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 8

“I have a bad feeling… the barrier is restless.”

Yggdrasil’s expression, which had been calm until just now, had turned grim as he reported the discomfort of the “Spirit’s Blessing” repelling the monsters.

Zess also steeled himself at the sight.

Thinking about it, no matter how much they call this the Cursed Forest, there can’t be no one here but me.

A blank area beyond the reach of any nation’s power.

Even so, if there is land and air, people will settle down.

After all, I can’t imagine that people who are in places like this are living decent lives…

It’s not like I’m in a position to say anything, though.

While making a self-deprecating remark in his mind, Zess asks Yggdrasil.

“Is the presence of people coming this way?”

“Yeah. Slowly, but… what should we do?”

“What to do… well, for now, let’s meet them. They might be nice people.”

“I thought so.”

To Zess’s carefree response, Yggdrasil wore an expression that was half exasperated and half resigned.

◆　◆　◆

“The presence is around here.”

Under Yggdrasil’s guidance, following the presence, we arrived at the swamp.

The muddy ground. With each step I take, the mud clings to my feet.

The trees growing around were also somewhat emaciated, and there were patches of grass here and there, making the place truly deserving of the name “Cursed Forest.”

“Yggdrasil? There’s no one here.”

Fortunately, the view is good because there is no lush greenery.

Looking around and seeing no one, Zes turned to Yggdrasil.

“That can’t be. The movement stopped right around here.”

“Has the movement stopped…?”

Based on the information provided by Yggdrasil, I squint my eyes once more and look around.

“……, ah”

It was then.

I heard something like a groan coming from the area where the tall grass was dense.

With a bad feeling, I rush over and see a person lying in the grass.

“Are you okay?”

I hurriedly push aside the grass.

The figure lying on the ground was a pair of people with pink hair.

The boy lying face down in front of him looks to be about the same age as Zess.

And deeper inside, the girl who had made the groaning sound earlier was lying on her back.

She noticed the Zess approaching and muttered something.

“――me, ni, …te”

Considering the situation, which is akin to being on the verge of death, they must be seeking help.

Zess, having deduced this, smiled at the girl to reassure her.

“Stop it, run away!”

“— huh?”

Black mist rises from the boy who was lying face down.

And in that moment, the boy sprang up with lightning speed and lunged at Zess.

“Waahhh!!”

A clearly irrational expression and a scream.

From the series of movements just now, Zess was certain in his somewhat calm mind that taking the punch aimed at his face head-on could be life-threatening, yet he was watching a different spot with his eyes.

Because he had fallen face down on the ground, the boy’s body, of course, was covered in mud, even his face.

“Um, ‘cleaning'”

Zess, who found the boy’s inhumanly slow movements strangely sluggish, decided to clean the dirt off his face for the time being.

The boy with pink hair, enveloped in the light of bubbles, hesitates for a moment, but still lunges at Zess.

“Zess, you idiot! You’re really, really an idiot!”

With Yggdrasil’s scornful voice, the surrounding tree branches writhe like ropes, ensnaring the boy’s arms and legs.

When I looked back, Yggdrasil, floating in mid-air, was raising her hand. She must have done something.

“Well, you see, it was strange, but it seemed like I could avoid it, so I thought I’d clean it up for now.”

“For now… protect yourself! Honestly, you can’t do anything without me around. …And also, Zess, you should get into the habit of checking your own status.”

“Huh? I just confirmed it two days ago.”

I confirmed that I had achieved an astonishing level-up and that my status had improved.

When I conveyed that, Yggdrasil shook his head and sighed.

“Zess should reconsider his self-evaluation… but let’s save that discussion for later. Right now,…”

“Yeah, cleaning that stain comes first.”

“That’s true, but it’s not…”

As if to drown out Yggdrasill’s sigh, the girl in the back wobbly stands up.

“Um, please run away. My brother… he’s been cursed and attacks anyone and everyone.”

However, Zess ignores the girl’s screams and slowly approaches the boy who is bound.

And then, they exercised their skill with fluidity.

“Purification”

“Eh?”

A voice of confusion escapes from the girl.

A divine light envelops the boy, blowing away the black mist.

As reason returns to the boy’s expression and his resistance fades, Yggdrasil’s restraints are released.

Zess gently caught him as he collapsed, losing consciousness.

“Lies”

The voice of a girl, somewhat in a dreamlike state, echoes.

She widened her eyes, the same color as her hair, and stared at the boy she had called her younger brother.

And so, seeing him with a peaceful sleeping face, she too fainted as if reassured.

“I wanted to ask about the two of you… but it seems impossible. We can’t just leave you like this, so let’s take you home. Is that okay?”

“If Zess has made a decision, I’ll follow it. Besides, it seems like the unpleasant presence has disappeared, and it looks like it was reacting to this child’s curse after all.”

“That’s good to hear. The problem now is how to get the two of them home…”

It was then.

A familiar roar echoed overhead.

“Haku, you came at a good time.”

Haku, who appeared somewhat flustered, confirmed Zess, the boy he was carrying, and the girl who had collapsed, and let out a deep sigh.

“I never would have guessed these two were elves. It’s my first time meeting them.”

In the sky. Zess, carrying two people on his back, noticed that long, pointed ears were protruding between their hair.

The elf race is characterized by their pointed ears and beautiful appearance.

In terms of status, there is a positive adjustment to mental strength and agility, while there is a negative adjustment to physical strength and defense.

I knew about the existence of elves from my education as the crown prince, but seeing them like this in person makes me a little happy.

As Zess’s excitement grew, Yggdrasil, who was being carried on his shoulders, murmured anxiously.

“The Elf tribe is famous for being exclusive. But because of that, their unity among comrades is strong.

… It’s concerning that such Elves were wandering alone in this Great Tree Sea. Perhaps trouble might come our way.”

“That’s true, I guess. But there’s no point in dwelling on it, and we can’t just leave someone who’s collapsed.”

When Zess casually says it, Yggdrasil smiles somewhat happily.

“I’ve also been helped by Zess in that way, so I have no objections. Zess should just be Zess and do what he wants. I’ll support him with all my might.”

“That’s so exaggerated. I just want to live a leisurely life, so I have no intention of doing anything so grand. …More importantly, Yggdrasil.”

“What?”

When I looked up, Yggdrasil tilted its head slightly.

“Carrying you on my shoulders in that outfit would be quite difficult, so I’d like you to get down.”

I am comfortable.

“Do spirits not have a sense of shame?”

“Excuse me. I have a normal sense of shame too. It’s just that I don’t care because it’s Zess.”

“Happy but not happy at the same time.”

Sighing, Zess suddenly recalled and mentally recited his status.

Name: Zess

Race: Human

Occupation: 【Cleaner】

Level: 47

Muscle strength: D

Defense: E

Agility: B

Mental strength: S

Endurance: D

Skill

“Purification” “Cleansing”

“The Eyes of the Spirit”

“Eh, it’s growing a lot again. I mean, this isn’t the kind of growth you see in just a day or two.”

Speaking of level 47, it is an average value that a person who has lived a normal life reaches over their lifetime, and it is considered a point of achievement.

It took about three days to reach that level after entering the Great Tree Sea.

Due to the clearly abnormal increase in status, Zess, looking somewhat bewildered, asked Yggdrasil for an explanation.