The Calm Before The Storm (3)

Munching on my sandwich for breakfast, I couldn't help but think about the future events looming on the horizon.

In just a couple of weeks, another major plot was set to unfold—one that would put the camp in serious danger due to the actions of traitors among us.

At the climax of this plot, Adriel is betrayed by the leader of the traitors and left to die after being stabbed in the back with a poisonous blade. With his life hanging by a thread, the traitors would abandon him, thinking their deed was done.

But, of course, the main cast would arrive just in time to save him from the clutches of death.

'That's what's supposed to happen...'

However, my experience with the absoluteness of the storyline had proven unreliable thus far, leaving me skeptical that everything would unfold exactly as it had in the novel. The fear of my presence altering the course of events once again gnawed at me.

Since the first quest, I'd been pondering which stance to adopt in future plots.

On one hand, I wanted to leverage my knowledge of the plot to my advantage. Yet, on the other hand, I had to weigh the potential consequences of my actions on the overall storyline.

After much consideration, I concluded that the best way to achieve both of my objectives was to take control of the plot entirely, manipulating it from start to finish.

In essence, a plot is crafted to shape characters and circumstances in a way that leads to a desired outcome. Given that this world is based on a novel, I reasoned that even if the process changed, the story's development would ultimately turn out similar, if not identical, when the outcome is the same.

By manipulating the process and controlling the plot, I could ensure that the desired outcome remained unchanged, even if the process happened to be different. It was a better approach than simply hoping for the plot to remain unaltered.

In case of the next events, I was planning on getting my hands on an artifact that belonged to the leader of the traitors. However, I needed to ensure that my interventions wouldn't significantly alter the plot's outcome, even though the process itself would undergo some changes.

'It's worth the risk. If I don't get stronger, knowing the future won't even matter.'

There were two essential outcomes for this event. The first one was the escape of the leader traitor from the camp, and the second was the plantation of a device that sucks divine energy. As long as I preserved these outcomes, the specifics of the process were less relevant.

Finishing my meal, my thoughts came to a conclusion. I resolved to formulate a plan to steal the artifact from the leader traitor while safeguarding these essential outcomes.

***

Two weeks had flown by in the blink of an eye, and now there were only a few days left before the traitors would make their first move. Fortunately, my plan was ready. If everything unfolded as I imagined, I would be able to seize the artifact.

As the middle of the night approached, I waited patiently in the living room, biding my time until everyone had retired to their cabins. It wouldn't be wise for me to be spotted heading into the forest at such a suspicious hour, especially with the threat of traitors looming over the camp.

Deciding it was time to act, I donned my long black coat with a hood and stealthily made my way out of my cabin. It was time to set my plan in motion.

'It's been a while since I visited this friend of mine...'

As I ventured deeper into the forest, the chill in the air was palpable, and with each breath, misty clouds formed and dispersed in the wake of the biting wind. Despite the cold, the night symphony of the forest enveloped me, its familiar sounds both eerie and enchanting.

Navigating through the dense foliage, I finally reached the tree I had been seeking. It stood before me, seemingly ordinary and unassuming. But I knew better.

"Do you really think you can fool me by pretending to be just another tree?"

I muttered, eyeing the tree skeptically. I tapped my foot impatiently, waiting for a response, but the silence persisted. Did she really believe she could evade me by avoiding my presence?

"If you don't come out now, I might reconsider sealing you away."

After a moment of tense silence, a begrudging voice finally spoke up from within the tree.

"Fine... Fine. I thought our deal was done. What do you want now?"

"I need your tree's resin."

"What?!"

"Come on... I just need some."

"Don't be ridiculous! There is no way!"

*Sigh...*

"If it makes you feel any better, I will use it to expose the traitors and exile them away from the camp."

"For exposing the traitors? You sure you know what my resin does? It's just a liquid with healing powers. How's that supposed to help you catch them?"

The resin of the tree, inhabited by a dryad, possessed remarkable healing properties effective for any wound, disease, or poison. It was essentially a potent healing potion that oozed from the tree. Given that the resin held the essence of the dryad's life, I knew it was quite vital for her.

"It's a long story, and I'm short on time, unfortunately."

"Haa... You are benefiting from my life force, and you don't even explain why you need it. How is that fair?

Ilex was speechless but eventually, she relented, believing that my intentions were ultimately for the benefit of the camp, so she was going easy on me.

"Sigh... Alright, go ahead..."

"Thank you~"

Without wasting any more time, I unsheathed my dagger and made a shallow cut along the tree's body. As the blade sliced through the bark, Ilex winced in pain, mirroring the sensation as a matching cut appeared on her thigh out of nowhere.

"Kyaa!"

"Don't overreact. It's just a surface cut. There's barely any blood."

Turning my attention back to the tree, I observed as a viscous green liquid began oozing from the wound. Carefully, I positioned a tube beneath the cut to collect the liquid. The green glow and the divine aura emanating from it confirmed its significance—it contained the life force of a minor god, after all.

"Are you done now?" Ilex inquired impatiently.

"Yeah, all done. Thanks for your help. I'll be heading off now. Goodbye."

With an eye roll, Ilex vanished into her tree. I made my way back to my cabin, without anyone seeing me. Over the next two days, all I could do was wait for the traitors to make their move.