[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu":3,"chapter-i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-126":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","I'm a Forest Warden—Why Am I Enslaving a Succubus?",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2329170,4555,"Chapter 126: Botanical Garden","i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-126",126,"\u003Cp>“Senior Sharona, what kind of place is this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three interns all huddled behind Sharona, eyes wide, faces filled with boundless terror.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had never seen such monsters; the plague and mental shocks were pushing them toward collapse.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The twisted, diseased, even nauseating plants before them—roses covered in tumors and sickly hues, witch thorns pruned into bizarre shapes, and rampant, corrupted greenery—would test their psychological limits.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Over time,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>the young mages Pavla, Leon, and Vernon gradually began to see signs of careful tending in these plants.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And faintly, through their distortions and mutations, they could perceive beauty and vitality within.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But none of them dared to speak it aloud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is the Fear Field always like this?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Sharona, well-traveled and experienced, could not suppress her fear.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fear Beasts, these cosmic entities, had appeared on the continent for ages, and many records existed of them; the Fear Field was no exception.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet none of the documented [Memory Purgatory], [Terror Embodiment], or [Judgment Platform] appeared here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This place seemed already occupied by different forces: bone dragons, graveyards, a botanical garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had usurped it, greedily draining the accumulated nourishment long stored here.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The obese, diseased gardener noticed them slacking off.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He angrily swung his vine whip—whip-crack—striking Sharona.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The dog-people girl cried out in pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A searing burn flared on her wound.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Helpless, they had no choice but to mimic the gardener’s methods of tending and pruning the roses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He kept chattering incessantly, but none of them understood a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Sharona, will anyone come to save us?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Pavla asked timidly, face drawn with sorrow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She was a young mage obsessed with trends, her hair dyed pale gold with green highlights.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Her re-tailored mage robe accentuated her high waistline, with a cute cartoon dragon stitched along the hem.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Pavla, be strong! I’ll find a way!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vernon declared firmly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Indeed, among the three youths, his condition was the best.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Magical research reports claimed that those with positive mindsets possessed slightly stronger spiritual resistance than the pessimistic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Just tell me your plan first. Waaah, Leon, there’s something I’ve always wanted to say to you—I’m afraid if I don’t say it now, I’ll never get the chance.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon, the one with chestnut hair and a cold, handsome demeanor, carried noble airs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He frowned, beads of sweat glistening at his temples, clearly uninterested in Pavla’s words:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Senior Sharona, I heard cosmic entities are chaotic beings—why do they know how to cultivate plants?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharona shook her head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t know. In recent years, magical disasters caused by cosmic entities have surged. Strange things have happened in the alternate dimensions—like the Fear Field. The records don’t match what we’re seeing now.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon could hear the despair in her tone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But he refused to accept it; he clenched his teeth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“My family has a secret technique, originally meant to enhance spellcasting focus, but it can also briefly strengthen the soul. I’ll teach you the incantation—perhaps we can break out using it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why didn’t you say this sooner?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vernon cheered, his naturally optimistic nature already imagining the exhilaration of escape.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Will it work?” Pavla looked worried. “I’m not doubting you, Leon—I just don’t think I can learn it right away.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharona’s expression remained unchanged.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still trapped in despair.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unlike the interns, whose magical reserves were low, she clearly sensed how formidable these gardeners were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The body is one of the key magical conduits; in soul form alone, they could hardly cast powerful spells.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she was about to speak,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a heavy dragging sound came from the entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Turning, she saw a massive shadow dimly visible through the thick spore-laden toxic mist of the garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It looked like someone was seated atop a giant snail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gardeners immediately showed fear and dread, then prostrated themselves, burying their faces deep into soil mixed with excrement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was clearly a higher-tier cosmic entity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The four held their breath.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They quickly lowered their heads.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thick, foul-smelling toxic mist spread, sticky as if clinging to their lungs.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s them. I need them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A familiar voice came from ahead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All four froze.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But none dared raise their heads, fearing this was the cosmic entity’s old trick—mimicking voices they knew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t look!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharona whispered, “Cosmic entities often use the voices of people we know!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The three intern mages fell silent as mice.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The gardener looked confused.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He chattered on again incoherently.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The voice grew impatient:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What the hell do you care? Will a few less skulls kill the roses? You fat-assed lump—trying to slack off? Starting today, you live upside down. Kill one plant, I crush you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Again, Luo De was a man of decorum.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Swearing wasn’t his nature—he was merely mimicking, following the theory that the more you bully, the more you resemble a boss.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The obese gardener shrank into a pitiful ball.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De figured it was enough.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled the four onto the giant snail’s back and slowly headed toward the botanical garden’s exit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Watching the four mages, eyes and mouths tightly shut, he couldn’t help but smile wryly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De pinched Sharona’s wrist, trying to signal something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She trembled violently—and burst into tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Uh.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He gave up on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least they were out now.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The snail moved painfully slow, and along its trail of toxic mucus, a horde of tiger-sized monsters began to gather.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They had obese bodies made of warts, no faces visible—only countless pink, elongated mouthparts waving wildly in the air, playing and laughing in the snail’s slime trail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was an illusion or not,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De found himself thinking they were kind of cute.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took nearly half an hour before they reached the garden’s edge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De quickly pulled the four off the snail.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only now did the relatively braver Vernon dare to sneak a glance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“.Luo. Luo De?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Idiot!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon’s face darkened; he rushed to pull him back.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It’s not a cosmic entity! It’s really Mr. Luo De!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Vernon beamed, shaking off Leon’s hand: “Mr. Luo De! You finally came to save us!!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face glowed with admiration and excitement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The others, hesitant at first, slowly opened their eyes—and were stunned to see it truly was him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Could it be a cosmic entity skilled in disguise?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Leon asked warily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sharona’s face lit up: “In the spiritual dimension, shape-shifting is impossible. Here, it reflects the true form of the being.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She frowned, puzzled.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But why are you in the botanical garden so…?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De smiled: “A small trick.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone froze, staring at him with respect and awe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though the three interns wore mostly worshipful expressions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as Luo De explained how he arrived and prepared to activate the return ritual on the crystal,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>a green lightning bolt flashed across the sky.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Immediately after,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It was nothing but green rain carrying a stench of decay.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Luo De frowned slightly, a bad premonition rising in his heart.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He immediately activated it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet, there was no response whatsoever.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1151,"2026-06-20T19:55:30.170Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","4301096ede64b7c7ccb1a9135e33703d5eaae55457c52ce79f55f59cd54d98c5","i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-127","i-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-chapter-125",704,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fi-m-a-forest-warden-why-am-i-enslaving-a-succubu-cover.jpg"]