103. Minnows
“Let’s focus on connecting the riverbank thinly and long, even if it’s shallow, rather than immediately making a large-scale river.”
Rumble.
The earth path uncovered by the touch of Hanui.
Along with it, the waterway filled up, forming a river.
Watching this sight, the elves and Muahmuah opened their mouths in astonishment.
-Oh! What’s happening this time?
-This is… water? Water is appearing…!
Initially, only Muahmuah and the young siblings were present, but gradually, elves from the square started to gather one by one.
-…?
-What’s going on here?
-…God?
The elves were seen conversing about the strange phenomenon unfolding before their eyes.
Yet, as always, they seemed to quickly understand that this was another wonder brought about by their deity.
Among them, there was also Irina.
She widened her eyes at the grand spectacle unfolding before her.
She seemed unable to grasp what Han was up to, appearing somewhat clueless.
“Oh my. Was the shaking too intense? Everyone seems to have come out to watch.”
Fortunately, the elves soon realized that this anomaly was the work of Han, which seemed to put their minds at ease.
The vigilant elves, like Idnis, returned to guard the city walls, but the rest of the elves perched on mushroom houses or nearby trees to watch the spectacle unfolding in the sky.
The elves, understanding not to disturb Han, kept their distance.
Thanks to them, Han could act without worry.
Truly grateful.
“Well then, shall we focus again?”
The elves made way, leaving Han undisturbed.
He refocused on his work.
As Han, caution was necessary.
“My actions will directly affect the consumption of points.”
Fortunately, in terrain where points were already spent, it was possible to repeatedly modify the terrain.
It was quite fortunate as a fair amount of points were being consumed.
“First, I need to create a waterway connecting the entire area here.”
The waterway was crucial.
Since ancient times, choosing Seoul as the capital was not arbitrary.
“Bae-san, Im-su.” Mountains at the back, water flowing in front, following the principles of geomancy, everyone followed their own set of rules.
Even in the present day.
The transition of Hanyang into Seoul entirely was also for such symbolic reasons.
Thud!
Han’s finger pressed firmly into the ground.
Simultaneously, the ground began to dig deep.
In no time, his finger drew a long diagonal line within the realm of the World Tree.
“Starting from the east… moving westward.”
As Han’s finger passed over the uncovered earth path, water gushed in.
The narrow but rich waterway had been completed in its own way.
– Wow!
– Water! It’s water! So huge!
The surprised elves followed behind Han.
That was what was happening in the midst of it all.
Just as they were within the outskirts, within the realm of the World Tree, at a time when the cold winter had frozen the outer land.
Clang!
An unexpected alarm rang out, signaling a change.
Han stopped in his tracks.
“What’s this?”
[Congratulations! By digging through the long-frozen unknown permafrost layer, you have discovered the hidden microorganism, ‘Song Sari’!]
“What, what? Song Sari?”
Han’s eyes widened at the sudden system notification.
Soon, a three-dimensional figure appeared before Han.
It truly was Song Sari.
Much smaller than a person’s fingertip.
Han’s mouth fell open in shock.
“What is this…?”
[You can now purchase this life form from the shop window.]
“No, I can buy this?”
[That’s correct.]
After a brief silence, the system continued its explanation.
[These organisms play a crucial role as foundational life forms in freshwater ecosystems. They contribute to water purification and have a significant impact on the interactions within freshwater environments.]
“…Water purification?”
[The presence or absence of these organisms greatly affects water purification abilities and serves as the foundation for nurturing and sustaining numerous higher-level predators.]
“So, they are like the most basic life forms.”
[That’s correct.]
However, Han felt more disconcerted than pleased in this situation.
Even though unexpected, it was too unexpectedly unexpected.
To think that Song Sari would suddenly emerge just from digging the ground?
But perhaps this was also a part of a natural order.
[Similar cases have been observed in the past.]
“Cases?”
[The mice and lizards are a prime example of that. Warming permafrost layers awaken them on their own, serving as evidence of the ancient beings slumbering beneath this land.]
“Ah. That makes sense.”
Listening and observing, it was indeed true.
Beneath this frozen land.
The various flowers and grasses that now bloomed everywhere were also remnants of ancient artifacts hidden somewhere here.
Mice and Song Sari.
If there was a difference, wouldn’t it be the gap between creatures who escaped the land alive by their own power and those who directly excavated and acquired it?
No, perhaps it was what was added to the shop window because of it.
It was certain.
[However.]
“Uh?”
[The organism that ceased vital activity long ago, the Song Sari, merely left its past DNA organic information there.]
There was no rule that everything sleeping beneath the ground must be alive.
On the contrary, it was normal that most things had frozen and died long ago.
The case of the hibernating mice and tortoises, undisturbed by centuries, was exceptional.
“Still, it feels a bit good. I never even dreamed I could find something like this, you know.”
Han looked around the shop window.
Beginner’s Shop
(New additional items have been updated!)
▷Song Sari Bundle Set: 100pt
•Literally a bundle set of Song Sari. Purchase 4-5 Song Sari randomly. They inhabit freshwater environments.
…
(Current point balance: 200pt)
“Oh! Jackpot!”
Looking at the shop window, Han saw that Song Sari were being sold in bundles of six.
“It’s fortunate that they are sold at a relatively low price.”
Selling them for 100 points each per fish would likely have caused significant bleeding.
When Han clicked to purchase, Song Sari appeared in his hand along with a small puddle of water.
There were five of them.
Despite being called random, his luck seemed to be good at the start.
They were all so small that without careful observation, they were almost invisible to his eyes.
-What are you doing, Lord?
The elves were puzzled by Han’s lack of movement.
Approaching cautiously, they soon peered into his hand and were surprised, widening their eyes.
-Wow… What is this?
The small puddle of water in Han’s hand.
The elves looked at the tiny Song Sari swimming there.
They blinked.
-What… is this?
-A very small monster?
The elves seemed not to even know its name.
Well, it was probably something they were all seeing for the first time.
-Oh. What is this?
-Oh, no, don’t, Lord Mua Mua!
Mua Mua, without thinking, tried to put their hand in there.
Fortunately, the elves were quick to stop them in surprise.
In that strong momentum, Muah Muah was so surprised that he almost withdrew the hand he had extended.
– Why, why are you doing this?
– It’s what the gods are doing. It might be something very important.
Everyone did well.
Certainly, unlike Muah Muah, there were cautious aspects.
Even though they were the same age, even the young elf, Pafonama, did not act recklessly.
Soon, as they watched.
Han dropped the pinecones into the river.
Plop-!
The pinecones falling from the sky jumped into the river.
They began to swim freely, dispersing in the wider stream.
“Oh….”
Han silently watched their figure.
Of course, the elves were no different from him.
– Wow….
They all sat crouched in their spots, simply watching the pinecones swim freely beneath the surface.
– Hm.
For a while, Muah Muah watched the pinecones.
Wondering about something, his tail swayed from side to side.
***
“Ah, found it.”
Han picked up a pile of dirt.
As he touched it with his hand, it felt solid.
It had been frozen in place for so long that even the dirt particles wouldn’t fall off.
He murmured as he looked at the clump of dirt in his hand.
“Leaf soil, something easily found anywhere on Earth… Well.”
This was leaf soil.
However, even on the planet of Frey, finding such a pile of dirt was incredibly difficult.
Not that it wasn’t there, but the ground was covered with a thick layer of snow.
One might think of it as ‘just snow’, but here, the snow was several meters thick, so solid that even walking on it was not a problem.
Naturally, collecting the desired material was quite challenging.
In fact, it took a considerable amount of time for Han to find the leaf soil.
After searching through various areas, throughout the entire city, he finally managed to find it.
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Even within this city, it was in the far outskirts, scattered around the old buildings.
He luckily stumbled upon it near the settlement. Lucky.
Anyways, thanks to that, new items were added to the shop window.
[Congratulations! You have discovered the hidden resource material, ‘leaf soil’!]
[From now on, you can purchase this resource from the shop window.]
Beginner’s Shop
(New additional items have been updated!)
▷Leaf Soil Bundle: 500pt (A large capacity in units of 100kg.)
•It is a nutrient soil that enhances the earth’s vitality, enabling smooth growth of plants.
“Well, this costs 500 points each as well.”
Expensive. Quite so.
However, as it was a necessary step, Han swallowed his groan and purchased the leaf soil.
It was fortunate that it was in a large capacity.
He carried the leaf soil bundle and began sprinkling it little by little along the stream from the sky.
“Handle with care. Gently.”
As he continued his work, the voice of the system rang in his ears.
[Leaf soil contains nutrients. When scattered from the upper reaches of the river, it gradually settles and decomposes in various terrains along the flowing water, providing a sanctuary and food for the surrounding wildlife.]
“You have to know everything. Won’t it get even more complicated later on?”
[The existence of a god cannot achieve everything with just a gesture. From becoming the foundation of a very small ecosystem, to understanding the interactions and relationships of various large and small creatures, you must be well-versed. All of these will eventually become the foundation for prospering the elves.]
Building a natural system with these two hands.
It was quite strange, but it seemed like it could even reverse the natural environment in the future.
Indeed, when asked about it.
[Thunder and lightning, rain and snow, are all processes you must acquire.]
It was true.