The Demon Lord Is An Angel
Chapter 296: World Tree Amrita

Chapter 296: World Tree Amrita

The timing of the Lakewater Tears arrival at the world tree Amrita could not have been more resplendent.

Five days after setting out across the lake, and then switching to a river-boat, they came upon the sight of the world tree against a fiery orange sky, its still-green branches spreading into the air as they rustled, their edges greyed just a bit by accumulated ash, which seemed not to harm the tree at all as it flourished amidst a world that was rapidly turning grey-white with dirty snow, where it wasn’t brown.

As far as everyone knew, "Kir" spent the boat ride seasick, part of minimizing his appearances while bringing Stella up to speed on everything that was expected for the class.

"Just remember to have Moshui or Kordia explain basic magic questions and don’t say anything suggestive." Was Kir’s parting advice to Stella.

Moshui was also in his cabin, and she raised her hand. "Am I still allowed to run tests on them if you can’t be there?"

"Yes. Stella and Kordia will watch you," Kir replied. "I’ll catch up to you after midnight."

The sudden change of plans wrought by Kir’s loss of his glamour meant that he was now taking over Stella’s role of escorting her harem to Lumin’s friend - whose manor was coincidentally one floor up from the lodging that had been arranged for the students.

Once he slipped out, initially hiding amidst the luggage and carried by the variously disguised cubi, who kept giggling and passing him little touches, Kir led them up the tree, using his Adventurer’s Guild badge as cover. He got some looks for being demonkin, but then more than a few surprised blinks at his onyx-black marker for magic.

I should get this updated... once things settle down. Kir thought about how great it would have been to be an actual adventurer... without anyone specifically trying to kill him.

It was hard for him not to gaze about in wonder as he ascended. Navigating the tree was relatively simple, despite its massive size and the numerous floors that had been carved into and built out from its five to six-kilometer-wide trunk. Those going up were encouraged to use the outer parts of the main road, which was set every ten or so meters with massive windows that offered commanding views of the farmlands, pastures, and orchards outside the city.

Thankfully, there were also elevators operated exclusively by mavens who specialized in manipulating forces to produce lift - or in the case of the elevator Kir and his group took, producing anti-gravity.

Kiryu had a field day theorizing over the physics of it, up until Kir pissed him off by asking how he didn’t know if he made the world.

"Hey, just because I made the place doesn’t mean I know how. I thought you’d have taken that point from the fact I was half-mad when I did it."

"Here I was hoping you might at least be a little omniscient."

"Omniscience is a crutch for the ignorant. Assume God is just as dumb as you, and things are much easier to understand."

"How so?"

"Because you figure things out for yourself."

The main part of Amrita, however, was at the very beginning of the crown, built into the massive crest where the branches of the tree began to spread out and away from the center. Each of the six main branches had its own stairwell leading up to more exclusive sections of the city, and here every building was made of druid-shaped wood.

From great structures to small, almost every rooftop was integrated with others, forming their own pathways that included water collectors which fed into wells carved into the trunk. With conditions being wintery, those drains were dry, but Kir could imagine true summer months when transpiration might produce a constant, light rain.

Given their choice of crafting material, there were many reminders that true fire was forbidden, and not a single recognizable smithy to be seen. Kir assumed the latter would be toward the roots of the tree. Low-grade mana crystals were posted at several heights, providing a range of lighting styles, and Kir began to wonder if there was a certain order to the colors.

His theory was confirmed when, upon reaching the stairwell to their destination, he noticed that almost all of the lights along the branch he was heading up were a mild yellow, which corresponded to the branch’s role as host to the academic district.

The house he was looking for was perhaps half a kilometer from his students, and even at the late hour there were all sorts moving up and down the street, especially outside what seemed to be an amphitheater that dangled off the branch like a giant balcony.

The cubi were especially excited by all the sights, and thankfully they were prudent enough not to draw attention outside of a few drunken catcalls that they returned with flirtatious winks before moving on.

Nobody stopped them as they entered the grounds of the house, which was more of a small manor of two stories and a rooftop garden, from what Kir could tell. And he barely got two knocks out before a slot on the door - which he noted was reinforced iron - opened.

An olive-skinned elf raised her eyebrow at him from the other side. She had black hair in a long, smooth hime cut, a narrow face, and grey eyes.

"Guild worker? We aren’t expecting any adventurers." She peered past him at the gaggle of still-chatting demons in disguise.

"I was told to ask for Imogen," Kir replied in a low voice.

"Alright," she shut the slat. Through the door, he heard her yell "Mom! Adventurers!"

"I’m not expecting adventurers!" An older woman’s voice yelled down.

The slat opened. "She’s not expecting adventurers."

"Lumin sent us..."

The slat closed. "Mom! They’re from Auntie L!"

"Why didn’t you say so?!"

"They just told me!"

The sounds of someone rapidly descending wooden steps preceded the door opening as a grey-haired elf of Darlae-like height appeared. Unlike Kir’s mom, she had a skinny, well-aged look about her.

"You must be Stella... and friends..."

"I’m Kir, actually," Lumin had made it clear that her friend and fellow scholar was discreet, and since he would probably be staying over with her instead of Stella...

"Oh! Come in, come in!"

Kir gestured for everyone to start entering the building just as the woman’s daughter started pushing past, a satchel full of rolled up papers on her hip.

"It’s getting late, where are you going?" Imogen asked her daughter.

"Somewhere quiet!" the youth declared with slam-the-door energy, which was sadly foiled as she had to wait for Kir to step in last.

"Writers..." Imogen sighed as Kir entered, closing the door gently with his tail on the latch. "Gods help me when she actually gets published."

Stella’s harem started cooing various ameliorations. "She’s such a fine girl." "Don’t blame yourself." "We can keep you company." "You feel so lonely..."

In a sudden power move, Imogen clapped her hands firmly together once, silencing Stella’s harem. "None of that. I’ll have you all know I will tolerate no tomfoolery, fire, or attempts to influence the mind while you’re in my city. Especially since we’re one branch away from Heaven’s Embassy."

As the succubi and incubi tightened their grips on the lust they were exuding, and Aghest nodded somberly with a glint of fear in their eyes, the mood grew quite serious.

"That said, you’re all welcome to stay in the guest house. You’re lucky I got Lumin’s message before you arrived. I was able to make arrangements for your... meals, starting tomorrow." As she said this, a newcomer appeared. A dwarven man wearing butler’s attire. "Please follow Barry. He’ll show you to the guest house and give you a tour."

Kir did not follow as the rest of Stella’s harem filed out, anticipating Imogen would want to speak with him.

True to his prediction, she turned to him as soon as they were alone.

"Do I want to know what your ’arrangements’ for them are?" Kir asked.

"Just think of it as... mental fortitude training. Lumin and I have friends who would appreciate the charms of a cubi, while learning to fortify themselves against such influences. Adventurers like yourself, let’s say."

Kir nodded. He was feeling a great deal of relief at just having managed to arrive without notice. "I know you were expecting Stella, but circumstances have rendered me glamour-less."

"I see that. I knew something was up when Lumin described that remarkable spell construct to me."

"That remarkable spell construct exploded the last time I put it on," Kir sighed. He felt at the base of his finger, which still had a few scabs from the small cuts.

"Shame. I would have liked to study it."

Kir shrugged and changed the subject. "Lumin said you had a price for your help... I don’t suppose you could make arrangements to cover my identity?"

"Perhaps. But we can talk business in the morning. For now, feel free to join your fellow demons. You look like you need some sleep."

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