Leon's POV
We finally made it to the Great Forest. The trees were even taller than I had imagined.
"Wait, Leon," Artemis said.
Oh, right. The forest was protected by its inhabitants, which meant there were guardians watching us right now. The moment I stepped into the forest, I'd probably be attacked.
"Dryads," Artemis addressed them with authority. "I am the Princess of the Elven Kingdom. I implore you to open the door to the Great Forest for me. I must return home."
Suddenly, a colossal tree stirred. These were no ordinary trees. Rising nearly fifty meters high, they radiated an ancient, ominous presence. Some of them lumbered with deliberate, earth-shaking steps — unmistakably Treants, the towering guardians of the forest.
Guiding these guardians were the Dryads, spirits of the ancient trees themselves. They shared similarities with succubi in their predatory nature, draining the life force of men. Unlike succubi, who ensnared through dreams or seductive pheromones, Dryads commanded Treants to entrap their prey, consuming them until nothing remained but lifeless husks.
Artemis warned me to tread carefully. The Dryads had a taste for those with high life force, and someone with a libido like mine was practically a feast waiting to happen.
"Princess Artemis of the Elven Kingdom," a sultry, unmistakably female voice resonated through the thick foliage of the forest. "We have no issue with allowing you to enter, but your companions must stay behind. Outsiders cannot simply pass through."
"One of them hails from the beast tribe," Artemis announced confidently. Maya gracefully dropped her hood, proudly displaying her distinctive horns to the guardians. "And this man," Artemis continued, her cheeks tinted with embarrassment, "is my future husband. The beast woman desires to visit her homeland, and he will escort me to the Kingdom of Elves to introduce him to the queen."
"Future husband, you say?" The Treants before us suddenly shifted, creating an opening through which emerged a striking woman with flowing green hair. She stood naked, adorned only with strategically placed leaves preserving her modesty. "And what kind of man does the aloof Princess Artemis bring for her mother to see?"
"That's none of your concern."
"As far as I'm concerned, it is," the Dryad retorted coolly. "I am one of the guardians of this forest, and everything that enters or leaves here falls under my watch."
Drawing nearer, the Dryad inspected me with a penetrating gaze, her eyes roaming over me from head to toe as if assessing my essence. She licked her lips in a provocative manner, her intent clear as she focused on me.
"You've found yourself quite the catch, Princess. I'll admit that," she remarked with a hint of desire. "His life force is remarkably potent. It's a pity. If he weren't yours, I'd eagerly consume him until he became nothing but a desiccated husk."
Artemis glared at her.
"Well, if he's your future husband, then I suppose I'll allow him in. That woman definitely has the scent of the beast people about her. She can come along too," said the Dryad with a nod.
With those words, the Dryad gracefully retreated into the depths of the forest. As she turned to leave, I couldn't help but notice she didn't bother to cover her behind, giving me an unexpected view of her smooth, white buttocks. It was an enticing sight. Just as the thought crossed my mind, Artemis shot me a stern glare.
"Sorry about that, hun," I said to her.
"Hmph!" she huffed, turning her head away.
Maya chuckled softly behind us.
And with that, we ventured deeper into the Great Forest.
"Delete it right this instant!"
"Not a chance," I retorted, a hint of defiance in my voice.
After ten long hours of trekking through the dense forest, we finally arrived.
"We're here."
The surroundings were enveloped in a mysterious mist of illusion crafted by mana. It hung thick in the air, yet its presence was deceptively subtle. Only those attuned to such potent mana would perceive its existence. Remarkably, it served as a formidable barrier protecting the Kingdom.
"Wait a moment," Artemis instructed, lowering her travel bag to the ground. She delved inside, searching with purpose until she retrieved a flute.
"What's that going to do?"
"Just wait," she said. Bringing the flute to her lips, Artemis began to whistle softly. The sound was subtle, not carrying far, but as she had promised, patience was all that was required. It seemed to be a unique method for elves to signal someone.
After a while, I felt a shift in the mana, and a woman emerged.
"A human?" the woman exclaimed. She, too, had long, pointed ears like Artemis, and blonde hair. Taller than Artemis, she possessed a slightly larger bust, though still of average size. "What's a human doing here?"
"He's with me," Artemis declared firmly, her Mirage shimmer dissipating to reveal her pointed ears, marking her elven heritage.
"Princess!" Aegis exclaimed with surprise. "You've returned!"
"Yes, Aegis. It's been too long," Artemis acknowledged warmly.
"Yeah," Aegis responded, a mix of curiosity and concern in her voice. "So, why have you come back? And why bring a human with you?"
"Let's discuss inside," Artemis suggested, motioning towards the hidden entrance.
"Right," Aegis affirmed, her fingers expertly coaxing a melody from her flute. Gradually, a surge of mana rippled through the air, its intensity enough to cause the ground beneath us to tremble faintly.
As if responding to Aegis's music, the mist before us began to part, unveiling the entrance to the Elven Kingdom.
"This is the Kingdom of Elves, Leon," Artemis announced, guiding me through the revealed gateway. Stepping into the kingdom, I was enveloped in a sense of awe and wonder. It was hard to believe that such splendor lay hidden within the Great Forest all this time.
The infrastructure was somewhat modern, yet the city didn't quite match the modernity of places like the Kingdom of Milham. It was evident that while it was progressing towards modernization, it remained distinct and secluded from the outside world.
The population consisted entirely of women, as I had expected, reminiscent of the Amazonians but distinctly elven in nature. It seemed natural that within the Kingdom of Elves, one would only encounter elves.
They were all stunningly beautiful, much like Artemis herself. Their attire consisted of cloth that covered their breasts, with skirts made from similar materials. Many of them were engaged in magical duels, showcasing their prowess as magic users. Others wielded bows, while women like Aegis carried swords.
I absorbed the scene before me with wide eyes, taking in every detail.
"Welcome to the Kingdom of Elves, Elvenia."