Chapter 16: The Half-Deer Person and Milk

Rod pushed open the door.

Not far from the wooden cabin stood a green figure.

Tonight's moon was exceptionally bright — bright enough to make the moon-worshipping Night Elves raise their cups in celebration.

But even so, the white glow radiating from the other's eyes was still dazzling.

"Vivian?"

The Tree Spirit, wearing Rod's linen shirt, looked at him expressionlessly.

"Did something happen?"

Tree Spirits were, by nature, a race devoid of desire.

The rare occasion when she had taken the initiative to seek him out had also been because her friend, the Half-Deer Person, was injured.

So Rod assumed something had happened in the forest again.

But Vivian shook her head.

She didn't speak, just stood there in a daze.

Rod let out a breath of relief.

Only then did he realize it wasn't proper to keep talking outside the door, so he hurriedly invited her in.

Just treating it as a friend's visit.

"Something to drink? Milk? Water? Oh, you're a Tree Spirit — would you like some nutrient solution?"

Tally leaned over.

"Plain water."

Vivian probably hadn't picked up on Tally's teasing and simply took it as a straightforward question.

"Do Tree Spirits not like dairy products? Tally, get me a glass of milk."

Vivian shook her head.

"Tally. Vivian. Milk. Also."

"Fine, fine, fine, you call the shots."

A moment later.

Tally brought over a glass of milk.

The Tree Spirit held it in her hands and took a small sip.

She sat there properly upright.

The linen shirt was long enough that, worn by her, it looked like a dress, and sitting down revealed nothing.

Rod sat across from her, at a loss for words for the moment.

Besides, Vivian didn't seem like the talkative type either.

The atmosphere turned a little awkward for a time.

"I told you not to come at night — what if you disturb us?"

It was Tally who broke the silence.

Though what she said wasn't exactly kind.

"Tally!"

"Sorry."

Vivian, being emotionally deficient, didn't feel embarrassed.

"Vivian. Come. Thank. Rod."

She added.

"You've already thanked me plenty during the day — this is our forest, we should protect it together."

"Vivian. Want. Give. You. Help."

Oh.

Rod figured it out.

Looks like Vivian's conscience was bothering her, and she wanted to repay him.

The 【Blessing of the Trees】 shared from you is already a considerable enough repayment.

Tally walked over.

She sat down on Rod's lap and gently wrapped her arms around his head.

A sweet, cloying fragrance drifted into Rod's nose.

"See, Vivian — men love this~"

Tally's face was full of provocation.

Vivian nodded.

Imitating Tally, she earnestly sat down on Rod's other lap and hugged him as well.

Rod: "."

This wasn't like Tally's usual behavior.

When it came to Rod, she always carried a possessiveness, treating him as her own property.

Just as she had scared Daphne off back then.

But now she was egging on a Tree Spirit to do something like this.

As if she had seen his confusion.

Tally laughed out loud.

"You think I should worry about her stealing you away? Hahahaha — a desireless Tree Spirit?"

She transformed herself into a tree spirit, yet her face remained her own.

Then she wrapped her arms around Rod's neck and kissed him deeply.

And performed a very wild set of oral calisthenics.

With a soft pop, the two parted.

"Whatever you want, I can give it to you~" Tally said, deeply moved.

Vivian suddenly snatched Rod's face away, leaving Tally stunned.

Then she imitated Tally's manner and kissed him.

"That's mine!"

Bang!

Amid Tally's shriek.

The wooden door of the Forest Warden's cabin was kicked open in one go.

A half-deer Young Lady stared at them in shock.

Then her shock turned to fury.

"Human! How dare you kidnap and sell my friend!"

She looked left and right, grabbed the cushion from the chair, and hurled it over.

Naturally, it had no effect on the three of them.

Rod recognized her.

This was Vivian's half-deer friend — the one he had treated and saved.

"Little Ke, evening, well."

Vivian left Rod's lips.

In truth, the contact between lip and lip had stirred not the slightest ripple in her heart.

But if Rod was happy, she was willing to do it.

So she greeted them very flatly.

The half-deer Little Ke hurriedly pulled her to her side, checking her over anxiously.

"How is it! Did he touch you? Did he take off your clothes! Did he put his filthy thing inside you!! Did he make you drink milk?!!!"

Rod's face was a sheet of dark lines.

"This Miss Little Ke."

"Shut up! You tree-trafficker! Pervert! Milk-selling breeder!"

She clutched the tree spirit to her chest, trembling all over with fear.

"Hahahahaha—"

Tally clapped her hands and laughed on the side.

Vivian gently patted Little Ke's shoulder.

"Rod, good person."

"No, Vivian, don't trust humans. Humans are the embodiment of desire. A cute girl like you — they'd definitely lock you in a basement!"

"Won't. Rod, saved, forest."

"Illusion! Humans are best at disguise. Did you forget what I told you before? My grandmother was tricked by a human, locked up, and forced to drink milk every. single. day!"

"Vivian, already, milk, drank."

"What?!!!"

The half-deer went pale, her eyes brimming with thick mist.

She glared furiously at Rod.

"."

"Human! I'm going to the Tree Spirit Protection Association to report you!! Death penalty! Death penalty!!!"

Rod pressed a hand to his forehead.

Tally clutched her belly and laughed on the ground, loud and irritating.

"Sorry to interrupt you all."

From outside the open door, an unfamiliar voice suddenly rang out.

It was a male half-deer.

"Might I ask if this is Forest Warden Mr. Rod?"

He glanced at the four people inside with a complicated look, but still asked politely

"That's me."

Rod stepped out, glad someone had cut off this wretched scene.

"Hello, Mr. Rod. I'm George, a subordinate of my lord Isabella."

The two shook hands briefly.

"First of all, my apologies — my lord Isabella cannot come in person, and she deeply regrets it. But Miss Daphne's condition is truly not optimistic; we must head to Gale City for treatment immediately."

Rod nodded, showing understanding.

Although he didn't know what the Yige Sect was scheming here, knowing in advance that Daphne had been mentally controlled was the best possible outcome.

George stepped aside, revealing a pile of gifts.

"These were entrusted to me by my lord Isabella as a token of thanks. Of course, this small gesture isn't worth much. My lord Isabella says the Aguel family still owes you a favor."

Rod naturally accepted graciously.

He lacked not only strength but also resources, and cared about nothing else.

He had originally wanted to exchange a few pleasantries with George.

But the other party sensed the atmosphere in the room was off, and quickly took his leave.

Leaving Rod to face it once again.

Only, what he did not know was—

On his way out of the forest, George jotted down a few comments about Rod in his little notebook.

"Licentious, tangled romantic entanglements, involved with three women at the same time, recklessly force-feeding milk."

He made up his mind to tell my lord Isabella everything he had seen today.

He'd heard from the people of Shi Ying Town that Young Lady Daphne had taken a liking to this forest warden; reporting this matter early might earn him greater favor.

(End of this chapter)