"Your Excellency, we are Butterfly Nymphs. We have affinity with nature, and we can hear the thoughts of plants and trees. But most plants and trees are not sentient. We can barely hear their thoughts if we focus."
"Since we can hear Your Excellency's thoughts easily, it seems like Your Excellency is a Nature Spirit. We are honored to be in your presence."
This time, it was Wyden who spoke and answered. The two butterfly nymphs showed great reverence to Nexus, and it caught him off guard.
If these two can hear his thoughts, for the sake of survival, Nexus was prepared to be a 'slave'.
If Blood Boiling Mushrooms can really be used to create potions or pills, then, for survival, Nexus was willing to offer growing more mushrooms and letting these two take them as long as they would spare his life.
He didn't expect that before he could even beg for his life, these two would be so respectful to him. Not only that, they even started to kowtow to his direction as if they were worshipping him.
"What are you here for?"
To be cautious, despite the submissive attitude that these two showed, Nexus didn't dare be too strong nor weak in front of them, maintaining a neutral attitude.
Hearing his question, the two looked at each other before bowing their head even lower than before.
"Your Excellency, please forgive us! We didn't know that you awakened your sentience, and we accidentally plucked your mushrooms." Wyden apologizes, his limbs trembling as if he were afraid that Nexus would eat him alive for his sin.
"Please forgive us, gracious Nature Spirit." Iruline followed suit, showing the same level of fear and subservience as Wyden.
"You are forgiven, but I want to know what you are here for."
Nexus decided to be 'open-minded'. In any case, his mushrooms were not destroyed. As long as they return his mushrooms, he could still save them by once again connecting them to his mycelium.
It would at most waste some mana, but nothing too severe. Besides, he was curious about these two.
Could they really be foragers in search of special plants? Since Nexus is ignorant about this world, he might as well try to gather some information from these Butterfly Nymphs.
The two glanced at each other again before Wyden spoke. "Your Excellency, we are here to find Blood Boiling Mushrooms to save our tribe from the enemy. We deeply apologize for offending you."
Hearing that, Nexus was a bit relieved. At the very least, they don't seem to be alchemists or related to alchemists.
They only plan to use his mushrooms for battle, which are more acceptable.
"Hmm? Are you not aware of the consequences of eating Blood Boiling Mushrooms?" Nexus inquired.
Even if the mushroom can temporarily increase their strength, so what? They will die shortly after consumption!
"W-we are aware but… I-I don't have any other choice. For the sake of our tribe's survival, I am willing to sacrifice myself" Wyden answered bitterly, and Nexus cannot help but be a bit moved.
Such a heroic spirit!
If their situation were reversed, Nexus definitely wouldn't be able to sacrifice himself. After all, he was actually quite a selfish person.
He would rather flee or sacrifice others than sacrifice himself.
At first, Nexus tried to think of a way to have these two nymphs leave him alone without angering them to the point that, from being submissive, they would be hostile.
But after some thinking, he had a bold idea. Whether it be devouring trees or a beast like the old wolf from before, his energy absorption was faster compared to passively absorbing the free mana in his surroundings.
Since that is the case, then…
"Seeing your heroic spirit, your selflessness, touched me. I am willing to bestow some of my mushrooms to you, and although I cannot guarantee it, there's a chance that you might not die even after consuming them, but it wouldn't be for free."
When Nexus killed the old wolf, or more like when the old wolf committed suicide by eating two of his mushrooms, he already had an idea of trying to see if he could make it so that the consumer's body would not explode.
When the consumer dies, their bodies would explode, and it would cover quite a large area. As such, the spores that his mushrooms release cannot maximize the corpse; some energy is lost.
Since Nexus can sense that even after being eaten, he still has a connection to the mushroom and can control it, he thought that he could prevent the corpse from exploding. But now, he has an even bolder idea.
Can he make it so that his mushroom can temporarily increase the consumer's strength without directly killing them? If that is possible, then Nexus has an idea on how he could gather strength to ensure his survival.
"N-not kill us?"
Wyden was visibly pleasantly surprised by that notion. While he is willing to sacrifice himself for the tribe, if he has a choice, he still wouldn't want to die.
After all, he was the most talented in the tribe. Even if they survived the lizardmen's attack, but he died, their future would still be bleak.
"We are willing! Your Excellency, we are willing to do everything as long as we can safely eat the Blood Boiling Mushrooms!"
This time, Iruline was even more enthusiastic than Wyden. She knew that she could not stop Wyden from sacrificing himself, but now there is hope!
Wyden doesn't need to die!
"I didn't say that I could guarantee the consumer will not die, but there is a chance. The mushrooms I grow are all connected to me, and I can control them to some extent. However, whether I can control them to prevent a consumer's death is still currently unknown" Nexus clarified.
He had this idea, but he never implemented it before. They would be his first test subjects!
"As long as there is hope, it is enough for us. We will do everything" Iruline stood firmly with her decision, and since that is the case, Nexus expressed his desire.
"Good. If that is the case, I allow you to take some mushrooms with you. However, in return, if you are successful, I want the corpse of your fallen enemies to be given to me."
This is a risky investment. If these nymphs die or do not honor their end of the bargain, Nexus would lose some of his mushrooms.
However, the mushrooms can easily be grown anytime as long as he has enough energy.
If his gamble was successful and he obtained the corpses of the nymph's enemies, then he might be able to grow the remaining mushrooms he needed for his transformation in one go!
Lose the gamble, and Nexus needs to spend more time growing mushrooms. Win, and he would immediately reach the threshold for his transformation.
The risk was low, but the return was high! Who wouldn't want such a gamble?
"The corpse?" Wyden narrowed his eyes but soon shook his head. Nature Spirits, after all, can be twisted or kind.
At the very least, they can communicate with this Mushroom Spirit, and they can even obtain its help. That is already enough.
At this point, whether it be a deal with a devil or angel, Wyden will grab it as long as he can ensure the tribe's survival.
"We promise to sacrifice our enemies' bodies to your Excellency if we are successful" Wyden solemnly promised. He doesn't have an ounce of intent to not fulfill this promise.
For plants or trees to awaken intelligence was not simple. They either have to be born special, live for a really, really long time, or have a fruitful encounter.
These Nature Spirits are not simple. Many of them might not have direct fighting power but they could harm you in a way you cannot defend.
"Very well, you may take at most ten mushrooms" Nexus said.
He didn't dare let them take too many mushrooms. The ten mushrooms he spoke of was mostly the ones that these two already plucked earlier.
The number of mushrooms around can kind of determine whether Nexus will be safe or not. It was better for the beast to eat the mushrooms surrounding him before dying rather than these beasts eating him first.
"We thank you, Your Excellency!"
"Thank you, Your Excellency!"
With that, the two gathered the ten mushrooms given to them and after once again promising to fulfill the agreement, they returned to the tribe.
Their enemies, the lizardmen are set to attack tonight. If they want to return to the tribe and have some time to prepare, they must travel as soon as possible.
They are afraid to see the lizardmen already attacking their tribe while they are not present. If that happens, their tribe might already be destroyed before they return.
Fortunately, since Wyden didn't plan to go far from the tribe, it didn't take that long before the returned and from the looks of it, they still have a few hours to prepare.