Sanguine Paradise - Chapter 100

A/N - Whoop, 100 Chapters! It's seriously amazing to see that I have reached such a number and that I have all you awesome supporters help me get there. Thank you for everything!

I've also gotten in contact with an artist and expect I will have a new piece of art to show off within a week or two.

∼ Day 55 ∼

After questioning the humans with some a rather persuasive method, also known as mind-control. I quickly got the information I wanted. These four humans had originally been a party of five that ventured into the depths of the Dusk Swamps, apparently the real name for the swamps I had discovered.

Anyways, I learned that they had gone on a mission to the Dusk Swamps to gather a certain medicinal item that some rich alchemist wanted to get his hands on. While the mission generally didn't pose much effort or danger, it was high pay due to its proximity to the wastelands.

Adventurers of Mordria would usually steer clear of any of the monster-infested zones that were close to the wastelands. This was due to the wastelands being the territory of the monsters, and while humans would venture in there to find fortune and glory, that was only reserved for the strongest adventurers of Mordria and adventurers of other more higher-ranked countries.

For a place like Mordria, the wastelands simply posed too great of a threat. This actually answered one of the many questions I had. I had always wondered why I didn't see adventurers swarm her in droves for the quick and easy EXP. Apparently, it simply wasn't worth it compared to the other places directly within Mordria which presented even better and safer opportunities.

Well, this mission of theirs had let them deep into the Dusk Swamps, until they found a region where the vegetation itself turned carnivorous. As they moved deeper, the plants got more dangerous and much larger. However, these plants still didn't prove a threat to E-ranked humans like them, but it was first when they reached their target they found real resistance.

Their target was a large and ominous tree. Or well, not exactly the tree itself, but its seed. What they had been tasked with, was securing a Jubokko seed. Hearing this, I was only more intrigued since the Jubokko evolution was something that had been presented to me once before.

From what I remembered, these Jubokko trees were actually living sentient monsters. Their nature was to feed upon the blood of other creatures to sustain their lives, so it was no wonder that Mia had felt some slight connection to the Jubokko seed.

After a lengthy and rough fight, the humans had gotten their objective and were about to return. But it was then that they were onset by two Ebonwood Dire Wolves. From the adventurers' knowledge, Ebonwood Dire Wolves were creatures way above their pay-grade and usually only found in the vast Ebonwoods, adjacent to the Dusk Swamps.

Seeing such a pair of powerful monsters from a region way beyond their capabilities, the adventurers made a run for it. They had no chance of beating such monsters even though they tended to only be at the E+ rank in terms of power. Compared to humans, large monsters would generally win if they fought one on one.

That was why for example that adventurers grouped to at least three or four when going on an extermination quest of a monster equal to their rank for a safe chance of coming out successful and alive. Unfortunately for them, they had lost one of their members in the pursuit, another woman who had been their leader.

And as if being spit in the face by the gods after having escaped the powerful wolves, they were met with a whole retinue of hobgoblins and orcs. In their plight to escape, they hadn't bothered with choosing a specific direction, only focusing just on a path that didn't point in the direction of the Dusk Swamps' depths.

When they exited the swamps, they hadn't stopped even for a moment and continued for a long time until they broke out of the woods entirely. But instead of being back in Mordria's territory, they had found themselves at the outskirts of the wastelands, and coincidently, at my doorstep.

Done with getting the general information I wanted, I left the glazed-eyed humans alone in their cells. I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do with them at an endpoint, but I knew of one thing that they were useful as. They were veritable personal fountains of information.

While I had wanted to do the same with some of the Cealish mercenary group, that being dominating their minds and getting all the information I wanted, I didn't want any luggage slowing down my return home. So I was pleasantly surprised to find out I had just gotten four of them all already at home, to say the least.

When Darkan returned to my side after I had asked him to go get this Jubokko seed, I took the seed from him and inspected it in the palm of my hand. To my surprise, the small walnut-sized seed was actually warm. Not just a warmth from being kept hot, but rather a warmth from inside from generating heat, the general trademark of most other living beings.

Recognizing the small seed's alignment very much similar to that of my own nature, I felt an instinctual fondness towards it. Walking around the tribe while being introduced to the new things and building that had been erected like a smithy which explained the tribe's sudden ability to handle metal, I realized that I could faintly sense the seed's emotions and needs.

It was astonishing to feel what looked to be an inanimate object having sentience, so I carefully listened to its emotions and signals. I could definitely feel that it was hungry which wasn't a surprise, however, it was like it wanted me to do something other than just feed it.

With a little thinking, I realized it wanted to be planted. I was at first very skeptical of planting a carnivorous monster tree anywhere in the vicinity of the tribe, with loads of fleshy blood bags called goblins stupidly running around, but the more I thought about, the more I got excited for an idea that had suddenly managed to find its way into this old noggin of mine.

How cool would it be to have a monster eating tree guardian?

If I could tame this tree, this could be a powerful addition to the tribe's defenses. As such, I began walking around with the seed in my hands, sensing out its emotions as I went. The seed quickly picked up on what I was doing and started directing me towards what it felt was the most suitable place to be planted.

Where I finally stopped under the confused gazes of Mia, Bob, and Darkan, was dead in the center of the tribe. The feasting grounds. Over the many years, the soil beneath had been saturated in the flesh, blood, and bones of thousands upon thousands of creatures, ever since the original tribe had established itself here.

While planting the carnivorous tree in the heart of my tribe didn't sound too safe, I trusted my own ability and intuition about this seed. Dripping a drop of blood on the seed, I saw it suck in the vibrant and vigorous liquid with glee, its emotions radiating happiness.

Slowly, I felt a connection between us establish, and I simply knew in my gut that it would never betray me. Upon digging a hole half a meter deep, I gave the seed two more drops of blood and then put it into the hole. I could've given it more, but I was worried about overfeeding it since I knew my blood was powerful and potent if anything.

After covering the hole and telling Darkan to keep the tribe away from this area and what I had intended with the seed, I let out a contented sigh.

"Let's see how you grow my little buddy." - Me

A/N - If you're wondering about where chapter 101 is, then it is posted later in the timeline!