The Innkeeper

"Those were just some of the Inn workers enjoying their holidays," Luthor explained, anticipating the question Pinophyta wanted to ask.

"Workers? They were workers?" the treant asked in disbelief. Although he himself was only in the Golden core realm, he had spent a lot of time under the guidance of nascent level beings, not to mention he had personally received the blessing of the Tree of Heaven when he came to life. He knew what their auras were like, and they were nothing compared to those two!

Pinophyta shuddered, and caught itself. It must not doubt the Tree of Heaven! That was absolute blasphemy! He was sure there was some kind of devilish trickery at play, fooling his senses. There was no realm above the Nascent realm, because even the tree was only in that realm. This must be an elaborate ploy by the Inn to fool him! It must!

As soon as it gathered itself, the treant saw a massive city made of glass, floating through the air.

"Is that our destination?" he asked, looking at it with intrigue.

"No, that's just one of the spots guests can go and enjoy. If you wish to stop and take a look, we can."

"No need, no need. I'm sure there will be plenty of time to explore the Inn at my leisure once we have settled."

"Indeed," Luthor said, and looked forward. Beneath them were the untouched lands of the Inn that were relatively close to the settlements. They had been cleared of most dangerous beasts and animals, though there was still a chance of risk. Pinophyta looked down with interest at the few guests who would show up from time to time.

Since devils maintained their humanoid appearance most of the time, it was not so easy to differentiate them from humans from a distance, so the treant did not feel at all impressed by most of the guests he saw. He was familiar with the human race. It was a defeated one - not worth his attention most of the time. Luthor was different, though.

Just as it was musing, it saw someone enter a Minor realm and disappear!

"What- what just happened?" the treant could not help asking again! It was familiar with teleportation, but what it had sensed was not mere teleportation! It was teleportation to some unknown realm!

"Oh that, nothing much. We have a few hundred thousand minor realms across the Inn. They're like small worlds in a different space, each filled with different things. Our guests can go explore them if they wish, although in the case of injury while exploring untamed Minor realms, the Inn does not take any responsibility. It's more for those adventurous types of guests. You too can explore them if you wish."

Small worlds? Pinophyta could not wrap his head around such an idea, though he was not to blame. How could Minor realms form in a realm that in itself was still forming? All of space was being stretched outwards, so there was no place for natural wrinkles or loops to form, which might give birth to Minor realms.

"How… interesting," he said as he tried to compose himself. As an emissary and potential ambassador, he had already embarrassed himself by losing composure once. He must not do it again.

Luthor gave him the side-eye and then continued to look forward. This is why he preferred to let others deal with guests.

"In its own modest way, the Midnight Inn possesses a certain quaint charm, I suppose," he said, feeling magnanimous, but Luthor only rolled his eyes.

The treant was waiting for Luthor to acknowledge his praise somehow, maybe even thank him for it, but when Luthor didn't, he felt a little disgruntled. He was just about to complain when a certain melodious sound distracted him.

It sounded like… a choir. He looked down, and found a small patch of trees singing a song called 'Young McDonald'. A certain vine had emerged from the ground and was acting as the maestro for their performance.

"TREANTS!" he exclaimed in complete shock, but then he realized that no, they weren't treants. They were actual trees that were alive!

Before he could even consider asking Luthor what that was about, a gust of wind rolled by and circled them a few times.

"You look busy Luthor, but whenever you're free, find me! I have a great idea, and I call it the Hot Air Balloon! Together, we can make it work," said the gust of wind, before flying away quickly.

"Come back here!" a voice called from a distance, and Luthor turned to see a kaleidoscope of giant butterflies chasing the gust of wind angrily. Behind them, a single sky lantern was following, though it seemed extremely exhausted trying to keep up.

Little Blue, who was not too strong but had developed an extremely intimidating aura since its wings grew, suddenly flew by as well, with Little Fenrir riding on its back. They glanced at the treant before continuing on their way.

"They had the same aura as… the same aura as…" the treant began to say, but could not. Although it had no lungs, technically, its voice was strained, as if it was wheezing.

Before it could recover, they finally approached the village, one of the main Inn settlements. It was filled with hustle and bustle, not to mention countless immortals who did not bother restraining their aura since the Inn would protect everyone else from harm. The treant, who was doing what Luthor could not guess was a tree version of hyperventilating, was barely holding on at this point, but then it sensed the divine aura of the Boulder Shrine, and could take it no longer.

It fainted, though that only made it look like a tree strapped onto the black of a flying peacock, which, admittedly, was a pretty normal sight for the Midnight Inn.

"Quaint charm my arse," Luthor muttered, as he guided the peacock down. Even if the recovery rooms were no longer working, he should show the treant to a doctor. Or wait, should he show it to a gardener?