Must Absolutely Find It. The Protagonist of the Oracle

I rustled my leaves as I pondered. 'Guess I have to accept it now.'

That I'd become a sprout. Ha. A sigh welled up to the back of my throat. Of course, a sprout doesn't have a throat, but you get the idea. Yeah, a sprout. A sprout, that's what...

Suddenly, emotion surged within me. 'If that's the case, then don't give me those dazzling choices!'

I felt so wronged. I'd been expecting so much! Those were options that screamed protagonist no matter who looked at them! And yet, a sprout? A sprout! The kind anyone could step on without noticing!

I surveyed my surroundings. Towering trees blanketed the sky in dense profusion. The ground crawled with unkempt weeds or grass—I couldn't tell which. It was clearly a jungle or deep forest. And right in the middle of it all sprouted a tiny little me. A situation where dying any second wouldn't be surprising.

Anger boiled up inside me, and I grumbled inwardly. How could I not be pissed? This was straight-up fraud!

'You shitty system... Trip while walking and crack your big toenail.' The kind that chips right at the corner, too awkward to cut and nagging at you all day! Doesn't sound like much? It drives you insane!

I hurled curses in my mind. 'Hoo. Calm down.'

At least it wasn't all bad—I wasn't just any sprout. I gazed at my status window again.

The text next to my species: "Mana-Infused Sprout." I couldn't tell if it was a tree sprout or a flower bud, but one thing was clear—it wasn't just any sprout.

And rightly so. Plants don't have eyes or ears, yet astonishingly, I could see and sense everything around me. Probably thanks to the mana. Because of it, I perceived the sunset landscape, the chill breeze blowing in, and the tree-filled surroundings. All of it.

'But what's with the Lv. 1 next to it?'

Did leveling up change something? I wasn't sure, but one thing I knew: higher levels were better than low ones. No matter what.

I thought that as I checked the status window again. 'Hm. At least I start with one skill.'

Infinite Growth. An impressive EX-rank. But I squinted skeptically. Even if a plant grew well, wasn't it still just a plant?

'I'm tired...'

With that thought, exhaustion truly set in. My whole body felt limp and mushy. Probably from all the mental chaos today. Reincarnation, becoming a sprout—yeah, a lot had happened.

As time passed, my mind grew fuzzier. Strength drained from my entire form.

'Maybe I should sleep.'

I didn't know if plants slept, but I let my fading consciousness slip away.

When I came to, it was fully evening.

'How long was I out?'

I immediately checked my surroundings. It was pitch black, but thanks to mana, I could see everything clearly.

'A forest, but quieter than I thought.'

Seemed like I'd passed out from mana depletion. Even a quick glance around drained it noticeably. The silver lining: a short nap had restored some.

I'd have to use mana sparingly. 'A mana-infused sprout, my ass...'

Even that mana was limited. Definitely screwed up the reincarnation.

But anyway... 'Why do I feel so weak?'

I'd slept deeply, yet my condition was awful—worse, even. My leaves drooped, my head lolling lower. Definitely not normal.

An ominous feeling crept in. 'Am I gonna die again?'

No, snap out of it. Even as a sprout, I couldn't die easily.

'Gotta find some kind of hint.'

Right. 'Status window!'

It might tell me something. The window popped up—much the same as before. But...

'Huh?'

My eyes caught the status at the bottom.

Ah. So I'm hungry. In other words, nutrient deficiency?

Then what do I eat? The problem was... 'What, and how, do I even eat?'

Sprouts obviously had no mouth or digestive system.

'Ugh...'

I didn't know much about plants, but most absorbed nutrients via photosynthesis or roots. Whatever plant I was, I was probably in that "most."

'But it's evening, so no photosynthesis.'

That left roots. Absorb via roots, but... 'How the hell do I do that?'

As I sat there blankly, ravenous hunger made my body slump further. At this rate, I'd wither from starvation.

'Gotta hurry.'

Focus power on the roots? I tried gathering strength there. Felt like tensing your legs.

That's when it happened. 'Whoa?'

Something at the root tips slowly drew inward. Instinct told me: pull this up and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠eat it.

I sucked it up hard.

'Delicious!'

It was intensely sweet. Like honey, but deeper. I frantically worked my roots, slurping more.

As I devoured it greedily, a window appeared.

Only then did I realize: what I'd just gobbled was the nutrients plants need.

But... 'I just ate, and I got a skill?'

And not a bad first skill either. Thanks to it, I absorbed faster and more.

'So good. So tasty.'

My belly filled quickly. Satisfied fullness washed over me, and I rustled contentedly. Eating like this every day? Awesome.

Then another window popped up.

Eh? Just eating leveled me up?

'All thanks to Infinite Growth?'

Wait. So... 'I don't need to move. I can eat and sleep right here.'

Level up on top? Incredible already. No villages or animals nearby—no trampling risk.

'Hey, this isn't so bad after all?'

Delighted, I rustled my leaves happily.

Pirel Forest. To people, it was commonly known as the Death's Forest.

Stagnant mana inside warped all lifeforms. Thus, its monsters were viciously strong compared to other regions.

Even seasoned adventurers shunned it.

Yet, astonishingly, some entered.

Puuk—!

A dull whoosh, and ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠a massive orc crumpled powerlessly.

Thud!

Its huge bulk hit the ground, shaking the earth lightly.

"Hah, hah..."

"Ngh..."

The knights panted raggedly, lowering bloodied swords. Sweat beaded their foreheads; exhaustion plain.

"This is Pirel Forest, alright."

"Haa... I swear, I've never seen an orc this tough and strong."

"Its hide's like steel. Most sword strikes barely scratched."

The knights clicked their tongues, eyeing the fallen orc. A mere monster ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠rivaled a boss from normal woods. A bone-deep reminder of why it was called Death's Forest.

Then.

"Rest up, then move."

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

A cold, refined voice. A woman with radiant golden hair and beautiful ruby eyes wiped blood from her blade. Beside her stood the brown-haired Knight Captain.

He scanned warily, speaking cautiously. "Your Highness. Are you truly going deeper?"

The princess—Ashelia—replied curtly. "Why."

"It's dangerous. Please head back first."

Ashelia shook her head firmly despite his plea. "No."

Her red eyes sharpened coldly. "Ma energy's growing. I have to do something."

She muttered with a stern face. "So we must find it. The Oracle's Protagonist."

The Knight Captain bowed at her words. "...Understood."

Ashelia wiped sweat from her brow, glancing around. "Finding the Oracle's Protagonist in this vast place..."

The oracle. A divine revelation to the empire after centuries—like a miracle.

It would crouch in the deepest place, then bloom gloriously. Ultimately linking heaven and earth, becoming an eternal sanctuary all life revered.

That was the prophecy.

Clearly, the Oracle's Protagonist was the extraordinary being to save this crumbling world. It spread like wildfire across the continent.

'If I can claim that being first...?'

Ashelia's eyes gleamed. The throne would be hers. That was why she'd led knights into perilous Pirel Forest.

She called out commandingly. "Resume the search! Scrutinize everything unusual—don't miss a thing!"

The knights bowed as one. "Yes!"

And at that moment, not far off in the woods.

'Hm? Feels like someone's coming?'

I rustled my leaves at the faint sounds.