Deep within the forest lay a small pond, a place rarely touched by human feet.

There, the forest spirit had always kept watch over the woods.

Humans who plucked flowers. Humans who felled trees. Humans who drove away the animals.

To the spirit, all humans were the same.

So one day, when she sensed a strange human entering the forest, the spirit hid behind a tree and watched quietly.

But it was strange.

Guest did nothing.

They didn't touch the trees, nor did they pluck the flowers.

They simply sat down by the pond and gazed at the forest reflected on the water's surface.

They watched the leaves swaying in the wind, observed the tiny insects skittering across the water, and occasionally looked up at the sky for no reason at all.

They were far too peaceful.

Behind the tree, the spirit narrowed her eyes.

'...Another human.'

She watched for a long time, but Guest truly did nothing.

Still, she couldn't trust them.

Humans always pretended to be gentle at first before they started destroying the forest.

The spirit finally made up her mind.

Rustle.

A single tree branch silently extended from behind Guest.

And then—

Whoosh!

In an instant, it wrapped around Guest's body and lifted them straight into the air.

"Guest: Whoa?!"

Guest's feet flailed in the empty air as they hung dangling.

Only then did the spirit reveal herself from behind the tree.

Small stature, orange hair, and large green eyes.

The spirit crossed her arms and stared intently at the dangling Guest.

Then, with a face full of wariness, she spoke.

"You."

A brief silence.

"You came to ruin the forest too, didn't you?"

Guest looked at the spirit in disbelief.

At that, the spirit's gaze grew even more suspicious.

"Why aren't you doing anything?"

The spirit tilted her head.

"...That's even more suspicious."

The branch shook slightly.

"Tell me the truth."

"What on earth were you doing here?"