Chapter 404 367 – Treyni Comes Seeking Help [BONUS]

Takumi stepped forward, giving the lizardmen no chance to struggle or beg for mercy.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

One flattened lizardman hide after another was branded into the ground, while every last one of their souls was collected inside Pseudo-Hell.

Takumi did not even use Spirit Devouring to absorb them.

After slaughtering them all, he prepared to go deal with the lizardman Gabiru. Since he was making the trip anyway, he might as well resolve the entire lizardman tribe's problem while he was at it.

The strong were supposed to mercilessly humiliate the weak.

Nothing was more satisfying than crushing noobs!

When Shizue heard what he intended to do, she couldn't resist commenting, "Didn't you say earlier that you wanted to give your subordinates a chance to train, so you were deliberately staying out of it?"

"They came all the way to my doorstep to bully me. I'm not letting that slide!"

Takumi delivered his righteous declaration with such conviction that Shizue was left speechless.

Everyone knew the lizardmen had simply been too stupid and unlucky enough to provoke Takumi's side. Unfortunately for them, it had already happened.

The price for provoking a powerful individual depended entirely on what that individual felt like doing.

Having spent some time under Demon Lord Leon, Shizue understood Takumi's way of thinking quite well. From her perspective, what he was doing was not even particularly excessive.

"Still, I suppose I count as one of your subordinates now, Takumi. I want to participate in this operation too!"

Shizue looked eager to get started. She badly wanted to expend some of the vigorous magicules surging through her body, especially after enduring an entire night of that brain-piercing demonic noise. She desperately needed an outlet.

The moment she volunteered, Takumi immediately took half a step back.

"In that case, I'll leave the campaign against the lizardman tribe to you."

He patted Shizue on the shoulder with an expression that said he was entrusting her with a great responsibility.

Since someone was volunteering to do his work for him, Takumi naturally had no objections. He could use the remaining time to play a few games with Chloe and have some fun.

Shizue stood frozen in place, staring at Takumi's instantaneous change of attitude. Her mouth opened, but no words came out.

Why did she feel like she had just been tricked?

Despite her suspicious expression, she ultimately didn't refuse. She had volunteered herself, so backing out was no longer an option.

Her eyes suddenly shifted, however, and a serene smile appeared on her face.

"Your Majesty, this will be my first time leading troops into battle. Shouldn't you accompany the army and offer me some guidance?"

Shizue smiled sweetly at Takumi as her small hand tightly clasped his.

"…"

Understanding exactly what she was trying to do, Takumi gave her a speechless look.

She really wanted to compete with him over something this trivial.

Sure enough, Shizue was still a child at heart.

"Fine. Since you want my guidance, I'll give you all the guidance you can handle."

Takumi pinched Shizue's cheek, accepting her proposal.

Being doted on like a little girl left Shizue with extremely complicated feelings. She was already several decades old, so being treated this way hardly seemed appropriate.

Yet she did not dislike the feeling of being cherished. In fact, she found herself especially fond of it—and even dependent on it.

Ever since she had arrived in this world at eight years old, she had never truly experienced what it felt like to be spoiled by someone.

The young girl still living inside Shizue's heart felt immensely satisfied.

She narrowed her eyes in comfort and enjoyed it for a moment. Then, with her cheeks slightly flushed, she composed herself, took a step back, and straightened her posture.

Chloe and the Amazon girls around them were all watching, and Shizue was not shameless enough to ignore them completely.

Most of the women's gazes, however, contained envy rather than any other emotion.

Just as everyone was preparing to depart, a graceful emerald figure appeared within the forest nearby.

"It is a pleasure to meet you. Please wait a moment, King of the Yuanlin Empire and his attendants.

"I am the dryad Treyni. I hope you will grant me a brief audience."

A clear, sweet voice flowed from Treyni's lips.

Only then did Takumi and the others get a proper look at the beautiful figure.

She had gorgeous green hair and features reminiscent of a Northern European woman. Her skin was fair, her facial features deep and well-defined, and her full, pale-blue lips complemented her blue eyes perfectly.

Judging by appearance alone, she looked no older than Shizue—less than twenty in human terms.

Her body was somewhat translucent rather than being composed of flesh and blood, making her closer to a spiritual life-form.

If classified as a monster, she would rank in the upper range of A class, placing her on the same level as the Flame Spirit Ifrit.

Treyni's breathtaking smile resembled a flower bud just beginning to bloom. Even Shizue, another woman, couldn't help but feel considerable affection toward her.

Takumi nodded slightly before extending his will.

Amenotejikara!

In the next instant, Takumi and the girls appeared inside a magnificent, gold-adorned conference room.

Seated at the head of the table, Takumi calmly gestured for the women to sit.

"Come. Since you wanted an audience with me, let's have a proper discussion."

As soon as he finished speaking, the dryad Treyni instinctively sensed a trace of pressure and urgency.

A hint of reverence entered her eyes, and she respectfully took a seat.

Once seated, Treyni looked around before focusing her gaze on Takumi.

"Your Majesty, as everyone here is already aware, I have come today to discuss the recent disturbances within the forest."

"As one of the forest's overseers, I cannot simply ignore this incident. That is why I have appeared before you."

Her beautiful eyes flickered as she spoke.

In truth, the commotion Takumi had caused was no less significant than that caused by the orc tribe.

He had eliminated the Storm Dragon, founded an empire, and begun expanding outward.

However, his fist was simply too powerful, so Treyni could hardly object.

After those thoughts flashed through her mind, she took the initiative to explain her current predicament.

"At present, your empire is the greatest power within the Great Jura Forest. Every other faction has joined forces with the lizardman Gabiru.

"The treants cannot move on their own. If foreign enemies invade or a natural disaster strikes, they have no means of resisting.

"We dryads can project spiritual bodies and travel outside to some extent, but there are far too few of us.

"The mastermind behind this incident is clearly targeting the treant settlement. The few dryads we have cannot possibly withstand them.

"That is why I have come to ask for your strength."

Treyni lowered herself as much as possible and explained the situation in a pleading tone.

Understanding dawned on Takumi's face. He tapped his fingers against the table and asked, "Do you want to form an alliance with me, or are you here to beg for my help?"

"I am begging you, my lord!"

Treyni answered without the slightest hesitation.

After witnessing Takumi's overwhelming methods just moments earlier, she neither dared nor wished to speak of cooperation.

As a dryad, her instincts allowed her to sense the bottomless-abyss-like aura surrounding Takumi.

Takumi was powerful.

He was unquestionably a Demon Lord—perhaps even far stronger than one.

When facing such an overwhelming existence, properly lowering oneself was the only choice.