Chapter 66

Elder wanted to stay longer in the artifact workshop, but after spending the whole day opening boxes, he felt hungry. He also felt like taking a rest. He wanted to quickly prepare the equipment he would wear, finish his business in the market, and then visit the inn to eat something delicious and lie down on a soft bed.

As he stepped outside, he saw the workshop staff making dejected faces at the pile of empty boxes. He felt a bit apologetic.

“Oh my! Goodness! Is that Daisy?”

Although he could have chosen a fancy restaurant or inn, his heart led him to the first inn he had visited. The inn where the kind owner had taken good care of Daisy.

The food he had eaten with Daisy there was all delicious. It was a place where he had found peace amidst the confusion and fear of falling into a strange world.

The owner recognized us immediately, especially surprised by the greatly changed Daisy. The inn owner beamed with a bright smile and hugged Daisy tightly.

“Is it really Daisy? I can hardly recognize you!”

Since she was still not a druid, the owner couldn’t communicate with Daisy. But it seemed that they understood each other just by looking at each other.

“Let me see. Have you grown taller? Yes, much taller! Your face looks more mature too. You’re a beautiful flower. So, this is your flower, right?”

As Daisy grew, the beautiful red daisy flower on her head bloomed and became more lush. The owner carefully examined the flower on Daisy’s head, her well-dressed equipment, and her blushing cheeks, praising her continuously.

“To think such a beautiful child… Oh, my! I must prepare some food right away. It’s a rare good day…”

Since I learned about the situation in the terrariums, I can’t afford to be free!

“It’s the day my wallet opens! I’ll treat everyone! All of you! Let’s eat together!”

Of course, my dryads don’t need to eat, but I’ll ring the golden bell for everyone in the inn. It will be a good day for the dwarves too.

Finally, I have someone to boast about Daisy’s growth. Come quickly and listen to Daisy’s story! I’m on standby!

The new equipment I had fitted still didn’t feel completely comfortable, and the special emergency rations with various fruit and dessert flavors were making rustling sounds inside the inventory without being opened.

Now, five people sit at the table where only two of us used to sit. The anxiety and unease that filled my heart, which was once full of confusion, have been replaced by anticipation for the future.

It was the same place, but everything felt new. I felt a renewed sense of accomplishment.

***

“Try to focus a bit more.”

“I’m trying, but you keep showing me that pretty face and distracting me. When your face reflects in this transparent fruit, it startles me.”

“It’s not because of that.”

We have three children: a slightly larger Daisy, a smaller Bagot, and a somewhat sulky Elder.

We headed to the dandelion patch as soon as it was light. It was because of Daisy2’s grand speech, which was actually a manifestation of her whining. The 28th terrarium, which I had overloaded with furniture from the artifact workshop, needed immediate help to restore.

Mr. Jay, I spent a night in this cottage, and it was very comfortable. The effects of the furniture seem to work on me, even though I’m a normal field dryad. If we use this, we can create a good effect! But we need more hands. I can’t do it alone. It’s a huge task. Chatter, chatter.

Elder’s butterfly, unfortunately, was heading in a direction far from where we were going. It was flapping its wings toward the 30s terrariums, which are completely opposite to the 18th and 16th terrariums, where we could get information about Bagot.

If we’re unlucky, it might be the 40s terrariums. After much persuasion, we finally arrived at the dandelion patch, but another obstacle awaited us.

Perhaps some kind of fateful force was at work. When I tried to connect with a wild dryad for the first time, it was successful. But now, trying to connect with the dandelion children, it wasn’t easy.

“What’s the problem? Is it the unripe fruit I brought from the orchard?”

Dandelion, who had prepared everything and was ready to send the children, looked a bit flustered. The two dandelion children just looked at me happily, either unaware of the situation or insensitive to it.

Could it be my level? No, Mesquite said my soul’s vessel had grown large enough to accommodate these children. The cost wasn’t an issue.

I tried to recall when I recruited Bagot. The cold fruit gradually warmed up and ripened into a golden yellow by the power of my soul.

But it didn’t seem to ripen easily, and with Elder’s sulking, it was hard to concentrate.

“Is it because they are too young?”

When I recruited Bagot, he was the same size as these children…

Dandelion, who had been suggesting various reasons, suddenly looked at me. Perhaps the cause was not external but within me.

“Little World Tree, what are you worried about? Try to focus.”

Her hands covered mine, which held the fruit.

Her gentle voice echoed in my mind.

“You’re not taking the saplings from me. I’ve never thought that. I’ve given the saplings enough wisdom. If the children grow, they will surely be a great help to you. I don’t think they are useless even now.”

Then what… Ah…

Her hands separated from mine. Dandelion looked as if she had a great realization. Her hand touched the hidden diamond I had given her, and her eyes gazed at Bagot like a calm lake.

“The saplings and the fruit were fine. The problem wasn’t with you, Little World Tree, or the druid. It was with me. The children sensed my small unease. They were worried about me and couldn’t leave. The children share my thoughts as the king of this forest, so they sensed even my smallest unease. The children couldn’t focus their minds because of me, making it difficult to connect with their souls.”

Dandelion gently pulled the small shoulders of the two dandelion children. The three of them looked into each other’s eyes for a long time. What kind of communication took place? When the children returned to me, the fruit finally turned golden.

I passionately shared my plans to alleviate her remaining unease, from unrealistic promises like a political candidate to growth plans borrowed from Daisy2’s thoughts. But her calm, lake-like eyes seemed to be rippling, suggesting that my worries were unfounded.

A quick check with an artifact revealed that Daisy2, who I thought would immediately put the children to work in the 28th terrarium, was surprisingly acting like a mentor.

“Strengthen the roots!”

It sounded familiar, but seeing the two dandelion children’s eyes burning with enthusiasm, I felt reassured. She will guide them well.

“My master, Jay. We will head to a place that is somewhat away from where the branches of the World Tree are balanced. Before reaching the 18th terrarium, we may encounter threatening fire that is not suppressed by blessings, and there may be other dangers lurking.”

“Does that include the sulking Elder? He keeps bothering me. If it develops into stress, what will I do? Stress is the root of all diseases.”

Mom said she would finish her work and come, right? Why is the butterfly so greedy! Finding wild elder flowers is lower on my list.

“Kid, are you impatient? Worried that Daisy might become stronger than you?”

Elder snorted at Mesquite’s words. But he was a bit quieter… Could it be…? I wanted to tease and torment him, but I was pleased with his silence and held back.

On the way to the 18th terrarium, we climbed a mountain made of large rocks. Fortunately, there was a path for people to walk. If we had to climb the cliffs, my inner conflict would have lasted longer. Tough trees were growing through the rocks.

They said their survival strategy was to grow on the rocks, which were harder to burn than the grass. The trees twisted like snakes to reach the sunlight, avoiding the giant rocks. Some roots wrapped around the rocks like crane claws, and others coiled like snakes. The mystery of nature made me realize that I had entered a different field.

I, who had developed a lot, no longer looked at the map every chance I got. I didn’t even try to gauge where we were. It made my body more tired. I also learned to efficiently reduce rest time by sipping water to quench my thirst.

With me, the weakest in the team, putting in effort, we could smoothly reach the 18th terrarium soon.

Until my phone started making strange noises.

A weak signal was detected. I had experienced a similar situation before. I had a bad feeling.

“Mesquite, wait a moment…”

Mesquite, sensing something, started to be on guard.

The phone spun in circles, trying to catch a network signal, and then changed modes, acting erratically.

Artifact network connection