Chapter 50

"Actually, it's been a long time since a druid has had a deep conversation with a sapling. We might have set our expectations too high. I thought it would be a good opportunity to have a normal conversation. Of course, the sapling also seemed to want to try. He has a rather intimidating appearance among humans, partly due to his reputation, but... that's why many people get scared and avoid him as soon as they see him. Even when we meet someone who doesn't run away, it's either for official business or, as you know, because of his tone of voice..."

"Intimidating... He's just a big guy. I think he might even look handsome if you didn't see Elder with him. Elder's face is so perfect that it raised my standards for good looks to the ceiling. Now, no matter how good-looking someone is, I won't feel much. That's a problem."

"Maybe the druid's standards are different from others. But I appreciate the advice. Anyway, we will return to the 16th Terrarium. If the druid doesn't come to the 10th Terrarium, we won't meet again. I'm sorry for causing discomfort every time we meet."

"No... It's fine..."

Damn... I have to go to the 10th Terrarium. But the 18th Terrarium is far from the 16th, so it should be okay.

"We had another mission besides monitoring the 28th Terrarium. There was an item that the Alchemy Tower was supposed to send to the 28th Terrarium, but communication was cut off, so we had to find its whereabouts. It was a very dangerous item, and if it didn't reach the 28th Terrarium as promised, we had to retrieve it. However, the search concluded that it was completely burned."

Wait a minute. The number 16 sounds familiar. Where did I hear it? 16, Alchemy Tower, item sent to the 28th Terrarium...

Oh! Isn't this what was mentioned in Scarecrow's diary? The Alchemy Tower sent a highly toxic herb to deal with the bugs that infested the World Tree's branch, but it didn't arrive as promised.

Calmia apologized again and returned to the group. As they dragged the sapling away, I pieced together the connection between the burned carriage and the box with the skull mark I saw in the mountains, the support from the Alchemy Tower mentioned in Scarecrow's diary, and the highly toxic herb.

Anyway, the Alchemy Tower in the 16th Terrarium definitely sent support to the 28th Terrarium. But it was overturned on the way.

Scarecrow had to wait in vain, not knowing what happened. What a tragic story.

By the way, what exactly is this highly toxic herb? It's not just any herb, but a highly toxic one. I followed Mesquite, thinking about it.

But I don't have much knowledge about plants, so nothing specific came to mind.

***

The journey back was much smoother than when we started from the 26th Terrarium. The mobs near the village were no longer a challenge.

At first, Daisy was working hard in the beginner's hunting ground, but now the flames that appear seem like they would go out with just a puff of air from her.

We also got a ring that boosts combat bonuses, and seeing Daisy throw a dagger to extinguish a flame without much effort made me proud of how much she has improved.

Well, well. Our little one doesn't have time to deal with such weak little flames! She's the one who took down huge flames!

Elder didn't show the same tension as before when entering combat mode. He seemed to think Daisy could handle it on her own and had a nonchalant look.

Wow... Has it been days already? This is already a memory. In a month, I'll be sitting in a rocking chair, reminiscing about the old days, right?

But on the negative side... I don't get any experience points. I've grown too much... My level is too high! I can't level up anymore! I was a low-level player a few days ago, but now I've moved past that.

Thanks to the World Tree's branch in the 28th Terrarium regaining its strength, the balance was restored, and the flames we encountered were very small, suppressed by the blessing. Even if I threw a diamond, it wouldn't grow big enough to give me experience points.

But now, with a weapon in hand, I could probably take down flames like the sapling. It boosts my confidence.

The only tension in our party on the way was when Mesquite suddenly picked up Daisy. Well, that was Daisy's tension.

I felt like I was aimlessly pressing the remote control buttons, looking for something to watch. In this state, it might take only a day to come and go, not two.

How long did I spend simulating taking down flames? Just as I was imagining myself charging with a giant lance like Mesquite, she found something strange.

Scattered items and blackened burn marks were found far off the road. It would be hard to notice them if you didn't have Mesquite's keen eyes.

According to Elder, who had memorized the map, we were about to enter a terrain with small swamps scattered around.

If the swamps were large, we would have to go around, but they were small and shallow, allowing us to pass through by stepping on solid ground. It wasn't a problem, but he warned us to be cautious as the terrain changed.

But to find such suspicious traces just before entering that area!

"This is..."

Mesquite had a serious look. Well, it's obvious that there was a battle. It looks like the flames lost, just like in the mountains.

But the flames we encountered on the way were all weak. Could there be another boss like the carriage flame?

"What if we meet another giant flame..."

"My master, Jay. This isn't a battle trace with flames. Of course, flames might have come and gone, as evidenced by the burn marks. But look closely."

Her reaction was different from when we saw the overturned carriage. So, I observed the scattered items again. Daisy bent down to inspect them.

The items are charred, like last time, but they are relatively intact? It's easy to identify their shapes. Even if I try to look closely... What should I be looking for? There's a tattered bag, an empty bottle, a scabbard...

"Because of the burn marks, it might not be immediately visible, but if you look closely, you can see cuts from sharp objects."

"Uh-huh!"

"Right!"

You're right. Now that you mention it, I can see it.

"Huh? Do flames use swords?"

Elder looked at me with a disappointed face. You're being too obvious. Well, I did say something silly. Thinking about it, flames just burn, they don't use swords...

Huh? So, this is a trace of a fight between people or dryads?

"Judging by the absence of bodies, they were either cleaned up or fled."

Elder looked in the direction we were heading. Dead trees leaned against each other, creating a cave-like appearance. Reddish vines hung like long, disheveled hair, making the place look even more eerie.

There's a swamp there, right? There might be bodies? Should I reconsider going halfway?

"My master, Jay. The obstacles you were worried about might be different from the flames we've encountered before. It might not be more terrifying than flames, but it could be a more intelligent or malicious entity. Whatever it is, we need to be cautious."

"Druid! Look at this!"

While Mesquite pointed out the strange points, Daisy, taking advantage of her small size, crouched down and poked at the items with her dagger. Due to the long time they had been left, they were buried in the ground, and when she pulled them out, dirt fell off.

When Daisy flipped the item with her dagger, the back, which was less burned, was revealed. And there, a familiar mark was embroidered in dark green thread, like a coat of arms.

"Wow... It feels like I'm watching a crime drama. Or a mystery game."

The mark featured the symbol of the World Tree and the number 28. Goosebumps ran down my arm. Without realizing it, I clung to Mesquite. Her thick arm, which made me feel safe just by holding it, I hugged tightly and thought hard. Damn, 28 again.

The person or dryad with the 28th mark could be the messenger Scarecrow sent to the 29th. Who killed the person performing official duties? Why?

"Is the person who did this still around?"

"Maybe not. It looks like it happened a long time ago. We might find out when we get there..."

Flames are scary when they're big. They are dangerous, after all. But they just burn everything in sight, perhaps driven by a primal instinct. In the end, they are just monsters in the game, and you can think about fighting and gaining experience points.

But these guys, who plot and scheme, make me think in multiple directions and instill various fears. I might start to suspect everyone I meet.

Or how the hell do I know what this guy is thinking when he approaches me? It makes me wonder if I need to hide the fact that I'm the temporary administrator of the 28th Terrarium.

"Ah, damn..."

"The carriage we saw on our way and these items are all related to the 28th Terrarium. This... Yes, it definitely isolated the 28th Terrarium. Why is the 2