Chapter 1282: They Still Like To Play Pranks

So are illegal slavers really behind this?

I mean... The first option that she suggested is already something I know was not the reason why this is happening so it must mean that the illegal slavers should be the culprit behind this.

But really? That means they are trying to destroy something the gods created just so that they could get some Trasif slaves.

They’re literally doing something that people would go to war over just for some profit?

Hmm... Actually... Now that I said it out loud, it doesn’t really sound that ridiculous after all. People actually do stupid things just for profit anyway.

I guess I would only get the confirmation from Katsuki when she returns tonight but I guess at this point, I can operate under the assumption that they were indeed the ones involved.

"Do you get a lot of illegal slavers here?" I asked.

Abarra tilted her head at me, "Do you actually think that they are the ones involved in this? Even I find that highly unlikely since I don’t think any illegal slavers would be brave enough to try and face the wrath of the Gods on their own."

"I’m not sure but I wouldn’t want to assume that it’s impossible and end up getting surprised later."

"Hmm... I understand... To answer your question... There are quite a number of illegal slavers using the forest as their hideout. Most of them try to attack travellers and kidnap them to be turned into slaves since they wouldn’t be able to attack our towns and cities directly thanks to Goddess Drebann’s protection."

"Is there an especially big organisation that may have gained power and influence enough to challenge the entire Republic?"

She paused, "Umm... If there is, I would not know... I’m afraid that I have spent pretty much all my time studying the Tree of Life and nothing else. I am not exactly the best source of information for this."

I shook my head, "That’s fine. Your insight has been helpful."

"So... Are you really not sent here to deal with this problem?"

I considered my words for a moment, "Actually... I was tasked by your Head Priestess to investigate the weird things that had been happening around the tree and that’s why I was suspecting that someone might be targeting the tree. We don’t want to cause a panic amongst the people yet so could I ask that you keep what you know to yourself for now while I investigate?"

She nodded, "Since Apostle has said so, I will play my part as well."

Ah geez... I hope that name doesn’t stick... I think I already have enough titles on my plate now...

Thankfully, when I quickly checked my title again, I didn’t see ’Apostle’ appearing there so I don’t think I need to worry about it.

Eventually, I bid farewell to the doctor and left the tree manor, trying my best to ignore the plant spirits that surrounded and clung to me like I was some kind of walking Christmas tree.

"I got some really good materials from that," Minnera boasted, storing her creations away into god knows where.

"I’m glad you’re having fun at least... But now what?"

Minnera tilted her head at me, "What do you mean? We go to the next location where we can have a better background for your painting of course."

I huffed at her, "Minnera... Did you forget that there’s something going on with the Tree of Life right now? Something that we were tasked to deal with?"

"Aren’t we just waiting for Katsuki to return with her information or whatever? That’s why we were exploring the city to begin with, right?"

I guess that’s true... Anything we can gather about this situation ourselves probably wouldn’t even be able to compare to what Katsuki would be able to dig up anyway.

Instead of taking the platform down to the ground level, both Minnera and I just spread out wings and jumped off to float down to the forest floor instead.

That gave me the idea to take Minnera out on a flying date one day. The only reason why I’m not suggesting it now was because I still have a whole bunch of plant spirits stuck to me.

But when I reached the ground, I found the same Trasif that had guided us here waiting for us outside the tree and she immediately ran over to us when she saw us.

"How did it go?" She asked, looking anxious.

I gestured at the clear increase in the number of plant spirits around me, "Why don’t you take a guess where all the extras came from?"

She clasped her hands together, "I knew it! As expected of a favourite of Goddess Drebann!!"

Err... She actually went ahead to shout that part out loud and almost immediately, several heads swivelled in our direction when they heard her declaration.

"Favourite of Goddess Drebann?"

"Who?!"

"If they’re her favourite... That means..."

"She’s the most feminine?!"

"She’s the one!!"

Almost immediately, a flood of people started running towards us and I was still wondering what I should do when the plant spirits around me suddenly detached themselves and exploded in clouds of smoke.

When the smoke dissipated, I found myself looking at over a few dozen copies of me surrounding us.

"Ehehe~ That’s right! I’m a favourite of Goddess Drebann! Follow me!" One of them shouted before running away.

"No, no! I’m the real one! Do you want to know the secrets to being feminine? Then follow me!" Another shouted, running in another direction.

That prompted the others to also start shouting out that they were the real one and running off, a few of them even spreading their wings to fly up into the trees while they taunted the Trasifs below.

The one closest to me gave me a peace sign, "Run, Apostle! We will keep them busy for you, ehehehe~"

She then flew off after the others, even stealing one of the Trasif’s hats to put on her head as she flew off and taunted her.

I guess in the end, they couldn’t resist playing such a prank on people when an opportunity like this appears in front of them.

I have to be thankful that they’re actually doing this though.

A hand then grabbed onto my wrist and I turned to see Minnera grinning at me.

"I know the next place we can go to, Aster!"

Without another word, she spread her own wings and shot up into the sky, pulling me along with her and using the rest of the copies of me to hide herself.

I also spread my wings to stabilise myself, flying alongside her and thinking that fate was a funny thing for granting this flying date just as I thought about it.

Flying above everyone and flitting through the trees was definitely a sight to behold I’d reckon.

Just as I was wondering where she was leading me, she stopped on top of a branch nearby and sat down on it.

Err... Minnera? If you want to escape, this is still within full view of the crowd, you know? I’m pretty sure if anyone saw that I was the only one being led away by a Comissar, they would easily figure out that I was the real one... So shouldn’t we go a bit further than this?

Those were the thoughts going through my head when she materialised her canvas in front of her and placed her palette in my hands.

"Ahhhh~ Painting a scene of so many Asters flying away with the real Aster by my side... This is the best day ever! I’m overflowing with creative energy!!" She squealed, already materialising several different coloured paint on the palette in my hands.

Her hands then started to blur and I watched the empty canvas quickly transform into a beautiful scene of various different copies of me flying above the Trasif crowd below.

I looked down at the palette and thought since I was already here anyway... And knowing Minnera, she would probably be here for a while... I might as well also try my hand at painting too.

I materialised one of the empty canvases that I have inside my Bangle of Folding to prop up in front of me using my hair and tail.

Despite taking the [Sedusa] boon that allowed me to move my hair, I haven’t really been using it much aside from some BDSM kink play with Lisa.

I then took up a paintbrush and tried to paint the scenery below us but the moment my brush touched the canvas, I suddenly heard a cry coming from the side.

I turned back to Minnera to see that she had actually spurted blood from her nose which she just managed to stop from staining her own painting by pausing time for it while the droplets were still in the air.

"Aster... Painting... Beside me? This... I am in heaven..." Minnera cried, literal tears streaming down her cheeks.

Girl... You are so cute.