novelraw Chapter 71 : The Growing Goddess
Chapter 71 : The Growing Goddess
Rooga’s POV
Papa sat by the table, his hand trembling slightly as he polished his old blade. The curse still clung to him—I could see it through the HUD, a faint black flicker around his chest, the place Mama called the “heart.”
I clenched my fists. I can fix this.
Without a word, I gathered mana into my palms. The water swelled, soft blue light mixing with threads of green until the air hummed. The Aqua Bloom shimmered, warm and soothing, like a second sun.
Papa looked up. “Rooga, what are you—”
“Hold still, Papa,” I said, wobbling closer. “This’ll help.”
I pressed the Bloom against his chest. The glow sank into him, spreading warmth through his body. For a moment, his face softened, his breathing easier, the tension fading from his shoulders.
The HUD flickered:
[ Darius Valemont – Condition Improved ]
Symptoms: Pain reduced, fatigue suppressed.
Core status: Tainted.
Then another voice cut through.
“ROOGA!”
Maori dropped from her branch, stomping her tiny feet, cheeks puffed so hard they could pop. “You wasted it! That Bloom was mine!”
I glared at her, tears prickling my eyes. “He’s my Papa! He’s hurting—how can I not try?!”
Maori froze, her pout faltering for a heartbeat. Then her lips pressed thin. “…You can’t fix him that way. His core is already tainted. Human mana twisted and eaten by the curse. Pouring blooms on him won’t heal it—it’ll only drain you.”
I froze. “…Then what can I do?”
She tilted her head, eyes narrowing. “…If you really want to save him… then he needs a new core.”
My breath caught. “A… new one?”
She raised her little hand. In her palm, light gathered into a tiny green crystal that pulsed with life. “I’ll give him an elven core. Like yours. His human mana is too fierce, too unstable. With this, his body will shift, calm, become like mine.”
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Papa stared, silent. Mama would have raged, I knew. But Mama wasn’t here.
“Will it save him?” I whispered.
“It won’t erase the curse,” Maori said softly. “But it’ll let him rest. It’ll give him strength again.”
I looked up at Papa. His eyes met mine, steady, kind.
“…If it eases you, my son,” he said quietly, “then I’ll accept it.”
Maori pressed the crystal into his chest. Light spread like vines, wrapping around him, seeping into his core. He shuddered, gasping, and then exhaled—his body steadier, his face calmer.
The HUD flickered:
[ Darius Valemont – Obtained Elf Core ]
Status: Curse suppressed. Strength stabilized.
Note: Elf mana lacks the raw force of human mana. Combat ability will require retraining.
Papa rose slowly, flexing his hands, then lifted his blade. The swing was slower, lighter—but there was no tremor.
A small smile tugged at his lips. “…Feels strange. But alive.”
Maori crossed her arms, pouting again. “Don’t waste any more blooms on him, Rooga. Or anyone else. That gift was mine to give. The blooms are for me, not your toys.”
I clenched my fists. “He’s not a toy. He’s my father.”
She huffed, looking away. But the faintest blush colored her cheeks.
Papa rested his hand on my head, ruffling my hair. “Thank you, Rooga. You’ve given me another chance to hold this blade.”
For the first time, I felt… proud.
Papa’s training became part of our daily rhythm. Every morning, he swung his sword again, slower than before, softer, but steadier with each strike. His movements were different now, less force and more flow, as if the elf mana wove itself into his style. I watched him often, proud but also worried.
But my own focus never wavered.
Day after day, I poured blooms into Maori’s roots. Each time, her leaves shimmered brighter, and more wisps danced across the fields. The air itself felt lighter, fresher, like the land was finally breathing again.
Then one morning, I blinked at her tree in shock.
“…It’s taller than the house now.”
The trunk had thickened, roots sprawling deep into the soil. The branches stretched upward, leaves glowing blue-green, visible even from the far edge of the border. If anyone passed through the distance, they’d surely notice the crown of the tree standing over the horizon.
And Maori—
Instead of her usual tiny chibi form, she now stood before me, her figure as tall as mine. Barefoot, her hair a cascade of glowing green with streaks of blue, her eyes bright like gems. She twirled once, her dress of leaves fluttering around her.
“Tadaa~!” she announced, spinning with arms spread wide. “I’m bigger now! Thanks to you, Rooga!”
I rubbed my eyes. “…You’re… as big as me.”
She leaned down, grinning cheekily. “That’s right! Now we’re equals, caretaker.”
Her voice still carried the same bratty tone, but her presence was stronger—heavier, like mana radiated from her every breath.
Behind us, Papa paused mid-swing, his blade lowering. His eyes flicked to the massive tree, then to Maori. His jaw tightened, but he said nothing.
Lyra, watching from the shade, muttered under her breath, “…It’s only a matter of time before the whole empire notices.”
I ignored her. I looked up at Maori, then at the towering tree that loomed higher than our roof.
A part of me swelled with pride. But another part whispered with unease.
If anyone sees this… will they come for us?