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 21

“Wow, it’s true. The black mist is getting really intense.”

Zess couldn’t help but gasp at the sight unfolding before him.

As Yggdrasil had predicted, the elves were following the trail of destruction left by Sonia.

Hearing that the traces of the curse were still strong, Zess had them guide him to the location.

The ground is marked with claw marks, the surrounding trees have been knocked down, and the grass and flowers have been completely cut down.

And above all, what caught Zess’s eye was the black mist drifting around.

Zess placed his hand on the ground as usual and used “Purification” on the very land where the curse was seeping out.

“What on earth are we looking at…?”

The elves who had been waiting behind raised voices of agitation.

It is the first time for them to objectively witness the scene where pure light envelops the surroundings and dispels the curse.

The first time, it wasn’t even close to being a target for purification.

And that scene instills a sense of awe and reverence in ordinary people.

Even Flora and the others, who were supposed to be familiar with him, were overwhelmed by the aura that Zess exuded when he used his skills.

“Yeah, this is good.”

In the surroundings where the black mist had vanished, Zess nodded with satisfaction.

Actually, it would be great if we could also purify the evil god’s power that has seeped into the land, but it seems we don’t have enough mental strength to do that.

If we don’t purify everything at once, we will be eroded by the evil god’s power again and end up going in circles.

I temporarily gave up until my status improved, but I at least wanted to clean the visible dirt.

“Grr… Do I have to fix this part too?”

Just in case, Sonia, who had been watching the negotiations with the elves from nearby, asks anxiously.

The traces of destruction are immense, and naturally, the scale is much larger than the field restoration work.

Zess gave a wry smile to the anxious Sonia.

“Well, this isn’t part of the village, nor was it made by anyone, so there’s no need for that. Although, there’s the issue of whether it’s okay to leave nature as it is… At least let’s make effective use of the trees around here for village development.”

“Growl! Then I’ll take this tree with me!”

“Ah, no, if that’s the case—”

Saying that, Zess looked up at the sky.

“Maybe I’ll ask Haku.”

“Growl!”

Blocking the sunlight and casting a shadow on the ground, Haku descends.

Sonia glared, Flora and Peter waved cheerfully, and then――.

“Ryu, a dragon!!!!”

“All hands, battle stations! Get Lord Zess and the others to safety first!”

Zess awkwardly scratched his cheek and said, “Oh, I see,” to the elves drawing their swords and nocking arrows.

“Everyone, it’s okay.”

“Huh?”

“This is Haku. She’s also a resident of our village.”

“Growl!”

While being introduced by Zess, Haku shrank his body and jumped onto Zess’s head.

Seeing the creature affectionately rubbing its face against them, the elves dropped their weapons and gaped in astonishment.

“Don’t cling to my husband!”

“Growl!”

“Hey, hey, stop the fighting.”

As Zess tries to calm down Haku and Sonia, who have started glaring at each other, the captain mutters tiredly.

“Could it be that we have encountered an extraordinary person?”

As if agreeing with the captain’s murmur, silence fell among the elf soldiers.

◆　◆　◆

By reconciling with Flora and the others, Zess decided to invite the group of elves to the village.

The base of the great tree. Gazing at the skeletal frames of the lined-up houses, the well-maintained facilities, and the lively dwarves, the squad leader—Segwin—lets out an admiring exclamation.

“I can’t believe this place has developed so much…”

“Most of the dwarves did all the hard work. I just took care of the fields over there and a bit of the irrigation.”

Even though I didn’t create it myself, it feels good to be praised for a place that I developed together with my friends.

Zess walked around introducing various things, feeling somewhat proud.

Under such circumstances, Rarado appears before Zess.

“Oh, this is Lord Seguin.”

“Lord Rarado, you are here as well?”

Zess asks the two who are bowing to each other.

“Are you acquaintances?”

“We have had exchanges with the Elf village for a long time.”

“Oh, speaking of which…”

In the first place, it was Flora who suggested going to the village where Rarado and the others live.

It is only natural that she is connected to the village where she lived.

“Did you move?”

“Yes. This area is protected by Lord Zess and the Great Spirit, so monsters don’t come near. It should be safer than that village.”

“Great Spirit…?”

At Rarado’s muttering, Seguin and the others furrow their brows.

“Welcome back, Zess. I’m relieved to see that everything went well.”

At the right moment, Yggdrasil descends from the great tree.

Long hair in a young leaf green with waves, and jade-colored eyes.

Despite retaining a childlike quality, her well-proportioned appearance draws the attention of the elves.

And at the same time, one of the elves shouted.

“Captain… that person is… the Great Spirit…!!”

“What?!”

To the astonished elves, Yggdrasil puffs out his chest, looking quite pleased.

“Hehe, just as that child said, I am a great spirit. I live on this land with Zess.”

“W-what in the world…!”

“Are you okay?”

Zess hurriedly supports Seguin, who staggered unsteadily on the spot.

“I’m sorry, Lord Zess… Unexpected things kept happening one after another, and I just lost my strength.”

“Yeah, I understand how you feel.”

Leading the way was Rarado, followed by Flora and Peter, and even the dwarves working nearby were nodding in agreement.

Zess tilts his head at their behavior.

You just introduced the village and met Haku and Yggdrasil, right?

To Zess, who was puzzled, the people around him let out small sighs.

◆　◆　◆

“That happened, huh?”

While Seguin and the others, who originally had a friendship with the dwarves, were talking to them, Zess explained the situation to Yggdrasil.

“What do you think I ‘purified’?”

“…perhaps, the abnormally heightened violent inner selves within them—so to speak, negative emotions.”

“Negative emotions?”

Yugushiru nodded slightly and murmured while staring at the ground.

“The power of the evil god is rooted in this Great Tree Sea. It creates monsters, drives away spirits, and even affects those who dwell in that land.”

“Isn’t that different from a divine curse?”

“Not quite. The divine curse transforms those who are afflicted into minions of the evil god. But the power of the evil god that remains in this land is different. It stimulates and amplifies the negative emotions that dwell within people, keeping them as they are.”

Even after receiving the explanation about Yggdrasil, Zess still didn’t quite get it.

Muttering “hmm” and deep in thought.

“In other words, does that mean you cleaned the dirt from your heart?”

“……that interpretation is not wrong either.”

“I just said it on a whim, but seriously? That sounds kind of like brainwashing, and it’s scary.”

To the trembling Zess, Yggdrasil shook his head.

“I just erased the excessive fear, violence, and cruelty stimulated by the evil god’s power and restored the person’s original heart. It’s different from brainwashing. Zess’s power doesn’t work on people who are inherently cruel… or at least it shouldn’t.”

“Oh, I see. That’s good to hear. Now that I think about it, that’s true. There’s no way you could do something like that.”

As if feeling refreshed after resolving his doubts, Yggdrasil looked up at Zess, who stood up and stretched, and murmured softly.

“To think that I could see the power of the evil god dwelling in someone’s heart… If Zess were to recognize it as corruption, it would be similar to brainwashing…”

“Yggdrasil? Is something wrong?”

“Uh, n-nothing at all.”

At Zess’s innocent gaze, Yggdrasil shook his head as if to forget the fleeting thought that crossed his mind, then floated gently upwards.

What’s for dinner today, I wonder?

Looking down at Zess humming a carefree tune, Yggdrasil secretly wore a relaxed smile.