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Chapter 18
— Clematis is your name?
— …Yes.
Even while feeling deeply wronged, Clematis blushed a little at Bice calling his name.
— This might sound awful, but…
With a gentle yet firm tone, Bice continued.
— I actually use wooden objects made from trees.
Thud.
Clematis looked as if he had been struck by shock.
It was the expression of someone who just learned that a pet rabbit they loved had been eating humans as its main diet.
— But I don’t do it for fun. Just like insects you raise eat plants because they need to, humans also use wood because it’s necessary. I’m grateful to nature… I mean, I try to treat it with respect.
Absolutely not for the purpose of harming trees!
Trying to console him only made Bice feel strangely guilty, like humans were the ones being rude and ungrateful.
— Then why do you burn trees?
— Fire from burning wood keeps humans warm. Humans are very weak, so if we get too cold, we die.
Not tree abuse, I swear!
Bice continued explaining how much humans relied on trees.
At that moment, Metasequoia spoke.
“Bice…”
“Yes?”
“What do you think… do you live your life with gratitude toward nature?”
“Uh…?”
Her emotional tone made Bice uncomfortable. It wasn’t something she had ever really thought about.
“Well… humans are part of nature too, so we should probably treat it with care?”
It sounded like a school moral lesson, and Bice felt embarrassed—but Metasequoia looked deeply moved, as if the entire forest had been shaken.
“You speak quite philosophically.”
Even Cassius looked slightly impressed.
‘Ah… in this world, people probably just see nature as something to conquer.’
Bice suddenly felt like some enlightened modern thinker who had brought profound knowledge to another world.
Completely embarrassed, she lowered her head—until a branch tapped her shoulder.
“While you stay in this forest… could you become Clematis’s friend?”
“Me?”
Not wanting extra trouble, Bice smiled awkwardly.
“Wouldn’t it be better for him to befriend other dryads his age?”
“In this forest, Clematis is the only dryad of his generation.”
“The only one?”
“The Magic Tower’s forest no longer has enough power to birth new dryads.”
Clematis rubbed his face against Metasequoia’s leaves, sensing loneliness even if he didn’t fully understand the words.
‘He’s not a bad spirit…’
Metasequoia added, as if reading her thoughts:
“Instead, while you manage the forest, we will deliver the wood materials directly to the Tower.”
“…That would help. Wood is heavy.”
“And Clematis can serve as a good escort when you collect magical materials.”
“I can take him with me?”
“Of course.”
Metasequoia then turned to Clematis.
— If you become friends with Bice, you’ll protect her, won’t you?
— Yes! I will protect her!
— Promise you won’t bind her with vines?
— Okay!
— And don’t fight with Arrel.
— …Okay…
Clematis, tears gathered in his deep green eyes, nodded obediently.
— Then I look forward to working with you, Clematis.
— Bice!
— Eek!
Clematis suddenly wrapped her in vines.
— You promised not to grab me!
— I’m giving you flowers because we’re friends!
What color do you like?
Ignoring her protest, Clematis leaned against her shoulder, happily making flowers bloom everywhere from his vines.
Cassius, watching this, asked dryly:
“So. Is everything resolved now?”
“Seems like it.”
She had gained a troublesome new companion—but at least things were settled.
Bice finally turned toward Cassius.
“Thank you again for saving me, Master of the Tower.”
“I didn’t expect a kidnapping to occur inside the Tower’s forest.”
“Neither did I.”
“I thought you would give up and run back within a day.”
So that was his plan?
Bice narrowed her eyes, then smirked.
“No way.”
Then, just like Clematis, she suddenly clung to Cassius’s arm and looked up at him.
“I’ll do my job properly and stay right by your side from now on.”
Cassius’s normally calm expression twisted slightly in irritation.
“I’ll be leaving now.”
“Wait, I’m coming too!”
Afraid of walking all the way back alone, Bice quickly grabbed him before he could teleport.
— See you tomorrow, Clematis. And Metasequoia next time…
Before she could finish saying goodbye, Cassius’s blue magic swallowed her vision.
They arrived instantly in the Tower Master’s office.
“You could have given me a moment to say goodbye.”
“I should have left you there if you wanted time.”
“Thanks for bringing me back.”
Bice bowed politely, then opened her storage artifact.
“If I may report, cleaning is complete. Griffin and dryad material collection is also done.”
She handed over two large baskets. Cassius snapped his fingers, sending them straight to storage.
Bice stared blankly as her carefully collected materials vanished in an instant.
“Is something wrong?”
“No… just a little sad watching it disappear.”
“Noted.”
Then Bice continued:
“There’s something I wanted to discuss.”
“What is it?”
“The blessing seems to affect monsters differently.”
“Explain.”
“Humans and animals are always kind to me. But monsters are different.”
“How so?”
“They’re more… unpredictable. Like Clematis kidnapping me just because he liked me.”
“Any idea why?”
“Not yet. I was hoping you might think about it with me…”
“I’ll investigate when I have time.”
“Eh?”
Bice’s eyes widened.
She hadn’t expected agreement at all.
“It would be useful to understand how it affects monsters.”
“That’s a good idea! I’ll fully cooperate!”
Maybe this was all for improving Dark Magic Department work? Whatever the reason, Bice nodded enthusiastically.
“Then call me when you have time. As long as it doesn’t harm my body or mind, I’ll participate in any research. I’ll take my leave.”
Better escape before he changes his mind.
She reached for the door—
“By the way… how did you know I was kidnapped by Clematis?”
Cassius’s pale blue eyes flicked briefly toward her fingers.
“…Arrel told me.”
“I see.”
So that’s why he came so quickly.
Then another question arose.
“Why didn’t Arrel come with you?”
“He fell asleep again. Silvio is watching him now.”
“Oh my god—why are you telling me this only now?!”
Bice rushed out of the office.
After she disappeared completely, Cassius stared into the empty doorway.
“Blessings affecting monsters differently…”
He muttered, then a large scroll unfolded in the air—a detailed map of the continent.
“I expected it would be easy to use.”
On the map, faint red marks began appearing, mostly along the outer regions.
Then they slowly moved inward—
Until a massive red stain appeared at the Empire’s border.
“Even so… this will be useful.”
