Chapter 77

After a long time, Takumi walked out of the Aaru Village Palace with a trace of satisfaction on his lips.

He licked the corner of his mouth, as if there was still some residual warmth, and clenched his fists, indulging in the lingering sensations. Of course, he had not taken the final step. He enjoyed the sense of possession brought by a gradual pursuit; taking it all at once would feel like devouring it without savoring the taste.

But this time, except for the last step, Takumi felt satisfied—especially savoring the sweet warmth akin to marshmallow.

As he walked along the corridor, Takumi met Nahida, who was walking towards the palace on the tree trunk path.

Nahida blinked and looked up at Takumi, who had just emerged from the Aaru Village Palace. "Lord Takumi."

Takumi knelt down, and Nahida immediately understood his intention. She reached out her arms, allowing him to pick her up like a doll. Takumi kissed her on the cheek and said, "Nahida, I am leaving the rainforest today, and I will miss you dearly. But taking you with me now would hinder the growth of your divinity, so before leaving, I must make up for all the time I will miss with you."

Nahida's clover-shaped eyes were filled with confusion. "Make up for the time we'll miss?" The next moment, she understood what Lord Takumi meant.

Takumi gently bit Nahida's elf-like ear, then touched her tiny feet, treating her like a fragile doll. In truth, Nahida, a branch of the World Tree, had a special fragrance that no demon born of a simple fragment could possess—more like the incarnation of Gaia, or another advanced conceptual being representing nature itself.

Compared to other demon gods, those related to the World Tree were of a higher order, as though they were an elevated level of being.

Finally, he bit her cheek gently, before putting her down and ruffling her hair affectionately. "Study hard with the King of the Great Tree, Nahida. You'll have your part in shaping the future of this world."

Nahida looked at him, not entirely sure what he meant by "shaping the world," but she would definitely understand after learning from Greater Lord Rukkhadevata. One day, she would truly become the 'God of Wisdom'.

Takumi left Sumeru City, accompanied by Yae Miko and Isthara.

Yae Miko licked her lips and opened a map she received from the Akademiya. "Lord Takumi, do you want to take a boat from Port Ormos to Fontaine's inland sea? Or shall we travel across the desert from Caravan Ribat to reach Fontaine?"

She paused for a moment and added, "I've heard that there used to be a country called 'Gurabad' north of the Thousand Winds Temple in the desert, but it's long been deserted. Ever since the events five hundred years ago, an ominous red light has enveloped the place, making it unapproachable. Scholars often hire adventurers or mercenaries to investigate, but ordinary people without a Vision must leave quickly due to the intense elemental energy."

Takumi dismissed the idea. "No need to bother with that place now. There's nothing to see but sand. We can leave it as it is."

Takumi had no interest in dealing with mercenaries in the desert. Those living in such a harsh environment were naturally wary of outsiders. It would be better to let them grow on their own while Nahida worked to improve the living conditions in the desert.

Eventually, Takumi decided it was better to head directly to Fontaine by sea. He waved his hand, activating his powers. The space around them rippled as if made of water, and in an instant, they vanished.

The scene shifted, and they found themselves in what was once the Kingdom of the Blooming Oasis—a place known as the "Nursery of Gurabad" to the people of Sumeru. Scholars referred to it as the "Marikata Garden." This was a beautiful land once ruled by the Goddess of Flowers, Nabu Marikata, who had been exiled from the skies to Teyvat, transformed into a divine entity through the broken fragment of Phanes' Original Ring.

Nabu Marikata, originally from the fairy clan, wandered through the desert until her blood turned into nectar, creating an oasis in the sands. A giant tree, planted using the waters purified by the remains of the Water God Egolia, now stood here, its roots stretching for miles to form a canopy that shielded a lush oasis. It was a haven, full of vibrant flowers that glowed with a quiet, otherworldly beauty.

Yae Miko marveled at the sight. She looked up at the gigantic tree, her violet eyes widening in awe. "What an incredible tree… it feels like it's sealing something powerful."

Becoming a god had granted her new senses, allowing her to perceive things she couldn't before.

Takumi smiled playfully. "Indeed. This tree, known as the 'Mother Tree of a Thousand Species,' was planted using the pure waters created from Egolia's remains. Its purpose is to suppress the abyssal power below it—nurtured by divine energy, its size and presence are extraordinary."