Chapter 94

"That's because you're using a recovery-type power that you're not familiar with. If it were an attack-type, you'd be like a grenade that explodes in all directions as soon as the safety pin is pulled... How impressive!"

Indeed, you created a vast area as your domain, turning it into a deadly swamp that forced any creature to retire just by stepping on it. Your poison debuff can even annihilate the enemy if they don't have the appropriate dryad. Moreover, that debuff can stack. As an attack-type, it's very excellent, and as a recovery-type, it can also be sufficiently excellent, which is why I had high expectations.

"Look, I'm a small world tree, you know?"

"......"

The dryads always call me a small world tree. Even the short dandelion kids call me a small world tree because they've heard it from Dandelion. But Bago is an artificially created dryad, so he has almost no knowledge of druids.

"A small world tree means that the power of the world tree's blessing is embedded somewhere in my soul, making me no different from a world tree. Since dryads can't stay away from the world tree for long, I become a walking world tree for them. When dryads root themselves in my soul, I provide them with the same environment as the world tree."

In fact, I was a complete novice who didn't even know what a world tree was until recently. Thanks to Mesquite's explanations and bits of information I picked up here and there, I can now pretend to know.

Lying here side by side, talking incessantly, I feel like an aunt telling stories to her nephew, Bago.

"You are the first modified cupflower dryad that exists in me, the small world tree. Among the many small world trees in this world, I was the first to have you. A small world tree did something that even a large world tree couldn't do first."

I may have a fixation on being the first, but being the first is quite important, isn't it? It's the beginning of something.

I still have the equipment I first obtained in the 26th terrarium. I managed to stuff them into my pocket, even though it was a tight fit.

I'm wearing better equipment now, but I want to keep the exhilarating memory of when I first equipped myself as an adventurer in this world. The shop owner said he would throw them away, but I kept them because they kept catching my eye.

If the conditions are right, I want to display the equipment. The clothes Newbie Jay wore when he first set out on his adventure.

"Look, now you have information about the world tree, right? Even if it's a small world tree. Or do you dislike being small?"

Bago shook his head vigorously with his flattened head. My precious dryad. I hope he becomes confident and stands tall. If he sets his mind to it, he can do anything. Bago, walk the diamond path.

Not knowing what else to say, I just hugged Bago tightly. I hope he considers me special. If he does, he will consider himself special as my dryad.

On nights when my dryads are training hard in the artifact, I imagine a solitary flower blooming in a field of flowers, its petals reaching out. If it has the courage to stretch its roots far, it can always reach the side of the world tree.

Even if it doesn't realize it's already in the flower field, it will eventually notice when it looks around.

Surrendering to the warm body of the child and using his steady breathing as a lullaby, I soon fell asleep. I hope tomorrow will be a better day.

***

I woke up early to the news that Iris's party was waiting for me.

They were really a diligent party. They seemed to have gone shopping all day with the support funds I gave them yesterday, but did they not sleep at all?

Bago, who received the message from the inn staff, failed to wake me up alone and eventually succeeded in waking me up with the help of the dryads from the artifact.

I took a refreshing shower and had a hearty breakfast. They say Koreans have a strong spirit, and my head, which had been crying for more sleep, finally surrendered when I had some sugar.

Iris's party was sitting at a table in the lobby, waiting for me. Their dryads, whom I hadn't seen yesterday, were also standing around.

The dryad standing next to Iris looked more colorful and splendid than any I had seen before. While most dryads have hair and armor in the same color as their flower petals, Iris's dryads had hair and armor that shimmered in at least five different colors.

There was even a dryad with flower wings on its back. Oh, that dryad must be the king of the forest.

"Did you sleep well last night? We slept really well in the luxurious inn you booked for us. Thank you."

Iris got up from her seat and greeted me with a morning greeting. She looked refreshed, unlike the two men who looked like they were about to die.

"Ah, Hermas is usually weak in the morning. Japher had a stomachache because he ate too much yesterday. He suffered a bit last night."

"Oh, how terrible..."

"Rude, isn't he? He's the type who would die eating. Even though he didn't grow up without food, he's so obsessed with food. Our team is better off than other druid teams, so we don't often skip meals, even if it's emergency rations."

"Save me..."

"Even in this state, we can still complete today's mission! If we can't, I'll beat them until they do. Please watch us carefully!"

"Haha... ha..."

Iris has such a personality. Good, I like it. We were just about to discuss how to act before setting out when my dryads came down the stairs.

As soon as they came out of the artifact, the dandelion kids started bickering, so I entrusted one each to Mesquite and Elder, and brought only Daisy and Bago down in a hurry to meet Iris's party, who were waiting.

"Wow... Are those your dryads...? They look formidable."

You noticed at first glance. My dryads are quite impressive. I feel a surge of pride.

At that moment, Hermas, who had been lying like a corpse, suddenly sprang up as if he had been resurrected. He rubbed his eyes and ran over to me.

"Are you just saying they look formidable? Look at that dryad."

Hermas was pointing at Mesquite. Our Mesquite is a special-grade, impressive dryad, but he was acting as if he had seen a ghost.

"Ah, what. I've seen many unique-grade dryads. I have one too. Still, it's always amazing to see them."

"That's not just a unique-grade."

"What? You mean it's a special-grade? I don't know all the dryads... Wow! It's really a special-grade?"

It's my first time seeing a special-grade! Iris covered her mouth with both hands and let out a silent scream. Everyone in the lobby was looking at us because of the commotion. Japher, who had been lying on the floor, also looked at us with his mouth open.

We were moved to a partitioned area by the inn staff. It was a timely consideration.

When a unique-grade dryad bloomed in the orchard, everyone cheered. The special-grade Mesquite, which bloomed for the first time in 10 years, must have been a celebrity-like figure to people.

Do people always react like this when they recognize a special-grade dryad? Even though Mesquite and I usually attract attention when we go out, this is the first time I've seen such a commotion. Maybe they thought it was just a unique-grade like the first Iris did?

"It's not just a simple special-grade. Don't you remember? You've seen this dryad somewhere."

"Wow! Have you seen Mesquite before? Or is there another Velvet Mesquite dryad? Elder said Mesquite was unique."

"No, I didn't see a moving dryad..."

Hermas muttered, "It must be... Definitely one of them..." and patted Iris's shoulder.

Iris seemed to have no idea what he was talking about. She looked at the other party members, asking, "Don't you remember?" but Japher still had his mouth open, and Notos looked like he was lost in thought.

"Is it just the memory of almost dying in the desert? Don't you remember the wrong path we took to the 70s terrarium? We saw it in the temple-type dungeon. One of the ten dryad statues in front of the entrance."

Wow, a statue? What do you mean? A Mesquite statue! The others also seemed to remember at Hermas's words and looked even more surprised at Mesquite. Why? What's so special about it? Let's be amazed together!

When they were whispering among themselves, Mesquite made a long, thoughtful sound. I got the feeling that something didn't please her.

"Ah! Now that you mention it... That shield and lance..."

"There were quite a few impressive dryad statues gathered there..."

"Wow. Is there a Mesquite statue? Where?"

How impressive must it be to have a statue? What kind of statue is it? I want to see it too!