Time to Step Up

Master? The Witches requested a meeting today? That's unusual.

Belita is the Witch Queen, right? Were there any major issues?

Before we get into the nitty gritty... we should make sure to secure the room.

Fricle?

Yes, Your Majesty.

Hmm... I sense something like interference...?

What?

No need to be so alarmed. I've just cut off the outside so no information can leak.

Look what I found under the table. How about keeping your surroundings clean?

Sigh...

The area is secure now, Your Majesty.

Good. Now we can talk freely.

Master, we came today because we have something important to discuss.

By now, you must know that we, witches and sprites, are fated to take care of Yggdrasil, right?

Yes, I thought you would.

Understanding our mission isn't exactly difficult, is it?

Well, yes. But...

Sometimes there are those who don't properly understand the reason, so we need to remind them.

We must reinforce what our mission is at every opportunity.

You didn't know? Are you serious? Ha! This is utterly ridiculous...

Calm down, Fricle. It's understandable.

Master must have been too busy with taking care of other duties to pay attention to what's going on.

Yggdrasil is the foundation of this world. If Yggdrasil is in danger, it means we are in danger.

Taking care of and nurturing Yggdrasil to its max potential... and sustaining this world is the mission of us witches and sprites.

Even if they don't understand the mission, that's not really a problem, is it?

Born with a sense of continuity, they can't shake off their duty.

That's right. After all, we were all born from Yggdrasil.

I won't mince my words.

Look at these pictures. They were taken using the elves' devices.

Whoa? What is this?

It's a hole in Yggdrasil.

Sometimes there are animals or insects that nest in Yggdrasil...

Insects or birds can't dig such a giant hole.

They build nests on branches, or live in existing knotholes typically.

This is, quite frankly, an impossible phenomenon that just shouldn't happen.

They were observed this morning.

We witches systematically see to Yggdrasil every day...

A spot that was perfectly fine until yesterday had holes drilled into it overnight by someone.

I don't think anything strange happened last night...?

No, that's what makes this strange.

The phantoms and elves didn't engage in any unusual activities last night.

Master! If these pictures are real, we're looking at a major event here! We need to investigate thoroughly and find a solution quick!

Well...

.........

I'm embarrassed to admit we don't know either. That's why we came to you.

We came here thinking Master might know how to help...

Or can we really just stand by and watch?

Yggdrasil is connected to our world and if it were to continue suffering wounds like this... the resulting catastrophe would be unavoidable...

Should we execute the plan we prepared for the Eliapoc now?

I'm not sure. Perhaps... we should? Let's start preparations tomorrow.

No!!

If you do that, it'll only get more dangerous!

Huh?

What? Who's there?! Show yourself!!

Huh? The temp from the theater...?

Who are you?

My name is... Renewa.

What trick did you pull? How did you evade my detection magic?

Um... well...

Are you a spy sent by Elena? Did she create some device to evade detection magic?

Ah... uh... yes, something like that...

Another spy sent by the elves? First, they slap some fake horns with double sided tape on someone and want us to believe she's a witch...

Now they've created a device to evade magic? The elves are obsessed with strange things.

Did Elena send you?

Miss Elena... did send me.

Um... well... I mean... It's not that Miss Elena!

I'm... a time traveler sent by Miss Elena from five thousand years in the future!

.........

.........

I'm telling the truth! Please believe me! Ugh, this is exactly why I was hiding as a temp worker at the theater...

Restrain her immediately. I'll hand her over to the Witch Council for trial.

Ugh... Didn't you build the Ark of Destruction?!

It's wrapped tightly in Yggdrasil's roots, and when the day of destruction comes, you plan to cut them with the Sprite Priestesses' axes and use it, right?!

Wh-what? How do you...? How does an elf know about our plan?!

In the future... I saw your plan fail!! You must not move forward with it!

That's why Miss Elena sent me across time! To tell you not to repeat the same mistake!

Master, she does seem sincere. It doesn't seem like she's lying inside.

Stop your nonsense, Elf! You must have planted a spy somewhere to extract this information!

Th-then... I'll give you an answer that no one else knows!

The holes in Yggdrasil are a precursor to destruction. They're evidence that Yggdrasil is deteriorating!

We've already considered that, but it's too early for this phenomenon to happen now.

The decline and aging of Yggdrasil is predicted to occur only after five thousand years.

And that's exactly the problem! It is happening in the time I came from, five thousand years from now!

Something is accelerating it!

It seems like something is thrusting future events into this current reality!

Like you crossing time...? Are you saying the future is being pulled into the present?

Ah... uh... side effects of time travel...? Maybe I'm the cause...?

So you're at fault? Am I hearing right that our world is being destroyed because of you?!

Ah. I can see why you might think that, but there's not enough evidence to draw this conclusion... Ugh...

Enough.

I have no interest in your true identity.

There's no point in arguing about something that's already begun.

Elf, you said earlier that you can give us an answer that no one else knows!

Do you have a way to resolve this?

Ah... Uh...!

Yes! I can... resolve it! ...Maybe?

The theater was a good place to hide my identity and device.

Even though it's an elven device, it's outside the elven city, so identity checks aren't as strict...

Most importantly... I was able to see Master often.

Yes.

So what are you planning to do with this device?

You won't believe it, but countless versions of Elias exist beyond time and space.

If I told you that Elias one minute from now and Elias one hour from now each exist in different worlds, would that make sense?

Give me a moment to sort my thoughts... is it similar to how the Master's home planet is from a 'different dimension'?

Yes, kind of. And we just need to fill our side with parts from other worlds.

We fill the empty holes in our Yggdrasil with pieces from other Yggdrasils.

We steal the missing puzzle pieces from other worlds!

What...?

You're saying you'll punch holes in Yggdrasil from other timelines?!

This elf is crazy! What kind of logic is that?!

It's-It's not exactly like that!

The worlds we'd be targeting are those where the power of Yggdrasil has already been exhausted.

Places that have already met their end and have no future!

Even so, for us to harm Yggdrasil in other worlds...

Must we really go that far?

You don't need to feel any guilt.

Think of it as taking spare parts from other worlds for our use.

Ugh... That makes it sound better but... it still feels off.

Before arriving at this spacetime, I drifted through countless versions of Elias.

Master, please look at these records.

If you read about how the worlds I passed through were destroyed, you'll understand.

So, Master? Does the data she gave us make sense to you?

That's... I'm not sure yet.

Let's not jump to conclusions about the world's demise just yet.

No matter where I set foot...

I want to believe that every one of those strands deserves to endure.

Don't you think so too, Master?

Wouldn't you regret giving up now, just letting the world end?

I... did feel that way.

Huh? What was that?

.........

Can she see me?!

Huh? What do you mean?

Anyway, we need your decision, Master.

I know it feels uncertain, but I think we should give it a shot.

The theater temp and I met...? Me from another world?

Why should we trust you and do as you say?

Elena could be plotting something!

The current Miss Elena might do that, but...

But Miss Elena from my time truly cared about Elias!

You want us to believe that now?!

It's true! I know it's hard to believe... but just this once!

Master...!

Whew... Time out for a moment!

Master, did you take a proper look at what this Renewa is thinking?

Exactly! At the very least, her knowing I exist is a game changer.

You're the only one that I've shown myself to in all of Elias, Master...

If Renewa has seen me before... she must be alright.

Yeah. I think we should.

Neither the witches nor you have a clue about fixing those Yggdrasil holes.

Renewa's is the only workable solution we've got.

Huh? You think we need to find out more about her?

I'm not sure if there's anything more certain than this, but...

If you're still not convinced... we might to just have to put our faith in her...

Master, what's your opinion?

...Understood.

You are the Master handpicked by Yggdrasil herself.

I will follow your decision.

Your Majesty, shouldn't you think about this a bit more?!

There's no need. If it's the decision Master takes, we must faithfully follow it.

I'll begin the briefing. Here's the general plan.

Since we've obtained the specifications and locations of the holes in Yggdrasil from the witches,

I'll open a door to the same coordinates in different spacetimes.

At each coordinate, while I collect samples of the 'Parallel Yggdrasil,' you'll need to occupy or defend those points.

You'll buy time by stalling.

There may be powerful and dangerous enemies near the samples, so please be cautious as I'll mark them for you.

As long as we keep the spacetime gate open, there shouldn't be any problems.

Yes! If the passage connecting both worlds closes and is severed, the timelines become completely misaligned, but as long as we keep it open, it should be fine.

While we can return to a similar 'variation point,' we can never return to the exact same place twice.

I'll keep the gate open during the operation.

Originally, my device alone would have difficulty maintaining it for long, but...

If the witches help with their delicate magical energy control, we should be able to buy enough time until our 'plundering team' returns.

It gets the meaning across, but... does it bother you?

Isn't there anything that sounds cooler? It sounds like some kind of gang of bandits!

If you don't like the word 'plundering'...

Hmm... words similar to plundering... pioneering? Exploration, Explorer?

Pioneer. Frontier...? Elias Frontier?

Hmm... well, fine. That is... not bad.

Don't worry. Master is our safety measure.

Master acts as a kind of "anchor" just by existing.

The one chosen by Yggdrasil, a kind of singularity... unique to this world?

An existence like a lightning rod that can focus the world's "sense of belonging" to a different spacetime.

Since Yggdrasil can't move itself, Master has to do it.

Why are you so surprised?

Hey, Master! You're not getting scared now, are you?

Hmm... really? Are you sure?

Are you ok with getting trapped in an ambiguous 3.5th dimension between time and space and never coming back?

I think going together is the best way to cheer on the Apostles!

Be proactive like when you give the Apostles a noogie!

Ha! Of course we're ready! Just waiting to activate the device.

Renewa taught us how to operate it, so there shouldn't be any major problems.

Master, did you explain everything to the Apostles as I asked?

Thank you. It's no good for everyone to know that Yggdrasil is in danger.

Everyone would be panicking and running around in confusion, unable to do anything.

It would be best if only the highest-ranking witches, Renewa, and Master know about this.

I'm not sure if my sister is ready for something like this.

The truth would be burdensome, not only for my sister, but all the sprites.

Especially... Ner, the Head Priestess....

True, if that Head Priestess knew, everything we're trying to do is real, she would be unable to just stand by.

As the Witch Queen said, we'd better hide the truth from the Apostles as much as possible.

Master, please make full use of my device.

If we can just infuse Yggdrasil's power into the device, it will prove to be a decent asset.

That kind of quick wit has helped me get out of trouble before.

It was brief, but the device displayed tremendous power.

If we have time later I'll try to explain.

Master! This is going to be tough, so I'll help as much as I can too!

Even in other worlds, Yggdrasil's influence should remain to some extent...

If I can just gather and utilize those powers, I can be of great help!

Good.

Everyone... seems ready.

Then... I'll begin the countdown.

Beginning the Yggdrasil restoration plan, crossing through spacetime!