Chapter 71 - Chicanery

Uh-uh.

Big sis' had spotted a contradiction.

"And so, according to you, who would then be the one having opened the path through the barrier?"

To enter the forest's core, we had to follow certain types of requirements.

Calming knew how to answer, thankfully.

"It was the Noble Spirit," Calming certified, nodding, "The one resting just behind me, I can testify to it, O Noble Spirit."

"But where is she? I understand all that, Mr. Calming," big sis' dryad could barely keep her calm composure at this point, "Where is the visiting sister, I can't seem to see her anywhere around."

Big dryad sister insisted ... hmm.

"But … isn't your sister, O Noble Spirit, the one resting just behind me," moving up his right arm and standing to the side, Calming introduced me officially.

"That … that's me, it's right," though still hesitant to chime in on their conversation, "I don't need to introduce myself, then, ahem."

Hesitantly doing so, in this setting of wild forest and impromptu tactical meeting, Calming scooched over to the side at once, and presented me to the big sis' just sitting before me now.

"That's right, dryad," I coughed emblematically in my hand marking my debut, "And that's exactly what I've been trying to tell you in the first place, yes, ahem."

Taking two steps forward, "And so … is it okay if you help me with the adventure or whatever, then?"

I was properly introduced, now.

And while we weren't properly understanding each other before, now, the veil causing great misunderstanding between us two would be lifted.

Calming had done all the work for me.

Now, she just had to buy it, and...

Oh-ho … and I can count one additional bulging vein.

A frown appeared on her face.

Seemingly following her example, some clouds went on growling right at the same time.

That, and it was still raining.

She must've been real angry for some reason…

And the sky's people, mostly clouds, understood why it seemed.

Still sitting on the branches she'd organized as a stool, she only unfolded her two long alluring legs, and folded them back, placing the priorly lower leg above the other.

She sighed.

Even after all of Calming's explanation, she was still … ugh.

Even frowning, though, the same bright--Or not bright at all, at this point--unsettling smile was adorning her pretty facial traits.

Well, what's with her…?

Her silence started to become uncomfortably palpable.

Will she at least talk?

Smiling awkwardly, I could only wonder what went wrong again.

Peering above my left shoulder, I threw a glance at Calming, calling him in for help, but, heh…

He was just doing the same thing, that is to say throwing sneaky glances at me, maybe trying to make me say something, but well.

As my eyes met with his, the same strange smile was to be put on his face, duh.

He must've been as lost as I was.

Come on, Calming, say something, you got this.

Elbowing him, he understood I wanted and entrusted to him the talking part.

Though super hesitant, he spoke, "Wh--What might be this … erm…"

Oh-ho.

And if even the articulate Calming didn't know what to say--

"Enough…!

"Enough is enough, with you two funny elves!"

And thus she snapped and yelled at us.

Her calm, slow, and composed voice got turned into something entirely different.

Big dryad sis' two rapid-moving lips were telling us off, it seemed.

So … was she mad at us in the end?

Was she just repressing that urge to yell at us ever since her temple era's veins started to bulge, her face twitching in annoyance…?

"Ahem," and calmly coughing into her hand, she went back to her usual self, as she spoke steadily and slowly, in her cool and classy usual manner.

"Haven't I already told you this is no matter to be joking about?

"The Elder Sisters' hands are full and much occupied.

"And as unfortunate as it may be for you people, we cannot be helping you at the moment.

"As you may well be acquainted with the fact that, the True Demon Lord's Alliance isn't seeing us, dryads, as non-fighting opponents.

"And, needless for me to explain to you why, but we are glad about that.

"We shall fight back.

"The Elder Sisters are extremely busy, since on the elven front of the conflict, none remain fighting.

"Am I being clear, elves?

"Now, letting you know that, on the second occasion, if this unfortunate situation ever so happens to be back again, calling in for help your allies, you should always be straightforward and upfront with it."

I'm sorry what?

My and Calming's eyes had to meet up again.

What should we do or say?

What was she on about now?

Her face still decorated by that bright, yet unsettling smile, she stood up, letting the branches under her butt disassemble and join the others, circling around herself.

"Hey, Calming, why don't you say something," whispering and elbowing him again like mad, "I'm not getting a word of what she's saying."

It wasn't entirely true.

I understood, but why would she say all that?

"Now, if you would excuse me, elves," slowly turning her back onto us, "I believe it is time to end this chicanery of yours," she was about to leave the place.

"You should return to your homes, now."

And she was just … leaving?

My eyes were full with my brows arching up on both sides, "Ahem, what about your help, then?"

Me and Calming, we were just looking out for help, according to her.

And we weren't straightforward and responsible enough to just ask for it upfront.

And so, she just goes about leaving?

It's true that I needed her help. That's what the quest stated.

But wasn't she misunderstanding the kind of help I wanted?

"Heh," chuckling, I shook my head at Calming, "Don't be sorry about that, you did your best."

Poor Calming was just speechless at this point.

Who knows what was on his mind right now.

I appreciated his efforts.

We were soaked in rain, and at this point Calming's thoughts got disrupted by his sneezing, "Achoo!"

"I'm--I'm sorry I couldn't be of … help?" Calming tilted his head to the side, "It seems there is something wrong in all this … though what?"

And just like that, we had to go away.

"We must be ignorant of one fact, O Noble Spirit--Far from me the idea of belittling your wide range of knowledge, though."

And return to our desperate people.

Big dryad sister was leaving us. She was going away, only showing her back to us.

And we should go away too.

"Yes, there's something you don't know about Calming.

"But it's fine.

"I got this."

Going back home?

Me and Calming?

Like we would just go away like this. After all we had gone through … we'd just leave my quest undone?

❮Compulsory Quest: Character's Creation.❯

❮The Player has to create his character to start the Game.❯

❮Character's Creation Quest: Speak to the dryads you found in Foret's core area, and allow them to help you accomplish the quest.❯

"Ha--Hang on a second!"

Taking a speedy step onward, "You gotta wait, dryad!" I stomped into the moistened earth.

She didn't do so much as reply to me. I sighed.

"Don't just go away!" I yelled at her.

My feet had to drag me forward again, following her from behind, "And I'm not only talking to you!"

Shouting, I extended my arms around me, "Same goes for every one of you dryads!"

There were many of them.

The quest stated to go and see the dryads in order to go on with the game.

I could feel their presence.

There's no way all of this is just a scam.

Although, "Damn it..."

Raining drops landing on the earth covering my lines, nobody still replied to me.

I clicked my tongue.

Will she really just go away?

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