The Druid Steps Forward
Maybe because the footage had passed through the orc war screen once, the video quality was a bit poor. Even so, the footage was definitely preserved. A basement deep within the orc citadel. A white room of unknown identity at the end of that basement. The grotesque mass of flesh there. And even the elite orcs, excluding the Orc King, guarding it as if it were a higher being. The more we watched the videos one by one, the more Kanghyuk's already serious face hardened further.
Seola's smile faded from her lips. When we saw countless orcs pouring out from the mouth of that mass of flesh, Seola staggered—whether from losing her will to fight or from the shock.
"Ah, sorry. My head just suddenly hurts."
That explained why orcs kept coming endlessly no matter how many battles we won. Even if gates were opening, the numbers were incomprehensible—until we learned it was because of that creature.
"It probably wasn't there from the beginning," Kanghyuk said calmly, staring at the mass of flesh. If it had existed when the gates first appeared, orcs would have overrun everything and we'd be extinct by now.
"No wonder places where orcs show up only have orcs as monsters. Now I get why."
If there was someone opening unidentified gates, just sending that mass of flesh and orcs would be enough to conquer a region. No need for other monsters.
"Let's upload this info to the Ark."
"I was thinking the same."
A few survivors had encountered the Orc King, but no one seemed to have seen that mass of flesh. If S-rank awakener Hyunwoo Park—presumed to be one of Korea's strongest—hadn't gone solo raiding an empty house, we'd never have known.
"Alright, I'll upload the video to the Ark and come back."
"Here you go. No password."
I handed my phone to Seola, and she stepped out from under the turtle shell.
"...Park Hyunwoo, was it?"
"Yes, that's right."
Kanghyuk eyed Hyunwoo closely, his face full of pity.
"Poor kid, suffering at such a young age."
"In a world like this, what choice is there?"
"...Thanks for the support."
Hyunwoo accepted Kanghyuk's bowed head calmly, as if he'd seen this situation many times before.
"To the main point. We need to strike the orc citadel right now."
"Agreed. Giving them more time could lead to disaster."
The opinions aligned more easily than expected. Without thinking, something popped into my head and out of my mouth.
"Abandoning this place and running isn't an option, right?"
"...No."
Kanghyuk gave an awkward smile, still seeming a bit uncomfortable around me.
"Moving this many people would be tough, and there's no guarantee monsters won't be wherever we flee."
Well, truth be told, abandoning my house for somewhere else felt daunting too. No assurance it'd be safe.
"Above all, we can't abandon our Druid."
Kanghyuk looked at me. He must know why I'd chosen to stay here despite the hard decision.
Gazing beyond the turtle shell at the ruined city, his face hardened with resolve. He declared once more.
"All of Haven's awakeners will join this battle. Have you planned the strategy?"
I stomped my feet excitedly in response.
"We'll charge with this turtle!"
"...Then we'll get ready right away."
Kanghyuk rushed out. Haven was settled, now for the military base.
"Think they'll make it on time?"
"By the way, is that true?"
"Huh? What?"
"That you're an adult."
"...Yeah. Anyone can see that, right?"
"I'm 21. But you use formal speech—does that mean you're 20?"
Hyunwoo suddenly prying into irrelevant details. I hadn't exactly set the record straight on my changed body yet. Legal middle-schooler who looks young, maybe?
"I'm just a polite Druid who uses formal speech with everyone."
"...Understood."
Wait, what were we talking about? Oh!
"So, can they make it on time?"
"Even if Mae flies off with the message, arriving exactly on schedule will be tough. They need defenders there too, so maybe around 10 at most."
"Ah..."
Every hand mattered now; I'd hoped for more. But they had their own issues—no helping it. I'd settle for Hyunwoo alone and not get my hopes up.
"Nothing to prepare on your end?"
"No. Better under that mana-restoring tree."
True enough. After constant fighting without rest, their mana would be depleted.
Leaving Hyunwoo resting against the Tree of Life, I moved to use my refilled mana.
The small field inside the turtle shell—just piled dirt walled with bricks—was enough for emergency growth.
What I needed now: onions. More onions.
I planted, watered, and rapid-grew them nonstop. Hyunwoo's gaze watching me work with my companions felt a bit intrusive, but I kept going until my mana ran dry. And it wasn't just growing them.
Penguin kept ferrying onions to the Tree of Life.
"Keep moving them!!!"
Feed them to the tree as they spawned. A blue barrier formed around Hyunwoo.
"...Unlike potatoes, these don't seem efficient."
"If we weren't using the Tree of Life for area buffs, they'd be useless. And without the turtle as a mobile fortress, even more so."
Individually meh, but combined: mobile area shield + heal.
After stuffing onions for a while, Seola and Kanghyuk returned. But their faces were grim. Kanghyuk rubbed his forehead, wincing like he had a migraine. Seola dripped cold sweat.
What happened? Curious, but straight to business.
"What'd the Ark say?"
"...Sorry."
Huh? Why sorry here?
Seola handed back the phone gingerly and confessed.
"In the rush, I forgot to remove the audio from the video..."
"...Ah."
Figures. All the stuff I said toward Hyunwoo was still there.
"Eh, voice leaks don't matter."
"R-Really?!"
Seola's face lit up. She'd sunk realizing her mistake.
"So, what'd the Ark say?"
"Nearly got banned as gross, but they approved posting. Comments are rolling in—no one knew about this exactly."
"Guess we're claiming first clear."
"First clear...? Ah, right. We must crush it."
Seola switched to a serious demeanor. Kanghyuk looked at me.
"Prep's done. We can head out anytime."
Peering past them, I saw the awakeners outside the shell—over a hundred, a few more than before. Exhaustion etched their faces, but their spirits soared. No cowards left who'd flee in fear. Makes sense in this world—survivors aren't the timid type.
Now to lead them all against the boss.
"Let's go out. I'll explain the plan."
Haven's awakeners were regrouping behind the turtle.
The green mass of flesh from Kanghyuk's video. Spewing orcs. If we couldn't kill it now, abandon Haven and run—that shocking news.
The Orc King alone was tough enough. Now something stronger? And right now, unrested from all-night fighting. Bodies healed by the Druid's potatoes, but not at peak.
Some opposed, but they trusted Kanghyuk and followed.
"Should we just run...?"
"But where to after leaving here?"
"True, but..."
They knew relocating was hard. Still, too risky—morale dipped.
Then people emerged from the shell. Hyunwoo first—from the nearby military base, solo support? Helpful?
Seola and Kanghyuk followed, faces solemn unlike before. Time to crush orcs.
Then another from the shell.
"...Box?"
A girl in a paper box on her head, dirt-covered, casual clothes. Green hair peeking from under the box. She flinched at the crowd, clutching a cute bear plush at her waist—I couldn't help smirking.
"No way..."
Confirmed by the next: White Tiger and Penguin flanking her protectively. No hawk, but irrelevant.
She was the Druid who'd always helped Haven anonymously.
"Druid..."
"Fry Girl!!!!!"
Someone yelled it. Ark slang in public? Before Seola could comment, cheers for Fry Girl erupted.
Hearing the roar, she tossed french fries from her bosom in response. Morale skyrocketed instantly. Kanghyuk panicked, reining them in as they seemed ready to pierce the heavens.
"Everyone, stop. The Druid has a plan."
"Ahem, hi. First time seeing me in person. Situation's dire, so I had to come myself."
Hayun poked Penguin, who breathed frost on the shell, forming ice crystals into an image: giant turtle surrounded by people.
"Planted a Tree of Life inside the turtle shell—you all know it. I'll feed it potatoes, onions, carrots for area buffs."
"Hold this formation, charge the orc citadel, smash the enemy."
"We got this, right?!"
Simple plan. But with Hayun thrusting her fist high passionately, everyone mirrored it.
Uoooooh!!!!
Fierce roars, surging morale. Hayun retreated inside. People formed a circle around the turtle. Penguin went in, White Tiger to the rear. Hyunwoo climbed the shell. Kanghyuk and Seola led the front.
"Turtle's moving out!!!!!"
As the turtle lumbered forward, everyone advanced. Not far in...
"Orcs!!!"
Orcs charged head-on from the front.