A New Leaf!
Ughhh….
My entire body ached. No, ached didn't even begin to cover it. It felt like something was being dragged up from the tips of my roots, stretching loooong and slow. Actually, it was more like an explosion surging through me.
Urk.
Growing pains. But way more intense than I'd imagined. Was this what growth was supposed to feel like?
Just as that thought crossed my mind, whatever it was started surging up from my roots along my stem.
Wha—?
A taut, pulling pressure stretched across my whole body. But it didn't hurt. If anything, it felt refreshing. Like muscles swelling after a good workout.
At the same time, I could feel my stem thickening bit by bit.
Ooh?
It was fascinating. The first time since becoming a plant that I could truly feel myself growing.
And then…
Hm?
My head… no, the tip of my stem was itching. Something was trying to sprout.
No way…
Anticipation building, I focused. Pop. Something small and chubby poked out from the tip of my stem.
A new leaf!
The tiny bud began to unfurl, slowly. So very slowly. Like fingers stretching out one by one from a clenched fist. I could feel every moment of it, vivid and real.
Shhhwick. The thin, soft leaf sliced through the air as it spread wide.
Insane…
It was so amazing I was speechless. Me, actually growing as a plant. Unreal.
Right then, the leaf fully extended. My body was noticeably bigger now.
I'm a three-leaf sapling now! Pride swelling, I fluttered my leaves.
Level 4 Reached
Sanctuary (Level 1)
Transforms the area reached by your roots into a sacred zone. Within the Sanctuary, all impurities are purified, and defense increases.
……Sanctuary?!
I shuddered my leaves. Jackpot. Sanctuary! I'd seen this in the final choice screen when I first reincarnated!
And check out that description. A sacred zone? Purifies impurities? Boosts defense too?!
Insane! Totally insane!
Was I finally getting protagonist-level cheat skills? I flapped my leaves wildly, unable to contain my excitement.
Awesome! Now I might actually survive this.
Memories of nearly getting trampled flashed back. If I'd had this skill then, I'd have been way safer. Sure, it was only Level 1, so the effect might be weak, but it was infinitely better than nothing.
Wonder how big the range is?
The description just said "area reached by roots." Focusing on my roots, I sensed it. A faint, warm energy spreading from the tips. Cozy and comforting.
Ooh! There is something!
But the range… hmm… roughly…
…Huh?
I blinked—or would have, if I had eyes.
Wait. That's it?
I checked again. Diameter: 5 cm. Exactly that.
……Seriously?
What good was a coin-sized Sanctuary! I let my leaves droop in despair.
This barely covers my own body…
Even that was iffy. It probably didn't reach my leaf tips.
Wow… just…
The bigger the hopes, the harder the fall.
No. Calm down. I forced myself to steady.
It's Level 1 for now. It'll grow later, right?
Yeah. Think positive. Tiny now, but levels up and it'll expand.
…Right?
It does grow, doesn't it?
As I mulled that over, giggling voices rained down from above.
-Whoa!
I looked up to see the spirits I'd met yesterday circling me gleefully.
-You've grown!
-Yeah! Huge growth!
-Another leaf too!
The spirits buzzed around excitedly. The blue one I'd met first shoved its face right up to mine.
-Whoa! You feel different!
Different?
-Yeah! Like… um… The spirit tilted its head, gesturing vaguely.
-Sparkly!
-Oh! I felt it too!
-Kinda warm now!
The others chimed in.
-And tougher-looking!
-Totally! Sturdier than before!
Tougher?
The spirits nodded vigorously.
-Yeah! You looked like you'd snap before!
-Now you're decent!
-A little!
Ah, they were sensing my boosted defense.
Must be the Sanctuary skill.
I could feel it too—sturdier than before. That eased my mind a bit.
Good. Step by step, getting stronger.
Still weak and small, but someday I'd be something incredible. Clinging to that hope, I drifted into sleep. Uncertain what tomorrow might bring.
Imperial Capital. Heart of the Valtheon Empire and the continent's grandest city.
Ashelia returned from Pirel Forest, trudging palace corridors with a weary face.
Couldn't find it after all.
A whole week invested, and no sign of the Oracle's Protagonist.
Maybe Pirel Forest wasn't it.
It was the Holy Kingdom's scholars and priests' top theory, but not definitive.
Head to the Great Temple tomorrow.
New interpretations might have emerged.
Have to hurry.
The continent was slowly rotting away. Demon realm gates cracking open everywhere, spilling endless Ma Energy. It blackened the land's mana, twisting innocent creatures into vicious monsters.
Imperial forces held the front lines at great cost, but it wasn't enough. At this rate, the whole continent would fall to Ma Energy. Just a matter of time.
In that hopeless mire, the oracle had descended like a miracle. The world's savior, coiled in the deepest depths, would bloom gloriously. Linking heaven and earth, an eternal Sanctuary all creation would revere.
This oracle. Undeniably describing some extraordinary being.
Dragon, they said. Divine beast, others guessed. Pure speculation.
Nothing certain. How to find the Oracle's Protagonist on this vast continent without a clue?
"Haa."
The Knight Captain ventured cautiously at her sigh.
"Princess, are you alright?"
"I'm fine. Tomorrow, to the Great Temple—"
Ashelia spoke, then—
"Ashelia."
A familiar voice furrowed her brow.
Last person I wanted to see.
But she couldn't ignore him. Reluctantly, she stopped and turned.
A man approached from down the hall. Silver hair, cold golden eyes. Handsome, but ruthlessly sharp-featured.
Her older brother and rival for the throne: Crown Prince Karen.
"Brother. Long time."
"Yeah. You've been poking around Pirel Forest awhile."
Karen's lip curled snidely.
"So. Any harvest?"
"…"
Ashelia stayed silent. Karen chuckled dryly.
"Wasted effort, as expected. You won't find it that way."
"What do you mean?"
Her voice chilled. Karen shrugged leisurely.
"You're too hasty, Ashelia. Think rummaging blindly will uncover the Oracle's Protagonist?"
"Then you've made progress, brother?"
Karen's smirk twisted.
"Well. One thing's sure: not in Pirel Forest."
"…."
"Thanks to your sacrifice, I can look elsewhere."
He continued with a mocking grin.
"I'll claim the world-saving Sanctuary first. You just sit pretty and embroider or whatever."
Laughing, Karen brushed past. Ashelia glared at his back, fists clenched.
Karen's on the move too.
Obvious. Possessing the Oracle's Protagonist meant power and glory followed.
Rumors the Nevrant Kingdom's prince is stirring.
Western duchies sent scouts. Even the Holy Kingdom probed discreetly.
The whole continent frenzied for the Oracle's Protagonist. Question was who found it first.
Somehow, I have to hurry.
Ashelia gritted her teeth. In the throne race, she was losing ground. Karen had nobles for being firstborn. She had the military.
That was it.
If I find the Oracle's Protagonist…
Everything would flip.
She resolved.
Go back.
Pirel might not be it, per Karen. But she was certain.
The deepest place.
Pirel Forest, dubbed Death's Forest. What was deeper?
This time, farther in. Places no one's gone.
She'd find it. The Oracle's Protagonist. Before anyone else.
The next morning.
What the hell is thissss!
I was screaming internally.
And for good reason.
"Keeeeee!"
A massive monster writhed right in front of me.
Damn it…
I trembled my leaves. Fight a monster with this plant body?!
Yes. Day 3 of reincarnation. I'd encountered a giant worm monster.