Wait, Am I... Actually a Pretty Big Deal?

It had been about an hour since I first encountered that earthworm monster.

'Morning is all about photosynthesis, after all!'

That day, just like always, I was basking in photosynthesis.

'Haa~ So drowsy~'

I was enjoying it leisurely when suddenly...

Windows popped up in front of me one after another.

'Oh!'

Level 5 already? And Photosynthesis leveled up too?

The description for Level 2 Photosynthesis was similar to Level 2 Nutrient Absorption.

But anyway... Photosynthesis absorbs mana too?

'That's way too good!'

I excitedly rustled my leaves.

Daytime: Photosynthesis.

Nighttime: Nutrient Absorption.

Didn't that mean I had a perfect 24-hour mana recharge system?

'Perfect...'

Alright, let's give it a try.

I stretched out my leaves wide. Like a human throwing their shoulders back.

Then, just feeling the sunlight...

'Ooooooh!'

It worked! It really worked!

I could feel something intense flowing in amid the warm sunlight. A sense of fullness, and my whole body surging with energy.

It felt just like Nutrient Absorption, so I knew right away—that was mana.

'Gotta power-level like this!'

I was proudly fluttering my leaves when...

'Hm?'

Something touched the tip of my root. Something slimy and sticky.

'What the heck.'

At first, I thought it was just wet dirt. Dirt can be slimy sometimes, right? Like clay.

I tried to brush it off casually, but...

Sliiiime.

It touched me again.

'...Must be my imagination?'

I tried to ignore it and focus on Photosynthesis, but...

Sliiiide.

The distinct sensation made me freeze my leaves.

'Wait a sec.'

This thing was still moving? Was it moving clay?

'No way!'

Meanwhile, I felt the slimy thing gliding smoothly past my root. Slowly. Wriggly wriggly.

'What is this.'

Just as I gathered mana to peer into the soil...

The slimy thing suddenly plastered itself right against my root.

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

'Aaack!!'

It felt like a cow's tongue rubbing all over my body—utterly horrifying.

I jolted in shock, shaking my leaves wildly.

That was the moment.

Squelch—!

Something burst ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠up out of the ground.

'Hm?'

I froze, staring at what was in front of me.

It was slimy, long, and pinkish.

'...An earthworm.'

Yeah. No matter how I looked at it, it was an earthworm. Wriggles and all.

'Jeez, got spooked for nothing.'

I lowered my leaves.

An earthworm's fine, right? I've never grown plants myself, but I knew earthworms were helpful creatures that enriched the soil.

They burrow around, poop out castings, soften the dirt, that kinda stuff.

'Dodged a bullet.'

At least it wasn't a monster. I was starting to relax when...

The earthworm's mouth corner curved up in a grin.

'...Huh?'

My leaves stiffened.

Did that thing just smile? Something felt off.

'No way an earthworm can smile.'

I blankly stared at it.

Smeeeile.

The earthworm was definitely smiling.

And inside that grinning mouth...

Were teeth. Very sharp-looking teeth that could probably chomp through my leaves like nothing.

'...'

A bad feeling hit me. Hard.

Right then.

"KeeEEEE!!"

The earthworm let out a earsplitting roar.

My leaves trembled.

'No way.'

No no no no way.

"KeeEEEE!!"

It screeched again, then—

Thud!

It plunged back underground.

And I felt it charging at me through the soil at tremendous speed.

'It's attacking!!'

I hurriedly tensed my roots, but—

Crunch—!!

The earthworm bit down hard on my root.

'Urk!'

I reflexively shot my leaves straight up!

But...

'Huh?'

It didn't hurt.

Well, I felt the contact, but no pain.

'Oh, right—Sanctuary!'

Yeah. Sanctuary covered everywhere my roots reached.

Sure, it was only a 5cm radius right now, but who knew it'd be this useful? Thanks, System!

Waaah.

'Nice! Time to counterattack!'

I didn't miss the opening.

'Now!'

I shot out my root fast.

Shaaaack—!

And wrapped it tight around the earthworm.

'That oughta do it...!'

But the earthworm was no pushover.

Squelch—!

It slipped free using its slimy body.

"KeeEE!"

The earthworm reared up and wiggled side to side.

'Definitely not a normal earthworm.'

Normal ones don't have teeth or screech like that!

As I glared at it...

'Huh?'

A window popped up over the earthworm.

Being able to see the enemy's status window was great and all, but now wasn't the time.

'It really tried to eat me.'

I flapped my leaves in rage and bewilderment.

After everything I'd survived to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠get here, was I really gonna be earthworm chow?

'No way in hell.'

I clenched power into my roots.

Shaaaack!

They shot out and grabbed the earthworm.

But...

'Damn!'

Slither.

It slipped away again.

'Again!'

I thrust out another root.

Shaaack—!

Tighter this time. Gripping harder.

But slither.

It escaped way too easily.

'Why is it so damn slimy?!'

My leaves shook with fury.

As if mocking me, the earthworm monster smirked and wiggled back and forth, standing tall.

I didn't know what it meant, but one thing was clear: it was toying with me.

'You little...!'

Before I could react—

"KeeEEEE!!"

It roared loud and dove underground.

Crunch—!!

Bit my root again.

'Gah! For real!!'

Didn't hurt, but I couldn't grab it, and it kept coming, so I couldn't stop!

Meanwhile, it slipped free again, shaking side to side with that grinning mouth.

Shake shake.

'Fight fair! Stop dodging!'

I screamed silently.

Meanwhile, the spirits watching from above blinked in confusion.

—What’s it doing?

The bluish spirit tilted its head.

—Exactly.

The red spirit's eyes sparkled.

—But it looks fun!

The sprout was shaking its leaves furiously—way more passionately than usual.

And next to it was an earthworm. Tiny, only half a finger joint long.

The earthworm stood upright, wiggling left-right, front-back.

—I know! I got it!

One spirit shouted.

The others turned, eyes gleaming.

—Dancing, maybe?

The others blinked.

—Dancing?

—That’s dancing?

—Well, I’ve seen humans in castles shake like that!

—Me too!

But another spirit objected.

—Castles don’t have those in the kingdom, though?

—True! And it’s not human!

The spirits groaned in thought.

—Still, it could dance!

They looked at each other.

—Yeah!

—Let’s dance too!

They clasped hands in unison.

—Go!

—Let’s spin!

—Us too!

And so the spirits gleefully started twirling around.

Kekeke.

Kekekeke.

'What do I do...'

My leaves quivered.

Thanks to Sanctuary, no pain, but who knew how long this would drag on?

Maybe ask the spirits for help?

I looked up.

The spirits were spinning happily.

'??? What the hell?'

Why were they dancing?

Ridiculous, but they didn't seem available for backup.

Meanwhile—

"KeeEEEE!"

The earthworm monster roared again and—

Thud thud thud!

Dove underground. Aiming for my root once more.

'Check my skills first.'

I hurriedly pulled up my status window.

I scanned the skills quickly.

Spirit Affinity—couldn't use it now.

Sanctuary—defense only, no attacks.

Photosynthesis—sunlight-related, pass.

'Nutrient Absorption.'

My gaze stopped there.

Nutrient Absorption. I'd used it on soil nutrients and mana so far.

'Wait.'

Couldn't that ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠earthworm count as...

'Nutrients too?'

It was alive, so it had to have some. And as a monster, mana too.

'...Worth a shot?'

As I hesitated—

Crunch!

It bit my root again.

No more. If this kept up, my delicate body would wither from stress.

'All or nothing!'

I focused everything into my root.

Nutrient Absorption. Not on the soil—on this guy.

Sluuuuurp—!

'Huh?'

Something got sucked in.

Unlike soil nutrients—way richer. Thick, stimulating...

And...

'Spicy?'

A pungent spread.

'Kyaa...!'

Delicious. Like slurping a spicy hangover soup.

I sucked mindlessly.

More. More. More.

Sluuuuurp!

The earthworm thrashed.

"Keeek...!"

It struggled, but couldn't escape this time.

'Yes! This is it!'

So tasty!

I kept absorbing wildly until—

Crumble.

A sound from its body.

'Hm?'

Crumble crumble.

The earthworm just...

Fell apart.

'...'

I stared blankly at the debris around my roots.

'Uh... Didn't mean to kill it.'

Kinda sorry.

Then—

'!!!!'

I blankly stared at the window.

Land of Abundance. Enriches soil where my roots reach.

The skill synergized well with Nutrient Absorption, but that wasn't what filled my mind.

'Skills from killing monsters?'

I recalled what happened.

Killed the earthworm monster → got a skill.

Earthworm's role: enriches soil.

New skill: same vein.

'Do I steal monsters' skills on kill?'

Jackpot...

My leaves slowly rose.

Me... way more of a big deal than I thought?