37. The First Friendly Faction
“Hmm…”
Was it hesitation?
Well, it was inevitable.
He tapped on the keyboard.
[Question Post]
• Everyone, a strange plant that follows its owner has appeared. Could it be that…?
“Hmm…”
After a moment of contemplation.
“Ah, let’s stop.”
He shook his head and withdrew the question post he was writing.
He still remembered the previous incident.
“In this world, posting one wrong thing could be the end of your life.”
It wasn’t just those who challenged the system that were the problem.
Even fellow hunters, in a world where they envied those with exceptional abilities, acted as checks on each other.
In this world, one had to live pretending to have what they didn’t, knowing what they didn’t.
Suddenly, he recalled a post he had made in the past about apples.
Back then, comments started pouring in instantly, so he quickly took the post down out of fear of reactions.
“Should I look it up at least once?”
He searched for the content from back then.
And related information began to appear in succession.
It wasn’t just one or two.
The pages stretched endlessly.
“What… Wow…”
Han was so surprised at what he saw.
Click.
Han clicked on the topmost comment.
[Title: That Apple is Up for Sale Again]
• I heard it was fiercely competitive last time. This time, even people from various countries came rushing in after hearing the news. I heard even a top hunter from the United States came in person.
• Author: Soyuha
– ㅇㅇ780: Wow! You really hit the jackpot big time. Or was it twice? I envy whoever it is.
– FFF Kidnapper: It’s certain that the seller is Korean for now.
⌎ Scammer1098: We don’t know who it is, but there’s a high chance there are more apples. It’s only a short time, but already two of the same items were sold. Could it be some awakened figure in the production industry?
⌎ ㅇㅇ1120: If that were the case, they would have released a large quantity from the beginning. Not just a hint, but two items. Nevertheless, it’s worth suspecting. If it was one, it could be a coincidence, but if it’s two, it’s definitely not just a coincidence.
⌎ FFF Kidnapper: If we see them, we catch them, no questions asked.
Han kept reading those kinds of comments one after another.
Beyond just being interested in Han as the seller, they wanted everything Han had.
It was excessive greed.
Hmm-.
At that moment, a vibration sounded.
Upon checking, it was an alert indicating that money had been deposited.
The apple that was listed for sale a few days ago had been sold.
“Oh. Could it be that the bidding has ended already?”
Indeed, the world can be good.
To think that all transactions could be neatly completed without leaving the house.
Hmm-hmm-.
Soon after, a new message arrived.
Curious, Han checked and found it was a message from the appraisal office where money had been deposited.
[Please refrain from revisiting the appraisal office for the time being. There is a risk.]
[Several Chinese groups and some unregistered hunters have been frequently spotted in the vicinity.]
[Please refrain from going out for the time being in case of an unlikely event.]
“…”
Indeed, the world can be a scary place.
Why are they so restless about not being able to snatch what others have?
“But still, their customer service after the sale is reliable.”
Perhaps it’s because they are a world-class appraisal office with delivery services.
Well, that’s why other people can use it with peace of mind.
***
In the square, the forest had expanded, and before they knew it, several days had passed.
Now, Han was starting to get used to the existence of the oak tree that gazed at him so silently.
As the forest gradually became respectable, the bushes in the square were growing taller in tune with it.
The grass that used to be small was now growing rapidly day by day, reaching a size where it could touch the ankles or knees of the elves.
Whenever they walked, the rustling sound of the grass was inevitably heard.
There was no separate field of reeds anymore.
It was a late afternoon of a certain day.
The incident occurred unexpectedly.
Thud!
An unexpected vibration echoed through the suddenly silent ground.
The ground began to shake.
It was the onset of a change.
“What, what is this?”
The confusion was not limited to one.
Suddenly, the elves also reflexively drew their weapons and guarded the surroundings.
“Hey, everyone, come here!”
Amidst the confusion, the elves gathered, tense all over their bodies.
The golem stood firmly by their side, protecting them.
That was when it happened.
Bang!
Suddenly, with a thunderous roar, a large crack split the ground apart.
Soon after, the ground collapsed with a thud.
A huge cave appeared.
“What… is happening?”
The tension was at its peak.
He gazed at the mysterious cave.
What was going to emerge from there this time?
While everyone was staring at the hole that appeared on the ground.
Slowly, something began to crawl out from there.
It was a creature as huge as a house.
But somewhat surprisingly, it was a creature they were quite familiar with.
[Green Friendly Target: Giant Tortoise Beetle.]
“Tortoise Beetle…?”
It indeed looked like a tortoise beetle.
They were round, and their bodies were quite bulky.
From Noble mtl dot com
The swarm of these giant insects consisted of a large and small extended family of five.
And they were friendly targets?
Unlike the monsters they had encountered before, there were slight differences in the details contained in the symbol.
The creatures that had emerged on the ground seemed completely uninterested in the elves, taking a quick look and then turning around to rummage through the bushes around them.
“…Huh.”
They seemed utterly unconcerned.
If they had intended to show hostility, they would have done so long ago.
That was a behavior pattern that typically indicated the actions of ordinary monsters.
However, that was not the case.
These fellows did not view the elves as enemies.
Then what exactly were they up to?
The dormice were nestled among the bushes.
Their protruding whiskers felt around, as if searching for something.
When I expanded my view and scrutinized closely, I finally understood the reason.
Rustle, rustle.
These fellows.
They were munching on grass.
“…What’s up with these guys?”
He muttered unknowingly.
Could it be that they were monsters who only ate plants?
Not carnivores?
If that was the case, it made sense why they hadn’t shown hostility towards the elves in the first place.
No, it was natural that they hadn’t paid attention from the beginning.
They weren’t even a point of interest for them.
Munching on the grass in front of them was their sole focus.
“….”
Anyway.
Realizing they were not enemies, the elves slowly lowered their weapons.
They cautiously approached the dormice, who were incessantly munching on the grass, and began to examine them.
Swoosh.
The pack of dormice, sensing the approach, raised their heads.
Their gazes met.
The elves flinched.
However, they did not retreat.
The unfamiliar visitors did not show any significant hostility towards them, nor did they stop munching on the grass.
They simply continued to munch on the overgrown grass with slow movements.
“But….”
Hani, who had been silently observing their actions, spoke up.
“Why did they suddenly pop out from below the square?”
[It seems like those dormice have been hibernating under the land for a long time.]
The one answering Hani’s question was the system.
[Considering the circumstances, we can assume that the group, which had been frozen for a long time, has finally thawed and appeared.]
“Thawed…? Did they hibernate down here?”
Surprised, Hani’s question was met with the system’s nonchalant response.
[That’s correct.]
“…Huh.”
Well, when you think about it, that makes sense. Just as the system said.
It wasn’t too strange for those who had hidden underground to escape the cold winds and snow.
The harsh, frigid era had dawned upon the planet, which had been flowing for over hundreds of years.
Just a while ago, he had confirmed firsthand that the snow-covered ground was piled up in tens of meters.
It didn’t seem too strange to think that something unknown lay dormant beneath this cold snow.
However, it appeared that the system’s explanation was not over yet.
[The elder mouse-deer once faithfully served as an exceptional insect on this planet.
“Insects? Those creatures?”
[They were beneficial creatures that enriched the soil, transferred seeds and pollen of surrounding plants. They were herbivores, living alongside elves. They were even confirmed to sometimes unite as an ‘alliance’ with certain tribes to oppose enemies.]
“Oh, I see…”
Could it be that the green mark signified that?
They were not enemies from the beginning.
To those who had long recognized elves as allies, elves were simply another form of family.
It’s just that the current generation of elves was unaware of this.
“It turned out well.”
[Indeed.]
Although they appeared unexpectedly, they were healthy guests with a positive influence.
It was like a natural order in the ecosystem.
In the modern era where humans reside, birds and insects flock to the forest.
So, it was natural to assume that similar guests existed here as well.
‘Indeed, the notion that all monsters are rough and savage is a misconception of the common people. Ultimately, monsters are also members of the natural order.’
Just as there are carnivores, there are also herbivores.
It was a natural occurrence in the ecosystem.
Originally, the term “monster” was a broad term encompassing all creatures in dungeons, not just on Earth.
Even the small beetles in a dungeon and the mushrooms clinging to cave walls were considered monsters.
Thus, in reality, they were respectable members responsible for the natural cycle of the Frey planet.
Of course, the elves still maintained a sense of vigilance, but having heard the system’s confirmation, there was no need for further astonishment.
Han completely relaxed.
“Do they eat acorns, by any chance?”
[Yes.]
“Good.”
The answer was clear then.
He had to step forward and ease their guard.
Pop!
Han summoned a large hand and appeared in front of them.
“Lord?”
Ignoring the puzzled gazes directed at him.
He approached the piled fruits under the oak trees around him, picking up a handful and approaching the elder mouse-deer.
As he approached them, he showed what was in his hand.
[….]
The elder mouse-deer stared blankly at Han for a moment.
Soon, with the tip of his cane, he cautiously tapped the creature, which seemed unharmed, and then approached quietly to start nibbling on the fruit.
Starting with that creature, the remaining four gathered closely and also began munching on acorns.
“Uh…”
Zion, who was watching them, opened his mouth with a voice mixed with confusion.
“Could it be that… this means those monsters are safe?”
“It seems so. If we see the gods themselves showing it.”
The fruits quickly revealed the ground.
“Wow. These creatures eat well.”
Ding-!
At that moment,
A new alert popped up in front of Hwan.
[Congratulations! The first friendly faction has been established!]
[Support items for effective friendliness with herbivorous species will be updated!]
[Please check the new additional support item ‘Potato Fist’!]
“Potato?”