Ascension of the Sylvan Cosmos.

Chapter 90. Rose Fairy Queen’s Future.

Seeing Flor so surprised tickled something inside Liu Shu. While she trusted Flor, she didn't doubt that the Rose Fairies were with her because of mutual benefits. This was not something Liu Shu minded. As a World Tree, she understood clearly by instinct that creatures that thrived without symbiotic relationships were rare. 

However, Flor's genuine surprise was welcomed because, even though Flor might have her reasons, at least it wasn't greed for her treasures that kept her by her side.

Liu Shu spoke, her tone accompanied by a giggle. 'Of course, who else is going to eat it otherwise?' 

Flor spoke seriously. "You can feed it to a young one so that they become accustomed to their Tier when they are young. Or, better, we can ask the caravan to get something for you in exchange. I can bet that there are powerful treasures out there that people would exchange for one of those fruits!"

Liu Shu giggled. 'Flor, I can grow one of those fruits every twelve days!' Liu Shu continued, not taking in the pure disbelief that appeared on Flor's face. 'Not to mention, I can yield a lot more fruits that are really interesting very quickly as well. I can produce the stronger <Delicious Berry> every two days as well and…'

Flor listened to how many fruits Liu Shu could currently produce, and she looked at the empty space, not knowing what to do. Briefly, the thought that Liu Shu might be lying crossed her mind. However, that thought was instantly cast aside by her. 'Liu Shu lying? Impossible; I would first believe that Liu Shu gained the ability to fly as a tree than her lying to me.' 

Flor passed her hand through her hair with a sigh. 'Now, what? Can we really give the upgraded merchandise to the caravan?' 

She flew around the vault and went to the stacks of berries they had from harvesting Liu Shu's fruits for nearly one year. Because the previous ones were so cheap to make and they had been using them sparingly, they had a relatively large stack of them. 

'Speaking of which, how time flies… A year is soon going to pass since I got to know her.' Flor looked at her hand, and while the skin remained healthy and supple, she could clearly start to see signs of aging. 

'Is it really okay for me to eat that fruit?' 

Flor knew that her potential was consumed. While the title of the Rose Fairy Queen had increased her stats, lifespan, and general potential, it was not by much. Mainly because Rose Fairies, as a race, were very common and weak. 

A normal Rose Fairy of the F+ rank had around 50 years of lifespan. Flor was already in her late 30s, making her quite an elderly creature. Thanks to the new Tier Up she experienced because she discovered Liu Shu's nature as a World Tree, she gained around five to ten years of lifespan. 

Even then, she had, at most, 20 years to live. 'With another sub-tier increase, I might gain another year or two, and even if I manage to level up ten times, that's just another year of lifespan. I would continue to live on the edge of my life, sucking Liu Shu's most valuable resources just to stay alive instead of sharing them with young ones that could eventually grow into true powerhouses.' 

Flor looked at the berry that her cute little one had given her for a long time. It was enough time for Liu Shu to become confused. 'What's wrong, Flor?'

The Rose Fairy Queen opened and closed her mouth a few times, not knowing how to explain it. As a creature of the forest, she could feel that Liu Shu would understand if she explained it. After all, as a World Tree, her sense of the cycle of nature should be deeply ingrained in her. 

However, hearing how excited Liu Shu was when giving her this fruit, denying it now was hard. 'I'm probably the closest creature to Liu Shu emotionally. If I reject her goodwill toward me, will this alienate her from having interactions in the future?' 

In truth, while Flor didn't mind if Liu Shu became a full-fledged World Tree, deep inside her, she wanted Liu Shu not to be so indifferent towards everything around her. 

Flor understood. She really did. For a World Tree, everything that happens around them matters not as long as they are not negatively affected. 

However, deep inside, she felt that Liu Shu was not as indifferent as other World Trees. For example, when fighting against the beast tide, what did Liu Shu do? Instead of killing all creatures that attacked her, she used her own body as a resource to help lighten the burden of the Rose Fairies and Fire Ants. 

When Flor looked over and saw Liu Shu's branches swinging wildly around her, but aiming at the creatures attacking others instead of eliminating those gnawing at her trunk, a sense of protective feelings were aroused in her. This is why, unlike Liu Shu, Flor's first action when returning from killing her opponent was to slaughter all beings attacking Liu Shu. 

'Flor?'

Snapping out of her thoughts, Flor looked around and then refocused on the berry. "Sorry, Liu Shu, I was distracted." 

Liu Shu laughed and joked. 'Is age already affecting you, Flor? Hahaha.' 

Flor smiled, a bit melancholic, and spoke. "Perhaps. I'm getting old, after all."

Liu Shu paused and looked at Flor. For other creatures, it might not be as noticeable as Flor's appearance was youthful. However, as a creature who could see the life signals, she could tell the difference between a young Rose Fairy and an aging one. 

Flor's words somewhat made Liu Shu realize something. 'Hm. Right, Flor and the rest have short lifespans.' Liu Shu, unless she was killed, was going to live for a very long time. 

In the end, Flor decided to accept the fruit. "Well, I'll take it. Thank you, Liu Shu."

Liu Shu didn't answer as her thoughts flew around. Flor was accustomed to Liu Shu getting lost in thought, so she didn't find it strange and found a clean and spacious place to start eating the fruit. 

Unlike in previous times, the aura change was not that significant since she went from E- tier to E Tier. 

Of course, her stats made a significant leap, becoming an average of 20% higher. Her Aether stat even reached 123 points before any buffs were applied to her. 

After Flor felt the changes going on in her body, she was surprised once again. "It's just a small realm, but I'm this much stronger, huh? No wonder, Rose Fairies, as F Rank, never managed to thrive."

She then thought about how to use Liu Shu's fruits. 'We should give the young fairies it when they are babies and again at ten years old. That way, by their twenties, even if they were in the F Rank, they would be able to reach the E rank.'

'Of course, I can't give it to every Rose Fairy. As we grow, guiding everyone will be increasingly challenging, so some rotten seeds might appear between us. That's something Cinderielle and Verdantia warned me about.'

She remembered Ignatia's scoff at that time, and thinking about how the ants worked, she couldn't help but laugh. 'Well, they all follow the Queen's order, and if someone doesn't, they are cleaned up. I guess that for ants, having a good Queen is the most important thing.'

Liu Shu's enchanting voice reached her right after she tiered up, which took no longer than a few minutes. 'How are you feeling?' 

Flor smiled. "Much stronger. Thank you, Liu Shu. To think that such miraculous fruits exist, haha." 

Liu Shu bragged proudly. 'I'm just getting started! We'll see what I will be able to produce in a few years!'

Flor didn't doubt it and answered while flying out of the vault. "I'm sure you will be considered the most valuable in the entire forest!" 

Liu Shu giggled, her melodic laugh cleansing Flor's mind of almost all negative thoughts. 'Ah… Her voice is so calming, so beautiful.' 

When hearing Liu Shu's laugh, Flor experienced a soul-cleansing sensation of peace and tranquility similar to the singing of birds, the flow of water, and the rustling of leaves.

Renewed by Liu Shu's laugh, Flor smiled again and flew up to one of her branches. She didn't say anything else and just enjoyed the view.

Inside the circle created by the <Mother Of Thousand Flower Field>, there was nothing but a relatively empty place.

A part of it was filled with farmland, such as the Rose Fairy Garden, where young Rose Fairies grew, and the basic farmland was also created to grow edible vegetables. 

Then, outside the ring of flowers, all the structures were neatly organized. Flor had asked in the past why she left the inner space free of any large structure, and the answer was so logical that Flor wondered why she asked at first. Liu Shu said at that time. 'If I place structures inside, how can <Mother Of Thousand Flower Field> defend me?'

The reason was simple yet powerful enough to make Flor laugh and agree. 

As she enjoyed the view, she realized that one of the Sylvans was approaching while looking around, clearly trying to do so sneakily. 

Because Flor was in the canopy, a place with dense leaves, she was not easily noticeable from the ground. Instead of interrupting, she decided not to intervene and observe while being hidden.

The Sylvan who approached was Cinderielle. She got close and smiled at Liu Shu. "How was the Level Up, Liu Shu? I can see that you've grown much taller."

Liu Shu answered with a proud and cheerful tone. 'I managed to grow two whole meters in one month! That's a lot, in case you didn't know!'

Cinderielle was slightly surprised at the young tone in the World Tree's voice. While the voice was not that of a child, as the tone was gentle and nature-like, it was easy to distinguish the very slightly childish tone in the ethereal voice of the World Tree. "You are really talented, Liu Shu. I am glad you could grow a lot!"

Liu Shu asked, curious. 'You've seen that other World Tree, right? How big is she?' 

Cinderielle paused and smiled. "Well, they are much older, so they are bigger than you."

Liu Shu asked, puzzled. 'You don't know?'

Cinderielle blinked a few times. "Huh? Why do you think that?"

Liu Shu cleverly answered. 'Well, you've just avoided my question.'

Flor's mouth arched in a smirk. 'If you think that her being a young World Tree makes her easily deluded like young humans or Sylvans, you will learn soon that you are the naive one~.' 

She could listen to the conversation because Liu Shu was speaking "aloud" by transmitting her voice to her near surroundings. 

Cinderielle's orange eyes flashed, and a smile appeared on her lips. "Well, I can't tell exactly, but they are hundreds of meters high. They don't reach a thousand, though." 

Liu Shu asked, stuttering. 'H-Hundreds? So, more than ten times bigger than me?'

Cinderielle nodded in agreement. "That's right. What, afraid?"

Liu Shu was sincere and nodded. 'Of course! I will be crushed like a little twig if she discovers me! In what direction is that big thing?' 

Cinderielle took out a device that was similar to a compass and pointed to the west. "In that direction, a bit more than a hundred kilometers away." 

Liu Shu relaxed. 'She is so far away…' 

Cinderielle nodded. "She really is." Cinderielle looked at the tall tree, her eyes filled with profound and hidden emotions. 'How do I get closer to her…?'