Chapter 27

Ruri's buddies all crowded around to watch.

"So this is magic? Does Level 1 refer to this book or to you, Ruri?" Leon asked casually, standing unconsciously close. Ruri stole a glance at him, a hint of blush on her cheeks.

"Hmm? What do you think, Leon?" Ruri said shyly.

"Even if you asked me, I wouldn't know. And that spell slot: 1—who can explain it?"

Naya tapped her chin thoughtfully. "I guess one spell slot matches one spell."

"I thought magic was supposed to be serious," Aile said, arms crossed. "But that Fireball spell's note—'deals damage to the target and all their ancestors'... Isn't that just an insult?"

Ruri felt deep malice radiating from the words.

"Since it can only be used once, better not waste it lightly," Leon told her.

"Mm." Ruri nodded slightly. She seemed especially obedient to Leon.

"Saving Ruri was Aio's decree. Now magic itself has revived—it seems Aio must have a plan," Aile said.

Who knows? It gave off a vibe like a heaven-sent duty descending upon them...

Just then, two dark shadows flashed past them. Looking closer—it was just a cat as big as a silverback wolf chasing a kitten. Sure enough, with goblins nearly gone, this place had become a wild animal paradise.

But—the fleeing kitten suddenly doubled back!? The cat threw itself at Leon's feet and instantly shifted into human form!

"Save me!!" It was a purple-haired girl!? She clung to Leon's leg, pleading. Naya and Ruri stared, stunned.

Literally clinging to his leg!!!

"You heretic! Daring to beg adventurers for help?" The silverback-sized cat transformed instantly into a young man.

Why did these two look so familiar? Especially the girl... Leon wondered.

"Aren't they the Archdruid's disciples? We saw them at the Adventurer Guild!" Naya voiced his thoughts.

"Stay out of this!" the Druid man snarled fiercely.

"Sorry, but I'm stepping in," Leon said, slinging his sword over his shoulder with a nonchalant air.

"Punishment in Nature's name!" The Druid man's hands morphed into sharp cat claws as he lunged—

Leon swung his sword, flashing from front to back in an instant. The Druid man collapsed, blood spurting from his chest.

A clean strike... Just as Leon sheathed his blade, a bolt of lightning struck the fallen man out of nowhere!!!

"Whoa, what's happening?" Leon blinked in surprise. The man revived!? He stood up unharmed, the chest wound healing before their eyes.

Had that lightning jump-started his heart—?

"I am Harold the Undying, one of the Archdruid's four disciples!" the man declared coldly—before he finished, a huge silvery palm slammed him into the ground, leaving a deep palm-shaped crater.

"Just like Aile."

Aile snorted. "I haven't even thrown a punch today."

Another lightning bolt struck the Druid man from thin air, filling the air with a burnt stench...

"You—dare defy Nature—?" The man, like a zombie with a built-in defibrillator, crawled out of the crater. He raised his arms skyward, summoning aid. Wind rushed first! Fierce gales erupted, dark clouds gathered overhead, rumbling ominously!

He's charging a big move—?

Naya quickly cast Shield of Light on everyone nearby.

"Bad news—he's calling lightning! Run!" the Druid girl shouted anxiously.

"Too late!" the Druid man hissed. "I'll erase you all at once—!"

Before he finished, a massive fireball slammed into him—dealing 2d6 bludgeoning damage and 6d6 explosive damage.

After the blast, only a charred lump remained... No defibrillator could fix that now. The clouds dispersed, the wind stilled.

All eyes turned to Ruri—

"I just wanted to test it... I didn't expect such power," Ruri said timidly.

The Druid girl gaped. This—this wasn't a one-star team's strength—!!!

"Why was he chasing you?" Leon asked.

"Save everyone!!" the Druid girl shook Leon's leg—"My master has gone mad—!!"

"What?" Everyone gasped in shock.

"Your master is the Archdruid, right? Calm down—what happened?" Naya said.

"He—he plans to wipe out all adventurers in the Irlanto Outskirts—!"

They exchanged uneasy glances.

"Do adventurers owe him a grudge? Why do this?" Leon asked, puzzled. Even Aile stood arms crossed, frowning worriedly.

"Master believes adventurers now threaten Nature's balance too severely—!" the Druid girl cried. "So he'll act as Nature's Will to fulfill its duty—!"

"But he claimed goblins were the threat..."

"Exactly! I believed it too! He ordered disciples to pose as a fake mutant goblin—the Butcher! Posted bounties! I thought it was to kill goblins—but the real goal was luring adventurers here! Then—" she gasped, pointing at the conical peak. "That's a volcano—! He'll erupt it to swallow them all!"

"Huh??? The Butcher was fake??" Leon, Aile, and Naya shouted together.

"Yes! The Butcher was Wildwalker Faren, one of the four disciples in disguise!"

The Archdruid's four disciples were—

Wildwalker Faren

Harold the Undying

Spiritcaller Anya

Fungus Maker, Toxic Bloom Hamuel

"I am Spiritcaller Anya," the Druid girl said, rubbing tear-red eyes. "We four received Nature's Will's essence blood—wine—and merged with it, gaining superhuman power."

"No wonder hunters' tracking led nowhere," Naya murmured. "Not a glitch—the Butcher's true form was in Dawn City all along!"

Leon eyed the nearby conical peak. He never guessed it was a volcano. "Can we still stop your master?"

The Druid girl shook her head. "Impossible. The Archdruid is Nature's Will incarnate—! And Hamuel, among the four—he's Harold's father, above us three! He's terrifying—no joke."

Her final plea—"Just warn all adventurers in the Irlanto Outskirts to evacuate—!"

"Whatever," Leon said, sword slung over his shoulder in signature style—"Saving them is the Hero's job anyway."

Meanwhile, high on the mountainside—

The Archdruid began his ascent.

Ten years ago, to preserve Nature's balance—Nature's Will perished with all Sorcerers! The Archdruid received its flesh in the Murmuring Forest.

Now, it was his turn to fulfill Nature's duty as a god.

"The Butcher waits below. A hundred adventurer teams approach—" Fungus Maker, Toxic Bloom Hamuel reported.

"No word of your son?" the Archdruid asked in a calm, raspy voice.

"He hunts the heretic. No worry."

The Archdruid nodded. "Tonight's full moon—Nature's Will peaks. I'll commune at the crater. Guard this place."

"Rest easy," Hamuel said. "I'll seed wild mushrooms on the slope; anyone near will—" A fireball plummeted from the sky, striking him—dealing 2d6 bludgeoning damage and 6d6 explosive damage.

"Hamuel—?" The Archdruid stared, shocked, as his disciple died inexplicably.

No presence sensed—the fireball came from nowhere.

Truly uncanny—

To be continued.