If the situation requires us to choose between two different options, with one side leading us to the easy path and the other side leading us to the very difficult path, which choice should we take?
Each choice given always has advantages and disadvantages, so how can we weigh the two?
Is it with something we can see? Or with something we feel?
Which should be prioritized?
This forest… or rather the World we are currently standing on… then the big tree that gave birth to us… And those children…
If I had to choose between them, which would I take?
As a living being, as a guardian, and also as an older brother…
"Daydreaming in the middle of a fight like this?! You monster!!"
A voice broke my focus, bringing me back to the World in front of me.
A Hyena charged at me, with one companion behind it starting to prepare to carry out a long-range attack.
I parried the leading Hyena's attack and reversed the kick to its thigh, shattering the bone hidden beneath its flesh and muscle, sending it crashing to its knees.
"Arrhhhhh—!!" The hyena screamed, tears streaming from its eyes, along with saliva flowing down the side of its mouth.
It rolled around in pain while holding one of its legs.
"Damn it—!!" The other hyena grabbed a stick on its back and threw it at me swiftly.
I dodged it—
No, more accurately, held the stick as it slid to the side, twisting my body to maintain the momentum and throwing it back with its drastically increased speed.
"Arrgghhh—!!"
The hyena that failed to dodge it got a hole in its shattered shin and slid across the grass. Its louder scream immediately drowned out the voice of its companion in front of me.
Ignoring both of them, I looked the other way and immediately turned around and ran towards the deeper part of the forest.
Even though I already knew about this, there were so many eyes watching us, I had to move slowly.
The sun was about to set, this was a good chance to sneak in.
Based on the information we had so far, this forest was divided into six parts, each occupied by the six strongest Beast Races that lived in this forest. The Lion, Wolf, Bull, Bear, Hyena and Bird Races.
Each Race had their own role to maintain the balance of the forest.
For the Tree we lived in, it grew in the West area of the forest, it was the area where the Bird and Bear Race areas crossed, then there was also the Hyena Race area on the Southwest side, the Bull Race on the South side, the Wolves in the East and the Lions in the North.
Although there were only six Races that ruled, it didn't mean that there were no other Beast Races besides them in this forest. There were many more Races that could be mentioned, but each of them was certainly not a threat at the moment.
The existing rankings were always decided from a show of ability held once every five years, which was attended by all the Races in this forest with their representatives.
The six strongest races that could reach their current position were indeed a threat but there was one more thing that was more important than that.
The existence of a figure called the System.
A figure who took the role of mediating the wild Animal Races in this forest and occupied the highest position.
Gampa said earlier that the System mentioned had met him and hoped that he could arrange a meeting with me.
Of course the possibility of a trap was very high, even the calm Gampa always emphasized this with an anxious expression.
But for me this was an opportunity, whether it was progress or regression, at least there was a possibility of a change in the current situation.
Faced with such a choice I could only go alone without anyone knowing about it other than Gampa. Passing through the trees and bushes that were getting taller, I continued to run without slowing down.
No one was following, no one was watching.
I continued to run even though the light in the sky had faded, replacing it with a night sky filled with stars.
Every now and then I stopped on a tree and looked at the big tree, then ran back to circle the qualified point.
Until a root appeared that stretched out of the ground, blocking my body's progress.
The root swayed a few times then began to stretch out and walk in a circle on the ground, like a snake heading in a direction.
I followed it and soon arrived in front of a cave.
This reminded me of what happened earlier with the moles but I quickly forgot about it and went inside.
This time there was no branch road and straight in with a flat trajectory. I continued running following the roots until I reached a hallway with a dark blue light shining on it, the light was moving… it was a firefly…
Hm? How could I know that the animal was a firefly?
I've never even seen one before…
"You really came, this is something unthinkable…"
A voice broke through my confusion.
At the end of the hallway something was approaching, the sound of old wood creaking with every step, with a shadow that did not resemble the Beast Race.
Two horns on its forehead, with the left horn broken. Whitish fibers filled its dark brown body, its bright green eyeballs with blunt points that functioned as pupils, its arms that were roots, and its legs that resembled wooden tubes.
It was about two meters tall… quite tall.
That appearance… a Dryad, huh? The first time I saw him…
"The mess you made with the two Hyenas earlier and the marks you left while running around the forest, it really helped me find you." A voice that sounded strangely soft, came out of his mouth that was in a small crack.
There were many things that crossed my mind when I saw him but I had to focus on the main thing right now.
"It was quite difficult because there was not a single clue about the location to be used."
"Sorry about that but determining the location is not easy, especially since you are always being watched by the sharp Hyenas. I have to determine the right time to approach you, because this is also dangerous for me anyway."
That was true, seeing that response it seemed like this meeting was not a trap.
Although I couldn't just jump to this conclusion.
"Then can we get started? I really hope that the content that will be presented is a reasonable solution."