The Tree-Killing Monster?

The next morning, I opened my status window.

It's grown like this before I knew it.

As skills piled up one by one, it had become quite an impressive list. My Spirit Power had increased from yesterday too. But most of all...

Sanctuary.

When I saw the window saying the skill had evolved yesterday, I was genuinely shocked. I'd leveled up before, but evolution was a first.

With that thought, a window popped up in front of me.

Just as I thought. I rustled my branches.

Healing inside the Sanctuary too? Perfect. I love it.

And the most amazing part was something else.

The resident window.

No sooner had I thought it than a window appeared.

So its name is Tori. Race: Totori. Name: Tori. Rhymes nicely.

But that's interesting. I narrowed my eyes. Why is its grade so high? The queen mana earthworm was only D+. This squishy rice-cake-looking thing is B+? Maybe it's potential?

The original story never showed monster stats, so no comparison. Anyway, this info suggests residents are beings I need to care for. Like family.

That thought made my heart feel all fuzzy and warm.

-We're family too!

The spirits suddenly flew in.

Yeah. You guys are family I cherish too.

They burst into delighted laughter at my words.

-That's right!

-We're family!

-You cherish us, right?

-Right?!

Yes, yes.

As I soothed the chattering spirits and checked the resident window, something caught my eye.

Huh?

Wait. Why is it 'worried'?

I looked ahead, and Tori was bustling around, harvesting all the planted tomatoes. Shoving them one by one into its fur.

What's going on?

Then Tori came toddling over. Stopped right in front of me and...

Bow.

Deeply, as if saying thanks for everything so far.

Is it... leaving? I stiffened my branches in panic.

Tori lifted its head and opened its mouth.

"Kku-wung. Kku-wung!"

It said something earnestly. I had no ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠idea what, but...

It seems like there's a story behind this...

The spirits chimed in.

-Its family is under attack!

-The Totori are fleeing!

-Tori's family is there too!

Under attack? My branches trembled.

I hadn't expected something this serious.

-I saw it! I saw it!

One spirit shot up its hand.

-Monsters with black smoke coming out!

Another spirit jumped in.

-I saw too! Yesterday, I saw the Totori gathered! They're all okay!

Hearing that, Tori blinked slowly.

"Kku~"

It let out a relieved breath.

I gazed quietly at Tori.

I see.

It wants to go back to its family. Of course. So natural...

But I feel sad. Really sad.

After agonizing, I called the spirits.

Hey, can you tell Tori something for me?

-What?

-What is it?

-Tell us!

Ask if it can bring its family here. If it's okay, want to live together?

The spirits exchanged glances, nodded, and zipped off.

Tori's eyes widened at their words.

"Kku-wung!"

No translation needed. It meant yes.

I called the green spirit who'd seen the Totori earlier.

Can you guide Tori to find its family?

-Of course!!

The green spirit beamed.

-If it's your request, I can do anything!

Hearing that, Tori danced excitedly, kku-wung kku-wung.

Great.

I raised a branch and shook it hard. Rustle rustle. Several leaves fell.

Take these.

Not ordinary leaves—mana-infused ones. They'd surely help.

Tori's eyes grew wide. Then its eyes welled up, and it slowly bowed low.

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

Whoa, whoa?

A deep bow, head nearly touching the ground. A window appeared before my flustered self.

No way. For this? I felt bad I couldn't do more...

Meanwhile, the spirits picked up the fallen leaves and handed them to Tori.

-Don't drop them!

-These are precious!

-Say thank you!

Tori nodded solemnly with a "kku-wung," carefully tucking the leaves into its fur one by one. Is that fur a pocket? Neat.

"Kku-wung."

Once all were stored, Tori toddled over and...

Squeeze.

Hugged me with all its might. I felt a small, soft, fluffy texture. A pleasant warmth.

Come back safe. I'll be waiting.

The ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠spirits flew up quick to relay.

-It'll wait!

-Come back safe!

Tori wiped its eyes hard.

"Kku-wung!!!"

It cried out like a vow. Then followed the spirit's guidance into the forest.

How long has it been since it left?

The emptiness hits already. The spot where Tori waddled feels so empty. The lone stone house bugs me.

It'll be fine.

It will be. But thinking of that small young one wandering Pirel Forest... my heart isn't at ease.

-It's okay!

The spirits flew in.

-It'll come back safe!

-The wind one's guiding it!

Wind—the green spirit leading the way.

Yeah. That's reassuring.

I shook off my worries. No time to mope. When Tori returns with the Totori, I need a big enough Sanctuary. Gotta level up and expand it.

Start with Nutrient Absorption.

As I steeled myself—

-Big trouble!

-Huge problem!

The spirits who'd seen Tori off came rushing back, faces pale.

-It's here!!

-That guy's coming!!

What?

Who's "that guy"?

-Yeah!!

-The forest destroyer!

-The tree killer!

-All the trees around are dying!

Hold on, hold on. I raised my branches.

A monster that kills trees? What is that?

-It sucks trees dry!

-You're a tree too—run!

-But you can't move!

-What do we do? Big trouble!!

The spirits looked tearful. Nearby trees dying. And super ugly, they said.

A monster, huh.

Probably corrupted by Ma Energy.

What to do. A tree-killing monster is super dangerous to me, a tree.

But... I'm not going down easy anymore.

I'm the tree that beat a queen mana earthworm!

Time to prepare.

Whoosh—!

A chilling wind blew.

Inside a grand stone building, the aged Emperor of the Valtheon Empire leaned on his throne, rubbing his temples.

The empire—no, the entire continent—was shaking. As Ma Energy spread, the land rotted, crops vanished, monsters grew ferocious.

The one ray of hope: the Oracle's Protagonist.

Everyone was desperately searching for it. And two of those "everyones" stood before him now: Crown Prince Karen and Princess Ashelia.

"So."

The emperor's low, steady voice echoed.

"Where do you think the Oracle's Protagonist is, Prince?"

Prince Karen stepped forward.

"I've reconsidered the oracle's words."

His voice was cold and leisurely.

"It crouches in the deepest place, then blooms gorgeously. 'Deepest place' doesn't have to mean on land."

Karen's golden eyes gleamed.

"Deep could mean the deepest sea. I plan to investigate the Tiero Ocean Great Canyon. With an exploration fleet, results in three months."

The emperor shifted his gaze.

"And you, Princess?"

Ashelia stepped half forward.

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

"Pirel Forest."

Short and firm.

Karen's lip curled slightly.

"Still on that? Even after finding nothing yourself."

"Haven't even seen half."

Ashelia shot back coldly.

"You don't search Death's Forest halfway. This time, proper team, deep in."

"Confident? Wanna bet?"

Karen's eyes narrowed sharply.

"We'll search both anyway. Who finds the Oracle's Protagonist first. Throne on the line."

"I won't back down."

Ashelia's gaze didn't waver.

"If you don't run first, brother."

Karen's face hardened. His icy glare swept her.

"Run's not in my dictionary. Don't regret it yourself."

The emperor raised a hand.

"Enough."

Both fell silent. He sighed long.

"Knights tied to Ma Energy defense lines. However."

He continued slowly, firmly.

"Can't delay finding the Oracle's Protagonist. Both, form small search teams. Assign some knights each."

"Thank you."

They bowed in unison. The emperor waved tiredly.

"Out."

Thud. Door closed. Outside, Karen spoke without stopping.

"Bet stands. This time, I can finally deal with you."

"My line."

Ashelia walked ahead, no glance back.

"Hah. Still so arrogant."

Karen's sneer followed, but she didn't stop.

Ashelia clenched her fist. Nails dug in.

Finally, a proper search team. Before, just a few direct subordinates, surface skim. Now, full team—I'll find it.

No. Must find it.

Absolutely.

The Oracle's Protagonist to save the continent.

Ashelia's eyes flashed.