After that, her presence caused new ideas to spring up, making me revise and redesign some of my quests and ideas. While part of my mind was working on quests, the other half continuously engaged with Evangeline as I listened to and responded to her energetic remarks.
“What is hope?”
“It’s a feeling of expectation, of the belief that something good will happen. Here, hope is like this.”
Then, I started imagining hopeful things, hope for the future, as I tried to send that feeling to her through our bond.
“What is sadness?”
“It’s the feeling you get when something or someone you love gets hurt or lost. I will be very sad if I see you get hurt.”
I think of the sad things that happened, such as parting relationships, when those you love weren’t doing well, or when I had to send goodbyes as I sent this feeling to her.
“What is hurt?”
“It’s when you feel bad, when something is wrong, so it hurts making us aware of the problem.”
I sense her confusion as she replies.
“Evangeline, no understand, don’t know hurt. Friends, no hurt.”
I understand her confusion because when I created the monsters, except for the plants, I modified their pain receptors. They have the same senses, and because they are technically part of me, they will be aware of injuries, as I can feel and know everything within my dungeon. This allows them to be active, feeling the bare minimum amount of pain.
Even though I consider them cells, seeing and feeling a squealing pig getting mauled or a cow painfully being disintegrated isn’t something I want.
“There is another pain as well, different from telling the problem of the body, a pain that tells you a pressured mind and hurt feelings.”
“Hm, Evangeline don’t understand.”
I hope she never understands, but that would only be for my comfort, not hers.
“It’s okay. Once you have something precious and dear to you, you will understand. It just means that you love them very much.”
“Evangeline likes father very, very much!”
“I like you, too.”
“So, Evangeline make father hurt, Evangeline bad?”
“No, no. Hurt, it’s not bad or good. It’s just hurt.”
“Mmh, difficult, hard to understand.”
“Haha, that too is one kind of ‘hurt.’ See, you're learning and getting it all ready.”
“Really! Yay! Now me know hurt.”
I laugh and get infected with her jolly spirit.
----------------------------------------
Two days have passed outside, so that means twenty days for me here. All this time, I have been engaging with her, answering her questions, and explaining concepts. It seems like the knowledge she gained from my soul made her know the concept of most things.
Expect emotions were just a phrase, a word for her as the feelings I felt didn’t come along with the memories, which is such a relief that she wasn’t overlord with my emotions.
However, I underestimated just how much she would grow mentally. Twenty days in, she is starting to make fluent sentences. I was worried and overwhelmed, so consulting about it with Hector, he speculated that it probably had to do with her overwhelming potential and my soul and knowledge getting merged, making her state more as if she is an adult regaining and relearning their skills and knowledge that they have forgotten.
Today was, as usual, with one mind creating and designing quests and the other conversing and interacting with Evangeline, though her question was unusual this time.
“Father, am I helping?”
“Sorry, Evie, could you specify what sort of help you are talking about?”
“Am I helping by making the plants grow around me?”
‘I wonder why she asked?’
“Of course, you are making this place so much more, thanks to your being and assistance. You have been managing this place well, making it thrive and grow.”
“Hehe, thank you. That makes me very, very happy.”
I sensed her overwhelming happiness with my praise, and then I sensed a determination sprouting in her that I had never felt before.
Something was different about her. She was growing faster than I could imagine, but this time, somehow, instead of gaining intelligence, I felt like she was growing up. She was becoming someone.
‘Perhaps she has grown enough to answer the question on my, well, mostly Hector’s mind.’
“Evie, how can you support such a body? Your soul at that time and even now should have a hard time supporting it?”
“Because I am not one. The trees, the grass, the shrubs, the mushrooms, and the vines connect us. My body is the embodiment of all the things my roots have connected. I am not supporting my body. We as a whole are supporting it.”
Then I hear Hector’s voice through my bond.
“Huh, so that’s how she does it. Intriguing, technically, it could work, but scanning her body is not like grafting or combining. She is whole as one.”
“I now know that they are not like me. They are a part of father. They need guidance and assembly, and I am the beacon they seek, the center of the cycle. There is no need for differences and variety, just a simple guide to grow, to share, to thrive, to hunger. That is my answer, the other one.”
Hector’s disbelieving and sarcastic voice reverberated within and in front of Evangeline as he suddenly appeared in front of her.
“So, she does know my existence. I thought she was blind or deaf.”
“Father, I know, no decided on what to do.”
“Did she just ignore me?”
“Evie, why? Why be connected to everything?”
“Aiden, are you ignoring me, too? Your daughter is being rude and ignoring me. Aren’t you going to do something about it?”
“Because father wanted it. Father wanted this place, this garden, to thrive.”
At that remark, I get flashbacks of unpleasant memories.
‘This isn’t what I wanted. No, I don’t want it to turn out like this. Yet, am I doing what they have done to me? Am I repeating this cycle?’
I screamed as anger and anxiety filled me.
“You don’t have to be something just because I want you to be!”
I feel a touch on my core as a smoothing voice follows.
“Aiden, it’s okay. Everything is going to be okay.”
I sense surprise, worry, and fear in her, something that she never felt before.
‘Shit! I messed up; she’s hurting. And the worst part is I’m the one who made her feel that way.’
I calm myself down as best I can, thanking Hector as I try to fix this or at least prevent it from getting worse.
“I’m sorry, Evie. I shouldn’t have yelled at you. I was, and still am, angry, but not at you or for something you did. I’m worried and anxious that my desire pressured or forced you to become someone you aren’t or don’t want to be. But, instead, I hurt you, and for that, I am deeply, terribly sorry. I am so sorry.”
After some time, as we all stayed in silence, I heard her speak up.
“Father, I have the concepts of what a sea is, but I don’t understand it, nor do I understand the sky, which is real and different from here, or understand what winter is. I do not understand autumn or horizons or glaciers or buildings.”
“I’m sorry.”
But then joy and glee so pure and blatant shines within her.
“But I do know and understand trees and dirt and wheat and flowers and water and light and warmth and so many things you created in this garden. I like it. I like this garden Father has created. I like the trees where fruits grow, the spices that thrive, the bees and milk plants, the caves and mushrooms that grow within, and the fields of wheat and rice, I feel. Father created us for a purpose, and Father's desire made and started me to help Father's wishes.”
“...”
“Father said that these are not real like the ones outside, that they are a part of Father, but they are real to me. Father created me for a purpose, but I want to see it through and finish it. Because I love that I am a part of it, and I love this garden, and I love that I am helping this garden my father created. Because I love Father who laughed and praised and listened and answered and showed me everything.”
Through our bond, I can sense that each word she says is true and how she feels about it all. Yet, I ask because I’m afraid, because I’m unsure.
“Evie, do you truly want to be this? Are you doing the things you do not because of what I desire or want but for you?”
“Father, I want to help. I like helping you. But I also came to love this garden you created, and I’m glad that I am here with it. So, I decided on what to do, on what to be.”
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“Evangeline.”
“Yes?”
“I’m so proud of you.”
Joy blossoms within her as she hears my praise.
“Thank you! Father!”
Then, her consciousness fades as her body begins to grow slowly. Her trunk grows broader and longer, her branches and leaves spread further, and her roots reach out and connect to the plants around her.
“Her third evolution. She was capable of evolving the moment you named her, she must have been waiting.”
“Yeah.”
“Just want kind of monstrosity she will come out than already is, it’s frightening.”
At that, my turbulent mind and heart lessens and easies. Because I know he means no harm, and all these jokes and quips are said for me to relax.
“Hey, now don’t be rude.”
He exaggeratingly gasps as he remarks.
“I was everything for you. Now, the very second a girl comes by, I am left behind. I am still not over you ignoring me, by the way.”
“Hey, I knew you were joking, plus it wasn’t the time and place, but I do wonder why she has been ignoring you. After all, you checked her out a few times, so she should have been aware of you.”
“...”
“Oh, come on, are you seriously ignoring me now? I’m sorry, but you know I only have you in my heart.”
He rolls his eyes as his words drip with sarcasm.
“Wow, I am so grateful.”
“Haha, yes! You're not ignoring me now!”
But I also noticed that the silence wasn’t because of pettiness.
‘I wonder why he wanted to avoid that topic?’
----------------------------------------
It’s been three days now, during which some monsters with souls started appearing. Which meant I designated them all as floor bosses and named them.
Unfortunately, this time, I couldn’t create a bond like with Hector or Evangeline. The binding was much more fragile and unbound than with boss monsters, making me only able to strengthen the binding with my dungeon floor. Making the naming process have no effect but normally naming them.
Hector said it would still help strengthen our connection, increasing my influence on them. However, he estimates that their souls and minds will be limited to an elementary level. It’s unfortunate, but I still love them. It’s just that sometimes I think I’m a horrible person when I have preferential feelings toward Evangeline.
Speaking of her, she still hasn’t woken up during these 30 days, but she has grown massive. Her roots are everywhere on the floor, and her trunk has grown to 30 kilometers high and 6 kilometers wide. Her branches and leaves have grown almost to the point of covering the whole sky.
Then, as I was decorating the entrance and hallway leading to the floor, I felt her awakening.
Shifting my attention, I felt that her branches and leaves had now completely covered the sky, making it the last growth finishing her evolution.
“Father.”
Her voice was also different. Before, it was young, bright, and energetic. But now, it was mature, grounded, and steady. It was still her voice, but I started getting emotional at such a change.
“Evangeline, you are awake!”
“Yes, father.”
Name
Evangeline Sylva Seraphim
Race
Tree of Life
Titles
The Garden’s Heart, Nurturing Guardian, Tree of Harmony, Daughter of Seraphim
Affinity
Life, Nature, Earth, Hunger
Skill
Connection, Regenerative Roots, Nature’s Nourishment, Fruit Harvest, Enhancing Leaves…
Trait
Dungeon Born, Boss Monster, Mother Nature, Greater Blessing Of Dimensions
Focusing on her, her status appeared.
‘So, you have become an individual like Hector, haven’t you.’
As I look through it all, I see that it is much more than Hector’s, but he has been practicing his affinities since then, so maybe it has changed. I don’t want to be rude and peep without their consent.
I could, but that doesn’t mean I should. It seems like these just pop out and make me aware the moment they are developed and acquired for the first time, though.
‘Huh, some skills are concerning, though.’
Nonetheless, I trust my daughter even with some dubious skills. It has been thirty days, technically three for me, but who cares? I missed her.
“You have grown so much! And not just physically, but you sound so mature. Oh! And Evangeline, you now have brothers and sisters; you are an older sister now.”
“Yes, father, I am well aware. I was still conscious of everything happening connected to my roots in my state. I have met and talked to all of them, I will take good care of them.”
She sounds so mature. She is more mature. I don’t know how to feel about that. She just grew up too fast. For a human, that would be concerning as they could miss out on important things that needed to be learned, the time and process it needs to grow up as an individual, but…Let’s just ask her.
“Evie, I’m happy that you grew so much, but I’m also concerned that you grew up too fast. I’m afraid that you might have missed out on important things due to it. Evie, could you tell me what happened while you were evolving and how you grew so much?”
A calm and steady voice rings out as warm as an embrace.
“Father, I learned everything I could with you. It was time to digest all you have given me. During my evolution, I thought and contemplated on the emotions you have taught me and the concepts and knowledge you have imparted. Father thinks this place you created is small, but it isn’t for me. I am connected with every plant here; I can feel the earth as our roots grow, feel how we grow, and feel how we thrive. I know what it feels like to swim, to run, to eat, to breathe, and so much more. Father, this place is full of life. You have given me life, and I am so grateful to be alive and to live.”
‘She really has grown, hasn’t she?’
“Evangeline, are you content with the life you have, who you are?”
“Certainly, however, I will always grow because life changes and thrives. Right, father?”
I felt it, a sliver and a moment of fear and anticipation. She fears my disapproval and hopes for my praise. It may be selfish of me to think I liked her more before, but that feeling made me realize that she’s still her.
Maybe I was afraid because she changed so much so quickly, even with a physical bond, that the connection we had would fade and grow distant. But I’m still her father, and she’s still my daughter. As long as that’s true, I can be okay.
“Of course, I’m so proud of you! You’ve grown up splendidly. Now, tell me about the things you felt and thought during evolution. Come on, I’m so excited.”
“Hehe, yes, father! At first…
----------------------------------------
As we talked for hours and checked on the floor bosses, I thought I would mention something I had been planning.
To be honest, I was quite disappointed when the bond with the floor bosses failed, so I thought hard to find a way to solve the problem or at least improve it.
That’s when I thought of creating multiple bonds. What if they had a bond with me and Evangeline?
I immediately consulted with Hector about its probability. He was stupefied at first, but slowly, he calculated that it might not be impossible.
A boss monster with a powerful soul, cooperation, and a body suitable for such bonds would be required. Unfortunately, this was impossible for floor bosses, as the binding with the floor had to be concrete, making any added binding disastrous.
However, since elites don’t have a respawn mechanism like bosses, their binding is rather loose, allowing intervention. First, I designated a monster as an elite and then killed it. My perk, Pools Of Birth, allowed me to respawn it, which was the anomaly I had to verify. Thankfully, the perk doesn’t change the binding, as I purposely canceled its respawn.
I was worried that souls would be born before Evangeline awoke, but Hector reassured me, as my subconscious wouldn’t allow it. Proving this when exactly one soul for each section and a section requiring two were born.
It was a relief as souls born in mobs, when not titled, will disperse. The lower the tier, the faster they will disperse as their bodies are not capable of holding it without a stronger binding solidifying its existence. I’m all for pro-abortion, but that doesn’t mean I want it to happen.
I told Evangeline about my plan, and she readily agreed. With that, I worked right on it. First, I took some body parts of Evangeline and used Extraction, partially obtaining her schematics. Then, using it as the basis, I created the monsters. Waiting, it took ten days or a day outside for them to gain souls.
Now, for the execution, I designated one of them to be an elite, as mana rushed toward them, strengthening the binding and soul. Then Evangeline, with her roots connected to it, poured in her mana as well, and I guided some of my soul and hers to merge with the binding. Soon, the process was finished.
“Success!”
It had worked when I checked its binding. Though it seemed like there was only one, that one binding was actually two intertwined bindings like a rope, one from me and the other from Evangeline.
“Congratulations, you created a child with your daughter.”
Unfortunately, Hector’s smug remark made me stop basking on my success.
“AHHH! Why did you have to mention the thought I was purposely ignoring.”
Evangeline, at that moment, was focusing on the fruit tree that was bound to her.
‘A child, my child.’
She was feeling something, a feeling that Aiden didn’t know on Earth, making him unable to explain and convey to her. This emotion was beyond Evangeline’s knowledge and it was a feeling Aiden had learned after coming to this world.
----------------------------------------
After another day, I had finished decorating my entrance and hallway. I also added safe zone tiles I learned from Hector, which prevent any hostile action within and unlocking order and rule affinity in the process of making them. Lastly, all the elite spots were filled and named.
Name
Blossom Sylva Seraphim
Race
Fruit Fairy
Titles
Gardener, Child of Harmony, Descendent of Seraphim
Affinity
Life, Nature
Skill
Planting, Herbology, Nutrition Supplement, Plant Nurturing, Healing Touch, Growth Manipulation, Pruning, Harvest
Trait
Dungeon Born, Elite Monster
This is one of the elites status. For their second evolution, one big fruit as big as a human head was produced on their tree, which then fell, and when it landed, the fruit became a small animal made of fruit. This particular one was made out of an apple.
When it was named, some of my and Evangeline’s mana was poured into it, empowering it. Unfortunately, it seems to only increase its attribute a little with some titles.
Titles
Child of Harmony
A child born from a being of harmony.
-Gain a minor boost to nature and life affinity
-Gain a minor boost to anything related to plants
-Plant monsters will not be hostile unless aggravated
Descendent of Seraphim
A unique surname flowing with power that grants benefits to those bestowed upon depending on the progenitor.
-Gain a moderate boost to mana-related skills
-Gain a moderate boost to wisdom and intelligence
-Gain a moderate boost to emotional intelligence
It was pretty clear what got inherited in the process, though severely downgraded from the original. I’m happy enough that they got anything, and the naming actually worked.
Another good news is that I got to level up again, which allowed me to split my mind into three: one working on my second floor or floors 4-6, as I had carved out about one-fourth of the space planned inside the mountain; one interacting with Hector, the other titled Monsters; and the other with Evangeline.
I know I'm being partial, but hey, as the old saying goes, there isn’t a finger that won’t hurt when bitten, but the finger on which to put the ring is always decided.
I was just getting used to this life, but soon, a week and a half after creating my entrance, four people entered my aura in the forest, changing everything. So naturally, I did the most logical action possible, freaking out.
“Ahhhh! HECTOR! We have visitors!”
Hector grimaced as I shouted in his mind as he calmed me down.
“Relax, this was bound to happen sooner or later. Now take a moment to relax and untangle, and let’s see, just who the visitors and soon-to-be delvers are.”
Calming my non-existent beating heart, I put most of my attention on them. There, I see one male elf with daggers, a bow and arrow, and light leather armor, one male human donning a priest robe with a shield and hammer secured behind, one female halfling with intricate devices all over, and finally, one female orc with a battle axe and heavy metal plate armor.
As I was observing them, that’s when the elf stared right at me even though I wasn’t visible, turned on a device, and spoke to no one in particular.
“We have entered its aura and attracted the dungeon's attention, and it is currently observing us.”
‘Whoops.’