At the Nightmare Forest.
Nightmare Forest, it was said this forest is completely opposite of the Spirit Forest in the territory of Kingdom Hart. This is a forest that would sometimes emit demon miasma. The rumors say that a portal connected to Abyss can be found at the heart of the forest but unfortunately, no one has proved whether these rumors are true or not. Since like the legend of Ivern, the heart of the Nightmare Forest is forbidden land.
It wasn't as notorious as Ivern, which is considered as a dead zone. Nightmare Forest is considered as the boundary of the demon realm. There are countless magical beasts and creatures living inside this forest like goblins and kobold. Even high-ranking ones like dragons live in this forest which is why it was considered as the most dangerous hunting zone in the Aerd.
Nightmare Forest is separated into three parts. The inner-circle where most magical beasts and creatures are can be considered rank SSS to A, the middle circle where monsters of strength range from rank B to D, and the Outer circle where rank E and F live.
Goblins and Slimes are monsters whose rank is E and F respectively reside at the outer circle of the Nightmare Forest. Commonly used herbs and medicinal flowers grow in this place as well.
At this moment Eirwen's little group had just entered the outer circle of the Nightmare Forest. With Zhi Yue acting as lead, he escorted Neige and Eirwen to where the Sunset Mushrooms and Violet Grass, both were used as materials for creating lower-tier potions.
Currently, Zhi Yue and Eirwen were squatting in front of a few weird purple blades of grass and orange gradient mushrooms wearing gardener's customized uniforms on them. This is something the Ice spirit king had prepared for them. There are especially thick gloves on Eirwen's hand. It is waterproof, bulletproof, fireproof, and cast with an auto cleansing passive spell.
These two petite young men were not crouching like children holding a tiny shovel in their hands, digging here and there for those herbs and medicinal plants listed in their gathering mission. Neige is at the rear protecting the two silently while at the same time killing some monster's horned rabbit that was attracted by the herbs he accompanies digging around.
Eirwen spoke, "Yue, dig carefully don't destroy the roots~"
"Lord Hei, I don't think they need the roots. Let's just cut it, leaving only the roots so it grows back again," said Yue.
Eirwen was stunned, "We don't need the roots? Really?" he asked.
A bit startled after learning that the roots of the herbs weren't needed by the client, Eirwen was silent for a moment. He as the only child of the Divine Doctor of Vearth. His Dad and Uncle Baobei liked making a herb garden, he grew up knowing all the processes of the right way from planting to harvesting herbs.
Commonly used herbs like this were usually uprooted as they could easily propagate themselves on their own.
Every time he needed to use Sunset Mushrooms and Violet Grass, he followed the rules of not wasting any useful parts of a herb. This is the reason why he was carefully digging thoroughly to avoid destroying the roots.
It was at this moment that Neige came over to them, floating beside him were 10 Horned rabbits frozen in ice.
Neige says, "My lord I've settled the mission for hunting the horned rabbits. As for slimes, they aren't found here; instead those kinds of things live near the water."
"Let's go near the river next. It's only a few meters away from here. I will guide you guys." says Zhi Yue.
Eirwen spoke, "Go later. Continue digging Yue."
"Yes, sir!" replies Yue.
The three were busy loitering at the edges of the outer circle and middle circle of the Nightmare Forest. After digging enough grasses and mushrooms, the three looked for the tree with the largest shade and had a picnic.
Since Neige had caught too many horned rabbits that were beyond their quota, they decided to cook some for it as lunch. The rabbit was dismantled and cleaned by Zhi Yue and Neige near the river while Eirwen was left behind for a while making a bonfire and making some cooking preparations. He was planning to make roasted rabbit meat for lunch.
All the ingredients he prepares when taken from his dimensional space. If everyone can still remember Eirwen had a farm inside his dimensional space. Thanks to this special land Eirwen had an endless source of resources whether it was raw and perishable or non-perishable materials, he had everything inside his space. He only needs to go in and pick some for every meal.
Even though Eirwen is lazy by nature, he is also a foodie. This is why he likes to cook more than others, but if his husband is here, this kind of chore is left for his man to do. Unfortunately, his husband is still in the divine realm of this world and still hasn't descended into the mortal realm yet.
He also brought out some chicken wings from the fridge in the mansion within his dimensional space. He wanted to fry some cola-flavored and cheese parmesan-flavored chicken wings as well.
Most of his cooking utensils were pulled out from his dimensional space, except for Neige and Zhi Yue who knew the existence of his dimensional space, the locals of this world would be surprised by how large his item box is instead.
Eirwen Night was busy frying chicken wings batches by batches. The ice pixies were hovering around him with drools in the corner of their lips while their eyes were glowing in hunger and anticipation. If there's a pixie who dares to steal food ahead of time Eirwen would glare at it.
Eirwen spoke at the gluttonous pixies whose drools were falling like waterfalls. He turned anything who wishes to steal food into a small ice cube.
"Don't steal food. You can only eat after everything is cooked and we will eat together!" says Eirwen.
The change of tone in their Lord's voices frightened the pixies and saluted Eirwen agreeing to his every word.
'Yes, My Lord!!!'
Seeing the pixies behaving, Eirwen Night continues his job of cooking. There was only the sound of the forest and Eirwen cooking echoing in the area when suddenly they heard a rustling sound from the nearby bushes.
Rustling within the bushes gets closer and closer but Eirwen chooses to ignore it. Anyway, these pixies would solve it for him.
Rustles… rustles~ Rustling!
The pixies were on high alert witnessing the scene before them. They thought it was a beast or monster wanting to attack their lord. Only Eirwen knew what the intruders wanted to do, with his enhanced hearing he could even heat the latter's rumbling stomach.
rumbles~~
'So our little visitors are hungry ha~'
Eirwen had to remind the pixies that someone wants to steal their food from them.
"You should stop them before he steals our lunch~," said Eirwen while stirring the pot of stew in front of him. He decided to cook rice and stew for lunch as well. Since there are too many mouths to feed he had to cook a lot.
The reactions of the fairy upon knowing that the intruder wants their food. These gluttonous little pixies suddenly activated their full guard. They've even started throwing ice spells towards the consecutively moving target. Some bushes ended up being covered by snow or ice, and some of them were shaved clean by ice blades.
'They want our food!'
'Defend!! No stop him!'
'Faster he moves to the right!'
'The other one jumps to the left!'
'In front!! Dodge'
There was a fierce battle undergoing behind him but Eirwen paid to care about it. He had already gauged the strength of the intruder. Of course, he had long known their identities. This was the scene Neige and Zhi Yue had witnessed after coming back from the river.
Neige asked, "Enemies?"
Zhi Yue glanced at the small battle royale before him and commented, "Leave them be. Once they're tired they'll stop."
He walked towards his host and took over with the job of stirring the pot and looking after the rice pot. Eirwen took the cleaned rabbit from the two and started marinating it with his homemade sauce. After certain preparation, he skewered them and placed them over the fire. The rice pot and stew were being cooked over an electric rechargeable double stove.
"Ignore them. It's only children playing with children," says Eirwen.
At this comment, the intruders could no longer hide themselves and poke out their heads. Their faces were extremely familiar.
A coquettish yet wrong voice complained at him, "Jiejie I'm not a child! I'm an adult now!" says Angela in her mage uniform.
With a tall wand in her hand, she pouted at Eirwen, the snowballs the pixies were thrown at were all blocked by the smiling man behind her. It was a warrior paladin wearing fully plated silver armor. This man had an appearance similar to that of the King of Kingdom Hart. It's the crown prince, Viktor Hart.
Viktor greeted, "Hello~ Lord Night and everyone. Please pardon our sudden visit."
Thanks to the minor blessings he got from the Ice spirit race, he was able to see the appearance of the spirit race. Thanks to this he could see the mischievous ice pixies throwing harmless snowballs at him and Angela.
Eirwen stopped ignoring them and said, "The rice, chicken wings, and stew are cooked but the roasted rabbit still needs to wait. You guys stop playing and prepare the table to eat."
This time not only the guests' eyes glow, but even the little pixies also, fly over with urgency.
'Yay! FOOD!!'
Angela said, "Jiejie made it!?" She then grabbed Viktor's wrist and pulled him over to eat with everyone. "Vivi eat with us! I tell you Jiejie's cooking is extremely delicious!" says Lady Evans.
Together with the guests, everyone eats this lunch together in the middle of the dangerous forest. They were acting like they were here to have a picnic instead of completing tasks from the guild.
The scene between this group is full of joy and fun. Like a small group of family and friends going out for a vacation. Eating and cooking together, even playing around like children.
Though the Crown Prince of Kingdom Hart and the Saintess candidate's sudden arrival is unexpected Eirwen could most likely guess why they were here thanks to the memories of the original Eirwen Night. This is also the real reason why Eirwen chose some tasks from the Adventurer's Guild. He intentionally took the mission whose location could be completed only in this Nightmare Forest.
