Chapter 238
Chapter 238
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 238
Chapter Title: Those Who Left, Those Who Returned (13)
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After dinner, we began preparing for camp.
The group settled around the campfire. Lewis and Raven each pitched their tents, and since the tents were quite spacious, Elle decided to stay in Raven's. Lloyd would sleep in his sleeping bag, and as for Callisto...
"I'm fine."
Thanks to the Sand Olapunt magic stone item, I had planned to take watch, of course. In truth, Sequoya Forest was no longer dangerous, so it hardly even counted as standing watch. But Callisto insisted very firmly that he would do it.
"No, really, it's okay if I do it?"
"I'm really fine."
Since the guy wouldn't budge, I had no choice but to back down.
'...He could take it easy.'
Callisto was way too gung-ho. Like a corporate intern on the verge of going full-time. Well, it wasn't a loss for me, but somehow it nagged at me...
With no other choice, I returned to the carriage, fixed up the inner seat into a bed, covered myself with a blanket, and lay down. Thanks to the hearty meal, slipping into the cozy blanket made my body relax deliciously.
"Yawn."
I yawned, and Legion, lying next to my pillow, yawned right after me. Yaaawn.
But while I felt languid, I wasn't sleepy. Thanks to the Sand Olapunt necklace. Still, just lying there wasting time felt like a shame...
"..."
I rummaged in my pocket and pulled out an old book. I hadn't had a proper chance to look at it while going back and forth to Corrin Castle, so now that I had time, I should examine it slowly.
The last time I checked the book, my level was 48. Master Druid. At this point, no other druid would call me a 'rookie.' The atmosphere shifted to one of 'acknowledgment' the moment I could use [Forest Giant].
But the real deal starts at level 50.
The moment you break level 50, the effects of lower skills like [Affinity], [Shaman Arrow], [Plant Bind], [Nature's Healing], [Forest's Breath], and so on double. For [Affinity], it activates constantly without needing to lure with food or make contact. For [Nature's Healing], I could use it on myself as naturally as breathing, every moment. [Forest's Breath] also sees its range, intensity, and speed become incomparably faster.
It means you've grown that much closer to nature.
At level 50, you gain these bonus effects, but no new skill.
But you don't need to feel bad about it. Because at level 52, you get an incredibly powerful skill.
-Flip.
After meticulously checking the bonus effects available at level 50, I turned the page. There it was—the page for that 'incredible skill' I'd been looking forward to.
[Forest Wake].
Fortunately, I'd already broken through to level 52. I'd finally obtained an 'advanced' skill. From now on, the skills I acquire would be on a whole different level from what I'd gotten before. Powerful, mysterious, and...
Frightening ones.
No one knows how many or where druids capable of using advanced skills exist. At that point, most cut all ties with the mundane world and devote themselves entirely to training for unity with nature. Druids are already hard to encounter as it is, and finding one who's reached advanced level is like plucking stars from the sky.
The only such druid I'd ever seen was...
That old hag.
I didn't realize it at the time, but looking back now... Maybe she was a supreme druid who'd reached the 'transcendent' realm. Not just a wild guess—there are rational reasons I think that way. And perhaps, the reason I'm even alive in this place...
"..."
Enough. No more thinking about that. Too far.
Focus on [Forest Wake] for now.
As the name implies, [Forest Wake] was a skill that could awaken the beings of the forest.
What does this 'awakening' mean?
It means awakening the target I desire so they can act with their own will.
Let me give a simple example.
All animals and plants have souls. They vary in size and quality, but they definitely exist.
However, animals can't speak, and plants can't move. Even if they have will, they can't communicate it or act on it. Normally, that is.
But what if I use [Forest Wake]?
I took out a Dwarf Dandelion seed smaller than a millet grain, placed it on my palm, dripped a bit of water on it, and used [Forest's Breath] to sprout it. The Dwarf Dandelion that grew in an instant toppled over onto my palm, having no place to root.
"Child of the forest, rise. Linshaka has permitted it..."
I took out a magic stone smaller than my fingernail, placed it on the Dwarf Dandelion, and tapped both with my index finger, where pale green mana had gathered. The mana at my fingertip softly enveloped the Dwarf Dandelion, slowly melting into and absorbing the magic stone. And then...
-Thirsty! Thirsty!
Soon, a voice like a blade of grass piping up came from my palm.
"Hello?"
-Thirsty!
"Yeah, just a sec."
I dripped plenty of water droplets onto the Dwarf Dandelion crying 'thirsty!' nonstop. Once its roots were moistened, it stood up and looked up at me. Then it looked down at itself, up at me again. After repeating that two or three times, it dazedly looked around.
-Where is this...
"It's called Sequoya Forest."
-Never heard of it...
"Makes sense. You're from a small forest in Ravata. But don't worry, there are plenty of Dwarf Dandelions here too."
-Plenty?
It fluttered its leaves like arms, then soon used its roots as legs to climb up my body. (Legion tried to bite and eat it midway, but I stopped him.) Reaching the top of my head, it looked around and said,
-But this isn't a forest.
Pretty accurate judgment. Strictly speaking, we were inside the carriage. I grabbed the delicate Dwarf Dandelion and opened the carriage door.
"There. Head that way."
-Thanks.
"No problem."
The Dwarf Dandelion bowed its roots politely like a gentleman, then hopped toward the forest. I watched the little star-like yellow Dwarf Dandelion trot into the woods until it vanished, then closed the carriage door.
That's exactly the effect of [Forest Wake].
A skill that literally awakens plants and animals. A skill that grants 'free will' so they can communicate and act on their own volition. I used it just now on a newly born Dwarf Dandelion for very basic communication, but using it on a centuries-old Sequoya tree would yield completely different results. It might be like conversing with a sage.
'Empathizing' with plants and animals is entirely different from directly 'communicating' with them. Beyond mere sensation, you could gain advice from wise beings. Since this skill greatly aids in understanding nature, it was essential for druid training.
But it's not all upsides. By default, beings awakened by [Forest Wake] are extremely friendly to the caster...
Since it's a skill that grants 'free will' and the ability to 'act,' if the target judges me as 'wrong' or my actions as 'wrong,' the awakened being could turn hostile or attack me.
Beyond that, there are practical limitations. You need a magic stone suited to the target of [Forest Wake]. Just now, for a small, frail being like the Dwarf Dandelion, a tiny lowest-grade magic stone sufficed. But to use it on an ancient tree that's lived hundreds of years beyond humans, I'd need multiple high-purity top-grade magic stones. In short, it's a massively expensive skill. Can't use it on a whim...
But if used well, it's undoubtedly tremendous.
It's like the ultimate skill combining the strengths of [Forest Voice] to converse with plants, [Song of the Forest] to grow them freely, [Green Summon] to command them, and [Forest Giant] to make them uproot and move.
I'll think it over carefully, and soon, when I find a good tree, use [Forest Wake] to take it along. Really, really think it over.
'Preferably one that grows well anywhere and endures tough conditions...'
Tough against cold and heat! Something like that.
For that, I should hold onto advanced magic stones and not sell them for a while.
-Flip.
Turning to the next page, I saw [Forest Wisdom]. The next skill at level 54. Since I haven't acquired it yet, there's no skill description. I closed the book and rolled over. Legion, who had been dozing off beside me, climbed onto the pillow, pressed his face to my cheek, and started sleeping in earnest.
-Snurr...
-Snurr... Snurr...
Stretching out his soft paws, then clenching them, repeating as he slept—it was just like a cat. Cute little guy.
'Come to think of it, Legion's next molt is getting close.'
I should collect the shell safely this time and send it to Khalid. And while I'm at it, ask about the crows too. He might not know much, buried in his research as he is...
'Fabio. That guy was definitely a black mage. Khalid might know something.'
After covering the soundly sleeping Legion with a small handkerchief, I turned off the lantern hanging from the carriage ceiling and closed my eyes.
'...As soon as the temple construction finishes, I'll contact Khalid.'