As we stepped into the oasis, the unpleasant smell that had been lingering vanished.
It seemed that the scent had only been a warning to deter intruders. However, this meant we needed to heighten our vigilance from this point onward.
「Still… this really is quite the forest.」
I couldn’t help but exclaim as I took in the lush greenery where Hanon’s mother, an Alraune, was said to be hiding.
「Isn’t there even more plant life than near the treehouse dungeon?」
「Plus… doesn’t it feel cooler?」
「Maybe it’s because the trees provide more shade.」
Kiara, Martina, and Ailia exchanged observations as they surveyed their surroundings.
They were right.
First, the scale of the forest was substantial.
I had heard about desertification, but I had never encountered stories about deserts becoming green again. Yet, here, the improbable was happening.
If this were a natural greening, it would be cause for celebration… but that didn’t seem to be the case, which was why we were here. What else lay ahead?
As we cautiously walked, nothing particularly unusual occurred.
To expand our search area, we decided to split into two groups.
First, it would be me, Hanon, Simone, and Ailia.
The other group would consist of Kiara, Martina, and Charlotte.
We aimed to keep close but explore separate areas. However, our team failed to discover anything noteworthy. To make matters worse, we hadn’t received any contact from the other group.
「What in the world… is going on?」
Hanon muttered under her breath.
However, anger was evident in her tone.
The red-haired Alraune had sent us a representative and created this oasis to flaunt her power—her target seemed to be Hanon, yet despite our willingness to engage, nothing was happening.
What was her plan?
What was she scheming?
The lack of clarity left an unsettling feeling in the air.
「Hanon, I understand your impatience, but we need to remain calm.」
I advised.
「I know.」
Though she spoke coolly, her small body was restless, her movements betraying a hint of anxiety.
Just then,
「Kyaaaa!?」
Kiara’s scream echoed through the forest.
「!? Kiara!?」
We rushed to where Kiara, Martina, and Charlotte were.
Upon arrival, the first thing I saw was Kiara lying on the ground.
Martina and Charlotte were huddled around her. Given this, I worried that something had happened to Kiara—
「Kiara…?」
「Kiara-chan….. this is your fault, you know?」
—But it was the opposite.
Martina and Charlotte gazed at Kiara with a fervent intensity.
…This was bad.
At this rate, Kiara was in danger—in many ways!?
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