Brand New Life Online: Rise Of The Goddess Of Harvest Chapter 4 A Miasmic Beast!

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A new mission had been assigned, focusing on aiding the squirrel-folk!

But the mystery of who these squirrel-folk were lingered. I had glimpsed creatures resembling humans but possessing animalistic features in popular games and movies, often featured in TV commercials.

I recalled the game's advertisements showcasing individuals with animal ears and tails, referred to as beast-folk, a choice available during the initial race selection.

Hmm… The quest also mentioned they were descendants of Rata… Rat… Ratatos… Ratatoskr? Who could that be? I had no knowledge of this figure. Was this another obscure lore character I was unaware of?

Ah, no matter. Once I concluded my session today, I would take a respite until tomorrow and delve deeper into the game's lore online.

"Guide spirit, could you enlighten me about the squirrel-folk?" I inquired, as we proceeded in the direction indicated by the red arrow. "Are they a type of beast-folk?"

The guide spirit regarded me with its expansive, round eyes. A palpable sense of disappointment seemed to register on its face. Was it permissible for an AI to display such an expression?

"You are unaware of that? Well… beast-folk are beings more closely aligned with animals. They also share a stronger connection with nature. Their forms vary greatly, from near-human figures with subtle animal traits to entirely bestial appearances exhibiting human-like characteristics. The squirrel-folk are…" the guide spirit began. "Ah, perhaps I should refrain from spoiling the surprise? We are nearly there, observe."

The guide gestured towards the far left, revealing a distinct vista. Adjacent to another shimmering, crystalline river, a small village nestled amongst towering trees. The dwellings, constructed from densely interwoven branches, were adorned with plants and mud.

Such architecture reminded me of documentaries about indigenous tribes in the Amazon rainforest. I had a penchant for world documentaries and distinctly remembered similar dwellings.

"Oh, a treetop village! …Wait, how will I ascend?" I pondered aloud. "Is there a specific path?"

"Hmm… Simply climb," the guide instructed. "There are branches interspersed, providing footholds for your ascent…"

"Ah… This might prove challenging. It has been years since I last climbed a tree…" I sighed, reflecting. "After my daughter was born, my physical fitness declined significantly… My husband was overly doting, always bringing sweets after work…"

"Your real-world circumstances are irrelevant! This is a game. As long as your satiation meter remains high, numerous actions are possible," the guide asserted. "Come now, give it a try. You can attempt it as many times as you need…"

"Oh… Alright then… I shall place my trust in you."

My gaze traveled upwards, noting the absence of any inhabitants in the treetops. Perhaps all the squirrel-folk were indoors, resting due to illness?

Approaching the nearest tree, characterized by its numerous small branches and peculiar shape, I initiated my attempt to climb…

"Hoo! Ahh… T-This is somewhat difficult… Huh?"

As I ascended, a strange sensation overcame me. My hands felt unusually adhesive, clinging to the tree bark. What was this phenomenon? Was I secreting sap? Given my nature as a plant-based being, it seemed plausible!

This peculiar ability brought to mind Spider-Man's powers, allowing him to scale surfaces with uncanny ease. My husband had been fond of those films; they were the last movies I watched with him and our daughter, imbuing them with cherished memories.

"How peculiar, I am climbing with such ease!" I exclaimed. "My hands seem to be adhering!"

"Oh? Ah! I suppose Dryads possess natural climbing proficiency? It must be an additional benefit of the Spirit of the Forest Skill," the guide spirit surmised. "The description does mention it enhances adaptation to any forest terrain."

"Being a Dryad isn't so disadvantageous, is it?" I inquired hopefully. "Every Race has its unique advantages!"

"Yes, yes, but there exist more potent Races," the guide spirit countered. "You could have opted for Dragon Kin, granting immediate Fire Breath and formidable Scales for offense and defense, or the Demon Race, blessed with exceptionally powerful Dark Magic!"

"Eeeh? But I possess Green Magic, which should be quite useful, shouldn't it?" I questioned. "Ah, we have arrived…"

With remarkable agility, I ascended the fifteen-meter-tall tree. I felt as though my youthful vigor had returned! Reaching the summit, I found myself upon the broad, interconnected branches forming pathways between the trees. Sturdy wooden bridges spanned the gaps, apparently utilized by the local beast-folk for inter-tree traversal.

Furthermore, I could maintain a flawless sense of balance while walking along these arboreal routes. In my regular body, such feats of equilibrium would have been a significant challenge…

"Good work, you're far more capable than I initially assessed. Those climbing techniques you possess were indeed quite effective," the guide spirit commented.

"Indeed! Now… let's proceed to that dwelling over there. Perhaps we can find someone within," I suggested.

Navigating through the branches, I hurried towards the house. It lacked a conventional door, but a curtain of red fabric obscured the entrance. After politely parting the covering, I stepped into the profound darkness within.

"Hello… is anyone home? WAH!"

"ROAR!"

Upon entering, the first sight that greeted me was a formless mass… a true darkness made manifest.

It resembled a savage… wolf, or some such creature, now fixing me with furious, bloodshot eyes!

"W-What in the world is that thing?!" I stammered.

"D-Damn it! A Dark Beast!" the guide exclaimed. "Quickly, you must dodge its imminent assault!"

"A-An attack?!"

"GRAAO!"

The shadowy wolf lunged towards me. However, with the guide's timely warning, I managed to preemptively evade, dropping into a squat. The wolf soared past me, crashed through the tree's branches, and plummeted earthward from the considerable height of around 15 meters.

CRASH!

"I-It fell? Oh?"

Suddenly, my attention was drawn to a creature concealed beneath the house's makeshift bed. It appeared to be a genuine, albeit adorable, brown squirrel, no larger than a child, trembling with evident fear.

"…!"

"Do not be alarmed; that vile dark beast met its end in the fall. Please, stand up and emerge," I reassured it. "I mean you no harm, I assure you."

"W-Who are you?!" the diminutive squirrel inquired as it cautiously exited from beneath the bed.

"I-I am a Dryad! The Tree of Beginnings dispatched me here and- Oh my, you are absolutely precious and so incredibly fluffy!" I exclaimed, reaching out to stroke the sizable squirrel. Its downy fur felt incredibly soft and warm, a comforting texture, and I felt an overwhelming urge to embrace it tightly…

"A Dryad?! Is that true?" it asked, its voice carrying the distinct tone of a young boy.

"Yes! In any case, why were you associating with that creature? Are the other dwellings facing similar predicaments?" I inquired. "This situation sounds rather perilous; what if they were consumed?!"

"No… please do not worry. That entity materialized only about thirty seconds ago…" the squirrel-like being explained. "My grandmother succumbed to illness here just last week. Upon her passing, a significant amount of this dark residue remained… I had been attempting to cleanse it, but today it suddenly coalesced into a living entity, terrifying me so much that I sought refuge beneath my bed…"

"Oh, you poor little thing… Rest assured, your mother is here for you now," I cooed, gathering the charming squirrel into a hug and planting a kiss upon its forehead.

The squirrel appeared somewhat bashful at my affectionate display but did not pull away.

"Y-You are rather… demonstrative, Lady Dryad…" it stammered. "D-Did you vanquish the entity?"

"Oh? That thing? It took a tumble. It must surely be deceased by now, wouldn't you agree?" I asked. "Surely, nothing could survive such a precipitous fall!"

"What? No! It is undoubtedly still alive…" the squirrel-folk boy stated, venturing outside the tent, with me following closely behind.

We observed the shadow-wolf struggling to ascend, contorting its form into what appeared to be massive claws. It no longer resembled a wolf, but rather a more monstrous, werewolf-like entity…

"GROOARR! GRAARRR…!"

The infernal wolf-thing now fixed its gaze directly upon me! The sheer terror it instilled left me momentarily paralyzed… Could this truly be just a mere game monster?

"Hurry, strike it down, Planta!" the guide urged. "It has already sustained damage from its fall!"

"K-Kill it? But…" I hesitated, biting my lip as I looked downward.

"You intend to waver at the prospect of eliminating that fiend? It attempted to harm the squirrel-folk!" the guide admonished. "Moreover, these are not ordinary monsters; they are, in essence, mere miasma, dark energy. I question if they are even truly sentient!"

"T-That is…"

My gaze fell upon the wolf-thing as it slowly drew nearer…

The squirrel-folk also stood frozen in terror, quivering as it stared into the abyssal entity.

"This encroaching darkness… why will you not leave us in peace?! Cursed be the Demon King!" the boy cried out. "Please, Lady Dryad, lend us your aid!"

I… I have always experienced a deep aversion to ending the lives of other beings. Even as a child, I would hesitate to harm insects or even ants. The very concept of mortality has always unsettled me profoundly. I have never taken pleasure in extinguishing another's life; it always felt fundamentally wrong. I always believed such actions were solely within the purview of the divine, not mine.

But this… this was not genuine life… So, it should be permissible, shouldn't it?

And even if it were… For my daughter, I would confront any threat… And for this small child before me…

If I possess the power to act, why should I abstain?

"…I shall! Do not fret, my dear! Your Mama will handle this!" I declared, my eyes fixed on the approaching wolf, which was now mere meters away.

"Understood! How must I proceed? Is there a way to attack from a distance?" I inquired.

"Yes! Utilize the Green Magic Skill you've acquired. There's a spell called [Plant Manipulation]. Employ it to control the tree, fashioning sharp, spear-like branches aimed directly at the wolf's body. That should finish it off; the damage is contingent on your INT stat, and you have plenty of that!"

"Understood!"

The guide spirit imparted valuable counsel, and I swiftly visualized his instructions.

"…Plant Manipulation!"

FLASH!

Abruptly, I sensed my Mana being utterly depleted. Rivers of azure energy flowed forth from my being, channeling into the tree.

TRUUMMM…!

The tree convulsed and quivered as if on the verge of collapse, yet that was not its fate. The tree began to splinter, but this was due to its bark contorting to match my mental image.

"K-Kill that infernal thing!"

CLASH! CLASH! CLASH!

Immediately following my command, colossal wooden spears with razor-sharp tips erupted from the tree, impaling the entirety of the dark, wolf-like creature's form!

"AWWROOOO…!"

The beast emitted a final, agonizing howl as its entire body disintegrated into black smoke, vanishing without a trace…

Ding!

[You have vanquished a Wolf-shaped Dark Beast (Elite): Lv4. Acquired 500 EXP (BONUS!)]

[Race & Job Class EXP: 550 / 1000]

[Acquired [Dark Essence] x1, [Black Core] x1]

[Received 85 Gold Coins]

"I-I actually killed it…" I exhaled, surveying the system's notifications. Two peculiar items and a substantial sum of gold had been obtained…

"W-Wow… Incredible! You truly resemble the Dryads spoken of in ancient tales, esteemed lady!" exclaimed the squirrel-folk, who then impulsively embraced my legs in an adorable gesture.

"I am relieved I could offer assistance, my dear…" I sighed, feeling a genuine sense of exhaustion.

I noticed my Mana stat displayed in crimson, indicating a warning.

Ah, it had been depleted too severely. That single assault consumed… 200 MP?! I certainly couldn't repeatedly employ such a powerful ability, it seems…

"Excellent work! See? It wasn't so challenging to defeat, heheh…" the guide chuckled, seemingly relishing the spectacle of my combat prowess.

What a peculiar companion.

Nevertheless, the immediate priority was to address the predicament befalling the village.

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