Trap?

"Unhand me right now, you hooligan! Do you even know what you're doing? My Grandpa will have your head for this!" Vivian squirmed in his arms to try and free herself.

"Urgh, stop screaming in my face, will you?" Raymond tightened his arms around her thighs and back to stop her from squirming.

"You… pervert! Stop it, you're openly groping me now!" Vivian was horrified.

What kind of meat do these humans eat? Why was he so strong?

She couldn't get herself away from him no matter how hard she tried. She was like a rabbit trapped under a wolf's claws.

"What?" Raymond skidded to a halt. "You're the pervert here. Why are you squirming like that? If you didn't squirm then I wouldn't have held you tighter."

"You're blaming me now for trying to free myself? Wow, just let go of me!"

"Fine but you have a very poor choice of words," Raymond released her which caused her to fall on her butt on the ground.

"Ack! Treat me gently, I am a Lady!" Vivian rubbed her sore hips as she got up and glared at Raymond.

"Really? Colour me surprised!" Raymond smiled wryly.

"Hmph! Take that sarcasm to your grave!" A spear appeared in her hand. Vivian snorted and thrust it at Raymond.

Even though her mana was barely there, she could easily beat up a guy like Raymond with her physical strength alone.

Well, that's what she thought until her smug smile faded as Raymond stopped the tip of her spear with his forefinger.

"Woah, this spear is sharp! I actually felt it prick at my finger," Raymond flicked the spear to the side and looked at his unharmed finger curiously.

He felt bad about destroying such a well-crafted spear by using force. That's why he had casually held out his finger to stop the spear without using any of his strength.

It was a long spear with an onyx black shaft and an aqua blue spearhead.

'He…he stopped it just like that?'

Vivian blinked and looked down at her High Grade spear. This spear was capable of piercing through thick iron plates with ease even without the use of mana.

"You…what are you made of?" She asked, disbelief evident in her voice.

"I am made of flesh and bones just like you," Raymond shrugged. "Never mind that, come with me!" He grabbed her hand and dragged her into the forest.

Vivian was a lot more subdued this time and didn't offer any protest. Her head was filled with the scene where her mighty spear was stopped by a finger.

That spear was passed down in her family and was only weaker than the Royal Grade weapon which was the highest level of weapon in this land.

Even a Martial Monarch had to be wary of her spear. That's what her grandfather had told her when she received the spear.

Now it made some sense as to why this human had a strong wife like that short woman.

Vivian started to steal glances at him from the corner of her eyes. How was he so strong despite being a Martial Minor?

She wanted to know desperately.

'He wouldn't think I am weird if I started asking him about his secrets, right?'

Vivian suddenly became conscious of herself and started to straighten her ruffled clothes. For some reason, she wanted to make a good impression on Raymond.

"Ahem! Can you really take care of that monster? You know, it's as strong as a Martial Emperor at the very least."

Vivian said softly. Her voice was full of concern, curiosity, and hope. If she could bring back some evidence and convince the Elven Council to form a party to hunt down the Puppet Maker, some villagers might be nice to her in the future.

"Ohh, tell me more about it," Raymond was intrigued by the monster that had scared someone strong like Vivian. He hadn't read anything about a puppet maker back in the Capital.

'It must be specific to this region.'

"Uhm, it's an evolved Treeman with tentacle-like branches. Those tentacles are extremely tough and flexible. They can split a person in half using those branches as whips. Not only that, there are sucker cups on those branches with teeth inside that can suck blood from its prey," Vivian shivered as she recalled those details.

"After completely drinking blood from its prey it will use them as a puppet to lure in others. It's an extremely evil being that's not supposed to exist!

"No one had encountered it in a long time. For it to grow this strong…oh my god! It must have absorbed so much blood!" Her eyes widened in realisation.

Treeman was a pretty low level magical beast. Even if it evolved into a Puppet Maker, it still needed a lot of time and blood to become a Level 8 monster that was on par with a Martial Emperor.

"Hmm? Then how did it go unnoticed for this long? Surely, someone must have noticed something this dangerous lurking inside the forest." Raymond asked curiously.

Vivian's breath quickened as she thought of one other possibility that would make the Puppet Maker evolve stronger in a short amount of time.

"Wood affinity!"

"Huh?" Raymond said dumbly.

"Someone with Wood affinity can help it grow faster! That's it, someone must have evolved it first and then used his elemental affinity to help it grow up!" Vivian punched her palm in anger.

"Damn it! If I find that guy I will tear him to pieces!"

"Haha, right…" Raymond chuckled humorlessly. It wasn't because of his newfound powers, right?

No way!

His power was just making friends with trees and plants.

"Eh? Why are you acting suspicious?" Vivian was very sharp with her eyes. She instantly noticed him trying to avoid her eyes.

"Nothing. Who is acting suspicious?"

"You, Stop!" However, Raymond didn't stop, instead, he started walking faster while holding her hand firmly.

"Argh! What is your affinity? Tell me right now!" Vivian hollered, her heart sinking to the pit of her stomach.

"Hehe, that's a secret." Raymond smiled thinly and Vivian felt her hair stand on end.

'It takes blood from three female virgins for a Treeman to evolve into a Puppet Maker!'

Vivian's eyes widened as her grandfather's voice sounded in her mind.

She had walked right into a trap!

"Noooo! I am not a virgin! Leave me alone, I am a fruit already pecked by a bird!"

"The fuck are you talking about? Shut up and come with me!"