Versatile: Alternate World



"They can see through illusions?"

"Indeed. See these mists? It's an illusion that a monster produces to hide its presence from its predators and aggressors. I haven't seen it personally, but most of the adventurers who have traveled deep into this place told them it was a weak monster and herbivore that lives in a colony allowing them to create a massive mist that covers the whole place as a result... You can say that this place is the perfect place for these Treants to live in as they can use the mist to hide and live peacefully without being attacked and killed by adventurers as they would be more busy trying to find the right way and avoid getting lost from the mist," Zena explained.

"So that's why the mist seems pretty much feels abnormal. It isn't cold enough for the mist to form and roll in and trees are not in sight yet the place is filled with this foggy mist. But if that is the case, these mist shouldn't be real right?"

"Yes. It's only present in the eyes of those vulnerable to illusions and has no way of knowing whether they were under an illusion or not. All beastmen and beastwomen like me have the slight advantage of being able to determine an illusion or not so when I passed here, I am not too affected by the mist though it's still a bit troublesome sometimes. I am not completely immune to it after all," Zena quickly explained.

"Then, all we needed to do is keep calm and watch the surroundings for any irregularity then? With all the mist all around us, it will be dangerous if we don't keep vigilant and open our eyes to immediate changes in the surroundings," Father suggested.

"Yes. I suggest everyone will stay here and be alert. I will go back to the basement and keep the controls to make sure we pass this place properly. Although the Tall Treants don't care much about our presence and they are more like fleeing from us, there are still a few monsters out here that are more troublesome and can cause major annoyance and problems if we let them remain. Besides, no one is busy, right? Unless anyone is busy, just stay here outside for a while. You can go back to idling or whatever you are doing after we get out of this place."

Everyone seems to be in favor and no one seems to object and so Almira returned to the basement and we remained there, observing the mist. Although the mist seems normal at first, I then realized something. Compared to the scentless mist we usually know, the mist is somewhat similar to a faint scent of honey. It's not uncomfortable to smell but to someone like me who gets sensitive to smelling sweet things for long periods of time, I can't help but think that the mist doesn't just serve as an illusion but also as a way to keep anyone who likes the scent remain in this land. Perhaps the food source of the one who produces the mist.

The sky remains the same as usual. Although there are clouds present, it seems it won't be raining but it is thanks to the bright sky that even if we are in the middle of the mist, the light in the sky is clear enough for us to not feel gloomy. The occasional sounds of 'thuds' and creaking tree branches despite the lack of trees in sight are sometimes echoing in the surroundings. I don't know whether they were done by the Treants that are in the mist or something else, but for now, I don't even think too much about whatever is happening.

We spent a few hours watching the endless mist and somehow, it was oddly peaceful. Aside from the occasional noises, there are no strange occurrences that happened so far. I thought at first that remaining exposed to the mist would cause some problems like headaches and other stuff, but so far, everything is normal and fine to us. No one seems to be suffering any sort of after-effect from smelling or being in the mist for long.

Most have been bored already and are already talking with each other about some topics while some are currently engaging in some card game that is popular in the Alternate World back when we are still players. I don't think I have engaged in that activity so I didn't really have much idea what they were doing.

I continue to just remain passive while keeping my guard up. Despite the eventless situation, we are in while the mansion continues to traverse the land of the mist, my intuition is telling me that something is going to happen, it's just that I have no idea what it was.

Just when everything was peaceful, the surroundings suddenly shook, and everyone was also shocked and some who didn't get to hold something to keep their balance fell to the ground. It's not coming from the mansion, clearly, it was coming from the ground.

"What is happening?" Riko pulled out her staff, ready to fight.

"Monsters?" Renatta readies her bow, looking at the surroundings while squinting in every corner.

Everyone went on high alert. Then, the silence was broken when Pixie who was sitting at Renatta's shoulder alerted everyone.

"Something is approaching!"

Although we can't see or detect anything, there is a vague feeling indeed that something is currently walking with the mansion beside us.

"Fascinating... to see humans utilizing a golem as their mount."

A deep voice of an old man reverberated in the surroundings. Although it's not that loud enough for us to bleed in our ears, the voice is still loud enough for us to know that the owner is something big. And the fact that it is walking with us while utilizing the mist to hide its presence, we can't help but ready our weapons.

"Relax, small ones. I am not here to harm everyone. I am just here to talk to everyone especially since the road out of here is still far enough with the pace of the golem's walking speed."

"Who are you?! What do you want from us? If you don't want to harm us, why are you hiding your presence under the mist?" I shouted to the owner of the voice. 

"Oh, I apologize. It's a force of habit. But don't be too surprised alright?"

Just then, something seems to have disappeared and a tall tree appeared beside the mansion. It's a massive tree, very similar to the Ygdrassil tree that I keep seeing in my dreams though a little bit smaller compared to the latter. Ever since I left the real world and have been freed from the Nexus's grasp, I have been remembering all of the things that happened back in the dream world which is why I can vividly compare the two right now.

Still, this isn't a real tree. The moment we saw its big eyes and nose, I can already see that this is a Treant. Seeing how old it looks, it seems this is an Elder Treant.

"Holy sh*t, that's a big *ss tree!" Akira who was the nearest of the Elder Treant's location was amazed at the sight.

"Brother, language!" Sora reprimanded her brother who just grinned, whispering "sorry" to her.

"It's a Treant. I only saw Treants in books and movies but seeing one up close and personal, I didn't expect them to really look like a tree despite their facial features..." Rika marveled at the sight of the Elder Treant.

"Now, is it possible that everyone is fine with my presence? Hope I didn't scare any of you in the process. I don't harm anyone and I am looking for peace."

"Why are you communicating with us? Do you perhaps have something you want to tell or ask us?" Pandora asked, keeping herself calm and collected.

"Indeed. Based on how you all have weapons and are fully equipped, it seems you all are not just casual travelers. Not only that but using a golem as a mount is clearly unusual as well. Which is why I wanted to discuss you all about something. This is a matter of importance to us Treants to remain at peace in this land."

Then, as if on cue, Almira who was previously in the basement appeared behind us, grinning.

"Well, you are in luck, gramps. With me here, you can say that I will make sure you will have your wishes fulfilled."

Everyone, including myself and the Elder Treant looked at Almira with a surprise. After all, she suddenly proposed something we have not even know about and without our consent.

"You know this guy, Almira?" Mother asked.

"Yes indeed. We had quite an interesting relationship of being Master and Disciple. You can say that without him, most of what I learned wouldn't be as advanced as it was due to him."