While the Skogsrås and Kaizen were talking, they didn't miss hearing Tonwor shouting, but they didn't care enough to stop talking either. When the Skogsrå named Kesiray finished telling the story of the Blue Wolf and Níðhöggr, Kaizen thanked her, because this story could help him in the future.
"And now what? Where do you intend to go?" Kaizen asked the Skogsrås.
Although none of the six Skogsrå guardians of Nyland Forest had died, their home had been exposed to the human world. Still, faced with Psyker's questioning, the Skogsrås laughed as if his concern was a joke.
"There is nowhere else for us to go but here. This forest is our burden and our responsibility." One of them replied.
Kaizen frowned. "But what if they try to attack to kidnap you once again? I will have no way of knowing if that happens next time."
"Don't worry. We'll be prepared for anything. We just let our guard down a bit because all we saw were monsters, beasts, and a few rare travelers. However, now that we know there is a big threat, if they try to enter Nyland Forest one more time, they will see the true power of the Skogsrås."
Looking at the Skogsrås, Kaizen noticed in the golden eyes of each of them the determination they carried and since he couldn't see their stats with the <Analyzer Eye>, he knew that they were very strong and that the fact that they were taken by surprise was what almost doomed them to be used by The Eye of Hermodr. Perhaps, with them prepared, that wouldn't happen.
Then Kaizen nodded and said:
"If that's the only way for you guys, that's fine with me. If something happens, go to the Royal City and ask where there is a haunted house in the business district. This house will be mine and that will be where you can find me."
"Again, thank you for saving our lives, Lord Psyker. If one day there is a big battle against this cult you mention, don't hesitate to invite us. Besides protecting this forest, we will also avenge the animals that were killed trying to protect our home..."
All six Skogsrå bowed to Kaizen, getting down on their knees.
At that moment, Kaizen bowed back, showing that the respect was mutual.
Having an alliance with supernatural creatures like the Skogsrås was extremely beneficial to Kaizen, and nothing could make him happier than their promise to help in a future great battle.
This didn't mean that something like this would happen, but considering that The Eye of Hermodr was shaking all of Midgard, to the point of generating in-game events and being mentioned in several quests, it wouldn't be unusual if a great final battle happened. Still, this was something to think about later.
As Kaizen was heading back to Ravastine to together them out of that hole, one of the Skogsrå asked:
"Wait a moment, please. Do you have plans for this man?" She pointed to Tonwor.
"Oh, I had forgotten about him. You mentioned that you wanted to avenge the dead animals in the clearing, right? Well, do as you like. That man is nothing to me."
Kaizen's words were able to finally silence the half-giant, who looked at Psyker wide-eyed and slack-jawed.
As soon as the princess and Psyker entered the dirt tunnels to return, she asked him:
"Why didn't you try to get information out of that man?"
"I bet he wouldn't be the least bit helpful. That guy must barely know the true plans of The Eye of Hermodr. He just must have agreed to join the cult on some empty promise that he could take on strong people..." Kaizen said, moving on without blinking. 'That's classic of a brute character.'
"Okay. I think you're right."
As the Skogsrås remained underground to settle their unfinished business with Tonwor and the scythe woman, who was just unconscious, Kaizen and Ravastine returned to the clearing without fear, following the same tunnel path they had used before.
As soon as they could see the light from the sky and also feel the breeze of the wind once more, they realized that all the dead animal bodies were no longer in the clearing. Somehow, they were all gone. In the direction where both Kaizen and Ravastine had come from when they first entered the clearing, the black bear and the sparrow were, but they were not alone, there was a woman beside them.
This woman had dark brown hair, white skin, and wore a white embroidered garment as well. On her back was a quiver full of steel arrows, and in her left hand she held tightly a golden bow.
She noticed Kaizen and Ravastine's presence only when the animals looked in their direction, so she turned around and said with a gentle smile:
"Thank you for saving my children's home."
"Who is..." Ravastine was about to ask, but the woman disappeared from their field of view in a snap of her fingers.
Kaizen tried to see information about this woman with the <Analyzer Eye> as soon as he spotted her, but even this was not fast enough to find out who this woman was.
The Psyker and the Princess looked at each other, trying to understand what had just happened, but neither had the answer to this.
At that moment, some system screens popped up in front of Kaizen.
[You have completed the 'Glimpse' Class Mission].
[You have earned +10000 XP.]
[Congratulations! You have just risen to level 29!]]
[You have gained +3 Class Points.]
[You have discovered a new Class Skill to be unlocked in the Skill Tree.]
[Return to converse with the entities disguised as Skool and Hati.]
Just as happened upon arrival, Kaizen and Ravastine were also guided out of Nyland Forest by the bear and the sparrow. Somehow the bear was healed of its injuries, which made Kaizen wonder if the mysterious archer was the one who healed it.
When they reached the borders of Nyland Forest with other woods, the bear and the sparrow bid them farewell, and Psyker and the Princess stared at the animals until they lost sight of them in the dense woods.
"Time for us to go home." Kaizen said to the Princess, who nodded and smiled sympathetically.
*
The return to the Royal City was smooth. No monsters getting in the way of the two was a big problem, and thanks to Black Cloud's speed, they managed to arrive at dusk.
However, as soon as they arrived in the city, Kaizen had to deal with a surprise. Some guards were very stressed because a 'stranger' coerced a palace guard to release Princess Ravastine's exit.
Obviously, the princess showed everything she had learned in her diplomacy classes, warning the guards very angrily. To her, it was unacceptable that they were so suspicious of Kaizen, the only person who had the courage to save her on the day of the arena. In the end, since she didn't want to create more problems for Kaizen as well, she had to give in a little and was escorted back to the palace without even finding out if she passed the Psyker test or not, because she didn't have the courage to ask during the way back.
Still, Kaizen knew that she would find an opportunity to visit him to find out the answer, especially now that she knew exactly where he lived.
In the following days, Kaizen intended to put her class mission aside for a while to finally get back to focusing on her real purpose for buying a house: forging.
Moreover, making good weapons and armor and leveling up would be crucial for him to come out with a victory in the duel against Taznaar. Since forging requires time, and he had only a few days left until the big day of the duel, he felt he should not put it off any longer.
On the first night, Kaizen lit the furnace in his workshop and put some iron ingots to melt in a stone bucket. After the furnace had reached the melting point of the iron, Kaizen removed the bucket using a metal rod and blacksmith gloves, which he bought on his last walk around the business district.
'With some of this iron, I can repair my armor and make some Swift Arrows to sell.... If I am not evolving in quests, I should be focused on making money or improving my equipment! That's how I'm going to get rich!' He smiled with excitement as he hammered and shaped the iron until it looked like a plate.
It seemed like ages since Kaizen had smelled a forge and felt its heat. However, he could not allow himself to be distracted by this animation, because it would cause him to miss the right time interval between one hammering and another.
…
Edited by: DrHitsuji
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