'What.....did I say?'

I felt her whole body trembled. I guess she was quite surprised but I understand why. Even I; who was the one who said that, was quite shock myself.

But the warmth I feel right now......how could I describe it.

Actually, this was the first time I felt something like this, so I really don't know what should I do. Not even once in my whole entire boring life, I rely on someone, much less find comfort.

This dark and sad feeling, for a long time I kept hidden in my heart.

You can say I only seek fight back in the real world because I want to forget this loneliness in my heart even just a second. I might be blessed with a family back in the orphanage but....how can I say this, it feels like something is lacking...

In my entire life, this is the first time someone consoled me because of all the misfortune I experienced. Even mother superior, Marie or any of my friends and acquaintances haven't consoled me like this...

Sigh~ just how lonely am I really?

I couldn't stop the warmth feeling surging inside of me. Really.....just now I realized how truly pathetic am I.

Is it because a very beautiful woman was consoling me in a very sweet and amazing way? Or maybe because a wonderful, huge melons was being pressed in my face?

Well, either way I am feeling very happy right now!

"Fufufu, you can treat this as your reward for coming this far~ Be honored, not even one man has yet to laid their eyes, much less touch this body of mine..."

She said while slowly separating herself from me.

Nooo~ I still want to be hugged~ hehe just kidding...

EH? wait not even one man?

"T-that can't be..."

Seeing the shocked in my face, Flora for some reason misunderstand something as

she said while frowning

"What? Is it not enough?"

"What!? That can't be! More like it's too much!"

"Fufufu ... really?"

"Yes! ... T-thank you very much!"

"Good! Well, consider yourself fortunate enough although I still can't believe everything you said ..."

"Hahaha, well, I can't blame you. I don't have anything that can prove myself....I can't force you to believe me..."

"Don't worry, I can sense if you were telling the truth or not, I am the Queen of Driad after all"

Flora muttered.

"But for it to react towards you.....I just can't believe it! Did you really enter through that place?"

"Place? you mean the [ The Tree of death and rebirth ]"

"Yes. Human, are you by any chance a descendant of the phoenix?"

"Ha? Of course not! I'm a very normal human, you know!"

Well, not like I can say that I was from the real world and this is just a game world not a real world. Phoenix are nothing but a pigment of human's imagination.

Not knowing what I'm thinking, Flora continued talking.

"I guess that's normal, as far as I know, Peisha didn't look for a partner much less gave her blood to some human..."

Looking very troubled, she stared at me while making perplexed expression.

"Peisha?"

"Yes, my dearest friend [ Peisha the Heavenly Flame Phoenix ]"

"[ Heavenly Phoenix ] what a cool name"

"Human, Do you understand your situation?"

Staring directly at my eyes, I was bewildered by her sudden question.

"[ The Tree of Death and Rebirth ] that you're talking about isn't an entrance but the seal put by the gods and heroes when my friend died so that she wouldn't be able to revived. You shouldn't be able to pass through it. The real entrance to this place, from what I know is at the [ Hell's Scourge ] where powerful and vile demons reside!"

What!? wait, wait just a damn minute okay! I really don't understand this at all.

It isn't an entrance but the seal so I shouldn't be able to enter through that place....

Then....then.....

As if all the gears inside my head started moving, all the things she said finally takes its place.

"EHHHHHHHHHH!!!!????"

"Noisy! And so slow!"

"No, no, no what do you mean I shouldn't be able to enter? I didn't lie you know, I really entered this dungeon through that place!"

Wait, now that I think about it. This situation is really weird. The H-glyphics that shouldn't be there was there and this is the first time that I heard about a dungeon which has an entrance of a tree protected by a barrier.

"Sigh~ that's what I'm talking about. If what you said is all true then forget about

accidentally coming here, you are really called in here by Peisha. Her physical body was gone and her consciousness was sealed so that she can't revived ......so that shouldn't been possible. But there is no other explanation I can't think"

"Oh by the way, Milady why are you here, protecting this place as a guardian and preventing other people to unseal the [ Heavenly Flame Phoenix ] didn't you say she is your dearest friend? You..."

"....I should let them...is what you want to say, right"

I tried to say something, but when I saw her eyes took on a little sadness I couldn't help but only nodded.

"...Actually, I also wanted to free her but because of some reason I can't tell you, I can't do that. And as for your question, I don't want to gave my friend's power just to some human I never acknowledge!

You humans have always been greedy with power! Stealing those that are not yours!

Destroying and killing those that you deemed dangerous! Just like those heroes allying themselves with those disgusting gods!"

She said while gritting her teeth. Her face was purple with rage .

'God, it seems you're quite hated~'

The expression on her face was beyond hatred. It was pain, sadness, grief and any other complicated stuff I don't want to know.

Well, what can I say...I'm sorry? I wanted to tell her that but then I realized that it was ridiculous. I can only keep my silence as I hang my head in shame.

I can't really refute what she said. Actually, I too don't like humanity. Well, it might be ironic if I said that because I'm a human myself but as you know, human history is ugly. It's full of battles and betrayals caused by the darkness within our human

heart. Limitless desires drives humans to do horrible things. We desire power to

stand above others. Stealing, killing and betraying other people's trust, these things doesn't really matter to us as long as we accomplished our goals.

Knowing this, I couldn't defend myself for being a human. I can only accept what she said.

"So do you still want to proceed towards these path? Do you also admire those humans you call heroes?"

Flora grumbled. She sounded bitter, which made me think that she was really angry.

I probably should've kept quiet but I answered

"I-I need to. Not because I want to become a hero nor I wanted power. There was once a girl I made a promise to--that no matter what happens I will move forward. I won't stop, even if I don't know how disgusting my future will end up to but this will never change. Curse me, hate me and be disgusted with me all you want, but I won't yield as long as I breath I'll die fighting."

I said with conviction. It's not that I honor my promised and always do everything to fulfill it. Quite the contrary, I always forgot such promises. I'm a liar so to speak but

I'm the type that always tell a lie which is in fact the truth. You can't understand right? well, Let's leave it at that.

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Flora looked at me with wide eyes. She must be surprised by my unexpected answer. She was silent for a long time and then let once again let out a dejected sigh as if saying 'she gave up'

"So you really want my friend's power..."

"No--I mean, yes although you might don't want to believe me but let me just tell you this. I want power not because I want to become a hero or something. I also

don't want it because I want to become stronger and more powerful. A hero's fate is

never happy, It is never anything but tragic. I know that. I admire them but didn't really wish to become like them.

I want power because there is something I want to do and protect. As long as I have them I will use my life just to ensure their safety."

I looked at her with her arms crossed and a look on her face that made me think '

Oh no~' but contrary to what I'm thinking a faint smile played on her lips. She didn't look like angry now.

"Spare me with all those excuses..."

Flora stepped close to me. I could feel her aura which is unlike from before, was now blazing around her making my skin itch and my heart trembled.

"I know what you want to say and I am thinking that maybe if it is you then I don't have any problem. In the first place it seems Peisha called you here but still........"

She paused for a second and then shook her head.

"........I'm sorry but as the guardian of this place, I just can't let you pass through that easily. I still need to test you"

As soon as I heard those words, a chill run down my spine. My heart beats as if it wants to explode. All my muscles tensed and I could not move. I may not be able to feel fear but it seems my body was different as flora's eyes pin me down with her eyes.

'This is the real deal!' I thought.

With just her eyes, I was reduced to this state. Then what would happen if we were to fight now? Would I last a minute or maybe a second, I wonder?

Fuuu~

Taking a deep breath, the ominous feeling swirling inside of me miraculously subsided.

'This time, I think I would really need a miracle to survive! Oh well, whether I survive or die, It'll only depend on my luck'

Gulp!

Thinking these things, I swallowed my saliva as I can only do nothing but smile wryly upon my inevitable demise.

Noticing my expression which she seemed to mistook for confidence and arrogance, she frowned.

"What, do you think you can survive after this? Or maybe you have some kind of a plan?"

I shook my head.

"If I have something very convenient like that then I would even buy you some

strawberry sundae as my treat. But sadly, no matter what I think or do, nothing would change. The difference in power between you and me is like heaven and

earth!"

"Strawberry swande?....That's right, from what I observe, your current strength is far beneath me! Now that you understand it, why are you still stubbornly...."

"I know that I will die but I still can't give up! Call me a fool or an idiot but I can't

call myself a real man if I cower just because I'm facing an impossible opponent.

Besides, If I had the guts to surrender to you and live out of pity, It will make that old gramps back in earth laugh till he die, he will surely make fun of me by loudly declaring 'My prided self-proclaimed genius disciple has actually embarrassed himself by living only out of pity by his enemy'..............even in hell.

HAHAHAHA well, you know that you're also a very beautiful woman so let me act cool even in my last second~ who knows I might survive HAHAHAHAHA"

I said jokingly while shrugging my shoulders.

Seeing me like this while still laughing loudly, Flora was stunned. It seems my words and behavior is too surprising for her because she was totally at loss for words.

Flora put her hand on her forehead while letting out a dejected sigh as she continued to look at me as if she find me very tiring to deal with. Normal

humans...no maybe all creatures in this world might fear death but because of my

special unique skill, I couldn't do that. Well, even if I'm able to feel fear, I don't think anything will change...probably~

"I see......Well, you do know that you still has the option of serving me, why not do it?"

"Hm?...truthfully I would love to...."

"Then..."

"But for how long? I might survive by doing that but if I do that, I won't be myself anymore. I would become a coward for all my life. This is not just all about life or death but my pride! My pride as a man and as a warrior! If this moment I lost it, then, What's the point of living? And besides, If I just come into your side, then it would seem like I'm just taking advantage of your kindness just to survive and live, where is my pride of being a man like that! I'd better be dead than live a life like that!"

"You're.....sigh~ you're really stubborn, I don't mean it like that."

"Of course I know that, just what do you think of me? A man must be honest and filled with pride in the world! You can kill him but you can't never humiliate him!"

Feeling my determination, Flora for some reason started patting my head, as if moving from being stunned to being very impressed.

"Stubbornness, courage, as well as stupidity are very different things. Sigh~ I just don't know what to call you; stupid? fool? idiot? or a moron? Why choose death over pride? You are really a big idiot!"

"......I am a bit concerned with the way you put it, but there is no reason to give up isn't there? Who knows by a whim of some god I manage to escape?"

"Sigh~, 'by whim of some god' huh?....sadly, those disgusting gods wouldn't do that just for you. What can I say, there are no beings in this world that are more

shameless than them....and as from what I know, I don't think you really trust them that much so what you're really saying is nothing but stupidity in my own

perspective......choosing pride over your life sigh~ you are really an admirable idiot"

"...........Who knows~ but you know I once heard something. 'A man's true worth can only be measure when he is hang in life and death' so maybe in this moment I might know my own worth that I can even boast in hell ...."

".... Really? One of these days, I really want to split that head of yours open to see where all of this weird and strange yet profound philosophy came from...."

"Hey!? that's quite mean you know! 'Age doesn't reflect one's knowledge' as what they say!"

"See!? sigh~ fine if what you really choose is this path, then as a good woman I don't have nothing to say but just watch and witness quietly a warrior's valor!"

She said as she smiled wryly while looking at me. Although she was smiling I can't help but notice a hint of sadness and sorrow reflecting in her eyes.

It must be quite difficult for her to do this~ sigh~ I don't really want to do this for

I'm a born pacifist that really hates fighting but for her sake, so that she would never

feel guilty upon my death.......

As a man I must take this with all my heart!

As I was preparing myself, suddenly......

Flora, as though he had notice something, focused her gaze behind my back. I, who

couldn't comprehend what is suddenly happening couldn't help but shiver from all the bloodlust she was emitting!