We were invited by Dandelion to the center of the colony.

She said it was like the heart where the dryads actually lived. She politely asked if we could spare some time to talk with the druid we hadn’t seen in a while, provided the journey wasn’t urgent.

The hospitality was so gracious that I couldn’t refuse. In truth, I was also curious about what she wanted to discuss with me and what the center of the colony was like…

When Dandelion gestured, the young dryads who had been huddled around and watching us cautiously suddenly relaxed. The walls and distance that had unknowingly existed between us completely disappeared.

The children rushed toward my dryads. Some looked up at the endlessly tall Mesquite with admiring eyes, bending back their waists, while others approached Daisy, who was similar in size to them, in a friendly manner.

Two children also clung to me, but the area around Elder was barren. Even the kids instinctively knew what kind of prickly personality Elder had. Elder was pretty, but his two green, frowning eyes spoke volumes about his bad temper.

The young dryads chattered away, boasting about how great their king was. And since it was the first time they had seen other dryads since birth, they endlessly asked about what powers they could use and how strong they were.

The two kids near me seemed to want to feel how special I was, since their king had treated me so warmly, but I was just the most ordinary adult here, with nothing but a diamond to my name. I felt sorry for not meeting their expectations. I couldn’t exactly brag about money in front of children.

Daisy, blushing at the children’s question of whether she could handle fire, nodded enthusiastically.

When asked what she used to handle it, she showed the dagger at her waist and seemed flustered. She appeared quite unfamiliar with all the friendly gazes directed at her.

Small flowers gathered together… tiny, lovely flowers… it’s so healing.

The closer we got to the center of the colony, the more dandelion flowers bloomed, incomparably more than before. I even thought about taking off my shoes for fear of stepping on the flowers.

Wouldn’t it be a bit much to step on the mother flowers in front of the dandelion dryads? But despite my worries, the children cheerfully trampled over their own mother flowers.

The dandelion flowers were crushed and flattened when stepped on, but then they perked up their faces again, wide open.

Maybe it’s fine because the kids are light. I have some weight, though… If I completely flatten one, would that be the end of that dandelion flower I stepped on…? Flower murder…?

Even if I tried to step only on empty spaces, the area was so densely packed with yellow flowers that it was no easy task. Seeing me hesitate, Dandelion caught on and spoke with a smile.

“Our dandelions bloom again even when trampled; they are flowers with resilient vitality. They’re not flowers valued for ornamentation in the first place, nor are they the kind that need careful tending. We can bloom anywhere our seeds touch, and as long as there’s warm sunlight and a little water, we can endure a lifetime. So even if they get a bit squashed, our worth isn’t diminished—you can rest assured.”

Even with that reassurance, I still felt hesitant about stepping on them. Could you maybe look the other way until I’ve passed through?

But Elder, who had been watching my pathetic state, strode ahead in my stead.

Watching that large figure trample and crush all the dandelion flowers, he seemed no different from a tyrant. You, you emotionless flower tree!

“It’s not like you’re stepping directly on a dryad, so why are you so restless? Want me to hold your hand?”

No, no. I’ll manage on my own. I walked as carefully as possible on my tiptoes, just trying to avoid stepping on the flowers Elder had already flattened.

And while I was making such a fuss, my dryads had already all arrived near Dandelion. This is a bit embarrassing…

At the center of the colony was a small spring. It had existed since ancient times and was so deep that it never dried up even without rain. The dandelion flowers surrounded it closely.

“Originally, this colony was much larger. Even the path you walked on was once part of the colony. In the past, dandelion flowers bloomed so densely that you couldn’t see the end of them.”

Dandelion lifted his staff high. From the tip of the staff, a mist resembling white dandelion seeds billowed out and began spreading rapidly across the colony.

“As invasions of fire have become more frequent, the size of the colony has been shrinking. That’s why fewer dandelion dryads are being born. Perhaps, after some more time, it might become even smaller.”

At Dandelion’s words, I imagined a dandelion field stretching to the horizon, then snapped back to reality with a start.

That damn fire! Fires everywhere! The root of all evil, fire! The dandelion field we saw on the way was already vast, but it used to be even bigger. And now it’s shrinking.

“Since I’m not a dryad specialized in combat, all I can do is use my power to hide the colony. But even that is becoming harder as fewer dryads are born and the World Tree’s blessing has grown faint… My power is waning, so the range I can conceal is shrinking too.”

Dandelion spoke of a bleak situation with a remarkably detached expression. His straight back showed no signs of fear at all.

“I believe it means the day I fulfill my duty under the World Tree is approaching. After completing all my duties over a long period of time, the day when I can finally return to the embrace of the World Tree is drawing near. Once no more new dryads are born here and even the last remaining dryad is sent to the World Tree’s embrace, only then will my turn come.”

All dryads return to the embrace of the World Tree when their life ends. Even if they are not dryads that bloomed from the World Tree’s fruit.

She was saying that even wild dryads born from the World Tree’s pollen go to the World Tree.

Dying must surely be a fearful thing for all living beings. Why does Dandelion seem to be waiting for it so eagerly?

Dandelion was like a noble king, but somehow I felt that the inside seemed a bit weary.

“But what worries me is that before all the dryads here go to the World Tree’s embrace, my power might run out completely.”

A hint of fear appeared on Dandelion’s face, which had maintained an unchanging expression all along.

Hmm, could the reason you wanted to call me here and talk be because of that? After all, a druid, by their very existence, can become a small World Tree, a resting place for dryads’ souls.

If I form a soul connection, wouldn’t Dandelion, whose power is gradually weakening, become better?

“Th-then I’m a druid, right? What’s called a small World Tree…. So could I… uh… take you in?”

But at my words, Dandelion looked completely taken aback. Huh, did I misread the situation?

“What a considerate person you are. I thank you for your words. But I cannot do that. I cannot abandon a single dryad here. Surely, a dryad that receives the World Tree’s arrangement would be in a very stable state. Many wild dryads would dream of that. However, I am the one who becomes the king of the Dandelion Forest. I cannot leave alone.”

“Are you saying you have a soul connection with all the dryads here…?”

Just imagining it is a bit dizzying.

“My master, Jae. You know that’s impossible, right? Your soul’s limit has certainly grown a lot. Probably due to many battles with Fire. But even if the soul size of the Dandelion children here is tiny, your soul cannot contain all of them. Even if you decide to do it, I will stop you. You would collapse.”

Mesquite’s expression, which had worn a kind smile like comforting me, gradually became very resolute. If I declared I would take in all the Dandelion dryads here, she really seemed like she wouldn’t allow it.

I’m not someone who’s just living in a dream, so I know that it’s impossible….

“It is not death from losing all my power that I fear. It is failing to fulfill my duty. It is only natural for all wild dryads to return to the embrace of the World Tree in time. Having my life extended by encountering the little World Tree is merely a very special occurrence.”

“Then is there anything I can do to help?”

Perhaps by giving away a piece of my soul. I think I heard that can be done when severing ties with a blossomed dryad. But how does one do that?

Ah, Dandelion suddenly smiled brightly. Oh, so this was the main point! I realized that the reason she wanted to talk to me was about to come out.

“Last night, someone came and extinguished all the fires around here. They must be a very skilled druid. I wanted to meet them to express my gratitude, but they vanished immediately. We could only watch as the fire slowly consumed our colony, so they are a great benefactor to us. However, there are still some fires that have not been completely put out.”

Ah, they’re talking about the person who swept through my hunting ground yesterday. That heartless person who took all my experience points.

“The more I use the mist spell to cover the colony, the faster my power depletes. If you, druid, help me, I can conserve more strength to fulfill my duty. Would you please help me? I will offer you all the rewards I can.”

With that, she informed me of the locations where the fires were still raging.

How kind of her to even mark the quest mob locations. And she’s offering rewards too! This is a side quest! I have no reason to refuse!

“I’ll do it!”

I shouted hurriedly, afraid she might change her mind.