Chapter 29

We were invited to the center of the colony by Dandelion. It was said to be the heart of the place where the dryads actually lived. If our journey wasn’t urgent, I politely requested a moment to talk with the druid I hadn’t seen in a long time.

The treatment was too warm to refuse. In fact, I was curious about the place called the center of the colony and the stories I wanted to share...

When Dandelion gestured, the young dryads who had been warily surrounding us relaxed. The invisible walls and distances between us completely disappeared.

The children ran up to my dryads. Some looked up at the towering mesquite with admiration, while others approached the daisy, who was about their size, in a friendly manner.

Two children stuck to me, but the area around Elder was desolate. The children instinctively knew how prickly Elder’s personality was. Elder was beautiful, but her green, scowling eyes revealed her dirty character.

The young dryads chattered about how great their king was. They said it was the first time they had seen other dryads since they were born and asked endless questions about what powers they had and how strong they were.

The two who stuck to me seemed to want to feel how special I was, treated so kindly by their king, but I was just an ordinary adult with only a diamond, so I felt sorry for not meeting their expectations. I couldn’t even show off my wealth in front of the children.

Daisy blushed and nodded vigorously when the children asked if she could control fire. When they asked what she used to control it, she awkwardly showed the dagger at her waist. She seemed very unfamiliar with the many admiring glances directed at her.

The small flowers gathered together... tiny and adorable flowers... they were healing.

The closer we got to the center of the colony, the more dandelions bloomed, incomparable to before. I even wondered if I should take off my shoes to avoid stepping on the flowers.

Wouldn’t it be a bit disrespectful to step on the mother flowers of the dandelion dryads? However, the children cheerfully trampled their mother flowers.

The dandelions, when stepped on, would flatten but then bloom again.

Maybe it’s okay because the children are light... I have some weight, so... if I flatten them, wouldn’t that be the end of the dandelions I stepped on...? Living flowers...?

I tried to step only on the empty spaces, but it was really difficult as the area was densely packed with yellow flowers. Seeing my hesitant movements, Dandelion smiled and said:

“Our dandelions are resilient beings that bloom again even when stepped on. They are not ornamental flowers that need to be carefully tended. We can grow anywhere the seeds reach, and with warm sunlight and a little water, we can survive. So, even if they get a bit flattened, our value is not diminished, so you can rest assured.”

Even with those words, I hesitated to step on them. Could you look away until I get there?

However, Elder, who was looking at me pitifully, strode ahead.

Seeing her large figure trampling the dandelions, she seemed like a tyrant. That emotionless flower tree!

“Why are you so restless when you’re not stepping on the dryads directly? Can you at least hold my hand?”

No, no, I’ll do it myself. I walked on tiptoe to avoid stepping on the flowers that Elder had already trampled.

By the time I was doing this, my dryads had already reached Dandelion. I felt a bit embarrassed...

At the center of the colony was a small spring. It had existed for a very long time and was very deep, so it never dried up even without rain. Dandelions surrounded it closely.

“Originally, this colony was much larger. The path you walked was once part of the colony, and in the past, dandelions bloomed so densely that the end was not visible.”

Dandelion raised her staff high. A white mist, resembling dandelion seeds, began to spread quickly through the colony.

“With frequent fires, the size of the colony has gradually decreased. As a result, the number of dandelion dryads being born has also decreased. It might become even smaller in the future.”

I imagined a dandelion field stretching to the horizon and woke up with a start.

Fire! Everywhere, fire! The source of evil, fire! The dandelion field I saw on the way was already vast, but it used to be even larger. And it’s getting smaller.

“I am not a combat-specialized dryad, so the only thing I can do is hide the colony with my power. However, even that is becoming weaker as the number of dryads being born is decreasing and the blessings of the World Tree are fading. The range I can hide is also shrinking.”

Despite talking about a bleak situation, Dandelion had a very composed face. There was no trace of fear in her straight posture.

“I think this means that the day when I fulfill my duty given by the World Tree is approaching. After completing all my duties over a long period, the day when I can finally return to the World Tree is coming. When no new dryads are born here and the last remaining dryad is sent to the World Tree, it will finally be my turn.”

All dryads return to the World Tree when their life is over, even if they are not from the World Tree’s fruit.

Wild dryads born from the World Tree’s pollen also return to the World Tree, she said.

Death is undoubtedly a frightening thing for all living beings. Why does Dandelion seem to be waiting for it so eagerly?

Despite being a noble king, Dandelion seemed a bit weary inside.

“But I am worried that my power might run out before all the dryads here return to the World Tree.”

A hint of fear appeared on Dandelion’s face, which had been consistently calm.

Hmm, could the reason she called me here to talk be because of this? Druids can become small World Trees, a resting place for the souls of dryads.

If I connect my soul, could Dandelion, whose power is gradually weakening, be restored?

“W... Well, I’m a druid, called a small World Tree... So, should I... um... take you in?”

But Dandelion looked completely surprised by my words. Oh, did I get it wrong?

“You are a very considerate person. I appreciate your offer, but I cannot do that. I cannot abandon even one of the dryads here. Dryads who receive the World Tree’s blessing will surely be in a very stable state. Many wild dryads must dream of this. However, as the king of the Dandelion Forest, I cannot leave alone.”

“Does that mean connecting souls with all the dryads here...?”

It’s a bit dizzying to imagine.

“My master, Jay. You know that’s impossible, right? Jay’s soul has certainly grown much larger, probably due to many battles with fire. However, even if the dandelion children’s souls are small, Jay’s soul cannot accommodate all of them. Even if Jay decides to do it, I will stop you. Jay will collapse.”

Mesquite’s expression, which had been gentle and reassuring, became very firm. It seemed she would not let me take in all the dandelion dryads here.

I’m not a dreamer, so I know it’s impossible...

“I am not afraid of losing all my power and dying. I am afraid of not fulfilling my duty. It is the natural order for all wild dryads to return to the World Tree when the time comes. Meeting a small World Tree and extending this life is just a very special event.”

“Is there nothing I can do to help?”

Like giving a bit of soul. I heard that when a dryad is cut off from its soul, this can be done. But how?

Suddenly, Dandelion smiled brightly. Ah, this was the main point! I realized this was the reason she wanted to talk to me.

“Last night, someone eliminated all the fires around here. It must have been a skilled druid. I wanted to meet and thank them, but they disappeared quickly. They were a great benefactor to us, who could only watch the fires slowly consume the colony. However, there are still fires that haven’t been extinguished.”

Ah, she’s talking about the person who cleared my hunting ground yesterday. The heartless person who took all my experience.

“The more I use the fog spell to cover the entire colony, the faster my power is drained. If the druid helps, I can store more power to fulfill my duty. Will you please help me? I will give you all the rewards I can.”

She then showed me the locations where the fires were still active.

How considerate, marking the locations of the quest mobs and offering rewards! This is a side quest! I have no reason to refuse!

“I’ll do it!”

I hastily agreed, fearing I might change my mind.