The Druid Who Devoured the Great Nature

I noticed someone about to report me to the City Guard and quickly slipped away.

Without stopping at the outskirts, I pushed onward until I reached the downtown district.

The crowds here were easily double those outside.

The two-lane roads widened to four lanes in each direction, yet traffic was still choked bumper-to-bumper.

Even in broad daylight, signs glowed with flashing lights, and billboards ran endless ads for brands I didn’t recognize.

Compared to the factory, the sights were dizzying.

Lose focus for even a second, and I felt I’d be swept away by the current of people.

‘By now, I should be safe.’

Leaning against a nameless building, I caught my breath.

In this swarm of people, tracking one runaway was impossible.

I could finally relax.

‘…Plenty of strange folks around.’

With my nerves easing, I had time to look around properly.

I studied the passersby.

Their clothes, their hairstyles—chaotic, with no sense of unity.

Heads of every color imaginable, not dyed but naturally vibrant, filled my view.

Fashion so wild I couldn’t even hope to imitate it.

But what stood out most was—

Clink, clank!

Artificial limbs.

Many had arms and legs of metal.

Their movements were seamless, though the appearance was grotesque.

Prosthetics that functioned as naturally as real limbs, thanks to magic fused with engineering.

This world might seem archaic in culture, but technologically, it had advanced far.

‘First, I need to figure out which city I’m in.’

Here, administration was by city, not nation.

Each city governed itself like a country.

Knowing which city I was in was vital.

I had to understand its character to decide how to act.

‘Advanced engineering, almost lawless freedom… I think I know.’

I didn’t even need to ask around.

I picked up a flyer scattered on the street.

「Come to Gellerg City, the heart of the continent and leader of the future!」

‘As I thought.’

My guess was right.

Gellerg City.

One of the standard starting hubs.

Calling it “the heart of the continent” was exaggerated.

But “leading the future”? That much was true.

‘A city where countless people flow in and corporations battle endlessly.’

Here, magic and engineering were at the cutting edge.

The city government guaranteed corporations absolute freedom, fueling rapid development.

But that also meant countless dangers lurked.

‘Not the safest place for a beginner’s base.’

Dark mages walked the streets openly.

Mercenaries loitered on corners, weapons visible.

I saw a ghostly wraith coil around a man’s arm, cackling.

In a nearby alley, steel flashed.

Lawlessness.

One unlucky moment, and you could be clubbed to death in the street.

Survival here depended on vigilance.

‘No wonder factory workers were treated so brutally.’

It made sense if the factory belonged to Gellerg City.

By this city’s laws, it was permitted.

Everything was excused as “sacrifice for progress.”

「Your only hope of escaping poverty lies in Gellerg City!」

I almost laughed at the flyer’s words.

Thinking of my penniless life as a factory worker, the irony stung—but the words weren’t wrong.

Overcome the danger, and opportunity was yours.

That was why people flocked here despite the chaos.

‘At least it’s not unfamiliar territory.’

I had played plenty of runs centered in this city.

Compared to the northern city of endless winter or the southern barbarian city where fights broke out daily, this was manageable.

‘The real problem… is making money legally.’

The city government held ultimate power, but corporations wielded overwhelming influence.

Civilians were just tools, ground up between them.

With my background, I could never stand out among them.

At best, after years of effort, I’d end up a lackey of some corporate family.

But such long-term plans didn’t suit me.

Anything could happen before I got there, and there was no point in laying a foundation only to die of old age.

Fortunately, the game had already laid out a path for me.

I wouldn’t get lost.

And so—

Thud! Thud!

“Move it, idiot!”

“Blocking the road, what the hell!”

Peace didn’t last long.

Soon, I was shoved left and right by the crowd.

One guy even glared, itching for a fight.

‘I’ll think about the rest later…’

I pulled away.

This street was far too chaotic to ponder my next step.

‘First, I need a place to stay.’

I had just finished my escape.

It was time to rest.

Downtown lodging was expensive.

With people swarming like ants, inns gouged without shame.

I searched my memory and found a hotel.

Not luxurious, but the most reasonably priced in the area.

I paid with money from the overseer’s wallet.

He must have been wealthy—enough to last me a couple of nights here.

Flop!

I collapsed onto the bed, savoring the softness of the mattress.

Compared to the stone-like bunks of the factory dorms, it was heaven itself.

I wanted nothing more than to sink into that bed and sleep forever.

‘Get a grip.’

Every minute in this room cost money.

Sleep could wait until I’d done what I needed to.

I rolled up my sleeve, freeing the World Tree hidden beneath.

“Feeling better now?”

Flutter!

It quivered with energy, as if revived. Indoors was clearly easier on it than the polluted streets.

“How about some water?”

I fetched a cup from the bathroom and poured it over the sprout.

It swayed happily, its movements almost cheerful.

「The World Tree has regained vitality!」

‘Incredible.’

I’d believed I could communicate with plants, but this was far beyond what I’d imagined.

‘Still, just water alone won’t make it grow.’

Its status window remained unchanged.

Of course—this was the World Tree. Expecting it to flourish with a little sunlight and water was pure wishful thinking.

‘I need to figure out its growth conditions.’

Escaping the factory had been no small feat. Without the World Tree, I wouldn’t have survived.

With nothing but my bare body otherwise, this tree was the only weapon I had.

To survive in this brutal world and achieve my goals, I had to master it fully.

‘It’ll probably unlock abilities as it grows.’

The “Whip Vines” skill might seem simple, but it was versatile and powerful.

And it couldn’t be the only skill a Druid had. Others would surely be greater.

“How do I help you grow?”

I asked directly.

「The World Tree twists its branches with a faint groan.」

“No, it’s fine.”

It didn’t feel like ignorance. More like something half-remembered, just out of reach.

Which made sense—it was barely born. It would have been stranger if it did know.

‘Class progression usually isn’t easy to figure out anyway.’

Warriors grew through combat.

Mages advanced by study and application.

Even if players couldn’t guess the way forward, the system always nudged them toward it.

Even now, with the game turned real, that much hadn’t changed.

‘And there are always common routes.’

Artifacts. Ancient ruins. Elixirs. Ascension…

As a multi-playthrough veteran, these were my safety nets.

‘Next, Nature Affinity.’

That vague stat.

Thanks to the title “Cradle of Nature,” mine sat at 11.

Low, but if it were Strength or Agility, I’d have seen direct changes in my body.

This clearly worked differently.

As I fiddled with the interface, a new line of text suddenly appeared.

「Nature Affinity: The potential to commune with nature. Amplifies natural power.」

“…What?”

I blinked in surprise.

All this time it had been hidden—why explain it now?

‘So basically, it strengthens the World Tree’s abilities.’

The first part was vague, but the second was clear enough.

The reason I’d been able to bind that burly overseer was this stat boost.

‘And raising it must come from restoring and reviving nature.’

That one persistent notification…

The charge given to the last Druid: to restore and revive the natural world.

The very phrase “Nature Affinity” made it obvious.

‘Could the World Tree’s growth be tied to that as well?’

It wasn’t an unreasonable guess.

It had already withered in the city’s smog.

If thriving greenery surrounded it, wouldn’t it draw strength?

That was growth.

‘So in the end, the goal is one and the same.’

The World Tree’s growth, the system’s command, and my own reason for playing this game all aligned.

‘Restore nature.’

Even if the game had become reality, my task hadn’t changed.

I woke at dawn.

I had wanted to sleep in, but my body, conditioned by the factory’s routine, refused.

Nod, nod…

The World Tree still slumbered, bobbing gently like a drowsy head.

‘So it sleeps too, huh.’

It might seem strange, but plants were living things—many “slept” at night.

Oxalis, mugwort, wood sorrel… their leaves folded or drooped until daylight returned.

Even birch trees were known to sag at night and straighten with the sunrise.

The reasons weren’t fully understood, but the behavior was real.

And if any plant was going to act like a human, it would be this one.

I tucked it gently back under my sleeve and went to wash up.

I’d been too exhausted last night.

A proper wash, long overdue, would feel like luxury.

I splashed my face, chasing away the last of sleep, then looked up into the mirror.

“…What the—”

The words slipped out in shock.

What I saw was unbelievable.

I’d expected my face to change, given my scarred skin had been healed.

But not like this.

The man staring back wasn’t the grotesque, scar-covered wretch I had been.

“This… is me?”

My skin, pale and smooth, marred only by dust and grime.

Even my unkempt hair somehow suited a face now sharp and defined, with clean features.

I touched my cheek.

No more rough, bark-like scars—just smooth flesh.

The warped nose and lips were gone, replaced with symmetry.

Thick brows, a sharp jawline—like something out of a celebrity magazine.

“Mm.”

I tried different expressions.

Smiling. Frowning. Scowling.

Every one of them looked… handsome.

Even I couldn’t help but admire it.

‘First they made me a monster without asking, now this? One extreme to another.’

Better handsome than hideous, of course.

‘Let’s wash up properly first.’

I scrubbed myself clean.

The World Tree drank deeply as well, perking up without complaint.

When I looked back at my reflection, fresh and tidy, the difference was even starker.

“No wonder the receptionist didn’t turn me away.”

I’d half-expected to be rejected outright, but they hadn’t batted an eye.

This was why.

“With a face like this, every day must feel like a thrill.”

I recalled something an actor had once said—and found myself agreeing.

The old face, scarred and monstrous, felt like a memory I could barely recall.

“…And my body’s changed too.”

I lowered my gaze, examining myself.

The face was shocking, but the body was no less so.

Where once my limbs had been little more than skin and bone, lean muscle now lined them.

The gaunt frame had filled into something sturdy, athletic.

It really was like being reborn.

“The hair’s the only thing off.”

My mop of messy strands just looked awkward now.

Sighing, I wrapped myself in the hotel gown and flopped onto the bed.

“This is your doing, isn’t it?”

The World Tree’s leaves glowed a vibrant green, lively after its drink.

When I poked it with a finger, it quivered playfully, as though ticklish.

“…Perfect.”

Honestly, the disfigured face had weighed on me heavily.

More than any combat skill, this—this healing, this restoration—felt like the greatest gift the World Tree had given me.

(End of Chapter)