I had left the Shrine a few moments ago. With every step I took, my mind raced with thoughts of the Shrine's destruction.
It would truly have been a satisfying endeavor.
Alas, knowing how capable it was and how fiercely it was guarded by the unseen,I had to leave it as it was.
But someday, I will most definitely bring absolute destruction upon it.
A temple of such twisted ritualism should not exist anywhere.
After walking a short distance from the Shrine, I reunited with Aldric, who had been anxiously waiting for me. However, he made no effort to begin a conversation.
So I took the initiative.
"Was it the statue or the portraits that shook you to your core?" I finally asked, voicing the question I had held back because of his odd reactions earlier.
"I… it was both…"
"I see. They were disturbing, after all. I understand."
"I… it's not about that. It's about how I… had this lingering feeling that I was… uncannily familiar with them…"
I couldn't help but blink in disbelief at his words.
"You… were familiar with them? Was there any resemblance? Any lingering sense of belonging?"
"E–Exactly…"
A soft sigh escaped my lips.
Of course he was familiar with it. Of course he felt a sense of belonging to this place.
To be honest,I had already been doubtful...doubtful of the uncanny progression of events.
The days I had spent writing stories… that experience had always screamed at me that Aldric's introduction at such a time,him traveling alone through the most dangerous forest in the world with nothing but a runic blade...
No food.
No water.
Wasn't that suspicious to begin with?
Then the sudden emergence of a mysterious shrine with offerings of infants…
All of it hinted at a major plot point—one that I, chosen by the System or whatever force governed this world, was meant to confront next.
"M–Marfin?"
"I understand. Thank you for telling me. Can you please leave me alone for a while? I need to think."
Aldric hesitated but reluctantly agreed and turned to leave.
"And also… don't let Kaira enter the Shrine under any circumstances, all right?" I instructed before he could disappear from sight.
"All right…"
With that, Aldric left me alone with my thoughts.
A major plot progression…
Now that I doubted Aldric, I found myself doubting Kaira as well.
Her emergence had also felt deliberate.
She had been struggling against Hellhounds when we first met…
Which truly raised a question. If she could handle a Juvenile Drake at its peak without breaking a sweat, how could she have failed to kill Hellhounds—even if she had been exhausted?
She possessed immense resolve and grit. So her appearing so vulnerable…
Before I could fully form my thoughts and connect the dots, a weight land atop my head, followed by a sharp peck on my forehead.
"That hurts, buddy! Not fair at all, Napoleon."
[Loyalty 93% -> 95%]
The smugness on his expression was unmistakable.
He truly enjoyed disturbing me during crucial moments of thought, didn't he?
I gently lifted him off my head and set him down. He strutted away as if nothing had happened.
I watched him go with a relunclant exhale.
Was I being too paranoid?
I didn't know.
Now that the seed of doubt had planted itself in my mind, I was certain I wouldn't be able to relax—even around my companions.
I would have to observe them more carefully.
But for now… I had to focus on the swamp.
With that resolution, I pushed my suspicions to the back of my mind.
Time passed. Kaira woke up.
Soon we had breakfast—our usual leftover boar meat.
In the midst of it, I took a portion and personally delivered it to the Forest Sprite.
'Come to think of it… I didn't even know her name yet.'
I supposed I would have to ask later or wait for her to offer it herself instead of forcing the matter.
Afterward, I gathered everyone except Pride, who had gone off on a flight somewhere unknown, and Napoleon, who was occupied with his own affairs.
[Stamina: 35%]
It had recovered somewhat, though not to an ideal level. Still, it was functional enough to begin.
"Alright,Team," I called out.
All eyes turned to me. I cleared my throat lightly and faced the dark water.
"Here's the plan. Timber leads the drainage—he understands this soil best. I'll direct the water with Gravity into his channels. Kaira clears whatever the water exposes. Aldric watches the perimeter. If anything emerges from the deeper swamp because we've disturbed it…"
"I'll handle it," Aldric said.
I nodded, satisfied.
Now it's time to work them like slaves, I lampooned inwardly.
I planted my feet at the swamp's edge and extended my Gravitational Field to its full ten-meter radius.
Through Gravity Sense, the swamp flooded my awareness—dense water above, rich sleeping soil below, exactly as Timber had described.
I pushed the gravitational force sideways. East. Toward the channels Timber's roots were already carving.
[Stamina: 35%… 30%… 25%…]
The surface shifted—a slow ripple disturbing the stillness—then a current formed as Timber's first channel widened and the water found its path.
"Northeast channel, Timber!"
"Timber opens!"
His vines burst from the soil to the right—deliberate, precise, guided by an understanding of earth rather than brute force. A second current joined the first.
At the edges of the receding water, dark, gleaming soil emerged.
Rich. Ancient. Carrying the scent of centuries of accumulated potential.
"Kaira!"
She was already moving—ripping out surface roots with both hands, clearing debris with ruthless efficiency. Her elite six-star strength made quick work of tasks that would have taken three ordinary men an hour. A root as thick as my torso tore free. She set it aside and moved on without comment.
[Stamina: 25%… 20%…]
I reduced the Gravity Field to a sustainable level. Timber's channels were doing most of the work now. Gravity had initiated the flow; the terrain was sustaining it.
Smart drainage, not just brute force.
The rhythm established itself naturally.
I pushed. Timber channeled. Kaira cleared. Aldric watched. And Napoleon supervised from his perch with the focused air of someone ensuring proper standards were maintained.
By midmorning, a quarter of the swamp had drained.
Timber stepped into the first fully exposed section and crouched over the dark soil, his expression filled with undisguised reverence.
"Timber was right," he murmured. "The best soil. Very best."
"Good call, Timber."
[Loyalty: 89% -> 92%]
By midday, we paused at the well.
Kaira surveyed the exposed farmland and did a quick calculation.
"Three days," she said. "Not four."
"Timber agrees," Timber confirmed solemnly.
I checked the field while we rested.
After ten minutes of rest, Timber rose and stared at the remaining swamp with quiet determination.
"Timber is ready for afternoon."
I stood as well.
"Then let's wake the rest of it up."
We worked through the remainder of the day on the fields—and by dusk, one-third of the swamp had been successfully cleared.
Night fell.
The twin moons once again illuminated my territory.
Beneath their pale glow, we gathered around the bonfire. The meat sizzling over the flames was Ribichoso—creatures that resembled Earth's rabbits, though slightly larger, more feral, and undeniably hostile.
It seemed they had been intent on devouring our flesh. Instead, here we were—the victors—celebrating over theirs.
How ironic.
In any case, I rose from my seat and made my way toward the Sprite's cave.
"Tonight's menu is Ribichoso meat," I announced, my voice carrying just enough for the cavern walls to echo faintly.
After stepping inside, I saw her in the same spot as always, her gaze following my every movement.
I had grown accustomed to it by now. Without hesitation, I approached and offered her the food.
As usual, I intended to take the first bite myself—just to assure her it wasn't poisoned.
However, before I could do so, she began eating immediately—slowly, almost delicately, with an unexpectedly refined manner.
Her full attention was on the food.
Before, she would have remained vigilant even while eating. But now… she was beginning to relax.
I sat beside her and gently ran my fingers through her long green hair.
She looked incredibly adorable while eating.
Watching her like that, I couldn't help but murmur softly,
"Children really are the most precious little things in the world."