GILF Hunter

Chapter 481: 481 Seed of...

Where the Ent had stepped aside, there was a large cave entrance.

Seeing that it was also marked as a cave on the map, it seemed certain that this was the entrance to the place the Witch called her garden.

It looked like a suspicious cave at a glance, but perhaps because they had just seen the massive Ent, everyone moved into the cave without much complaint.

They had turned pale just a moment ago at the thought of having to fight that Ent; compared to that, entering a cave felt like nothing.

As they stepped into the dark cave, several members muttered quietly.

’She called it a garden, so why is it inside a cave like this?’

’We’re already underground anyway. Going a bit deeper doesn’t change much.’

’I suppose....’

After walking down for a bit, a large space soon revealed itself.

Everyone could immediately see why it was named a garden. Inside the vast cavern, countless plants were growing densely.

Luminescent vines grew on the walls and ceiling, brightly illuminating the inside of the cave.

’Ah, that one’s quite expensive.’

’There’s [Shadow Flame] over there too!’

Moreover, the plants inside weren’t just common weeds; every single one was a rare and highly-priced alchemical material.

The members looked around restlessly, scanning the plants blooming throughout the cave.

’Can we really just take what’s here?’

’I wonder....’

Their eyes sparkled at the sight of the expensive flora, but they couldn’t bring themselves to touch them readily.

The Witch had definitely said... it was fine to take whatever they wanted.

’Didn’t she clearly say it’s okay to take them?’

’But she’s a Witch. Couldn’t she just get angry all of a sudden?’

’....’

Unable to be certain it was safe, everyone hesitated, gauging the situation.

They all looked at Ariel as if asking what to do, but it wasn’t like Ariel could read a Witch’s mind. Ariel also shook her head with a troubled expression.

Just as opinions were being exchanged about perhaps picking one person by drawing lots to try first.

Suddenly, a voice flowed from a nearby tree.

’It is fine to take as much as you like.’

’...Kyaa!’

The members standing near the tree jumped in surprise and scrambled back.

It was the voice of the Ent that had been blocking the cave entrance. A tree root nearby had opened its eyes and spoken to them.

’Are you the one from the entrance...?’

’Yes. All the trees here are my roots.’

It seemed all the trees growing throughout the garden were roots extending from that one Ent.

The Ent raised a branch that looked like a hand and pointed to the center of the garden.

’The Young Lady’s garden is that place in the middle, so only avoid entering there. As for the rest, I grew them, so feel free to take them. They are things that grow well enough on their own anyway.’

’R... Really?’

’Yes. It has been a very long time since we’ve had invited guests, so this much is fine. The small amount you take will grow back quickly in a few decades.’

Just how old was this Ent? His sense of time was somewhat staggering, but regardless, it was a relief to have direct permission from the one who grew them.

Then the Ent looked at Rin and spoke.

’That’s right. As for the Young Lady’s guest, please enter the garden and take one thing you like.’

’Eh? Me?’

’Yes. Were you not personally invited?’

’W... Will it be okay?’

Rin asked, sounding a bit anxious.

She had heard the Witch tell her to take what she liked, but after hearing the other members’ talk, a bit of unease had set in.

They said her personality was bad. Who knew if she’d get angry for actually touching her garden just because she said to take something?

The Ent replied as if telling her not to worry.

’She does not break a promise she made personally, so it is fine. Besides, the Young Lady does not remember human faces very well anyway. She will soon forget who it was she permitted to enter the garden.’

’I... Is that so.’

It was a somewhat baffling suggestion, but... anyway, since these were the words of the Ent who seemed to manage this garden, Rin decided it would work out somehow and nodded.

＊ ＊ ＊

Having received formal harvesting permission from the garden’s Ent, the members began moving busily through the garden.

’There’s [Aurora Veil] over there!’

’I’ve never seen this one before... what on earth should I take?’

Even after receiving permission, the members didn’t touch the plants right away.

Every time they found an expensive-looking plant and thought about taking it, even more expensive-looking ones were discovered shortly after.

Even if the Ent gave permission, if they tore off things they weren’t going to take, he would surely be angry.

They intended to check everything first and then pack mostly the most expensive items.

As a result, everyone kept circling the garden, unable to make a decision easily.

While everyone was wandering the garden, Ariel looked around near Ian and asked.

’I heard you decided to only take a portion of the gathered materials from the members. You don’t intend to take any further payment beyond that?’

’Yes. We agreed that everyone keeps the spoils harvested inside, excluding the items we pre-determined.’

’In a situation like this, it would be acceptable to take an exceptional fee.’

’Actually, I don’t particularly need the money. Most of them wouldn’t be able to pay much anyway.’

’...Well, I suppose that’s true by Leader Ian’s standards.’

The pre-arranged loot distribution rules were one thing, but in such an exceptional situation, everyone would have found it perfectly reasonable for him to demand extra compensation.

However, most of the Circle members here were C-rank to B-rank mercenaries. Furthermore, looking at them separately from their mercenary groups, individual mercenaries didn’t possess that much wealth.

Honestly, even if he collected a fee from those mercenaries, it would only cause a minor change that wouldn’t even be distinguishable on the mercenary group’s financial statements.

Ariel nodded after hearing that.

Indeed. If everyone filled their backpacks here, even receiving half of that would be a massive amount.

’Fine. Then let me know if there’s anything you want. I’ll pack it in my backpack and hand it over later. I won’t be taking anything for myself.’

’If you gather it all, it’ll be quite expensive. Are you sure you’re okay with that?’

’It’s the same for me. If I were doing this to make money, I wouldn’t have needed to hold this bothersome meeting every time in the first place.’

From the perspective of Ariel, an A-rank mercenary leader, maintaining these circle expeditions just for weapon materials was quite a chore. She could easily obtain enough materials for her own weapons.

She did it purely for the other archers in the circle.

’Then I ask this of you.’

Ian didn’t refuse that much. He wrote down the names of several materials and handed the memo to Ariel.

Being a high-rank mercenary with long experience, she seemed to recognize the alchemical materials. After receiving the memo, Ariel read what was written and said.

’Come to think of it, do you have exclusive alchemists in your mercenary group? They’ll love receiving these.’

’They say they’re developing something incredible lately. No matter how many materials I get them, new needs keep popping up.’

Perhaps because the topic of alchemists came up, Ariel warned Ian as if telling him to be careful.

’You have to be careful. Alchemists get reckless ideas when you give them such rare materials.’

’Reckless ideas?’

’Yes. [Elixir of Immortality] or [Panacea of Death].... You know, those legendary elixirs that make alchemists lose their minds. If rumors spread that you’re researching such things, the Royal Palace sends people immediately.’

Ariel spoke with a fed-up expression, as if she had seen it personally.

’That old man has completely lost his mind lately. He even sends Royal Knights into cities, ignoring autonomy. You could have all your research data confiscated, so if you’re going to research anything, you must keep it as secret as possible.’

’...It’s fine. I saw it last time, and it wasn’t that kind of research.’

’Don’t be so relieved; you must monitor them thoroughly.’

’They aren’t the type of people to do that secretly... hmm.’

Ian recalled Emilia’s face and couldn’t quite bring himself to finish the sentence saying she wasn’t that kind of person.

＊ ＊ ＊

While everyone was wandering around frantically, Rin entered the garden located in the very center.

Unlike the outside where countless plants grew in disorder, the inner garden was trimmed very neatly.

It was like a nobleman’s garden.

The problem was... every single flower was something she had never seen before.

Flowers burning blue. Flowers consisting only of shadows. Flowers glowing in rainbow colors, and so on. Vibrant flowers were blooming everywhere, but she had no idea what effects they had.

If only the Leader... or even Mika had been next to her, they might have recognized something expensive.

Thinking that, Rin sighed softly.

It would have been better if Ian had precisely decided what she should do.

But Ian had given Rin the most difficult and tricky instruction.

...He had told her to just bring back anything.

Since he couldn’t know in advance what would be in the garden, and it would likely be alchemical materials anyway.... Ian told her to just treat it as a random reward and pick anything.

Because of that, Rin’s dilemma deepened.

’My, my. You look like you have a lot on your mind.’

’...Ah!’

When a voice suddenly spoke from nearby without any presence, Rin turned around in surprise.

A small tree growing in the garden was talking to Rin.

’Ah... it’s the Ent mister.’

’Can you not choose what to take?’

’Yes. I don’t really know about these things....’

The flowers growing here were all pretty and looked expensive, but she had no clue what kind of effect they had.

The Ent nodded as if understanding that worry and made a suggestion to Rin.

’I see. Then how about this? It is a particularly popular item among humans. ——or so they say.’

’Eh? I didn’t hear what you called it.’

’Well. I do not know the name humans use for it either.’

A branch extended and held something out to Rin. What the Ent gave Rin was a seed of unknown identity.

...She had no idea what this was, but that was true for everything else in the garden as well.

’Um... since I don’t know what the others are anyway. Fine, I’ll take that. I just need to plant it in the ground, right?’

’It does not grow well outside the Labyrinth because it needs some Erosion... but it looks like there will be no problem if it is kept near the guest. Keep it and grow it nearby.’

Rin didn’t hesitate for long and accepted the seed the Ent handed her.