Chapter 73. Arrival of Human Caravan.

Chapter 73. Arrival of Human Caravan.

After she investigated the surroundings, Flor returned to Liu Shu's side and spoke to her. "Liu Shu, are you there?"

She didn't know if she had gone on another trip through her thoughts, so she checked. But her wording created a bit of confusion for the young World Tree.

The gentle, nature-like voice, both childish and ethereal, reached Flor with apparent confusion. 'Huh? Did you become blind, Flor? The system said that it is quite a big problem for creatures to get blind! Hm... I wonder if I can heal it somehow.'

Flor looked speechlessly at her before laughing. "No, no. I'm not blind, Liu Shu. Because I can't tell if you are in your thoughts or attentive, it was a way of checking if you could hear me. Nothing more, nothing less."

Liu Shu was confused and answered. 'But I can always hear you.'

It was the truth. Even when Liu Shu went on her thinking trips, her surroundings were still clear to her. It was just that unless it was related to what she was currently pondering, she didn't consider answering it and listened.

Unlike normal beings, Liu Shu didn't have any problems communicating with various people at the same time while understanding the conversations. It just needed more of her thinking power.

Flor shook her head, not understanding this fact about tree beings in general. "I mean it like, perhaps you are distracted or something. So, you can't hear me."

Liu Shu answered again, puzzled. 'But Flor, I can always hear you.'

Flor struggled to think of ways to communicate what she wanted, feeling that their conversation got stuck. "Ah! For example, those times you went silent for a while after I asked something."

Liu Shu answered with a puzzled tone. 'Do you mean when I went to think?'

Flor somehow felt that saying yes would be strangely rude. She didn't want to make it seem that Liu Shu taking too long to think was a bad trait. Unless the situation called for it, taking her time to think was a good trait. It was much better than rashly thinking and acting without taking consequences into account.

Since the conversation was not advancing, Flor coughed and commented, deviating the subject away from that topic. "Anyways, it doesn't matter much. You can build wherever you want and however you want, Liu Shu. We are in the open, so just place it somewhere you like."

Liu Shu looked around her with her <World Tree Eye> and pondered. 'Wherever I like? Hmm...'

Flor smiled. "Even though you might not be able to cover everything, you can start from somewhere and expand slowly, right? As you do with your roots, your defensive perimeter also needs time to encompass more land and become sturdier."

Liu Shu's mind flashed with ideas after hearing that. She exclaimed. 'Ohhh! That's very clever! You are very intelligent, Flor!'

Flor laughed softly, internally feeling delighted at Liu Shu's praise. "I'm glad I could help, Liu Shu." Then, she asked. "So... Have you thought in which area you will build it? I can ask the Rose Fairies to clean that area so you can start your construction."

Liu Shu commented. 'All around me!'

Flor blinked a few times, not understanding. "All around you? But didn't you say that you only had one structure?"

Liu Shu giggled. 'Yes! But if I create a flower field instead of a tree, I can encompass more land with the same materials and create a bush-like structure!'

Flor was confused. "But, you want something to kill things from far away, right? How will you achieve this with that design?"

From the outside, the sound of the earth shifting was heard, telling people that Liu Shu was modifying her surroundings with her powerful roots. The sense of power and awe it gave was enough to make many of the Rose Fairies pause to look at the marvelous creation of nature work.

Ignatia had decided to come today and meet again with those cheeky humans. Moreover, Flor had gone to her and shared her worries, so she had come with another 100 ants.

The group was stronger than her previous one, thanks to the ants having several breakthroughs after the battle.

When she arrived, she was immediately captivated by the mysticism created by Liu Shu's work. She quickly spotted Flor and approached her. "Flor! What is happening?"

Flor looked at Ignatia with a smile and floated to her side. "Welcome, Ignatia." She looked at Liu Shu and laughed. "Well, she is creating something. World Trees are truly impressive, aren't they?"

Ignatia saw how Flor looked at Liu Shu and blinked. 'Hm? The gaze is quite affectionate. Did something happen in the days I was gone?'

"So, good news or something? You are looking at the young one quite... differently."

Flor blinked and looked at her with confusion. "Am I?" Flor pondered. "Well, Liu Shu has recently learned how to communicate more appropriately, so I'm happy. I guess it is that?"

Ignatia hummed, giving Flor a long stare. "Nothing more?"

Flor looked at the large Ant Queen with a strange gaze. "What more can there be?"

Ignatia's smile returned. "I see. That's indeed good news."

Flor stared at her, speechless. "You are so strange sometimes."

Ignatia laughed and caught Flor between her hands, placing the relatively tall woman on her shoulder. Flor was a bit bigger than the other Rose Fairies, reaching around 45 centimeters in height, so when sitting on her shoulder, Flor looked like a large doll being carried around. Flor asked as she grabbed onto Ignatia's hair. "Don't you find it bothersome?"

Ignatia smirked. "Why should I?" Then, she quickly changed subjects. "So, when are these humans arriving?"

Flor shrugged. "Who knows?" Then, Flor explained her fears, and Ignatia nodded. "Well, that's really well-thought. It is not completely impossible."

Flor sighed. "Sorry for involving you in another dangerous matter."

Ignatia grinned, her compound eyes shining with amusement. "Don't worry about it. We are all protecting that little one with hopes of her giving us protection in the future when she grows, so I'm well aware that we'll need to sacrifice a bit before the tree bears fruits."

Flor laughed. "That's quite a way to put it. Well, it's quite right as well."

Ignatia giggled. "Right? So, be bothersome with me. I will help you as much as I can."

Flor softly smiled while looking at the Ant Queen. "Thank you, Ignatia."

As they spoke, an ant carrying a young Rose Fairy approached, and they both spoke using their own languages. "We've spotted the humans!"

Flor and Ignatia looked at each other with deep gazes and turned around. Just to be secure, Flor also called for the combat Rose Fairies and waited. 'Let's see, humans. Did you, or did you not fulfill your side of the promise?'