"Now, shall we go find out what the Dryads were hiding?" Lee Shin-Woo said.

"You know, I don't hate this part about you; this fickle side of yours."

"Thanks. I like that about myself too."

Lee Shin-Woo set a new goal for himself the moment he fulfilled his objective of ranking up his Acid Resistance, which was something he was willing to risk his life to achieve. He spent only three minutes at best reveling in his accomplishment.

"I wonder what the Dryads wanted with the Spirit General." Jin said.

"They wanted us to tell her about this place, so the answer's probably inside somewhere. And it's easy to find."

Lee Shin-Woo began searching and quickly found the secret the Dryads had left behind... Namely, the entrance to a dungeon. While Jin had been watching Lee Shin-Woo’s every move, he couldn’t figure out how Lee Shin-Woo could be so certain.

"The traces the Tree Golem left behind are too thick. I can’t really discern anything."

"It's a lot easier to sense than the winery, though,” Lee Shin-Woo said. “It should be pretty easy to find as long as you’re familiar with the Dryads’ mana."

There was an even easier way to detect the entrance: look for the patch of forest ground that was relatively intact despite the fierce battle that had taken place! Lee Shin-Woo applied his mana to where the Tree Golem had been guarding. The ground softly trembled, and a set of descending dirt stairs emerged.

[Level 5 dungeon - You have acquired the permit to Mellonia's Laboratory. All stats increase by 10 within the dungeon. The dungeon's information is added to your minimap. All actions are buffed within the dungeon.]

There was no way of knowing who Mellonia was, but he was sure that the Dryads were using this facility differently than the way it was intended upon creation.

Because the entrance was so tiny, they, especially the larger Jin, had to hunch their shoulders to enter the dungeon. Immediately, the entrance shut, and hundreds more stairs appeared. It was a relief that it was wide enough for Jin to go down.

"Hoo, we'll reach the bottom soon," Lee Shin-Woo said.

"It's too quiet..."

"No, there's breathing. You can tell by the mana."

[!?]

Lee Shin-Woo’s observation was followed immediately by the sensation of something recoiling in fear in the darkness of the dungeon. He chuckled and stepped onto the floor at the end of the stairs.

Before they went deeper into the darkness, a voice gave them pause.

[Who... Who are you!?]

It sounded like an innocent young lady... The peculiar echo and the magic contained within set it apart from a human's voice. Lee Shin-Woo suddenly realized that this was an uncorrupted Dryad.

As expected, the thing that the Corrupted Dryads wanted to protect above all were the Dryads who haven’t been corrupted...

That was the truth of their hidden ‘treasure’, which was obvious when he thought about it. He’d been so shocked by the appearance of the Corrupted Dryads that he erroneously assumed there weren't any normal Dryads left.

If that's the case, what the Corrupted Dryads wanted from the Spirit General was probably...

When he acquired the final puzzle piece, namely the uncorrupted Dryads, the answer became quite obvious. They were probably hoping that the Spirit General would protect the remaining Dryads that hadn't been corrupted.

Giving him the key fragment that would allow passage to the Spirits' Spring was likely an extension of that as well. They probably wanted the uncorrupted Dryads to leave this dangerous world and live in the Spirits' Spring instead, or something to that effect. Unfortunately, Lee Shin-Woo had become the wrench thrown into the plan.

Alright, Lee Shin-Woo. Calm down. If I can talk to them, I have to give it a try.

Blindly killing them all would be the dumbest idea ever. There was probably something else he could get from this scarce spirit species. That left him with one option: acting.

"I'm Paul Zero."

For Lee Shin-Woo, dropping into an act was easier than even breathing; he spoke in an extremely serene and attentive voice.

"I'd like a little chat."

[C-Chat...?]

"Yeah, chat."

Lee Shin-Woo's voice was extremely calm. The representative Dryad seemed confused, as Lee Shin-Woo's appearance didn't match that of a high-ranking skeleton at all; however, the other Dryads were already speaking up by the ones or twos.

[A trespasser! It's a trespasser!]

[How can a skeleton...?]

[How can a mere skeleton be talking with us...?]

The Dryads' youthful, beautiful voices were pleasant to his ear, but they sounded a little older than the first one. Soon, the chatters spread uncontrollably.

[You idiot, don't you feel that overflowing elemental power? He's not a normal skeleton.]

[Oh, you're right. Is he an Elementalist?]

[A skeleton's an Elementalist?]

The commotion was gradually spreading! The once dark dungeon began brightening up, allowing him to see the interior. The spirits looked like beautiful women of various ages... He saw both the Dryads and the trees they were protecting.

"...They are rotting," Lee Shin-Woo muttered.

[Ugh!]

One of the Dryads couldn't help but respond. That meant he'd hit the mark! The trees within the dungeon were rotting, which must have an effect on the Dryads as well.

"Mm. Hoh."

[Keuk!]

[Kuuu.]

Noticing the withered trees, Lee Shin-Woo looked further into the space and found several Dryads who looked quite old. They could feel his blazing goblin fire, and they shrank at his piercing gaze; immediately after, they became angry.

[What have you come for, Skeleton!? You're not much better off than we are!]

[She's right. You've come to laugh at us, haven't you!? Even though you're a skeleton with power over nature, you're still a skeleton!]

The Dryads' cries of resentment intensified. The youngest-looking and consequently the least corrupted Dryad stepped forward with a fierce expression. This was the Dryad who had first demanded him to identify himself.

[We don't want to talk to you! If you have any respect, leave before you spread the curse to us!]

"Ha."

Of course, Lee Shin-Woo had no intention of leaving after finding the dungeon and discovering a mystery like a pushover. He had two options: either kill all of them, or fool all of them. Fortunately for them, Lee Shin-Woo had decided upon the latter.

Now then, let’s get started. Lee Shin-Woo's goblin fire blazed immensely.

"It seems like you've been infected by the curse since a long time ago. No... You weren't born in the dungeon, were you? You were hit by the curse and retreated here, right?"

[Keuk!]

Lee Shin-Woo painted a perfect picture in his head. The Dryads had realized the severity of the curse that uprooted the Empire, and had pushed their uninfected kin and trees into the dungeon.

But the problem was with the trees. Because the tree seeds were corrupted, the Dryads inside the dungeon couldn't avoid the influence of the curse. They were able to prevent themselves from becoming like the Dryads on the outside since they had entered the dungeon before it was too late, but it was only a matter of time until they joined their kind...

"What do you say? My guess is spot on, isn’t it?"

[Keuuuuuuk!]

The Dryads couldn't retort. While Lee Shin-Woo’s guess wasn't 100% accurate, they had to admit he was right about their situation.

Lee Shin-Woo was visibly satisfied after shutting all the Dryads up, while Jin stared at him, speechless. Like a physician handing out medicine, Lee Shin-Woo said, "I'll help you. That's why we came."

[What...?]

Lee Shin-Woo lied through his teeth, and the Dryads looked at him vacantly.

[How? Why?] the youngest Dryad representing the pack hurried to ask.

"You’re already asking me how I would do it. Things must be really urgent."

[Kuuuuuu...!]

The sight of the angry, beautiful girl stomping her feet on the ground was cute. This is what it felt like to make fun of a little kid!

Jin headbutt Lee Shin-Woo in the back, though, and he decided to get to the main point. It was something he had been thinking about since seeing the withered trees.

"I know a place filled with living trees. It's a lot safer. I'll take you there."

[!?]

At that moment, the Dryads were seized with both shock and disbelief. The youngest Dryad was so shocked that her jaw almost dropped to the ground. The other Dryads were also speechless.

A place with living trees in this cursed Empire! The Dryads froze like they couldn't understand what he was saying, but it didn’t take long for them to thaw. They were positively boiling with emotions.

[Trees!]

[Living trees!]

[Filled to the brim! What kind of trees are they? How many?]

They could no longer speak through a representative, and all the Dryads erupted into questions. This was the kind of response Lee Shin-Woo expected from spirits that lived with trees! He could tell their minds were already elsewhere at a glance, and he laughed.

"They're grapevines. Hundreds of them."

[Grapevines...]

[Mm...]

[We're really thankful. The grapevines would thrive under our care.]

[I want to see living trees. It's too difficult for these children to endure for much longer.]

Lee Shin-Woo was a little doubtful since he’d never heard of Dryads tending to grapevines before, but their response was quite nice. Their situation must truly be dire!

"You're thinking of taking them there?” Jin whispered. “To the underground orchard?"

"Yeah. It's safe and brimming with life."

There was no way it wouldn't, as an elf had been tending to it just a short while ago. Although Lee Shin-Woo had taken most of the grapes, the grapevines should grow well and thrive with the Dryads’ care. It would be a safe haven for the Dryads as well.

[Take us there!]

[Take me there! Please, Skeleton!]

[When I felt your power over nature, I knew you were a good person... A good skeleton!]

Several Dryads suddenly did a one-eighty and latched onto Lee Shin-Woo! Even five-year-olds wouldn't be so honest with their desires!

[I'll do whatever you want if you bring me there!]

[What do you want me to do? Should I bear your child? Ah, you're a skeleton.]

[What would make a skeleton happy?]

[Hurry. Tell us what you want!]

Lee Shin-Woo had been preparing all sorts of lies in order to fool them, yet the Dryads acted as though they would offer him anything; Lee Shin-Woo felt a bit dejected. But then...

[You came all the way here to help us? That's too suspicious. What's your goal? How did you find us?]

There was actually someone who still didn't trust him! It was none other than the representative Dryad! Was her mind still clear because she wasn't corrupted at all? It was such a sensible response that Lee Shin-Woo actually felt happy.

It was a relief that he was able to use the lines he'd prepared for this very moment! In an honest tone, he said firmly and unhesitatingly, "I met the Dryads on the outside that were too corrupted to be saved. They asked me to help you before you end up like them."

[That's...]

Lee Shin-Woo was twisting their request to the Spirit General, Dana Von Etliber, however he wished!

When he took out the Spirits' Spring Key Fragment and showed it to her, the suspicious Dryad shed a tear. No matter how mistrustful she was, she was still a kid.

[Our mothers...made that request for us...!]

"...You've done well."

[Kuheuk, euuuuu...]

[Don't cry, Sinea...]

[Don't cry.]

The Dryad—whose name seemed to be Sinea—burst into tears, and the other Dryads approached her and hugged her tightly. It was such a touching scene that Lee Shin-Woo applauded, and Jin, like always, came over and rammed into his back. They were still connected through Assimilation.

'What are you thinking?'

'They're just like the Pauls. Wouldn't it be more interesting if I add another variable? It'd be a much more fun result than killing them at least.'

'...'

Lee Shin-Woo was casual with his response, and Jin had nothing else to say. He was the only one who could hear Lee Shin-Woo cackling like the Joker he was.

'How about it? Should we go look for other spirits as well?'

Jin couldn't offer any suggestions. He had no idea what sort of chaos Lee Shin-Woo would stir up if he found more spirits.

"Alright. Everyone’s going to take my offer, right?"

[Yeah... Yeah! Of course!]

[Thanks, Skeleton! No, Paul Zero!]

[Thanks a lot! You're our savior!]

And so, Lee Shin-Woo ended up saving the Dryads in the Spirit General's stead, whose whereabouts he didn’t even know. This seemed to be the best possible outcome for the Dryads.

However, the Dryads would someday regret their decision. They would regret the fact that they hadn't asked about the price for their salvation!