Chapter 9

If the splendid illustration on the pre-order page of *Terrarium Adventure* were to come to life, it would look just like this. The breathtaking beauty was so captivating that just looking at it was enough to make one feel entranced. It seemed as if a gentle halo was also visible, as if it were a natural effect. However, that was all there was to it. Despite his stunning good looks, when he opened his mouth...

"Is the one who awakened this body just a scrawny wimp like you?"

Character...? I was about to compliment his voice but the words slipped away. Does anyone just go around talking to a stranger like that?

"Are dryads usually so lacking in manners? Daisy wasn’t like that. Could it be that character and rank are inversely proportional?"

I asked the guide as if the Elder Flower Dryad could hear me. One of the dryad’s eyebrows arched up at my question.

"It’s due to the level of intimacy. A newly summoned dryad is unfamiliar with everything and also evaluates whether the druid they are loyal to is trustworthy. Occasionally, there are dryads who are different..."

The Elder Flower, with its long robe billowing, walked up to me. It was so tall that I had to look up at it endlessly. A sweet fragrance clung heavily to my nose. The Elder Flower pointed at various parts of my coat with its staff.

"What’s with these worn-out clothes? I hoped for a druid with a lot of money, not a beggar like you. This body is a gift from the gods, a being born with the noblest blessing of the World Tree. I want a druid who can treat me lavishly. A temple made of gold, a bathroom with clear water flowing all year round, and a golden statue in my likeness would be nice."

I pointed at the Elder Flower with my thumb, showing it to the guide. Is this really just an issue of intimacy? Is this a fake? It seems more like a gift from the gods with a mouth from the gods.

"There are methods to increase intimacy for a dryad with a strong sense of self. There must be a way to deal with it."

You’re not the one dealing with it, so you can say that. The problem wasn’t the low intimacy of the dryad but the worst feelings I had towards it.

Can this be reset? I looked at the Elder Flower again. Its face was truly more handsome than any celebrity I had seen in my world. A straight nose, thick eyebrows, long eyelashes, emerald eyes that sparkled like jewels, a perfectly white complexion, red lips, and a sharp jawline.

The face is just perfect. It’s tall like a model and has a great physique. It would be a waste to reset it. If only the character could be fixed.

"Give up on me. I will return to the World Tree and wait for a suitable owner."

"What? Can you really reset after being summoned?"

"Cutting the soul connection will make the dryad revert to a wild state. Over time, it will lose its power and return to the World Tree. However, this is not a pleasant experience for dryads. A wild dryad will suffer from harsh cold, constant thirst, and the pain of rotting all over. It will also not be free from pests and diseases."

This time, the guide spoke to the Elder Flower, not to me. The tone and expression seemed to be telling it to stop talking nonsense.

"I’d rather be left in the wild than go around with a wimp like you. I don’t want to go on a miserable adventure with a poor owner."

As I listened, I realized it kept saying I was poor. What? I’m confident that I can keep up with anyone in terms of money.

Of course, I can’t shoot fire or water from my hands. I don’t have any self-defense skills to block your staff. But I can throw a lot of diamonds at you.

Some games even have a skill to throw money, and the power increases with the amount of money. If I hit you with my diamonds, it will show MAX damage!

I took a diamond out of my pocket to check if the Elder Flower’s standard of wealth was based on diamonds.

Oh, the Elder Flower’s face, which had been consistently annoyed, changed instantly. Isn’t it too materialistic for a plant?

I placed a diamond in my palm and took a few more out of my pocket. Its expression changed moment by moment. The emerald eyes were filled with blue diamonds.

Wow, it can’t take its eyes off them. I took out a handful of diamonds and placed them all on my palm. At a glance, there were at least twenty.

The Elder Flower’s face softened.

"Hey, you’re really easy to understand."

"Are all these yours?"

"Is your passion for flowers really a passion for diamonds?"

It didn’t retort and couldn’t take its eyes off the diamonds. I moved my hand holding the diamonds, and the Elder Flower’s eyes followed it closely.

Daisy looked cute when she did this, but it looks cheap when this one does it. With its high nose, it’s ridiculous to be so obsessed with diamonds. There’s no one more materialistic than this.

I tilted my palm. The diamonds on top tumbled to the floor.

"Hey, pretty trash. Do you want them?"

I heard the sound of grinding teeth. My actions seemed to have hurt the Elder Flower’s pride.

Who tells someone to treat them like that on their first meeting? I’m not someone who would just let it slide.

I intended to raise the first dryad I summoned with great care. If it’s going to be like this, I have my own methods.

I took out my phone. After waking it up from sleep mode, I shook it over the floor where I had dropped the diamonds.

More diamonds tumbled to the floor than what I had in my palm. The eyes of the Elder Flower and the guide shook like an earthquake.

"Then pick them up. On your knees. Not enough? Should I give you more?"

The luxurious gold patterns on the floor were covered by the diamonds. It seemed the amount was too much to protect its pride. The Elder Flower’s knees hit the floor, and it looked up at me with a gentle expression.

"Are you going to give me all of this?"

Crazy... I intended to be harsh, but the puppy-like eyes looking up at me were incredibly handsome.

My heart fluttered. The Elder Flower, which had been a jerk, had risen to a puppy due to its face. The materialistic trait became an advantage in handling it.

Sure, sure, I’ll give it all to you. I shook my phone again, and a rain of diamonds fell. The happy expression was so beautiful that I couldn’t help but reach out. I patted its hooded head, and it was well-behaved.

Compared to the first meeting, the attitude was a complete 180-degree turn. I’m only doing this because it’s handsome. Really, it’s too beautiful to just let go. I was the materialistic one.

"You’ve found the right approach."

"Wouldn’t it have been easier if a rich druid had summoned it?"

"Then you’ve found the right owner."

"I’m sorry for the poor show. The diamonds it didn’t pick up... can the orchard side recover them?"

"No way!"

The Elder Flower’s speed in picking up diamonds increased. The diamonds went into the pouch tied to its robe. The actions were cheap, but it was beautiful, so I let it slide... really, it’s so beautiful, I let it slide.

"Are you going to bloom the remaining fruits?"

"What? Do I need more dryads besides me, who is perfect?"

"You’re a healer, a restorative type. You need an offensive type too."

"I’m good at fighting too."

"Swinging that fragile staff will break it before your enemies. Are you jealous of the diamonds that would go to other dryads?"

It made an angry face and turned its head away. It’s really easy to understand.

"Don’t worry. The diamonds I have will fill your pouch and still have plenty left. I could fill this entire greenhouse, no, the entire orchard with diamonds and still have more."

But if I pour so many diamonds, won’t there be a diamond inflation in this world...?

The Elder Flower looked at me with sparkling eyes, like someone in love. More accurately, it was in love with diamonds.

Can I build a golden temple inside this terrarium artifact? Since it likes it so much, I could even build a golden statue. Wow, this is like the heart of a king who built the Jizhuyulín for his favorite concubine.

The face. That face is dangerous. It’s a harmful face that stirs my mind. I’ve never seen such a handsome face in real life. I have no immunity at all.

I headed to the port to forget those thoughts. One remaining fruit. I hope an offensive type dryad pops out as I wish.

Leaving the sulking Elder Flower behind, I carefully placed the fruit on the soil of the port. The fruit, like when the Elder Flower was born, started to shake wildly and gradually turned golden. Yes! Another dryad!

Two golden, cute sprouts peeked out. They are always adorable. This time, I hope it’s not a dryad with a bad character like the Elder Flower, but just half as good as Daisy, no more, no less.

The stone slab glowed a deeper blue. Elaborate letters were engraved, just as they were when the Elder Flower was evaluated.

Velvet Mesquite (Velvet Mesquite)

Title: Sturdy Guardian of the Desert

Flower Meaning: Strong Heart

Habitat: Desert Field (★★★★★)

Field Occurrence Probability: Low (★★★★★)

Value: Ornamental, Cultivation (★★★★☆)

Characteristics: Defensive, Supportive

Final Rank: Special (Special)

The only shrub in the desert whose roots can reach underground water.

Receives a battle bonus in April.

A massive tree that can grow over 9 meters tall. Long, plump yellow flowers hang from it, creating a magnificent sight.