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 9

Returning to the side of the great tree, Zess and the others were preparing lunch while letting the elf siblings rest by the campfire.

Near the base, there was a large deer-like animal that Haku had likely caught, but unfortunately, Zess had neither the skill to butcher it nor any tools to do so.

When I conveyed that, Haku took off with the prey in its mouth. It seems like it’s going to look for a slightly smaller prey.

Feeling apologetic, Zess begins to grill the fish he had caught yesterday.

And so, I asked Yggdrasil, who was watching the scene next to me, about the abnormally rapid growth of my status.

“Zess and many other people are mistaken. Levels and statuses don’t increase through experience.”

“Eh, but the more you use your skills, the higher your level should go, right? That’s why so many people choose to live according to the profession they were given.”

Because Zess, who is of royal bl00d, couldn’t properly use his skills while staying in the castle, neither his level nor his status increased.

Zess casts a suspicious eye on Yggdrasil, who has denied the fundamental laws and rules that can be considered the first principles of this world.

On the other hand, Yggdrasil, unfazed by the gaze, reached out to the campfire and recoiled, seeming to feel the heat.

“……Hot.”

“Even if you look at me like that with such dissatisfaction, I haven’t done anything wrong, have I?”

“Hmm…”

Blowing on his hands with a huff, Yggdrasil continues quietly.

“If using skills increases levels, then everyone in this world should have their status increase uniformly, right?”

“That might be true.”

People commonly referred to as heroes possess levels and statuses that cannot be explained merely by the number of times or frequency with which they use their skills.

It is an example that challenges the principle that the more you use a skill, the more it levels up.

To the pensive Zess, Yggdrasil spoke.

“Levels and skills grow through the influence they bring to this world…”

“Influence…”

“Yes. How that person has created causality with their own skills. Of course, the more they use their skills, the more influence they gain. But that’s just the result.”

“Wait a minute. If that’s the case, then there’s no explanation for how my level has been increasing. I’ve only used my skills on Haku, Yggdrasil, and these two.”

When Zes said that, Yggdrasil shook his head as if to say, “Good grief.”

“That’s why I said you should reconsider your self-evaluation. — Being able to dispel divine curses has a much greater impact on the world than Zess realizes.”

Yugushiru said this while slowly standing up and looking up at the great tree.

“For example, if Zess hadn’t been there, I might have eventually consumed this vast forest and spread curses even beyond the woods… The dragon that Zess named Haku might have whimsically caused disasters all over the world. — Your ‘purification’ erased such possible futures.”

Yggdrasil’s jade-colored eyes, accompanied by a somewhat cold glimmer, gaze at Zess.

Realizing that what she said was no joke, Zess involuntarily swallowed hard.

“In other words, by erasing the impact you might have had on the world, that consequence has been passed on to me?”

“That’s right. The idea that the power to dispel a god’s curse has little influence is fundamentally wrong. Zes undoubtedly possesses influence comparable to that of a god.”

It wasn’t the kind of atmosphere where you could laugh it off as being overly dramatic.

“Well, it’s true that if laundry didn’t exist in this world, it seems like epidemics would break out everywhere. If you think about it as preventing those epidemics, it makes sense that the level and status would increase like this.”

“It’s a bit off, but generally, that understanding is fine.”

A voice that sounds like someone has given up on interrupting comes flying in.

“By the way, what are Yggdrasil’s stats like? As a great spirit, doesn’t it have a lot of influence?”

“Just use the Spirit’s Eye to see.”

“Well, I was wondering if it’s okay to watch. Doesn’t it feel bad to be watched without permission?”

When Zes asked that, Yggdrasil gave a small laugh.

“I don’t mind if Zess knows everything about me; I want him to know everything about me. So, I don’t care. … But I really like that part of Zess.”

“Uh, um, yeah, thank you?”

Blushing at Yggdrasil gentle smile, Zess looks at her with the “Spirit’s Eye.”

Name: Yggdrasil

Skill

“Spirit’s Blessing” “Spirit’s Eye”

“The Spirit’s Oath” “Guardian of Nature”

“The Observer” “The Truth Teller”

The information brought through the “Spirit’s Eye” was lacking in race, level, and status.

In response to Zess’s confusion, Yggdrasil answers.

“We are originally just spiritual beings. Therefore, concepts like levels or statuses that earthly creatures possess do not exist.”

“Come to think of it, spirits were indeed like that.”

Yggdrasil’s ego is so clearly defined and established as an individual that I almost forget.

Indeed, I had never heard of spirits having statuses or levels.

“Hmm…”

Since it was a rare opportunity, I tried to ask her about the skills she possessed, and the elf girl who had been lying down slightly stirred.

She slowly opens her eyes, revealing her pink irises.

And just as I thought my focus was gradually sharpening, I suddenly sprang up with vigor.

“Peter?!”

With a shout, she looked around in a flustered manner, and upon spotting the elf boy nearby, she rushed over to him, seemingly relieved.

And while gazing at the boy’s peaceful sleeping face, I let out a voice of surprise.

“The curse… it’s gone…”

Covering her mouth, Zess gently spoke to the overwhelmed girl.

“Um”

When the girl turned around at the sound of the voice, she recognized Zess and bowed her head.

“Uh, um, thank you――”

It was when I was about to say words of gratitude.

Her stomach let out a loud growl.

“Ah, ~~~~~”

Suddenly, pointing at the fish roasting over the campfire, Zes said to the girl who was holding her stomach with a bright red face.

“I’m about to have lunch now, would you like to join me?”

“Uh, um, well…”

The girl, still blushing, glanced at the boy who was still asleep.

Zess, having sensed the intention behind that gaze, responded with a cheerful laugh.

“Of course, after the child wakes up.”

“Uh, th-thank you very much!”

At Zess’s words, the girl deeply bowed her head this time.

◆　◆　◆

“I see. So that’s why the two of them were in a place like that…”

The boy woke up, and while eating fish around the campfire, Zess listened to the two’s circumstances.

From their hair color, I had guessed, but it turned out they were siblings by bl00d; the older sister introduced herself as Flora, and the younger brother as Peter.

It seems that a part of the exclusive elven tribe lives in this corner of the Great Tree Sea, where no humans have settled, and the two of them are from that settlement.

However, a few years ago, Peter developed a divine curse, and his sister Flora used her skills to suppress his rampage, but it only bought them time. The village elders then decided to take action against Peter.

Flora, having learned about it, took Peter out, and they wandered through the Great Tree Sea for several days.

It was said that Zess appeared just as I was about to collapse.

“Um, I’m really sorry…”

It seems that my brother Peter, who had memories of being possessed by the divine curse, lowered his head apologetically, his deep blue eyes cast down.

“It was nothing, so don’t worry about it. Besides, it seems like the curse is gone too, so that’s good, really good.”

When Zess replied cheerfully, Peter let out a sigh of relief and smiled faintly.

“Um, I will repay this favor for the rest of my life!”

This time, my sister Flora is bowing her head again.

I’ve been having this problem for a while now, and it’s starting to get a bit troublesome.

“That’s okay. You both had a tough time, so it makes me happy if you can just be genuinely happy now.”

“Ah,… yes!”

At Zess’s words, the siblings looked at each other and smiled happily.

While watching those two, Zess suddenly thought.

“So, what are you two going to do now? The curse is gone, so are you going to return to the village?”

“Uh, no, perhaps the leaders will try to eliminate us once they find us.”

Flora and the others, biting their lips as they answered, had their shoulders slightly trembling.

Reflecting that he hadn’t been considerate enough, Zes continued.

“Then you two have nowhere to go, huh?”

“Yes”

“Then why don’t we live here together? I just started living here yesterday too, but I could use some help.”

“Is it really okay?”

“Of course. Thanks to her, this area near the great tree is safe because no monsters come near.”

“Um, and you are…?”

You’ve probably been worried about it all along.

Flora looks at Yggdrasil hesitantly.

Then Yggdrasil snorted proudly.

“I am the great spirit residing in this ancient tree. I am currently bound by a contract with Zes.”

“Eh, eh?! The Great Spirit, is it that Great Spirit?!”

Flora and Peter exclaim in surprise.

Yggdrasil, having absorbed all of that, looked at Zeus with a satisfied expression.

“Hehe, this is what Zess is lacking.”

“Yes, yes, amazing, amazing.”

“Hmm…”

As I was soothing the pouting Yggdrasil, Flora and the others suddenly stood up and knelt before Zess.

“Um, though we are unworthy, my brother and I will work ourselves to the bone for you, Lord Zess.”

“Wait, why are you using ‘sama’? Besides, I have no intention of becoming the president of a black company, okay??”

“Black company…?”

As Flora furrowed her brows and tilted her head, a roar was heard from above.

“Oh, Haku. Welcome back.”

“Growl!”

Flora and the others were astonished by Haku, who landed near the campfire with its prey in its mouth.

“Ryu, ryuryu, dragon?!”

“I have to escape!”

The two of them hurriedly try to stand up. However, perhaps their legs have given out, and they can’t stand properly, so they end up sitting back down on the spot.

Zes smiled at the two of them.

“I hadn’t introduced you yet. This is Haku. She lives with us too. Nice to meet you.”

In accordance with Zess’s introduction, Haku bows his head and says “Haru” to Flora and the others.

At the sight, the two of them fainted.

“Uh, wait, what…?”

“The two of them are reacting normally. Zess is acting strange.”

To the hurriedly approaching Zess, Yggdrasil murmured while nodding repeatedly.