The decrease in trees meant the fences that could protect against fire were also disappearing.

As the threat of fire grew, even those who had initially strongly objected and tried to stop the people cutting down trees began to feel the danger, it was said. They came to earnestly yearn for the terrarium protected by the World Tree’s branches.

It was said that the number of people cutting down and selling trees to leave the village gradually increased.

“That child, with their small hands… comforted us who were grieving. Then they said they had something to show us and led us to their home. The child encouraged us, saying they had planted viburnum berries and that we just needed to replant as many as had disappeared. After that, we went around with that child, planting berries again where the trees had been cut. The child smiled and said we were planting hope and the future. They said those who would leave would leave, and those who remained could just live laughing and happily again like before. But….”

The Viburnum covered its face with both hands, anguished. A groan mixed with its sorrow, which its fingers couldn’t block, seeped out.

“Ah… that day came. The day everything burned… and died, and left….”

Its tone was more agonized than when flames had surged from its body.

“When only the humans who no longer sold wood remained in the settlement, the merchant stomped his feet in frustration. He said his money stream had been cut off and came to the settlement every day to beg and sometimes to rage. But since we dryads chased him away every time, he couldn’t stand against us. After driving him off like that, he stopped showing up one day, so we were relieved….”

“What… happened?”

“He came in the dead of night, when everyone was asleep, with other humans who had taken his side and some strange machines. Then they started shooting fire arrows, setting the humans’ houses ablaze. They were made of our wood, so they were resistant to fire, but dead wood has less power than living wood. As the humans recklessly shot fire arrows, a great fire eventually started. And they began to… kill the people who fled to escape the fire.”

“Whoa, crazy…!”

“While we dryads were busy putting out the fire and saving humans, that strange machine felled and moved all the remaining trees. It was much faster than when humans cut trees with axes. But fire begets fire, and there was no longer any hedge to guard the place. In an instant, the surrounding fires gathered and began to grow. It was nothing less than hell.”

So this place ended up like this… because of what happened back then…?

When the fire ran wild, they abandoned the lumber and fled. But the humans in the settlement had no means to evacuate quickly and ended up trapped. The fire saw us dryads as a very tasty prey and charged at us madly. In that disaster, the child’s parents died, and the child himself was hit by collapsing debris, lost consciousness, and couldn’t escape. We had to save the child. So one of us decided to take the child and flee far away while we drew the fire’s attention. We told him to forget this place and live a long life with the child. I thought he might have been caught by the fire on the way… but I’m glad the child survived safely. After that, I used the power of my mother tree to keep the fire sealed inside the cave until now. It’s dangerous if the fire gets out.

After hearing the story of the Viburnum, I felt I understood why distrust of humans had grown so much. In the end, it was humans who destroyed everything of the Viburnum. It seemed very difficult to bridge this chasm of emotions.

Quite a bit of time had passed during the story. Iris’s party was still in the middle of the boss fight. What should I do?

“Well… actually, Scarecrow didn’t die of old age in a normal way. It’s true she died of old age, but it was because she had consumed her life force.”

I slammed that harsh fact right into his gut while he was still deeply depressed. Mesquite looked slightly surprised, saying she didn’t expect me to reveal that. Clearly, if it weren’t for this situation, I would never have told him the truth either.

“Scarecrow was just like you. Together with her Viburnum dryad, she sealed the fire inside the 28th terrarium to prevent it from escaping outside. How big was the fire she trapped? It was as large as the cliff you see over there. She held back that enormous fire by consuming her life force using the power of Graft. I barely managed to defeat it after recovering the power of the World Tree’s branch, but she was holding back the fire alone with just her dryad.”

“…….”

“The other terrariums being safe is also thanks to her. If she had fled, the other terrariums, even with the power of the World Tree’s branch, would have suffered great damage. In the end, you’re also burning your life to hold back that fire because if it breaks free, it will endanger the nearby terrariums. Even though you two are apart, your wills were connected. I wanted you to know this…”

After saying that, I glanced at him. I’m not sure if telling him this was the right thing to do. But the way he held back the fire was very similar to the state I found Scarecrow in when I answered the distress signal.

Even though Scarecrow had not formed a soul connection with him, she must have regarded him as her own dryad. Would she have wished for him to meet the same end as herself? She wasn’t sure, but her actions were those of a truly righteous person.

“In the end, Scarecrow left without ever seeing the world she could have saved by blocking the fire. But you, by stopping the blaze, can see what consequences come next.”

“Actually… what I want to protect is not the other terrariums. I’m… guarding a very small sapling. On that day when everything burned… among the fruits I planted with that child, only one survived and sprouted. I believe that when it fully grows, it could become a vessel for the World Tree’s blessing. It was the hope we planted—mine and the child’s. Now that the child and everyone else are gone, and everything has burned, that sapling is the only thing that lets me recall those happy days—it is my most precious possession. If the fire breaks free, I can run, but that sapling cannot. My body is constantly aflame, so I cannot dig it up and move it elsewhere.”

“My master, Jae. It seems the power of that dryad’s flower language is bound to the sapling.”

If the Viburnum dryad did not die, the fire would not die. For the Viburnum to die, she had to kill the sapling she had raised so dearly. But since she absolutely could not do so herself, the Viburnum dryad, protecting the sapling with her ailing body, seemed truly pitiful.

“Since you spoke honestly to me… I thought you might be different from other humans. Now that you know how to end that fire, will you kill my sapling and then kill me? I told you this was my choice, so I won’t blame you. Humans act out of greed. Even if you choose to do so for those close to you… I will be content to meet the same end as my child.”

No, how could I possibly do that! You’ve misjudged me terribly, terribly wrong!

“I’ll move the sapling for you! How about our 28th Terrarium? That was where Scarecrow served as the administrative officer, right? We’ll plant it where she lived! The World Tree’s branches protect it, so the sapling will be safe. And you come to our terrarium too! It’s a bit burned, but many of Scarecrow’s belongings remain. There’s even a portrait of her in her younger days—don’t you want to see it? And see how your child has grown.”

I could see his resolve wavering.

“Guard the 28th Terrarium that Scarecrow wanted to protect. Protect what she cherished, and witness the beautiful future of the terrarium she longed to see, on her behalf.”

“Even if I become your dryad… I will never forget my child…. I know a dryad is supposed to live only for her druid. I cannot do that for you.”

“Elder is unlucky,” he shouted, opposing such a dryad. This one caused a stir every time I recruited a new dryad. Mesquite seemed poised to block Elder appropriately, but it was oddly quiet.

“It doesn’t matter. I have plenty of dryads who only think about me. I think it’s enough as is. You can keep thinking about your child.”

“Wasting one part of your soul like that…”

“Wasting? I’m gaining a lot! We’re getting a good defensive dryad in our terrarium, not Daisy2. You said planting viburnum berries was a happy memory, right? Then plant plenty of them in our terrarium too. The World Tree’s branches are growing well, but it’s safer with a hedge around. Oh, I think I need to coordinate with Daisy2 on this, but she’ll listen to me. But if you don’t go plant quickly, the spots might be filled with Red Daisies.”

Without giving him a moment to think, he took out the unripe fruit left behind. Then, pressing the fruit toward him, he urged him.

We had wasted too much time talking. For Iris’s party’s sake, I had to resolve this matter as quickly as possible.

After a long deliberation, he finally clasped the hand I held out with the fruit. His large hand covered the fruit and my hand together.

“You’ll never regret this. I may not look it, but I’m an amazing druid.”

“Your bright, confident voice… reminds me of that child. That child used to shout with such enthusiasm about everything too…”

The cold fruit began to warm. The transparent fruit filled with a shimmering golden hue and started to emit a faint glow. The unripe fruit began to ripen with the power of my soul.

Feeling it was fully ripe, I withdrew my hand. The fruit passed into the hands of the Linden Viburnum dryad. The golden fruit, blazing intensely with presence, melted softly in his hand like snow under a warm spring sun and vanished.

As if by agreement, we locked eyes. I felt a newfound closeness to him. A warm energy spread in my chest, and I could tell he felt the same. A soul connection was forged.

I could see his injured body rapidly healing. Ash fell away, revealing a brilliant silver-white hair that shone brightly. His dying hazel eyes gleamed clearly. His face, which looked neat and slightly boyish, brightened. It looked much healthier.

“Little World Tree, who gave me new life and rebirth. The power of blessing is truly great. I wish to form this connection with that child too, but gratitude comes first for now. I will protect the 28th terrarium of the World Tree with all my might, as you wish.”

An alarm went off on my phone.

Linden Viburnum (Viburnum dilatatum)

Title: The Last Line of Defense

Flower Meaning: Love is stronger than death

Habitat: Stone Field (★★★★☆)

Field Generation Rate: Middle-High (★★☆☆☆)

Value: Timber, Ornamentation (★★★★☆)

Trait: Defender

Confirmed Grade: Rare

A fire-resistant tree used as a hedge.

Receives a combat bonus in May.

The small, densely clustered white flowers look like a misty haze from afar.

Wow, a combat bonus in May? What a coincidence! I pulled an emerald ring from my pocket, a quest reward. How perfect that I get a May accessory just as the May Dryad comes to me. This isn’t chance—it’s fate.

“This is the Emerald Ring of Happiness. As the gem’s name suggests, I’ll make you happy.”

As I handed over the ring, it felt like I was proposing. I could hear Elder squawking, asking why I was giving it to them.