Behind the Scenes of 【The Spirit King of the Forest's Beloved Child】

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Now.

After the Spirit God Pirisuyu returned to the divine realm to reincarnate the soul of the Forest Spirit King Kokoririon's beloved child, whom she had found by chance...

Kokoririon stood up to begin preparations for the birth of his beloved child... and then froze.

Because Kokoririon knew nothing about humans.

No... to say 'nothing' is a misstatement.

When Kokoririon was creating the Hyupuet Spirit Kingdom, he had studied its social system and ecology, so he had a certain understanding of the structure of human society and its general ecology... those "external" aspects of humans.

However... when it came to the "internal" aspects, it was a different story.

His master, the Spirit God Pirisuyu, had said.

'Learn of humans. And love them.'

In other words, Kokoririon must love his beloved child as a human, and make them happy.

That happiness must not be something he, a spirit, conceives, but happiness for a human.

However, Kokoririon did not know what love is for a human.

And what happiness is.

He had never even thought about it.

<<<This is... not good.>>>

The first thing that Kokoririon, thinking so, did.

Was... to hunt for romance novels.

Fortunately, this world, Ardyst... is a world where not only the natural environment of each region, but also the technology and culture, show a patchwork-like aspect.

In some regions, the technological level is still at a medieval level, while in others, flying ships are being built.

However, because the gods forbid it, advanced technology does not leak out and raise the technological level of other regions... that's the kind of world it is.

As for why that is, there are various reasons, such as the fact that human technology had already developed to a considerably high level in the era of the Super-Ancient Magic Civilization, and that the God of Medicine and the God of Industry, who control that high-level technology, continued to pass on technology to humans in specific regions to protect their faith, which is the source of their power, even after the Super-Ancient Magic Civilization was destroyed, but that the gods disliked raising the overall human technological level unnecessarily and causing another "Day of Ruin"...

But that's not relevant to the main story right now, so we'll leave it aside.

The important thing is that in this world, printing technology has been passed down, and even mass-market romance novels are relatively easy to obtain.

So, the Forest Spirit King Kokoririon devoured romance novels collected from all over the world.

To learn about the love that humans hold.

At the same time, he spread his power throughout the Hyupuet Spirit Kingdom and began to search for the reincarnated form of his beloved child.

It was soon after that he found the reincarnated form of his beloved child.

Kokoririon's beloved child was, at that time, still a fetus that had not even been born.

And her mother, for some reason, had been put in a dungeon, and her survival, let alone childbirth, was in jeopardy.

<<<This is... not good.>>>

The next thing that Kokoririon, thinking so, did.

Was... to dispatch his servant, the medium spirit Hasumus.

With Hasumus's support, the birth of his beloved child, Mishtille, was precariously achieved.

On the other hand, Mishtille's mother died soon after childbirth.

Because Kokoririon had not ordered Hasumus to take care of the mother who had finished giving birth to her daughter.

However, Kokoririon thought nothing of that situation.

For Kokoririon, it was Mishtille who was important, and whether her mother lived or died was of no consequence.

Now, Kokoririon next ordered Hasumus to continue to raise Mishtille.

At that time, as a justification for that, he also created the following cover story.

It was that 'Hasumus was Mishtille's mother's contracted spirit. Hasumus is taking care of Mishtille even after the contractor's death to fulfill the mother's dying wish to see to her daughter's well-being'.

Since Mishtille's mother is already dead, and Mishtille is confined in a dungeon, there is no fear that the lie will be exposed.

And by this time, Kokoririon had already created a scenario for when he would summon his beloved child, Mishtille, to his side, based on numerous romance novels.

Currently, Mishtille is confined in a dungeon, unaware of the outside world, and is in a very unfortunate and unhappy situation as a human.

Kokoririon thought that he could not fail to take advantage of this situation.

He thought that he would become a hero who rescues Mishtille, the heroine in an unfortunate situation.

If he did that, Mishtille would feel indebted to him, and would worship and love him... that was the Mishtille-conquest strategy that Kokoririon had created, based on the romance novels he had devoured.

...Honestly, he wanted to snatch his beloved child, Mishtille, away right now, put her in his care, and keep her in a cage forever for his own viewing pleasure.

But that was no good.

If he went this route, surely, Mishtille would recognize Kokoririon as her precious master who takes care of her, and would send him her love and reverence.

But that was no good!

The love that Kokoririon seeks is not of that kind!

While devouring numerous romance novels, and further advancing his self-analysis... Kokoririon had clearly determined the form of love he sought.

The love that Kokoririon seeks is... much, much more muddy!

Kokoririon wanted Mishtille to be obsessed with him and depend on him.

A strong and rich love, mixed with affection, reverence, and sexual desire!

That is the love that Kokoririon seeks!

Because Kokoririon, just because Mishtille is his beloved child, already holds a strong and rich love for her, mixed with affection, possessiveness, and appetite.

Since that's the case, he wants to build a relationship where they love and are loved.

He wants her to hold the same amount of love for him as he does for her!

So, what should he do for that?

...He would direct himself, rescuing Mishtille from her predicament.

That is why Kokoririon bided his time.

By informing the king of the Hyupuet Spirit Kingdom of things like, 'I will form a spirit contract on the New Year of my beloved child's 12th year'.

It was misunderstood that not Mishtille... but her half-sister was the beloved child of the Forest Spirit King, but he left that alone.

Although he felt annoyed... if he corrected that misunderstanding, his own plan would collapse.

And he continued to neglect Mishtille's misfortune.

...So that when he rescued her, she would love him.

◇　◇　◇

Thus, the time came.

The Count Brutom family, who had tormented the true beloved child, were "condemned" along with the daughter who had "pretended" to be the beloved child.

The beloved child Mishtille was "rescued" by the Forest Spirit King Kokoririon, and is now sleeping in a crystal in his care.

Mishtille, being human, was more fragile than Kokoririon had thought, and she was more weakened than he had expected.

Therefore, Kokoririon has not yet had a proper conversation with Mishtille.

It will probably be a little while longer before her treatment is finished, she wakes up, and is released from the crystal.

He can't wait.

But even this frustrating time, waiting for that moment, is dear.

The Forest Spirit King, in his dwelling in the hollow of the giant tree in the center of the Spirit Forest.

Just, staring, staring, staring... with a smile, he continued to watch Mishtille, wrapped in the crystal.

It was a very, very... happy and fulfilling time.

...However.

DOGAAAAAN!!!

<<<!?>>>

Suddenly, that happy time was shattered by a loud explosion and a vibration that shook the giant tree!