The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 11



Only Noblemtl

Episode 11. Can I see you again?

Clang!

You’ve probably heard many stories about flowers blooming through asphalt.

Even concrete, which is difficult to scratch with human strength, is strong enough for plants to take root and grow in it.

The branches of the World Tree spread out layer by layer, digging into cracks in the ground.

I licked my dry lips.

‘You only get one chance.’

As I pulled out the bundle of stems abruptly, I felt the World Tree getting tired.

It has to be finished in one go.

The guy found me when I was finishing my work.

“Wow!”

The boy’s cry was like that of a wild beast.

Just hearing it made my ears shiver and my flesh tingle.

I resisted the goosebumps running down my skin and stretched my aching limbs.

“Come at it.”

Boom! Kwung!

Showing off his incredible strength, the giant lump of flesh broke through all the walls blocking its path.

The aftermath alone shook the building and fell debris hit my cheek.

I focused on the guy’s movements without avoiding them.

Boohoo!

As expected of a creature of such a large size, its movements were slow rather than swift.

I saw two fists raised in front of me.

‘It’s impossible to stop it.’

Differences in strength that arise from weight classes.

You would end up dead in a tangle, or if you were lucky, with both arms crippled.

It is a given that this should be avoided.

One thing to consider was timing.

If I was late, I would get hurt, and if I was early, the trap wouldn’t be effective.

That’s why I took out insurance in advance.

Click!

I snapped my fingers as if I was playing a stringed instrument.

The branches of the World Tree that had been tearing through the cracks in the floor began to sway once again.

“Wow!”

The guy let out a bewildered voice.

Suddenly, one of my feet sank.

Boohoo!

The fist, out of balance, deviated greatly from its trajectory.

The wind pressure from the downward fist pushed my body back.

But the damage I suffered was zero.

The guy’s attack was meaningless as he was slammed into the ground.

Damn it!

The guy who got up from the broken floor and ran around with me as the center.

This time it didn’t stop at a small range.

The deepening shadows spread out in all directions like a runaway storm.

Kookung!

“… … !”

Even though I lost my reason, did my instincts warn me of danger?

The guy who realized something was strange started to back away hesitantly.

“It’s late.”

With that size, destruction was quicker than avoiding it.

The pre-existing cracks could not withstand the enormous impact.

Gurrrrrr!

The floor crumbled and shattered like shards of glass.

The body, having lost the ground it could support, was momentarily freed from gravity.

“Wow!”

The guy’s two arms and legs were flailing in the air.

A hastily outstretched arm grabbed the pillar, but this only hastened the collapse.

Knock knock!

“… … !”

Even the steel bars he had been holding onto were ripped off, and the guy’s massive body fell endlessly toward the ground.

***

Gurrrrrr!

Dust rose up from a huge hole in the floor.

My nose was itchy because of the acrid dust.

It was a sight that looked like a small volcano had erupted.

I hung on a branch that stretched far out, and only then carefully descended after the aftershock had subsided.

“… … It’s become quite a mess.”

From the top to the very bottom.

The goblin’s gigantic body, having experienced free fall, was so crushed that it was difficult to recognize its shape.

Kwajik!

The dangling rebar fell and lodged itself in the middle of the guy’s body.

A huge amount of blood flowed out like a stream, as big as the giant’s body.

The feeling of the soles of shoes sticking so sticky is horrible.

But it was bearable in the sense that there was evidence of having taken the guy down.

“That bastard.”

As I got closer, I muttered in disgust.

Muscles buried in the rubble twitched intermittently.

It means that even though they look like they are dying, they are not dead.

Is it possible to survive with your whole body destroyed like that?

No matter how wild he was, I wondered if he was really human.

The word monster was exactly right.

Thud! Thud!

I climbed up the guy’s mangled flesh.

The squishy feeling felt like I was stepping on mud rather than flesh.

“How do I finish this guy?”

I said and frowned.

Flesh that loses control of contraction and expansion and melts away.

“I feel like I need to break your heart… … .”

I was reluctant to actually put my hand into the flesh.

‘If we make contact, who knows what will happen.’

The black magician’s test subjects were often poisoned.

It was necessary to be on guard as it was not even certain whether it was a harmony caused by a piece of the spirit’s cocoon.

It is best to avoid any possible risks.

“I should bring a weapon.”

If you search the goblin’s corpse, you will find weapons scattered around.

It would be impossible for it to withstand being inserted into the body and having current directly passed through it.

“The World Tree points to itself.”

“… … ?”

Now that I think about it, I have an extra hand.

Whip stem.

Since it was regenerative, there was no need to worry about any harm.

The World Tree tore apart the body of the goblin that had gone berserk first, as if it had asked for my permission.

The tip of the eggplant pricked the flesh, then came out with something hanging from the tip.

“The World Tree retrieves the fragments of the spirit’s cocoon.”

As expected.

A piece of the spirit’s cocoon was found in the guy’s body.

‘… … ?’

But it was somehow different.

Unlike the pieces I had recovered, it looked like it had been touched by human hands.

A strange circuit was drawn on the scaly surface.

Blue light raced along the circuit in the intermittently glowing glass tube.

The sight of it shining brightly and then darkening repeatedly looked like a human heart beating.

“The World Tree tears the packaging in annoyance.”

packaging?

no.

That’s not something to be expressed with such cute words… … .

Gulp!

The thoughts that had been continuing were cut off as soon as the footsteps shook.

As the piece of the spirit’s cocoon was recovered, the goblin’s body began to flow like liquid.

Seeing that there was no sign of life, it seemed like he was finally dead.

‘So does this mean that the spirit’s talisman fragments are related to the goblin’s rampage?’

However, it was not the harmony caused by the spirit’s shard itself.

Although it shows signs of that, what made it so extreme was the circuit on the surface that the World Tree broke.

Chuuk!

The world tree, which had been torn apart and torn apart by a complex circuit, sagged.

It seemed like he finally ran out of strength.

At the same time, the pieces of the spirit cocoon that the World Tree had been keeping were combined.

“All the spirit’s quilt pieces have been recovered.”

“The spirit’s cocoon is completed and new life is conceived.”

“The energy of the World Tree stimulates the spirit’s core.”

“The spirit’s hatching.”

“… … !”

The completed gochi began to pulsate, and soon a huge crack appeared in its center.

A bright light emanated from within it.

A halo of light unraveled like a thread unraveling, and a brilliant light dyed the air like paint spreading across water.

The wind that passed through my body conveyed a warm feeling.

It was a hand that caressed my whole body and relieved my tension.

I could instinctively tell what the halo was from its mysterious feel.

“government ordinance……?”

The halo of light that had been as bright as a single light bulb split into three or five spots.

A cluster of faint lights.

It was a sight created by small spirits coming together.

“Ugh.”

I covered one side of my face from the sudden sunlight.

Sunlight was streaming in through the window frames, which had previously been covered in dark shadows.

The spirits that had been dancing around the World Tree dispersed in groups of three or five.

They burrow into the ground, nest in buildings, and perch on plants.

Hwaaaa!

The plants sprouted along the halo of light that burned the darkness.

The withered moss and ivy vines regained their green vitality under the sunlight, as if time had been turned back.

Dozens of flower buds bursting into bloom, breaking through the concrete.

The stems and leaves grew rapidly, like a wound clock, and covered the entire area.

The faint light emitted by the spirit served as a light, illuminating the area blue.

It was as if I had set foot on a remote mountain range that had been untouched by human hands for a long time.

The green vegetation extended beyond the interior of the building and beyond the horizon.

“… … .”

I couldn’t open my mouth.

My whole body trembled with excitement and emotion.

The refreshing scent of grass, the sight of beautiful flowers, and the feel of rich soil stimulated the five senses.

“The World Tree breathes comfortably.”

The world tree that had been sagging has regained its energy.

Joy, relief, gladness, satisfaction… … .

The feeling of arrogance that the World Tree must be feeling flashed through my mind.

And the emotion I felt was not much different from that.

Regardless of my personal preferences.

The sight unfolding before my eyes was a work of art in itself.

“ah.”

But the miracle did not last long.

The plants began to wither as quickly as they had grown, sinking deep into the ground.

But I could feel it.

Those plants have not just dropped their last leaves, they have taken full root in the ground.

“The resurrected spirits return to Mother Nature!”

“The surrounding nature is rejuvenated!”

“As a druid, you have restored a part of Mother Nature!”

“Your natural affinity increases!”

“The spirit returns to the bosom of the World Tree!”

“The World Tree is Growing!”

“Each spirit possesses special powers.”

“Natural affinity gives special stimulation to spirits, promoting awakening.”

“… … .”

Messages kept coming to my mind, but they were already out of my interest.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

Gentle, refreshing air that fills your lungs.

The scene from just a moment ago came back to me vividly, like a seal stuck behind my eyelids.

A feast of colorful colors painted over the monotonous gray-white color scheme.

The embrace of Mother Nature, felt with all five senses.

I sat quietly with the World Tree for a while, reminiscing about the beautiful scenery.

***

Mother Nature was not restored in a short period of time.

As is always the case when reviving a rotten river or purifying a polluted land, it took a long time to regain its original appearance.

It was the same even now that the spirits had been liberated and returned to the great outdoors.

There was no noticeable change in District 7, which I took the time to look around.

But even if it was small, change was clearly underway.

Sarak!

The ivy that brushed against his collar bounced back elastically without breaking.

The moss growing on the wet rocks sprouted green and formed a green garden.

‘Even the smell of the air is different.’

The fishy and rotten smell that had numbed my nose was now minimal.

Even the feel of the trampled earth was smooth and not rustling.

The environment of Earth 7 was changing from the most basic perspectives.

‘Now, all that needs to happen is for people to change.’

That was something I couldn’t do anything about.

If all the plants sprout on this land, wouldn’t there be some change?

Originally, plants had the ability to cure mental illness just by existing.

“……mister?”

It was while I was walking aimlessly like that.

A thin voice that had become familiar recently was heard from somewhere.

“Here, this way.”

The child gestured without me having to look for it.

I stopped wandering and headed towards it.

Squeak!

At first glance, it was a shabby, single-room room that looked like a congratulatory message.

The unoiled hinges made a squeaking sound as if they were dying.

Nothing good came out of my mouth.

“Are you living in such a small place?”

“What is it?”

“It’s narrower than the building I briefly stayed in.”

“It might be too small for you. It’s just right for me.”

The child carefully closed the door, locked it, and climbed into bed.

For me, the small bed was just the right size for the child.

“… … I spoke nonsense.”

“Okay. More importantly, why are you here, sir?”

“It’s not a neighborhood you can’t come to.”

“No, I told you to stay home for a while. Did you forget?”

He always had an expression on his face that seemed indifferent to everything that happened in the world.

The child rarely looked sad.

“You said there were goblins running wild. Can’t you see that there’s no one outside? You should hide too, sir. Since it’s come to this, we can stay together for a few days.”

It seemed like he was worried again.

‘As expected, this kid has a good personality.’

It is an abundance that is unusual for a child from a slum.

I gave that child a great gift.

“Don’t worry. There won’t be any more goblins causing trouble.”

“… … ?”

“If you don’t believe me, go to their hideout. I took care of them all.”

The child’s eyes opened wide.

I smiled and got up from my seat.

“Then the reason the goblin has been quiet until now is because of you… …?”

“That’s why I came. I mean, they’re not ordinary people, but they’ve had a hard time.”

The harvest was equally great.

A system message that I had not yet fully examined was flashing in the corner of my vision.

“They might have hidden assets, so let’s go and raid them first. The amount may not be small, but it’s not nothing.”

There were no entertainment districts around here where people could spend money and have fun.

I said I had taken out everything I could see before I left, but there must have been slush funds hidden away.

It was a small favor I could do for myself to tell the child first.

“This is my thanks for the breakfast I gave you last time, so eat everything up. Then take the money and come out to the city center.”

“……high street?”

“If District 3 is difficult, District 5 is fine. Anywhere is better than living here.”

He was too smart a kid to rot away in the slums.

This land, filled with only apathetic people, was not a good environment for a child to grow up in.

Even if it’s a little difficult at first, the city center is better.

Even in the slums, this child, who has survived, will be able to make a living just by being aware of his surroundings.

“Anyway, another group of goblins will come and settle in soon. If you stay here, you’ll only be in trouble.”

No matter how many times you kill a bug, it will keep coming back.

In a place called the slums, goblins were in that position.

The residents of the slums did not have much time to escape their tyranny.

“Don’t forget what I said and keep it in mind. Okay?”

The child looked confused.

I patted the child’s head and then turned around.

“Go.”

This was enough.

It wasn’t my responsibility, it was the child’s choice.

‘Don’t worry, I’ll do as I say.’

He was a smart kid.

I hope you understand that I am right.

I shook off my remaining attachments and left District 7.

***

“… … The old man defeated the goblin?”

After Allen left the room.

The child pondered the words he had left for me.

“Then what about the strange scenery I saw earlier…?”

Even though it was a scene that passed in the blink of an eye, the aftertaste still lingers.

A pastoral landscape with fragrant greenery sprouting and sunlight pouring in.

It felt like I was having an ecstatic dream.

I thought it was just an illusion caused by the fear of goblins, but that was a different story.

“… …I told you to come out to the city center.”

The child closed and opened both eyes.

“If I go there, will I be able to see you again?”

Pupils that shine blue like twinkling stars.

Allen’s traces leading out the door were scattered inside.