“Have you considered evacuating to other terrariums? To those with lower numbers, for instance.”

Just hearing it, this quest seemed quite difficult. No one has returned alive yet.

Based on my RPG game experience, it feels like there’s a boss monster holding out there. Starting with a raid? I’ve just finished the tutorial and now a raid?

“The branches of the World Tree protect us, but we too help sustain them. It’s a symbiotic relationship, so if the balance is broken anywhere, it becomes dangerous. The orchard plays the biggest role in this. Surely you didn’t know that, did you?”

“Ah, don’t misunderstand me. I just said that, that’s all. Of course I know.”

I didn’t know. How could I possibly understand how this place works? So I’d have no choice but to go to the completely burned-out terrarium and check it out myself.

As I was racking my brain in deep thought, Mesquite chuckled softly and pointed with her fingertip at the phone I was holding. Huh? What about my phone? Do you need diamonds? I’d gladly give some for you, Mesquite!

“My master, Jae. Diamonds.”

“What’s with diamonds?”

[Master! Do you need diamonds?]

“Ah! I’ll call you when it’s time to use diamonds! You scared me!”

[Master! Since you mentioned it, take more diamonds! The cart’s full, so I’m building a house with diamonds!]

[Master! But you can’t build a house with diamonds! If you stack them, they all collapse!]

“I’ll take them when I need to! Not yet!”

I quickly turned off my phone. They weren’t some kind of AI assistants, but the moment ‘diamonds’ came up, they popped out. Then the old man looked at me and said, “Why are you muttering to yourself so fiercely?” Muttering to myself?…

“It seems Jae doesn’t know. Diamonds aren’t just gems, you know. It’s about how the World Tree you mentioned protects the terrarium and how the people of the terrarium help the branches of the World Tree.”

“Through diamonds?”

[Master! Then take at least a little!]

[Master! You’re not starving because you have no diamonds, are you?]

Unable to resist their insistence, I scraped together some diamonds and shoved them at the Elder, missing part of the conversation.

“Then I’ll take it as you accepting this request. We’ll discuss the reward once you’ve completed the task.”

Suddenly, a line was added at the very bottom of the scroll: Reward [???].

With my neurosis over unconfirmed [???], I seriously hesitated whether to accept this quest.

I mean, why not just tell me plainly? People normally only move when there’s a solid, guaranteed reward. If the reward turns out to be diamonds, then this quest is a bit…

“Give me a hint about the reward! You can’t just leave like that.”

“The butterflies that came to the orchard haven’t left yet. And we’ve caught a few of them, stored in collection jars.”

What kind of code is that? A poetic expression? Suddenly, insect collecting here?

“That’s a pretty decent reward. Jae, it’s worth considering.”

“Butterflies sound good. Preferably field butterflies from the normal field.”

“I’ve never seen a butterfly before! I really want to see one!”

However, the dryads’ reactions were unusual. Why on earth butterflies? Not the fluttering insects, but equipment or item names? I waited until the old man disappeared as smoothly as if riding a moving walkway, then asked Mesquite.

“Why butterflies? Is it something good?”

“Hehe, I knew you wouldn’t know.”

Right. Even I think I’m too lacking in knowledge here.

It’s a bit awkward, but I think it’s better to try to learn than to stay ignorant.

My department professor would probably scold me for leaving my major knowledge unlearned, but it’s like how users don’t study for exams but memorize game strategies like they’re preparing for civil service exams, right? Same thing, same thing.

“If you obtain a butterfly from a normal field, it could be good for the Elder Kid and Daisy Eye. There are ways to become stronger besides eating lots of nutrient fruit or fighting a lot. In that case, you’ll eventually hit a limit. You’ll feel like you’ve suddenly run into an insurmountable wall.”

Hmm, is this about reaching max level?

“The butterfly can find dryads. It can find them farther and more accurately than I can by rooting myself. If a specific species of dryad and a butterfly become ‘honey mates,’ the butterfly will become a guide to find other wild dryads of that species.”

Mesquite paused and suddenly yanked Daisy up. Daisy, with a startled look, dangled and swung from Mesquite’s waist.

“If this Daisy Eye and the butterfly form a honey mate, just releasing the butterfly will make it flutter away to find other dryads sharing the same maternal origin. Once a butterfly becomes a honey mate, it can only absorb energy from that specific maternal source.”

It feels a bit like a pet…

“What do we do after finding other species?”

“They must be defeated and made to submit. When two or more dryads from the same maternal species gather, we call it a forest. If you become the dominant species, or king, in the forest, you gain even more power.”

I get it. It’s a system where you collect identical cards to awaken, transcend, or break through.

“Of course, that dryad will live in Jae’s terrarium artifact. So… ultimately, if these kids want to grow stronger, Jae must also work on expanding the limits of her soul.”

So my level is the problem again! Fine, whether that quest is hard or not, let’s just give it a try. They wouldn’t give a tutorial-level druid an insanely difficult quest, right?

According to Mesquite’s explanation, that butterfly is essentially a material I’ll need to get eventually anyway. By erasing the scroll’s [???] and replacing it with butterfly, it gives me motivation to work hard!

“Alright! Let’s go!”

I drew a straight line from the terrarium we were in to the 28th terrarium on the scroll. Since 26-27-28 weren’t arranged side by side but in a V-shape, we could go without passing through the 27th in the middle.

The map on this scroll was overly simplified, so it seemed like a separate map with detailed terrain was needed.

There happened to be a general store nearby. It would be good if I could get a map, and while I’m at it, I should buy some items that seem necessary for the trip too.

I already had a lot of life potions and emergency rations from the giveaway in my pocket, but since I have plenty of diamonds, stocking up to the limit would be even better.

***

“The inventory is really amazing. It’s like a magical system.”

I grabbed the robe pocket with both hands and shook it vigorously.

Do you hear nothing? There’s no outward sign at all. In fact, inside, each item is packed to the maximum possible, filled with what the shopkeeper recommended as ‘essential items for a novice druid going on a journey’.

Inside are lots of things like water, emergency rations, fatigue recovery potions, and bandages. Since water is also important for people’s livelihood on this street, I was only allowed to buy 30 bottles, saying they couldn’t sell too much to one person.

Potions are items that can’t be purchased at general stores, so I was told I’d have to buy them from people who can make them separately or from the alchemy tower.

Aside from that, I saw the number 99 quite a lot. Even after buying that much, I couldn’t feel any weight. If only the real world had an inventory too, I wouldn’t have to worry about carrying heavy textbooks around.

Actually, I used to keep all my textbooks in my department locker… but I couldn’t think of anything else besides textbooks that was the most annoying thing to carry around in my life. In my freshman year, I naively carried all the books for the day’s lectures…

It was fascinating how items popped right out of the pocket as I thought, so I repeated the action several times.

Elder, which pocket has the diamonds? Left? Right? Actually, they were in both. No, that’s wrong, why give diamonds? You already gave me a lot earlier? Don’t make that face. Don’t smile. If you think I’ll give them to you just because you smile prettily, you’re right.

The map for going to the 28th terrarium was quite large, containing all the detailed terrain, but surprisingly, Elder said he memorized it all after just one look. I told him not to lie blushing just because he has a nice face, but then he recited it fluently with an innocent expression. As expected, with a healer like him, is he a high-INT character?

My heart raced at the thought of heading out for the first battle.

Although I’m a user who switched to mobile games, on the other hand, I had a strong nostalgia for old classic RPG games.

Isn’t it amazing how the hero defeats monsters? Of course, I won’t be the one doing the beating here. I have nothing and only diamonds to my name, so even if I just watch from behind, I need to cheer them on coolly.

“My master, Jae. Once you step outside the Terrarium, you’ll encounter the flames right away. The fire is always eager to devour the World Tree. It’s very ferocious. Are you ready? It might be a tough battle. A dangerous moment may come.”

Before crossing the bridge over the moat surrounding the village, Mesquite calmed me down, who had gotten too hyped up. Trapped in her large shadow, listening to her gentle voice, my heightened spirits gradually settled.

“But don’t worry too much. I and the dryads will always be by Jae’s side. No matter what, Jae won’t get hurt.”

It seems I ended up looking a bit anxious after my excitement waned. This time, Mesquite slightly stepped aside and patted me on the back.

Bathed in the sunlight again, my spirits slowly began to rise. I had a faith that Mesquite would surely save me no matter what happened. If plants photosynthesize with sunlight, I felt like I could photosynthesize with Mesquite’s smiling face. It felt like my soul was flourishing.

“Daisy is new to fighting fire, right? Actually, the one who should be really nervous is Daisy, who will become our sharp sword.”

Daisy tensed up with a nervous expression, her legs stiffening at Mesquite calling her name. But soon realizing she had misunderstood, she burst into a bright smile.

“I’m ready! I’ll protect the Druid and defeat all the flames!”

“That’s the spirit.”

Seeing the two smiling dryads made me smile too. Good. If things could stay this great from now on, I’d have no complaints. As the end of the bridge came into sight, Elder, who had been lost in thought with a closed mouth, finally spoke up.

“Who will be the main?”