size.

“I see, it is trying to say that you should learn how to work by using that wood.” (Tomoe)

“...Yes.” (Carol)

“I personally think that you should better your ability in Tsige, and leave the unpainted wood to the Kuzunoha Company though. Will you accept that?” (Tomoe)

“Of course. As long as I can be brought back here when the chance arrives, I have no issues.” (Carol)

Carol for some reason answered without any hesitation.

“I don’t mind. I wish you can work together with us, the Kuzunoha Company, as a woodworker and a cooperator in that city.” (Tomoe)

“I don’t mind that either.” (Carol)

“Wa, Onee-chan?!” (Keema)

“...I have never had my ability and existence be this acknowledged before. As the person given the divine protection of this tree, I won’t spare any cooperation towards the Kuzunoha Company.” (Carol)

“Tomoe-sama! What did you do to my sister?!” (Keema)

Keema must have thought the change of her sister was some sort of brainwashing, and directs hostility and criticism towards Tomoe.

“Calm down, little sister. It is a simple and natural thing-ja. You two who were orphans and were raised in a facility were unfortunately taken in by a person who had an underground face. You were taught techniques that would serve in the underground business.” (Tomoe)

“?!”

(Why does she know...?!) (Keema)

“The elder sister became a crafter and the little sister became a waitress, and it seems you are working well. However, it seems like in the underground business, you were several times better than your older sister.” (Tomoe)

“...”

“You may not have any doubts or dissatisfaction in your current situation, but your sister has gone as far as to think about making a livelihood as a crafter.” (Tomoe)

“I have not heard anything about that from my sister. Not a single word!” (Keema)

“She can’t just say it so easily. But your master, and the man that adopted you two, are getting tired of the underground business. Your elder sister sympathized with that man’s surface face and actions, and you instead felt comfortable in the underground part. That’s how it is.” (Tomoe)

“Tomoe...just how much do you know...” (Keema)

Revealing hidden information that only a select few know one after the other and explaining it, Keema felt chills. She can tell that there’s a heavy difference in battle power here.

But in terms of information gathering, in terms of information network, they shouldn’t be losing to the Kuzunoha Company -or at least that’s how it is supposed to be. And yet, here we are.

It doesn’t look like she is bluffing or baiting her.

Tomoe was talking in a way that’s telling her that she clearly knows about Keema and Carol’s background until now.

She couldn’t tell at all what’s the reason and the technique used.

Keema noticed -not with her head, but with her soul and instincts- that she isn’t someone that she can do anything about.

“Now then, how much do you know? Do you want to know...just how you two became orphans?” (Tomoe)

“...”

Does she know?

No, it might not be strange for this woman to know.

Even the details about their birth till the time when they were thrown into an orphanage.

Her body felt cold.

It was as if her body was freezing at an accelerated rate from the inside.

Keema couldn’t say a word towards the question of Tomoe.

“Well, fine. What it means is that, the elder sister that wanted to live in the sun was aware of her own lack of ability. And for her, the confidence that she obtained here and this experience have become an irreplaceable treasure.” (Tomoe)

“...Confidence?” (Keema)

“Umu. As a woodworker, no, it would be more accurate to say crafter, huh. Confidence that the result of continuing to walk that path, will eventually lead her into becoming an outstanding person-ja. Thus, Carol has set her path of life. That’s all there’s to it. Well, I set it in a variety of ways so that it turned that way though.” (Tomoe)

Preparations that were done with the know of her whole memories and desires.

It is certainly different from brainwashing through magic, and charm, but it might not be that different in the sense that it is cheating.

“...Don’t joke around. My big sister and I will be working on the underground side of Tsige from here on too.” (Keema)

“Carol won’t take anymore assassination jobs. She might lend you a hand for your sake, but if she were to do those underground jobs with that mindset of hers, you as the little sister who is fit for that area...should at least know what happens to people like that eventually, right? Just stop it.” (Tomoe)

“Why are you stealing my sister from me? I won’t acknowledge something like this. Never...” (Keema)

A dangerous and dark feeling was about to take over in her eyes.

Without noticing the fundamental misunderstanding she is having.

It is not like Tomoe is trying to tear apart the sisters. Rather, if her sister -even if hyuman- managed to do well with the trees of Asora, she would try to do her all to bring her little sister in too, even if that’s just in passing.

That’s right, in other words, it is currently happening.

“You are against it?” (Tomoe)

“I won’t forgive it, no matter who it is.” (Keema)

“I see, I see! If you come to us as well, that problem is solved then!” (Tomoe)

“I will one day for sure—eh?” (Keema)

The dark emotions were temporarily stopped.

“In the first place, the foundation that is the Rembrandt’s place has put a half-stop to it and has ordered a standby, so if you were to accept a request on your own volition even if it is a small fry adventurer and kill them in the wasteland, you will one day be erased by that buttler. The future is pitch-black, ja know.” (Tomoe)

“!”

She even knows about her recent stress reliever.

Keema’s face warps. It was one-sided, no cards to play.

“You are truly lucky, Keema. Thanks to your connection with your elder sister who seems to be communicating with the Katsura Tree and nodding, your life will be turned around!” (Tomoe)

“Be deeply grateful for the fact that Waka had gotten an eye on your sister as a woodworker,and by your own name.” (Tomoe)

“Na-name?” (Keema)

Tomoe who had suddenly begun laughing was continuing the conversation on her own.

But what does she mean by being grateful for her name? Keema unconsciously asked back.

“That’s right! Waka said that your name is apparently pretty spicy and delicious, you know?” (Tomoe)

Makoto and Keema are not acquainted.

It is just that when Makoto was checking the regular reports and heard the word Keema, Makoto associated it with curry.

There was no ill-will.

“...Huh?” (Keema)

The dark feelings...dispersed.

“It could be fine to just have someone from Asora do it, but because it is a pretty deep path, it is a matter that I would like to do a lot of preparations as possible, you see.” (Tomoe)

Keema already didn’t know where this conversation will roll or where it will advance to.

Yet, this conversation involves what will be her life itself.

Moreover, it isn’t something that they can struggle against on their own. It had the stench of her being told an already settled matter.

(What is it they want to make me, who has a spicy and delicious-sounding name, do in this deep path that requires a lot of preparation? I have absolutely no idea at all!!) (Keema)

“Keema, you will continue working as a waitress as you have until now, and I will have you become the subordinate of Lime and our second spy. If you want to see blood, I will let you get some.” (Tomoe)

“Eh? It is unexpectedly normal sounding. Or more like, it sounds as if they are good terms.” (Keema)

‘For a person that has their life in their hands, that is’, is what Keema thought and ended up speaking out loud accidentally.

“Also, I will have you do your hardest in recreating curry from today on.” (Tomoe)

“Curry?” (Keema)

“Curry rice-ja!” (Tomoe)

Being told the name of something she has never heard of before, Keema couldn’t do anything.

“Uhm, I don’t know about that though.” (Keema)

“It is food-ja. I will teach you about the taste later. No worries, you are hyumans, so your tastes should be similar, and if you try it several times, your head and tongue should be able to link properly.” (Tomoe)

“Wait, that sounds a bit scary.” (Keema)

“If you can recreate it, Waka will definitely be happy. No need to worry about the rice part. I am counting on you for the curry part, Keema Curry. I mean, Keema.” (Tomoe)

“Ah, I don’t wan—agh! Gugh!” (Keema)

“It is okay. I will etch the taste inside your head for sure. As a waitress, you should have a decent understanding of cooking, right? Fufufu, hahahahaha!!” (Tomoe)

She is wrong.

It is true that waitresses have a decent amount of cooking knowledge, but they in foundation don’t have the ability to take a recipe by their taste alone.

Moreover, it is a completely unknown taste. It is in the plane of a perfect chef.

“I-I-I-I’m d-d-d-d-d-dying.” (Keema)

The laughing of Tomoe and the weak screams of Keema reverberate in the forest.

*Thump!*

A heavy thing falling sounded close to Tomoe.

Two of them.

What was once Lime and Mondo.

It seems like their hard struggle ended poorly and they couldn’t manage.

Lime was able to somewhat understand the results of his training, but it doesn’t look like it went as far as strengthening his heart.

Also, teaching Mondo with actual experience about the special traits of the trees as well as how special of a being Makoto is in Asora only managed to reach a middle point.

“...Fumu, aiming at everything with one rock was way too much, huh. You fail. Mondo and Lime have to be retrained, huh.” (Tomoe)

In any case...

At that day, the destiny of a certain elder sister and little sister were changed in Asora.

From that day on, the sister was being called the katsura destined, and the little sister not only worked as a waitress, but also began to train as a cook.

For some mysterious reason, both sisters began to progress in leaps and bounds in their strength as adventurers, and gained a name for themselves as a peculiar duo who mostly aim for plant materials.

The elder sister who, even though is a woodworker, awakened to a powerful unique sleeping ability; and the little sister who has no rival in Tsige when it comes to knowledge of spices.

The long path of the sisters that will one day bring about lacquer ware and curry in Tsige had begun in this way.

“Suddenly pushing myself to work with the katsura wood, and bringing out the lacquer ware that I put my all in out to the world was my biggest mistake. To think the lacquerware made of the Katsura Tree from the Kuzunoha-san’s place would show such an effect... Lime-san and Mondo-san scolded me a whole lot.”

Are the words of the elder sister.

“Every single damn one telling me I am a genius as if it is so easy. Just how much pain do you think I passed in order to reach the curry that would go well with rice? I began from the point of not knowing what was curry to begin with, you know. Everything was on the inverse! After cooperating with the Kuzunoha Company, I finally...finally managed to finish my first one, and then, Mio-san who appeared out of nowhere gulped it down in one bite. Just how much time did it take to recreate that miracle once more... Uuuh, no good, just trying to remember is making a lot of things come rushing back!!”

Are the words of the little sister.

Now then, in the end, the one who gained the most out of this one matter was Tomoe, but it is actually not only that.

Some time after the events, Makoto discovered the matter about the many things she perpetrated with Lime, the fact that she kidnapped the sisters -even if for a short period of time- into Asora, and that they put a step into lacquerware and curry.

The number one wild horse had been sealed temporarily, and according to the person herself, she received a horrible punishment.