Chapter 86: The Sprout’s First Steps

Finally, the master noticed the sprout.

Yes, Master! Look over here!

The master approached and spoke to it.

“You like songs, don’t you?”

Yes, I love the sound of your singing, Master!

At last, it communicated with the master. Since it had always dreamed of this moment, the emotion was doubled.

“A dancing sprout, huh. That’s amazing.”

Tok-tok—

Ah, that tickles, Master.

When the master touched it, the sprout shivered its leaves. 

Besides dancing, it had learned another way to express itself.

Moreover, the master’s touch, felt for the first time, was warm and cozy, making laughter leak out continuously.

“What exactly are you?”

I’m a sprout that loves this land and you, Master.

There were still many things it wanted to say, but for now, this was overwhelming enough.

“Oh right, I shouldn’t just stand here.”

Master, while you’re cleaning, I’ll entertain you from the side.

Humming-humming—

Dancing-dancing.

Matching the master’s singing, the sprout danced diligently.

Although its roots were stuck in the ground, the sprout was overjoyed at the fact that it was communicating with the master.

“Should I head back now? What should I have for lunch today?”

Bow-bow.

Take care, Master.

The dancing sprout bowed deeply to the owner of this land.

Then, the master looked back at the sprout.

“Do you see me as your master?”

Master sees through everything, doesn’t he?

Respect for the master blossomed once more in the sprout. 

Every single action of the master held profound meaning for it.

Step-step.

With the master gone, it was time for the sprout to be alone again. But it didn’t feel lonely at all.

After shaking its body vigorously, the sprout felt hungry too.

Should I soak up some nutrients?

Buried in the moist unicorn dung as nourishment, it basked in the warm sunlight.

Ah, happiness.

Someday, it would grow big and bloom beautiful flowers and fruits for the master.

With pleasant imaginings, the sprout fluttered its leaves.

Though the weather was gradually getting colder, the sprout somehow felt that its first winter wouldn’t be cold.

***

Early dawn, before the sun had risen.

The sprout, having eaten the rainbow dung, grew rapidly day by day.

Its stem exceeded 10 cm, and the two leaves had become four.

Not only that, its movements had become more varied and natural.

Today, the sprout made a big decision.

Should I go out once?

Shake-shake.

The sprout shook its body, and the rooted soil heaved.

And then.

Sliide.

The sprout pulled its roots out of the soil.

The thick roots, split at the ends, stood on the ground like legs.

I, I’m out!

The sprout rejoiced inwardly.

But.

Flop.

It lost balance and fell right away. Walking like a human wasn’t easy.

Slowly. One step at a time.

The sprout got up again.

Waddle-waddle. Flop.

Like a baby learning to walk for the first time, the sprout took a step and fell repeatedly.

But even that was enjoyable for the sprout. Because it was its first steps on the ground.

Waddle-waddle.

Whoa~

The sprout began to look around the Floating Island with clumsy steps.

Seeing the world it had imagined directly brought new emotions.

Some places were just as imagined, and many were even more beautiful than imagined.

Among them, the cypress tree was by far the most shocking.

Amazing! Someday, can I grow like that too?

The cypress tree, providing a comfortable resting place for the master, seemed magnificent.

Is that a plant the master is growing?

Various plants were growing in the garden. Despite the approaching cold winter, they were fresh and green, receiving plenty of the master’s love and care. The sprout felt a bit jealous.

It briefly considered planting its roots in the field, but it couldn’t give up the moist rainbow dung after all.

Waddle-waddle.

Though its walking looked awkward, it no longer fell.

While examining the yard here and there, the sprout discovered a box placed in the yard.

Out of curiosity, it looked inside.

Rustle-rustle.

Oh! Seeds!

Discovering a bunch of seeds inside, the sprout was overjoyed.

I’ll plant you guys too.

The sprout wrapped two seeds with its fine roots.

Dig-dig.

It made small holes, carefully placed one seed in each, covered them with soil, and patted them down.

Ah, proud. The forest will become healthier, right?

The sprout was filled with satisfaction. With a proud heart, it returned to its spot and planted its roots back into the moist rainbow dung soil.

What a truly satisfying day.

The sprout smiled contentedly as it thawed its chilled roots in the warm soil.

***

“Hmm….”

I stared intently at the box.

“Why’s that?”

“Lately, it feels like someone keeps rummaging through my box.”

“The box? Is something missing?”

“No, not really….”

“Then there’s no problem, right?”

“That’s true, but it feels off somehow.”

Ding.

[The Floating Island’s ecosystem has become more abundant.]

“Another same alert.”

Lately, alerts like this kept popping up. This was the kind of alert that appeared when I planted seeds around the Floating Island.

“Probably the migratory birds brought seeds again.”

“Maybe?”

Still, the frequent alerts were bothering me.

Come to think of it, the alerts started appearing not long after the rainbow dung sprout came.

…Coincidence, right?

“About the sprout. What exactly is it?”

“If you’re really curious, how about asking Sharin?”

“The elf village chief?”

“Sharin is skilled in tending forests, so she might know about a dancing sprout.”

“Rather than worrying alone, going once wouldn’t be bad. Then, I’ll be back soon.”

Unable to hold back my curiosity, I flew straight to the Elf Forest.

The lush, verdant forest was also preparing to rest at the end of the year.

However, the massive cypress tree towering in the center of the elf village remained green.

I headed to the highest place in the elf village.

“It’s been a while.”

Sharin greeted me warmly.

“Have you been well?”

“Thanks to you, the river that is our lifeline flows well, so both the forest and the elves are healthy.”

Sharin still seemed grateful for that incident. True to elves who don’t forget kindness.

Sharin’s eyes gleamed softly.

“From the look of it, it seems you have something that needs my help.”

“I have something I’d like advice on.”

“Advice from me. What is it?”

“Recently, a unicorn visited the Floating Island.”

I told her about the dung the unicorn left and the dancing sprout.

“That’s quite the most wondrous story I’ve heard lately.”

“It might be hard to believe, but it’s all true.”

She touched her chin and smiled faintly.

A unicorn and a dancing sprout. Even I would find it hard to believe without seeing it myself.

“Is that the only thing hard to believe? You and I sitting face to face like this is also something the world would find hard to believe.”

“Come to think of it, yes.”

It was only a few months ago that arrows were pointed at the Elf Forest, yet I never imagined I’d form a close friendship with the elf village chief.

All of that happened within a year.

“The information is a bit lacking. Besides that, have there been any other changes on the Floating Island?”

“Changes?”

“Even trivial ones are fine. Tell me if anything seems off.”

“Hmm… Lately, it feels like someone touched my box. Nothing’s missing, though.”

“The box?”

“It’s where I keep seeds and farming-related items.”

“Hmm. Interesting.”

“Ah! And lately, alerts about the Floating Island becoming more prosperous keep popping up. Probably migratory birds bringing seeds.”

“Oh ho.”

Sharin nodded as if she understood.

“So that’s it.”

“Did you figure something out?”

“It seems like the work of an ent.”

“An ent?”

Ent? It was a name I’d never heard before.

“It’s a race that takes the form of plants. Mostly in the shape of trees.”

Sharin’s eyes curved into crescents, as if my surprised expression was amusing.

“Even though they’re plants, they can move, and their intelligence is high. Especially, they love tending forests.”

“Then the dancing sprout is?”

“Yes, likely an ent.”

An ent, huh. I thought it was unusual from the moment it sprouted from rainbow dung, but it wasn’t an ordinary plant.

“It’s not strange that you haven’t heard of them. They’re a secretive race, so not much is known.”

“Are there any in the Elf Forest?”

“There are, but even we elves don’t know exactly how many ents exist in this forest. That’s how mysterious they are.”

“I see.”

“It’s a good thing that an ent was born on the Floating Island. Ents serve the owner of the land and tend the forest.”

Sharin smiled softly.

“It will surely help in tending the Floating Island.”

Unexpectedly, I’ve gained an assistant caretaker.

***

The dancing sprout, the little ent, stepped its roots onto the soil again today.

Waddle-waddle.

Now, its stem exceeded 20 cm, and branches extended on both sides, making it look quite dignified.

Flutter.

A small bird landed on the ent’s twig.

Chirp-chirp.

Chirpy. Where have you been?

The ent, who had somehow made friends. With affinity higher than elves, all animals in the forest were its friends.

Chirp-chirp.

You brought a gift?

When the small bird opened its beak, a seed dropped out.

Whoa! A seed! Thanks, Chirpy!

The ent immediately planted the seed in the ground.

Today too, the ent diligently tended the Floating Island.

Meanwhile.

As Fabir returned to the Floating Island, an alert rang right away.

Ding.

[A new plant has taken root on the Floating Island.]

[The Floating Island’s ecosystem has become more abundant.]

“Looks like the ent planted seeds again.”

So diligent.

I’m a bit worried about the random planting, but it won’t end up covered in thorny vines like before.

To become a proper assistant caretaker for the Floating Island, education is needed, but since it’s still young, I think it’s best to leave it be for now.

Ding.

[The Floating Island’s affinity has reached a certain level.]

[Unlocking a function of the Floating Island.]

Ding.

[You can now access the weather forecast.]

[You can check today’s and tomorrow’s weather in advance.]

“Weather forecast?”

It was a new function. A feature that informs about the weather, important for a farmer.

“Useful function.”

If I can know the weather in advance, I can plan accordingly.

“Floating Island. What’s tomorrow’s weather?”

Ding.

[Floating Island Weather Forecast]

[First snow is expected in the vicinity tomorrow.]

“First snow?”

At the unexpected news, Fabir’s heart pounded. The first snow, heralding the start of winter, is falling tomorrow.

Real winter is coming.

How to wait until tomorrow?

Tonight, with swollen expectations, it seemed sleep wouldn’t come easily.