Chapter 65 - It's Finally Over...
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I instantly opened my eyes wide as I roused as my body still remember everything that happens during the last fight against the 『Dryad』.
"Where am I... Guh...!"
When I tried to rose into the bed, Pain started to accumulate all over my body, forcing me not to move anymore as I groan in pain.
I was lying on a sofa—above mine is the roof of a cavern covered in vines—sensing a feeling like I'm currently on a high elevated place. Yes, I was currently settled on the cabin I renovated.
"Where are the girls..." I mused. But as soon as I mentioned, Akari who coincidentally passed by had saw me finally awake—her eyes widened in response.
"Everyone!" Akari loudly shouted. "Aruji-sama is finally awake!"
The moment Akari loudly announced my awakening, multiple footsteps can be heard rushing towards me. I can't help but feel a bit agitated.
Everyone quickly rushes towards me—with Luna vigorously jumping into me as the rest of the members starts to surround me displaying a face full of concern.
"M-Master!" Luna cried, burying her face through my stomach as she weeps her emotions. "I'm so glad you're okay..."
I was with a lot of pain thanks to Luna, but she's just purely concerned about me, so I'll let it slide.
Akari sat on the floor to my front—silently clasping my hands as if wanting to feel my warmth. She sure is awkward, isn't she?
"Jeez, you sure are a show-off..." Lily mockingly stated, pursing her lips—trying her best not to show her emotion. "Please don't try to sacrifice yourself next time, idiot..."
"Haha," I timidly laugh, enduring the pain to my body. "I'll keep that in mind..."
"This is the second time, you know?!" Lily hysterically retorted. "Please promise us this is your last."
"I really want to side to Lily in this case," Seia stated her opinion, looking dejected. "But a path of becoming the strongest is expected to be like this. All I wanted to say is, please be extra careful next time. I also feel that you don't want us to be in danger, but we all feel the same about you."
I've made a realization to Seia's speech. They will also get hurt if something bad happened to me—also the same as them if they get hurt.
"I'll try my best next time..." I timidly said, then abruptly changed the topic. "So? What happened when I passed out...?"
Lily and Seia looked at each other and paused for a moment. After a brief decision, Lily opened her mouth and begins to tell the story.
The aftermath after I passed away was very anticlimactic, so I'll spare you the details. According to them, nothing really happened after I passed, they just send me back into the cabin. What made them worry very much was that—it took me three days until I regained consciousness.
They've also mentioned that the rest was worried sick that Luna and Akari often went into the sofa where I sleep and patiently wait for me to wake-up.
T-that sure took a long time... I'm starting to feel bad about them. But what's with those 3-days' worth of sleeping? Is it really just a coincidence?
"But well, I'm glad everyone is okay..." I joyfully said.
"Say that to yourself. You're the only one who bravely went alone to fight that giant green woman, you know?" Lily stated.
"Mhm That's right," Seia nodded, approving Lily's statement. "You we're so cool back there. The way you cleverly fight it is so incredible."
"Right? You we're so cool that I can't leave my eyes for you at the moment." Lily bluntly said after Seia. After a moment Lily finally realized what she had just said and blushed bashfully—together with Seia who also had the same thought.
"Ahaha," I awkwardly laugh, trying to find a good response. "T-thank you... I didn't know you think of me in high regard..."
Ah... Looks like my response worsen the mood. It can't be helped...
I slowly rose into the sofa—enduring the pain in my body and embrace the four together. The sudden gesture made the girls dumbfounded and nonplussed in response.
""Wha—?!""
""Nh?!""
"I'm really glad that everyone is okay. I wouldn't be able to forgive myself If something happened to the four of you." I genuinely said. "Let's head back home after this, okay?"
The four meekly nodded to my words without saying anything. I embrace them for a while and when I saw the tension was gone, I slowly removed it.
"Is I wanted to say but what do you girls think we do with Rina-san's share?" I asked.
"Um," Seia utters a sound and answers my question. "Actually, while you were unconscious still, we decided to explore the place ourselves and harvest all the 『Everfruit』 we found."
Next to answer is Luna after Seia. "We managed to collect the exact numbers of fruit, so we can actually leave this place unless you still have anything you want us to do here."
Oh? That's the girls for you. I got to praise them after this. Hm, I wonder what I should give them. Anyhow, is it just me or they're kind of looking submissive for some reason...?
"Is that so? That's very reliable of you all. That's actually what we've came for so I guess we can take our leave in about an hour." I sighted. "I'm glad we're about to leave this place. I'm actually starting to get homesick to be honest."
"Aren't we all?" Lily quipped, which made all of us giggled in response.
I waited until the pain in my body gradually diminish. The Cabin became a very important place to all of us, so the girls dejected as were about to leave the place.
"There might be some hardships coming to this place, but this Cabin became the catalyst of our comfort and rest, I'm going to miss this place." Lily remarked, dispirited.
"Indeed," Luna agreeably nodded. "This place made us feels like we're still on our home. Fufu~ I guess we should thank Master for this."
The girls displayed a dejected expression that feels like they're not going to see this place anymore. If only they knew...
Without informing everyone, I loudly call the 『Dryad』 and patiently wait for her response. The girls who got startled started to look at me split in surprise and bewilderment.
"Master...?"
"Sai... What are you—"
Before Lily managed to complete her words, countless leaves that came out of nowhere starts to merge in front of us—forming into a humanoid shape until the 『Dryad』 appeared.
""Wha—?!"" Everyone got an immediate surprise when they saw the form of the 『Dryad』 in front of us.
"You whom had summoned me, state the reason of your call." The Dryad stated, looking dignified.
"Sai... Why did you call her?" Lily who is nonplussed in the situation whispered.
"Just watch." I assured, then shifted my attention to the Dryad. "If it's okay, will you mind giving us a 『Biome Post』?"
Their eyes widened as if they're saying that "Why is this guy just casually asking for a high being". Hilarious.
The 『Dryad』 paused before she spoke. "Normally, I would ask for such things in return but since you whom had saved me, I will make an exception for you this time."
The 『Dryad』 raised her hand a bit and a green light suddenly appeared at the center of her two hands—materializing a donut shaped green crystal. After the process was done, she then hands the item into me—to which I gladly accepted.
"If were done then I shall take my leave here." The 『Dryad』 impatiently said.
"Yeah, thanks." I replied, expressing my gratitude. After waiting for the Dryad's disappearance and I went into the facade of the cabin and place the 『Biome Post』 which started to hover.
"It's done," I wryly announced. "Now we can teleport here in case we want to come back for something. Now we won't have to ride a carriage next time we came here."
When turn into the direction of the girls, they we're looking at me visibly dumbfounded. After a moment, Lily begins the conversation—massaging her head trying to process the situation.
"H-how do I say this... I still can't get used to these surprises..."
"It's Master after all..." Luna implied, laughing awkwardly.
"Fufu~ As expected of Sai." Seia added, undeniably astonished.
"Mhm," Akari cheerfully nodded. "As expected of Aruji-sama."
"Haha, unfortunately, we don't have any 『Biome Post』 in the Villa, so we still need to ride our way home." I regrettably remarked. "Shall we go then?"
""Yes!"" The girls shouted in unison.
* * *
It took an hour of climbing back to the surface and another walk trip to get into the Village. We we're leisurely walking—having a fun conversation when suddenly—
"T-the Town is...!"
Lily was the first one to react to which Lily, Luna, and Seia hurriedly rush into the Town. The whole place was brutally burned down, charcoaled in black all over the place.
"Wait!" I quickly pulled Lily and Luna and grappled Seia before they approach the place. "Don't just recklessly rush into the scene. The perpetrator might still be in there, you know?!"
Just after I mentioned it, a massive dragon that is probably time larger than any building I saw in this world came flying passed us.
I desperately pushed down the girls in agitation that it might find us since we made quite a ruckus just about now. Sweat began to drop of my face.
Gritting my teeth, I quietly whispered at the girls who had the look of pure terror into their eyes. "Don't make any sound...!"
I'm sure everyone can feel it, even an amateur can sure can sense the intimidation of that dragon that just passed before us.
[Death] is the only word that you can only think of when you're near on that monster's presence.