Chapter 91: The Night Before

It had taken three hours, a bunch of mistakes and a close call, but Nathan finally built a sturdy bridge on which everyone could make it safely across the river. It took some convincing on his part; many believing thought there was no way vines could make an effective bride. However, after many adventurers tried cutting the vines to no avail, slowly he was able to change their minds.

Nathan and several others were all standing on the bridge and found it sturdy enough, but they needed to test it with the carriages. Problems in which even with their own bodies being supported, no one was willing to test their carts or carriages. In the end Ramol volunteered and slowly he drove the carriage out onto the bridge. It was a scary moment in his life, but his fear was misplaced. The carriage rode cleanly across the bridge to the other side.

Soon everyone else had followed and soon everyone had crossed the bridge. Not far up ahead was a large forest and I was told that this was the forest in which the dungeon lay. We were on a round-about path, but it would get them there sooner than later.

Nathan: “Almost there?”

Ramol: “More or less, this is a really round-about path, it takes us full circle around Lake Viridi.”

Nathan: “There’s a lake?”

Ramol: “Yup, but this road takes us all the way around it to reach the dungeon.”

Ash: “They weren’t kidding when they said it was round-about way, but at least we’re past the Turbulence.”

Ramol: “Yeah, but at this rate we won’t even make it to the rest stop.”

Nathan: “Rest stop?”

Ash: “Not too far away from the dungeon, there is a designated safe-area where you can rest and setup tent for the night. But he’s right; we might just have to make camp for the night.”

Iris: “I Think your idea; has already been put into motion.”

Up ahead, they once again spotted Fynel’s carriage on the side of the road. Their tents were out, and they were setting up for the night.

Nathan: “Hey Zane, you guys are gonna camp here?”

Zane: “Indeed, this area has the making of a safe-zone. If we press on any further, we will have to travel the unfamiliar road at night.”

Ramol: “Then we’ll join you, ah, if that’s okay with everyone.”

Nathan: “No other choice, the suns about to go down and not all of us can travel at night.”

Kyr, Ramol and Ena were unable to see in the dark as well as everyone else, so if they were attacked, they couldn’t do much. They pulled they’re cart over to the side of the road and started to clear the area for camping. It didn’t take long for them to rid the area of grass and debris, with Anais and Iris’s magic they had cleared an area much larger than they actually needed. Before they knew it, several other carts had taken up residence in the unused area, not before making sure it was okay with Nathan and party.

Ash: “Okay, who’s gonna set up tent?”

Nathan: “Nobody.”

Nathan opened his hand to several seeds Ash hadn’t seen before. Nathan then spread the seeds out over the area. Ash, and several others, watched as a large flower sprouted from the ground. The flower head turned towards the ground and created walls to what looked like a small cabin. Two petals folded up from the ground creating an entry way so the occupants could enter. When all was done, three housing plants had been magnificently grown.

Nathan: “Alright guys, one for the girls, one for the siblings and one for me and Ash.”

Ash: “W-What the hell are those!?”

Nathan: “Housing plants, it what I was talking about before. The petals are strong and prevent anyone from seeing inside as the head of the plant is luminescent, so there is plenty of light if you want and also it cures fatigue, which I desperately need right now and more importantly, it a natural safe-zone, nothing dangerous will come within ten meters of this baby.”

Ash took a look inside, it was much bigger on the inside to find it full furnished, a bed made from petals and leaves respectively, a desk-like stand sticking out of the wall and even a place to store all his weapons on the wall.

Anais: “Hey, you don’y have a kitchen.”

Nathan: “Well, no-one’s cooking besides me right now and I thought you all would like to sprucen-up, so I made a shower instead. Though I couldn’t get it up to Saria’s standards.”

Saria’s housing plant had a kitchen and separate rooms all in one plant. Also, she had a design with little intricacies Nathan just couldn’t replicate. Nathan could have made a kitchen, but then he couldn’t have made the shower and he couldn’t make a third room at all. It was all he was capable of at the moment, but it was a good first try anyway.

Ash: “Did I ever tell you how much I enjoy being a member of your party?”

Nathan: “You can stand to say it a little more. Well with that done, all we need is something to eat.”

Ash: “We got plenty to eat, let’s go gather some fire wood, while there still some light left.”

Nathan: “Actually, I gonna take a walk and plant a few seeds, just to make sure we don’t get attacked while were resting.”

Nathan and Iris left them behind and walked the perimeter of the carts. Once he was out to the outer edge of the area, he placed a seed and walked around placing several more as he walked the perimeter.

Iris: “Master, do want your plants to attack the other adventurers?”

Nathan: “Only if they warrant an attack, I’ll ask Zane to spread the word not to approach threateningly.”

Iris: “Okay, but after this you really need to rest. I’ve been keeping your mana from running out, but you look exhausted.”

Nathan: “Building that bridge took a lot out of me, I’ll rest as soon as we get back.”

Iris: “I will make sure you do just that.”

They continued there walk around the edge of the camp, planting some seeds along the outer perimeter. If anything tried to come towards them while they slept, they would be instantly alerted by the sound of ‘Uzy’ fire. With the security finished, Nathan began to gather some firewood. Ena and Anais stayed behind to watch the housing plants and Ramol and Kyr were preparing the ingredients to be cooked. That left Ash to gather firewood by himself, he could only carry so much by himself and it would be too suspicious if he came back empty-handed after using his Inventory.

Anais: “YOU SONUVA BITCH!”

Ena: “GOTCHA YOU PERVERT!”

Nathan: “What the hell?”

Nathan ran back to camp, Ash hearing the screaming came running over as well. When they returned, they found a group of people huddled around their housing plants. Pushing passed them they found Ena and Anais, holding someone to the ground. Soaking and wet, with a towels wrapped around their bodies ignoring their current state, they stood atop Fynel the merchant. Nathan quickly had the petals come down and hid the two from sight.

Nathan: “Ash.”

Ash: “Right, alright people, move away, nothing to see here, time to get going. Hey, Hey, Hey, I see you peeking, get outta here.”

Ash, Ramol and Kyr cleared the crowd while Nathan approached the girls. Zane had also come over, to find his contractor on the ground.

Nathan: “Ena and Anais, what the hell!?”

Jasmine: “What are you doing to our contractor!?”

Anais: “This fucking pervert was spying on us in the shower.”

Nathan: “What!?”

Zane: “Mr. Fynel?”

Fynel: “GET OFF ME I DID NOTHING WRONG! HURRY UP AND GET THEM OFF ME.”

Nathan: “Hey, Zane.”

Zane: “I understand, we will get to the bottom of this, but first; could you let him up, he is still in my care.”

Nathan nodded and the girls let Fynel get up.

Fynel: “HOW DARE YOU LET THEM TREAT ME THIS WAY, DO LOOK SO POOR AS TO BE INTERESTED IN THESE FILTHY WOMEN!?”

Ena: “Can I crush the pervert already?”

Nathan: “Both of you go back inside, your drawing a lot of attention. The petals can only do so much.”

Anais: “What’s stopping him from trying again?”

Nathan: “I’m not going anywhere, go finish your shower.”

Ena and Anais reluctantly walked back inside, giving Fynel a death glare as they disappeared inside. Zane lead Fynel away, still yelling about what had just transpired. Nathan stood outside the girl’s plant, giving them a piece of their mind.

Iris: “Master, you said-”

Nathan: “I promise I’ll rest after this.”

Iris: “…………Fine.”

Nathan: As always, thanks for worrying about me.”

Iris: “No need for thanks, it’s a given.”

_

_

Nathan was able to take his long-earned rest sitting around the campfire listening to his friend’s conversations while they ate. The sun had disappeared and campfire around was the only source of light.

Anais: “Fucking pervert!...should have burnt him to a crisp.”

Ena: “We had every right to stomp him flat, I wish you hadn’t stop us.”

Nathan: “Just wait until Zane comes over, he’ll get to the bottom of this. I’m sure he’ll be able to clear things up.”

Anais: “Are you taking his side right now?”

Nathan: “No, he definitely did something wrong, I’m just saying if he was trying to spy on you there was easier ways to do it, but he took the time to climb up on the roof. It was still plenty of daylight out; no way no-one didn’t see him up there.”

Anais and Ena explained to Nathan, that while they were showering, they heard a noise on the roof and when they went to investigate, they caught Fynel on the roof spying on them.

Anais: “That does seem kind of unnecessary.”

Nathan: “Right?”

Anais: “If I were going to spy on you I wouldn’t be up there, I would have walked around back where no one could see me and peaked under the flower pedals. The walls my not let you see through them from the way there overlapped, but the pedals could still be lifted up a bit.”

Nathan: “Yup, Yup.”

Anais: “And then in my rodent form I would he gone under them and climbed around to the back of the shower head where I could have a birds-eye view while still staying well out of sight.

Nathan: “That’s enough Anais, you can stop.”

Anais: “Or if I wanted a lower position, I hide behind the flowers coming out of the walls near the floor; it would be the best place to watch as you moved to wash-”

Nathan: “ANAIS, PLEASE STOP TALKING!”

Anais came out of her thoughts to see all eyes on her, except Nathan who had his hand in front of his face, hiding his shame.

Anais: “I-I mean that how would do it.”

Ash: “Hey hold up…what was all that detail?

Ramol: “Master Nathan, please explain what that was.”

Nathan: “At any point, did your ‘Threat Detection’ activate? It should have; with any malicious intent.”

Ash: “(He ignored us.)”

Ramol: “(We were ignored.)”

Both girls shook their heads, saying no, while Ramol and Ash noticed Nathan’s subject change.

Nathan: “Then it’s a good chance, he wasn’t out to see you both naked. I’m not on his side, what he did was wrong and he needs to pay for it, I’m just saying it probably wasn’t his goal.”

Zane: “So he claims.”

Walking towards the group. Zane appeared, with his usual smile gone.

Zane: “Evening all, might I join you?”

Nathan tossed a seed and a large flower they were using for chairs sprouted up from the ground.

Zane: “Amazing as always.”

Zane took a seat and Anais wasted no time and asking.

Anais: “So what happened, where’s the pervert?”

Zane: “Yes about the incident…”

Zane stood back up and bowed deeply toward Anais and Ena.

Zane: “I whole-heartedly apologize for the shame my client brought down upon you.”

Anais: “Huh, why the hell are you apologizing?”

Ena: “You didn’t do anything.”

Nathan: “So what, he admitted to spying?”

Zane: “No, in fact he still firmly denies the accusation, saying he had no interest in the women. Though he did see you, it wasn’t his intention. It seems his only interest was that.”

Zane pointed over to the housing plant.

Nathan: “Oh, what for?”

Zane: “He wanted to know where you got them and how it functioned. He thought they would make excellent items to sell.”

Nathan: “Yeah, I figured that was what he was after.”

Zane: “What?”

Nathan: “Yeah, Ramol’s been telling me how valuable most of my plants are.”

Ramol: “Of course, mobile safe-house, that you can carry anywhere in your pocket, not only does it have a comfortable interior, it even comes with facilities and always have a pleasant flowery smell. More importantly, monsters won’t come near it and it takes absolutely no time to set up, the sheer capitol I could make on those alone, is tremendous.”

Ramol kept preaching about the benefits of selling them, Nathan turned back to Zane, who understood what he was saying.

Nathan: “But, only ‘I’ can make them.”

Nathan closed his hand and pretended to chant under his breath. He then opened his hand to reveal a ball of light.

Zane: “Ah, this is what was flowing from you earlier today.”

Nathan: “Yes, this, what I call a seed. It’s how I use my magic plants. In order to make the plants I need these.”

Zane: “I see, and if you don’t plant them.”

As if on cue, the ball of light in Nathan’s hand faded away.

Nathan: “It disappears, but that time it was only because of me, but even if I didn’t do it, given enough time without being planted, they would vanish.”

Zane: “Ah so it is indeed impossible.”

Zane understood immediately that they were in sellable, there was no need to go into further detail.

Nathan: “Then again, even if it I could sell them, I wouldn’t sell to him.”

Zane: “What?”

Nathan: “Even if by accident, he did peek on my party members and he didn’t even have the decency to apologize. How could I, in good conscience, even acknowledge the idea of working with him, when he can’t even apologize for his own mistake?”

Zane: “A valid point, I will not bring up the topic again.”

Zane stood up and bowed once again.

Zane: “Then I will take my leave.”

Nathan: “Yeah.”

With that, not really accomplishing anything, Zane turned to leave.

Iris: “That man apologizes an awful lot.”

Ash: “I get apologizing for your party members, but for Fynel, it’s a little strange.”

Nathan: “He probably thought he needed to do something to compensate, he feels responsible, because he was supposed to be guarding him.”

Ash: “Adventurers shouldn’t be made to cover for their clients actions. Our job is to protect them and nothing more.”

Ramol: “I agree, but on the other hand, I might have done the same thing, that just how valuable the plants you grow are.”

Nathan: “But I think you at least have the decency to apologize afterwards.”

Anais and Ena gave Ramol a death-stare.

Ramol: “O-Of course, I would.”

Anais: “I hope so; I’ll just have to force an apology out of him.”

Nathan: “Not yet, when Zane’s contract is done, how about the two of you pay him a visit.”

Anais: “Oh that sounds like fun.”

Ena: “I’ll get that pervert, just you watch.”

Nathan: “Hey Ramol, come here for a second.”

Ramol: “M-Me?”

Ramol walked over to Nathan, who promptly whispered something into his ear. Upon hearing what he had to say, Ramol went wide eyed.

Ramol: “Yes that would actually help a lot.”

Nathan: “Alright, hey girls, Ramol here gonna help you out with your revenge thing.”

Anais: “Help us out?”

Nathan: “Yeah, knowing you two, you probably go after him, spells and fist a blazing.”

Ena: “Nothing wrong with that.”

Anais: “It worked with Morty.”

Nathan: “Except Fynel, isn’t a scumbag. “

Anais and looked at Nathan as if he were stupid.

Nathan: “Okay he is a scumbag, but he’s a respected scumbag and we can’t have our vendetta get in the way of Ramol’s business. He being associated with us and all might not sit well with his guild if we were to hurt their profit by openly pummeling him.

Ramol: “Yes, that is a distinct possibility.”

Nathan: “So I suggest this instead.”

Nathan talked a while longer, explaining his plan to them.

Anais: “A long term problem, instead of a short-term pummeling, I like this plan.’

Ena: “But there so much waiting, I want to punch him now.”

Nathan: “Be patient, you just have to make do with the monsters in the dungeon. You can punch him later.”

Ena: “………..Fine.”

Ena set there pouting for a while, not getting to cause bodily harm to Fynel really got her down. After a while she cheered up, mostly because the food Nathan prepared. They didn’t remember who it was, but somebody yawned. After the initial yawn, the contagion spread like wildfire and soon everyone was heading off to bed. Everyone headed off except Nathan who decided to take a walk. He promised Iris he wouldn’t stray from the safe-zone, it was the only way to get her to let him walk by himself. He strolled around, staring into the distance.

Not far off was a lake, the moon’s reflection off its surface was an enchanting sight. The night time wildlife was alive with the sounds of monsters and animals alike, it was eerie yet ambient sound as he stared at the lake. It was just past that that he would finally be at the dungeon. After all he been through, a three-hour cart ride didn’t seem like much. The anticipation was driving him wild, if not for his Calm Mind, he would be pumping his fist and jumping around.

He took one last look and decided to head back, any longer and Iris would come searching.

*SLAP*

Nathan: “What the?”

Nathan was confused as to why, but without a doubt, that was the sound of someone being hit in the face. In the darkness Nathan could see a few figures huddle around a dull light. If not for his excellent sight, he wouldn’t have even noticed it. It was a little beyond the distance Iris wanted him to travel, but his was curiosity was getting the best of him.

He decided to take a look, quiet ducking behind some bushes to see what was happening. Getting closer to the light source, he found it was a group of women, more precise it was Zane’s entourage.

????????: “You fool!...do you have any idea what you done?”

Reaching the area, Nathan was taken aback by what he was seeing. Much like a mob, the group of women was huddled over the girl Nathan recognized as Jasmine. She was on the ground and holding her hand to her face; from the pain of being slapped.

Nathan: “(quietly)What the hell are they doing?...”