Kodama One was happy as it lay in its comfortable bed in its hidey-hole. The others had gotten up already and were milling about in the challenge area above. However, Kodama had spent far too long dealing with Humans to waste its opportunity to rest now. It wasn't likely they'd have to deal with anyone on this third floor, though, not considering how much time had already passed without a single intruder.
It had taken some time for it to adjust to just how quiet the third floor was. It had felt lost without its new favorite tree, which it had just started to grow accustomed to after losing its previous one. Well, it wasn't like it was the same as before it had joined a dungeon, anyhow. The kodama's life was no longer tied to that of a single tree, but to that of the dungeon. It was just that kodama one's love for nature and its habits had not changed, even after joining the dungeon.
Well, the dungeon did have some effect on it, just like it did all [Monsters] that joined it. Kodama one used to think very little of people, mostly just content to exist unless someone came along and harmed one of its brethren and the forest around them. The Elves were especially observant and loved the forest as much as they did, so it wasn't uncommon for them to take notice of their kind, but even that tended to be no more than a nod or wave of acknowledgment. They existed peacefully with others, for the most part. However, that had all changed after joining the dungeon system. Kodama one couldn't help but think of all non-dungeon entities as intruders. Other [Monsters] were always considered enemies to protect the dungeon from while adventurers tended to be something one had to be cautious of. That was just the way of things, even if the kodama couldn't actually do much of anything to protect the dungeon. It only ever observed things.
Kodama had worked hard in other ways to be useful to the dungeon, at one point in time. It used to collect bits and pieces of things from outside the dungeon. Many things were far too big to carry back and it wasn't like it had the strength to snap a twig into small pieces or anything like that. So, even that meant that it was limited in its usefulness. Without a forest to protect and others of its kind to keep it preoccupied, kodama one had tried to reassure itself that it was all fine because it had been doing what its master had asked of it. When the seasons began to change, it had been ordered to no longer go out, which had robbed it of its purpose.
Kodama one had spent much of its days feeling isolated and without purpose, after that, until a second kodama had joined the dungeon. It didn't have very many thoughts on how things were managed in the dungeon, so it didn't even think about why something like that might have happened. Instead, it simply felt less lonely and hoped this meant its master would soon take care of its other needs. Then more time passed and kodama one began to feel a bit lonely again, only having one companion in the entire dungeon and nothing to keep it preoccupied.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Things were better now, though. Kodama one had two companions, somewhere to hide away from adventurers, and even a new purpose to fulfill within the dungeon. While it was hard to understand the concept of music and just what its master wanted, there was no need to overthink it. The system conveyed its new role to it in a way that was easy to understand, ensuring there would be no problems once people did arrive to take part in the new challenge. In fact, it sounded like fun to the newest of their group, who was excited about getting to dance around and show off while the adventurers did some strange ritual alongside their joyous activities. Kodama one wasn't sure kodama three was quite right in their line of thinking, but didn't bother trying to explain since it didn't know any better either.
Later that day, Violet wandered into the challenge room the kodamas were in. She smiled as she saw kodama one climb out to greet her. It had been concerning when it had seemed overwhelmed when she first moved it to their new home, but the small creature seemed happier and more content now. It was a shame she couldn't ask what was on its mind, but it wasn't like she even knew how much the small creature could understand or think either. It seemed to understand more than her carefree slimes that always bounced about, but that didn't necessarily mean it was as capable of higher thinking like her pixies.
That made Violet think, as she sat down on one of the sofas in the room. Was it possible that she only understood the pixies because of the dungeon? No, surely it would be impossible for them to help adventurers with challenges if they didn't share the same language. Then again, she wasn't even from this world, who was to say that the language in this world was the same as the one from hers? That was to say, the region she was from in her world, since it wasn't like every country shared the same language. Which, of course, got her to thinking about whether the Elves, Dwarves, Humans, etc. had a common language, separate languages, or maybe even both? It was common for those visiting another country to learn the language in her old world, so it could very well be something similar here.
Violet couldn't help but let her thoughts drift to more questions as time went on. Most of her days were spent peacefully, nowadays. She didn't feel the need to constantly be building, marketing her wares, or meeting new people. So, she had plenty of time to reflect on the nature of things in the dungeon. It did get overwhelming, at times, but she also felt happier as she was no longer bottling things up as she did her best day to day. She still grieved the loss of her husband, sometimes even getting so lost in the moment she'd end up thinking about what he might say when she shared some exciting piece of news, but the reality always came crashing down once she thought about it. Violet was sure she was giving the dungeon whiplash with her inconsistent emotional state, but she just couldn't help it. She wasn't sure if she'd ever be ready to move on from her husband either, even if she could one day accept her own untimely death.