The forest is filled with the primal smell of life. Green energy floats around in a misty manner filling the cracks and crevices with the pure power of growth.

That’s not to say the forest is a kind, nice, huggy place full of creatures that can be cuddled. I’ve seen dire wolves, dire bears, dire butterflies, and even once a dire swamp-thing type creature. The reason they are all called ‘dire’ moniker is because they are 10 times bigger, 10 times meaner, and 10 times more dangerous.

I didn’t come up with the terminology either, the caravan I’m shadowing did.

Prepare to be shocked…

The first people I met are not humans!

They aren’t elves either!

They are…dun dun, drumroll….half-elves!

I like half-elfs, they have a sense of pinash, a sense of excitableness, they also have an alchemist. This young lady has the right sense of how to do experiments.

Explosions! Bigger Explosions! Louder Explosions!

And then…

Creating a totally useful potion that does something amazing in a critical moment!

Did I mention I like half-elfs? This girl has the right spirit, you can’t be a coward when you are aiming for understanding the universe!

I haven’t gone out of my way to help them, since I’m still observing them as they pass through the forest in a circular loop. The road being used is a barely maintained mess. Unlike well maintained roads, this one slices through the greenery, it’s more as if the trees have an agreement not to encroach.

Monsters though, they don’t seem to pay as much attention to such an agreement. I noted that the leader of the caravan has been surprised lately. Apparently they were expecting a much harder fight on their collection route this time.

This is likely due to the simple fact that even with my soul seal, and a reduction in my overall fighting power, I’m strong.

Even though I’m a tree, and not a tall one yet, I have a ‘bother me and be crushed’ vibe. At least that’s how it was described to me by the green land dragon that investigated who was invading its territory.

We had a nice cup of extra-dimensionally made Tree Tea, along with meat cubes made from the remains of a few Vampire Ogres I collected as snacks.

I think the thing that made the poor green dragons eyes bug out was those snacks.

From what I understand anyone who can casually take out high level monster meat as a snack is upper class.

Thanks to the tea meeting, I learned there are levels in this world.

Starting from S at the top, A just below, all the way down to G. The letters are used to represent higher level creatures, adventurers, and so forth.

Each level is divided into ten parts, so you can have an S-1 adventurer or monster, and an S-10 the single digit being stronger.

Ranks are something I’m not unfamiliar with so I casually asked the Mizarul my draconic companion what he’d estimate me at.

“X-1.” the green dragon had said without pause.

X is apparently the level that corresponds to the stuff above the limit. With that in mind I increased the Soul Seal on Dryad and me to restrict 97% of our power. At that point, Mizarul informed me we felt more like S-5 level monsters.

S-5 Rank while being tough, isn’t so outstanding we’d be immediately hunted by all the world powers.

This world is split rather unequally between Elves, Demons, Humans, Gnomes, Dwarves, and rare races.

Dragons, Naga, Sea Elves, Mermaids, Sirens, and so forth are among the rarer races. Monsters tend to follow the longer lifespan, lower power ratio here. This means that most monsters that are S-1 have lived a very long time. As such instead of fighting a human hero, or any hero, to the death they are more likely to escape.

I have to say, I consider that smart.

Escaping doesn’t mean they give up the fight either.

As Mizarul explained to me, “I may run away from a hero or high level adventurer, but I remember their scent. From that I’ll hunt down any family, friends, allies, guild members, and make them understand their mistake.” Apparently such tactics are necessary when the population difference is so great.

My understanding of these tactics does not denote condoning them.

In my opinion such a method is far too low brow.

If one is going to teach a lesson it needs to have impact.

Poisoning the nation’s water supply with green land dragon venom for example.

Starting a cult that would allow you to reach tentacles into the power structure of the nation.

Even something like traceless death of every adventurer except the one that attacked you. The better to pin the crime on the only survivors, and then of course spread rumors of a massive treasure they own.

Things like that are more what I would go with, but hey, I also believe if things aren’t broken I probably shouldn’t melt them down.

Needless to say, after a good chat with Mizarul I’m much better informed about the surrounding area.

I also found out the center of the grasslands is known as a Forbidden Zone. It was the site of a great war between differing deities in the past. Monsters have tried venturing in to eat whatever emits the magical equivalent of nuclear radiation for millennia. However, with the goblins in their path, and then Ogres, and finally Vampires it doesn’t end well.

Apparently the goblins and their upgraded counterparts are well able to understand what’s allowed them to get stronger. While they may not have an exact lock on the reason, they are clearly able to understand that it is something that shouldn’t be shared.

As such, intruders into the Goblin Grasslands are treated as complete enemies. Tribes will set aside a tribal war in order to form alliances to kill invaders. Also, the grasslands have their own method of balance. Whenever the population becomes too great, a Goblin Wave will erupt out in all directions every few decades. Thus the territories surrounding them are all highly militant.

In order to reach signs of civilization I need to leave this continent and travel to one of the other two.

Thus, my brilliant reason for shadowing this half-elf caravan. Besides the fact that it’s load of fun to watch a young alchemist blow things up, I am not afraid to admit I’m lost.

No, not lost. More to say, I’m directionally challenged. Lately I have noticed the reduction in my power through the soul seal has unforeseen results. Before I could spread my senses around for thousands of kilometers. Now I can barely cover a single one around me. As such, it’s a lot harder to find my way around than it was beforehand, and thus, I have chosen and easy out.

Following someone else.

Thankfully, through some arcane method I haven’t grasped yet, the caravan doesn’t get lost.

As such I can easily float around following them without worry on my end.

Several weeks pass since my meeting with Mizarul, and finally it appears time to exit the forest.

Now a slight problem has cropped up.

Outside the forest heading towards the ocean port town, is grassland.

A tree in the forest that follows you around, that’s hard to spot.

A tree in the middle of grasslands that follows you would probably be very creepy.

In order to avoid this I have snuck close to the alchemist’s tent, placing myself in an easily discovered location.

When she wakes up to go herb hunting with her companions, I expect my discovery will allow me easy entry into the camp.

Of course, if she tries to experiment on me.

I will take steps.