Chapter 61 – Dryad

---From now on, expect 5/6 chapters a week (It'll be either Saturdays and/or Wednesdays missed), reason being I've probably been overdoing it and will give me the odd day off if I need it. Still might get 7 in a week as well, just probably expect 6---

__________

"You alright Ikarus?"

"Urgh, should be. Just need a while to sort my head out"

Petra is still holding me after I fell on the ground after that fight, there's no reason for me to feel this way other than the fact I just gained thirty levels, maybe my body is going into overdrive rapidly levelling me up that much? I guess the curse did have a similar effect but that wasn't straight away after, maybe my body still isn't used to this just yet.

"You sure you're okay Ikarus-sama?"

"Yeah, you do look a bit pale"

"I'm honestly fine, just give me a minute and I'll get back up"

Both the other two have now joined us it seems. While I'm recovering, might as well use this chance to check.

'Status'

[Name: Ikarus | Species: Phoenix | Level: 97]

[Health 28,862*/30,000*]

[Stamina 7,182*/10,000*]

[Magicka 18,492*/20,000*]

[You currently have 18500 unassigned points]

'I swear, I feel like I've just won the lottery looking at that, shame I feel light headed. I'm basically a level nine-hundred and seventy compared to human growth now, my health is a little lower than it should be by at least a few hundred but I did just take on that trash wind attack after all. I also knew my stamina was more than high enough'

It really makes me think just how bullshit my levelling actually is, all it took was two somewhat high levelled elves for such a rapid increase. Oh my God, I've just realized how much EXP I'll get from killing the prince and the mage, that'll be at least fifty levels just from that alone, that might actually make me pass out if this is the reaction I get from such a level increase.

'Wait, isn't this a perfect time to buy a gambling ability or two? Sighhh... I feel like in the space of one fight, I've gone from being pretty powerful to being damn right OP, I can't help smiling but there's more important things going on right now'

"Your friend just needs some rest; she did just gain a load of power"

Wait a second, I thought we killed that dryad? Where the hell did she come from?

All the other three-party members didn't expect the busty half naked dryad to have revived herself, she's even walked over and is now looking over me.

"I'll use a sleeping spell to help"

"Wai-..."

__________

"*Snore*, zzz, *Snore*, zzz"

"Heh, you're snoring"

"Wha-... where am I?"

"We're still in Yggdrasil, you're safe by the way Ikarus"

I awaken from my forced slumber with my head upon Petra's lap, it's actually really comfortable this lap pillow but that is not a focus for right now. I'm not going to get up just yet though.

"How long was I out?"

"Just ten minutes or so, didn't want to wake you"

She could've but knowing Petra, she was probably enjoying watching me sleep. I'm not even against it, I'd probably enjoy watching her sleep as well but she barely sleeps most nights and when I do catch her, she's doing the meditation thing cultivation users do. The sitting cross legged thing with your eyes closed circulating your ki or whatever crap that is, Petra says it's different from what I'm thinking of but it's kinda the same thing, cultivation is way too complicated for me to understand anyway.

Damn it, focus Ikarus! Stop thinking about Petra for one goddamn minute!

I look around still on Petra's lap and find that dumb dryad woman sitting cross legged talking to Charlotte and Nathan, I'm pissed right now not for the fact she knocked me out, more the fact that was probably the best sleep I've ever had. That knockout spell combined with Petra's lap is better than any sleeping experience I've ever had, it's bloody infuriating!

"Hang on a second, you literally just attacked us so why are you so calm now!?"

"Apologies for that, those two elves you butchered made me lose my composure. If I knew you four had no such foul intentions, I wouldn't have used such a dangerous attack to defend the holy grail"

A dangerous attack? Does she seriously think that was dangerous? It didn't sound like sarcasm, she might just be stupid, she is basically a hippy tree spirit after all, I bet she likes to hug and mate with trees or something dumb like that.

I need to compose myself now, she's going to be irritating to deal with so let's try and relax.

"How are you even alive anyway? We just destroyed you"

"That's because I'm the caretaker of this holy tree, a thing like a mortal death doesn't really have any long-lasting effect to me"

Well... that isn't really an answer to why she's immortal but forget it, tis tree things this bird cannot understand. I'm not going to ask since she's just going to annoy me.

"She was telling us a little while you were out Ikarus-sama"

"Yeah, I'm not really sure what she was on about though"

Looks like the tree nymph dryad has made two friends, good thing I'm not all that close with those two, Petra seems to have a look of annoyance staring at her as well. Those two don't look that friendly with her if I'm being honest, I'm just being grumpy.

"Your black haired friend didn't make it easy though, she killed me four more times before allowing me to explain"

Petra killed her four more times? I really hope it was painful for that dryad... Damn, I am slightly justified in my dislike, she did just drug me out and put me to sleep.

"You did knock her out, was more than justified killing you, do it again if Ikarus wants"

"It wasn't knocking her out! It was just a sleeping tranquilizer made from the roots of the tree itself sprayed from my wrist! You looked extremely worried for your friend and I was trying to tell you nothing was wrong!"

It basically is the same thing as knocking me out, same overall effect anyway. I'm guessing Petra was worried for me though, I would be in the same situation. It's probably time to get up of her lap now though, I actually could fall asleep if I keep laying here.

I get up off the best waifu's lap and precede to take a different route towards the dryad, I'm still of course annoyed at being made to sleep.

"You're a terrible fighter you know, that splinter attack is literally just annoying. If your fighting style is based on being a pain in the arse, then none can best you"

"Heh"

"That's because I'm basically part tree! How many trees do you know that can talk, dance, sing and even fight? That's what I thought"

Sighhh, this woman is going to be irritating so let's just try and get some info quickly, maybe those two dead elves were onto something trying to kill her.

"So... what is that chalice supposed to be and do we get a reward for completing this dungeon then? I doubt this is even a dungeon now thinking about it"

"No, you are correct about this place being a dungeon, that insult you used to call the holy grail a chalice I'll let slip since you're ignoran-"

"Call Ikarus ignorant again and I'll cut down your roots dryad, watch your tongue"

This is going to be one of those conversations, isn't it? I like Petra defending me and all but damn, she really can't stand people insulting me. Maybe I need to develop more of a backbone to stop people saying stuff like that but then again, I like Petra doing that for me still...

"Eh, sorry then, alright? If you want to know what this place is, then I'll have to start at the beginning..."

Then the dryad goes into an unnecessarily long and boring conversation about so much, I've never actually come across someone who likes to talk this much.

A very, very long time ago, there was once three world trees who were best of friends... no, I'm not going through this all, this stupid dryad is the worst story teller I've ever come across, world building is important but when having to deal with someone who makes you want to punch yourself in your own face, then it's not worth knowing everything. She can fuck off if I have to sit through anymore of her shit.

Basically to sum everything up, this dryad is basically a part of this tree itself and is the guardian of most of the elven forest, that would've been obvious since all dryads are tree lovers after all, fantasy world stereotypes people! I am a little surprised she holds a dislike of elves seeing that they are also supposed to be protectors of the forests but two did just help kill her so I can understand her irritation there.

She does allow the elves to live inside her... no, that's not right, she's part of the tree, not actually the tree. My point is that she could've kicked out the other elves who rely on this tree for food but she hasn't so it's clear she doesn't hate them at the very least.

If those two elves had taken that chalice, then this tree would've definitely started rotting though, that for some reason still wouldn't have killed this immortal tree sprit or whatever this dryad is, at least she says. Killing her is only temporary so it's fucking pointless.

Her entire existence is starting to tire me out now, if you've ever had that one friend who cannot stop talking about every little thing and turns a story that can be summed up into a sentence into a half an hour back and forth thing, then they forget the freaking point of the entire story! That is what this woman is just like, very distracted. I know I'm doing that same exact thing right now but so is the rest of our party, I've never seen someone like the priestess look so bored as well, we all share this same opinion.

"Hey! You're not even listening anymore!"

All five of us are now up and standing, sitting around listening to that crap this dryad spews is becoming even more tiresome so we must stand to keep awake.

(Ikarus) "That depends, when were you talking about the dog who decided to piss on your roots?"

"That was like fifteen minutes ago! You humans are terrible listeners!"

(Petra) "Can you really blame us? How did the child who dropped a bucket of sand onto your roots have anything to do with protecting the forest?"

"That's because it led onto the dog weeing on the sand, which then led onto the first ever settlers, which then led ont-"

"*Sigh*, please just shut up for a minute"

The dryad actually folds her arms and pouts from me cutting her off, she needs to just answer our questions already otherwise I'm going to kill her over and over again till she can only answer yes, or no.

(Ikarus) "Do we actually get a reward for completing this place or not then?"

"If you had let me finish, that was going to be the ending but seeing that you'd rather skip all that, yes, you do get a reward"

'This is going to be shitty, can already tell'

(Petra) "What is this underwhelming reward going to be then?"

Of course our thinking is on the same wavelength, I definitely think I'm starting to simp over Petra now...

"He-he... ME!"

...

All of us pause towards the dryad, we all have an idea what she meant.

"Petra, can we take the chalice and burn this tree to the ground? It might be the only chance to see if she can really be killed"

"Agreed Ikarus, many lives will have to suffer but this is a goal that could hold some merit"

"Even this unfaithful servant and her Lord agrees, this might be the best course of action"

(Nathan) "Let's destroy this woman"

It's clear we're obviously joking but this stupid dryad doesn't understand this especially considering how serious we look; I would consider it just to hope it might kill her.

"NOOO!... Ahem, let me rephrase that slightly, isn't the chance to share a bed and have a lovely passion filled night with a dryad too big an opportunity to turn down? You four adventurers must be interested in the carnal pleasures of ecstasy?"

She was actually being serious!? Is she part succubus or something? It's pretty fucking clear what our responses to mating with this idiot are going to be like, absolutely disgusting.

"Petra, would it be rude to puke?"

"Think that would be a polite response Ikarus"

"Her mind is tainted and needs to be cleansed by religion"

"I actually agree with you on that Lotte"

Even I agree with priestess's religion talk here as well; this dryad's mind is wrong.

This stupid dryad looks disappointed at all of us flat out rejecting her, it's more than deserved though. I guess a lot of people would love the idea of doing the deed with a dryad who has the figure of Goddess, none of us have such an intention though.

We're all too loyal for such a thing and even if we weren't, annoying people can be so unattractive at times, ain't no cheating going down here. I mean, none of us are technically couples yet since we're still kinda in the stage just before that but it's still cheating, I think. It doesn't matter, this bird is one hundred percent loyal to Petra, I'm such an idiot for thinking like that...

"Well then... this fucking sucks, I'm unsure what to give you now for completing this place, you were supposed to get an ability for sleeping with me but now I'm confused what to do. Erm... The leaves up here kinda taste alright if something like that is suitable for a reward, make a nice salad or something"

Wait a second, that's literally this dungeons reward? Kill the boss, sleep with her and then you get rewarded with an ability? Okay, I very much don't want that ability, it's probably something perverted as well, something sexual I bet. None of us want anything like that.

"Can't you give us it without doing the deed?"

Petra wants that ability? She's being real sus right now, I won't call her out on it but still, it might just be she's an ability hoarder though.

"Not possible, it's only something you can have by sharing your soul with nature. Mating is the only possible way, at least what I know of"

Looks like we're not getting rewarded then, sighhh...

"Shall we just leave?"

"Probably for the best Ikarus"

(Nathan) "There doesn't seem like much we can take from this"

"My Lord is also tired of this encounter"

That holy grail chalice thing had already been put back on the pedestal so there's no worry about us walking away with it, she can just live up here or inside her tree or whatever it is she does. Screw this dryad, we're done and outa here now.

"Wait, don't leave me alone up here!"

Best ignore the pervert dryad, we've come across many different types of personalities in our journeys, we were bound to come across someone like this at some point. She can just live in her own little part of the tree, best forget about this experience, at least it's another dungeon marked off. Up to seven now if we count the other one which we didn't actually complete.

She'd like whoever created the pervert dungeon thinking about it, I'm also guessing this isn't going to be the last we see of her, it better be though...

__________

"So... what do we do next then?"

I could spend the next few hours staring at my status deciding what I want to do with the points but it'll be better to focus on that another time. Dealing with that woman for so long has made me want to do something kinda fun.

We've all just walked down the never-ending tree of Yggdrasil and have just arrived back on the floor of Aurora, it's always easier to walk down then up. It's a shame this place doesn't light up like the sky like an actual aurora but there's got to be some stuff to do or see here.

"Heh Ikarus, it might be best to go a find a bath first"

"You do reek a little"

"Even my Lord says he can smell the blood"

Ah crap, I forgot about the exploding elf, that's definitely a drawback from using that ability. Thinking about it, I do reek.

"Looks like we're heading to a bathhouse then"

__________

"I swear, this feels as good as the hot springs"

"Elves do value comfort, pretty sure they put salts in the water"

"This place is nice despite it being a little sinful with all this nakedness"

All three of us women are currently in an elven bath house, the knight had to go find his own since shared gender houses are very much not a thing in this city. Heck, we struggled to even be allowed into this place since we're not elves but if you put a bag of money to any intelligent species, they're not going to say no. We're still getting a few looks in here from the other elven women but it's not blatant racism so it's easy to ignore, still ain't great though.

This place is actually beautiful looking, it takes a mixture of the fancy elven architecture and combines it with shrubbery, leaves and vines. Despite it being inside, it actually looks like we're not.

No idea why nakedness is sinful, that God has really given priestess some weird thoughts but with her, it might just be her own misguided beliefs. They are misguided, there's nothing wrong with being naked in a public bath house, people do have to clean themselves.

"Petra, did I ever tell you what happened one time I went into a place like this?"

"A woman groped you, correct?"

Oh, I guess I did tell her then, that kinda spoils recapping that story. Would I even mind if... No, get your mind out of the gutter Ikarus, this is not the time or place for that type of thing.

That's still a long way away from that type of development...

"Ikarus, turn around and I'll give you a clean"

While we're chilling relaxing in this bath house, Petra has that odd suggestion. When I do decide to clean my back, it's more than easy enough to just do it myself. Putting a sponge against my back isn't exactly difficult.

"Huh? I can do it myself"

Did she seriously pout from me rejecting that!? Wait, is that a normal thing women do while bathing together, clean each other's backs? I don't think it is, or am I just being dense since it's Petra? With her, I never know...

I'll just toss her a bone then; it gives me an excuse to be lazy after all.

"Urgh, fine then. If your hands wander, I will punch you"

"I have a little more class than that Ikarus"

I'm lying, I wouldn't actually hit her but I've got to set some ground rules, she's helping me clean myself before we've even kissed yet. Charlotte has gone away from us, this isn't anything going on like that succubus-sama, she literally is just giving me a helping hand. Nothing is going on, especially in a public place like this.

Then I feel the feeling of a sponge up against my back, I shouldn't have agreed to this now. This might be a little too intimate, it's not like there's anything perverted going down though, I swear! It's just my heart is racing now, fucking stupid human looking bird Ikarus!

Let's just get this over and done with, my face is probably returning to my red as a tomato days right now...