A Thriving Little World

Higashino Makoto stepped out of the spatial rift and onto the grass of the small world.

The air has changed.

It no longer has that dry, lingering smell, like it hasn't rained in a long time.

The feeling now is damp, carrying the scent of earth and grass, mixed with the fragrance of some flowers he has never smelled before, drifting from afar.

He looked up at the artificial sky.

Sunlight streamed down from the dome, falling warmly on his face.

In the distance, the once barren hillsides were now covered with lush green grass, swaying gently in the wind.

He stood there, stunned for a few seconds.

The last time I came here, this land was still barren.

It resembled a desert, barren except for a few scattered plants.

Now everything is much better. The grass has grown, the flowers are blooming, the water is flowing, and even the air has become fresher.

"It hasn't been that long."

He said it in a low voice.

Birdsong drifted from afar, carrying a vitality he had never heard before in this world.

He walked along the stream.

The grass underfoot was soft, making a rustling sound when you stepped on it.

The stream flowed at his feet, its waters murmuring softly.

He walked for about fifteen minutes, then stopped.

Below the hillside, a plain unfolds before your eyes.

The green meadow stretches from the foot of the hillside into the distance, seemingly endless.

Animals were running on the grass. There were four of them, with long tails, that looked like lizards, but were much bigger.

They have long necks and small heads, and they are grazing with their heads down.

Hmm... dinosaurs?

Higashino Makoto's lips twitched slightly.

Tiamat created life much faster than he had anticipated; in just a few days, she had even created dinosaurs.

He continued walking. The dinosaurs saw him, raised their heads, stared at him with their tiny eyes for a few seconds, then lowered their heads and continued grazing.

They have just been born and don't yet know what fear is.

He crossed the plain and entered a forest.

The trees are not tall, but they are very dense, with intertwined branches and leaves. Sunlight filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

The air was filled with the aroma of wood and leaves, mixed with the scent of earth.

Deep in the woods, there was a clearing, and in the clearing, there was a figure.

She stood there, her back to him.

Her long, light blue robe reached her ankles, and her long hair cascaded over her shoulders, the ends swaying gently in the breeze.

She bent slightly, reaching for a clump of wildflowers at her feet. Her fingers gently touched the petals, which trembled slightly at her fingertips.

Tiamat.

But why does she look so young, like a teenager?

She sensed his presence, straightened up, turned around, and smiled slightly.

She seems to be in a good mood.

"You've come."

"Um."

Higashino Makoto walked up to her and stopped.

How are you feeling?

Tiamat looked down at her hands.

The touch of the petals still lingered on her fingers, and her fingertips were slightly red.

"Very good."

She looked up at him.

"It's quiet here. There's no fear, no hatred, and no one wants to kill me."

Her voice was very soft.

Higashino Makoto nodded.

"That's good."

He turned around and looked at the grove of trees.

Sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.

A small bird flew up from a branch, drew an arc in the air, and landed on a higher branch, tilting its head to look at them.

How many lives have you created?

Higashino Makoto wanted to ask that question, but after thinking about it, he didn't say it.

After all, the number is probably too many to count, and even I can't remember exactly how much bread I ate.

"That's good. Don't worry, stay here and I'll protect you."

Her lips curled up slightly, and Higashino Makoto noticed that her eyes were shining.

He paused for a moment, then raised his hand and began his work.

Emerald green light surged from his palm and spread in all directions.

Where the light touched, the grass became greener, the flowers bloomed more brightly, and the trees grew taller.

The dinosaurs stopped grazing, raised their heads, and looked at the emerald green light.

Tiamat's eyes widened slightly.

"This is..."

"Tree of Life, my Authority."

Higashino Makoto withdrew his hand.

"To align with your Sea of Life, adjust the direction of life's evolution."

Tiamat looked at him, seemingly somewhat surprised.

"You... you also have the ability to create life?"

"Not really. My main ability is to improve life. It's not that I can't create directly, but the efficiency is very low. Our abilities are actually complementary, so it was definitely the right decision to have you help."

Tiamat raised her hands and spun around in place.

"So that's why you came to see me."

"Yes, your abilities perfectly complement my weaknesses. So don't worry, I will never abandon you."

He turned around and looked at the plain.

The dinosaurs were still grazing, and the sunlight shone on their backs, turning their skin golden.

"I need you to fix the main evolutionary path of a portion of life forms as the human species. The rest is up to you. Good luck!"

Tiamat frowned slightly, looking somewhat worried.

"Human species?"

"Yes, I like humans. Humans are the best!"

Tiamat looked down at her hands.

Those hands that had once created countless lives remembered their past when they were abandoned.

"Humans... won't they betray me?"

"No. This is my world; they have no right to betray me. Besides, once the ecosystem is established, you'll leave here to create life in a new time. How could they possibly have the chance to betray me then?"

Higashino Makoto thought for a moment, realizing his plan was perfect and there was no possibility of any unforeseen circumstances. He patted her head and offered words of comfort.

"Don't worry about being a good mother. Just forget about the unhappy things from the past."

"Mother..."

She repeated the word, her voice hoarse.

"I am a mother..."

Yes, you are the mother.

Higashino Makoto turned around and looked at the plain.

"So, help me create life."

Tiamat wiped away her tears with the back of her hand and took a deep breath.

"Good."

Her Authority began to accelerate, and new life was constantly being born.

Some swim in the water, some run on the ground, and some fly in the sky.

Everything seemed so vibrant and full of life.

Higashino Makoto looked at the life forms taking shape, a slight smile playing on his lips.

"Good."

The ecosystem of this small world is nearing completion, and everything is moving in a positive direction.

Come to think of it, it's been a while since I've paid attention to World Item.

Previously, they only sent out mercenary monsters to search all over the Overlord World, but they didn't know if they had found anything.

Hmm, I'll ask him when things calm down in this world.

Hopefully, there are some World Item suitable for completing the "Creator" quest, so that the remaining parts can be completed as soon as possible.