I Became a Druid whom the Different Races are Obsessed With

4 – Wood Spirit

[Boss? What does that mean?]

The wood spirit asked with sparkling eyes, not knowing the meaning of boss.

Boss. That is, the leader of the prison, but I wasn’t sure if he would like it if I explained it to him.

Maybe it was because he was nagging me to respect him since our first meeting, but I felt like I would be annoyed if he liked it.

‘I should just keep it to myself.’

These kinds of brats tend to get cocky when you praise them too much.

There was no need to flatter them and make them scratchy, it would be better to let it slide as much as possible.

Having sorted out my thoughts, I smiled as if it was nothing and poked the spirit’s cheek.

Then the spirit squeaked and bit my finger.

It hurt more than I expected.

“Patrol captain. I have something to report.”

“What is it?”

Then, as I was eagerly looking for a chance to escape, I heard the elves’ conversation in my ears.

Was there a problem?

I pretended to play with the spirit and listened to the elves’ conversation.

“Movement was detected on the branches.”

“It’s been a mess lately. Which branch is it this time?”

“The west branch and the south branch next to it above the village.”

“They’re too close to each other. There will be a territorial dispute.”

“Do you want to strengthen the security?”

“Yes. If there is any falling object, sound the alarm and evacuate the whole village. I’m going to report that guy to the high elf.”

Branch. Movement. Territorial dispute. Security. Alarm. High elf.

I was able to pick up the keywords of the conversation by focusing intensely, but it was somewhat difficult to understand their meanings.

I had to use that information efficiently to increase the possibility of escaping from here.

I was really regretful that I couldn’t even interpret the information I had obtained with great difficulty.

Did my regret show on my face?

The tree spirit who was staring at me snickered and whispered to me.

[There are monsters that have made nests on the branches of the World Tree. It’s a common thing here, so you don’t have to worry about it.]

“Oh, is that what you said? But there are monsters up there?”

[Yeah. There are countless animals living on the branches of the World Tree. Except for humans, most things are probably living there.]

“Wow.”

The cute tree spirit who pointed out the information I was curious about.

I didn’t know if it would help with my escape plan, but it didn’t seem bad to keep it in mind.

I stroked the spirit’s head in gratitude and looked up at the sky.

When I threw my gaze beyond the thorns that made up the prison, I saw the branches that stretched out from the World Tree.

It looked like green clouds were covering the sky.

Was it true that there was a separate ecosystem on the World Tree? When I looked closely, I saw quite a lot of creatures flying around.

But what is that?

‘What is that winged weapon flying around?’

Is that a dragon? What the hell is that?

I narrowed my eyes and glared at the unidentified flying creature.

Then, one of the remaining elves put down the chainsaw on the tree stump and said to me.

“We’ll be back when the high elves arrive. Don’t do anything stupid if you value your life, human.”

The elf who showed his disgust while telling me to stay put.

I kept my mouth shut, thinking of making a fool of myself when I had a chance.

The one who objected to the elf’s words was rather the tree spirit who had nothing to do with me.

[Hey, don’t do it. Look at his face. He looks docile.]

“Docile, my ass. He tried to escape twice on his way here.”

[Wow! How did he survive and arrive here?]

Of course, it wasn’t a very helpful objection.

“Don’t get too close to the human either.”

The elf, who finished talking with the tree spirit, sighed deeply and left his seat.

As all the elves left, a peaceful silence surrounded the prison.

There was no one nearby who was watching me.

It would be more accurate to say that the prison was unnecessary because of its location.

I started to draw the structure of the elf village in my head as I looked around.

‘There are surprisingly many eyes on me.’

The prison that held me was located in an open space in the center of the village.

Considering that the elves’ houses were built on trees, the whole village was watching me from above.

That’s why there was no need for a guard.

There would be dozens of pairs of eyes always watching me.

‘The chainsaw is also surprisingly close.’

I stared at the chainsaw leaning against a nearby tree cluster.

The thorny vines that made up the prison looked sturdy, but they were plants after all.

So if I could only get my chainsaw back, I could easily cut it off and escape from the prison.

How can I get the chainsaw without being noticed? If I had a special opportunity, I could run away in an instant.

That was when I was making my third escape plan.

[Hmm. So what do you think is good for you?]

The tree spirit, who had confirmed that the elves had disappeared, smiled and asked me.

What is he talking about all of a sudden?

I slumped down in the corner of the prison and answered.

“What?”

[Your name. You can’t use your human name as it is.]

“Name? Why can’t I use my name?”

[Huh? Well, if you don’t erase the traces of your human days, you’ll die, won’t you?]

“……”

What is this creepy nonsense?

When I opened my eyes wide and showed him that I meant ‘what the hell are you talking about?’, the spirit laughed and added a scary explanation.

[Nature won’t spare you, a woodcutter.]

“……”

[You have to quit being human to survive. To do that, you have to abandon your old name first.]

Nature doesn’t spare a woodcutter. To survive, I have to quit being human.

I felt the blood in my body freeze at such a shocking statement.

More than anything, it was shocking that the spirit in front of me knew my identity.

My posture becomes humble involuntarily.

I sit cross-legged in front of the spirit and ask quietly.

“How do you know my true identity?”

[Huh? How can I not know about you?]

“Does anyone else know?”

[Not yet. Only I know. I’m very special.]

“……Then.”

[Hey?! Hey! Don’t you dare look at me with those pretty eyes! If you’re thinking of harming me, I’ll make you regret it!]

Oh, he looks regretful.

I reach out my hand to the spirit to silence him.

Then the spirit makes a hissing sound and punches my palm.

[Hey! Think before you act!]

“If I put you in my pocket, you won’t be able to spread rumors.”

[Hey, you jerk! I’m a tree spirit! My main body is in another place! That action is useless!]

“……”

[And the elves probably have some idea too! You smell terrible from your body! Ugh!]

I quietly withdraw my hand at his words.

If I can’t silence him, I have to listen to his story and make him an ally.

As I adjust my posture and show my intention to listen, the spirit snorts and continues.

[You are like a serial killer in our position. As soon as you get close, the smell of tree spirit blood fills the air. It’s really disgusting, the smell of sawdust.]

I raised my arm and sniffed it.

Sniff sniff.

As expected, there was no particular smell.

It seemed that only the wood spirits and the elves could sense a special smell.

[Just like a puppy shrinks instinctively when it sees a wolf, we also feel an inexplicable fear and disgust when we see you. It’s not something we can easily hide.]

“Is it because I’m a woodcutter?”

[Yes, you bad child! It’s because of me that you can be so confident, if it was another wood spirit, they would have dripped sap as soon as they saw you?]

“……”

The tiny creature had a knack for choosing words.

But as I listened, I had a question.

I could understand that the wood spirits and the elves felt an innate hatred and fear towards me.

It was inevitable, since the woodcutter was a serial killer from their perspective.

It was a reaction that I had been experiencing ever since I fell into this world, and it felt like I finally solved a puzzle.

But then, there was a contradiction.

What was the deal with the wood spirit in front of me? Why wasn’t he afraid of me? And how did he know that I was a woodcutter?

I crossed my arms and asked the wood spirit.

“So, you’re not scared of me?”

[What?]

He looked at me with an expression that said ‘what the hell are you talking about?’.

He put his hand on his waist and answered confidently with a smile.

[Pahahahahat! I’m your senior, you know? A heavenly senior like me wouldn’t be afraid of a junior like you! Well, I do feel a bit cramped here, but still.]

“……”

Come to think of it, this guy introduced himself as my senior.

He said he was a senior who had been imprisoned in this jail five years earlier than me.

Could there be something special about this jail?

I asked the spirit with that question in mind.

“Do you get swollen liver or something if you serve a long time in this jail?”

The wooden spirit made a flustered expression at my question.

He rubbed his forehead as if he had a headache and answered.

[Hey… you don’t think I’m trapped in this jail, do you?]

“Huh? Weren’t you? You said you were a senior here.”

[Senior doesn’t mean that!]

What?

Then what does senior mean in what way? There’s nothing about him that makes him a senior.

I raised that question with my expression.

Then, the spirit turned around and walked away, saying.

[I’ve never been trapped.]

The wooden spirit gently touched the wall of the jail.

Then, the thorny bushes that were still moved and made an exit for him.

It looked as if they were welcoming the escape of the wooden spirit.

As I was distracted by such a miraculous sight, the spirit who had escaped from the prison came up to me with a bright smile.

[What I mean by senior is about this place.]

He spread his arms wide and began to enjoy his freedom.

His hair sparkled in the sunlight. His skin glowed with health as he stepped on the soil.

He had a mysterious charm that suited a tree spirit.

[This place. I mean this world.]

The tree spirit who bounced on the ground with his feet.

He met my eyes and reached out his hand with a gentle smile.

[I am a tree spirit who rooted in the world where you were.]

‘I came from the same world as you.’

I was breathless at his sudden claim.

There was another being from Earth besides me.

There were many things that puzzled me, but I did not doubt him.

Well, the spirit had no reason to lie to me, and it was not a story that he could make up.

[It means that you are my only senior and the only one who understands me.]

A deep and strong sense of kinship seeped in softly.

The only one who understood me in this world was right in front of me.

At that fact, something nostalgic and tender rose up in me.

It felt like vitality was returning to my weary heart.

It felt like warmth was descending on my deep wounds.

[So trust me. I won’t let you die.]

In this cruel world,

I felt like I had met an ally for the first time.