Chapter 67

"Elder, heal him a bit."

Since I couldn't tell what had injured this person so badly, Mesquite was extremely cautious and blocked me from approaching him.

"I can only fully exert my power against Dryads, and it's even harder because this Druid isn't connected to my soul."

Elder's tone was curt. Indeed, Elder could only use a bit of energy to heal me, unlike the full power used to heal Dryads.

"Sure, they say Druids are small World Trees, but to me, they're nothing. We're strangers. Still, you're a Dryad, and I'm human, so how can I be okay seeing a fellow human lying there with such severe injuries?"

As I pushed forward, Elder pouted but aimed his staff. Though weaker compared to Elder, Bagot also raised his staff, emitting a clear, herb-like aura. As the white light swirled, the man, who seemed to have fainted, slowly opened his eyes.

"Please help me…."

"Hey! I'm going to check if you're okay, so you need to stay still! If you do anything suspicious, my Dryads will forcefully make you stay still to protect me!"

By force, of course! I glanced at Mesquite and approached.

If he's wearing a white coat, he must be a medical professional or a researcher, right? As I got closer, I gave him some water and searched my pockets for anything that might help. I found an emergency first aid kit.

The items in the general store were all potions that could only be used on Dryads, and this was the only item I could use. Of course, I had bought a large quantity.

Just opening the white box made the item automatically target and use itself. Fortunately, I didn't need to know how to bandage or read instructions, as I had just grabbed it without thinking. It worked automatically.

However, it couldn't fully heal him. It seemed to only provide emergency treatment. The bloodstains were still there, but the wounds were cleaner, and a red, burn-like scar appeared on his arm.

Should I take him to a hospital? There must be hospitals for humans in the Terrarium, right? But it's quite a distance from here to the Terrarium.

"Please help me…."

"I've done some healing, but you need to go to a hospital. My Dryads can't do anything for you."

"Find the Dryad… It's dangerous. If they take the child, it's dangerous…."

"What? A Dryad?"

Can't I just call it with an artifact? I looked at his wrist, but there was nothing except a red scar.

"Any Dryad?"

"It's dangerous… It's a dangerous situation…."

"Which Dryad are you talking about? You need to tell me properly so I can help!"

"Helping strangers isn't something to be done lightly."

Elder interjected. That's true, but… Is this a quest?

"It's Kanabis. They took the child who was being targeted."

"Kanabis? I've never heard of that plant."

But both Mesquite and Elder seemed to recognize the Dryad. Their expressions turned serious.

"The child will be used for evil! There's no time!"

He suddenly shouted like a madman but then collapsed, seemingly out of energy. It would be nice if there were a guide or an encyclopedia, at least about plants or Dryad species. What exactly is this Kanabis Dryad?

Fortunately, other intelligences were active. Mesquite and Elder, with their wrinkled faces, expressed that they knew everything I was curious about. I looked at them with a blank expression, and Mesquite spoke.

"My master, Jay. It seems the thing we were worried about has happened. When we were with the World Tree, Elder was still a sapling, and there was a controversy among the Dryads. It was a long-standing debate based on the experiences of the parent plants. There are many species that are dangerous to Druids and humans, like Bagot and the Belladonna we met recently."

Bagot shuddered at this.

"But the debate started because there were even more terrifying things. There are species that can erode the soul with deathly energy, making recovery impossible."

This must be related to the Kanabis Dryad I just heard about.

"Poisons can be detoxified, external injuries can be healed, and even if you meet a Druid, their powers can be controlled to some extent. But the power that erodes the soul can make even a small World Tree unable to recover. Those whose bodies and minds were destroyed committed all sorts of wrongful acts, unaware that their souls were being destroyed, and they relied on that power endlessly. It's said that in the distant past, humans in a Terrarium were nearly wiped out by this power, and wars broke out between Terrariums…."

"Wait a minute. I think I understand what you're saying. Keep talking."

I had a bad feeling.

"That's why some Dryads argued that species that could threaten the safety of our small World Tree should not leave the World Tree. Of course, I was against it."

"Why were you against it?"

"Because there were places where they were needed. We Dryads can't directly heal humans, right? You know this from Elder, don't you?"

Of course, I knew. Whenever I showed any signs of discomfort, Elder would make a fuss, but all he could do was infuse me with healing energy.

Elder's healing power can fully restore other Dryads but is the best it can do for me, a human. If complete healing were possible, I would have done something for the Druid named 'Match' who was lying there like a corpse.

"Humans need to be healed by other humans. Those species were needed in such situations."

"That's right. I was needed in such a place. I am a doctor."

He seemed to have regained his senses and joined the conversation. He really was a doctor, strongly asserting his identity with his white coat.

"I was on my way to the 17th Terrarium for an emergency surgery request with my Dryad. My Dryad, Kanabis, was essential due to its pain-relieving and calming medical properties. But as I just said, there are many people looking for the child for bad reasons…."

"Wait a minute…! You mean Kanabis is… a drug?"

"Yes. That's why people are looking for it. Kanabis is also known as marijuana…."

It's a drug, and I didn't know it was the famous marijuana. This suddenly feels like an RPG game turned into a crime movie or an American detective drama.

If it's a drug, there must be mafia and gangs, right? What age rating was this game supposed to be? Of course, nowadays, mobile games come out with 12 or 15 age ratings even if they show blood and violence!

"This isn't something we can handle! Shouldn't people like the FBI or CSI handle this?"

"They probably haven't gone far yet. We need to stop the child from being used as a drug…! And there are emergency patients waiting for me…!"

Why are you forcing me to take on this quest? I haven't agreed to it yet! And you're not an NPC but a fellow player, right? Why are you giving me a quest?

"Since it's a young one that hasn't grown into a mature tree… It could be subjected to terrible things…!"

Why are you sending a Druid out into this dangerous world with just one Dryad? And how do you know I'm weak for children and are trying to stir my sympathy?

"If they haven't gone far, we can quickly search the area…."

"Help? Your expression doesn't seem very enthusiastic…"

Elder, who saw me turn a bit pale, asked worriedly. Of course, the word "drug" is terrifying, and it's a young Dryad.

You figured out my weakness the first time we met! You're not an ordinary person! If I just pass by, I'll feel guilty and won't be able to sleep.

"Let's finish it quickly. We have Mesquite to help with the search. If they're bad guys, take them down without mercy! Of course, without making a sound!"

I don't want to get involved, but if I act quickly, I can get out of it!

"The debate about Dryads like Kanabis was based on such situations."

Mesquite looked at the man, who was covering his face with his hands and emitting a desolate aura, with a firm expression. Then, he looked at me, who reluctantly accepted the request, with a troubled expression.

"My master, Jay. Can you not regret this? It seems Jay is in more conflict now than ever."

Mesquite's question made me feel weak. Indeed, unlike a game-like situation where you face fire, this is a realistic situation involving humans, which is scary.

"Let's check a bit, and if it doesn't seem right, let's quickly go to the 18th Terrarium and report it!"

"During that time, my Dryad…! If you tell me the location, I can go alone…!"

"I'm soloing without a party and don't know how to fight, so I can only help as much as I can! This is already a huge effort for me? You're also alone without a Dryad, so be grateful to have survived. If you have the strength, why not go to a nearby Terrarium for help first?"

He seemed to be holding out, but suddenly struggled to stand up.

"Y… Yes! That would be more efficient. I'll go to the 17th Terrarium first. There's an emergency patient there too."

He started walking, dragging his legs, without giving me a chance to stop him. Something feels off? He said he was attacked but isn't afraid to go alone, and he trusts me with his important Dryad without knowing what I can do?

As I watched him walk away, I felt uneasy.