Fern and Reyna

"Enough of the Gods." I waved my hand. "Tell me more about the world."

"Well…. What more do you want to know?" Reyna asked after a deep breath.

Ohh woman, a lot more.

"Hmmm, honestly, I do not know where to start…" I mumbled.

Then the two only stared at me, creating a moment of silence until Fern spoke after a few minutes, "Well… why not start with humans?"

"Right! Right!" I exclaimed. "So uhh, You two are from this… Kavanae Empire, right?"

They nodded.

"And the both of you are bona fide humans?"

They nodded again.

"And you're an otherworlder?" I pointed at Fern.

They nodded again.

Nodding? Seriously?! "Can't you guys speak?" I lightly fretted.

"Well yes, all those you just said are correct." Fern responded.

Ha! well of course it is, "Were you from Earth?"

"Yes!" He exclaimed with wide eyes.

I knew it!

"Which country?" I asked,

"No idea..." Fern moaned

Well that's a weird thing to forget.

"What was your profession?"

"Honestly… I don't know," Fern replied.

"Why don't you know?" I asked, leaning towards Fern.

Then Reyna spoke, "They forget everything about their past lives since transfer except their family."

"Right, familial ties" I remarked, followed by a nod from Reyna.

Silence surrounded the three of us again. Fern started to lean his head back and slowly fell asleep… that's nice, he's getting comfortable around me.

Wanting to pop the silence again, I asked Reyna, "Tell me about humans."

"Humans?"

"Yes, tell me everything about humans."

"Where do I start? Races? Bloodlines? Kingdoms? Empires? Religions? Adventurer—"

"Adventurers?!" I exclaimed, interrupting her.

"Y-yes, adventurers…" She stutteringly nodded. "What do you want to know?"

"What do they do?" I asked.

"Hunt monsters" She replied.

"Why?"

"Because of money, resources and for protection." She replied with a straight face.

"Isn't that a pretty shallow reason?"

She looked at me then tilted her head, "What do you mean?"

"Well… I can understand if its for money and resources but for protection? What do you mean by that?"

Hearing that, she displayed a deep frown, "Because monsters are a danger to humans."

"Well have you ever been close to a monster?"

"What?! No!" She snarled, "Why would I do that!"

Well that explains it.

"Bettu!" I shouted. Followed by loud rumbles as a huge beetle come rushing towards us.

"So this is when you kill us?" She whispered.

"Kill? No!" I shouted, "Don't be ridiculous."

After that, Reyna wore a tilted frown while Bettu approached us. And before long, the huge beetle is standing in front of us, her huge horn gleaming under the moonlight.

"CRA—CRRA-WHAT GETH WHATF—" A hilarious inaudible shout came from Fern who woke up with a huge horn in front of him.

"Calm down, Fern." I casually said as I patted his shoulders.

But no, he is still hyperventilating. This won't work, I should change their minds.

Standing up, I placed my hand on Bettu's head. "Bettu, get down."

Then the ginormous beetle lowered herself. I then gestured Reyna to get up, which she did.

"Ride her." I said.

"What?! NO!"

I totally expected that. I transferred my consciousness to the tree they are leaning on then placed the both of them atop Bettu. The two making inaudible screaming, whining as I lifted them, followed by streams of snot and tears probably thinking Bettu will eat them.

After tying them to Bettu with roots, they are now locked and loaded on top of her.

I exited the tree then rode Bettu, sitting in front of the two. I tapped Bettu's side twice, signalling to her that we're ready. Shortly after, Bettu stood up.

Then wHOOSH Bettu started speeding through the forest, leaving huge tracks on the ground as she did.

I looked back to peek at the two. And I kid you not, they look like those 11-year-olds that are afraid of heights but is forced to ride a roller coaster that are at least the height of the Empire State Building… does that exist? Well it does now.

"Go slower." I whispered towards Bettu.

Upon my whisper, Bettu's speed drastically decreased, now it's like a casual stroll in the forest… And I have to admit, it is very, beautiful.

We passed by fireflies of different colors, listening to crickets, cicadas, and the singing of birds and owls as moonlight illuminated our path.

"How is it?" I asked the two, whose mouths are agape while they look at the beautiful forest that befalls them.

"To think we planned to burn this." Reyna whispered under her brea— burn?!

"You planned to burn the forest?!" I snarled at them.

"W-well before we did but now… I don't think so."

I see, that's nice. "Bettu, let's stop at that lake."

Afterwards, the three of us are now in front of a beautiful lake, sparkling under the radiance of the stars. We sat on top of Bettu, now asleep and sat there quietly for a while.

"Still want to hunt monsters?" I asked.

"Respectfully, a simple run on the forest won't change my perspective on the creatures that slew my family." Reyna answered.

Fair enough. "How about you, Fern?"

Looking down, Fern answered with a weak smile, "Hell yeah, that was quite honestly the most fun I've ever since the 3 years on this world…"

"Why? Was being a hero not fun?"

"Hero my ass." Fern laughed. "They drove me like a pet!"

"Who did?"

"The church that summoned me." His jaws tightening as he answered.

So being Isekai'd isn't always laughs and dreams for him huh…

"What about the church? Are they enemies? Or are they neutral?" I asked as I hopped down Bettu and started walking towards the sparkling lake.

Before answering, Fern wriggled his body to lie down atop Bettu. "The church…" He mumbled. "They lie, they manipulate, they destroy, they take, and they say it's the heaven's will."

"I doubt the Gods even acknowledge them." Reyna added.

"I see, would you stay with me then?"

"Mayb—"

"What?! NO!" Reyna interrupted Fern.

"If we do, we are going to be abandoned, excommunicated and treated as outcasts!"

Hmm, that bad huh. I wonder what they will do once they see a mana fruit.

"Wrong question then." I sighed while I hop towards a tall tree.

They watch me take over the tree, maintaining straight faces as if this happens every day. Once I'm in the tree, I repeated what I did before, focusing all the mana that flows into the tree and placing it all in one branch.

Outside, the straight faces of the two slowly morphed into a face you would make when you see a ghost. Their brows furrowed deep, their eyes wide open and their mouths sealed shut.

And before long, a small drop was forming at the edge of the branch. I focused a bit more mana and stopped once it is the size of an apple.

I exited the tree and plucked the glowing fruit, approached the two and showed it to them.

"W-wha-what is this?" Reyna mumbled.

"It is my creation."

"A highly concentrated ball of mana… and it does not leak — The church has been making this!"

The church again?!

"Stop with the church, stay in the forest."

"All right…" She whispered, "Is this edible?"

"Bettu ate it when she is small, and now she is bigger than you."

"So it's more powerful than the church's ball o—"

"Hey! Stop with the church!" I shouted.

"All right…" She repeated, followed by a steady stream of inhales and exhales.

After hyperventilating, she stared straight into my eyes and said, "If you sell this in the outside markets, you will make a vast, VAST fortune."

"What do you mean?"

"You see, it's either that or they hunt you down fearing it will be used against them"

Makes sense, humans fear the unknown. And now that the unknown is most likely against them, they will destroy it…

"I will not be selling it, I will find another way."

"Okay" She whispered, not removing her eyes from the gleaming fruit.

I looked at Fern who is not staring at the fruit but is staring at me.

"Why? What's the problem?"

Fern rolled his eyes then smirked, "I just wish I got your powers instead."