You're a Little Ugly!
Spirits. They were definitely spirits.
I shuddered my leaves.
Insane...
To see spirits in person, something I'd only read about in web novels!
-Heehee!
-Here! Here!
I stared in a daze at the spirits flitting about.
Wait a second.
Bluish ones, bright red ones, pale green, deep brown.
As a web novel reader, my instincts kicked in. Hard.
Those are... water, fire, wind, and earth spirits, right?
Classic cliché with their colors and all.
But seeing real spirits up close.
This is a true fantasy world.
As I gazed at them, lost in thought...
-Huh?
I felt one blue spirit looking my way.
It floated over with a poof and stuck its face right in front of mine.
It tilted its head once.
Then again.
-What are you?
It asked in a clear voice.
Caught off guard, I answered on reflex.
Uh? Me?
-Yeah, you!
The spirit's eyes sparkled.
-Whoaaa! You! You! You have mana?
Uh? Yeah...
-Whoa! You have mana! Amazing!
Amazing? Why?
I asked cautiously.
Are plants with mana that rare?
-No, there are some! But they're all ugly!
Too ugly to talk to!
The spirit continued brightly.
-But you're only a little ugly!
Just a tiny bit! It's okay! That's why we can chat!
Roasting my looks on first meeting. Thanks a lot.
Truly fascinated, the spirit examined me from every angle.
-But why are you so wilted?
It tilted its head.
-Did something hit you?
The spirit shouted with an innocent grin.
-Oh! Or is that just how you are? 'Cause you're ugly!
It blinked as if forgetting something, then yelled again.
-Oh, right! You were only a little ugly!
That damn spirit...
I barely held back my urge to snap and replied.
No. I'm just thirsty.
-Thirsty?
It tilted its head once more.
-Why?
Why do you think? No water.
The spirit blinked rapidly at my words.
-No water? Why?
It tilted its head again.
No water around here.
-Why?
How should I know...
The spirit spoke with pure innocence.
-Why?
Ah. Should I smack it?
Problem is, as a plant, I can't.
When I didn't answer, it zipped around me once more, then groaned.
-No water and you die?
Probably.
The spirit beamed.
-Then I'll give you water!
Huh?
For real? Seriously?
Before I could say anything, it hovered above me.
Extended both hands and groaned, nggggh.
Shaking all over.
Straining like it was... pooping.
After an agonizing wait.
Drip.
A single water droplet fell from its hands.
Right onto my leaf.
Water!
Just one drop, but I was overjoyed.
The droplet slid off my leaf into the soil.
I sucked it up through my roots.
Haa... I might live.
A tiny bit of moisture entered.
Just a tiny bit.
My parched body felt a little better.
But only a little—not fully recovered.
If anything, tasting moisture made me crave more. Like an appetizer.
Spirit.
No.
Dear Spirit.
I pleaded desperately (though it probably didn't show).
Can I have just a bit more?
-A bit more?
It tilted its head.
-Why?
That damn why-bird.
But this time, it wasn't bad.
Sweet-talk it right, and I might get water.
I rustled my leaves appealingly.
Still really thirsty...
-Why?
Um...
How to explain.
I need more water.
-Am I not enough?
It looked crestfallen.
Oh no. Did it think it wasn't sufficient?
I hurried to correct.
No, not that... I just need a little more...
Before I finished, it flew upward.
Wait! Hold on!
It ignored my cry and zoomed off.
Haa...
Damn. Water mission failed.
Should've just bullshitted an answer.
Worried for nothing.
Honestly, beyond water, chatting with someone after so long felt great.
Like a breath of fresh air.
Too bad...
As I moped...
-Here! Here!
A giggling voice echoed from above, like bursting water droplets.
I looked up.
-I'm back!
The same spirit peeked down, grinning.
Dozens more followed behind.
What.
Did it... go get friends?
You came back?
-You said you were thirsty! But I can't do it alone!
It giggled loudly.
-With friends, we can!
Whoa... touching.
My heart swells...
Spirits. I shall praise you forever!
As I flapped my leaves inwardly thrilled, the spirit took the lead above me, hands out.
-Let's go!
The others followed suit.
-Starting!
-Let's start!
-We start!
Nggggh.
They strained together. Mightily. Laboriously. With all their might.
Then.
Splashhhh.
Streams of water poured down on me.
Water! It's water!
I felt it soaking into the soil.
I guzzled it desperately through my roots.
Haaa...
Moisture spread.
From root tips upward.
Through the trunk.
To leaf tips.
A cool freshness enveloped me.
Whoa... finally, I can live.
Drinking after so long was exhilarating.
Like sprinting 100m and chugging ice-cold water.
Definitely felt better than before.
Delighted, I rustled my leaves.
Thanks. You saved me.
The spirits burst into giggles.
-That was fun!
-Call us again next time!
-Yeah! Call us!
-You're ugly, but we can help you!
-Yeah! Yeah!
Not that ugly!
-Me too! It'll be fun to help!
I smiled awkwardly at their cheerful shouts.
At this point, I should be grateful for "not that ugly"...
At least the water problem's solved.
Won't die of thirst now.
Then, a window popped up.
Spirit Affinity has been created.
Easier to gain spirits' favor and receive their blessings.
Whoa!
Jackpot!
Spirit Affinity!
As a web novel reader, I knew exactly what this meant.
Verbal help from spirits vs. having it as a skill? Worlds apart.
In other words, when I really need it, spirits will definitely help.
Plus, it's only Lv. 1.
Level it up more and...
I might borrow their powers?
Or contract with specific ones?
Either way, it's amazing.
Thrilled, I rustled my leaves.
Seeing me so happy, the spirits looked puzzled.
-Feeling good?
-Why?
-Why good?
-What is it?
-Tell me too!
Chaotic, but I graciously replied.
Just! Meeting you was lucky!
Got water and a skill.
They giggled.
-Lucky!
-We're lucky too!
-Met a fun plant!
-So many ugly ones here!
-Yeah! Yeah!
But.
Ugly ones?
Who are these "ugly ones" they keep mentioning?
I'd seen no other moving things here, so I was baffled.
The spirits gestured wildly, explaining.
-Can't talk!
-No thoughts!
-Huge!
-Scary!
-Attack on sight!
-Weird! Super weird!
I hummed thoughtfully.
Monsters maybe?
But not all monsters are here, right?
Should ask.
Monsters?
They all shook their heads vigorously.
-No! Not that!
-Monsters, but super ugly!
-Ugly monsters!
-Eww!
Hmm... so ugly monsters?
I smiled awkwardly.
Maybe they have high beauty standards?
As I flapped my leaves uncertainly.
Why's my head itching so much?
Specifically, where leaves met, it tingled.
Want to scratch like mad, but can't as a plant. Agonizing.
Plus, my body felt pulled in all directions.
Roots a bit fatigued too.
Imagination?
Or something wrong again?
Better check status window just in case.
I pulled it up immediately.
Status Window
Name: None
Gender: None
Race: Mana-Infused Sapling (Lv. 3)
Skills: Infinite Growth (EX), Nutrient Absorption (Lv. 2), Photosynthesis (Lv. 1), Spirit Affinity (Lv. 1)
Status: Satiated, Growing Pains
Huh? Seeing wrong?
But no, same again.
[Status: Satiated, Growing Pains]
Growing pains?
Caught off guard by the unexpected words, I panicked.