Chapter 33: The New Resident of the Forest

"Long time no see, Kali."

"Human."

She narrowed her eyes slightly, glancing at Tally with disgust: "It seems you did not take my advice to heart."

Tally leaned proudly against Rod's shoulder, rubbing back and forth like a cat.

Then her pink tongue lengthened, licking a long liquid trail along Rod's neck, looking very lewd.

"Perhaps you could try to understand Tally; not all succubi are vile creatures."

Rod laughed.

He had never taken this female elf's words to heart.

Let alone demands to abandon Tally.

"I am not here to debate with you. I sensed the aura of the 【Sickle-Claw Shortbow】; I assume Farsard has already handed the item over to you."

"That is correct."

Tally sneered: "Not only that, he also spoke about you. Hahaha."

"Tsk—"

The elf clicked her tongue coldly.

"Where is Farsard? Where is he!"

"To be honest, I do not wish to involve myself in your affairs, but you should understand that forcing things brings no happiness." Rod advised.

"Meddler! I ask once more, where is Farsard!"

"Old maid, men do not like women as domineering as you."

Tally's remark successfully ignited Lady Kali's emotions.

She gathered her mana and fired a fireball at the succubus's face.

In an instant, Rod activated 【Chang En Fa Yin】 and 【Tree Armor Technique】, pulling Tally away.

The blessing granted to this forest by the 【Tree Armor Technique】 is 【Iron Bark Blessing】.

The fireball struck his body, shattering the qi membrane of 【Chang En Fa Yin】, but could not shake the 【Tree Armor Technique】 and 【Iron Bark Blessing】 in the slightest, finally scattering into a shower of sparks.

"Do not play with fire in the forest, elf."

Rod said coldly.

A hint of apology flashed across Lady Kali's face.

But she did not show it.

Her proud nature would not let her easily apologize for an impulse.

Then she said nothing and turned to leave.

"Hmph, so domineering."

"Lady Kali has a temper that cannot handle provocation; provoke her less."

"I'll provoke her if I want to; who told her to look at me like that every time."

"She is a sixth-tier elf mage."

"Hmph, I'm about the same."

Come to think of it, Tally's journey to advance her tier had always been smooth, failing several times.

Fortunately, there were not zero benefits.

Her tier remained stable at the high end of the fifth tier, but a succubus is ultimately a lazy creature; who knows if she has practiced her spells.

On the second night, Vivian visited.

She told Rod that someone had used magic to build a treehouse on the edge of the Eucalyptus Zone.

The Eucalyptus Zone is the territory of the scorpion woman Hera.

But she is not someone who likes to fight over territory; as long as there is no destruction in the forest, she basically does not show her face.

Moreover, perhaps due to the innate personality of insect races, Hera very much likes to hide in her dwelling and not go out.

Taking advantage of the night, Rod and Vivian arrived at the scene.

At first, he thought it was a house made by cutting down trees.

Upon arriving, he discovered it was actually several trees twisted together, forming a thirty-to-forty-square-meter wooden cabin in mid-air.

Furthermore, the trees did not appear to have lost their vitality.

"Magic. Elf magic."

Vivian looked at the place, without the angry expression she had shown when the trees were burned before.

It seems the state of the trees is acceptable; at least they are not heading toward death.

"Elf magic, huh..."

Who else could it be but that aggressive female elf who came with such momentum yesterday?

Elves are a race that worships nature and lives alongside trees; possessing the ability to build wooden cabins without causing harm is quite normal.

A figure with golden long hair walked out of the nearby forest.

She was holding a pile of wild fruits in her arms.

Lady Kali saw Rod and Vivian.

"Is peeping your habit? Human."

She acted as if nothing had happened.

As if the previous conflict had never occurred.

Rod knew what this was.

The classic elf attitude of yielding: 'I'm treating it as if nothing happened; what are you still upset about?'

He had often seen it in the small storybooks of Shi Ying Town.

"Good evening, Lady Kali."

Rod didn't care much about these things; besides, the last time was just a minor conflict.

He introduced the two ladies to each other.

Tally had stuffed her belly and curled up to sleep in the wooden house, so she did not come over.

"It's truly rare for a Tree Spirit to willingly draw close to humans on her own initiative," Lady Kali said, very surprised.

"Is that so?"

Vivian had arrived here via the 【Tree Walker】, and she politely declined Rod's invitation to ride together, leaving him quite disappointed along the way.

The relationship between Tree Spirits and Elves was quite good, after all, both were intelligent races belonging to the Natural side.

The two of them chatted idly for a few moments.

Only then did Lady Kali finally state the reason for establishing a residence here.

"I know Farsad is hiding here; he has concealed his star fate, making divination unable to determine his exact location. If I do not bring him back, it will be very hard for me to explain."

"Actually, I have spoken with him; he once said he does not have that kind of feeling for you."

"I know, nor do I."

Lady Kali's expression remained unchanged. "But this is the Elders' Council's decision, and both he and I should abide by it."

Rod found it hard to comment.

He had always been unskilled at giving advice regarding matters of the heart.

Just as he was about to take his leave, the Elf called him back.

"Your spiritual technique, the one called 【Chang En Fa Yin】? I don't quite remember."

"【Chang En Fa Yin】."

"Yes, 【Chang En Fa Yin】, a third-tier spiritual technique; the effect is not good."

Lady Kali scowled: "I once learned its advanced spiritual technique. Shall I teach you? Consider it rent for settling on your land."

Rod immediately understood.

The Elf was apologizing in her own way.

"Of course, I have wanted to learn it for a long time."

The next morning.

Tally looked utterly confused, watching her own master and that detestable Elf discuss things harmoniously face-to-face.

And there was that treehouse over there.

Was she going to settle in the forest?!

I disagree!

"Master~"

She came over, hugged Rod, and tugged at his arm, acting spoiled.

"What is she doing here~"

"Nothing. From today on, Lady Kali is a tenant of Windwall Forest. I have already collected the rent; you are not allowed to cause trouble."

"What?!"

Tally made a huge fuss on the side.

Rod ignored her, and he also ignored the Elf standing nearby who, despite her scowl, still showed a look of smugness.

He temporarily shifted his attention to the newly learned spiritual technique.

【Lightless Chang En Fa Yin】

was a spiritual technique that barely reached the seventh tier!

Unlike 【Chang En Fa Yin】, which forms an air film on the skin, 【Lightless Chang En Fa Yin】 wraps the human body in a spherical spiritual shield.

After this spiritual shield is destroyed, it will feedback the damage absorbed previously to the surrounding enemies.

It is a spiritual technique combining both offense and defense.

Moreover, while covering this layer of spiritual shield, it will dispel negative magical states on the caster.

Rod could only sigh in admiration.

The Elves' foundation is indeed profound; even something casually given is so powerful.

(End of this chapter)