I Became a Druid in Another World

-Beep! Beeeep!

"Ah, ow! Ow! I'm up! I'm up already!"

-Beep! Beeep!

"Master! Please, get Beepy to stop!"

Beepy was fiercely pecking at El's forehead, who had been sound asleep with the blanket pulled up to her chin. El squealed and eventually jumped up to avoid Beep's beak. Puffing up proudly, Beepy let out one final loud beep before fluttering over to the table. Legion who had been dozing off on the table opened one eye to watch what was going on, then let out a big yawn.

"You should've just gotten up earlier."

"Ugh…"

After muttering "It's still early," El began tidying the bed. I brewed myself another cup of warm, fragrant herbal tea and took a slow sip. The lemongrass and mint leaves brought a refreshing clarity to my mind.

"May I have a cup as well?"

"Of course."

Lloyd sat across from me and requested some tea. I took out another cup, poured him some warm tea, and returned my gaze to the old book in front of me.

The skills seem safe enough for now…

Currently, my level was 48, and I acquired the intermediate-level skill [Forest Giant].

[Forest Giant] allowed huge trees, such as ancient oaks or maples, to literally move like giants. These trees can uproot themselves and walk around, perform tasks too difficult for human strength, and even engage in combat. Judging by the tree's size and weight, the strength of the forest giant was beyond what any human could imagine.

Of course, agility was out of the question. But its defense and endurance were at such a level that most monsters couldn't even begin to compare. On top of that, the Forest Giants were relatively numb to pain, which meant they were fearless, and this allowed them to face enemies head-on without hesitation.

However, there was one thing to be cautious about when using [Forest Giant]. The moment the skill ended, the tree would immediately put down roots right where it stood. And by "wherever" that could mean the forest, a house, or even the middle of a city. Well, if the skill was used cleverly, this could actually serve as an "attack" strategy in itself.

The only downside to this skill was…

I can only handle one tree at a time for now.

It couldn't be helped since I had just acquired the skill. Still, since I would be able to control more Forest Giants at levels 60, 70, 80, and 90, I figured I could set aside my disappointment.

[Forest Giant] wasn't a skill that granted intelligence to trees, so I had to control the tree directly, which consumed a lot of mental strength and magical power. In a way, it was lucky that I could only manage a single Forest Giant for now.

If the orc subjugation mission hadn't been a trap, and if I had joined it, I might've gained quite the reputation by sweeping away the orc horde with this [Forest Giant] skill. Especially since it was the sequoia forest… If I had turned one of those giant, sky-high sequoia trees into a Forest Giant to crush the orcs beneath its feet…

I might have earned a title like Orc Slayer or Orc Blender, something along those lines.

Hohoho, well, even if it wasn't for the orc subjugation, the [Forest Giant] skill would still have plenty of uses. Even if the skill name meant 'Forest Giant' I could still use it on something as small as an olive tree… though, who knows if there'd ever be a reason to.

"Shall we head down now?"

"Yes, let's go."

"I'm ready too!"

We headed downstairs. Unlike usual, there wasn't a single person in the dining hall today. Naturally, it was because…

It's the day of the orc subjugation.

Everyone must have finished their meals early, completed their preparations, and already set out for the sequoia forest. I wasn't sure whether to enjoy the quietness of the inn or feel the opposite…

"Oh my, you're still here?"

The innkeeper spotted us entering the dining hall and asked in a surprised tone. I greeted her warmly and found a table to sit at. She brought over the usual cups of sugarcane milk before distributing one to each of us, then looked at us with a slightly troubled expression.

"Oh dear. I thought all the mercenaries had already left. It was so busy this morning, but now there isn't much left for breakfast."

"No worries. Just something simple will do."

"All right then, please wait just a moment."

The innkeeper returned to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. Taking advantage of the moment, I turned to Lloyd.

"Lloyd, about Mr. Louis…"

"He's on standby at the castle."

"That's a relief."

Since we'd agreed to meet back at the inn if anything unexpected happened, everything was going according to plan. I felt relieved and finished the warm sugarcane milk.

"It's simple, but I hope you enjoy it."

"Thank you."

The meal the innkeeper brought out was quite simple, just as she said, but it looked delicious. There was a hearty cream bean stew loaded with cheese, well-toasted rye bread, and a single chicken leg and wing, each grilled with herbs and butter. It was a wholesome breakfast. We had a delicious meal and got up from our seats.

"We're planning to just rest up today. With all the mercenaries out of town, it'll be so quiet. Perfect for a nap."

I joked while handing the innkeeper our payment. She accepted the coins with a cheerful laugh.

"Haha, you two are a funny lot! So, when are you planning to make money?"

"Well, money comes and goes, you know. Health is what really matters, so rest is essential."

"True, true! And your friend returned late last night, didn't he? The inn's completely empty today, so rest up! Just let me know if you need anything."

"No need; I think we'll be sleeping most of the day."

After that light banter, we headed back upstairs. And then…

"Even though the mercenaries have all left, the townspeople are still here, so we'll need to stay out of sight and be careful. Who knows what kinds of conversations might come up."

Lloyd and El both nodded their heads in agreement.

"Lloyd, you should go ahead first with Blackie. Once you reach the castle, have Blackie put on the shadow cloak and send him back."

It had been a simple yet perfect plan. This way, we wouldn't risk exposing Blackie's presence. After Blackie returned, El would take the shadow cloak from him, put it on, and head to the castle with Blackie once again. Then, once Blackie came back, I would put on the shadow cloak and make my own way to the castle.

Although it would take a little time, this method ensured that no one would catch sight of us heading toward the castle. Plus, we'd already said a few things to the innkeeper, so…

A perfect alibi.

To everyone else, we would simply look like mercenaries without any thirst for money. Mercenaries that were spending the whole day resting.

There was also the option of using a hidden passage, but that was too risky. Someone else might be using it, and it was also close to the Sequoia Forest where the subjugation was underway.

This is the best way.

As planned, we each made our way to Corin Castle one at a time. Lloyd set off first and met with Louis, followed by El. Finally, I donned the shadow cloak and headed to the castle myself. Thanks to the innkeeper leaving the door open, it was easy to slip out unnoticed.

The village was exactly as the innkeeper had described—completely quiet. The mercenaries who had been flocking to Corin like a flood tide were now leaving like an ebb tide towards the Sequoia Forest. The subjugation would take at least two days… though with so many mercenaries, maybe they could finish in a day. If we wanted to avoid any risks, it would be best to uncover everything we could within the castle today and get out before nightfall.

"Let's hope the subjugation goes well."

"Man, did you really see all those mercenaries with your own eyes and still talk like that?"

"Does the number of people even matter? If there's one thing I've learned in my fifty years, it's that life depends on 'luck'; just luck! No matter how many mercenaries there are, you never know what could happen!"

"Oh, come on. If you believe in 'luck' so much, stop jinxing it and go pray!"

"My wife has already gone to pray for us. We make a living off business with the mercenaries, so we can't have them dying on us now."

"Guess I'd better go to the shrine to pray too."

The villagers chatting in the alley gradually drifted off toward the shrine. I kept moving briskly in the opposite direction, toward the castle.

It seems the townspeople are noticing that there are far more mercenaries participating in this subjugation than before.

That probably only makes them more anxious. Needing that much manpower also means the enemy is just as strong.

I wonder what's really happening in the Sequoia Forest…

I shook my head. Don't worry. Callisto would handle things. What I needed to focus on right now was…

The castle's secrets.

More precisely, not the castle's, but Dawood's secrets.

The most important thing was finding evidence of Dawood colluding with the Crows and stopping his plan. In the previous village alone, an entire town had nearly been wiped out in a bid to summon a demon. If Dawood intended to sacrifice the lives of so many mercenaries, then the being he was offering them to would surely be…

…as ruthless and twisted as the number of lives he sacrificed.

Discover Dawood's secrets, uncover the Crows' purpose, and rescue the lord of Corin…

Easier said than done.

I soon arrived at the castle while I was lost in thought. Thanks to the shadow cloak, I could slip past the guards without being seen. Now, which way was it again? Left first, then straight, turn at the right corner, and open the small wooden door…

"You're here."

Louis spoke in a mildly reproachful tone as if I was late. I shrugged as I took off the shadow cloak. Just how late could I possibly be?

"Is everything…"

"It's all ready. Only the bare minimum of troops remain in the castle, and all of them are loyal to me, so there's no need to worry."

"Good to hear."

After all, there were probably those who supported Louis over Dawood as the next lord. Knowing the castle troops were on our side was a relief.

"Then, let's begin."