Chapter 974: The Forest of Nature has fallen

“It’s beautiful!”

Hearing Delilah’s praise, Lorelia beamed with delight.

“This will be the first gift I give to my master!” she declared. “And in the future… there will be countless more spoils for Lorelia to claim! Right, Xalathar?”

The Abyss dragon let out a low, rumbling growl of assent. On the matter of following Orion and killing more enemies for their master, Xalathar and Lorelia were in complete agreement.

Is this the confidence that comes with becoming a lord? Delilah wondered, watching the ecstatic girl.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a soldier. “Your Excellency, King Harold requests your presence.”

Delilah was shaken from her reverie. With the Northern Coalition routed, its forces either dead or scattered to the winds, it was time for the victors—the Human Kingdom, the Stoneheart Horde, the Dragons, and the Blood Elves—to carve up the spoils of war. Before that, however, the four allies would have to push the border further north.

Regardless, the Stoneheart Horde was guaranteed to receive a massive share of the profits from this victory, and its territory in the south would expand significantly.

“Keep an eye on our troops, little one. I’m heading to the war council,” Delilah said, turning to leave.

“Ms. Delilah, let Aldous go with you! He’s super strong now!” Lorelia called out with a cheerful grin.

Delilah paused, blinked, and then a wave of relief and ease washed over her. She was right. The Stoneheart Horde was a far cry from the fledgling power that had been so short on talent.

Stoneheart Horde. Stoneheart City.

A throne is a symbol of power and glory. To sit upon it is to command authority and respect. But only those who have sat there know the truth: a throne is a cold, lonely seat.

Orion lounged against that cold loneliness, making it feel even more profound as he let his consciousness sink into the Survivor’s Platform.

A series of frantic messages were waiting for him.

Aerin: Godfather… Orion… help me!

Aerin: I’ll do anything you want to get me out of this hellhole, in any position you want. 😉

Aerin: …

A faint smirk touched Orion’s lips. Ever since he’d given her those life-saving Scarecrows, Aerin had gotten reckless. He’d reached out a few times before, but she’d given him the cold shoulder, acting like she didn’t need anything from anyone.

Now, it seemed her supply of get-out-of-jail-free cards had finally run out.

He replied calmly.

Orion: Call me Godfather.

Aerin: Godfather! Lord Godfather, please save me!

Orion wasn’t done having his fun.

Orion: Call me Daddy.

Aerin: Daddy… Daddy… please save your poor, pitiful daughter!

She replied instantly, without a moment’s hesitation.

He hadn’t expected her to actually do it.

Orion’s smirk vanished. For her to debase herself like that… the situation on her end had to be genuinely desperate.

Orion: Tell me what’s going on.

Aerin didn’t reply immediately. Orion waited for a long moment as she apparently gathered her thoughts.

Aerin: Daddy, I’m begging you, all the Scarecrows are gone!

Aerin: The Forest of Nature has fallen! There was a spy inside the Wood Elf ranks. Now I’m not just dealing with the plague, I’m caught in a civil war! My people have gone insane!

Aerin: Daddy, please, you have to get me out of this nightmare world!

She was sobbing. A wave of trade requests began spamming his interface. The items she was offering were a chaotic mix of high-tier magical plants, a few Building Miniatures, and even personal effects like stockings and panties.

Orion wasn’t sure if it was an act of panic or a calculated move. Perhaps she thought that by offering him more valuable—and personal—goods, he’d be more inclined to save her.

He didn’t refuse, accepting the entire bundle of items she offered. Rejecting the trade now might just send the panicked girl spiraling even further. After the trade was complete, he waited another moment before replying.

Orion: You still alive, kiddo?

The teasing tone was back, but it was softer now. As long as she wasn’t dead yet, pulling her out of whatever mess she was in would be easy with his current power. He immediately initiated a new trade.

Aerin: Thank you, Godfather! Thank you, Daddy!

Orion grunted softly. Her reaction was exactly what he’d expected. He’d traded her five Scarecrows. He could have sent more, but he needed her to understand how valuable they were.

Orion: Now, talk. How exactly do you want me to save you?

With five extra lives in her inventory, Orion figured she’d be calm enough to give him a straight answer.

Aerin: Godfather, this whole world has gone to hell. Please, just get me out of here. The Forest of Nature isn’t safe anymore.

Orion: Get to the point.

Aerin: Oh, right. Okay, so here’s what happened…

Unknown realm. The Forest of Nature.

Deep within the dense woods, high in the canopy of a colossal tree, Aerin was hiding in a dark hollow. Compared to the beautiful arboreal home she used to live in, this hole was no better than a dog’s den. There wasn’t even a bed.

Leaning against the rough bark, Aerin opened her eyes. Two fat, glistening tears rolled down her crystalline cheeks, dripping from her flawless skin onto her green hair.

“Sniffle… When it really matters, Godfather is the only one I can count on,” she whispered.

The five Scarecrows in her possession were five more chances at life. If Orion couldn’t help her further, they at least gave her the confidence to try and escape the Forest of Nature on her own.

The truth was, she had no idea what the world outside the forest was even like; she had never left.

But ever since the demonic monsters had managed to corrupt some of her people and breach the forest’s defenses from within, the thought of escape had consumed her. The alternative was to stay and face two outcomes: being corrupted herself, or dying.

For a survivor, neither was acceptable.

She had to run. She was a Wood Elf, blessed with a long life, and all she wanted was to live her comfy, carefree, bougie life.

Yes, that was the word for it. Her life before all this, propped up by the Survivor’s Platform and her connection to a big boss like Orion, had been perfect.

If not for the invasion, she would have been happy to live out her days just like that.

But now, it was too late.