The three of them walked through the forest feeling a light crispy sensation under their feet.

They entered the deep darkness because the dazzling light was obstructed by the trees leaving only occasional rays of light.

They were several monsters they encountered but none of them dared to attack them. Apart from Madam White’s existence, lower level monsters seem to look at Allen fearfully and some with worship.

They were no hostility.

Some small monsters even approached Allen on their own accord and treated him affectionately.

Some gave him fruits and foods as if they were giving him tribute.

This hard to believe spectacle left Allen aghast… he didn’t have any title such as [ Friends of Beasts and Monsters ] but for some reason, they were treating him quite nicely.

What is happening?

After thinking for quite some time, Allen concluded that it must be related to him being a Monster King.

Although there were monsters that looked at him fearfully and had a bit of hostility these monsters, from what Allen could guess was high-level ones. However, even though they felt like that, they never dared to attack Allen.

Thus, Allen’s time inside the forest was unexpected… quite peaceful…

--- ---

It's certainly beautiful.

A harmony between blue and green you could only find in a fantasy world.

Allen found himself in front of a beautiful waterfall. The surface of the water, radiated by sunlight was almost shining, like a beautiful gem.

The sound of the water splashing was music to the ear, calm, serene and tranquil.

As if being drawn, Allen walked towards it.

“This is a beautiful place,” Madam White who was following behind him, muttered in trance.

“Chu!” Lightning jump up and down, excited.

Allen continued walking when suddenly,

“Quite playful aren’t we?” He spoke, calm and unperturbed. “How long do you want to observe me?”

“…!?”

Allen’s words alerted Madam White and Lightning. An enemy?

Allen heard a voice. It was unclear but Allen knows it’s quite feminine.

“Show yourself, we meant no harm.” Allen showed a harmless smile. “We just happened to pass by,”

“A human?” This time it was clearer.

“No,” Another voice sounded. So there was more than one?

“He’s not human… or at least that’s what I thought.”

“Then what is he?”

“I don’t know, he’s similar to humans but somewhat different. It’s what I heard from the monsters living in this forest.”

“He’s a Monster King!”

“A Monster King?!” A voice suddenly exclaimed.

“She’s right, he does have an aura of a Monster King…”

“So he’s not human then?”

Allen didn’t do anything and just listened. The voices appeared from somewhere, no everywhere. Even after using Sonar, nothing was shown.

Madam White immediately coiled herself around Allen, trying to act the moment she felt danger.

“Are you really a Monster King?” At this moment, a somewhat vague silhouette appeared. The figure looked human, a human female but the face was a bit fuzzy and a bit blurry.

“I am,” Allen answered. This is…

“What’s your name?” Another appeared, this time, the water moved and formed into a silhouette of a woman.

“I am Allen, Allen Bando; the Monster King of Envy.” Allen honestly answered.

“Envy?”

“I haven’t heard that name before,”

“Stupid.” A strong voice scolded. The earth in front of Allen moved on its own and as if it was made of mud, it became bigger and bigger until it formed into another figure of a woman.

“The Monster King of Envy… I have heard of it before.” The earth woman said. He then looked at Allen, his gaze and strong and unyielding.

“One of the said seven deadly sins… a demon of jealousy…”

“… …”

“Are you a demon? What do you want from here?”

She looked at Allen with a serious expression, trying to appraise him. Her powerful glance was saying that based on the circumstances, she just might bury him down.

“Shhhhhh!” Madam White threateningly hissed towards the earth woman. Its red eyes gleamed and seem to be prepared to attack at any given moment.

“Whether I am a demon or not, is something I’m also eager to know…” Allen was unfazed by the earth woman. He brushed past her and walked towards the water.

The unknown silhouettes only watched him and didn’t do anything, but all their eyes and attention were focusing on his every movement.

Allen crouched down and scooped the water, bringing it to his mouth.

“This is delicious,” Allen praised. The water was like the water from a spring. Unblemished and clean, without any different taste, only pure water.

“Isn’t it?” At his words, the Water Spirit puffed out her chest and grinned.

Allen amused by the water woman’s reaction. He turned to the earth woman, “As I have said before, I didn’t come here for any specific purpose. I’m lost, just happened to pass by.”

“… …”

“You don’t need to be so wary, we meant no harm…”

“Chu!” Lightning crawled to the ground and waved its cute small arms. Its appearance was harmless and its mouth curled into a smile.

“Is that so?” The earth woman was still glaring at Allen but this time her voice somewhat softened. “Forgive our attitude; we just don’t like outsiders, especially demons and humans. They destroyed everything without any hesitation… even our beloved home suffered many times because of them.”

“Don’t let your guard down yet!” Another new voice appeared.

Allen followed the source and saw a small fireball floating. The small fireball then started becoming bigger until it turned into a woman’s silhouette.

As I expected, elements…

They were actually spirits. Spirits of fire, wind, water, and earth.

They almost similar to fairies or pixies. They were always around, especially to places where it was clean and beautiful like this and rich in mana.

Though they mostly don't like to show themselves.

People like to call them Elementals or Elemental Spirits.

So this is a den of spirits…?

There were types of Superhumans who made a contract with spirits and use them in battle.

Mostly were magicians who wanted their power to become stronger and one way to achieve that is by contracting spirits related to their elements.

They were called Spirits Contractors or Spirit Users.

Two fireballs were floating on each of the fiery woman’s hands while glaring hatefully at Allen as if preparing to throw the fireballs at him at any given moment.

The heat coming from here can be felt even at Allen’s position which was around four or five meters away.

She was just like a huge fireball. Allen mused inwardly.

“He’s a man we know nothing about! He might be here to hurt us!”

“… …” The other elementals didn’t say anything. Their gazes the returned towards Allen.

Feeling the heavy atmosphere, Madam White was enraged. “Foolish! My master won’t do anything deplorable as that! My master is the greatest as if he would stoop low and do something like that? You’re insulting my master!”

“Chu! Chuu! Chu!”

“Think what you want to think but let me rest here for a bit,” Allen spoke softly towards the fiery woman.

He doesn’t have any motivation to explain himself; in any case, he would just be passing by here.

As for contracting spirits, he wasn’t a magician so he doesn’t really care about it. Elementals are infamous for their temper and high ego.

They won’t contract someone they don’t like.

“A simple request like that, you won’t refuse, right?”

“… …”

“I vote to let him stay!” The water woman raised her hand and spoke. “He said my water is delicious! He’s a good person!”

A naive and innocent thinking. She looks like a child.

“Be as it may,” The fiery woman glared at Allen before turning around. “As we are the spirits of this place, we won’t chase those who are in need but, don’t forget I’m always watching you.”

She disappeared.

“Do something and I will burn you to ashes!”

Allen shrugs his shoulders and lied down at the bank.

The other two elementals also disappeared after casting one look at Allen.

“Hey, where did you come from?” The water woman asked curiously. She didn’t leave but stayed and even approached him on her own accord.

“I came from some far away land,” Allen answered. “I’m actually in the middle of a journey,”

“A journey? Is that the thing where you go somewhere far away?”

Unfamiliar with the world. the Water Spirit tilted her head as she asked.

In response, Allen gave her a firm nod.

Allen nodded. “Yep, a journey. But this is a bit different. I’m on a journey to become strong and powerful…”

“Why do you need to do that? Power only breeds chaos and conflict…” The water woman made a displeased face. “My sisters said that all creatures wanted to become powerful, but they didn’t know the more power they seek the more chaos ensues. They become power monger, I don’t like them…”

She crossed her arms in front of her chest, she looked adorable.

Allen smiled. “Probably, but I don’t have a choice on this matter. I need to do something so I need more power…”

“What do you want to do then?”

Allen raised his upper body and sat down with his arms supporting his body from behind.

“Do you have something you want to protect?”

“Of course,” The water female answered happily. “I want to protect my home. This is my home!”

She spreads her arms widely. “So you can’t do anything bad to it, okay?”

“You understand then,”

“Hm?”

Allen ignored the bewildered water female and lied down again. He closed his eyes and sleep.

He could hear the water female calling him but he ignored it and continued sleeping.

The place was beautiful, peaceful and comfortable. In no time, Allen fell asleep.

--- ---