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Ethan clenched his fist tightly.

He knew that with good ingredients, a quality Decoction would be produced. But he never expected it to be an S-grade.

-You have earned an achievement!

-You have obtained likes from achieving the [S-Grade Producer] achievement.

-You’ve earned ‘5’ likes!

“Moreover, this is Lecard essence?”

Ethan was astonished.

Even though Ethan had seen most ingredients, Lecard essence was something he had never seen before.

Lecard was an herb known as the everlasting flower, as it never withered like other flowers throughout its lifetime.

Its vitality was extraordinary, as long as it didn’t break, its lifespan was infinite.

The Lecard essence he had obtained had lived for 200 years before becoming an essence.

‘No wonder it had such a high price.’

It seemed that it wasn’t purely Lecard essence, but a mixture of various other things.

Ethan decided to consume the Lecard Decoction as it was.

-An intense energy fills your body!

-Your stamina increases significantly!

-You have acquired a new trait through consuming Lecard essence!

-You have obtained the [Unfading Stamina] trait.

-[Unfading Stamina]

When stamina falls below 10 percent, it immediately recovers to full. [Cooldown: 24 hours]

“I can’t believe the Lecard essence has such effects…”

As an incredibly rare ingredient, it truly had remarkable effects.

Perhaps Heo Jun’s Decocntion brewing technique had fully maximized the potential of the essence.

But regardless, Ethan’s chance of survival had increased.

-Survival probability increases.

It was frightening to think that his chances of survival had also increased.

“I can take a bit more risk now.”

Having obtained Unfading Stamina, Ethan felt he could be more daring in his actions.

He changed his direction, deviating from his original destination.

“Let’s start going to the Temple of the Moon Goddess.”

* * *

Whittenburg.

Located to the west of Whiskers County, it resided within the boundaries of the kingdom.

The one ruling over this place was Horn Marquis,  who was known as the Berserker for his wild temper.

Ethan found himself in the vicinity of Whittenburg, specifically in the Great Forest that was slightly adjacent to the Fairy Forest.

“From here onward is the Fairy Forest. As I mentioned before, you must never act recklessly here. This is where the fairies reside.”

A dark forest. Yerica, who accompanied Ethan, widened her eyes and surveyed the surroundings at the forest keeper’s explanation.

“If I knew a place like this existed, I would have hidden here. It looks much better than the Dark Forest, doesn’t it?”

She had fled to the Dark Forest to escape from the pursuers.

“Even if you had fled here, that monstrous beast would have found you.”

Ethan had hired a forest keeper in Whittenburg.

Having a guide who knew the way well made it easier to reach the desired location.

As Ethan walked along with the forest keeper, he became puzzled.

‘Something different. There should be a temple around here, but there is no temple.’

This place was starkly different from what he knew.

Although it was named the Fairy Forest, it was not a forest but rather a ruin.

There was no forest or fairies. Only desolation akin to a desert.

However, even from the familiar positions in his memory, no temple could be seen in this Fairy Forest.

“Have you found what you were looking for? I have brought you to the exact location.”

Said the forest keeper confidently.

He claimed to be a professional forest keeper who had been roaming this forest for 20 years.

He boasted about being chosen as a forest keeper, earning recognition from the fairies, as he led them here.

“Coming to me was an excellent choice.”

“But it doesn’t seem to be the right place, Forest Keeper. Look at Ethan’s expression. It seems like what he’s looking for should be here, but it’s not.”

“That’s impossible. I have led you to the exact location.”

“This is the right place. But something feels off.”

Ethan surveyed the forest in all directions.

The condition of the forest was strangely unusual.

As if understanding Ethan’s look, the forest keeper nodded and spoke up.

“The smell is strange, isn’t it? It didn’t used to be like this, but recently, there has been a foul odor. It used to have a scent that calmed the mind.”

“I think I know the strange reason.”

Ethan drew his sword.

At that moment, the startled forest keeper shouted.

I had warned you about it before entering!

“Ah-ahh! N-no, you can’t!”

However, despite the forest keeper’s frightened plea, Ethan swung his clawed sword at the tree. As he did, a violet gas spewed out along with a foul stench.

“What? Wh-what have you done!”

The forest keeper looked at Ethan in dismay.

“The tree is rotten, Forest Keeper. But it’s not just ordinary rot; it seems to be contaminated.”

“C-Contaminated? That can’t be possible! And more importantly!”

The forest keeper looked around anxiously.

“If this continues, it will anger the fairies! You need to escape!”

The forest keeper clicked his tongue.

Before they could escape, the surrounding forest began to tremble.

Yerica stood in front of Ethan. She was prepared to act swiftly if necessary.

Shades of green, red, and blue appeared and swirled around, preparing to attack forcefully.

Yerica flicked her finger lightly, blocking the lights in their tracks.

“It seems like your skills have improved?”

“They will improve even more tomorrow. And the day after that, they will improve even more.”

Yerica smiled brightly at Ethan.

Now that she was properly fulfilling her role as his escort, she felt quite content.

“Forest Keeper!”

“Forest Keeper! We trusted you and granted you the privilege to pass through the forest!”

“But the human you brought with you just cut down the tree!”

“All the privileges we granted you will be revoked!”

“And as for that human…”

“They will face our punishment!”

The forest keeper’s expression froze.

“I’m sorry, Fairy Lords! B-But I couldn’t stop him…”

“No excuses are needed.”

“It’s already too late. Our trees won’t return.”

The forest keeper’s face filled with despair.

However, Ethan remained calm.

The fairies reprimanded the forest keeper and glared at Ethan.

That was when Ethan raised his Frost Sword.

“After I cut down the rotten tree, shouldn’t you say thank you?”

As Ethan spoke, the fairies, who were about to attack, froze in their tracks.

The forest keeper was surprised and dropped to the ground, dumbfounded. Then he alternated between looking at Ethan and Yerica, his mouth agape.

“Th-The fairies have stopped their attack.”

Contrary to their name, the fairies were wicked beings, especially hating humans who violated their rules.

The forest keeper had heard countless stories of people who died while mocking the fairies as forest keepers.

Yet, the fairies weren’t attacking.

“How did he know?”

“Humans couldn’t possibly know.”

“How could a human know?”

The fairies spoke, radiating light, and looked at Ethan with interest.

The forest was currently infected and decaying. The smell and the stench emitted when Ethan cut down the tree openly revealed that the forest was rotten.

Moreover, he had encountered such a state of the forest several times.

‘The corrupted elves sometimes created traps like this in their forests.’

Unlike the elves who cherished the forest, the corrupted elves didn’t glorify it.

‘When the trees in the forest rot, the forest dies. And if that happens, neither fairies nor elves can survive.’

This fairy forest was dying.

‘When I played the game, the forest was already dead, but now it seems like there are both the forest and the fairies.’

It was named the fairy forest, but it had become a crumbling place, almost like a ruined city.

Even then, if there were no hidden items, he would have never come here.

And that hidden item was the item obtainable in the Temple of the Moon Goddess.

‘Was someone intentionally do this?’

A sudden piece of information floated in Ethan’s mind.

‘That’s it.’

“Just by smelling it, you can tell. This forest is rotten. If left like this, everything will die—the forest and all of you.”

The fairies flew around, radiating light. They seemed to already know what Ethan was talking about.

At that moment, Ethan slightly opened his mouth.

“I can help.”

Wing-wiing-.

The fairies’ movements, as if contemplating, became faster.

“How?”

“How can you help?”

“By detoxifying it. Luckily, I possess the skill of detoxification.”

“Did you also read it in a book?”

Yerica asked, and Ethan nodded his head. This was real.

“Of course, I read it in a book.”

Yerica nodded excitedly, as if expecting it, having seen many remarkable things.

The pondering fairies spoke to Ethan.

“Then…”

“Please help us.”

“Help our queen.”

* * *

Amongst the fairy forest stood the largest tree, which served as their dwelling.

“You all…”

“Are you crazy? Bringing a human here?”

“This is our home! If the location of our home is revealed, greedy humans will undoubtedly come here!”

“Moreover, the forest is ailing. Our queen is suffering.”

“You foolish fairies.”

The fairies in the large tree started to fight against the fairies who had brought Ethan and his companions.

Every time they made a loud noise, they radiated different colors of light, creating a spectacle as if a festival were taking place.

“Are they really fighting? It feels more like a festival.”

Yerica seemed to share the same thought as Ethan.

“We should enjoy it. At least it’s fun for the eyes.”

“You’re so positive. When I blocked the fairies’ attack earlier, it didn’t seem like they were trying to kill us. If the fairies attack seriously, we might have to run.”

“Running is possible?”

“Yes, to that extent. Should I prove that you made the right choice in choosing me as your escort?”

“Let’s establish a signal. When I smile like this, revealing my teeth, that will be the signal to run immediately. Got it?”

“Understood.”

While Yerica and Ethan were having their conversation, the fairies’ discussion intensified.

“You fools, it’s all because of you.”

“Our queen is dying! The forest is decaying! We’re unable to resolve the situation among ourselves!”

“That human recognized that the forest is dying and decaying. They might have some solution.”

“You fools! What difference does it make if that human is the one who poisoned the forest?”

“It’s not them, you know. It was another human.”

“The one in the black robe.”

“You know it too.”

“But…”

“How long will you guys keep fighting like this?”

When Ethan intervened in the fairies’ fight, the forest keeper tried to stop him.

“Ethan, you mustn’t do this!”

The fairies in the large tree approached Ethan threateningly, radiating even stronger light.

The forest keeper thought that everything was about to end.

The fairies’ powers and abilities varied depending on the time they had lived and the strength they possessed.

The fairy in front of Ethan was an Elder Fairy, one of the fairies who had lived for a long time and possessed formidable power.

In an instant, an intense light burst forth and entered Ethan’s mouth.

“Oh my goodness, Yerica! Apologize to the Elder Fairy in my place immediately…!”

Suddenly, when the light entered Ethan’s mouth, Yerica also seemed bewildered.

Gulp.

However, Ethan, who swallowed the light, remained remarkably calm.

“From now on, you can only follow my commands.”

At that moment, Ethan’s eyes glowed.

-Abnormal State: Enslaved.

-Your strength is enhanced.

-Resistance to enslavement increases.

“Kneel.”

However, Ethan didn’t even flinch.

“H-How…?”

Everyone was astonished when Ethan remained unaffected. The fairies, in particular, were even more surprised, knowing how strong that power was.

The light radiated, revealing their astonishment.

The sound of fluttering wings could be heard clearly.

The forest keeper, who had asked Yerica to intervene, also froze in place.

It was like before, but what on earth was this person?

It made him doubt if he was even human.

“I came to help.”

Ethan drew his Frost Sword.

“You’re not worth helping.”

‘There’s no need to hold back.’

Ethan had the upper hand here.

Just as he was about to swing his Frost Sword, a groan came from within.

“The queen’s condition is critical!”

Ethan’s sword halted in its place.

It was positioned exactly where it could cleave the Elder Fairy’s body in half.

“I’ll give you one last chance.”

“…Please help us.”

Finally, the Elder Fairy gave the answer Ethan wanted to hear.

“You should have said that earlier.”

Ethan sheathed his sword.

Then he looked at the Elder Fairy. It seemed as if he would just move on, but Ethan had no intention of doing so.

“Still, you shouldn’t use your strength recklessly.”

With all his strength, Ethan struck the Elder Fairy.

Although they were a powerful fairy, they were completely helpless against Ethan’s punch, which came in an instant.

“I’ll help you.”

Yerica, who was standing behind, covered her mouth with her hand and smiled.