The Spirit King Has Awakened!

“Does a branch really help with this kind of prosperity?”

I had chosen the Elemental Branches, of course, but I couldn’t quite grasp how they were actually helpful. As I pondered this, Riri flew over to me and shouted.

-Of course it helped! Look at this!

Riri picked up a branch that had fallen to the ground. At that moment—

Whoosh!

The branch burst into flames. “Whoa?” It was actually catching fire! Then, she picked up a different branch, and it instantly froze solid. A cold chill shimmered around it. Was this ice?

“This is incredibly sturdy.” Khan picked up yet another branch and struck a nearby rock with it.

Clang!

With a sharp sound, the rock shattered. It seemed that one was steel. Khan continued, “Thanks to you leaving these branches behind, the elves have been able to create powerful fences and various tools.”

Genie, who was nearby, added, -That’s right..! When other beings try to enter, the fence shoots out fire and electricity!

‘Oh…!’ That’s a great fence. It’s both offense and defense.

‘Does that mean my branches can become any element found in nature?’ And it’s random, too? Does that mean I could eventually get things like mithril or gold?

‘Wow… this is insane.’ Random branch gacha? The dopamine hit is unreal! Of course, I couldn’t verify the results myself, but the mere fact that I could generate random loot was enough.

‘Above all, having a wider variety of materials is a good thing.’ The more materials I have, the wider the range of things they can craft.

‘Let’s see how much I’ve grown.’ I opened my status window.

‘I’ve finally become a tree!’ My Spirit Power had gone up quite a bit, already reaching 42. All my skills had leveled up by one as well. Things were looking great.

‘Now, let’s check the village window.’

Satisfaction and cleanliness were both up. ‘And the safety level went up?’ That must be ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠thanks to the fence. The elves must have worked hard.

Just as I was muttering that, another window popped up.

‘Oh? A reward?’ There were rewards for this too? The window continued immediately.

Defense, huh… It’s good that the residents’ defense increased, but how would I know? Just then, Khan, who was standing in front of me, raised his voice.

“My hide seems to have toughened up!” He looked over his body and continued, “It’s become harder and tougher! This is truly the power of our master!”

Ah… so their skin gets harder? Well, that’s good—less chance of getting hurt. I was feeling satisfied when more windows appeared.

‘Spirit’s Gate?’ It sounds like a skill related to spirits. I’d have to read the description to know exactly what it is.

‘Communication with the Spirit World?’ Does that mean more spirits can come here? The word “weak” was a bit concerning, but…

‘Should I ask Riri or Genie?’ As I was thinking that, the Elf Elder and the other elves approached.

“You have finally awakened, World Tree.” The Elf Elder said with a faint smile. “We have made various things… I wonder if they will be to your liking.”

I rustled my leaves and replied, ‘Yes. It has prospered more than I thought, so I like it. Thank you.’

He bowed his head and said, “Not at all. We are the ones who are always grateful. Thank you once again ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠for accepting our tribe.”

Then, a thought suddenly occurred to me. Come to think of it, can’t elves summon spirits too? Let me ask while I’m at it.

‘By any chance, do you know what the Spirit’s Gate is?’

At that, the elves’ eyes widened. “The Spirit’s Gate…!” “C-could it be that you are already able to open the Spirit World!”

I was slightly taken aback by the elves, who were asking with sparkling eyes. ‘Uh… I’m not sure. It says it’s weak…’

Then, Genie, who was flying nearby, scratched her cheek and spoke up. -That’s right…

‘Huh?’ -The Spirit’s Gate is literally a door that opens to the Spirit World…

Riri put her hands on her hips and added boldly, -Then that means our friends can come here more often!

Is that so? ‘Then shall I try it?’ As I thought that, a window appeared.

‘Yes.’

‘Whoa?’ It consumes my Spirit Power stat? I guess it costs 10 every time I open it. Well, it’s not like I’ll be opening it all the time. It was then.

A shimmering of five colors appeared in the air. Like an aurora. A beautifully flickering light. I was staring at the colors blankly when voices were heard from somewhere.

-It’s you!

-You’re the one who ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠called us!

-We’ve heard so much about you!

-The only tree for us!

-A being more special than anyone else!

Voices chattering away. It seemed only I could hear them.

-I’m curious!

-Shall we go out for the first time in a while?

-I’m curious how the ones who were left behind are doing too!

-Let’s go! Let’s go!

Then, something slid out from between the lights. They were small clusters of light shaped like fairies. Red. Blue. Green. Brown. Spirits of various colors poured out.

‘Lower-grade spirits…’ It was truly connected to the Spirit World. The spirits that came out flew around, giggling.

-Wow!

-It’s been a while since I’ve been here!

-Whoaaa!

The spirits were flying around, excited. It was beautiful, like clusters of light scattering. Riri, Genie, and the existing spirits were also excited and flying around together.

At that moment, the Elder’s eyes widened as he saw one particular spirit.

“…You!”

That spirit also stopped as it saw the Elf Elder. It flew over and stood in front of the Elder. It was a lower-grade wind spirit.

-It’s been a while. My contractor.

I looked at the Elder in surprise. ‘Then is that spirit the one the Elder contracted with?’

It wasn’t just the Elder. The other elves also recognized the spirits one by one and teared up.

“Pina…! Have you returned?”

“Sob… I missed you.”

“Finally… we’ve met again.”

The spirits also seemed to recognize their contractors and were teary-eyed. But.

‘Why are they all lower-grade?’ Do elves usually contract with lower-grade ones? Especially someone like the Elder should have been able to contract with a middle or upper-grade one. As I was thinking that, the spirit smiled softly.

-You recognized me at once, even though I lost all my power.

The Elder slowly raised his hand and touched the spirit. “How could I not recognize you? As long as the contract isn’t broken, we are connected.”

At those words, I understood immediately. Ah. When the World Tree died, it dealt a blow to the spirits as well. If so, the upper and middle-grade spirits must have lost their power and descended to lower-grade status.

The Elder asked cautiously, “Can you stay by my side ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠again now?”

The spirit said powerlessly, -My power might not be of any help to you anymore. Then, it lowered its head. -All I can do is make a small cold breeze.

The Elder smiled bitterly. “When have we ever been connected out of necessity?” He raised his hand and gently stroked the spirit’s cheek. “My family and my old friend.”

At the Elder’s words, the spirit stared at him quietly. Then, it slowly brought its forehead to the Elder’s forehead.

-Our contract shall be eternal until your life ends.

At those words, the Elder’s face brightened. I watched the scene quietly. Then, the spirits flew in front of me.

-Thank you for calling us!

-We’ve been waiting for you for a long time.

-We’ll do our best to help!

-Because the elves’ friends are our friends!

I also rustled my branches and replied, ‘I’m glad to see you too! I look forward to working with you!’

And so, the number of spirits in the village increased.

* * *

Inside shimmering water. Transparent water droplets floated everywhere, refracting the light. A space where water light and blue light intersected and glowed faintly. This place, which felt like another world, was the Spirit World. In the very center, a shell-shaped bed was placed. A woman was lying there. Long, water-colored hair. Her body was a pure white with a faint blue tint. She was an undeniably beautiful woman. She had her eyes closed as if in a deep sleep. Spirits were flying around the woman.

-Still… she has no consciousness.

-What should we do…

-She’s been in this state ever since the World Tree died…

The spirits looked at the woman with expressions full of worry. At that moment. The spirits felt something and looked surprised.

-Huh? The Spirit World has opened!

-Is it an intruder?

-No! This is… the World Tree’s energy!

-Has the World Tree returned?

They were raising their voices in a clamor when—

Rustle.

A sign of life appeared from the bed. The spirits, who turned their heads back to the woman, were shocked.

-T-the Spirit King!

-She’s awakened!

-Are you alright?!

The spirits shouted all at once. Because the Spirit King’s eyes, which seemed like they would never open, had finally opened.