Preparing to Welcome the Honey-Ring Queen

The investigation team had set out to find the Honey-Ring tribe, and their leader was none other than Delis. She scanned the surroundings with meticulous care before speaking. "We need to go this way." Having been part of the delegation during the days when the elves still maintained relations with the Honey-Ring tribe, she remembered exactly where their habitat was located. The goblins nodded at her instruction.

Just then, Rupel, who had been trailing behind, panted heavily. "H-huff... huff. Do we have to keep going? Are we almost there?"

"We're almost there." Given that the leaves nearby felt sticky, as if coated in honey, they really couldn't be far off.

"Then... let's go a little slower!" Delis responded to Rupel's plea without mercy. "No. We're truly almost there." She immediately stood up and resumed her pace.

"Ughhh..." Rupel groaned, forced to trudge along once more. Seeing his struggle, Genie sighed.

"B-but... everyone else is walking so fast!" Genie retorted bluntly.

"Even you, Genie, are riding on top of my backpack! That's too much!" It was true; Genie had been lying on Rupel's pack since earlier, claiming she was too lazy to fly.

As Genie spoke, Rupel scrambled to pick up his pace. "Huff... huff. By the way, Delis, what is the Honey-Ring Queen like?" At Rupel's question, Delis recalled the Queen.

"She is incredibly benevolent and kind. Honestly, looking at her appearance, she seems more like a pretty young girl than a queen..."

"Wow... hearing you say that makes me really curious."

"We'll meet her soon." Not long after their conversation ended, the group emerged from the forest. Before them lay a massive field of flowers.

"Whoa!" Rupel's eyes widened. "It's so beautiful!" It was a vast expanse of colorful flowers, so beautiful it was a feast for the eyes. Even Genie, moved by the sight, climbed down from the backpack to gently touch a flower.

However, Delis alone grew increasingly guarded. "...They're coming." Genie and the goblins also sharpened their expressions.

"Eh? Why? What's coming?" ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠As Rupel stood there with a blank expression, something zipped past him.

"Huh?! What was that!" The moment a startled Rupel looked to his side, he gasped. "...Hah!" Dozens of bees were glaring at them. They had finally arrived at the Honey-Ring tribe's habitat.

"Kkuro-ring!" "Kkuro-ong!" They were warning cries. It seemed they were being treated as intruders. Delis spoke up cautiously. "It's been a while, Honey-Ring tribe. I am Delis, an elf. I have come because... I have something to tell the Queen..."

But before Delis could finish, the Honey-Ring tribe thrust their stingers forward in a threatening manner. "Kkuro-rong!" "Kkuro-ong!" Something was wrong. They surely remembered her. No, weren't they friendly with the elves to begin with? Why were they acting like this?

Just then, one of the Honey-Ring tribe members flew straight at them with its stinger raised. 'Uh-oh?' Before the flustered Delis could even react, 'You'll get hurt!' The moment she instinctively squeezed her eyes shut—

Whoosh! A flower vine rapidly elongated and coiled around the creature.

"Delis! Are you okay?"

It was Rupel's magic.

"Oh... thank you."

If not for that spell, she would have been seriously injured. Sensing the ominous atmosphere, the goblins formed a ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠circle around Delis, readying their stances. "Kieee..." They were ready to pounce at a single command. Pina and Genie were also prepared to fight at any moment.

'What should I do?' Delis bit her lip. 'Is combat inevitable after all?' She pulled out the staff she kept in her robes. It was a staff crafted from a branch of the World Tree, made by Hylen himself. 'I have no choice.' She would have to retreat and try again later. 'I'll just use a concealment spell to keep us from getting hurt and get out of here.' Just as she gripped the staff to cast the spell—

"Kkuring?" "Kkuro-ong?" "Kkuri-ring?" The Honey-Ring tribe stopped in their tracks. They tilted their heads, then slowly flew closer.

"Delis!" Rupel tried to approach, but Delis stopped him. "It's okay."

The atmosphere was completely different from before. They must have sensed the energy of the World Tree within this staff. Even if they didn't recognize her, they recognized the World Tree's aura. She showed the staff to the Honey-Ring tribe and continued. "Yes. The World Tree has returned. We have come to see the Queen at the World Tree's request."

At her words, the Honey-Ring tribe hesitated before clearing a path. They then flew ahead, as if signaling them to follow. "D-did it work?" At Rupel's question, Delis nodded. "Yes. Thank goodness." But why had they been so sensitive earlier? There was clearly something going on. And it didn't take long for them to find out what that was.

"What... is this..." Upon arriving at the Honey-Ring tribe's home, Delis was horrified. Rupel was the same. Genie's eyes turned sharp, and the goblins gripped their weapons tight, on high alert. The reason was... the Honey-Ring tribe's massive hive was filled with Demonic Energy. The energy was so thick the hive's structure was barely visible. And from within, faint groans were leaking out.

"Kugh... Kughhh..." It was the Honey-Ring Queen. Delis's eyes trembled. 'This is a disaster.' Could it be... the Honey-Ring Queen is poisoned by Demonic Energy?

The investigation team had left to find the Honey-Ring tribe, and the village was peaceful. Rin hung from my branches and said, -It's nice without Genie around~ 'Is it?' At my words, Rin smiled brightly. -Because my friend has become entirely mine!

Having said that, Rin laid her body against the branch. She looked at the flower beside her and said, -And I can look at the flowers all by myself! Rin giggled and poked the flower. As she did, the petals fluttered, releasing a sweet fragrance. Rin rested her chin on her hand and savored the scent. -The fragrance is so good.

Seeing Rin like that, I asked, 'Do you like it that much?' I didn't really get it. It just smelled like a sweet scent to me. Rin's eyes sparkled as she exclaimed, -I love it! So much that I want to smell it every day! 'Oh... I see.' Well, it was natural for Rin to like it this much. The flower's ability was of that nature. Hylen, who had been observing the flower for the past few days, had explained it to me. The flower's ability was 'Blind Favor.' Any being that smelled this fragrance would feel unconditional favor toward me.

'Though I'm not sure if it works on those corrupted by Demonic Energy.' They had already lost their reason. 'Still, it's quite useful.' Thanks to this ability, nearby earthworms and magical beasts approached without caution, allowing for rapid absorption. Because of that, my level had gone up, too. I opened my status window.

My Spirit Power was now 51. I could make one more creature Intermediate-rank. I could use it right now, but... 'Let's save it just in case.' A moment where it was truly needed would surely come. I was thinking that when a spirit flew in from the forest. -Friend! Friend!! It was a red spirit. To be precise, a fire spirit. But the appearance was familiar. 'That guy is...!' Isn't that Pina, Delis's spirit? Why is she here? And Delis and the others? Could it be... are they hurt?

I watched in shock as Pina flew in front of me. -It's a disaster! 'What's wrong! What happened?' -Th... that! Delis sent me to deliver a message! 'What is it?' At my urgent question, Pina continued. -We met the Honey-Ring tribe, but... but? -The Queen has been completely consumed by Demonic Energy! '...What?' I stopped my leaves. The Honey-Ring Queen consumed by Demonic Energy? Does that mean she has lost her reason? Then that meant Delis and the team were currently in front of her. 'How serious is it?'

-According to Delis... it doesn't seem like she has completely lost her sanity yet. Pina hesitated, then continued. ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠-But she said there isn't much time. She's on the verge of losing her reason entirely. 'Is that so?' I put strength into my roots. 'That's actually a relief.' If it's Demonic Energy, I have a way. Pina's eyes widened. 'I can just suck the Demonic Energy out.'

Rin, who must have heard from the side, sat up and said, -But you can't reach her from here, right..? 'That's true.' I thought for a moment. To treat the Honey-Ring Queen, I had no choice but to have them bring her here. But could they safely lure the Honey-Ring Queen? 'It could be dangerous.' In that case, I had no choice but to use that skill. Specifically, Fallen Queen's Pheromones. The skill that seduces surrounding living beings.

I used Fallen Queen's Pheromones on a very thin branch. After condensing it as much as possible, I used another branch to snap it off. Thud. The branch fell to the ground. I picked it up with my roots and handed it to Pina. 'Deliver this to Delis.' -This? 'Yes. And with this branch, you should be able to lure the Honey-Ring Queen here.' At my words, Pina nodded resolutely and lifted the branch. -I'm going right away!

As Pina flew off, I hurriedly called for Khan and Hylen. 'Then, I should start preparing, too.' Preparing to welcome the Honey-Ring Queen, that is.