Jobless Transmigration: I'm the only one who loves monsters.-Chapter 98: Father and Daughter Storytime.

Chapter 98: Father and Daughter Storytime.

" A book on dryads?" Her pick intrigued him quite a bit, for on the cover of the book was a magnificent design of an emerald leaf.

Lucuis had no idea what a dryads were exactly. But he became even more puzzled when she began nudging the book at him.

" What is it?" He asked, clearly curious.

Emily was silent for awhile, her eyes darting around for a moment, before her lips parted slights and she said.

" It’s filled with too many words I can’t understand yet... Can you... Please read it to me?"

Her reply brought a light smile to his face.

" Alright, but only on one condition."

" What is it?" She blinked her eyes.

" Ask nicely. If you want me to read it to you, you’re gonna have to call me papa first."

" Ok, Papa, can you please read it to me." She said with pleading eyes that nearly had the man clutching at his own heart from such a severe blow.

’ Worth it...’ Lucuis held back the urge to drop on his knees from such a blessed reward.

He never really expected her to agree so quickly, but the return was definitely worth it.

******

Emily sat on Lucuis’s lap while he held the book in hand for her to see.

Then Lucuis began to tell the content of the book, since it wasn’t exactly a children’s story book, he decided to improve a bit.

" Once upon a time, there lived creatures beloved by nature... Creatures who were able to control it’s powers as well as they pleased yet not once did they use their powers for heinous means, only serving as the protectors of nature itself." He began in a light tone to set the mood. He smiled when he saw the way her eyes widened in awe as he continued.

"Papa?" the little girl asked softly, her mouse ears twitching as she shifted on his lap, her tail curling lazily around his wrist. "Why do they call them dryads?"

Lucuis smiled, one hand steadying the library book on the desk while the other rested at her back. But since he actually had no idea, he quickly read a page with the corner of his gaze, only talking with confidence when he found what he wanted.

"Because they are born of trees," he said, voice low and calm. "The word comes from an old tongue that meant oak. Long ago, people believed every great forest had spirits living within it, some say they always felt watched, as if someone or something was constantly listening in on whatever they said and did as well.

" Really? Isn’t that a bit too creepy?" Emily revealed an uncomfortable expression.

" Umm..." Lucuis took a breath. " I guess it kinda is now that you think about it." He said, but not wanting to ruin the mood, he continued.

" But in their defence, it’s their job to do so."

" Their job?" She asked, clearly curious.

" Of course, they are the protectors of nature after all."

She leaned closer, peering at the faded illustrations. "Are they like fairies?"

" Mom usually read to me about fairies whenever she came over."

" Hehehe, that’s very sweet of her." A light smile emerged on his face at the thought. To think the viscous demon of a woman was actually capable of such a thing. He thought, but, paused when he stole a glance at the child on his lap.

’ Well with such an angel by your side, you’re sure to break no matter how cold you might be.’ he said to himself, before getting back to the book.

"Not quite." He turned the page slowly. "It says here that Dryads are older, and far more bound than fairies. They are not guests in the forest, they are the forest. Some are tied to entire groves, while others are bound to a single tree. Those ones..." He paused, glancing down at her. "If their tree dies, they die with it."

Her tail stilled. " But that’s too sad. Can’t they simply run away then? Is it really worth it to be a tree?"

"I know it’s sad Emily but sometimes life can be sad, but they only die when their trees are cut by bad men."he agreed gently. "That is why forests were once treated as sacred. To cut down the wrong tree was to kill a living spirit, not just wood."

" Then why doesn’t someone stop the bad men?" She questioned with an unhappy look.

" Some have tried but the problem is that evil isn’t exactly a material thing, if can manifest in even the most unexpected of places." He said with a sigh. " Although that doesn’t mean we can’t combat it."

" What do you mean?" She asked with slightly widening eyes.

" If we were to kill all the bad men, we’d become bad ourselves. To truly help the Dryads, all we can do is offer them a point of reincarnation. It says they’re are trees, are they not?"

" Y-Yes?"

" Then wouldn’t planting another tree for them to inhabit be the same as giving them an extra life?"

" That’s... Papa your right, that really could work." Emily said, her happiness re kindling.

Lucuis chuckled and gently ruffled up her hair. " See, I told you there is always a way to deal with bad people. The worst thing you can do is become them. Can I trust you not to ever do that, Emily?"

" Of course Papa. I promise!" She said with a bright smile.

" Hahaha, that’s my girl." He laughed out loud.

’ While I’m not sure if what I actually said is the truth, there’s no way I can afford to let such a wonderful soul be lost to the world.’ Lucuis said to himself.

" Papa, Are they pretty as well" Emily asked.

Lucuis chuckled softly. "When the forest is healthy, yes. They are said to be beautiful, skin like bark smoothed by time, hair like leaves and vines, eyes that shine like sunlight through branches. But their beauty changes with the land as well. When the forest is hurt, they change too."

" So, do you think they’re the most prettiest thing in the world?" 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

" Huh?" Lucuis was confused, what kind of sudden question was that. But seeing her silent stare, he decided to answer.