The Forest Feeds No Idle Goblins

Bai Mao anxiously awaited Shire’s instructions, but after the owl beside him uttered a few strange syllables, she stared in astonishment at the chubby "Round-Faced Fat Chicken."

She had heard her leader speak with other creatures before, so she knew it was a special language. But that this big, fat owl in front of her could also talk truly made her eyes go wide.

Hearing the owl, Shire asked, "Mon... monkeys?"

"Mhm," Sofia said, spreading her wings. "I’m a Druid. I had to live with many different animals while learning Natural Magic, which made communication easier. And yes, delivering baby monkeys was just something I did on the side."

"Fine, we’ll just have to give it a try." Seeing no other option, Shire reluctantly agreed.

The owl before him began to transform. Her feathers retracted until they vanished completely. Her chubby body elongated, and her round face gradually revealed softer curves. In her place stood a tall, round-faced woman with braided hair, looking down at the goblin before her.

Shire raised an eyebrow, impressed. This was the first time he had witnessed a Druid’s transformation. But the thought of the female goblin from his tribe still being in danger quickly sobered him. He immediately called to Bai Mao, telling her to take this Druid from the Earth and Life Church to where she was needed, and also sent a subordinate to fetch a Fulu for assistance.

"Boss," Little John said, walking over awkwardly as Sofia hurried away. "Sorry, I didn’t handle things well this time."

"It’s nothing," Shire said with a wave of his hand. "We underestimated her. But a mistake like this can’t happen again."

’He didn’t blame Little John. To be honest, he had also underestimated that owl. After everything that had happened, especially after running circles around the Demon Lord, Lust, Shire had gotten a little full of himself. He’d forgotten that this was someone capable of tracking down a Fallen Druid all on her own. She could not be underestimated in terms of Magic or intellect.’

"This world is full of formidable people. We have to be cautious. It’s the only way we’ll be able to live in peace," Shire said, looking at the "Future Hero" before him.

Little John nodded vigorously in response.

"Was that a Druid just now?" Once Shire finished talking with the humans, the Naga Prince, who had been hesitating to come closer, asked.

Seeing this, Shire smiled and walked over. "Your Highness, it’s nothing. They are all my friends."

"Friends?" The corner of Pazani’s mouth twitched, and his four fleshy barbels quivered. He didn’t much trust humans. In the long history of his people’s flight, humans had been the cause of their troubles on many occasions. The elders constantly spoke of those Senior Adventurers and powerful Mages.

"Yes," Shire said with a nod. "Rest assured, they won’t interfere with our discussion."

Pazani doubtfully set down the large package he was carrying, then reached into his jacket and pulled out the sheepskin scroll. The words on it still read, "Unite with the Goblin Leader to defeat the invading enemy." But the thought that Shui Yumo never indicated the danger level of its tasks made him falter. He didn’t know if he should go through with this. If humans started harassing his people again, where else could they possibly hide?

Seeing the expression on his face, Shire immediately understood his concern. Recalling that the Naga Race had endured millennia of flight, he could only sigh. "If you’re truly that worried, you can go back for now. Try contacting us again after this situation is resolved."

Pazani frowned, standing in place as he silently deliberated for a long time. Just as Shire was about to prompt him, he snatched the package off the ground and set it before Shire. "I still have to complete my coming-of-age trial. If I don’t follow Shui Yumo’s guidance, who knows when I’ll ever be finished."

"This is the help my people can provide," he said, gesturing to the package on the ground. "It should help you effectively defend against those goblins."

"What is this?" Shire asked, looking down at the ground. The package was huge, and whatever was inside seemed heavy; it had made a considerable noise when Pazani lifted it earlier.

"A Magic Array. These are the components," Pazani said, his expression turning a little somber as if it pained him to say it. "This is our people’s last—our only—Ice Array. We no longer have what is needed to activate it ourselves."

"An Ice Array?" Shire asked, narrowing his eyes. ’That sounds impressive. This is the Race that created Shui Yumo and Magic Potions, after all. It’s a shame this is their only one left.’

"Correct. Once activated, it will freeze a large area, but it can only be used once. The materials for the Ice Array will shatter after it’s been used," Pazani explained, pursing his lips with a hint of sorrow in his voice.

"A very large area?" Shire asked. When the Naga Prince before him gave a nod of his fish-like head, a smile spread across Shire’s face. "This will be enough to temporarily Control those Petrifying Lizards. With Caocao and the Centaurs, the threat from those flying goblins will be minimal."

’It’s really the last one.’ He crouched and let out a long sigh. ’I never thought the Naga Race could part with such a powerful Magic Item. They’re really sparing no expense to support their Prince’s coming-of-age trial.’

"Your elders are certainly willing to part with a lot," Shire remarked, patting the package on the ground.

"The elders told me that the main reason for this cooperation is the salt we brought back," Pazani said, spreading his hands. "You see, my father died of ’salt deprivation sickness,’ and many other Naga in our tribe are afflicted by it. We’re forced to strictly ration everyone’s salt intake, but even so, there’s still a massive shortage."

"I understand," Shire nodded. "So your elders want to establish a trade route with me to purchase enough salt to cure your people’s salt deprivation sickness."

"Yes," Pazani nodded heavily. "Salt deprivation sickness is agonizing. It’s like a Ghost latched onto you, constantly draining your strength until you can only lie helplessly in the water, too weak to even flutter the gills you need to breathe."

He pointed to his jaw and said softly, "But your mind remains perfectly clear. Your entire body is just unable to move. You try to command any of your limbs, but it’s completely futile. In the end, you die, fully conscious, from respiratory failure."

Pazani slowly closed his eyes, seemingly recalling how his father looked before he died.

"Rest assured," Shire said with conviction. "I’ll arrange for my people to procure salt for you immediately, and I’ll make absolutely certain your location is never exposed."

Pazani let out a soft sigh of relief. "In that case, I can finally complete my coming-of-age trial. Once I do, I can succeed my father and inherit the throne of the Naga Race."

"So you’re insisting on staying for the sake of the entire Naga Race?" Shire stared intently at the Naga Prince before him. He felt gratified. ’This guy can be unreliable, but he’s got a strong sense of duty after all. He’s a real man.’

"No," Pazani said, shaking his head. "If I inherit the throne, I can reduce my daily work schedule by another three hours."

He gleefully held up a hand, extending three fingers. "Three hours."

"Fuck," Shire said bitterly.