Wanna Be Mine?

‘First things first, let’s check the status window.’

I summoned it up.

‘Okay, okay. New skills added, at least.’

My Spirit Power stat had gone up too in the meantime. Looked like leveling up Spirit Affinity made Spirit Power accumulate faster.

Then my gaze snagged on one spot.

‘Huh? Ma Energy jumped all the way to 25?’

It had definitely been at zero. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠The only thing I’d done was devour that queen mana earthworm monster...

‘Hold on a sec.’

A memory flashed through my mind. The black mist shrouding the entire queen mana earthworm monster. Could that have been Ma Energy?

So when I absorbed it with Nutrient Absorption, the Ma Energy stat rose.

‘Which means... the queen mana earthworm was corrupted by Ma Energy?’

Ma Energy, huh... In most novels, monsters juiced up on Ma Energy were a whole different breed from regular ones. They lost all reason, driven purely by savage instincts, turning more brutal and vicious.

‘And I took one of those down?’

I muttered in a dazed voice. Holy crap... I’m insane. Turns out I’m way stronger than I thought?

‘But wait a minute.’

Did that mean this forest was crawling with Ma Energy-corrupted monsters?

I hurriedly asked the spirits.

‘Hey, those monsters we fought last time—the ones like that. Are there a lot in the forest?’

-Tons!

The spirits shouted in unison.

-They’re all ugly!

-Super ugly ones!

-They stink too!

So that’s what they meant by “ugly”...

‘You were talking about Ma Energy corruption?’

-Dunno what that is!

-But yeah!

The spirits bobbed their heads enthusiastically. I was speechless for a moment.

‘This place isn’t just any old forest...’

A forest teeming with Ma Energy-corrupted monsters?

‘Can I even survive here...?’

My confidence started to wane.

At least Ma Energy was vulnerable to spirit power, and I could wield spirit skills.

‘Should’ve picked the Spirit Sapling after all.’

It felt like a missed opportunity in hindsight. It would’ve specialized in building Spirit Power.

‘Nah.’

I shook off the thought. Being a Primordial Sapling let me absorb Ma Energy too. That’s how I snagged new skills.

Though, that one skill was a bit...

My gaze drifted down the status window to Fallen Queen’s Pheromone.

‘Kinda... yeah.’

Then a window popped up on its own.

‘...’

Charming. I stared blankly at the description.

Yeah. Charming.

‘What the hell am I supposed to do with this?’

The only things around were spirits... and monsters. No point charming the spirits. And seducing monsters? What good would that do?

‘...Still, wanna test it out?’

I was curious. What would happen if I activated it?

I triggered Fallen Queen’s Pheromone.

‘Huh?’

Nothing seemed different. I rustled my branches lightly.

‘What’s the deal.’

I’d gotten my hopes up a little, so the letdown stung.

‘This thing a dud or something?’

I glanced at the spirits—and froze.

‘...?’

Their faces were flushed pink, like they were embarrassed or something.

-You!!!

One spirit zipped right up to me.

-What’s wrong with you?!

-You’re so pretty!

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

The others swarmed in, yelling.

-Prettiest tree I’ve ever seen!

-You’re the best!

‘Huh?’

Before I could react to their sudden frenzy—

-Wanna be mine?

One spirit blurted it out. The rest exploded.

-No way, she’s mine!

-I found her first!

-Doesn’t matter, mine now!

-Be mine!

‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠

One by one, they started clinging to my branches, bickering and tussling.

-Mine!

-No, mine!

-Get off!

‘Hey, hey, hold on!’

They ignored my pleas, too busy squabbling.

-I said she’s prettiest first!

-I said it too!

My branches were crawling with them. I was utterly dumbfounded.

‘Whoa, whoa, calm down. Calm.’

They shoved their faces close, shouting.

-Need water? I’ll get you some!

-I can cover more soil!

-I’ll warm you up!

-Cool breeze from me?

Their eyes sparkled.

-Tell me what you want! I’ll do anything!

-Me too!

Tell me!

‘Uh... uh, thanks. I’m good for now.’

This effect was... way too strong?

I mean, I’m a tree. And it still works this well?

‘Guess... I’ll have to lure some monsters with it.’

My branches drooped in absurdity. But honestly, no good opportunities right now. Luring monsters to eat would be pretty handy, though.

‘Later for that.’

My eyelids were growing heavy again. The world was dimming—I could feel it.

‘Guess it’s nap time again.’

I’d just woken up, and now this.

‘That queen mana earthworm must be the culprit.’

Big meal, takes time to digest, right?

Meanwhile, the spirits kept at it.

-I’ll slobber on it!

-We don’t have slobber!

-I can splash water!

Agh... I should tell them to stop fighting, but my mind was fading fast.

No holding out...

‘Nap first...’

With that mumble, darkness claimed me again.

Deep in Pirel Forest.

Along a winding river through thick underbrush.

“Kku-wung! Kkuu-wung!”

Round bodies with long, floppy rabbit ears. Fluffy raccoon tails.

They were the monster Totori.

The Totori race loved peace. They never picked fights with other monsters, tilling their own land to grow food and live quietly. They even helped monsters and people alike, earning the moniker “monsters of peace.”

Right now, though—

“Kkuu-wung!”

“Kku-wung!”

They were fleeing for their lives.

“Kku-wung!!”

The Totori Leader bellowed powerfully. Hurry. We have to escape—now.

Dozens of Totori splashed across the river, young ones shielded in the middle, adults flanking the sides.

Chasing them were—

“Kieeek!”

Goblins. But not ordinary ones. Black mist roiled over their bodies, eyes rolled back in their sockets. They were clearly far from normal.

“Kieeek!!”

One goblin leaped into the river with a roar. Splash!

The Totori Leader glanced back and raised its tail high—then slammed it down.

Shwaaaa—!!

A massive waterspout erupted, waves crashing over the riverbank.

“Kieeek!”

“Kiee!”

The goblins were swept away.

“Kku-wung!”

Now! Cross fast!

The Totori seized the chance, fording the river.

“Kku-wung kku-wung.”

“Kku-wung kku-wung.”

They pushed and pulled each other through the rapids, ensuring no young ones lagged.

But the waterspout had stirred fiercer currents.

“Kku, kku-wung!”

A young Totori slipped. The torrent engulfed its tiny body.

“Kkuu-wung!!”

Its mother lunged instinctively, fingertips brushing—

Shwaa—!

“Kkuuu-wuuung!!!”

The current yanked it away. The mother tried to follow, but—

“Kieeek!!”

The goblins recovered.

“Kku-wung!!”

The Leader snatched the mother back. We go. Stay and we all die.

“Kku-wung! Kkuu-wung!”

She struggled, but the young one was already drifting far.

“Kkuuu-wuuung!”

Its thin cry echoed down the river.

‘Ugh...’

My eyes fluttered open.

‘How long was it this time?’

I dazedly scanned around.

-You’re awake!!

-Finally!

-You okay?!

The spirits mobbed me noisily.

‘Yeah, I’m fine. How long was I out?’

They glanced at each other.

-A week!

‘...A week?’

-Yeah!

-Slept forever!

-We were worried!

I blinked in shock, looking around. Whoa. Things had definitely changed.

‘My view’s way higher!’

The branches beside me had grown a bit, and—leaves! Actual leaves sprouting on them. And they shimmered oddly. The mana?

‘Whoa, now I really look like a tree?’

With leaves, it finally felt legit.

Then a window appeared.

‘Whoa!’

Three at once. I quickly pulled up the status window.

‘Nice, nice!’

Level 6 already. Ma Energy steady at 25. And Spirit Power...

‘30?’

It’d skyrocketed while I slept. Probably thanks to the spirits hanging around all week.

‘Thanks for sticking by me.’

They giggled.

-Of course!

-Duh!

-Totally natural!

-Yeah, yeah!

Of course... Their words made my leaves flutter warmly. Felt like we’d really bonded.

‘Looks like I’m not the only one getting attached.’

I rustled my leaves contentedly—then paused.

‘Hm?’

Something was approaching. I sensed it through root vibrations.

‘A monster?’

I cautiously released mana to probe.

‘There.’

It was tiny, soaked to the bone. Round and pudgy, with long pointy ears sticking out.

‘I know that look...’

I’d seen it a million times. My absolute favorite character.

‘No way...’

My branches quivered.

‘Totoro?’