A white mouse that gives off a faint glow.

The spirit Hasmooms, who had that appearance, had been staring—just staring—at a large door for the past several days.

A large door decorated with a solemn relief patterned after the beautiful forest trees...... and the great, lovely figure of the Forest Spirit King.

Why was he doing that?

Because he had been ordered to by his master, the lovely Forest Spirit King, Cocoririon.

“Stand guard here,” he had been told.

“This place” meant that large door, and beyond it lay Cocoririon’s dwelling.

In other words, the place where he stood motionless was the core of the Spirit Forest...... inside a large hollow located partway up the giant tree that stood at the center of the sacred ground.

A few days ago, Cocoririon had brought his beloved child—utterly weakened—back here and shut himself inside his dwelling.

At that time, after clearing everyone out...... clearing out the spirits, too, Cocoririon gave Hasmooms the order above.

......

Hasmooms was a Medium Spirit, but he occupied a special position: “the Forest Spirit King’s attendant.”

That was entirely because Cocoririon valued his mechanical nature.

Hasmooms, unusually for a spirit, “doesn’t do anything extra.” 𝘧𝓇𝑒𝑒𝑤ℯ𝑏𝓃𝘰𝑣ℯ𝘭.𝘤ℴ𝘮

He does what he is told—like a machine—exactly as he is told.

Cocoririon found that trait pleasing and selected him as an attendant.

......After all, the previous attendant had a typically spirit-like personality, and it was common for him to ditch errands he’d been asked to do.

But, well.

From a human set of values, Hasmooms was not, by any means, a nature suited to being an attendant.

After all, he only does what he is told.

He doesn’t use his head.

Even now—

DOOOOOM!!

RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE RATTLE!!

WHIRR—CLACK!!

RAAAAAAA!!

......Well.

From the base of the giant tree, fierce battle noises could be heard.

The battle between ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) the forest intruder Emi Rune and the Great Spirit of Light Akashitaru was continuing.

But Hasmooms did not try to convey that fact to Cocoririon.

He did not try to inform the inside of the king’s dwelling, which had perfect soundproofing.

Because he had not received an order to do that.

Because all he had been told was, “Stand guard here.”

Most likely, even if the intruder reached this hollow, opened the door to Cocoririon’s dwelling, and proceeded inside, Hasmooms would not take any action.

Because he had only been told, “Stand guard.”

......This was clearly a fault of the Forest Spirit King Cocoririon, and under normal circumstances, he would not make such a blunder.

But Cocoririon was—carried away.

Because he had finally brought his beloved child, Mishutire, back.

◇　◇　◇

Now then—what was the Forest Spirit King Cocoririon doing at that time?

He was staring—staring—at his beloved child Mishutire, who had been sealed inside something like a clear blue crystal, with a smile full of affection on his face.

To be clear, this was not him tormenting or blaming Mishutire.

This crystal held the power of Cocoririon’s main Spirit God, Peereesyu, and it had the power to heal illness and injuries.

In other words, he was treating Mishutire, who had been worn down by long years of confinement.

Mishutire continued sleeping inside the crystal.

Cocoririon continued watching Mishutire like that, smiling.

For days.

Without moving a muscle.

The Forest Spirit King Cocoririon had a cool, beautiful face and a form that closely resembled a human.

He was slender and tall, but his body was well trained.

The muscles visible beneath the toga-like garment wrapped around him were like sculpture, and his green hair that reached his waist was like silk.

But.

Staring, staring, just staring.

Smiling as he continued to gaze at the girl sealed inside the crystal—

Frankly speaking, it was a little...... scary.