We’re in a Relationship Where We’ve Even Promised a Date!
The elves gazed up at me with sparkling eyes, their expressions full of longing admiration, as if I were some object of envy. Or more precisely, like puppies looking at their master—faintly blind and desperately earnest.
Haha... I let out a hearty chuckle at the sight. It was troubling. Deeply so. No matter how much I insisted I wasn't the World Tree, they refused to believe me.
Whatever. World Tree or not, what does it matter?
I was planning to take them in as villagers anyway. But then...
The elves seem a bit short on numbers, don't they?
The Elf Elder, overhearing my thought, gave a wry smile.
"We have more members than this."
He paused for a moment before continuing.
"But the demon attack scattered us."
Shadows fell over the elves' faces. They were worried about the others. I was startled inwardly.
Demons...?
Something clicked in my mind at the same time. Right—the reason this novel ended in ruin.
It was the war with the demons!
It started with just Ma Energy leaking out, but toward the end, demons poured forth. Specifically, the Demon King rode a massive Ma Dragon and led his forces to invade the human realm. Humanity couldn't respond to the Ma Dragon's devastating attacks and the demons' power, leading straight to the extinction ending. I remembered raging back then about the sudden everyone-dies conclusion.
But demons already appearing? Did that mean war was drawing near? I hadn't sensed any signs yet.
I lack information.
I had no idea how long until the Demon King showed up. To survive until then, I needed to prepare somehow.
First, I need to gather intel.
To do that, growing the village came first. And the elves seemed like they'd be quite helpful in this situation. Especially since the original story described them as having exceptional craftsmanship.
It differed from the dwarves' artisan spirit. Dwarves handled metalwork and gems, while elves worked with cloth and wood carvings. They had a knack for beauty too, excelling at clothes and ornaments.
That skill will help prosper this place a lot.
I glanced at the goblins and Totori. The goblins wore scraps of leather; the Totori were naked entirely. Midgard Village had no tools either. We had spears and axes, but nothing for daily life like bowls or bags.
I broached the topic carefully.
Then...
The elves looked up at me in unison.
Stay here for now. I'll have the goblins scout and send elves to search too. Sound good?
I didn't stop there, continuing steadily.
In exchange... while living here, make essential goods for us.
Of course, five elves making items for all the goblins and Totori wouldn't be easy. But at my words, their faces lit up.
The Elder knelt and bowed deeply.
"We are grateful for your boundless mercy!"
The others followed suit.
"Thank you, World Tree!"
"Truly, thank you!"
Uh... yeah.
I was starting to fear I'd get used to these reactions. And so, the five elves joined the village.
"Kku-wung~ Kku-wung~"
The Totori led them to empty houses. As I watched, Rin leaned against my trunk with a pout.
-Sigh... It's my tree... but it feels like it's getting taken away bit by bit...
I chuckled at Rin's sulky look.
Hey, don't be like that, Rin.
Gini fidgeted before mumbling.
-Yeah! Saying it's Rin's tree-friend... that's not right..!
Rin flared up.
-It is right! I love my friend the most!
-M-me too! I love it a lot! And we're...
Gini's face flushed red.
-Friends who even promised a date!
...Huh?
I froze. When did I...?
Gini's expression hardened.
-What... does that mean?
Gini clutched her cheeks.
-You said... let's be alone next time, clearly!
-Whaaat?
Rin's eyes went wide. I was dumbfounded. No... that wasn't "alone together" like that! Just that we'd have more time like that later!
Ignoring my injustice, the two erupted.
-That's too much! Or rather, Rin was the one exploding.
-You never promised that with me!
Rin puffed her cheeks in a huff, looking sullen.
No... it wasn't even a promise to begin with...
Gini started sniffling.
-Only... with me...?
Ah, damn. I was sweating bullets inside.
How to dodge this?
No... that's not it.
As I spoke carefully, Gini smiled sweetly.
-Then... it's a date, right?
Uh... sure.
I had no idea anymore.
Gini beamed.
-Yay! A date!
Doing a date I never got in my past life, in this one. With a spirit, no less. But wait, I'm a tree. How's a date supposed to work?
She must have something in mind.
Rin groaned before shouting.
-Then next is me! Do one with me too!
Yeah, yeah.
Do whatever. In my resigned state, Kan smiled softly.
"You're quite popular, Master."
Are you teasing me...?
Kan laughed merrily at my words.
"Of course not."
He looked way too amused for that. We were laughing and chattering wildly when I spotted the elves settling in.
They inspected their house, then checked the crops around. Their eyes widened at Tori's tomatoes.
"Tomatoes... of this quality!"
"The color and firmness are exceptional!"
Tori puffed up proudly.
"Kku-wung~"
The Totori crops did look far better than normal—vibrant colors, plump and appetizing.
"We can make bowls from the leftover stems."
"Branches for cups."
The elves were already brimming with enthusiasm.
Good, they'll adapt well.
Then a window popped up.
Population has increased.
Residents' faith has grown stronger.
Believers in you have increased.
Oh, nice—Divine Power must've jumped.
Excited, I opened the status window.
Jackpot...
Divine Power shot up by 120 in one go. Amazing!
But the window didn't end there.
Important race accepted as residents.
Huh? Important race?
The elves, maybe.
Reward granted.
Condition? With a reward?
Accepting the elves was the trigger? Unexpected. Pretty great harvest, though. Wonder what the reward is.
I waited eagerly, heart pounding.
Primordial Sapling → Primordial Tree
Huh? Evolution?
No options this time?
Kinda disappointing...
As I thought that, another window appeared.
Oh! Infinite Growth triggered!
Then the window expanded.
Select from evolution options.
As expected from Infinite Growth.
Wonder what'll show up.
I waited, brimming with anticipation. And the list appeared.
"Hah. To think they'd swarm like this..."
A demon sat at the cliff's edge. Silver hair whipping in the wind, red horns. Black bat wings folded, one leg dangling as he lounged—Belluan, the demon who attacked the elves.
"Can't let humans catch on yet..."
He'd probably get scolded by that one, but it was fine.
"I got a harvest, after all."
His eyes curved slyly. He'd found elves, thought extinct. Tricky to eradicate when they hid so well, but in Pirel Forest, no less.
"Truly cockroach-like race."
No matter how many killed, World Tree destroyed—they clung on. What else but cockroaches?
"Still, fortunate."
He'd inflicted a fatal wound on the Elder, their core. Wouldn't last long.
Belluan grinned. Plans progressed smoothly, regardless of hiccups. Then—
Bzzz.
The mark on his hand glowed.
"Ah."
He smiled brightly. The signal. On to the next phase.
"Elves."
Belluan rose smoothly from the cliff.
"Can you endure this time too?"
His eyes curved even more delightedly.