"Foolish fox. How much can you do?"
"Based on the true form of the main body, when within the forest, there are many aspects where the power is close to omnipotence," the foolish fox replied.
The "owner of the forest" refers to the guardian chosen by the forest once it reaches a certain size.
These guardians, who handle many things on behalf of the mindless forest, can do most things necessary to manage the forest.
For example, changing the structure of the forest, maintaining the balance between different forms of life, and even calling forth new life—if the forest’s guardian uses their power to the fullest, they can shape the forest as they wish.
Adrig, who had been nodding in understanding, lowered her voice slightly and continued.
"...Stealing that power won’t be easy, though."
The forest owner’s power belongs to the spirits. Even a powerful necromancer would find it difficult to steal the power of an entity from a different tier of existence.
However, if an Evil God were to intervene, it would be a different story. The forest owner’s rank would crumble before the transcendent power of the Evil God.
As I listened to Adrig’s explanation, the foolish fox, who had been sitting on my shoulder, jumped down and took human form.
The fox, now transformed into an alluring woman, caught Vishy off guard, causing her to widen her eyes, but the fox didn’t pay attention to her at all, instead focusing entirely on Adrig.
"Do you think this theory is possible?"
The dark magic theory that Adrig was explaining was something I couldn’t even begin to understand, as I didn’t know much about magic.
But the serious expression on the foolish fox’s face made me step back quietly.
<I don’t fully understand the theory of dark magic, but I think it’s possible. I’ve seen a forest consumed by the power of an Evil God before.>
I could almost understand what my grandfather was saying.
The fairy forest that had been overtaken by the dark Evil God, now a hermit under the ground, filled with the Evil God’s power.
I recalled the scene from the game story, and without realizing it, I furrowed my brow.
What I had seen through the monitor was not something I could brush off.
And now, it seemed like something similar was about to happen in this forest.
As I quietly observed the still forest, I remembered who its owner was.
She was someone with the power of a bear.
She had a build similar to Rasha’s, which I had seen months ago, but her heart was gentle.
She had only recently become the forest’s owner and had been complaining about not knowing how to manage it. She was so adorable at the time.
Still, she was the forest’s owner, so seeing her fight wasn’t cute at all.
Lost in my own memories, I could feel my hand clenching into a fist.
If I had come a little sooner, could I have saved the bear? Could I have stopped her death caused by the group that overtook the forest?
No.
No.
Wait a minute.
"Foolish fox! If the incompetent guardian of this eerie forest disappears, does that mean their pathetic power will disappear too?!"
"...Hmm? Yeah, it’ll probably disappear. But why do you ask?"
"So you’re saying that the incompetent fool who lost to society’s misfits is still alive?"
Still alive.
The shy, helpless bear I could have had some fun with is still there in that place.
With a grin pulling at my lips, I passed by Adrig and the foolish fox, nudging the unconscious Kal with my foot to wake him up.
"...Huh? Why did I faint? Ah! Miss! There’s a ghost here!"
"Clumsy dog ♡ I think that puppies who whine because they’re scared of ghosts are useless ♡ What do you think? ♡"
"T-That’s..."
"If you want to be abandoned, go ahead and faint again! I’ll gladly kick your butt ♡"
Kal, sweating coldly, quickly got up and took a knight’s stance.
"No! That won’t happen again!"
Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.
"Really? ♡"
"Yes! This Kal will overcome any fear to protect the miss!"
When I saw Kal’s serious face, I gave a signal to the others, telling them to follow me as I started moving quickly.
We were heading to meet the perverted apostle and the wolf waiting at the agreed location.
"It’s been a while, but you’re still as beautiful as ever, Lady Alrn. Even this eerie forest seems to warm up under your light."
The perverted apostle, already waiting at the meeting spot, greeted me with a bright smile and, as usual, started spouting nonsense.
Having gotten used to his disgusting behavior, I tried to listen to his words with one ear and ignore them with the other. But then, he pulled out a piece of paper from his sleeve and unfolded it.
It was a drawing of me. The picture showed me smiling brightly while looking at someone beyond the drawing.
The subtle distortion in the drawing, in line with the perverted apostle’s taste, made my expression immediately sour.
The disdain that surged from my heart was evident, yet the perverted apostle calmly continued speaking.
"This will be the next design for the jewelry. I’d like the young lady to evaluate it..."
Before he could finish his sentence, I grabbed the drawing and tore it up, throwing the shredded pieces to the ground and stomping on them.
"My life’s masterpiece!"
The perverted apostle, staring at me with vacant eyes, collapsed and let out a scream, but I didn’t regret my actions.
I had seen the little speech bubble drawn next to my face.
Why did he write "Apostle" there?
No, even if that’s the case, if he’s going to fantasize, he should just keep it to himself! Why show it to me?!
This is clearly an invitation to be beaten up! Perverted bastard!
"Lucy! What are you doing to such a precious thing?! Move your foot! I’ll restore my paper!"
"...Foolish fox. Could you please shut up?"
"Or you could step on me with that foot! Then I’ll accept my fate quietly!"
"I too! If you step on me, I’ll gladly accept my fate!"
"...What is going on here?"
At this point, I thought it might not be a crime to bash their heads in with my mace, and as I bit my lip, I heard a bewildered voice from the side.
The wolf with the sharpest fangs. Murro, looking at the foolish fox and the perverted apostle, showed sincere confusion.
"Perverted Apostle of the Art Guild. Rina. What exactly are you two doing?"
"I’m just following my instincts!"
"I’m dedicating myself to beautiful art!"
Even in the face of normal people’s confusion, the two perverts remained faithful to their desires.
Watching Murro take an involuntary step back under the pressure of their force, I realized that if things continued like this, we wouldn’t make any progress in the story.
With a sigh, I sat down on the foolish fox’s back.
At my actions, the foolish fox let out a jubilant sound and kept quiet, while the perverted apostle alternately looked at me and the foolish fox with envy.
"Disgusting trash ♡ The only thing you’re good at is your dexterity, yet you can only draw me like this ♡ Don’t you feel ashamed? ♡"
"...Was there something wrong?"
"Wrong? ♡ Hahaha ♡ Are you seriously asking me that? ♡ Isn’t it obvious that the distorted version of me in your imagination is disgusting? ♡"
"Indeed..."
"Since I can’t trust you to leave it to your disgusting imagination, I’ll have to see it with my own eyes ♡"
"You mean you’ll model for me, Lady?"
"Well... what does that mean? ♡"
"I’ll give it my best! I’ll do my best to please the lady!"
"Ugh ♡ You’re so desperate ♡ Well, let’s see how well you do ♡ If I like it, I’ll kick you ♡"
Having easily subdued the two of them, I turned my gaze toward Murro, who had been watching all of this.
"Hello, stupid dog."
"...Oh. Uh, hello, Lady Alrn."
"You know me? Your ears must not just be for decoration."
"Haha. Uh, yes. Truly as the rumors said, Lady."
For some reason, Murro’s gaze, fixed on me, seemed very complicated.
He had been put in an awkward position by the two perverts, and I had subdued them, so why was he looking at me like that? I didn’t understand.
<You really don’t understand?>
‘...Stop denying reality. Don’t talk nonsense.’
I couldn’t help but realize it!
You’re just pretending to deny it! Damn old man!
...Ahem.
Anyway.
After managing the situation, I explained the current state of affairs to Murro and the perverted apostle.
The forest, slowly being corrupted and turning into a dungeon. The forest owner, who would be stripped of their power inside.
The dark mages and followers of the Evil God lurking in the forest, carrying out their sinister plans.
And my goal: to defeat all the enemies and save the forest’s owner.
"It won’t be that hard. If those idiots who couldn’t even properly subdue the clumsy bear are struggling, how strong could they really be?"
The people who had been with me all this time didn’t question my words. They knew I had made the impossible possible countless times before, and they were ready to follow my lead.
However, Murro was different. As I continued, his expression grew serious, and he crossed his arms before speaking in a heavy tone.
"I understand that what the lady wants is admirable. But realistically, is it even possible?"
"What? You little mutt, you don’t have any sense of comradeship, do you?"
"...I do want to save my companions. But there are things in this world that cannot be achieved with passion alone."
"Ugh."
I couldn’t help but exhale in amazement at his perfectly rational thought and words. I laughed lightly as I saw Murro frowning.
"Stupid dog. When your abilities are lacking, how about quietly following others’ words?"
"What are you trying to say?"
"When you’re a weak dog, I’ll show you that what seems impossible, I can make possible."
I, the rotten water of Soul Academy, had made the impossible possible countless times.
Even through the monitor, and now in this world, reality.
Today would be no different.
In this forest turning into a dungeon, there was no way I could fail.