It was now thirty minutes past the time, and I stood before an unassuming tree, gazing up at it. The grin on my face made it clear that this tree was anything but ordinary.
After racking my brain for so long, I suddenly recalled a specific detail from the game. This was the missing piece—the key that made finding the stupid fairy so insanely difficult. You see, the fairy resided in this forest, specifically in one of the many trees scattered throughout. But this fairy was clever. It wasn't going to make its hiding spot obvious by choosing a special-looking tree. No, instead, it chose the most average-looking one, making it nearly impossible to find.
Well, nearly impossible unless you were the protagonist, that is.
From what I remembered, tomorrow, a tier-five evolved beast would attempt to tear down this very tree where the fairy lived. There was a reason for that, and that reason was what brought me here, standing before this tree with a grin. Beyond the fact that the pesky fairy was hiding here, there was something more.
The creature in question was a Hobix—a strange breed of mana beast that sucked the mana out of its victims before killing them. While roaming these parts, the Hobix had detected the peculiar mana fluctuations in the environment. It had followed the trail to this specific tree, which was absorbing mana from every direction in the forest and redirecting it into its surroundings.
The Hobix wanted that energy—badly. It was so desperate for the concentrated mana that it attacked the tree, attempting to devour it. That was when the fairy appeared. However, after centuries of expending its mana to maintain an illusion, the fairy was already weak. When it confronted the Hobix to protect the tree, it sustained a severe injury.
It was at that moment Lucas conveniently showed up, saved both the fairy and the tree, and became the hero of the day. The fairy, gravely wounded, could no longer hold on. Sensing the purity in Lucas's heart, it was fascinated—unbelieving that a human could be so pure. Resigned to its fate, the fairy decided that if it had to pass on, it would be better for Lucas to have its relic.
Anyway, that long, cringy backstory aside, I managed to locate this stupid tree by spreading out my mana into the environment and essentially using myself as a living radar. It wasn't even that hard. The moment I tried sensing it, the tree practically announced itself.
But now, I had some problems.
One, the fairy wouldn't show up unless the tree was in danger—at least, that's what the novel said.
Two, even if the fairy did show up, it wasn't at death's door, so it definitely wouldn't consider giving me its relic.
Three—and this is the big one—I most definitely did not have a pure heart.
How do I know this? It's not rocket science. I'm someone who would sacrifice an entire kingdom if it benefited me. Back when my feelings for Renay were at their peak, I would've burned this whole world down for her without a second thought.
"What do I do?" I muttered, gazing at the tree.
At this point, I had about an hour and a few minutes left to get back, but I felt like I'd already hit a dead end.
"Um... Fairy—whatever name you go by—get your ass out here now, or I'll cut down this damn tree!" I shouted, my tone serious.
After waiting a minute or two, I felt like a complete idiot. If anyone saw me, I'd probably look like some lunatic talking to a tree.
"Tsk."
Oh well.
Even if I went back empty-handed, I couldn't leave without chopping this tree down.
One, I didn't like Lucas.
No special reason why—I just didn't like him.
If I wasn't getting that cheat, he definitely wasn't getting it either.
With that thought, I ignited my sword in purple flames.
...
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