Forest Spirit King Cocoririon is, like the other spirit kings, an apostle of Spirit God Peereesyu.

A spirit king becomes the limbs of a spirit god, helping with the management and operation of this world, Ardyst.

In Cocoririon’s case, the mission imposed on him by the spirit god is the management of the singular point called the “Spirit Forest,” where the planet’s veins—the “magical power flow of the earth,” sometimes called a terrestrial vein or a dragon vein—come too close to the surface.

He must properly cultivate the plants that have undergone a peculiar evolution and have high magical-power absorption efficiency, or increase their kin......spirits that multiply by feeding on them, so that magical power does not accumulate too much in the earth......and moderately disperse the magical power contained in the soil into the air, circulating it correctly through the world......that is his work.

Cocoririon has been doing that work for a long time.

So long it makes your mind go numb.

......And because of that, he had a dissatisfaction.

◇　◇　◇

One day......it was something like a dozen or so years ago now.

Spirit God Peereesyu descended to the lower world using an avatar, and came to the hollow of the giant tree that was Cocoririon’s dwelling, in order to audit how his work was going.

Peereesyu had the appearance of a peerless beauty, with a body of pronounced curves.

Silk-like green hair fluttering in the wind, and pure white skin glittering in the sunlight.

Her figure was alluring yet sacred......and the shine of her eyes, filled with a strong will, had an overwhelming force to it, and deep within that shine, the ferocity of her hidden temperament was concealed.

And this is an aside, but although he had deliberately changed the sex, Cocoririon’s appearance resembled Peereesyu extremely well.

It was an expression of Cocoririon’s feeling that he wanted to draw even a little closer to the god he worshiped.

......Now then. Yes.

Cocoririon worships Peereesyu.

And because he does, as stated earlier, he also held dissatisfaction toward “a certain thing.”

So, at the moment Peereesyu—satisfied that Cocoririon’s work was proceeding without issue—was about to rise up and go meet Akashitaru, the great spirit superintendent, to confirm the condition of the forest’s great spirits, Cocoririon, with no lead-in at all, blurted out a question despite himself.

<<<When......when will I be able to ascend to godhood?>>>

Because.

Because the one who used to be the Water Spirit King, Water Spirit King Weerow, and the one who used to be the Earth Spirit King, Earth Spirit King Nekondonern, and the other spirit kings as well—

All of them had long since ascended to godhood.

They became gods......stood on the same stage as the Spirit God Peereesyu they revered, and took part in the management and operation of the world.

And yet, only him.

He was bound to this land forever, serving as a spirit king.

Him—who should have been a spirit king even before Weerow, even before Nekondonern!

This......was wrong!

Those feelings he had been piling up for years—

Finally, spilled out of his mouth.

Spirit God Peereesyu heard those words, first making a blank, dumbfounded face......and then immediately forming an overtly annoyed expression.

She wrinkled the space between her brows and pursed her lips.

Put into words, that’s all it is, but because it was the beauty of a god making that expression, it had incredible force.

Peereesyu is a god who is frightening when she is angry, and for Cocoririon—who knew that—this pressure was truly terrifying, but......even so, Cocoririon did not look away from Peereesyu’s eyes.

Prepared to be scolded for his immaturity, and still unable to back down......Cocoririon was that cornered.

However—

<<<......It’s still too soon for you. More importantly—hey, where is Akashitaru? Hurry and guide me.>>>

Peereesyu did not scold him.

She said that, did not answer Cocoririon’s question, and tried to dodge the topic.

But with an attitude like that, Cocoririon could not possibly accept it.

<<<W-What do you mean, “too soon”!? I am already the oldest veteran among the current spirit kings! My ability, too—compared to the other kings......even compared to Weerow or Nekondonern back when they were kings, even if you put it modestly, it shouldn’t be inferior!>>>

Cocoririon, knowing full well it was irreverent, grabbed at Peereesyu and shouted at the top of his lungs!

<<<Enough!! Let go, you fool!!>>>

The next instant!

Before he knew it, Cocoririon had been blown away, slamming the back of his head hard into the wall of the hollow.

What had been done to him—Cocoririon could not understand it at all.

This was the absolute difference in power that lay between king and god.

Even though Peereesyu was acting through an avatar with her power restrained, it was still like this.

But even after having that difference forced upon him, Cocoririon did not back down.

<<<Please, Spirit God Peereesyu! Tell me......what am I lacking?>>>

Cocoririon squirmed forward, crawled to Peereesyu’s feet, and pressed himself to the ground, begging for instruction.

<<<........................Haaah.>>>

Looking down at Cocoririon, Peereesyu assumed a posture as if sitting cross-legged—floating in midair—and sighed.

<<<You, you know......you’re kind of off.>>>

And she said something extremely vague.

<<<What do you mean, “off”!?>>>

<<<Your way of thinking, the way you exist......to put it clearly, as you are now, you are not suited to be a god.>>>

<<<Then I’ll change! What should I do!?>>>

<<<........................Haaah.>>>

Forest Spirit King Cocoririon clung to Spirit God Peereesyu’s leg, desperately seeking instruction.

Seeing that, Peereesyu sighed again, looking fed up from the bottom of her heart.

<<<......Then, let’s see.>>>

And while glaring at Cocoririon—

<<<For example, your contempt for humans and your favoritism toward spirits are excessive. Fix that.>>>

She said.

<<<......? Why?>>>

Hit with words he had never expected, Cocoririon’s eyes went wide, and he made a blank face.

<<<Humans are an inferior species that can hardly even manipulate magical power. And they die quickly. Where is the reason not to despise them?>>>

And with a slightly troubled smile, he smoothly laid bare his creed.

Spirit God Peereesyu wrinkled her brow and sighed a third time.

<<<Listen well, Cocoririon.>>>

<<<Yes.>>>

<<<To become a god is, in other words, to take part—more or less—in the operation of this world.>>>

<<<Yes.>>>

<<<It is to work “to make the world larger.”>>>

<<<Yes.>>>

<<<How does the world become larger?>>>

<<<By taking in “mana,” which, if unobstructed by the world’s membrane, would normally pass straight through the world and flow into the void.>>>

Cocoririon is an ✧ NоvеIight ✧ (Original source) apostle of the spirit god.

He is in a position to know, to some extent, the secrets of the world......the secret of the world’s growth.

The knowledge above had already been taught to him by Peereesyu.

Since it was nothing but review, he could answer smoothly.

<<<Then how can the world take in mana?>>>

<<<The most efficient method is to have it adhere to souls. When a living being overcomes trials and grows, its soul also grows......and at that time mana adheres to the soul, changing into that being’s......that is, that world’s magical power.>>>

<<<......Exactly. Meaning, as a god, you want to fill the world with living beings whose souls grow easily, and that also increase in number to a reasonable degree.>>>

<<<That is sound.>>>

<<<That living being is humans.>>>

<<<............>>>

<<<That is why a god cannot treat humans as nothing. They are a part of a vital mechanism for the world. Now then—what about you?>>>

<<<............>>>

<<<You despise their weakness, and you despise their short lives. As a spirit, that feeling is not incomprehensible, but as a god, it disqualifies you. At the very least, acknowledge humans as useful parts.>>>

<<<............>>>

<<<Many spirits become stronger than humans, but the basis of that strength is the magical power within this world. The amount of mana that adheres to a spirit’s soul in this world is negligible compared to humans. The growth of spirits is nothing more than pouring magical power that existed elsewhere in this world into a vessel called a spirit. With this, the world cannot grow. Spirits are useful as gears for world management, but they are ill-suited to be a power source. Therefore—>>>

<<<I—!!>>>

Here.

Forest Spirit King Cocoririon raised his voice loudly and cut off Spirit God Peereesyu.

And desperately began to sell himself!

<<<I have understood that long ago! Look at the Hyupuet Spirit Kingdom! That is a human country I created! In that country, humans are appropriately managed and operated under the rule of spirits, and they prosper! In this way, I have left achievements worthy of ascending to godhood, so—>>>

<<<You fool!!>>>

But Peereesyu, with a single shout, cut Cocoririon’s self-promotion down and threw it away!

<<<The humans of that country rely on spirits for everything and hardly grow their souls at all! Did you think I wouldn’t know, you idiot!? That place is truly a farm, isn’t it—made for no purpose but to raise souls as delicacies for your subordinates to eat! It is absolutely not for the sake of the world!!>>>

At last, Spirit God Peereesyu exposed genuine anger.

Her rage directly transformed into scorching flames, turning the surroundings into an infernal world in the blink of an eye......

If the flames spread like this, Cocoririon’s castle—the Spirit Forest—would burn to nothing!

But Cocoririon was completely swallowed by Peereesyu’s fury, his legs giving out as he could only tremble violently.

<<<........................Haaah.>>>

Looking at such a Cocoririon......thinking, “So this is what the apostle I’ve given a decent amount of attention to and raised looks like,” Peereesyu started to feel pathetic.

When she sighed yet again, the flames vanished in an instant.

More than that—perhaps because her dejection was reflected outward—frost had even formed.

（......Maybe it’s about time I “change the guard”......there’s some distortion, but compared to this one, Akashitaru is still......）

Floating in midair in that sit-cross-legged posture, Peereesyu drifted lazily while thinking thoughts that, for Cocoririon......could invite a fatal outcome.

And then, at that moment.

From Spirit God Peereesyu’s pocket, something silver rolled out......plop.

It was......someone’s soul.

<<<Ah......!?>>>

Forest Spirit King Cocoririon saw that soul and sucked in a breath.

He could no longer take his eyes off it.

It was just a soul—and yet!

Somehow it was lovable, and he wanted to stare at it forever!

He wanted to gently scoop it up and rub his cheek against it!

He wanted to be together forever!

But it looked so delicious that......he wanted to become one with it!

An intense obsession—something he had never once felt in all his long life—suddenly erupted inside Cocoririon!

<<<Mm, this is......>>>

Peereesyu, of course, swiftly sensed Cocoririon’s abnormality.

<<<No way, no way......that this otherworldly soul I bid on out of obligation is your beloved child!>>>

And in an instant, she saw through the cause of that abnormality!

<<<Beloved child......? This is my beloved child......!>>>

<<<Hmm, hmm, hmm......heh. Well then, Cocoririon—do you want this soul?>>>

Cocoririon was on all fours, his body trembling as he stared at the soul with an eager, licking gaze, and Peereesyu asked him that.

<<<I want it!! I want it!!>>>

Seeing how desperate he was, Peereesyu grinned as if mocking him.

<<<I see, I see......well then. This one is the soul of a being called “Saeki Makami,” a high school girl. I did win it at auction, but I have no use for it, so I brought it thinking I’d turn it into a spirit with some power......but I’ve changed my mind.>>>

And she dragged it out like that.

Cocoririon couldn’t stand it anymore!

What in the world was Peereesyu going to do with this wonderful, maddeningly lovable soul!?

Depending on the answer, no matter how much she was the god he worshiped, he would show no mercy!

He would kill her!!

Cocoririon even began to leak killing intent like that, but Peereesyu acted as if it were nothing.

Mocking Cocoririon’s strange state, Peereesyu continued.

<<<I am going to......reincarnate this soul into a human of the Hyupuet Spirit Kingdom.>>>

......She said!

<<<A-A human!? Why in the world!?>>>

<<<For your sake, Cocoririon.>>>

Here, she stopped grinning, and Peereesyu made a wholly serious face.

Then, in a strict tone, lofty and detached, she spun her words.

<<<Through interaction with the human in whom this soul resides, learn humans. And love humans. Understand that they are not merely livestock.>>>

<<<Love......humans......? I......me......?>>>

<<<Yes. If through that your hardened spirit-supremacism loosens even a little, a path toward ascending to godhood may open for you.>>>

<<<H......Hah!! I-I humbly thank you for such consideration!!>>>

<<<Mm, mm. Good, good.>>>

Gazing with satisfaction at the deeply moved Cocoririon, Peereesyu rose lightly.

<<<So it will be easy for her to acclimate to this world, I will seal her memories of her previous life......listen well, Cocoririon. Make absolutely sure you make this girl happy......understood?>>>

<<<Yes—!!>>>

And leaving the prostrated Cocoririon behind, Peereesyu flew from the hollow of the giant tree.

Her destination was the divine realm......the domain of Transmigration God Ri.

If it were to make the soul into a spirit, that would be one thing—but if it was reincarnation into a human, Spirit God Peereesyu’s authority alone was insufficient.

Therefore, Peereesyu handed Saeki Makami’s soul over to Transmigration God Ri.

With an order attached—so that she could be reincarnated as a human of the Hyupuet Spirit Kingdom......and after paying an appropriate amount of mana.

Spirit God Peereesyu’s involvement ended there.

After that......making the reborn Saeki Makami happy was Forest Spirit King Cocoririon’s job.

Because that, too, was a trial for him.

（A trial......a trial, is this? Unexpectedly......I’ve become soft, haven’t I.）

Smiling bitterly to herself inside, Spirit God Peereesyu returned to her own domain, spread documents out, and began her work.

She is a high-ranking, senior god.

The work she must process is piled like a mountain, and she cannot spend time forever instructing a single subordinate.

And as Peereesyu immersed herself in her daily work......she completely forgot about Cocoririon, and about the reincarnated soul......and more than ten years passed.

If, during that time, Peereesyu had even once peered in on the Spirit Forest or the Hyupuet Spirit Kingdom......perhaps the various problems would not have happened.

But saying that now is pointless.

By the way, to state the facts plainly in an easy-to-understand way:

Saeki Makami......the high school girl from Earth whose memories were sealed, and who reincarnated......

That was—

The girl named Mishutire.