Chapter 69

Xiaoming stood at the classroom door, took a deep breath, and firmly gripped the secret letter from his mother.

---

In the midst of cherry blossoms dancing in the wind, Misaki opened the old diary and read the words of promise written there.

---

The enemy had a Dryad with even better detection abilities than Mesquite. Under the pretense of putting out a fire, the Dryad disrupted the guard's energy, emerging from where the guard was buried and ambushing Elder, paralyzing his vision in an instant.

I had underestimated the criminal organization.

As my life was held hostage, my Dryads quickly surrendered. Mesquite, with a terrifying face, knelt down, gritting her teeth when a subordinate, overwhelmed by the situation, accidentally injured my neck.

Even if the battle had not been going against us, I had a significant weakness. These people were capable of easily identifying the weaknesses of Dryads.

"If you don't stay still, your Dryad will die!"

"If you lay a finger on my master, I'll destroy all of you!"

A strange ring was placed on my terrarium artifact, and Mesquite, Daisy, and Elder were roughly dragged away. Resistance was futile. The enemy was pressing a knife to my neck in front of my Dryads.

Bago, who had been treated like a sapling, was tied up and seated next to the fallen Kanabis. He seemed to pose no threat, crying in fear, and none of the Dryads recognized his species, so they let it slide.

Various discussions took place about what to do with me. Since the wallet could not be accessed without the owner's will, they planned to injure my Dryads in front of me to make me hand over the diamond, or kill me as a witness, or use my good Dryads as slaves.

Watching Kanabis being beaten made me shudder, but sitting there as a hostage, I felt oddly numb. At first, I thought my brain was avoiding reality.

However, the wound on my neck stung, gradually clearing my mind. What's going on? Why am I not scared?

"Did you think you could spy like a rat without being noticed?"

"Did you think you wouldn't get caught in a rat's nest?"

At that moment, my vision flashed. It was the most painful moment since I arrived in this world. The one who had viciously beaten Kanabis now slapped my cheek. My head hit the ground with a dull thud, and my mouth went numb.

Wow, he really hit me hard. I've never felt such pain, even in the intense battles with fire. Suddenly, I realized how much my Dryads had protected me. Bago was trying to shield me from their view with his small body, despite being tied up.

If I were as strong as a sprout, my Dryads wouldn't have been a weakness. Without my Dryads, I was nothing.

"Get rid of that brat. He's just making noise. He's a worthless Dryad compared to the others. Just kill him."

Bago, despite being tied up, stubbornly clung to me.

I was nothing, but as I was hit, I became increasingly clear-headed. Before coming here, I was truly afraid, and even when I was hiding and watching, or when Kanabis was being beaten, I was terrified.

But now that I was experiencing it, I thought, "What, it's not that bad. A slap is a cheap price to pay. It hurts, but I've overcome many life-threatening situations. This is nothing." It felt like my situation and my mind were separate. Am I crazy?

When they called me a tough woman for not making a sound or blinking, my vision finally focused on a different scene. I saw Bago struggling to break free from the ropes. And next to him, Kanabis, with red, tear-streaked eyes, looking at me.

You...?

"No. We need to make this guy's Dryads more obedient. They were all high-level! There was an incredible one! If they escape, they won't leave us alone!"

"Then, in front of them..."

They were threatening to cut off fingers, just like they did to Kanabis. At that moment, Kanabis looked at me, tears streaming down his face. You... are doing something to me?

Breaking the promise with his master and using his own power, this Dryad must have seen me as his last hope. Indeed, as Mesquite said, it was a dangerous power. In this extreme situation, I didn't feel fear. I need to be careful not to get addicted.

My mind, which Kanabis had desperately maintained, raced. Was I really nothing? No, they didn't take all my Dryads. Ironically, they left Bago by my side. What kind of kid is he? Honestly, he might be more dangerous than Mesquite.

Our ace. Our cute one. Suddenly, I started laughing, and Bago stopped crying, staring at me blankly.

"Can our cute one do it? Right? You're amazing. What good is tying up your arms?"

"Hey! What are you mumbling?"

"I went through so much trouble to bring him here. Our party healer can't remove debuffs. Do you have debuff removal?"

"What are you talking about? Did you hit your head?"

I pushed myself up with my shoulders and legs, and bit the thing stuck in Bago's hood. It came out easily when I turned my head. I laid my head on the ground, exhausted from the slight movement. A moment later, an alarm, signaling the start of hell, sounded from Bago.

The events from the swamp of death were replaying. Blue moths and terrifying poison rain. People screamed and ran, but Bago, who had ruled a wide area alone, had a broad range of abilities. It felt like his power had even increased since then.

Even though he was caught off guard, the paralyzing ability that had instantly brought Elder to his knees was, ironically, ineffective against Bago. The poison was too strong, making any other poison ineffective.

The commotion on our side caused the place where my other Dryads were isolated to also become chaotic.

In a moment, someone lifted me up. The heavy sound of metal. It was Mesquite. I didn't have the courage to look at her face. I buried my face in her chest and said, "I'm completely fine."

The situation was quickly under control. As long as I was safe, my Dryads had no weaknesses. The enemies, affected by the poison debuff, were no match for my enraged Dryads.

My mind and body, which kept feeling drowsy, made me close my eyes. I thought I had only closed them for a moment, but the scenery had completely changed. We had moved from a vine-covered place like a dungeon to an open area.

My hands and feet, which had been tightly bound, were free, and the strange ring on my artifact was intact. It seemed my Dryads had taken care of everything while I was unconscious.

"Jay... Are you okay?"

Mesquite's voice was slightly trembling.

"I'm fine. Actually, I feel great."

I couldn't hear Bago crying. The control device must have been reinserted.

"Kanabis?"

"Thank you for helping... I'm surprised he's safe."

Kanabis, who was surprisingly safe, was standing far away from us, like an outcast. Maybe the Dryads thought he had put me in danger...

"We're still in his influence. We need to move further away."

Kanabis moved even further away.

"That's not it. Since the Dryad used his power on you, his mere presence continues to affect you. His power is uncontrolled without his master nearby."

I didn't say anything, but how did he know my thoughts so well?

"Your thoughts are leaking to us more than usual."

Wow...

"My master, Jay. Don't worry too much. You'll return to normal once you're free from the Dryad's power. Right now, you're in a very peaceful and stable state, with heightened soul communication with the Dryads."

Wow, this is really dangerous power. It feels like I could get addicted.

"Yes, I've heard stories of people being driven to war fanatically using such power. It makes you forget pain and fear. But..."

"Yeah, I don't want to be a drug addict."

Elder kept infusing me with energy, which felt like the drug was being flushed out.

"Thankfully, we underestimated Bago. Thanks for doing such a great job. It would be perfect if you could control it yourself."

Don't forget to praise. I said to Bago, who was exhausted from crying. Bago stared at me, then his face turned thoughtful. Just as Elder was about to start lecturing about how dangerous the situation was, a group of people approached.

"Found it! Here!"

More of the enemy's remnants? They might try to remove Bago's control device again...

"Don't worry! We received a report and are here to help."

A man with a gentle face approached carefully. I couldn't stay lying down with others around, so I struggled to get up, and Mesquite quickly helped me.

"Ah... the doctor..."

"Yes, that's right. We'll quickly guide you to the safe 18th Terrarium. Where is the Kanabis Dryad?"

"Over there."

Kanabis ran over, relieved to be safe. When asked about the remnants' location, Daisy, who knew the way, told them.

"How did you rescue this Dryad?"

"Um... that is..."

"We escaped secretly. They might be chasing us."

Huh? Didn't Bago eliminate them all? We were fleeing? Elder's words contradicted what I knew, but he nodded, so I kept quiet.

A few people headed to the location we provided.

"Come on, let's go to the 18th Terrarium where your master is."

"Is my Druid safe?"

"Yes, he's waiting for you."

18th... But didn't they say they were going to the 17th Terrarium because of an emergency patient? Am I confused? I thought I would be at the 17th Terrarium...

My thoughts leaked again, and the Dryads' expressions changed.

And I saw it. The man's wrist, trying to lead Kanabis by the arm. A scar I had seen many times.

If the burn scar wasn't a coincidence, it was the same as the one on the doctor we rescued, the one who started this, Dr. Match.

A scar that looked like a pattern. They were definitely not the same person.