Junyeok looked around. The inside of the enormous tree was mostly hollow, its walls formed by twisted bark and roots spiraling upward into darkness.
"Where is she…" Junyeok muttered, scanning the surroundings carefully.
Junyeok thought, Dryad Mother… a monster similar to plant species, the guardian of the ancient forest, and a boss monster. In my previous life, she alone killed more than 3,400 contractors who tried to challenge her… and yet she met her end when one of the top contractor finally killed her.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
But I still don't know the reason why they suddenly sealed this place two years after its emergence. It wasn't because of casualties—the government itself wanted this place cleared. Then why… and why all of a sudden, after five years, did a famous Contractor appear out of nowhere and clear it? It doesn't make sense…
He exhaled slowly.
Anyway… I'll find out soon enough.
A faint sound echoed above him.
Something was tightening… gripping…
Leaves drifted down silently.
Junyeok frowned.
Where did those fall from…?
He slowly looked up.
"…Shit."
A monstrous figure was hanging directly above him.
It had a human-like mouth and lips, but the rest of the face was covered in tangled roots and blooming flowers of many colors. Its upper body resembled that of a woman, partly wrapped in thick red roots. Long, light-green hair flowed downward like vines.
Below the waist, its body turned into a mass of thorned vines, writhing like the limbs of an octopus.
And in the next instant—
It crashed down.
Junyeok reacted immediately, dashing aside as the ground shattered where he had been standing.
He straightened, a faint smirk appearing on his lips.
"…This will be fun."
The vines lunged first.
They shot forward like whips, tearing through the air. Junyeok twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the first strike, then slashed with his dagger. Flames ignited along the blade.
"Hell's Fire."
The dagger burned crimson as he cut through a cluster of vines, the flames spreading along them instantly.
More vines erupted from the ground, surrounding him from all directions.
Junyeok leapt backward, landing on a protruding root. Another vine lashed toward his neck—he ducked and countered, slicing upward, severing it in one clean motion.
The monster moved fast—faster than most plant-type creatures.
Thorns shot toward him like spears.
Junyeok spun, flames trailing behind his blade as he cut through them one after another. Sparks scattered through the hollow chamber.
He dashed forward, closing the distance, slashing repeatedly. The burning blade carved through layers of roots, flames spreading rapidly across the tangled mass.
The creature shrieked—not in rage, but something closer to fear.
Junyeok paused for a fraction of a second.
…Not fatal attacks…?
But the hesitation lasted only a moment. He ignited the flames further and swept his dagger in a wide arc.
Fire engulfed the remaining roots.
The massive structure collapsed.
And when the roots finally burned away…
Junyeok froze.
"…What the hell…?"
Before him was not a monster—but a girl.
She looked around seventeen. Her face was delicate and beautiful, framed by long green hair decorated with small flowers. Her skin was smooth, almost glowing faintly in the dim light. Her figure was that of a young woman, yet there was something fragile, almost childlike, in the way she trembled.
Junyeok immediately closed his eyes, turning his face away in embarrassment as he removed his jacket and gently placed it over her.
After a moment, he opened his eyes again and sighed softly.
"…That's better."
The girl was crying.
Junyeok thought, What is happening here…? Isn't she Dryad Mother? How can she look like this…?
He clenched his jaw.
No… don't get distracted by her appearance. I shouldn't forget—Dryad Mother was responsible for more than three thousand deaths.
But the girl kept crying quietly, her shoulders trembling.
Junyeok hesitated.
…But still…
He exhaled slowly, calming himself.
"Hey," he said gently. "Are you okay? Can you understand me?"
The girl nodded weakly, tears falling from her eyes.
"I… I didn't want to harm you… I'm sorry… I really didn't…"
Junyeok frowned slightly.
…She's telling the truth. None of those attacks were fatal. She was trying to drive me away, not kill me.
He let out a breath.
"Just answer me honestly. Have you ever killed anyone?"
The girl shook her head immediately.
"…Do you have a name?" he asked.
She nodded.
"Yes… my name is Liora."
Junyeok repeated it silently.
Liora…
"Alright, Liora. Next question—how long have you been here?"
She sniffled.
"Sixty…"
"Sixty months?" Junyeok asked.
She shook her head.
"Sixty suns… up and down…"
Junyeok sighed faintly.
Of course… she doesn't measure time like we do.
"…One last question," he said. "Do you know the monster who used to be here before you?"
She nodded slowly.
"…Mother."
Junyeok's eyes sharpened.
Mother… mother…
He thought for a moment, then his expression changed slightly as realization formed.
"…I understand now."
He spoke quietly, almost to himself.
"First—the monster who killed those thousands was indeed Dryad Mother.
Second—you're not Dryad Mother… you're something like her seed… her offspring.
Third—you've only been here about two months, which means Dryad Mother died before that…
Fourth—that contractor who 'cleared' this place probably only arrived after learning she was already dead… and claimed the glory."
He folded his arms slightly.
"But there's still one thing I want to know."
Junyeok looked at her.
"Do you know how your mother died?"
Liora lowered her eyes.
"…Her life force… was depleted…"
Junyeok went silent.
Life force… depleted…
He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks and smiled faintly.
"Don't worry," he said softly. "I'm not angry… and I'm not going to kill you."
She looked at him, eyes wide.
"…Really?"
Junyeok gently patted her head.
"Really. I promise."
She suddenly hugged him tightly, crying again.
"Thank you…"
Junyeok froze, his face turning slightly red, but he gently patted her head again.
"What did I say about crying?" he said with a soft smile.
She's… too cute…
He quickly shook his head.
Don't think like that. She's only two months old…
"…By the way," Junyeok said carefully, "how old are you… really?"
She tilted her head.
"…7,203 suns… up and down…"
Junyeok blinked.
7,203 days… that's… around twenty years…
"…But you said you've only been here sixty days."
"Yes," she said while still holding him. "That's right."
"Then what about the rest?"
"I was a seed… before becoming a sapling."
Junyeok frowned slightly.
But this forest hasn't existed that long… Does that mean she existed somewhere else before this place emerged…?
He exhaled.
…Forget it for now.
Liora suddenly trembled, her body heating up, her breathing becoming uneven.
"…I think… my time is coming…"
Junyeok's expression changed immediately.
"What do you mean?"
"My life force… is depleted…" she said weakly. "We must maintain it… when we evolve…"
Junyeok's heart tightened.
"Tell me how to help," he said urgently. "Do you need food? Water? An item? Just tell me!"
She hesitated.
"…It's…"
Junyeok suddenly remembered something.
Dryads… absorb life force from men…
His face flushed slightly.
…Does that mean…?
Liora slowly leaned closer, wrapping her arms around him.
"…Are you sure?" she asked softly.
Junyeok hesitated for a moment… then nodded.
"…Yes."
She moved closer, her breath warm against his face.
Junyeok swallowed.
And then—