"Ah, hello."
"Greetings. My lady of the Arlen family."
As I left the mansion and descended, the two rulers of the forest were waiting, taking human form.
A bear with a body that could rival Benedict or Rasha, and a giant tree with the form of an elderly man.
Despite the powerful aura emanating from them, they maintained a respectful deanor.
"Your skills may be lacking, but at least you know manners. I was worried you’d have a poor character too."
I responded as usual, but there was no real change in their expressions.
It was probably because I had done them a great favor. Smiling in satisfaction, I noticed the bear's eyes sparkle.
"Wow. You’re really small and cute."
Her tone was filled with clear admiration.
Perhaps because of her large size, the bear, who liked small and cute things, seed to view as an object of envy, like a doll.
I glanced at her fidgeting fingers, feeling a bit uneasy, when the tree giant beside her struck the bear's thigh with his staff.
"Kun. What insolence to speak like that to our benefactor. Please, behave with so decorum."
"Ah... I'm sorry, Mirbal."
"You should be apologizing to her, not ."
"My apologies, my lady."
"Enough. Don’t mind it. What can I do if a clumsy bear like you can’t even imagine how cute I am?"
Maybe it was because I’d been trained by the foolish fox and the perverted apostle, but the shy bear’s behavior was just cute to .
At least, if I teased her, her face would turn red.
Foolish foxes or perverted apostles would imdiately start gasping for air instead.
"You’re really rciful, my lady."
Seeing my playful behavior, the giant tree bowed its head again, showing respect.
So, this wonderful elderly man has lived his whole life as a virgin, huh?
He’s never held a woman’s hand, and has always been alone.
Thinking about the image of an old man living miserably alone in a small room, I couldn’t help but smile.
"...Why are you laughing?"
"Huh? Oh, don’t mind it. I was just thinking about how pitiful the virgin tree must look."
“Virgin…”
The elderly man's face imdiately stiffened. It seed like this was sothing he had been sensitive about.
Feeling a bit pleased by the reaction, I was about to continue when Myrra quickly stepped forward and intervened between us.
"Now, let’s get to the point. My lady is a busy person, after all."
"Get to the point? What do you have to say, mutt?"
"Yes, my lady. You are our benefactor, after all. We must repay you."
"Repay? You guys?"
"We intend to offer you blessings that you can only receive after passing the trial."
...Really?!
I hadn’t been expecting this, so my eyes widened as I turned my gaze toward the bear and the tree. They both nodded their heads.
"I don’t think this will be a proper repaynt, but it’s all I can offer at the mont."
"...Sa here."
Looking at the tree, whose expression was visibly hardened, I had a feeling that he would burst if I poked him a little more.
Honestly, I kind of wanted to see the tree explode and others stop him, but...
I’ll hold back. I’ll hold back and finish this quickly. I don’t want to waste the favor I’ve earned.
"If you’re going to give it, then hurry up. I’m wasting ti with you guys."
"Just a mont."
The bear, who stepped forward, knelt on the ground to match my gaze.
Wow. Why is her gaze higher than mine, even though she’s kneeling?
It’s really unfair. If it weren’t for that useless god, none of this would be happening!
"I... What did I do wrong?"
Seeing my brow furrow, the bear beca flustered and mumbled.
From the outside, she looked like she could crush my waist with a single hand, but in reality, she couldn’t even reach out her hand without hesitation, which reminded of Joy.
Joy also looked like a ruthless villain from the outside, but she’s actually a softie inside.
Just monts ago, she stamred and ran away.
I was a little disappointed.
I thought her face would explode if I teased her more.
"U-uh..."
Hearing the bear’s voice, I snapped out of it, and seeing her face getting more and more distressed, I couldn’t help but laugh and grabbed her hand.
"...Huh?! Uh. Uh, uh."
"What are you doing? You’re not going to give it?"
"I-I’ll give it! W-wait a mont."
The bear nervously stared at my hand like it was a chick, muttering to herself about controlling her strength.
Considering the durability of my body, even if the bear went all out, it wouldn’t cause any major harm.
She may look fragile, but inside she has enough power to destroy anything.
"My blessing is the bear’s great strength."
The blessing of the bear's great strength was simple but powerful.
It temporarily boosts your strength to its limit.
However, after delivering one powerful strike, you suffer a significant debuff, reducing your attack power for a long ti. But for , this is an incredibly useful skill. After all, I’m soone who always goes all-in on one attack.
"This may not suit soone as delicate and cute as you, but please use it well."
"Hey, dumbass."
"Yes?"
"To , you’re cute too. With your beastly appearance, seeing you act like a scared little mouse is so pathetic that I can’t help but laugh."
Instead of spouting nonsense, I told her to keep crying as usual, and then I walked past the bear to approach the tree.
The shock from the earlier "virgin tree" comnt hadn’t worn off, and the tree’s expression was clearly not good.
But he was an adult who knew how to separate his emotions from personal matters.
"The blessing I offer is the voice of the trees. If you listen closely to them, you’ll naturally hear what they say."
No. Hey. Giving this useless thing isn’t right.
What good is hearing the trees' voices?
The trees barely have any intelligence, so you can’t gather useful information from them!
You’ve been hiding this! You got upset when I called you the "virgin tree" earlier!
Fine! If you respond like that, I’ll give it right back to you!
Let make you feel what it’s like to have a virgin’s power.
"I’m sorry I can’t offer anything more. Unlike Kun, the forest hasn’t fully regained its forr state yet."
...Oh.
Well, then there’s nothing I can do about it.
Swallowing the words that had been rising in , I shrugged and smiled before turning my head away.
I wanted to say sothing polite like "thank you" or "this is enough," but the mont I said that, it would just be translated into sothing disgusting, so I kept quiet.
"Well then, I’ll take my leave. I have much to do in my forest."
It seed like the tree didn’t expect an answer as he politely bowed again and left.
Following him, Myrra also expressed his intention to leave.
He ntioned that there were many things he had delayed because of the situation here.
"If you need my help, please contact through Rina. I’ll co right away."
With the bear showing signs of leaving as well, I subtly turned my head, but the bear, still kneeling, just tilted her head.
Does she not even think about managing her own forest?
Even though I’ve restored the forest, it’s not like it should be this bad?
While I was contemplating, the foolish fox, who had been quietly standing, suddenly approached and blocked my way.
Why is he suddenly acting like this? I’d rather understand if he was sticking to , but what is he—
"Ruel!"
I turned my head at the call, and there stood Freya, looking like she had just co from a battle. Her face was a ss, just like Arthur’s. The two of them looked like they’d been through more than just a sparring match.
"Ruel!"
"Get away! Stupid knight!"
I pushed Freya’s forehead as she tried to run toward , and Arthur just shrugged beside .
"From the looks of it, you seem fine."
"Prince, you seem more pitiful than usual. At this point, you could beg beneath . Or should I give you so money now?"
"Why are you worrying so much?"
I laughed at Arthur’s frustration and turned my gaze to Kal, who was following behind.
Kal imdiately grinned as our eyes t, then bowed deeply.
"I’m glad to see you’re healthy."
"Useless dog. You good?"
"Of course. Compared to the hardships you went through, what I’ve been through is nothing."
"Right. That’s right."
I wanted to test out the blessing I’d just received, so I imdiately grabbed Kal and set him in front of .
"Useless dog. I’ll give it my all, so be ready."
"My lady’s attack, I’ll gladly receive anything."
Looking at Kal, who was grinning, I also smiled back. Then, I gripped my mace tightly in one hand.
What I’m about to do is nothing different from usual. I’ll channel divinity into the mace and strike with all my strength.
But the difference this ti is that the bear’s great strength is added to it.
The mont I focused on using the blessing, I felt strength surge through my entire body.
It was the feeling of becoming an enraged berserker, ready to destroy everything in my path.
The exhilaration was different from the excitent of the sugaki skill, and I smiled wider, while Kal, standing across from , looked perplexed and spoke nervously.
"Ah. My lady?! That attack—"
"What are you doing? You better catch it, useless dog."
"Ugh. I will give my all!"
An aura, now colored, enveloped Kal’s sword.
The tip of my mace shone like the sun.
We both—
We both ran toward each other, using our light to prove which one was superior.
Boom!
The deafening explosion from our collision left no trace of either light.
Both of our lights clashed and vanished.
Finally, as I reached a level where I could stand toe to toe with Kal, I noticed his dumbfounded expression and tilted my head.
What’s up with that face? Is sothing wrong with ?
Wow.
His arm is dangling.
Not even a jointed doll would look like that.
"Yiaaaah?!"
Pain surged through the broken arm just a mont later.
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