Somewhere within the great forest of Tob was a Drayd with skin that looked wooden-colored and leaves covered it, sort of like clothes and hair. "I-I felt like something was happening with that Treant but that cannot be, its seal should still be..."
The Drayd stopped when she came to an odd site, near the very Treant she had feared, many smaller versions were popping out of the ground as if they were simultaneously planted and grown within minutes. The Treants had that same look as that Treant as well and all of them started moving slowly through the forest.
"This so bad. So very bad, did it find a way around the seal?!"
Herohero, Solution Epsilon, Lupusregina Beta, Nfirea, Peter, Lukrut, Dyne, and Ninya continued their journey to The Great Forest of Tob. They were moving towards Carne village in case they needed to rest and because Nifrea had asked them to. The day was filled with silence—incredible awkward silence to be precise. Each party wanted to break the silence caused by last night's conversation, Ninya especially but they were too nervous to do it. Herohero was no better, He really needs an HR representative though hopefully not ones there were as useless as those from his job.
Luckily Lupusregina broke the silence by asking, "So my ears heard rumors that Dragons live in the mountains somewhere." Rather it was her sensitive ears that heard it.
their local archer with more confidence and charisma than he deserves continued the conversation, "Yeah our little Ninya here knows all about that." He purposely thrust their nervous magic caster into the limelight.
"I-I am not little!" Ninya was briefly looking up and had their cheeks puffed out before seeing Nine staring and so they went back to looking nervously at the ground.
Herohero had already heard about the rumors from Lupusregina and was interested in checking into it another time. And they did want to stop the awkwardness, this conversation would be good for that.
He moved closer to Ninya, "Are the rumors true?"
Ninya was surprised that Nine was walking beside them. It made Ninya smile, "I have no idea how many but Frost Dragons are often seen near the Azerlisia Mountains." Their conversation continued as Ninya talked more about frost dragons and other dragons, Nine commenting every so often and Soi making a few nips about the Hordes Dragons have and what look could be in the mountains right now.
Lupusregina looked at Peter, "Seems Ninya can talk more clearly right now, your suggestion surprised me but now I get it-Su."
Peter ran his hand along the nape of his neck, "I was hoping Nine would be interested but without Lukrut being his usual self I doubt their conversation would have even started."
Lukrut leaned his head against her hand behind it, "Even if you did not think of it I would have brought it up anyways, Nine seems like that kind of adventurer to like that sort of thing. He's probably the only one here who can even face a dragon."
Dyne patted Lukrut on his back, "We know, we were counting on you to find something else to get them to talk to each other if it did not work."
Peter looked over his shoulder, "You may overstep your bounds when it comes to women, but there is no one else I could rely on when it comes to other people."
Lukrut's cheeks went a little flush from embarrassment. "Geez guys, You're embarrassing me in front of a gorgeous woman like Regi right now."
Lupusregina held her hands to her brown cheeks, "Awww, you two are such a cute couple."
Lukrut made an "ack" Sound and said, "I would never."
Lupusregina snickered a little, "How rude, Peter say something to your boyfriend about being rude."
"Regi please stop-"
"Lukrut stop being rude."
"Peter no you're playing right into her hands!"
There was a brief problem when they arrived at Carne Village when the Swords of Darkness were about to attack one of the Stone Golems that Herohero had left there to help rebuild and protect Carne village after he and Sebas helped them, they were borrowed from the Sixth floor and were not very mindful, yet somehow Enri managed to command them somewhat. It was not in the same vein as Aura and Mare with the golems, but as long as her orders were within the directive given to the golems regarding Carne village, they listened. They had not only rebuilt the village but made a large wooden wall from the trees they cut down from the forest, and the golems patrolled the village and out the new protective wall. Enri was able to stop them from attacking the wall.
Lupusregina briefly talked with the Swords of Darkness where she found out something quite interesting about Ninya. Herohero and Solution walked around the village. Herohero was oddly proud of himself thinking this place was doing better now thanks to him. And it would make for the perfect cover if someone were to ask where his new merchant business came from.
Nfriea was beside himself when he talked to his friend Enri alone and found out their village had been attacked. They were saved by someone who simply called himself "Hero" and the Golems were lent to them as Hero. Nfriea wanted to be the one to protect Enri but he knew he was not strong enough for that.
"You don't need to worry about us Nfriea, we are fine now despite what we have lost," Enri assured him but she caught a nervous look from him.
"I-I can't help but be worried about you Enri."
Enri giggled and said something that made Nfriea get lost in thought, "I am surprised you have not met him though. Hero gave me a potion that looked red to help heal me. I had never seen one that was red before so I thought maybe it was an exceedingly expensive potion you or your grandmother made."
Nfirea was in total silence and slowly started to connect some dots in his head, the entire reason he had hired Nine was because of Brita's red potion which she got from the strong new adventurer. He already admired Nine's strength but after hearing Enri's story he came to one simple conclusion.
Away from everyone else Herohero and Solution listened to what Lupusregina had found out from her conversation with The Swords of Darkness and Ninya's exceptional Magic talent.
"Are you sure it is accurate? They could just be trying to impress Lord Herohero by talking up their friend," Solution was not so easily convinced.
"It does seem interesting, learning magic in half the time it would take someone normally. That also reveals to us Magic skills and spells may be acquired a different way in this world." Herohero wondered why that was the case if their spells were still similar to those from the game.
"Well, we can find out another way. We just need to teach her some magic. I am more focused on healing magic but I am willing to be the one to test Ninya. It could be a big boon to Nazarick-Su." Lupusregina licked her lips.
Herohero was not against the idea, "I suppose it could be useful if however it only applies to specific class-based spells we will need to...no more talking." He walked forward but remained in earshot of both sisters, as Nfriea ran up to him.
"Nfriea, is everything alright? do we need to-"
"You're Hero aren't you Nine? the one that saved this village!" Nfriea blurted it out after clearing his breath.
Herohero got silent and after finally asking how Nfriea found out the potion maker admitted why he had hired Nine in the first place. The Red Potion.
"I see...If you wanted to ask me how I got them I am afraid I cannot tell you." It would be a waste of time coming up with a lie, Nfirea was a smart boy if he figured out the connection just by a potion. "will you tell others?"
"About you and Hero being the same person? Not if you do not want me to Nine," Nfirea firmly gripped his hand to his shirt and smiled, "You saved something important to me here. So I am to thankful to reveal it if you want it kept a secret."
Nfriea came closer to Herohero, "And if I can...will you allow me to join you? I want to get strong just like you. So I can protect En-O-others!" he stammered over his words as he quickly covered up his slip of the tongue.
"I mean no offense when I say this Nfriea, but had you not given me this job request I would have never chosen to travel with you. It does bode well to travel with someone who will be a liability."
"I-I see, I understand."
"But that does not mean I do not see your value."
Nfriea was a little surprised, "You do?"
Herohero nodded, "while I cannot tell you how I got a red potion, I am willing to give you as much materials as you would need to make it. With conditions of course as I am not entirely selfless. But I will let you decide on your own if that's what you want."
Nfriea was astounded yet amazed at the same time, "I will think about it, and talk about it with my grandmother, but I promise to let you know."
The group stopped outside the forest after making it to the Great Forest of Tob. They needed to be careful because the Wise King of the Forest was near these southern parts.
"Perhaps we should lure the king out, to make our herb collecting safer and ensure it cannot surprise attack us."
Peter was vehemently against the idea, "We don't know how strong it is though. We would need time to prepare to kill it."
"Kill it?" Herohero turned around, "No I intend to tame it."
Herohero already spotted Aura before she went back into hiding, why she was at the edge of the forest was a question for another time. She could help lure out and tame the Wise King of the Forest. Plus given how every place so far was predominately human territory, he wondered how they would react to a Dark Elf.
"Aura, come out now. I know you are there."
Everyone else besides Solution and Lupusregina was confused by the name.
Aura from up in the trees was not surprised a supreme being caught her sneaking around the trees but wondered why she was called down, 'Lord Herohero wants me to come down? When all those humans are there? He must need me for something important, now...what was his cover name again? Oh right!'
She jumped down and landed perfectly on her feet, Nfriea and the Swords of Darkness were shocked to see a Dark elf there. Herohero was worried they would attack, maybe they would have if he was not the one who called down to Aura.
"Hello, sir Nine! A pleasure to see you again."
"As to you as well, Aura. I am surprised you are without your brother this time."
Aura haughtily held her head up, "My brother needs me more than I need him, he is perfectly fine with his current task. I just so happened to see you and thought I would sneak up on ya and your...friends? Who are the new ones besides Big Chest and Bigger Chest over there?" Aura was not going to lose this opportunity to tease some of Pleiades in front of strangers.
Solution grumbled, "Great, the elves again. At least this time Sir Nine does not have to save them."
"Heh, I bet I am, bigger chest," Lupusregina said proudly.
while introductions happened Herohero was happy that Aura was able to keep up their cover, it was a good idea to tell the other NPCs about it.
"I am surprised though...to see an Elf or I guess a Dark Elf. Especially here of all places," Nfriea said after shaking Aura's hand.
Aura tilted her head "Why? I am not used to seeing humans either yet I am not surprised to see you all." She included Herohero and the two Pleiades sisters in that.
Dyne after sharing looks with the other Swords of Darkness would be the to say, "Supposedly years ago, maybe even before the Elf Kingdom was established, the main territory of the Dark Elves was the Great Forest of Tob. What caused them all to leave is unknown to this day."
Aura was not entirely sure how to respond since neither she nor Mare was from this world to begin with but she did not have to come up with an elaborate lie, "You don't say, no wonder we felt so at home exploring the place. But if not for Sir Nine saving us my brother and I would not be here. We owe him, soooooo, Nine what can I do for you?"
It was an easy way of getting orders without actually being given them, simply frame it returning the favor. Herohero had not even thought of that though.
"Nfriea there gave Own Goal and our fellow adventurers a job escorting him while he collected herbs from this forest. But we heard some creature, a king of the forest, attacked anyone who entered its territory. Since you're experienced in the Area you could help me tame it."
Aura held her index and middle finger to her forehead like a salute, "Can do! Just the two of us?"
Herohero nodded, "If that is what you want."
Aura grinned like a giddy child, which she was, "Mare will be so jealous, I got my own adventurer with you!"
The others stay behind to await their return.
Aura hums while guiding Herohero through the forest. After they get far enough she asks, "Did I do good Lord Herohero?"
"Yes you did, I am sorry for putting you on the spot but I wanted to test something. Somehow I think their reaction to sentient non-humans left me more concerned than when the reacted to the non-sentient golems." It just left him more confused, Herohero understood nations being predominantly human, Elf, dwarf, and so on. But did they interact so little that they were not used to the sight of each other? Or were they always in conflict so it was better that they were not used to it? he would have to talk with the Swords of Darkness more about the relations between each nation.
Aura was looking at Herohero expectedly and after a few seconds, he got what she wanted. He patted Aura on the head which made her very happy.
"help...mee..." A groan followed a voice coming from deeper in the forest. Cautiously Aura and Herohero moved closer until they spotted a large hamster.
"what the heck?" of all the things that could have been in the forest, why was a giant hamster one of them? It was injured but its cuteness, at least to Herohero, was almost distracting.
"What happened to it? Think the King of the forest did this?"
Aura shrugged at the question while they examined the fallen creature.
But then it spoke, "I...I am the wise..." It coughed, "...King of the forest. Hmmm, pain."
Herohero laughed, there was no way this was the king of the forest. Right? 'Or perhaps its size scared off explorers and adventurers? maybe it has a skill that makes it stronger than meets the eye?' Herohero stared down at the giant hamster.
"Who did this to-"
"Lord Herohero look out!" Aura took out her whip, Queen, and whacked away a creepy-looking treant. It somehow did not go down in one hit which was shocking but a second whip attack caused it to crumble.
Herohero and Aura moved so that they were back to back, "they are all around us. Be careful."
"Iron Skin" Herohero's fist became harder than steel, thanks to his skill with Ki it was the hardest it could get with that skill. He struck at two Treants, killing one quickly while the other succumbed to corrosive damage right after.
Aura had to be more skillful as she moved quickly between the trees to throw off the group of treants since some of them were more durable. Herohero switched between defending the downed Giant hamster that would be killed if it got hit a couple more times, and going on the offensive. By the time they were done no less the forty treant remains surrounded them.
Aura caught her breath and 'mowled' a little, "Could have at least tried to capture one if there were not so many to focus on."
Herohero laid down against the giant hamster, getting some Ooze on its fur but it was too injured to care plus the two of them had saved it.
"Where did those treants come from? there were so many of them."
"Deep in the forest, I took out ten of them before all of those showed up...thanks again." The giant hamster said while it adjusted itself a little to make itself more comfortable for its saviors.
"as a reward for saving you, you're now ours." Herohero
"h-huhh? no, I am the wise king of the forest you can't-"
"Well Lord Herohero I can always make use of its pelt if does not want to be tamed. I can make plenty of use out of that pelt, maybe even more than we would out if it were your pet." Aura was very enthusiastic about this alternative.
"nooo! I swear I'll be good j-just don't kill me!"
Herohero was glad that was over with, they needed to return to the others. "Solution and Lupusregina, as well as our temporary companions could be attacked at any time if treants make it further. Though it is possible Nazarick could be trouble depending on if the treants spread in every direction."
Aura smiled, "I am sure we destroyed the biggest group. Plus these treants have no way of getting past Nazaricks defenses."
"But there is a lot more..."
Aura and Herohero stood up, Aura getting her whip out as they stared up at the trees. A dryad flew down.
"Forgive I always played it over and over again what I would say to my heroes when they returned."
The dryad looked at "Nine" and Aura and said, "B-but it does not seem like you are either."
Herohero was confused because this dryad was talking to herself, "Do you know what's going on here? Explain now!"
The Dryad, "S-sorry. allow me to introduce myself, I am Pinison Pol Perlia. And if we don't do anything soon these treants won't just spread past the forest, but so will their creator."
From the desk of Herohero to Momonga
The hamster's fur was so soft! I am partially tempted to make a blanket out of it. But I am not so cruel to do that, I will keep it as a pet for now. I am sure a certain someone we both know would appreciate that.
-Herohero