Byron had been coming to the castle from time to time, but seeing a garden there, always felt foreign to him. It also made him ask himself too many questions.
Would this world come to normal again?
This is because it seemed like the Infection that had devoured the world was no more there, the problem being only that there wasn't enough pure soil, saplings and water to bring the world to its greenery state again.
'Well, that's the Goddess of Beauty's responsibility, not mine!'
Byron thought to himself, not expecting to hear her voice.
"It's also your responsibility."
Upon hearing her voice, Byron's face brightened with a smile. The goddamned goddess had been disappearing from time to time, busy with what Byron did not know.
Come to think of it, she had lived thousands of years, alone and without him. She had long adopted a way to live her life. Though he had broken her status quo, it seemed like his presence was not going to change her life completely.
Well, Byron was happy that she always had what to do. He wouldn't like the idea of having a babysitter.
'How have you been, Beauty Goddess?'
"Wanna come to my world and check?"
Byron knew the implication of her answer and he was not going to decline. Since tomorrow was the beginning of the expedition, visiting her for some directions was a must. They were going to talk more often the days to come.
'Come to your world? Are you feeling hot, eh?'
"Who would not? Even the virgin Gillian is always lusting, let alone a 1000-year-old me."
Before Byron could answer, he heard Gillian's voice.
"This way!"
'Beauty Goddess, see you later!'
He needed to concentrate on the responsibilities ahead. Going alone, he didn't have much things to do. But going with a group of people, he had to make sure everything was well set so he wouldn't have them killed out there.
That's why he turned into the direction Gillian had shown to him, approaching a gate that lead outside of the castle but on the front side. The place near where the hole he had used to bring Peony at the castle was located.
A group of about 5 people stood there in the open. It wasn't his first time seeing them, but it was his first seeing them in their armors, wielding their weapons. Those weapons were Legacies and they could have kept them in their Soul Seas, but he was supposed to know the arsenal of those under his command so it would not be difficult for him to delegate them.
Of course these guys were not showing everything. They had some hidden cards, especially Kyron who was only wielding two large vermilion discs when Byron knew he had a spear, too.
Perhaps Kyron didn't want anything to do with a spear that left a scar on his right temple, but it was still a weapon and he could use it anytime he would want.
There was also his fire balls. Though Byron could not tell each of them to display his Special Ability in front of him, he knew they all had it and could use it as a weapon.
Wandering his eyes from Kyron's golden armor, his gaze fell on Lynn. The guy was as big as a pig, short as... a pig, also.
'Why isn't his name Biggy?'
An axe with short handle but so big lay on his shoulder like a warrior posing for a pic.
Byron's eyes kept wandering.
Expect for Snake, no one else had something interesting to capture his eye. The girl was as tall and thin as the sword in her hands. No wonder she nicknamed herself Snake. Something about her gaze and demeanor, coupled with that figure of hers rhymed with the nickname.
She had also managed to maybe kill an Infected Snake because the fabric of her armor resembled a snake's skin... though Byron had never saw a white snake during his two lives.
"Hello, everyone!"
"Hello, Byron!"
Everyone said that except Kyron. It seemed like the guy still needed to get over the fact that he would not join the contest for the Flaming Princess.
'Well, say it or not, I'm Byron!'
"Our journey starts tomorrow," Byron could only start his briefing. "You'all know that. The first mission is not that hard. There's a cave with hundreds of rabbits. We'll just reach there, help porters to load them and then resume our journey."
Byron had had enough time to plan his expedition ahead, hence knowing he would need five dragons. Two to carry the hunters. Two to keep carrying things back to the castle as others advanced. One to scout ahead and tell them what was down there.
"You'all know that we'll pass by the Dead Forest."
When Byron brought the idea of using a Floating Fleet, they had told him that there was a Dead Forest of gangatuan tress, and that dragons could not fly above it.
Well, it was not the forest that had a problem. It was the sky. After the god's war, the sky far above became poisonous. Floating Fleets could only fly near the land, maintaining some interval between them and the poison. As for that dead forest, the trees were long dead without leaves or what, but there size remained. Most of them were even so big that it would take a person five minutes to circle them on foot.
As for passing through them, the trees were not too close but their branches. They were so big, twisted and intricately entwining, making it impossible for a dragon to pass through or break them.
That's what they had told Byron.
"The dragons and their riders are going to remain behind the forest, waiting for us or for any signal. That means We're going to need our weapons from then on. I can see them so I suppose you're ready."
"I have a question."
It was Lynn.
Byron lowered his gaze to look at the bald guy.
"Go ahead!"
"It's said that you've never reached the Dungeon of Desires, how are you sure it's in the Dead Forest's direction?"
This prompted Kyron to open his mouth, too.
"Yeah! That place is full of Infected Monsters. It's a death zone. How are you so sure that we're not going to fight for nothing?"
At their questions, Byron wandered his eyes across the faces of other people around so he could know if no one else had a question.
Snake's face didn't even twitch.
'Scary!'
The two brothers, Beami and Bern also didn't have anything to ask.
"How am I sure? Well..."
He let out a chuckle.
"When I left the castle several months ago, did anyone of you believe I would bring a sapling?"
Lynn, together with the brothers shook his head. Snake remained indifferent, Kyron too.
"But I did!"
He paused a little and swiped his eyes across their faces.
"I did! I don't want to list all I did, but if you're uninterested, I'm not forcing anyone to go with me."
Yeah! He hadn't recruited anyone. He said he wanted 5 people to escort him, and these guys volunteered. The list was long, but he chose to select younger ones not giving a damn to what could be their intentions.
What were these questions for then?
An awkward silence followed, and was broken by Gillian's voice.
"Dragons!"
Byron looked up in the sky, and five massive figures appeared in his view, flying toward them. The Floating Fleet was coming.
They were supposed to meet the riders, discuss about the expedition and have a ride that evening to get themselves used to flying in the carts of those dragons.
"Go tell Peony it's time!"
Peony would be the part of expedition so she had to have a trial flight too.
Gillian nodded her head, and as she ran toward the castle, the first dragon made a landing.
'Time to fly!'
At his thought, the goddamned goddess spoke, "Don't forget about our tonight's appointment!"
Byron was confused.
'Which appointment?'
"To come and check for yourself if I have been good!"
'This slut!'