Am I... Evolving?

Whatever it was, it was a total jackpot.

Truly, from the bottom of my heart.

'Look at that skill name. Land of Abundance!'

I shuddered my leaves in excitement.

The name alone was badass, right?

I checked the description.

Honestly, the skill itself wasn't a huge help to me.

But.

Once Land of Abundance makes the soil fertile, it'll massively boost Nutrient Absorption.

'Better nutrient absorption means faster leveling.'

This was a linked skill! A combo!

Thrilled, I pulled up my status window.

'Kyaaah... This is no joke!'

I already had six skills?

'Sure, Infinite Growth was there from the start...'

But that was EX level, no less. No description, so I had no clue how high that was, but my web novel otaku instincts screamed it was insanely rare.

'Excluding Infinite Growth, the rest are skills I earned myself!'

Puffed up with pride, I casually opened the Nutrient Absorption description.

'Just a simple skill for absorbing nutrients and mana...'

But.

'Huh?'

I froze as I read the Nutrient Absorption description.

'What's this?'

And for good reason.

'The description changed.'

The original for skill Nutrient Absorption was clearly:

But now the window showed:

I stiffened my leaves.

New content had been added.

'Chance to acquire skills from absorbed lifeforms...'

That confirmed it. The sudden Land of Abundance skill came from Nutrient Absorption.

And moreover.

'Higher skill levels increase skill acquisition probability.'

In other words, as Nutrient Absorption leveled up, I'd collect more skills.

'It's amazing, but...'

Why did the description suddenly change? The earthworm didn't tweak it, did it?

I narrowed my eyes—figuratively—and slowly scanned the entire status window again.

Infinite Growth, Nutrient Absorption, Photosynthesis, Spirit Affinity, Sanctuary, Land of Abundance...

'Hmm...'

One hypothesis popped up.

'Could it be because of Infinite Growth?'

Infinite Growth. EX level.

My gaze locked right on the name.

'No way...'

I cautiously followed the thought.

Infinite Growth. If it meant truly infinite growth...

'Doesn't that mean it can evolve skills too?'

For example, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠like Nutrient Absorption. It started as just absorbing nutrients, but Infinite Growth kicked in and added a new effect.

Like meeting certain conditions upgrades the skill itself.

'Whoa. If that's real, it's insane.'

Not just levels going up, but skills evolving?

I flapped my leaves in excitement.

Thoughts spiraled.

Then what about the other skills? Photosynthesis or Sanctuary?

'Those could change too, depending on conditions.'

I didn't know the conditions yet, but this was a massive discovery.

Around then, the spirits flew in.

-Done?

-Finished the dance?

-Was it fun?

-We had a blast!

I had no idea what dance they did, but to the giggling spirits, I urgently blurted it out.

I had to brag about this epic revelation.

'Hey! I discovered something huge!'

-Yeah?

-What is it?

-Something fun?

-What? What?

'Well...'

Just as I was about to explain.

'...Huh?'

My eyes suddenly grew heavy.

'Why am I so sleepy all of a sudden?'

Weird. I'd been locked in mortal combat with the earthworm earlier, totally wired.

The excitement hadn't even faded, but drowsiness crashed over me?

No way.

'Post-meal coma?'

They say you get sleepy after eating. I'd absorbed a ton of earthworms—that counted as a meal?

Thoughts blurred.

The spirits blinked at my pause, urging me on.

-What is it?

-Tell us!

-Spill it!

-I'm dying to know!

'No... it's...'

I wanted to speak, but my vision darkened.

I had to tell them... I had to brag how awesome I was...

My eyes. Kept. Closing.

My leaves drooped slowly.

'Wait. Just a bit longer...'

In my fading mind, the spirits' distant voices echoed.

-Hey! Heyyy!!

-What's wrong!

-You okay?!

-What do we do!! What do we do!!

The spirits seemed to be screaming at the top of their lungs.

But I couldn't respond.

Too sleepy.

'Later...'

With that mumble, my vision went completely black.

Clack. Clack.

Quick footsteps echoed down the long corridor of the Great Temple.

"This way."

The leading priest spoke politely.

"The Saintess prays in the prayer room at this hour every day. You'll be able to speak with her right away."

"I see."

A curt reply. Golden hair like molten sun flowed past as she walked the hall.

It was the First Imperial Princess, Ashelia.

The priest cautiously spoke again.

"If there's a message to relay ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in advance..."

"No need."

"Ah... Understood."

The priest fell silent, matching her stride.

Ashelia's gaze stayed fixed ahead.

This wasn't her first time at the Great Temple.

But the feeling was always the same.

'What a hassle.'

Lofty ceilings. Walls lined with statues of the gods. An oppressively pious atmosphere.

For someone like her, without deep faith, just being here felt suffocating.

Then the priest halted.

Before a massive door.

"Here."

The priest quietly opened it.

Whoosh—!

Light poured out.

Ashelia instinctively narrowed her eyes.

The prayer room, bathed in sunlight streaming through ceiling-high windows.

In its center.

A woman knelt.

Long pink hair cascading over her shoulders. A white veil atop it glowed softly in the sun.

Clad in pristine saintess robes, she clasped her hands neatly, eyes closed.

She looked like a painting plucked from a divine realm.

So serene.

So holy.

Ashelia stared silently.

The priest spoke cautiously.

"Saintess. A guest has arrived."

Silence lingered.

Then.

Slowly, her eyes opened, revealing clear, deep sky-blue irises.

She was the protagonist of Kiss at the Saintess's Feet.

The Saintess, Lillia.

Lillia's lips parted carefully.

"...The Oracle's Protagonist."

Her voice was low and quiet.

"Has been threatened."

Ashelia's eyes narrowed.

"What?"

She stepped forward reflexively.

The priest gasped sharply.

"I-Is that the voice of the gods?!"

His voice trembled.

"We must inform the High Priest at once..."

He bolted from the prayer room without finishing.

Bam.

The door shut.

Only two remained.

Ashelia spoke first.

"Threatened."

Her voice was icy cold.

"Does that mean the Oracle's Protagonist nearly died?"

Saintess Lillia rose slowly.

She met Ashelia's gaze.

"I cannot say precisely."

Her eyes were steady.

"But... it seems they overcame it."

Ashelia's face hardened.

A threat. The world's sole savior nearly perished.

'Demons, perhaps.'

Her mind raced.

'Or humans who've fallen to demonic influence.'

Either way, bad news.

"We must find them immediately."

Ashelia muttered lowly.

They had no idea.

The threat to the Oracle's Protagonist was just baby earthworm monsters.

Then, a faint smile touched Lillia's lips.

"So..."

"Hm?"

"Why have you come all this way, Your Highness? I sent word that no further interpretations of the oracle have emerged."

"Am I unwelcome?"

"Of course not."

Lillia's eyes curved softly.

"I'm merely curious why the Empire's princess would make such heavy steps here."

Ashelia eyed her a moment.

Then.

Pfft. A short laugh.

"Such flowery words."

"They're useful now and then."

The Empire and Holy Kingdom were allied to save the continent.

First Princess Ashelia said bluntly.

"I'll be quick. I'm here to relay a discovery from the palace."

"A discovery?"

Lillia's eyes sparkled.

Did she learn something about the Oracle's Protagonist?

Ashelia crossed her arms.

"I've uncovered the elves' final destination."

Lillia's eyes widened.

"The elves?"

"Yes."

The alliance shared ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠two pieces of intel: info on the Oracle's Protagonist, and on the elves.

Once, a race could purify Ma Energy: the elves.

They revered the World Tree as mother, dwelling in forest corners.

But after the World Tree died, not one remained.

Whispers of extinction.

'If even one is found...'

We might learn to counter Ma Energy.

"An adventurer witnessed them all moving toward one place simultaneously the night before they vanished."

Ashelia's voice lowered.

Lillia swallowed.

Quietly asked.

"...Where?"

Ashelia paused.

Then spat it out.

"Pirel Forest."

The forest Ashelia had suspected housed the Oracle's Protagonist from the start.

Death's Forest.

That forest.

Was linked to the elves too.

'...Huh?'

My eyes opened.

'How long did I sleep...'

My body felt stiff, like I'd been out a while...

But...

'What?'

My view was different.

The same landscape, but everything had changed.

'Hold on.'

I blankly surveyed around.

Grass at eye level was far below.

A nearby pebble was at my roots.

Distant trees felt much closer.

Uh. Uhh?

A good meter tall at least. Way past sapling size.

'I've grown huge!!!'

I shuddered my leaves.

But.

'Mommy!'

What was this?

Not leaves anymore?

The leaf-pairs like arms were gone.

Now...

'I... I have branches!!!'

Short ones, but branches.

That meant.

'I'm a tree!'

Well, better than flowers that wilt quick... yeah.

Anyway.

'This happened while I slept?!'

Woke up as a sapling tree? Does that even make sense?

'Status window first.'

But.

'Huh?'

No status window. A different one appeared.

Jackpot.

'Am I... evolving?'