Chapter 129: Farmer

"No matter what, Liora is one of my own." To a farmer, nature was both a friend and an enemy, it could help crops grow, but it could just as easily destroy everything.

A farmer had to be ready to fight nature at any time, even if the opponent was a Phoenix, he would not back down.

The Phoenix seemed intrigued by Ethan’s courage, it studied him with open interest, then it flapped its wings gently.

Its body began to shrink.

"You are the human who nurtured the World Tree?"

"Yes."

"Truly unbelievable, to think a human could actually nurture the World Tree." The Phoenix’s tone was filled with astonishment.

It flew gracefully over to Liora and circled her a few times before landing on her shoulder, Liora showed no fear of the creature that had just been so imposing, she curiously reached out and stroked its feathers.

The Phoenix narrowed its eyes and leaned into her touch, then it plucked one of its own feathers and offered it to Ethan.

"What does this mean?"

"The World Tree is a sanctuary for all living beings, I cannot make an enemy of the human who nurtured it, from now on, you may freely enter and leave my territory."

The feather dissolved into a streak of firelight, wrapped around Ethan, and vanished into his body.

Just as Ethan thought this was merely a pass for the canyon, the Phoenix opened its beak wide.

Whoosh——!!

A ball of flame struck Ethan square in the chest, but the fire didn’t burn him — it sank into his body and disappeared.

Zharok and Pearl watched in stunned silence.

"What did it do to you, meow?"

"It’s incredible, legend says the Phoenix’s fire can incinerate anything..." Zharok mumbled.

"It bestowed a blessing upon you," Pearl realized.

"From this day forward, no flame can harm you, meow~"

’Then cooking will be much more convenient.’ For a chef, controlling heat was a basic skill, and getting burned along the way was an occupational hazard, with the Phoenix’s blessing, that particular worry was gone for good.

"Thank you for your generous favor," Ethan said.

"It is a trivial matter, I am quite interested in what you are doing." The Phoenix was referring to the beekeeping.

Ethan nodded, the Phoenix flapped its wings and soared into the sky, flying deeper into the canyon.

"When the day of your success arrives, come and notify me." With those words, it vanished from sight.

The canyon fell quiet, only the crackle of distant flames broke the silence, Zharok let out a long, shaky sigh of relief. "Why do I feel like hanging around you requires me to carry a few dozen extra guts?"

Ethan let the comment pass with a faint smile. "By the way, what does it mean that the World Tree is a sanctuary for all living beings? Do you know anything about it?"

Zharok and Pearl both shook their heads.

’Then I’ll have to ask someone else.’

Ethan patted Liora’s head. "Let’s go see the dragon."

After returning to the cabin, Ethan contacted the giant dragon through the communication crystal he had left with her earlier.

’Good thing I planned ahead.’

He had barely finished the thought when a voice came from behind him. "You were looking for me?"

"You startled me, I thought you would reply using the crystal."

"We are so close, there’s no need for such trouble." The dragon pulled up a chair and sat down at the table.

Ethan poured her a cup of coffee, she picked up the cup and quietly studied the pitch black liquid inside. "Is this coffee?"

"Yes."

"I’m not exactly fond of... bitter things."

’A giant dragon, afraid of bitterness.’ Ethan smiled.

"Then I’ll drink this one and prepare something different for you."

He had an idea — something he had been wanting to try ever since he got his hands on Butter Fruits, first, ice cream, he mixed Butter Fruit pulp with sugar, then cast Frost, the pulp froze solid, and he ground it into powder with the grinder, froze it again, ground it again, repeating the process until the texture was smooth.

[Butter Fruit Ice Cream]

[Ice cream made from Butter Fruit pulp and sugar. Sweet, soft, and creamy.]

[Grants Heat Resistance for 12 hours upon consumption.]

[Grants Dexterity Enhancement for 12 hours upon consumption.]

[Crafting Difficulty: ★★★]

Next, he brewed a fresh pot of coffee — deliberately stronger this time — and scooped the ice cream into a ceramic cup, he drizzled the rich coffee over the top.

[Delicious Affogato]

[A dessert drink made by pouring espresso over ice cream. The rich coffee and sweet ice cream blend perfectly for an exquisite taste.]

[Delicious Effect: Grants Heat Resistance for 24 hours upon consumption.]

[Delicious Effect: Grants Dexterity Enhancement for 24 hours upon consumption.]

[Delicious Effect: Increases all Life Skill levels by +1 for 24 hours upon consumption.]

[Crafting Difficulty: ★★★]

"Try this, if it’s too bitter, I can add more ice cream."

"Oh? It looks quite good, how thoughtful of you." The dragon scooped up a spoonful and put it in her mouth, cold, sweet cream mixed with rich coffee, weaving together on her tongue.

She closed her eyes and savored the taste, then nodded in satisfaction. "Even someone like me who isn’t accustomed to bitter things can accept this."

"I’m glad you like it." Ethan picked up the first cup of coffee and downed it in one gulp, the bitter jolt refreshed him.

Just then, Liora walked out of her room, neatly dressed and carrying Pearl. "Are you guys drinking coffee, meow? I want some too, meow~"

"I want some too."

Zharok walked out as well, so Ethan began preparing drinks for everyone, Liora was still too young for coffee, so he made ice cream for her instead.

"By the way... what did you come to see me for this time?" the dragon asked.

"I heard that the World Tree is a sanctuary for all living beings."

"Asking this all of a sudden? Who told you that?"

"The Phoenix said it, meow~" Pearl answered.

"A Phoenix..." The dragon took a sip of her affogato.

"It seems you’ve been to Flame Canyon, that’s right, that is the Phoenix’s habitat."

"I’ve never heard of there being a Phoenix in the Great Forest, meow~" Even Pearl, who had read most of Lady Witch’s library, didn’t know this, a Phoenix wasn’t some ordinary monster — it was a powerful divine beast, it shouldn’t have gone completely unnoticed.

"That is because I have been protecting it," the dragon said.

"Why do that, meow?"

"I presume you all know that the World Tree withered long ago? Just as the Phoenix said, the World Tree is a sanctuary for all living beings, after it withered, those beings lost their shelter."

"So you hid the Phoenix, who had nowhere to go, here in the Great Forest?" Ethan said.

"Correct."

"The World Tree is a sanctuary for living beings... Does that mean other creatures will come looking for Liora in the future, meow?"

"Exactly, and among those beings, there are neutral ones like the Phoenix, as well as those harboring malicious intentions."

That was not good news, Ethan looked at Liora, who was happily eating her ice cream, and patted her head, she hadn’t done anything wrong, if creatures came to harm her, he would protect her.