Botanist Roy

"According to my observations, rare fantasy fruits grow in this spirit-imbued forest."

"Perhaps because of the Ancient City of Vine, the tree roots to the west of Sprites' Forest often grow this kind of fruit."

"I need to study them further."

"A heavy, thick skin covers the fruit. Could you bring me some Fantasy Fruits?"

"Nature brims with treasures, many of which can be used to do amazing things."

"Did you bring the Fantasy Fruits back?"

"Under the big tree, you'll find a bag of fruit. If you break it, you will find whole fruit."

"You brought them back! Fantastic! Ah, pearls of the forest!" Roy examined the Fantasy Fruits lovingly.

Roy gingerly placed the Fantasy Fruits into a collection jar.

"%n%, thank you very much."

"Can you do an experiment for me?"

"The spring water near the Ancient City of Vine contains abundant mana, and you spread the mushroom seeds near the big stones in front of Ancient City of Vine."

"The vapor and mana are very heavy, so the mushrooms should grow very quickly."

"Bring some mushrooms to me; I want to know the effects of spring water on ordinary plants."

"Do you know picking mushrooms is more dangerous than eating them?"

"If you're picking mushrooms, you're probably in the midst of unpredictable nature and wild animals. Be very careful! You never know what might happen."

"Hmmm...let me see the mushrooms you brought back. Their shapes and sizes are no different than other mushrooms." Roy carefully observed the shape of the mushrooms.

"But the luster seems brighter, perhaps because of the spring water. Looks like I'll have to keep studying these; I bet there are more differences beneath the surface."

"Thank you for your help."

The Sprites' Forest has such a diverse ecological make-up. Oddly enough, scholars have not studied it; it's full of mysteries.

You really want to give me this book?" Roy asked, his face lighting up like a child on Christmas morning as he paged through it.

"This field guide is a precious gift. I must do something for you in exchange."

"The book mentions a kind of plant in Sprites' Forest that can fortify metal."

"I happen to have some of that plant with me. If you bring me an Ax of Golden Dragon's Wings and a few other materials, I'll help you fortify it."

"That way, I can both perform an experiment and offer you some help simultaneously. It's a win-win situation!"

You've brought your materials? Great! I can't wait to begin the experiment. Roy rubbed his hands together, grinning.

Roy immersed the ax in plant sap, then carefully burned off the liquid over a gentle flame. He repeated the process a few times.

"Success! And on the first try!" exclaimed Roy, examining the shimmering ax with a grin.

"Thanks to the detailed account recorded in this field guide, the experiment worked out nicely." He handed you the ax.

And the Hungry Hydrangeas living without soil outside were a product of it.

"The Hungry Hydrangeas?"

"Those are not plants anymore."

"Although technically they are still plants, most botanists have excluded them from their scope of research."

"They have been studied along with monsters."

"The Hungry Hydrangeas have been around for a very long time. One theory says that they were a new breed came from the magic polluted water in the depth of the Ancient City of Vines."

"But it has not been proved by any evidences so far."

*Continue to the next chapter