Usually, when you end up in a strange place, you’d worry about getting home first… But since the thought crossed my mind that this might be inside a game, this crazy curiosity of mine stubbornly wanted to confirm whether my hypothesis was true.

In a lifetime, who gets to have such an amazing experience? Huh? You might not believe it, but this would be a goldmine to write about in a resume!

Watching the bowl quickly empty, I sneakily scooped my portion of meat over to her. Daisy ate so well it brought a smile to anyone watching.

“Please give us a glass of water too!”

Come to think of it, there wasn’t even the basic water you usually get at a restaurant. I raised my hand to call the owner at the counter, and she immediately looked troubled.

“Oh dear, I’m so sorry. Lately, our village has been short on water, you see. Ordering a bottle of water comes with an extra charge…”

I think Daisy said something similar. That the ‘fire’ was drying up the wells.

“How much do I need to pay?”

The owner discreetly held up one finger. One diamond, I assume? I took a diamond out of my pocket and handed it to her. Then, I was able to receive a bottle of water.

The bottle, about the size of a cola bottle, was filled with lukewarm water. A cup came out alongside it. I poured water into the cup and handed it to Daisy. When I told her to drink slowly so she wouldn’t choke, Daisy looked as if she’d never imagined I would hand her a cup.

“Go ahead, drink up.”

Even when urged, Daisy only stared at the cup and couldn’t bring herself to touch it.

“It’s too much for me. I’m being treated better than the people who fixed the village fence all day today…”

“It’s fine, because you’re helping me even more than that.”

The child managed to touch the cup but couldn’t drink easily. Instead, her face filled with unease, and only an awkward air hung between us.

“Actually, this is a secret…”

I deliberately glanced at the counter and leaned closer to the child. Then, cupping my hands around my mouth, I whispered in a small voice.

“I’m really rich (in the ‘Infinite Diamond’ game), and since I live only using the diamonds I’ve saved up (in the ‘Infinite Diamond’ game), I don’t know much about the ways of the world (especially in this world). I’ve been sheltered (I only tapped in Infinite Diamond).”

“I-Is that so?”

“Since I’m ignorant, I might get scammed, right? I was hoping you could help me. What if I asked someone else and they were greedy, eyeing my diamonds and harming me?”

“Th-That would be terrible!”

“There’s so much I don’t know that I’ll probably be a huge bother to you. That’s why I’m being nice to you in advance.”

“A bother? Not at all! I’d just be explaining what I know!”

Right, right. Daisy’s gaze seemed to shift a little, but with this, the diamonds popping out of my pocket could be roughly explained. I subtly swapped Daisy’s now-empty bowl with my full one.

“Since talking a lot takes energy, make sure to eat your fill.”

“Yes! I’ll eat a lot and be helpful to the Druid!”

Only then did Daisy drink some water and start wielding the spoon again diligently. When she was about to finish the bowl, I spoke up again.

“Where’s your house? As it gets dark, your parents might worry, so I thought it’d be better to contact them or talk near there.”

“I don’t have a home or parents. I sleep at the village community hall nearby, so it’s fine. They keep it open all the time for kids like me who are orphans.”

This was an unexpected answer. I felt like I’d been hit with cold water. What if I had touched Daisy’s wounds?

“Uh… I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay. There are a lot of kids like me in the village. We all lost our parents due to the fire.”

“Speaking of which, could I hear about that fire? Everything you know.”

This must have been common knowledge. The child’s face went blank for a moment, as if wondering why I was asking such an obvious thing.

I tried my best to appear nonchalant and subtly avoided his gaze. How should I rephrase my question? Should I have been more roundabout?

Fortunately, the child seemed to have come to a conclusion in their mind about my question. They smacked their lips, put down the spoon, and let out a hum, clearing their throat to organize what they wanted to say to me.

“This village is directly influenced by the World Tree, so attacks of fire are less severe here. But if you step even a little outside the village, fire will attack you. You know that only the Dryads born from the World Tree can subdue the fire, right?”

“Of course, of course. Dryads.”

I don’t know—Dryads. I know about dry ice… But I nodded nonchalantly, pretending I already knew about Dryads.

“As a temporary measure, we’ve dug a moat around the village and put up a fence made of non-flammable metal, but it’s just a stopgap. If the Druids don’t lead the Dryads to drive back the fire and reduce its numbers each time, we’ll inevitably suffer great damage. I’ve heard that the neighboring village not far from here was already burned down by the fire.”

So ‘fire’ is indeed the right word. But they’re talking about fire like it’s a monster. Whoa, is it really something like a monster? This feels like a real game.

“I suddenly got curious—why can only the Dryads subdue the fire? Oh, this is just from a knowledge-seeking perspective, so don’t misunderstand. I tend to think about this kind of thing.”

“That’s probably because they were born from the World Tree, isn’t it? Ordinary plants can’t overcome fire, but the Dryads born from the World Tree have special powers.”

So, are Dryads like those flashy illustrated characters on the pre-registration page I saw on my friend’s phone? Like the mercenaries you get from gacha pulls.

Oh, slotting it in like that makes sense. This place is like a starter town for newbies. Since I’m thinking of it as a game system, all that’s left is the unfamiliarity of a newbie just starting the game.

Wow, my heart was racing. Even though I don’t like card gacha games, I do love games in general and play them hard, so I got excited.

Can I level up here and stuff like that? I’m totally hyped. What’s the end goal? Are there achievements too? Do I have to beat a boss? Plus, I’m rich, right?

Isn’t this like using a cheat code to set my diamond count to infinite and playing as a bug user? Whoa, just thinking about it gives me chills. If only I could have a cigarette in my mouth and punch the air, it’d be even more awesome.

I covered my mouth and groaned to calm my excitement. What do I need to do first to beat monsters? Can I learn skills too? Who can I learn from? Can I shoot fire and water from my hands or something?

“Um… Druid. I understand that you might feel scared as you’re about to embark on an adventure. But isn’t this kind of like the destiny of Druids? I’ve always supported your noble spirits!”

Daisy misunderstood my actions and said something very cute. I calmly took a deep breath. I didn’t want to seem like a crazy woman.

“Ahem. Yeah, it’s getting a bit scary like you said. But you know, I’m so scared that I’m a bit out of it. What should I do first tomorrow?”

Daisy clearly said tomorrow was the right time. She said the World Tree bears fruit tomorrow. So it means the adventure starts tomorrow. Should I go find an NPC who gives beginner quests? Or do I need to learn basic skills first?

“You should wake up early and go to the orchard.”

That orchard can’t be the one I know, right? It’s not like an orchard where you pick apples and pears, is it? Could this game actually be a farm management game where you grow and harvest fruit instead of diamonds?

“Of course, right? There must be something I have to do at the orchard. But I’m confused about what to start with there. Don’t misunderstand. This is my first time at the village’s orchard, you know? I don’t even know the way.”

“Oh, right! I made a mistake. It probably won’t be too different from the orchards in other villages. You just take a number and wait. I’ll show you the way tomorrow!”

The explanation can’t end there! I tried my best to beat around the bush, but how can you cut me off like that? I’ve taken numbers and waited at the bank before, but I’m not going to an orchard to deposit money. Daisy smiled brightly, not understanding my feelings.

“Is there anything else you’re curious about?”

I had a mountain of things to ask, but I ended up not knowing what to actually ask. Even if you shove all sorts of FAQs or guides at a newbie who just started the game, would it even register?

There are hundreds of released games, and even if the terms used are the same meaning, they differ, so you don’t know until you experience it yourself and have questions. Still, I couldn’t waste this opportunity.

What if I send Daisy away and suddenly think of something else? I prefer it when Daisy rambles on her own, and I can ask questions based on the keywords I pick up from that.

“Like you said, I’m suddenly a bit tired. But I still have a lot of questions. I really need your help…”

I casually brought it up.

“Then I’ll wait until you have questions!”

“Well, it’s starting to get dark now. Wouldn’t it be dangerous for a little girl to walk around alone at night?”

“I’ll be fine!”

Is the security in this village good? No, even in our country, known for good security among many nations, violent incidents happen almost every day.

“Do you really have to go back to the village hall you mentioned today?”

“Hmm, not exactly.”

“Then how about staying with me at this inn for a night?”

Oh dear, my suggestion seems to have been a bit too strong. The child’s face turns pale. I feel like I’ve become a bad adult.

But still, isn’t this a bit better than the village hall where we all live together?