Chapter 37

"Oh, this is dangerous…."

Rosewood hastily placed the violin under his chin and said. As soon as he lightly rubbed the strings with the bow, a rich rose fragrance spread. The intangible fragrance seemed to cling to the dryads like a spider web.

The air felt as if it would cause burns, so Elder concentrated a protective barrier around me as we moved forward. If he focuses all the protection on me, what about the other dryads? They must be struggling too!

Looking around, I realized that only I was benefiting from the protective barrier. Even Elder, the caster, was enduring the heat with a thin barrier.

"Run now. I'll draw enough attention to keep you safe."

Who are you to tell me to run or not? When did I ever ask you for that?

I was annoyed by the way the sapling acted as if he were my guardian.

Just because you're a bit, or rather a lot, higher in level, you think you can look down on me! I never asked you, 'Sir, is this hunting ground too high level for me to play in?'

If I had listened to the warning Mesquite gave when we left the terrarium, I wouldn't have come here in the first place!

I didn't want to admit that my dryads were weak by running away just because the sapling told me to. I'm the one who's weak, not my dryads.

Suddenly, the ground began to shake as if an earthquake had struck. It felt more like something else, though, like standing near a passing train.

The intensity of the earthquake increased, and I could feel something massive and heavy approaching quickly.

At the same time, a wall of fire erupted around us, creating a barrier that seemed to cut off all communication with the outside. It was more like a shield preventing us from leaving, as if we were being herded into the center like prey.

We were in a situation like mice trapped in a bottle.

Damn… The atmosphere is very different from when we usually deal with fire.

Even if I had decided to run, it was already too late.

"Use Mesquite. She has high fire resistance and can break through the wall of fire."

"Why should I use my dryad just because you say so?"

"It's too late! Sapling, don't waste energy fighting among druids. We need to cooperate now!"

"Right, it's better to keep her nearby and protect her."

Belladonna and Calmia said. Who said I just want to be protected? My dryads are excellent! Really…! Damn! What's that?

Mesquite pushed me, Elder, and Daisy back and stood firm. A dazzling sandy light burst from the shield she held, expanding in size.

The giant shield, now enveloped in light, blocked the front of the thing that finally revealed itself.

It was a carriage. A carriage burning fiercely. It was clearly a carriage from the nether, just risen from hell. It was much larger than the overturned carriage we had found, as big as a house, burning fiercely and turning everything it passed into lava.

Fire has the habit of transforming to mimic the strongest form in the ecosystem, and it can also affect objects? Could this be the fire that presumably wiped out the dryads of the overturned carriage?

Damn, this feels like a boss fight… a raid…?

In games, to solo a boss fight, you need to be at a level where you can handle it. I'm not even close to that level; I'm just a fresh dewdrop.

I looked at the sapling. Should I team up with him?

Or, since he seems to be at a high level, can he handle it alone? If I suggest we team up, he might ignore me and try to do it alone?

The sapling seemed like a stubborn loner who wouldn't play cooperatively.

Even though the dryads who had struggled with the fire earlier were now dealing with it calmly, their expressions darkened when they saw the carriage.

Ah, so even you find that carriage boss tough? My anxiety weighed more heavily.

Damn, this isn't a beginner's quest. This is clearly a hell mode endgame boss! A boss monster, and we jumped into the fight without any prior strategy.

"Sapling, the situation is serious. Ask that druid for help. We can't end this battle without any injuries. That side has a high-level healing dryad, and I have restrictions on my actions unless they are allied with us."

While I was thinking, the other side bowed and agreed. However, the druid's expression didn't look too pleased.

"But she's small."

"Snap out of it! That's a druid, not a dryad! Your dryad's long teaching probably made you think you need to protect saplings, but this is different!"

"There are real saplings there too."

"Don't ignore Daisy!"

I was about to argue that my child isn't a sapling but just looks like one when the carriage launched a preemptive attack.

A river of lava, like a red carpet, shot out from the carriage in a straight line. Mesquite didn't try to block it; instead, she pulled us to the side to avoid it.

The attack had no cooldown. It continuously spewed lava in the direction it faced, scattering the gathered dryads.

I was tied to Daisy's stem and, thanks to her agility, managed to stay close to Mesquite.

The sapling's hesitation didn't last long. Belladonna, who almost got hit by the lava when trying to avoid it, stopped and took the hit, getting injured. Why?

The carriage, finally hitting its mark, trembled and burned even more fiercely.

"My master, Jay. She seems to have the ability to harm the surroundings just by existing. I know of similar species with such abilities. As she said, the more we act separately, the more her actions will be restricted."

"Hey! Did you hear that? Stop being stubborn and join the party! Your dryad is injured!"

I don't know how to join a party.

Suddenly, the terrarium artifact on my wrist vibrated, and my phone rang loudly.

At this moment? The dwarves wouldn't call me. I took out my phone to check, regardless of whether Elder carried me to safety or not.

A black screen with large red letters flashed.

Wallet mode change. Stonehenge mode ON