Intermission: The Search (Last Part)

Souta: "It's coming from there!" I was standing on top of a hill.

I shouted at my companions to hurry up and check what was happening. From a distance, we could see lights coming down from heaven and explosions too.

We arrived in the South Region a few days ago, and we're currently searching for a village or a town to ask around.

Lea: "Wait a minute!"

Lea suddenly shouted.

Lea: "Can't you tell us now why we're here? I've been following you from the start because I want to level up and get strong, but I still want to know our objective."

Alno looked at me too. Roln was quiet as always.

It looks like it's time to tell them.

Souta: "Actually, I'm here to search for a skull." Probably the leader of an undead group now."

Lea: "Why? Are you hunting him?"

Souta: "Hunting? No, no, no. I'm here to thank him and be his apprentice or servant."

Lea: "You what?"

Lea was shocked because she did not expect that one. It was a weird reason, but for me, it is my goal.

Lea: "Wait! Wait! Wait!!!!"

Her mind was still processing it.

Lea: "Are you saying that you want to work for this skeleton guy?"

Souta: "Yes."

Lea: "Why!?"

Souta: "You'll know when you see him."

That answer did not satisfy her worries, and if someone had told me that before, I'd be worried too.

The power that I sought. The ability to fight back against the world. I found it in The Old Man. He became my goal and was the reason I worked hard to become what I am now.

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Observing him dominate that gang and their leader was enough motivation for me. All the humans that I've asked for help from were either scared or greedy. They wouldn't help me without money.

With Lea still wrapping her head around it, we watched the battle that was taking place.

Alno: "It's a Paladin legion."

A Paladin legion was here. I can't see the Paladin captain, but they were around 80 or more, so they had to be with a Paladin captain.

They were fighting an undead army of mostly skeletons.

Souta: "I think that's his army."

Lea: "It sure looks like the Paladins are toying with them."

The Paladins used holy explosions and skills repeatedly against the undead army.

Their numbers were going down fast.

Alno: "What are we going to do?"

Alno asked me.

These Paladin guys are no joke. I don't know if my arrow can even hurt.

I want to help, but

As I was thinking of a way to help them, I saw a forest near where the battle was taking place.

Souta: "There!"

I pointed at the forest.

Alno: "What are we going to do?"

Souta: "We're going to ask Mother Nature for help."

We quickly made our way to that forest because the battle was getting worse with each passing minute.

I touched the bark of a tree to communicate with the tree spirits here.

"I need your help. Please wake up and help me destroy my enemies."

Grrr. Hummmmm, Hmmm.

You could hear the trees groaning. It seems like they were waking up! I didn't need to cast my spell on these trees because they had initially been living trees!

I rode on top of one. Alno and the others did the same.

The trees were reluctant at first, but I was able to convince them after I mentioned who my mentor was.

That "druid" was not an ordinary person.

Souta: "Let's go!"

The trees started moving and uprooting themselves. They were ancient trees, and that made them powerful.

We have a chance! I told the trees that our targets were the paladins wearing holy armor. It seems they understood it, but I still reminded them that the undead were our allies.

They didn't have a problem with that.

The trees hated living things more than the undead. The undead don't cut them down and don't bother them.

Once we got close to the battle, I shouted at the commanders of the undead army.

Souta: "Oi!!! We're going to help you! Don't attack the trees!"

I directed it at the undead, but the Paladins seem to get the wrong idea.

Paladin: "Good timing, Forest Guardian!"

After he said that, the trees swept a group of 10 paladins with their strong arms. It threw the Paladins all over the place. The living trees strangled them to death.

Paladins: "What? What's happening!?"

The Paladins on this side were in chaos. The undead leaders seem to understand what's happening.

I fire now and then to entangle Paladins and stop them in their tracks.

The Paladins tried to fight back desperately, but their holy skills were ineffective against the living trees. Their barks were also extremely hard, and the Paladins were having a hard time damaging them.

With this, I think I paid back Mister for what he did for me, even just a little bit.