The path was filled with chrysalises, slowly but steadily making their way to the mountaintop. Although the path was muddy from the recent rain, it was still traversable at a reasonable pace.
"Perhaps we should build more comfortable roads." I said aloud. It was something to consider, though likely after reclaiming the entire territory.
With a concrete road, travel speed would improve, and reaching specific locations would be more efficient.
"Lord Treon, nightfall is approaching." Krul remarked.
"I see. Let's stop halfway and resume at dawn."
Nodding, I swiftly issued orders for the chrysalises to regroup and form a protective barrier around Krul. Though the chrysalises could regenerate indefinitely, a human could not.
As we gathered around a campfire, Krul broke the silence.
"Lord Treon, may I ask you a question?"
"Go ahead." I replied.
Krul hesitated before continuing, "Do you think we have a chance to live properly, like ordinary people?"
His words left me momentarily silent. What exactly did he mean by that?
But Krul spoke again before I could respond. "…Ever since you've protected us fighting off monsters, providing food, I feel like I've started a new life. I'm not sure what to call this feeling. Is it happiness? Is it being happy?"
Krul appeared deeply conflicted.
"Is happiness a bad thing?" I asked.
He shook his head.
"Then why dwell on it? Just live as you please. Life is meant to be lived, and we leave when the time comes. Human lives are short, perhaps a century, so living with as few regrets as possible is key. As for me… well, I might have centuries ahead of me."
Krul smiled faintly. "I've truly come to admire you. When I hear your words, my worries seem to vanish. You're like… a father figure."
His quiet smile lingered, but I didn't respond. Not because I was embarrassed.
…Perhaps a little.
Despite his words, I didn't know much about Krul's personality. At first glance, he seemed like a good man, trustworthy and meticulous in his work. Everyone respected him as a mayor.
Maybe he deserved a better position, but manpower was limited. People as capable as Krul were rare. Perhaps I could reward him with what I had now.
"Is there anything you desire?" I asked.
Krul hesitated before answering. "I… I want to build a place where humans can live with dignity."
His unexpected declaration rendered me speechless. It wasn't what I had expected at all, but I didn't stop him.
"The world outside the forest is even more dangerous, especially for humans shackled by chains. Our life here might be considered noble, something unimaginable for most humans."
"A dignified life, huh?"
"Do you think it's possible?"
I paused before answering honestly, "Why not? Humans should live as humans."
Krul seemed taken aback, as though hearing this sentiment for the first time. He nodded thoughtfully and fell silent.
Humans should indeed live with dignity, not as livestock but as intelligent beings. We, too, have pride.
Modern human pride, what a thought.
I didn't dwell on the topic further, and soon, morning came. The sun rose over the mountains, illuminating the forest and signaling us to continue.
On our journey, we encountered no monsters. This was uncharted territory, so the monster population should have been high, yet the area was eerily empty.
I assumed the monsters had fled due to my recent clearing activities and thought little of it.
The path remained muddy from yesterday's rain, and the trees seemed oddly unchanging in their positions, a mere impression, perhaps.
The sound of water reached us, a mountain stream flowing downward. We were nearing the source of the issue. When we moved aside the rocks, we finally reached our destination.
"This is revolting." Krul said, grimacing at the nauseating stench.
On a raised plateau offering a broad view of the forest lay hundreds of decaying corpses, some reduced to bones after months of decomposition.
This was a bad omen.
The presence of corpses meant activity. I initially thought a beast lived here, but the sheer number of bodies suggested an entire herd of monsters.
Strangely, many corpses bore gaping holes. The monsters had died instantly, some not even baring their claws.
"Let's keep moving."
The chrysalises tightened their formation and began scouring the plateau for the culprits behind the carnage.
As I turned my gaze, the vastness of the forest struck me again.
"It's immense. It feels like we've only traversed a small part of the world."
The forest seemed endless. Without the mountains, I was certain it would stretch infinitely farther. Beyond the mountains lay other forests and rivers flowing to unknown destinations.
But my brief reflection was interrupted. The chrysalises searching the plateau abruptly lost contact, as if they had died.
"Krul, head east."
I gave the order immediately.
Krul complied, swiftly changing direction. Simultaneously, I recalled all scattered chrysalises. Now that we had a lead, dispersal was unnecessary.
We crossed through thick trees to a small clearing with a river flowing down the mountain. Below it was a village. However, the river split into multiple streams, diverted by strange stone formations blocking its flow.
These dark, shimmering stones resembled polished boulders.
I had expected to find the corpses of my chrysalises, but instead found only these peculiar stones.
"Lord Treon, what are your orders?"
"Hmm. Fall back thirty meters and hold position until the area is cleared."
Krul nodded and retreated with a group of chrysalises. Meanwhile, the remaining forces surrounded the river, carefully avoiding the obstructing stones.
I had a bad feeling about them.
Soon, Krul re-emerged from a bush. "I think these… things are monsters. Not stones."
I nodded. Floating notifications had confirmed it from the start.
[Rock Turtle Lv.30]
These notifications hovered over multiple points in the stone before me, and others in the background. Each level 30 "stone" was siphoning water from the mountain stream. Left unchecked, they could become formidable threats.
They needed to be dealt with immediately.
As if sensing my intent, the "stones" began shifting. Water receded as the boulders lifted themselves.
Kru-KRU.
The cracking of stone echoed. A hard shell emerged, polygonal and massive, with a head protruding from its void. Empty, crimson eyes stared back at us.
"Monsters…!" Krul whispered, fear evident in his voice.
An instinctive dread radiated from these creatures.
"Charge!"
The chrysalids surged forward. We had to strike before the monsters could fully prepare.
But my hopes were soon dashed.
Boom!
One turtle launched shards of stone, killing many chrysalids.
Realizing the dire situation, I unleashed my power over the forest's roots, attempting to entangle the turtles. Yet, their sheer strength snapped the roots with ease.
"Krul, take ten chrysalids and target the isolated one!"
Krul detached from the main force to face a smaller turtle, a likely newborn. It was a good opportunity to gain combat experience.
Meanwhile, I focused on the main battle. Manifesting countless roots from the surrounding trees, I launched an all-out assault.
[Evolution! Skill "Root Strike" upgraded to "Root Control" Lv.1]
A surge of power flowed through me. Every root felt like an extension of my body.
KRUUUU!
The fight had begun!