Chapter 238 – New connections

When they came close to the throne room, guarded by several armored Dryads, instead of asking to be allowed to enter the throne room, Zinnia beckoned Noah further down the hall, nodding to the guards as they walked past. Noah bowed respectfully to the two gorgeous ladies in bikini armor as well, forcing himself not to stare or leer at them, and quickly followed Zinnia.

Passing the throne room’s huge doors, they walked to a small door that must have led to a private room. Noah's eyebrow creased in suspicion, trying to remember if there had always been a door down the hall. He could swear there was none before, but remembered it was the Dryad Queen’s domain and she could change the inner structure of the Palace Tree as she wished. It was sometimes hard to come to terms with the fact that all of this was her illusion. There was no tree, no doors, no walls. All of it was made with her illusion spirit magic. The power of Charm.

Zinnia knocked on the door before opening it, and, without waiting for an answer, opened the door and showed Noah inside, ready to close it behind him.

Noah raised an eyebrow at her when he passed her by, noticing she was not going to attend, but Zinnia smiled at him with a reassuring smile and shook her head.

“This is a private meeting, Master.” Whispered Zinnia. “I am not needed.”

Noah nodded his head and looked into the same private room he had a conversation in with the Queen the last time. Three beautiful women, including the Dryad Queen, waited for him to enter, sitting on two couches while drinking tea.

When Zinnia closed the door behind him, the door dissolved, becoming a solid wall as if it had never been there, cutting off Noah’s escape.

“Ah. Dear Noah,” said Dryad Queen, sitting on the same couch she sat last time and tapped on the cushion at her side. “Come, join me. No need to be wary. These ladies here are my students, so there is no need for formality between us when we meet. No need to be tense here.” She said, beckoning him to sit on the empty spot at her side.

On the other couch, opposite to Queen Marva, sat two unfamiliar but incredibly beautiful Dryads.

“Would you like some tea?” Asked Queen Marva, with an amicable smile, as she poured tea for Noah herself when he moved toward her. He noticed how calmly and casually the other two women behaved while the Queen poured tea. They indeed were not just guests. More like family, closer than her own daughters.

Every Dryad in the forest was her daughter, and yet they bowed and treated her not only as a mother but as a queen. These ladies, though, seemed as if they were in the presence of a respectable elder, but not someone overly high in status. Someone they were very well acquainted with.

They looked older or more mature than all the other Dryads in the forest. Both had as attractive faces as all the Dryads, but their bodies, however, were another story altogether. They exuded the mature sexappeal of the goddess of fertility and the allure of succubi. Curvy as a contrabass, well-defined waists and hips, but slim, fit stomachs with slightly defined abs. Thick thighs, but long, lean, and toned legs that seemed endless, as the eyes could run along their beautiful lines forever. They had opulent breasts, no smaller than those of the bull-bestwomen, but without a single sign of sag, as if these soft globes defied gravity and floated upward on their own. No other explanation could describe why their huge busts could be so firm and rounded, while so large.

One glance at them sparked lust, beckoning men to sin, as if promising with their bodies pleasure and happiness unlike any you could ever imagine.

They looked more alluring, more sexy, than any Dryad that Noah met; however, contrary to the other Dryads, they exposed far less of their bodies to the gaze.

Unlike Dryads that Noah knew, who showed off their bodies almost entirely, with just a small bit hidden by some patches of leaves and strings of vines, these women wore long dresses that accentuated and multiplied the effect of all their bodily assets, showing off their cleavage, highlighting their hips, and attracting gazes to their legs. They seemed stylish, elegant, and noble, almost equaling in their demeanor the Dryad Queen sitting in front of them.

There was, however, something strange about the material of their dresses. It seemed strangely unreal. So tight-fitting it seemed to defy common sense. Plastering to their bodies as if it were wet, both hiding and showing all their intimate parts; from their nipples that protruded easily through it, to their pelvises that could be easily defined from how well the dress contoured them, even slightly drawing a puffy cameltoe on their crotches when they sat. The material of their dresses was so tight-fitting on their voluptuous bodies that for a second Noah thought the dresses were painted onto their skin, and that they actually were sitting there entirely naked.

The dress itself seemed decent enough to be worn by any woman to a ball, yet the way they wore it, with the material plastered to them as if a second skin, it pointed out every curve of their bodies, exposing to the gaze their intimate parts even more than if they were simply naked, creating a breathtaking view.

Noah sensed the duality about these Dryads more than anyone. Both women seemed elegant and graceful; their dresses were beautiful and decent, yet together they looked more depraved and lecherous than any wanton slut.

Taking just a quick glance at one of the women, Noah could not help gulping nervously. He could only imagine how hard it would have been to have a conversation in their presence without exposing the strongest boner. Luckily, Zinnia saved him from this embarrassment before he came here. Even then, he still could feel stirring in his pants, as if his satiated, just moments ago, lust was reawakening.

However, when Noah’s gaze landed on the second woman, his mesmerized expression was disturbed by a sense of déjà vu, as if he had met her before, but he was sure that there was no way he could forget anyone this outstanding.

The woman, on the other hand, seemed gloomy and, as if waiting for him to glance at her, caught his stare, looking him in the eyes with undisguised anger. The second their eyes crossed paths, Noah felt pressure emanating from her stare as if it were physical and had substance.

The next moment, a feeling of suffocation, as if he were plunged underwater, filled his mind, stopping him from breathing. His neck felt something tightening around it, bringing with it pain on the verge of breaking bones, as if he dangled from a noose. Sense of being squeezed from all sides as if a giant anaconda were twirling its loops around him, ready to break his spine and swallow him whole, almost made him lose consciousness. Notifications of Noah’s firewall skill popped up one after another, letting him know his mind was under attack, but there was nothing he could do. Struggling felt totally useless.

A light clanking noise from a porcelain teapot that Queen Marva held in her hands sounded in the room when it touched the cup she was filling for Noah. This barely audible sound resonated in Noah’s mind as a church bell, bringing Noah back to his senses and clearing his mind. The delusion and terrifying sense dispersed as if it never happened, leaving Noah with his heart still beating so fast he felt it could burst out of his chest.

“You seem to have noticed the dresses of my nieces, Noah.” Said Queen Marva, turning his attention toward her. Her voice seemed to have tranquility and calmness, slowing his rapidly beating heart. At that moment Noah noticed that she herself wore a similar dress, making it seem even more wanton than the unfamiliar women. But at that moment, Noah was no longer in the mood to appreciate the gorgeous figure fully advertised by the dress.

“I have created them from Duchess Vespertine’s design. This was her idea. The usual materials are not able to fully realize her greatest ideas, even with Duchess Threadweaver’s mastery, but Dryad magic allows us to fully bring these ideas to life. Do you like them? Dresses, I mean?” Said Queen Marva with a smile.

“Umm. Yes, both ladies and their dresses look very beautiful on their own, but they look simply magnificent when wearing them.” Said Noah nervously, as a cold sweat drop ran down his back.

“Always a lady-pleaser, you are. No wonder my daughters so adore you. Come sit with me. Let me introduce you to my nieces.” Said the Dryad Queen, grabbing Noah’s hand and pushing him onto the cushion beside herself, which made two women sitting opposite him raise their eyebrows.

“Girls, this wonderful man is Count Noah McDaniels, the guest I told you about. A friend of my house and a friend of the entire Dryad's big family.” Said Queen Marva, in a delighted voice, that in a split second turned to ice-cold, making the room seem freezing. The sense passed Noah by, allowing him to only slightly sense it; however, the women sitting on the couch opposite him and Queen Marva trembled like little leaves in stormy weather. Likely subject to the same feeling that Noah experienced just a few seconds ago.

“If you disrespect my guest and friend of the whole Dryad family, recognized by me and both of your mothers, be it under my roof or any other place, I will tear off your heads and fertilize the Gardens with your bodies. Is this understood?” Said the chilling voice of the Dryad Queen, feeling distant and ethereal. It sounded like cracking glass that somehow combined into a speech. Walls and furniture reverberated with her every word, sending ripples on the surface of the tea in their cups. After just a moment, ripples stopped and ice started to form on the surface of the hot tea.

The next second the freezing cold disappeared, leaving only two trembling women with their gazes lowered. And as if the ice on the tea's surface were just an illusion, it instantly evaporated, turning the tea back hot and slowly steaming.

“Noah, meet my niece Mystin of the Terror Vine, High Dryad, and eldest daughter of my sister Croon, the Dryad Queen of the Great Unending Vines rainforest.” Said Queen Marva, with delight in her voice, calmly introducing Noah to the woman on the left, as if nothing had happened in between. Mystine, the same woman who plunged Noah into delusion with her gaze, bowed without raising her eyes, as if afraid Queen Marva would deem it disrespectful.

Noah stretched out his hand, and when the girls saw it, they finally raised their gazes, looking at him with teary eyes.

Slightly hesitating, Mystin offered him her hand in return. As she gently placed her hand in Noah's, he bowed forward and gently kissed the back of it with all courtesy.

“I am pleased to make your acquaintance, Lady Mystin.” He said, with a kind voice, and heard her muttering something under her breath.

“Sit straight and speak up, don’t mumble; it's unbecoming of a lady.” Said Queen Marva, with the strict tone of a teacher, making both women jump up in their seats and straighten their backs.

“I said, please accept my apology for losing my composure previously. I am delighted to make your acquaintance, Count McDaniels.” Said the girl, louder, but still slightly trembling.

“No offence taken. Forgive me if I disrespected you with my foolish behavior as well. Both of you are mesmerizing beauties, but it was no excuse to openly stare. I presented myself in the most ungentlemanly manner. I ask for your apology.” Said Noah, in an apologetic voice.

The woman looked at Queen Marva, who sat gazing at her calmly with her eyebrow raised.

“No offence, Count McDaniels.” Said Mystin embarrassed. “Your gaze was not the reason for my loss of composure. Please forgive me; my lack of sensibility, it was a mere misunderstanding on my part. I promise to hold myself in better control.”

“Misunderstanding?” Asked Noah.

“Dahlia told me that you encountered a certain type of pesky plant in Duchess Threadweaver’s mansion.” Said Queen Marva, pointedly gazing at Mystin when she said it. “You now have it in a whip form. Would you mind showing it to us, Noah?”

As if an epiphany hit him, Noah instantly understood that sense of déjà vu he felt from seeing Mystin for the first time. The sense of aggressiveness, thorny and suffocating. Mystin of the Terror Vine, repeated Noah her name in his mind.

High Dryads have comprehended not only normal plants but also their progenitors - the spirit plants. With this, they gained abilities from the plant with which they felt most compatible. That meant Mystin had the ability of the same kind of vine that terrorized Theressa’s garden and was defeated with great effort, thanks to the help of three Dryad sisters.

Vine from which was made his sentient Whip-chan.

Noah summoned his whip, and it immediately stared at Mystin in bewilderment, as a little sister would gaze at her beautiful elder sister.

“I see.” Said Mystin with a bit of relief and embarrassment in her tone. “I have been too judgmental previously, and overreacted without knowing the full picture, which made me lose control. I’ve embarrassed myself. I ask for your forgiveness.” She said, bowing deeply to Noah.

“I don’t think I understand…” Said Noah, in a hesitant voice, glancing at Queen Marva at his side.

"What she means is that when she saw you for the first time, she felt this little one’s presence. She mistook you for a tamer who specializes in spirit-plant taming. But when she calmed down and reassessed her feelings, she saw your pet’s true nature. That it is merely a mimic, and not the true terror vine. Enslaving her kind in front of her would have been an insult. But as it is not, the only one insulted in this room was you, my dear. Now she feels embarrassed by the misunderstanding." Queen Marva explained.

“But she should have realized it before doing something stupid, as she should have known that had you been a true tamer, I would have torn you to shreds with my own two hands the very first time we met, Dear Noah. Instead, she misjudged not only you, but also me, her teacher, who taught her almost all her spirit magic," added the Dryad Queen with a cold tone, then she calmed down and smiled at Noah.

“It must be noted, though, that High Dryads, although very powerful when they gain the ability to control spirit plants, become unstable and easily lose their composure until they fully master the power and become Dryad Queens. Thus it is not entirely her fault to lose her composure so quickly, so I ask you not to hold a grudge, dear Noah.”

Noah nodded and smiled at Mystin.

“No offence taken, Lady Mystin.”

“I, on the other hand, expected better from the two of you.” Said Queen Marva, with a tone of disappointment making the girls look shamefaced.

“This here, is my niece Mirronia of the Sky Water Lily, High Dryad and eldest daughter of my sister Kalika, the Dryad Queen of the Great Swallowing Grasslands.” Said Queen Marva, pointing at the woman sitting to the right of Noah. Noah stretched his hand to her as well; however, when she gently placed her hand into his, Queen Marva added another sentence, making Noah startled and freeze halfway when he was about to kiss the back of her hand in courtesy.

“And newly appointed fourth Dryad Queen.”

“M..my greatest pleasure, Lady Mirronia.” Said Noah, regaining his composure a few moments later, and then placed a kiss on the back of her hand.

The woman, however, did not take her hand away immediately after the introduction, but lingered in the same position, as if waiting for something or reluctant to let go of his hand, and smiled at Noah with what he perceived as eyes filled with desire.

He could not understand her reaction toward him, but forced himself to remain calm.

“The fourth Dryad Queen?” Asked Noah, with a raised eyebrow, in wonder, as they still held hands.

“Future. Dryad Queen. Not yet.” Said Mirronia with a smile, moving forward, closing the distance between her and Noah’s faces. “But very soon to be. And thanks to you, as I heard. If it is true, I would love to thank you for it with more than just words, someday.” Whispered Mirronia with a wink and gently slid her palm out of Noah's hold, rubbing his skin with her fingers, which sent delightful shivers down his entire body.

“I called you today, dear Noah, to discuss our future plans. As your help may be indispensable, I decided to invite you as well and ask for your cooperation." Said Queen Marva.

“Plans, Your Highness?” Asked Noah.

“Aunt Marva. My apologies if it may sound disrespectful, but do we really need to divulge the plan to this human? I understand how great the help he rendered to us is, but would it not bring a factor of risk? Even most of our sisters are unaware of it. Why do you wish to divulge it to this man?” Asked Mystin with a nervous tone, but still presented the question with firm resolve.

“On the contrary, my dear. Noah’s cooperation would bring the greatest factor of safety to the plan.” Said Queen Marva calmly, before turning to Noah.

“Do not take offense at her words, Noah. She meant no disrespect this time; it is her new duty to put the safety of the plan above anything, as the new guardian of the fourth Dryad forest, and she doesn't know you that well. It is only natural for someone in her new position to be suspicious toward everything and everyone.” Added Queen Marva looking at Noah.

“Fourth forest? Fourth Dryad Great Labyrinth?” Asked Noah, feeling overwhelmed by the information. He barely introduced a rechargeable World Tree-like stick a month ago. How did it turn into an appearance of the fourth Queen and a new Dryad forest so quickly?

“Yes, but with the exception of the ‘Great’ part, this time. We are not up to the challenge of building it that grand yet. But we Dryad Queens agreed that it is time we learned something from humans as well. We came to a decision to lay off our own haughtiness and sacrifice grandeur in the name of safety.” Said Dryad Queen.

“I am not sure what you mean by that.” Said Noah.

“We will build a smaller version of a labyrinth. Small enough to be very well hidden, and not needing a full-fledged Dryad Queen. Thus it would not be considered 'Great'. Barely even a Labyrinth actually.” Said Queen Marva

“So it’s not made yet? And hidden? You intend to build it, on your own, without anyone knowing? How? Where? Why?” Noah had too many questions to ask them separately, so he poured them all out.

“No one except the Three Queens, High Dryads, and you will know about it. But our youngest still will realize what happens sooner or later. And you know how they like to blabber the rumors. So information about it may still leak.” Said Queen Marva. “That’s why, as a further precaution, of all the Dryads, only three Queens, these two ladies in front of you, plus one other of my daughters, and you, my dear Noah, will know its location. Not even other High Dryads may know. Just the seven people directly involved. The three High Dryads will live in that new forest; thus, outside of it, only you and Dryad Queens should know about it.”

“What is my role in this?” Asked Noah, creasing his eyebrows. This was a lot of pressure. If something went wrong, he might turn out to be a prime suspect.

“In short, I wish you to find a location for it and help us relocate the younglings when everything is done.” Said Queen Marva. Noah opened his mouth to ask another question, but Mystin’s voice of protest interrupted him

“Aunt! If these are the only reasons, we can do it ourselves. There is no need to entrust our young to these humans?” Asked Mystin but judging by the expression on Mirroinia’s face, both women shared this opinion.

Queen Marva gazed at the women with squinted eyes, but Mystin did not back down, gazing at her with resolve. Queen Marva sighed, taking her tea and seeping it.

“When you two roam the place in search of evil seed, there is a high chance of you two being spotted and rumors to be spread, which would give out the position of the forest and our plan. It is too great of a risk.” Said Queen Marva with annoyance.

“How is he going to improve that?” Asked Mystin with her arms crossed, looking stubborn.

Queen Marva looked apologetically at Noah, but she had no choice than to explain his unusual skill.

“Noah possesses a unique set of skills that are indispensable if we want to succeed.” Said Queen Marva.

“One skill allows him to travel hidden.”

Mystin opened her mouth to say something but Queen Marva interrupted her with a raised hand.

“Yes, you two may travel to the new location without being sighted by anyone. But relocating younglings is an entirely different story. There are too many enemies that may pick in their traces. From demons hiding in the human realm, observers and spirit families to High-level humans. There are even humans who are trained in spirit magic as shadow hounds of the Saintess or investigators nowadays. Each forest will send a part of younglings. So there will be three groups. Most of them would have to pass through the whole country to get to the new forest. If any single trace left by the groups will be found, our enemies will follow it and the plan will turn into disaster.” Explained Queen Marva.

“Noah’s unique skill not only gives him the ability to travel between his special marks faster than any Dryad could travel through the border land, but also allows him to relocate others with him. And what’s most important, his skill leaves no trace. His help ensures the safety of the plan.”

“Wait, why are you moving your youngling?” Asked Noah.

“The demons are coming. And above ground Labyrinths will be crucial to hold them off. But you know that without the World Tree we have to develop the Labyrinths for centuries to be able to produce new Dryad Queens. However we may not have this much time anymore. Human countries may not have this much time. Which is why we are worried.”

“When humans feel threatened they are prone to foolish actions. And we fear that Dryads may feel the brunt of it, if someone puts it in the head of others that it is somehow our fault that no other Above ground Labyrinth could be made. Even if it is entirely humans fault, humans are known to not be able to admit their faults and shift the blame onto others. If so, our race might be in danger, not only from the demons, but also from the humans. And that is why we thought up insurance, in case of the worst case scenario. This way we will at least insure the survival of our race and save our race’s legacy. We will build a sanctuary to save part of our race in case others die, to prevent our race from dying out.”

Noah felt that she was still hiding something, there should be more to her worry and being so on guard against humans, but he did not voice this question. If she did not want to tell he wasn’t going to pry for her secrets.

“Why now? Why didn’t you make it earlier?” Asked Noah.

“We thought of it for some time actually, but we had no suitable Labyrinth Lord, who would rule the sanctuary. It was you who gave us a new idea. Thanks to you we do not need a full fledged fourth Queen. We can make do with a High-Dryad at the peak of her ability.” Said Queen Marva, glancing at Mirronia.

“I will use my power to enhance and advance Mirronia quickly. It was an impossible feat in the past. The balance of vitality and its ying-yang energies that I need to keep would be broken. I would not be able to sustain all my daughters and this forest if I did something like that. But with the newly rented tool from you, I can manage it….barely.” Queen Marva explained.

“I see. That’s what you meant when you said ‘it was thanks to me.’” Said Noah, nodding in understanding.

“But to make it all in time before the demons come we need to find an evil seed in a specific location, that’s what I want you to do for us.” Said Queen Marva.

“Hold on, you want me to do what?” Asked Noah, surprised.

“As I said, the plan is to build a hidden Labyrinth. For that we first need a dungeon. Un marked, unknown dungeon. Artificial dungeon.” Said Dryad Queen smiling.

“So, you want to make a pseudocore and make an artificial dungeon break, before capturing it and turning into Labyrinth?”

“Exactly.”

“I thought you would capture some dungeon.” Muttered Noah thoughtfully.

“Capturing a dungeon is not easy and time consuming. Besides we can’t pick a place. We’d have to make do with whatever we have. Making our own is more flexible.”

“Also when we speak about big dungeons, we would need a Dryad Queen to manage it. And it will be hard to hide. What we wish to do is a lot smaller. We want to make something like Black Market dungeons that humans use. Fake dungeon. Failed product that a High-Dryad will be able to manage.”

“I see. So that’s why you said you’d go without the grandeur. A failed dungeon small and easily hidden.” Said Noah nodding. “But that would require resources and Guardians help.”

“That is still an open question. But we have several solutions. We might either find a working dungeon’s Lord and enslave it with our Charm, forcing it to work for us as long as we need before disposing of it. Or we would Charm one of the Guardians. The second option may cause more suspicion and bring attention. The first one however, needs someone to dive into a big dungeon. Someone strong. And unfortunately you, my dear Noah, is nowhere near being ready to face a true dungeon Lord. Sending High-Dryad would also bring attention. But it is a secondary worry now. First we need to find the evil seed. And that is a task you very well can achieve, although it would not go without danger.” Explained Queen Marva.

“What makes you believe I can find it?” Asked Noah. “If it was so easy, humanity would not struggle so much.”

“For others it may be impossible, however, I believe this is quite achievable for you. After all, you could absorb the dungeon core’s energy. And evil seed is a weaker version of the dungeon core. I believe that if you train this skill enough, it would be quite possible to sense where energy is coming from and locate the Evil seed. I’d say you possess the sole skill to sniff out the evil seeds and find them intentionally when it was considered impossible to be sensed.”

Noah sat in silence rubbing his chin as if thinking, while Dryad Queen and her nieces watched him calmly. In truth, Noah addressed this question to Ugy. It took Ugy a long time to think on the topic before he said that it may be possible indeed, answering without enthusiasm. Noah felt it strange but decided to postpone his thoughts about it.

“Alright. It may indeed be possible. I will have to try it somewhere to know for sure.” Said Noah after a minute of thinking.

“In this case you should ask your mate, Theressa, for help. I believe she trusts you enough to allow you near the pseudocore in her possession. It seems that absorbing from a Labyrinth core is beyond your ability as you can’t do it here. Which is logical. Labyrinth core is heavily enchanted and under my influence, to steal from it you would need to overpower the Labyrinth Lord. Me. But with pseudocore it is easier. It is merely contained with magic enchantments and has no one ‘Lording’ over it so to say, so it may be a good way for practice. Otherwise you would need to dive into dungeons or black markets.” Said Dryad Queen.

“Black Markets, huh?” Noah rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

“What do you mean his mate may have a pseudocore?” Asked Mirronia in wonder.

“This wonderful man has a Guardian as one of his mates, and quite possibly three other Guardians as well.” Said Queen Marva with a smile. Noah raised an eyebrow at the word three, as he had only Brianna and Priscilla other than Theressa. Who did she mean by the third?

“And you would trust a man that works with monsters?” Asked Mirronia creasing her eyebrows.

“Not just any monsters. My new business partners. Someone I recently found quite appealing to my liking. The one who came up with these dresses is also one of them.” Said Queen Marva pointing at her own dress, making both women widen their eyes in surprise as they looked down at themselves. They could not believe a monster came up with such a marvelous dress that they praised so well just shortly before Noah came into the room. They even begged Queen Marva to share the contact of the person, but she did not mention about the Duchess Vespertine being a monster. Coming from another country they barely knew the nobility of this country.

Queen Marva smiled at their expressions and sipped her tea smugly. Had she mentioned these dresses were made by monsters, they both would have frowned on it no matter how good they were. As it alway was with the Spirit Beings, they are too biased toward monsters and considered them as lower beings. But Queen Marva had a change in opinion lately. If humans are not to be trusted, how are they different from monsters? If they work with humans, why not with monsters. But for others this idea may have seemed too outrageous, so she kept silent until the women tried the dresses on. Now after praising the dresses so much they would not embarrass themselves by showing displeasure with them and think it over carefully before jumping to conclusion.

Noah on the other hand made a silent note to enquire from Theressa what she was about these last few weeks. He gave Queen Marva Theressa’s contact when she praised the enchanted wood box made by his mate, because she wanted to discuss enchantments with someone this good in it, but he did not know they actually contacted. Not to mention to the degree of now being business partners. Even Cassandra now seemed to be in the fold. Was this some kind of overpowered women's club? All members of which were literal titans in regard to pure power.