Chapter 44. A Droplet.
Despite her developed personality, Driya's knowledge resembled that of an eight or ten-year-old child. The knowledge passed to her by the spirit lacked common human concepts—yet she could crossbreed two completely different plants in seconds, something even a powerful mage would struggle with...
Driya wasn't one to hide her feelings about anything. If she liked something, she'd say it right away. If she didn't, well...
"Don't look at me like that! Auntie Lan says people like you only pay for love!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, rudely pointing her delicate finger at an obese aristocrat.
At this turn of events, the man turned bright red. After giving Driya one last lecherous glance, he quickly retreated to his carriage. He'd have tried something if not for that, huh. Too low on the totem pole to mess with Roku himself!
This guy had been following us around the market for an hour now, unable to take his eyes off my nymph's figure. A spirit's senses go beyond those of humans, and even in a passive state, a higher spirit's perception can detect the tiniest speck of dust within a hundred-meter radius. Honestly, I hadn't expected such patience from Driya, but enduring an hour under that greasy gaze—that's something. Even I was tired of waiting for her reaction, thinking I'd have to chase this "immortal" off myself.
Episodes like this happened in every settlement or city, not always negative, but we certainly drew attention. Driya's appearance alone sparked curiosity, and when she opened her mouth to say something outlandish, it was enough to make anyone's jaw drop.
And I think I've figured out why. Driya's situation is like that of a growing child, where the foundation of their personality is unconsciously laid. Something particularly vivid and memorable stays with them forever. The first books Driya read, she took as absolute truth. No one ever told her they could lie or omit things. Spirits express their emotions too simply—why withhold or deceive when strength decides everything anyway?
Why am I so important to her? I've asked myself this question many times, and the only somewhat logical answer I've come up with is this: our second meeting, when she first gained her new powers, was fateful. Her consciousness latched onto the only rational being she'd ever known, someone who didn't threaten her life but, in fact, was genuinely happy to see her. You could call it a kind of imprinting. It's complicated, so it's best to hold off on final conclusions for now.
Spirits, starting from the higher levels, can alter their bodies—not drastically, but there's room for change. And as far as I know, they only do it in rare cases. Why bother when nature has already given you a good body?
All Driya had to do was adjust her skin tone to something more human-like and create something more modest from her leaves, resembling local clothing. We chose the most nondescript colors and styles, but a diamond shines even in the mud. Now people are guessing who's influential enough to hire Roku to escort and protect their daughter disguised as a commoner. And there are more down-to-earth folks who simply don't understand but are genuinely happy to see me.
"A rare guest! Come visit us, Roku," called out a smiling old man who'd been skillfully wielding a shovel in the field. "My old lady will bake your favorite... uh, what are they called again?" He scratched his bald head, embarrassed. "Pancakes, right? My mind's slipping."