Chapter 128: The Negotiation Table Is Now Open (1)

The Everglow Woods. Everything there glowed and was preserved warmly. It was a mysterious wood where spring lasted all year long. But it hadn’t always been special. Originally, the woods had been like any other forest in the eastern range until elves settled there three hundred years ago. They were the descendants of elves that once served dragons. They were sickened by the human world and decided to lay low, casting a special spell on the woods and creating a paradise of their own.

“And it’s not cold throughout the entire year nor is there sweltering heat. It’s a place where perfect spring exists forever.”

Now, Lloyd and Javier were at the foot of the woods. A scoff escaped Lloyd as he gazed at the marvelous sight.

Wow. It’s so real that I’m here.

The place was so vivid that it was poles apart from what was described in the novel. There was a vast difference between his imagination and the actual place.

It’s not just any spring. It’s the best kind of spring. The biting winter wind just outside this place is gone, and flowers I can’t name blossom here and there. With the butterflies and bees, everything that’s unique to spring is here-

“Ah-choo!”

Javier sneezed after inhaling pollen.

“Hey, shh,” Lloyd whispered as he flinched.

“I am sorry. I, I…”

“Cover your nose and mouth at once.”

Javier barely managed to cover his mouth and nose before another sneeze came out. Though it was muffled, it nonetheless invited a glare from Lloyd.

“You… You do know where we are right now, don’t you?”

“Yes, I do,” answered Javier sheepishly.

“Then, why are you sneezing so much? Do you want to see the female elves or something?”

“Um, I had no choice. It just came out all of a sudden.”

“Wait, you’re not allergic to pollen, are you?”

“Of course, no- Eh… Argh…”

“Eh?”

“Eh… Whew… I-I am fine.”

“…”

No, you don’t look fine…

“Like I would believe that,” Lloyd said as he grew doubtful. “You’re allergic to pollen. This is bad. Do you see this place? Pollen is flying around everywhere.”

The environment was that bad. This whole place was worse than the fine dust situation in South Korea. It was as though someone was slapping chalkboard erasers right in front of the two or the pollen was heavily snowing down from the sky. The thick pollen could be accredited to the perpetual state of spring here. And if Javier turned out to suffer from a pollen allergy, that changed things for the worse.

“But you are a sword master. Can’t you control the sneezing?” said Lloyd.

“I cannot.”

“Why not?”

“Because it’s a natural occurrence.”

“Hold on. Does that mean it’s impossible to infinitely hold your pee even if you are a sword master?”

“Yes,” said Javier”

“Hmm… Sword masters really aren’t that much, eh?”

“…”

“Anyway, this won’t do. Here. Cover yourself with this first,” suggested Lloyd.

“…”

Javier took the handkerchief Lloyd held out, and he wrapped it around his face to cover his nose and mouth. Breathing soon became easier.

“Follow me.”

Javier then moved into the outskirts of the woods with Lloyd, and the plan he had revealed eight days ago came to his mind.

We are going to steal it.

When Lloyd suggested stealing the Elensia sap and solving the insulation issue at hand, Javier flew into a rage, objecting that it was an outrageous idea. Stealing the Elensia Tree sap in the Everglow Woods while avoiding the elves? Javier considered that it was more realistic to train a chicken how to sword fight and hunt tigers.

That’s the case even if it’s me.

Of course, Javier was a sword master. But he wasn’t confident about dealing with the elves. Anywhere else, he would have fooled the elves. But he was in the Everglow Woods.

The elves are said to notice even a small change in the air of these woods. And yet, we are going to fool them? I’m afraid Master Lloyd is overestimating my powers.

Javier was worried, but the plan was pushed ahead nonetheless. The following day, Lloyd went to the baron and revealed his plans in detail, causing a bit of a scuffle between the baron and Lloyd. But the result was always the same. The baron gave up and said yes to Lloyd’s never changing stubbornness and thorough plan.

And we departed right away.

The following morning, they left the barony, and they arrived here after a seven-day journey. The plan, which Javier never could have imagined, was finally revealed to him.

“Good. We can start from here,” Lloyd said.

“Do you mean extracting the Elensia Tree sap?”

“Uh-huh.”

Lloyd stopped moving.

“Then, what am I supposed to do?” asked Javier, certain that his young master must have devised a plan. He was certain that Lloyd did have a plan. After all, it was Master Lloyd.

These woods belong to the elves.

Javier could never let his guard down. It was the case even if he was a sword master. At least within the boundaries of these woods, the elves were as equally sensitive and perceptive as him.

And Master Lloyd wishes to fool these elves’ senses and extract the sap? I wonder what he has up on his sleeves.

Javier waited for Lloyd’s response, his face hardened. But when he heard Lloyd, it darkened all the more.

“Run.” Lloyd’s short answer was heard.

“Excuse me?”

“Run. Straight ahead.”

“I’m not sure what you mean.”

“Don’t you know how to run?” asked Lloyd again.

“Of course, I do.”

“That’s a relief,” said Lloyd.

“So what, you want me to run? Just run?”

“Yeah.”

Lloyd chuckled.

“As far as you can go from here. And as fast and noisily as you can. Into the woods. But make sure you don’t get lost.”

“You…” Javier paused and stared at Lloyd. “You want me to become a scapegoat.”

“Yeah.”

“Aren’t you worried that it might be dangerous for me?”

“No.”

“…”

“I’m more worried for myself,” objected Lloyd.

“What are you saying…”

“Think about it. You are a sword master.”

“I am.”

“And you got triple circles with you.”

“That’s right.”

“So no matter how much these elves in this Everglow Woods try to come at you, they won’t be much of a threat to you.”

“Are you sure about that?”

“Yeah, and I’m sure about one more thing. I am in more danger than you are.”

“You, Master Lloyd?” asked Javier.

“Yeah.”

This was something Lloyd was absolutely certain about.

“You,” Lloyd said as he glanced around, “have no problem protecting your body, but what do I have?”

“So, the plan is for me to create a ruckus and draw attention, and you are going to extract the Elensia Tree sap in the meantime?”

“Now, you’re talking.”

“But it’s going to be too dangerous,” warned Javier.

“It’s all right. I have a plan.”

“Can I trust you on that…?”

“Are you worried about me?”

“That can’t be,” said Javier.

“Then?”

“I am scared that I’ll get scolded by the lord for losing you.”

“Aha. So you are scared of losing your job in this day in age of economic instability, eh?” asked Lloyd.

“That is accurate.”

“My, my, you’re making me cry with your concern. I’ll make sure you won’t lose your job, so focus on taking care of yourself.”

“Understood… I will trust you then.”

“If you know, then scram. But make sure you meet me within 30 minutes.”

Javier gave a short bow. Even though the young master was throwing nasty comments at him, Javier knew very well that the one who was in greater danger tonight was Master Lloyd, not him.

I pray he will be safe.

Javier wondered if Lloyd could succeed in extracting the sap without getting caught. A part of him thought that it would be more reasonable to find another way than to venture into this risky plan. But he knew very well that it was too late to turn back.

And Master Lloyd is still confident about this whole plan.

By now, Javier knew that Lloyd had something up on his sleeve when he was this confident.

So I just have to trust and get on board with his plan.

Swish! Javier drew his sword and leaped high, like a predator letting out a ferocious roar. Then, he raised the sword toward the sky and collided with his mana circle.

Kaboom! The powerful mana blast jetted toward the sky.

I am right here! Come and catch me if you can!

Javier zoomed through the woods with more speed, aiming to stay as far from Lloyd as possible. Just then, dozens of light green shadows appeared and dashed through the trees, almost flying”

Dang, they’re really fast.

Lloyd was hiding in a bush, quietly observing where Javier had gone to. Javier was already nowhere in sight. Instead, Lloyd saw the mana blast blasting through the sky from where Javier was headed, as well as the intermittent flashes of something light green.

It must be the elves. They’re already tailing Javier.

Lloyd was impressed by how perceptive these elves were. It appeared that it was almost impossible to fool these elves in the woods.

But that’s only when they’re on the ground.

After observing the surroundings some more, Lloyd rose up. A shovel was already in his hand.

When I’m underground, it’s a bit of a different story. Though I can’t fool them completely, I’ll be able to buy some time.

Rustle. Rustle. Lloyd carefully dug the ground, creating as little noise as possible. Thankfully, the earth was smooth and soft without many stones. So the digging turned out to be a cinch, and as he continued to dig, the hole became deeper. 15 feet. 30 feet. 60 feet… Eventually, Lloyd was able to completely hide himself in the small cave.

Okay, time for my first disguise.

He got out of the cave and covered the entrance with some leaves and twigs. It was disguised to look like an animal’s cave. Once it was done, he stepped out again.

Now, time for the real digging. Energizer.

Ding Dong.

[The skill option of the Asrahan Core Technique, Energizer, has been activated.]

[The triple circle’s efficiency has been brought to the max.]

[You are guaranteed to not get tired for the next 20 minutes.]

Ziiing!

Woah, it’s been a while since I felt this way!

Every fiber of his body was charged with strength. The three circles rotated at maximum speed, and an inexhaustible vigor, which was as energetic and charged as energy drink commercials, swelled over Lloyd.

Let’s goooo!

Fwish! Fwish!

The noise was kept to a minimum this time as well. But the shoveling was not. It was ferocious and relentless. Lloyd dug the cave vertically, moving downward. 15 feet. 30 feet. 60 feet. But of course, Lloyd was never exhausted. Moreover, he already saw the path he had to go in advance.

The roots should appear anytime now.

This part of the land Lloyd started to dig was actually the area about 20 yards away from the Elensia Tree. But he couldn’t thoughtlessly access the tree. If he reveals himself and tries to extract the tree sap and slice the trunk husk, what would happen?

I’d get beaten up.

Lloyd was certain about it because he had read it happen in the novel. Some of the explorers dared to extract the sap in such a manner, and they were captured by the elves. Lloyd shook his head as he recalled that part of the story.

Their attempt was off-base in two ways. First, they were exposing themselves on the ground. Second, this was the bigger reason. They only cut the husks, which only rendered a few drops a day.

In order to attain a large volume of sap, he needed to target the root, not the husk. That was the lesson Lloyd had learned from the failure of the explorers. It was so because the Elensia Tree stored the sap in its roots.

So, I simply need to cut a few thick roots to bring home and squeeze the sap out.

Inspecting the plan in his head once again, Lloyd accelerated his shoveling, and right before the Energizer ended, he discovered the root.

Okay. I see it.

Flash! Lloyd was actually activating another skill at the moment, and so the 16 feet space ahead of him was scanned in his eyes. Thanks to his skill, he was able to see it.

It’s a root. I’m sure of it.

Lloyd tightened his grip, and at last, the shovel head reached the area near the root.

Thud!

A corner of Lloyd’s lips curved upward.

Bingo. Found it.

From then on, Lloyd’s shoveling became more detailed. As though he was spooning a pudding with a teaspoon or rifling through his ears for earwax, Lloyd scraped and removed the dirt off the tree root. Lloyd started to sweat very much. At last, the actual root of the Elensia Tree was seen in his naked eyes.

“Yikes.”

This is massive.

Lloyd picked up the torch placed beside him in amazement. The Elensia Tree root was thick and transparent like glass. A milky liquid was filled in its smooth husk.

That’s the sap.

Now that he checked, it was time to extract the root. Lloyd cut three strands of the root cleanly and wrapped them in oil paper in several layers before putting them in his bag. But he wasn’t satisfied with it, and he made sure that he didn’t climb out of the cave so fast. He instead held up the torch and brought it near the root. And in a soft and relaxed voice, he spoke.

“You sisters sneaking behind me. Stop right there. Take one more step, or aim your arrow at me, and I’ll burn this tree to the ground”

Lloyd’s thick voice rang aloud in the cave. The elf ladies, who were entering the cave, stopped.

“Are you… trying to take hostage of us when you’re the one cornered in an impasse?”

Moira, who was aiming the bow behind Lloyd’s back as she stood in the front, asked, her facial expression looking flustered. Lloyd smiled as though he had all the time in the world.

“Yes, I am.”

They can’t shoot me anyway, Lloyd thought to himself. So his plan would be a sure-fire success. Filled with conviction, Lloyd brought the torch near the end of the root.

“Or you can always shoot me if you want.”