The Cursed Forest Where I Was Exiled Had Somehow Been Designated As A Sanctuary. - Awakened to the Purification skill, I, Surrounded By Divine Dragons And Great Spirits, Become The King of A Nation - Episode 10

The fibers of the meat that crumble in my mouth with each bite, and the rich sweetness of the fat.

The root vegetables that had been simmered together were melt-in-your-mouth tender, creating an unparalleled harmony with the savory flavor of the meat.

“Oh, delicious…!”

Zes takes a big bite of the meat and root vegetable soup and chews it slowly, savoring it for a while.

And then, like a judge on a cooking manga, they opened their eyes wide and exclaimed in admiration.

“Ah, thank you very much. I’m so happy…”

Peter, who made this dish, smiled bashfully with a look of happiness.

Peter’s profession is a chef.

His skills were related to cooking, and butchering meat was one of them.

Thanks to that, I can prepare the large game Haku brought back to make it easier to eat.

It seems he originally liked cooking, so it was fortunate that there were some cooking utensils in his luggage.

It seems that despite suffering from madness caused by divine curses, she did not part with her sister or her own tools.

“I used to cook for everyone in the village. But ever since the curse manifested, I couldn’t even hold a knife. However, thanks to you, Mr. Zess, I can cook like this again, and I’m really, really happy.”

“I’m also happy thinking that I can eat Peter’s delicious food from now on. Haku is happy too.”

“Growl!”

It seems that Haku is quite pleased to be eating the prey he caught himself.

Peter chuckles wryly at Haku, who is happily humming.

“Even after a day, I still can’t get used to it… living with a dragon.”

“You’ll get used to it soon.”

“I hope so…”

Peter could only manage a wry smile at Zess’s nonchalant remark.

Zess, who decided to embark on serious village building, first began procuring the tools necessary for development.

Based on the bits of knowledge I picked up from books and TV, I tie a stone picked up by the riverbank to a suitable branch using a vine-like plant.

At that time, throw the stone at the ground so that the tip becomes sharp.

“Always”

When picking up the broken stone fragments, the sharp edge pierced Zess’s finger, and a drop of red bl00d oozed out.

“Zess-san, are you okay?!”

Flora, who was picking up sticks nearby, hurriedly ran over.

Peter is the same age as Zess. And since his sister Flora is two years older than Zess, she said it was fine to call him without honorifics, but in the end, they both ended up using the same honorifics as Peter.

It’s better than being called “sama,” so this is the result of Zess’s compromise.

“I just cut it a little, it’s fine, it’s fine.”

Zess responded while sucking on his fingers, but Flora, who had rushed over, took his hand and used her skill.

“Healing”

The light that envelops the wound is different from Zess’s “Cleansing” light; it resembles the calm surface of a still lake.

While I was still feeling the warmth, I noticed that Zess’s wound had completely healed.

“Thank you, Flora-san.”

“You’re welcome. Please let me know right away if you get hurt again.”

Flora’s profession is a Saint.

Her skills include several magical abilities, including “Healing.”

She was using her healing skill, sacrificing sleep to take care of Peter.

Since I had been using the skill for several years, it would seem that the level would have increased quite a bit, but considering the influence of Yggdrasil, that might not be the case.

“Hmm? Flora-san, what’s that?”

Noticing that there were tree roots that he hadn’t asked Flora to collect, Zess inquired out of curiosity.

“This is a plant that was used in the elf village for brushing teeth. When you chew this part, the roots unravel into fibers, allowing you to brush your teeth. I thought I should gather it while the sun is still up.”

“Wow, it feels like a life hack.”

Zess stares intently at the received tree root, muttering in admiration.

“How do you usually brush your teeth, Zess-san?”

“Since coming to this forest, I’ve been constantly ‘cleansing’ it. Like this.”

Saying that, Zess opens his mouth wide and performs “Cleansing.”

A light like toothpaste envelops the teeth, revealing white teeth.

“It’s convenient, isn’t it? Thanks to Mr. Zess, our clothes are clean too…”

While saying this, Flora stares intently at her clothes.

Her dress-like outfit, which should have been covered in mud from the swamp, however, remained as pure white as if it were brand new.

At her reaction, Zess suddenly comes up with an idea.

“Oh, right. It’s not really a thank-you for the treatment, but I’ll give Flora and the others’ teeth a ‘cleaning’ every day.”

“Y-yes, I’m fine!”

“No, no, you don’t have to hold back. Come on, say ‘ahhh’.”

With his mouth stretched sideways, Zess approached Flora with a cheerful smile.

Then Flora’s face turned bright red, and she shouted.

“Re-really, I’m fine!”

“Wait…?”

Watching Flora’s back as she ran off towards the great tree, Zess, left behind, tilted his head in confusion.

“That was Zess’s fault.”

Yggdrasil, who had been observing the situation from a slight height, said with a haughty expression.

“Well, since we haven’t known each other for long, she’s probably just being polite. Flora-san is a very principled person.”

“That’s not what I meant…”

Ignoring the astonished Yggdrasil, Zess used “Cleaning” on Haku’s small teeth, saying “Clean, clean~.”

◆　◆　◆

“A dwarf village?”

That night.

As I was savoring the dinner Peter had made, Flora shared some valuable information with me.

“Yes. It’s a bit of a distance from here, but I think we can procure the tools needed for clearing and development there.”

The tools I made all day today were not finished to a level that could withstand village building.

To the dejected Zess, who said, “My DA○H village plan…” Flora makes a suggestion.

When you think of dwarves, they’re a race that makes a living through blacksmithing and mining, right?

“That’s right. This Great Tree Sea is rich in resources, so the dwarf villages that love mining are scattered all over the place. Our elf village was also engaged in trade.”

“Huh… this isn’t quite what I was expecting.”

Speaking of the Great Tree Forest, it’s a dangerous area where monsters dwell.

There wasn’t much of an image of activities similar to those in the outside world taking place.

That said, it is only natural that there would be those who seek such vast land and resources.

“Sure, I could probably buy tools there, but the problem is… I don’t have any money.”

Zess, who was teleported to the Great Tree Sea in the clothes he was wearing, naturally has no money.

Then Flora took a pouch out of her pocket.

“When I left the village, I secretly brought out the money I had saved. It’s not much, but I think I can buy one or two things.”

“Eh, no, that’s not good.”

“Please don’t worry about it. I was originally planning to use it for the lodging fee after leaving the Great Forest. Since I’m being allowed to stay here, please let me do at least this much.”

Zess silently stared at the drawstring bag that was handed over with those words.

To Flora, who was suspicious of the silence, Zess spoke.

“Flora, Peter, I want you to listen too. If you think we’re letting you stay here, I want you to stop thinking that way. We’re just a group of people who have nowhere to go, coming together. There’s no hierarchy among us. Right?”

At Zess’s words, Flora and the others widen their eyes.

Then, she smiled faintly.

“I understand. In that case, please accept it even more. It is only natural for those who gather here to share the necessary strength for the development of this place.”

“…When you put it that way, I can’t really argue back.”

As if he had just been outsmarted, Zes shrugged his shoulders.

A gentle laughter spread at the base of the great tree in the night.

“Oh, if the dwarf village is far away, should we have Haku take us there? It would be a quick trip.”

“Please stop that! They’ll mistake it for an attack!”

Flora desperately stopped Zess’s casual suggestion.