“Be careful not to drop it. If the fruit gets damaged, the dryad inside will be hurt too.”

Elder said curtly. Mesquite scolded Elder softly.

“Don’t make Jae anxious. Don’t worry, Jae. Jae wouldn’t make a mistake like that. Just keep your eyes forward and walk.”

Mesquite retrieved the lance and shield she had dropped. Then she strode forward and stomped her foot hard.

The ground surged in waves before her, pushing away the horrific things embedded in Elder’s flower branches. The clumps of soil dislodged from the twisted earth became their graves.

Only then did I realize what I was seeing, and I felt like throwing up.

“My gentle master, Jae. You need to get used to it.”

Mesquite returned. Then she bent down to meet my eyes. She blocked out the horrible sight with her face and emitted a rich fragrance.

“Where Jae goes from now on, you may see things worse than that. We dryads can be as cruel as necessary for Jae. Any enemy that stands in my master’s way, even if they are brothers born from the same branch, I will pierce through with my lance. And Jae must take this for granted.”

“Nothing can harm you.”

“That’s right. My master, Jae. You are like a small world tree, the life and value of our existence.”

Elder and Mesquite stood side by side on either side of me. Using their large frames, they blocked the sight of the wretched graves around us. As Mesquite said, I walked looking only ahead.

In my two hands existed Daisy’s hope, emitting a warm light.

***

My impatient heart was captured in the footsteps heading toward the orchard. When it nearly became a flying sprint, Mesquite calmly calmed me down. I couldn’t control my desire to see Daisy again quickly.

Mesquite knew the way very well, and I just had to follow, stepping on her elongated shadow.

Elder pointed around the shop with his staff and begged me to go after everything was done. Using whose diamonds? My diamonds.

You are indeed my dryad, but my wealth isn’t yours. Elder looked at me with a pretty face and smiled.

“You’ll buy it for me, right?”

But since my diamonds are overflowing, I’ll gladly buy it. Of course, I must come back holding Daisy’s hand. I don’t know why Elder needs a singing golden bird statue.

But what if I spoil Elder too much and his habits keep getting worse? As I stared intently, Elder looked down at me with a puzzled expression.

The hood I was wearing was blown off by the wind that happened to blow, revealing my pretty white hair fluttering in the breeze. I thought a halo was shining behind me. Even if my habits get worse, my face isn’t guilty, so it’s fine. Elder’s face is handsome and pretty, so it’s innocent. I’m the snob who’s wrong. I’m the one who’s completely wrong.

The orchard, which had been as crowded as if all the villagers had gathered, was now quite quiet. That’s because people had finished picking fruit and taking care of their business and had dispersed. The area where people had been lined up in circles to get the free fruit was also empty.

Instead, the guides, who looked very tired, were there cleaning up the trash people had left behind and tidying up.

A guide who recognized me came running over in one breath. Then he greeted me politely. My shoulders involuntarily puffed up, feeling like I’d become someone very important.

My dryads, behold! This is my magnificent form!

But Mesquite kindly asked, “Jae, are your shoulders hurting? Shall I help you?” and my face grew hot.

“I’m here to use that pot, the Dryad Pot.”

“Ah, the fruit… you already have it. I’ll guide you right away.”

I saw a look of disappointment quickly pass over the guide’s face. It was the sorrow of the service industry—no different whether in my world or in a game—suffering over poor performance. But hey, I’d just used it once already, hadn’t I?

The greenhouse I returned to was still filled with warm light and fresh air. Both Elder and Mesquite looked very peaceful.

I heard the greenhouse was modeled after the World Tree. If even an imitation is this fantastical, how much more amazing would the real World Tree be?

My dryads called me a small World Tree, but honestly, I’m not sure. No matter how I think about it, I’m ordinary except for having a ton of diamonds.

No, except for having a mountain of diamonds… no… hmm, what’s bigger than a mountain? Anyway, except for having a vast amount, I’m ordinary.

“My master, Jae. Come here quickly.”

Mesquite called me from beside the Dryad Pot. I stopped my stray thoughts and hurried over to the pot. I carefully placed the daisy fruit on the sparkling soil. Mesquite’s gentle gaze followed my every move.

“Ah!”

I quickly called the guide.

“Never! Never talk about ranks in front of Daisy. Say nothing at all!”

If they bring up how normal grade is like this or fertilizer that, stirring up Daisy’s bad memories, I won’t let it slide. At my words, the guide nodded, saying they’d be careful.

Finally, the time had come. The time to see my little red flower again. The fruit that met the soil trembled softly like a chick shaking off moisture.

I think you have blinkers on. How can Daisy be so cute and lovely even as a fruit? The stone slab, which had been emitting a calm blue light, began to read Daisy’s genetic information. Countless tiny characters filled the slab.

Red Daisy

Title: A Lovely Spring Fairy

Flower Meaning: Hope, Peace

Habitat: Normal Field (★★★☆☆)

Field Generation Rate: High (☆☆☆☆☆)

Value: Ornamentation (★★☆☆☆)

Trait: Offensive

Confirmed Grade: Normal

It has been improved to adapt well to any environment.

It receives a combat bonus in April.

Small, red petals are densely layered in a lush arrangement. As the first to greet spring, Daisy has been loved by many for a long time.

The lowest normal grade is no problem for me at all. As long as the dryad’s name that slab reads is Daisy, that’s enough.

They say her title is Lovely Spring Fairy. How adorable can a title be? An attack-type dryad. It didn’t match Daisy perfectly, but it was just the attribute I needed, so fine, fine.

Just as I was about to touch the fruit with the hand wearing the terrarium artifact, the guide broke the mood and stopped me. He was worried about the limits of my soul.

“No way.”

Oh, my COST…. After blooming Elder and Mesquite, I felt dizzy like I had anemia. Hey, I didn’t think of this…? This won’t do.

By any chance, is there something like those strange candies from that certain game here? An item that levels you up when you eat it! I only have diamonds; can’t I buy a level with diamonds? Boohoo.

“My master, Jae. You don’t need to panic. Jae’s soul has grown far more than when we first met. Have you ever felt dizzy even once on the way here? My eyes have always been on Jae. You were fine. My master’s soul has already finished preparing to welcome a new flower.”

Mesquite, leaning slightly against the pot, said with a smile. Mesquite looked like a merciful god bestowing a blessing upon me. My anxious heart quickly became calm.

Tsk, Elder clicked his tongue. Hey, you knew about this? Then why did you pretend not to know? Your character…. Are you sulking again just because a new dryad is being brought in? With that big build?

“Jae, you don’t have to mind Elder’s childish tantrum. That brat just doesn’t want to share the master’s attention. He’s still immature. Having more dryads to protect the master is something to welcome.”

“Who do you think I am?”

“In my eyes, you’re still a little kid.”

Since Mesquite said he raised Elder from a young age… I guess he would see him as a child. Setting Elder’s matter aside, I reached my hand toward the fruit.

Somehow, the small, round sprout leaves seemed to reach out to me too. As my hand touched them, the pleasant thrum of a pulsing heart spread to my ears. A warm energy connected my heart and the fruit into one.

A bright light burst forth from the fruit. Small, adorable water-drop-shaped petals resembling daisies fluttered gently in the air.

The floating light gradually grew in size. Absorbing the petals, it swelled, but unlike other dryads, it soon stopped growing.

As the light faded, a small child appeared. A beautiful red flower adorned her fine, short auburn hair.

A sleek brown leather armor fit snugly against her agile body. The hem of her top, spreading out from under the tight leather jacket, resembled a little dress. When the daisy landed on the ground with a bounce, the fabric puffed out like a blooming flower before settling down.

As soon as she opened her closed eyes, that fleeting moment which felt like an eternity passed, and our eyes met instantly. There was more vitality in Daisy’s eyes than ever before.

Her much-improved appearance made me smile involuntarily.

“Druid!”

To be honest, when Daisy was reborn, I worried she might not remember me. But Daisy kicked those worries away and gave me a bright smile. Still, she seemed hesitant, so I opened my arms wide.

What’s wrong? Come, get hugged! Daisy leaped and landed right in my arms.

A subtle, refreshing scent that tickled my nose wafted from her, as vibrant as her overflowing life force. My lucky dryad. The dryad who had finally regained her fragrance. The flower that had bloomed anew was as fresh as a dewdrop.

“Oh dear, you’ve been reborn as a little sapling.”

Mesquite said with a surprised look.

“It must be because she was separated from the World Tree for too long.”

When I reached out to touch the pretty red flower on her head, Daisy giggled, “Hehe.” Mesquite walked over to us.

“I thought she would appear fully grown when she bloomed from the fruit.”

“That’s right, Druid. I was bigger before. This big.”

Daisy said, stretching her arms as high as she could. But what did it matter? Even small, Daisy was still Daisy. I was curious to see her fully grown form, but I liked her just the way she was now.

“My master, Jae. But there’s nothing to worry about. Now you are her World Tree. She will grow in your embrace. Since she’s an improved breed, she’ll probably grow quickly. She will regain her original form.”

“Do I need to do anything to help Daisy grow?”

“Just provide her with plenty of nutrients.”

Thinking about the nutrient fruits reminded me. The four duds I had picked, or rather the nutrient lump fruits, were sleeping soundly in my pocket.

* Alter ver.