The moon rose like a slow coin, its pale light spilling through the cracks of Jaehyun's roof — or what was left of it. The trees that had grown through the rafters swayed gently, whispering with voices too soft for humans to understand. Fireflies drifted lazily through the air, drawn to the baby's mana glow.
Jaehyun sat on a broken chair that was half-eaten by vines. His expression was the same mix of exhaustion and disbelief that only came from being a farmer in a fantasy world where your crops fought back.
He poked the small bundle in his lap. "Hey, you. Mini–Mother Nature. You planning to turn my house into a rainforest tonight or tomorrow?"
The baby blinked, her leaf halo dimming slightly as she yawned — and every flower in a ten-meter radius yawned with her.
"Right. Of course. Synchronization," Jaehyun muttered, grabbing his mug of cold tea. "Can't even complain without getting photosynthesis as a response."
📡 Meanwhile — Council Intelligence Division
Inside the floating capital, hundreds of screens displayed data streams. Mana waves. Soil composition. Flora growth rates. And at the center of it all — a glowing green dot pulsing like a heartbeat.
A researcher adjusted his glasses nervously. "It's spreading again. Rate: three kilometers per hour."
The director frowned. "It's not an infection… it's balance."
"Sir?"
"The mana readings show restoration patterns. Not corruption. The land's… correcting itself."
He paused, eyes narrowing. "Find whoever's at the epicenter. Contain them. Or protect them — whichever keeps us alive longer."
🏚️ Back at the Farm — Temporary Sanity
The night wind rustled through the open barn. Jaehyun had gathered the kids into a circle. They sat around a flickering lantern, eating roasted sweet potatoes (which had nearly exploded earlier from overgrowth).
"Alright, listen," Jaehyun said, clapping his hands. "New rules. No watering. No singing to the plants. No feeding them emotional support."
Bongyu raised his hand. "What about hugs?"
Jaehyun's eyebrow twitched. "No hugging the plants."
"But they get sad—"
"They get sentient!"
The dryad baby giggled and a vine shyly offered Jaehyun a potato.
He took it with a sigh. "...Thanks. At least someone appreciates me."
🛰️ Above the Sky — Guild Airships Approaching
Dark silhouettes moved against the stars — sleek, rune-powered guild ships gliding silently toward Jaehyun's coordinates. Their insignias gleamed in the dark: Ironleaf, Silver Spear, Heaven's Cartel.
Inside one of the ships, a masked woman leaned over a tactical map. "Our orders are clear. Retrieve the child. The farmer is expendable."
Another guildmaster smirked. "A farmer? Please. This'll be easy."
The ship's engines hummed louder as they accelerated — right before their radar glitched, vines wrapping around the hull like giant green hands.
"Warning—! Mana interference detected!"
The pilot screamed, "The forest is moving!"
🌿 Farm Perimeter — Mana Defense Online
Jaehyun stepped outside, baby in arms, and watched as the fields pulsed brighter — each plant lifting slightly, as though awaiting command. The soil itself thrummed beneath his feet.
"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," he muttered. "I didn't sign up for an eco-army."
A system chime rang in his ears:
[Guardian Seed Link Established]
Defense Protocol: Sprout Ward Active
Intruder Detection Range: 2 km
From the shadows of the treeline, he could already see the glint of armor.
The baby looked up at him, eyes glowing faintly gold. She reached out — and the vines around the farm stirred, blooming with faint light.
"...You're really not gonna let me rest, huh?" Jaehyun whispered.
He cracked his knuckles. "Fine. But if anyone steps on my cabbages, we're going to war."