As I munched on my sandwich for breakfast, I thought about the future events. In a couple of weeks' time, another major plot was going to launch, in which the camp was going to be in serious danger due to the traitors.
At the end of this plot, Adriel is betrayed by the leader of the traitors and almost dies after getting stabbed in the back with a poisonous blade. Thinking he is done for, the traitors leave the camp and abandon Adriel on the brink of death. But of course, the main cast arrives on time and saves him from death.
'That's what's supposed to happen...'
But my experience with the absoluteness of the plot hadn't been pleasant till now. So I was skeptical that everything would go the same way as in the novel. I was afraid of my presence changing the plot once more.
Since the first quest, I had been pondering about which position I should take in the future plots.
I wanted to take advantage of my knowledge about the plot. On the other hand, I had to be thoughtful of the consequences of my actions on the plot as well.
So I came to the conclusion that the only way I could achieve both of my objectives was to manipulate the plot to the point that from the beginning to the end, I would be in control.
In its essence, a plot is created to build characters and conditions so that the story has a flow that follows a line of events that would result in a desired outcome. If this world is based on a novel, which I assume it to be, then even if the process changes, if the outcome is the same, then the development of the story would still turn out to be similar if not the same.
So by manipulating the process and controlling the plot, I would be able to ensure that the outcome is the same, even if the process happens to be different. It was a better option than just hoping for the plot to not alter.
In case of the next events, I was planning on getting my hands on an artifact that belonged to the leader traitor. However, I would make sure my interventions wouldn't have a big ripple effect on the story by minimizing the change in the outcome. Though the process was going to change by a great margin.
'It's worth the risk. If I don't get stronger, knowing the future won't even matter.'
There are two essential outcomes for this event. The first one is the escape of the leader traitor from the camp and the second is the plantation of a device that sucks divine energy. If I preserve these two outcomes, it doesn't matter what changes occur in the process.
I finished my meal as my thoughts came to a conclusion. Now the only thing left was to formulate a plan to steal the artifact from the leader traitor while preserving the two essential outcomes.
***
Two weeks had gone by in a blink of an eye. There were only a few days left before the traitors would make their first move. Fortunately, my plan was ready. If everything proceeds just like I imagined, I will be able to seize the artifact.
Right now, it was the middle of the night. I had been waiting in the living room for everyone to shut themselves into their cabins. It wouldn't be favorable for me to be seen going into the forest at such a suspicious time of the day when the presence of traitors was going to be the main topic in a few days.
Believing it was time to get going, I wore my long black coat with a hoodie and sneaked out of my cabin.
'It's been a while since I visited this friend of mine...'
As I made my way into the forest, the weather was cold and my breaths left a misty cloud behind that got dragged along the fierce wind. The night sound of the forest was as mesmerizing as ever.
After navigating through the forest, I found the tree I was searching for. As I approached the tree, it just stood like a normal tree. No reaction at all.
"Do you really think you can fool me if you try to act like a normal tree?"
I tapped my foot while waiting for a response but the silence resumed. Did she think she could get away just by avoiding my presence?
"Ohh... Well, I guess I will have to come back another time.∼ So unfortunate that she isn't here..."
I acted like I gave up on finding her and began walking away.
"Hmm... I guess I will have to visit Lilise..."
"Stop!!"
I turned around to see Ilex behind her tree, glaring at me with fury. She seemed like she wasn't having a good time. Well, who could blame her?
"I thought you weren't here. I guess it was really my lucky day."
"Haha... Yeah... I-I just came back from a stroll."
She tried to make up a lie but her nervousness failed her miserably. I walked up to her and directly got to why I was there.
"I need your tree's resin."
"What?! What do you want to do? Rob me until I am no more?!"
"Come on... I just need some."
"Don't be ridiculous! There is no way!"
*Sigh...*
I pulled out the same blade I had threatened her the last time. As her eyes glued to the name carved on the blade, she shuddered.
"I don't know where is your confidence coming from but-"
"Okay! Okay! I will let you get some of my resin. So stop with that blade!"
"If it makes you feel any better, I will use it to expose the traitors and exile them away from the camp."
"For exposing the traitors? Are you sure you know what my resin can do? It's just a liquid with a healing property. How are you even supposed to catch the traitors with that?"
The resin of the tree in which a dryad inhabits had healing properties that were effective for any wound, disease, or poison. Since the resin held the essence of the dryad's life, it was basically a healing potion that oozed out of the tree.
"It's too long to explain and I don't have that much energy to waste. It wouldn't change anything even if you learned anyway so just let it be."
"Haa... You are benefitting off of my life force and you don't even explain why you need it. How is that fair?"
"Who said it was fair in the first place?"
Ilex was left speechless against my response. Without losing any more time, I unsheathed my dagger and grazed it along the tree's body. As a small cut formed on the surface of the tree, Ilex winced as on her thigh, a similar small cut came into existence out of nowhere.
"Kyaa!"
"Don't overreact. The cut isn't even deep enough for blood to leak out."
I turned my attention back to the tree, where I saw a viscous green liquid oozing out of the cut on the tree. I used a tube to collect the liquid. The green liquid glowed and emitted a holy aura. It, after all, contained a minor god's life force.
"Are you done now?"
"Yes. Thanks for your cooperation."
"You call this a cooperation?!"
"Whatever. I am going now. Goodbye..."
Rolling her eyes, Ilex vanished from existence as she got into her tree. And I got back to my cabin without anyone seeing me. The following two days, all I had to do was wait for the traitors to make their move.