Chapter 33

In response to that, Dandelion could hear the answer.

After completing the quest she had given me, I returned to the center of the grove. Handing over the two diamonds, which were essentially the remains of the young dandelion dryad, she looked sad.

"Unfortunately... they were children born at the edge of the grove. By the time I noticed and tried to save them, it was too late."

The other dandelion children, sharing her sorrow, also looked gloomy.

"The souls of the children who were burned cannot return, nor can they go to the embrace of the World Tree. I am grateful that you avenged the children in this way. I will bury their souls in my heart and carry them with me when I return to the World Tree someday."

Dandelion tried to return the diamonds to me.

"I don't need these. The sap of the World Tree, refined and solidified like this, is something we cannot use. However, it might be useful to a druid. I know that druids can obtain material things in human society using such items, and eventually, they will find their way back to the World Tree."

Even if I had those diamonds, I couldn't use them. Eventually, after my strong insistence, the two diamonds were wrapped in Dandelion's handkerchief and disappeared.

"You asked about Daisy the dryad, right?"

I asked if Daisy, unlike the other two dryads, had any limited skills. After giving the diamonds, I wanted to change the heavy atmosphere.

"There are no limitations due to the roots, at least not for the type of daisy I know."

Daisy looked disappointed at this. No way! Is this where the difference in rank shows?

"But she can gain new ones, like me."

Dandelion's fingertips lightly touched Daisy's forehead, at the same spot where Dandelion's corolla was located.

"Once she becomes the queen of the forest, she will. When the roots are small, they intertwine to form a single root."

Daisy smiled again at this.

Dandelion took out a blunt, blue-tinted crystal vial from under a rock and handed it to me. The palm-sized vial, which looked like a brand perfume bottle, was filled with a milky pearl-colored liquid.

The liquid sparkled like a gem, reflecting the light that filtered into the center of the grove. Was this the quest reward?

"This is Panacea, containing the power of our dandelion dryads. Just as our mother plant is used to treat many diseases, the dryads born from her also possess healing properties. This is a special vial into which I have infused my healing power over a long period, making it a concentration of my strength. It can cure most known diseases, including some special ones caused by dryad powers."

Wow... At first glance, it sounds like I've obtained a powerful item, a universal cure! I received it with both hands respectfully.

Oh my, what is this... If you get sick, one vial of this will do the trick? This is like the sound of all hospitals closing down... Are the diseases caused by dryads like debuffs?

As I looked at the Panacea vial in amazement, the dryads watched with interest.

Elder, in particular, reacted strongly. Her beautiful emerald eyes shone brightly, and she eagerly expressed her desire to have it.

No way. Do you want everything that sparkles? Yes? You're not a crow.

"Elder, you're a healer too. Can you make something like this?"

"...Even though I am a healer like that dryad, our properties are slightly different. Of course, I can produce similar power. However, I cannot concentrate it into a diamond vial like this."

"Wow! Is this vial made of diamond?"

Surely, you don't call every shiny blue object a diamond out of habit? You mean it's really made of diamond? Can you even make a vial out of diamond?

"You've figured it out. Yes, it is. This diamond vial was obtained from an alchemist who visited the grove a long time ago."

"Nothing can contain the power of a dryad and keep it concentrated in one place better than the sap of the World Tree. And this medicine is not as easy to make as you think. It takes a long time to infuse it with power, like the dryad did, to create one vial."

"Oh..."

At least the hospitals will stay in business! Listening to Elder, I suddenly wondered how long Dandelion had lived. To create this Panacea, which requires such a long time, she must have lived for a very long time. Indeed, her wisdom is evident in everything about her.

"But is it okay to give me something so precious?"

"You have given me the appropriate help, so it's fine. Thank you for protecting the grove. I can make more Panacea. And this is not the only token of my gratitude."

What? She's giving me more? This Panacea alone is already an incredible reward! I struggled a bit with the fire that had swallowed the dryad, but after that, it was smooth sailing, and the difficulty felt low...

Dandelion grabbed the top of her long staff and, without hesitation, broke off a part of it. I was more surprised by her action of damaging her weapon. Isn't that a bit much?

The broken part had white fluff and green stems, making it look like a large dandelion seed.

"I'll give this to you."

"What if you break your weapon...? Isn't this also very precious?"

What if its performance drops? Aren't you being too generous? I'm a very greedy person, so I'm grateful! If I had known, I would have cleaned up around the grove and picked up some trash. Of course, it was a clean field with no trash.

"Of course, it is precious. I can't make another one like this."

Then put it back. Put it back. Do you know what this is? I wouldn't take it without thinking. I understand if it's a high-end item that comes with my diamond waste, but it feels burdensome if it's something that costs you a lot.

"This is not just a token of gratitude. I feel that I must give it to you. Please accept it."

This time, my attempts to refuse, like when I refused the diamonds, didn't work. I received the staff fragment with the white fluff gently swaying from Dandelion.

"The forgotten flower meaning of my mother plant is 'divine revelation.' It is said that the first dandelion received divine revelation and survived a great flood that almost submerged everything on earth. According to the legend, the seeds were preserved by divine arrangement and sprouted in a safe place that was not flooded. Our dandelions are descendants of those seeds. The young sapling dryads may not know this story, but as the queen, I have inherited this myth and another flower meaning and power."

The myth Dandelion mentioned was a story I had encountered before. Back then, I was fascinated by myths and legends and read everything about flowers, fairies, and gods. Hearing it from a living dandelion was a different experience. It feels like it really happened.

"I am giving you this fragment as a divine revelation. The fragment itself is an object containing a revelation and can awaken another power with its special strength."

Since it's from Dandelion, the queen of the dandelion forest, it must be a great item... But I honestly don't know how to use it.

Is it a great item because it has the word 'divine' in it? And it can awaken another power.

I called Daisy, who was surrounded by the dandelion children, and held the staff fragment near her.

Nothing happened, contrary to my expectations. It doesn't work. I thought it would awaken another power in Daisy. Is this not the right way?

I looked at Dandelion with a puzzled face.

This doesn't work. How do I use it? Is there a level restriction or something? That would be a bit disappointing.

Dandelion watched me tapping Daisy with the staff fragment and smiled.

"Unfortunately, the information I inherited... is only what I just told you. This is the first time I've used the power of revelation, so I only felt that I needed to give you two items. I don't know the details of how it awakens another power."

If this were a game, the item information would have a [???] on it. I'm tired of question marks... This is a complete white elephant. It seems to be a great item, but I don't know how to use it.

Still, since Dandelion really wanted to give me this item, I'll probably find a use for it someday. I put it in my pocket. Honestly, I was already satisfied with the Panacea, which has a clear purpose.

Dandelion raised her staff and recovered part of the mist. We had cleared all the fires around the grove, allowing her to conserve more energy.

We had completed the quest and finished touring the grove, so we were about to head to the 28th terrarium... but a major obstacle arose.

"You didn't say it was a mountain!"

"How is this a mountain? It's just a bit higher than the plain."

Elder and I were checking the map we bought at the general store. Upon closer inspection, I saw contour lines, which I vaguely learned in high school.

Isn't this the thing that shows the height of the terrain? Even I, who always scored at the bottom of the class in geography, know what this is. If you said you memorized the map, why didn't you tell me there was a mountain on the way?

"To me, anything 10 meters higher than the plain is a mountain."

"That's ridiculous."

Elder looked at me with an exasperated expression. I hate climbing stairs and mountains so much! In high school, I even applied to a school that was closer to home just to avoid a hilly area!

In college, I had to go to a place to get the grades, so I felt like I was dying going up and down. When I was really lazy, I even took a taxi to go between buildings for class. People give up money for the comfort of their bodies.

"Is there a cable car?"

Elder looked at me as if I was talking nonsense. No, there isn't.

Just looking at the map makes me tired. I, who lacks exercise and only moves excessively when I'm late, sighed. I was also feeling sticky from the sweat after being freshly baked by the fire and couldn't take a cool shower.

Without saying a word, my body was showing its refusal. Mesquite gently intervened, suggesting we stay at the dandelion grove for a day to rest since it was getting dark. Yeah! Who knows how I'll feel tomorrow!

If I heal with the dandelions today, I might have the energy to climb the mountain enthusiastically.