The Druid Who Swallowed Mother Nature - Chapter 74



Only Noblemtl

Episode 74. Things I Don’t Know About

area.

For those who have transcended the realm, this has special meaning.

A decisive technique for projecting one’s personal imagination into reality.

It transcends the laws of physics and grants the owner of the image a higher level of status.

To be frank, Bianca, a mere thief, became a member of Madhouse because her ability to manage territory was highly valued.

She dealt with the realm through her innate abilities, not through enlightenment.

The darkness made of shadows is her image and realm.

A group of unidentified monsters that were not supposed to exist in the first place gained physical form under her domain and exerted physical force.

Because she created them in her mind, the monsters were infinite and had abilities beyond the limits of living creatures.

The shadow slime she brought out to finish me off is an example of this.

Shadow Slime is the embodiment of the massive physical force imagined by Bianca.

It took in everything like a tank, and swallowed and absorbed everything like a devil.

If he overeats to the point where his stomach is full, he will become so large that even a large building will collapse into dust.

It’s smaller than that now though.

Nevertheless, his innate physical strength was not something to be ignored.

The guy had two classic attack methods.

Either engage him with a force greater than his physical strength, or tear his core apart from within.

My choice was… … Bianca’s strategy, not Shadow Slime’s.

“I declare my territory.”

“The World Tree’s garden spreads out into a temporary area around the area.”

Declaration of territory.

Belle was hired as the garden manager, and this was a new ability the World Tree acquired.

When I declare a territory, the World Tree territory is summoned in the surrounding area.

Although it is not a canonical concept of projection of the mind, this is also an area guaranteed by the system.

Bianca’s shadow realm was no less than a match for her.

‘Actually, it’s not a loss that Bell was saved with this power alone.’

Although he was nothing more than a lazy slave under me, he was one of the most skilled people in this world.

Just placing him in the garden of the World Tree’s territory is a step up.

‘What would happen if Belle quit being garden manager?’

Well, that’s something to think about when the time comes.

I’ll have to take away the abilities I’ve already acquired.

“The World Tree temporarily regains its original power.”

“Your natural affinity increases dramatically.”

“All living things within the declared area respond to your will.”

“The spirit realizes its origin under the influence of the World Tree.”

“The divinity of the great World Tree rejects the realm of others that exists in the same place.”

“Intimidates enemies within the area.”

The realm of the World Tree contained more power than I had expected.

The garden of the summoned world tree was more overgrown with bushes than I remembered.

The materialized spirits adorned the scenery with a blinding brilliance.

The warm energy from the World Tree rushed into my body like a storm.

Even though the World Tree had taken root in my body, I still had a sense of discomfort that I couldn’t shake off.

The energy flowing into me now is blurring that boundary as if brushing it.

The consciousness of the World Tree was instantly merged with my consciousness.

My mind leaped to a higher horizon.

The clock, which had far surpassed the limits of the flesh, stretched high above the clouds and looked down upon the earth.

It was the sight of the World Tree regaining its strength.

Then I could instinctively recognize it.

It was an ability that could not last long.

It was a limitation of the small area called a garden.

It is a power that disappears in an instant.

The immature growth of the World Tree also failed to properly direct its power.

And yet.

Even though I only caught a glimpse of it, an omnipotent feeling that I could accomplish anything swept over me.

Swish!

I reached out.

The plant community moved in unison according to my will.

I moved them as naturally as I breathed and as comfortably as I moved my own body.

So I could fully experience it.

This was my territory.

“The divinity of the great World Tree rejects the realm that exists in that place.”

The meaning was literal.

Bianca’s shadow realm was pushed back by the World Tree’s realm and scattered into ashes.

“……and.”

Bianca, who finally revealed herself, looked dazed.

I don’t know if it’s because the brain can’t keep up with reality, or if it’s because it’s lost its mind in the abnormal situation of exclusion from the realm.

It was a fatal loophole.

Clang!

All the plants in the area gathered together at the gesture.

What it symbolizes is the wrath of Mother Nature.

One heavy whip.

Or one giant tentacle.

Shadow Slime was crushed by the frost and scattered into fragments, and the ceiling that reached all the way to the roof revealed a sky clouded with smoke.

The illusion of a towering tree overlapped the figure.

The wind blew between the leaves and swirled the clouds.

The spirits danced around it, sprinkling a powder of brilliant light.

And then.

Krrrr!

It was stuck.

***

“We’re all dead! We’re all dead!”

A loud, cheery voice was heard from afar.

“We have to run away immediately! Buy a fake ID from the broker, secure an escape route, and then use a means of transportation… … Yes, a hover rail! That way, no one can track us!”

“It’s so noisy I could die. Just wait quietly.”

“You! Aren’t you scared? You’re part of that madhouse! I’m crazy. It’s the same whether I die this way or that, so it would have been better to just get caught… …!”

The voice that had been rising like a scream was cut off.

Hela, who found me following the creaking bell with her mouth wide open, waved her hand with her fist open.

Were you debating whether or not to hit the back of the head?

Belle looked like she had found a ghost, not even realizing that I had saved her own life.

“You’re here. Are you hurt?”

“Oh, how… … !”

“That’s why I told you to stop making a fuss. I said it was okay, but you didn’t do anything, so this is chaos.”

“No, you think that this ignorant brat who only cares about this one table was a great guy who could go up against Madhouse and come back unscathed? Don’t cheat! You’re a fake Shadow Empress in disguise… …!”

Eventually the fist flew.

Bell, who was stuck in the cage, crouched, clutching his head.

“What about the ledgers and blueprints?”

“I kept it in the storage device. In the case of the blueprints, it would be better for you to take action rather than bragging that we deleted it ourselves. What about you?”

“Android is scrapped.”

I’m talking about fake things though.

I winked at Bell and he nodded.

I was confident that even if an investigator was dispatched, they would never find out that it was fake.

… … The sight of him lying on the ground with his face filled with tears only encouraged distrust, but I decided to trust the pride of a technician he had.

“That’s not what I was asking, I was talking about the confrontation with the Shadow Empress.”

He wasn’t so excited that he would ring a bell, but he was worried.

Hela circled around me, examining my entire body.

I spoke briefly because I felt burdened by that gaze.

“I repelled them.”

“repulse?”

“He couldn’t kill me. He knew there was no chance of winning, so he took me out right away.”

“Well, she’s originally famous for being quick-witted.”

It’s not that I let my guard down.

But the guy was quick as a thief.

The shadow realm connects space and space.

It was usually kept connected to the secret warehouse where Bianca kept her belongings through a subspace.

Even though my declaration of territory excluded hers, shadows are a natural phenomenon.

This emergency escape was Bianca’s last resort.

His reputation as an elusive thief who was never caught comes from him.

I know that I had no choice but to retreat rather than fight back because I was caught off guard… … but somehow I felt a slight sense of unease.

‘… … The ending was a bit strange.’

It’s not like there was no way to fight back, but we were excessively careless.

Her unfocused eyes held me completely in their embrace.

All the way until just before the attack struck me.

The passion was purer than that of a child, and it was so explicit that it was almost unfamiliar.

‘It was the look in your eyes when you found something you liked.’

However, because those eyes were directed at me, a person, not an object.

I didn’t know English.

***

“Cough! Cough!”

“Oh, shit! This is a surprise.”

Bianca, emerging from the shadows, coughed repeatedly against something blocking her throat.

After coughing hard enough to make his face turn red, what he spat out was black, dead blood.

My whole body felt limp and weak, as if all my energy had been sucked out of me.

As I leaned my trembling body against the wall, it was only then that I noticed the other person.

“… …Why are you here?”

“Ahem, I was just passing by and thought I’d take a look.”

Mad Dog Buggy Byle coughed solemnly.

Bianca frowned so hard that a wrinkle formed between her eyebrows.

In the past, I felt like I could taste the cuteness of being young.

The young man’s still awkward face only gave off a sense of discomfort.

Above all, that awkward acting was so bad that it made me want to swear.

“Then what is that in your hand?”

“… … .”

Buggy hurriedly shook his hand.

The ornate gloves fell to the floor and rolled around in the dirt.

This is Bianca’s treasure trove.

This is the collection warehouse where the items she stole are stored.

Those gloves were also something she stole from some rich guy.

The estimated value was… … enough to build a decent building in District 3, Bianca remembered.

“No, what is that? I just wanted to take a look.”

“And if you like it, you steal it?”

“Stealing? I was just going to borrow it for a little while.”

His gray-white eyes wandered here and there, unable to look at her directly.

Maybe because he was caught on camera, his tongue is unusually long.

How dare you try to steal from a thief.

The shadow rose up with great anger, then poured down like a waterfall.

“Hah!”

“……what?”

Buggy, who had reflexively taken a defensive stance, discovered Bianca clutching her chest through the gap between her fingers.

I carefully touched it with my toe, but there was no particular reaction.

“Damn, I was scared for nothing. Why are you showing off with such a messed up body? Didn’t you spit blood on the ground? You really got beat up.”

Bianca raised her eyebrows and glared.

“… … Move your feet. Before I tear them apart.”

“Hehe, try it. It’s good that you’re acting like you’re my senior, since you’re usually so braggadocious. Right now, I could easily kill you by just reaching out to the back of your neck.”

“… … .”

Buggy opened his mouth wide and grinned, leaning his face in close.

One wide-open eye revealed a mad desire for bloodshed.

A close-cropped head and bulging muscles are a threat in and of themselves.

“… … What are you talking about? You can’t joke around.”

The fierce fighting that had continued for a while soon stopped.

Buggy, who had been growling like a beast, backed away first and his expression softened as if his excitement had been lost.

“Were you joking?”

“If you’re going to fight, you have to fight in perfect condition. If you keep whining like that, you’ll just lose your strength.”

Buggy reached out and put his arm around Bianca’s shoulder.

Bianca sat down on the chair, supported delicately by Buggy, who did not match her appearance.

“So, why are you such a mess? Are you old and your body isn’t what it used to be?”

“It’s still bright, so shut up. It just failed.”

“Failure? Oh, I said I was going to steal something. But isn’t this the first time you’ve been hurt like this? What were you doing instead of running away? That’s your specialty.”

“I lost my mind.”

Buggy was momentarily speechless at the unexpected answer.

“… … Have you seen a ghost?”

“I saw art.”

“What are you talking about? Did you hurt your head?”

“A fighting dog that only knows how to fight would not understand such emotions.”

When I close my eyes, there is a scene that still comes to mind vividly, like a photograph.

It was a true work of art, a miracle of nature.

“… … I want to see you again.”

But now, I don’t feel as ecstatic as I did then.

Could it be because I feel desire from people rather than things?

I felt like I was being teased.

Licking my lips was an action that came out without me knowing.

“I can relate to that. I want to meet the guy who made me like this as soon as possible and beat him up.”

“… … .”

Bianca suddenly remembered that the hitman was the man who had taken one of the lives of the naked Thunderbolt before her eyes.

“Are you going to kill me?”

“Of course. It’s a thrilling moment just thinking about it. Do you think you can endure it?”

The eyes that were rolled back in Heebundeok’s face were soaked in madness as if they were on drugs.

“… … Then that won’t work.”

Although it was tempting to stuff the dead man, it was uncertain whether a stuffed corpse would give the same feeling.

It seemed like something I should avoid doing when moving with a bug.

and…….

“Don’t move your feet too sneakily. I’m watching you all.”

“Tch, you have a lot of those, can you lend me a lot just this once?”

“No. It’s my collection.”

“How much will an old man with not much time left take to hell… … .”

“Do you want to die?”

I have to prevent this guy from getting stronger so that no unfortunate incidents happen in places where I’m not present.

… … It was never my fault for being rude and stealing.

***

“You’re here.”

Cromwell, whom I met at the office I visited for a report, was a very handsome man.

He started talking before I even sat down.

“They say the commercial area of ​​District 3 was a mess. The Delight Confectionery building collapsed, and the hyenas that had been watching the liver became like dogs chasing chickens and ran wild late. The commotion was so loud that the heavy-handed police department moved for the first time in a long time.”

What did I do in the meantime?

Cromwell nodded and urged her to answer.

I responded with anticipation.

“The android has been disposed of. The evidence is left at the scene, so contact Sylvester and have him notarize it for the investigator.”

“The Shadow Empress of the Madhouse must not have been easy, what a feat.”

“I was lucky.”

I was lucky in many ways.

Since he was a great man who had the talent to just grab his things and run away, things could have easily gone wrong.

If that had happened, there would have been people who suspected that I had stolen the aircraft.

It was a request with a difficult level and even a formidable aftermath.

“It’s a shame in terms of technological advancement. It will take a long time for a complete Android to be developed.”

“If you worry about every little thing like that, you won’t be able to do your job.”

“It’s just a shame. When Android was commercialized, I was going to fire Jack from the floor below.”

I just smiled bitterly at the content that was difficult to respond to.

“I should go back and rest.”

The report is finished.

My body was tired, so I felt dizzy as I smelled the alcohol that filled the room.

Just before going down the stairs with my tired body.

Cromwell said quietly.

“If you steal the goods, be careful not to let the client find out. It’s not my responsibility up to that point, but after you get caught, it becomes my responsibility.”

I turned my head and studied Cromwell’s expression.

I wondered if I had misheard him as he absentmindedly examined the label on the bottle of liquor.

Of course, it couldn’t have been a mistake.

‘… … I have a good feeling.’

Did you have any suspicions when you entrusted the investigation to Delight Conquer?

“I don’t know.”

“I don’t know either.”

“I think you know?”

“Go back and rest.”

There is no recognition.

Failing to pull it together, I just shrugged and waved my hand.