I Became a 6★ Gacha Character-Chapter 529: Kanpf’s Great Leap Forward 4

Apparently the main quest was designed with cooperation in mind, as we were able to have extensive conversations with the curious-eyed forest fairies.

Even without the "Pure Natural Energy Crystal" reward from the Empire side quest, we probably could have earned the forest fairies' goodwill using the power of the Saint, hero, and holy sword. It would make sense if a side quest couldn't be completed without progressing the main quest, but having a main quest that couldn't be tackled without completing a side quest seemed a bit much.

After calming the forest fairy who trembled and wailed that Han Se-ah was an arsonist, the forest fairies who had gathered in the village square began explaining their situation with complete openness.

"World Tree... definitely elf-like."

-This seems like proper K-elves, right? Did J-eroves[1] also go on about World Trees?

-At least they're not those Yankee-style stick-figure monsters, so that's good

-So are they elves or kan-elves[2]? Should we consider them kan-elves who turned dark after being victimized by the Demon Lord?

-They remain beautiful elves in front of Teacher Roland, so who cares

-If they're freaking out because there's no World Tree, I can't even imagine where the main quest story is heading

Judging by the donations from viewers who loved showing off their random knowledge, these forest fairies seemed to be a race that blended nymphs from Greek and Roman mythology with K-fantasy elves. Alseith, who had guided us, was a forest nymph, and the names of the elves in the village—Oreades (mountain), Naphaeas (valley), and so on—were easily searchable online, confirming this theory.

The issue was whether they were K-elves or J-eroves, but regardless, they were a race that had lived together beneath a massive tree called the World Tree. And naturally, there was no World Tree inside the Tower.

"So you're saying we were abducted by the Demon Lord and forcibly separated from the World Tree?"

"Th-thinking about being abducted to a world without the Goddess and losing holy power... it's frightening."

For the forest fairies, the World Tree wasn't simply a large tree but something fundamental to their existence as a race. The obvious reason why only women inhabited the village was because forest fairies were born from the World Tree, and they drew energy from it to use magic, spirit arts, or sorcery.

But in this Tower without a World Tree... new forest fairies couldn't be born, depleted mana couldn't recover, and they couldn't properly use the abilities they once had.

In terms of this world, it was like being in a space untouched by the Goddess's hand, withering away with both holy power and mana sealed. In gaming terms, it meant no revival, no healing, and skill sealing while being forcibly confined to a dungeon corner.

"Huu-huu, sh-she's going to burn our village..."

"No, I won't. Really. ...Ah, really. When you cry with that face, I feel guilty even though I haven't done anything wrong. Looking at the situation, it's not short-term future vision but more like an analysis of my gameplay so far, right?"

-No way, from what I see she's definitely a talented prophet and Han Se-ah is going to set the forest on fire

-Seeing how they keep talking about energy, it seems like player behavior is analyzed to determine relationship status?

-If you play the game lustfully, blowing money earned as an adventurer on harem parties, will you get shot with arrows and chased out when you come here?

-So you're not going to set fires? If it's a forest, there's plenty to burn and you'll definitely set it ablaze

-I'mNotGoingToSetTheForestOnFire (while equipping staff with flame enhancement and loading explosives and alchemical solutions)

Among them was a forest fairy named Naias who led the village with her minor precognition ability, but her power seemed uncontrollable after being disconnected from the World Tree. She kept reading dark and twisted futures, making her mentally overwhelmed when she met Han Se-ah.

Given her prophet character, she probably analyzed player behavior using big data... and if we summarized Han Se-ah's gameplay, wouldn't it be arson and terrorism?

"It's okay, Naias. You might not trust the self-proclaimed hero, but you can trust the Saint and the knight of the holy sword. They'll keep her in check."

"Don't get too caught up in bad futures, okay?"

We spent quite a bit of time soothing the half-convulsing forest fairy elder Naias. Perhaps Han Se-ah's conquest pace had been too fast, leaving no time to build substance through Temple side quests, leading to this situation.

Anyway, Naias, a cute blue-bobbed elf whose name meant "sprite of the spring," sobbed in the arms of her tall, voluptuous sisters—a sight the viewers enjoyed watching until their patience wore thin.

"Um, humans? I have a favor to ask."

"Yes!"

A forest fairy with bright yellow-green hair subtly called us away from the others who were fretting over the sobbing Naias, allowing us to escape the awkward situation.

※

Come to think of it, we couldn't see the stone dwarves' ★ and titles either.

We couldn't see the title and stars of the forest fairy who called us aside, but my senses told me she was likely the strongest in the village.

Light green hair verging on sky blue, slender yet firm white arms, and a svelte figure toned from running through dense forests. She was beautiful enough that posting leggings-clad workout photos on social media would earn her millions of followers... but also a powerhouse of at least 5★.

My senses warned that those slender arms could still damage me, creating a disorienting disconnect between vision and perception. But what mattered was the quest she had for our party.

"What's the favor?"

"You are, well, humans who are both pure and strong. ...Honestly, you're so powerful I'm not sure if our entire village attacking together could subdue you."

If prophet Naias was the village elder, this forest fairy gave the impression of being the village guard captain. Her request was simple yet difficult, but it was a quest we absolutely had to undertake.

She asked us to find other forest fairy villages.

"So that's my request. If you take this, they'll all listen to you."

With those words, she handed me a familiar-looking light green leaf. The young leaf, similar in color to her hair, gave off a refreshing scent.

...Mint?

"My name is Minthe. Would you tell the other villages that Naias and Minthe are gathering the forest fairies? It's difficult to leave this place because our connection to the World Tree has been severed."

No wonder the color and scent seemed familiar—she was a mint fairy.

Still, the leaf she offered wasn't ordinary mint; it sparkled like a jewel.

It glittered like a gem or glass artwork when hit by sunlight, with an unfading fragrance and a subtle, strange magical wavelength. It was certainly distinctive enough to serve as an emblem.

So the 61st floor's layer quest involved rallying scattered forest fairies who had lost their World Tree. Han Se-ah nodded without hesitation at this clearly presented quest.

"Will they come on their own if we just relay that, or should we bring them here?"

"No need to bring them. Even without the World Tree, this emblem can connect our sisters. I'm counting on you, human heroes."

Why would we turn down the main quest after abandoning the Empire side quest to rush to the 61st floor? Han Se-ah pretended to examine the leaf I handed her, holding it up to show the camera before neatly placing it in her inventory.

Just as I was about to comment on this, forest fairy Minthe spoke first.

"Hey, hero. You should avoid using that strange magic. I don't know what's in that space, but it seems to break connections and will only raise suspicion."

"Ah, right! You mentioned you couldn't sense that energy!"

Having apparently forgotten that she'd put the natural energy crystal in her inventory just an hour ago, earning the fairies' suspicion, she awkwardly smiled and reopened her inventory.

Finding it unnatural to keep items in a pocket rather than her inventory, she clumsily transferred the leaf to the pouch hanging from her belt. Only then did Minthe nod with a soft smile, seemingly relieved.

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"I'm counting on you again, hero. Oh, and I recommend leaving immediately instead of going back to the village. Naias has become quite tearful since losing her connection to the World Tree."

"I see. How do we get out?"

"Just walk straight to where sunlight doesn't reach, and you should return to where you were before. That leaf also serves as an access pass to forest fairy villages."

With Minthe bidding us farewell and the soft sobbing still audible from the village, we headed toward the sunlight that marked the village boundary. The wildflowers that had cushioned our feet so softly under the sunlight disappeared, replaced by crunching fallen leaves and an eerie atmosphere.

As shadows from the dark forest covered our faces, Katie slowly spoke.

"...The fairies are pretty. Both the fairies and their villages."

"Is that why you were so quiet?"

I wondered why she'd kept her mouth shut the entire time in the village—she must have been too captivated to even think of speaking.

[1.raei: J-eroves (J-에로프) are Japan's depiction of elves like K-elves (K-엘프) which is a little self-explanatory so I've never actually had to make a side note for that. How for Japanese elves, it seems that they've combined the words erotic and elves making 'eroves.' I don't know whether this means that there are normal Japanese elves or that Japanese elves are just sexualized in general.]

[.2: Kan-elves are the evil/corrupted elves in stories or the ones that are portrayed negatively. Sometimes referred to as dark elves.]

Enjoy the chappy!