595 – Plan of Action

『That black sphere and the kesaran-pasarans were a Magic Beast King and its followers, driven mad… We may run into more such similarly powerful monsters.』

I explain my current theories to the pair.
I also tell them about [God of Madness].
I know it might just make them anxious, but I can’t keep them ignorant.

『…It’s likely that this [God of Madness] will even bypass your resistances, Aro.
I have no idea how long it will take to manifest.
But, from what God’s Voice seemed to want, it shouldn’t be impossible for us to escape before then.』

God’s Voice seemed to be acting on the premise that it’s possible for me to return… Of course, it’s possible that God’s Voice just wanted to make me think that for their own amusement, and simply discarded me in this forest.
But there’s no point thinking that way.
Either way, it doesn’t change the fact that I should search for a solution with all my might until we run out of time.

『D-do we really have enough time to focus on my levelling…?』

『At the very least, you should be able to evolve faster than I can level up and do something about [Final Evolution].』

I scratch the ground, drawing a map of this forest.
I draw some trees and a dragon’s face to mark our current position.
In the sky behind us is the origin matter, and in the distance is the tower.

『To start with, we should investigate the tower.
There should be something there that can improve our situation.
In this monotonous world, that tower is the only visible landmark… So, on the way there, we’ll focus on levelling you up, treant.』

Even though he seems unconfident, as I look at him he stands up straight.

『L-leave it to me!』

『I’m counting on you.
Of course, we’ll do everything to support you.』

In response to my words, Aro nods deeply.

『I suspect that the tower contains the key to unlocking my evolution, or a way back to our previous world… Possibly even both.』

“…A way back to our world I can understand.
But it sounds like a bit of a stretch to hope that it has a way to raise your evolution limit?”

I shake my head.

『There are probably six divine skills… I was thinking that the remaining two must be in God’s Voice’s possession in some form.
This Forest of Ngai might be the ideal place to store them.』

Protecting the divine skills might even be the main purpose of this place.
Besides, God’s Voice seemed to have been taking into account the fact that I can’t evolve at the moment.

I was sent here in order to get stronger.
That was why God’s Voice made a point of showing off those [Spirit Servants].

But, just raising my level the maximum won’t make a huge difference in my strength.
God’s Voice must have something else in mind.

Just by getting another 20 or 30 levels, I still won’t stand a chance against the strongest monsters in history.
When I was rammed by the [Tri-Headed Gluttony King Baal], I could tell just how inferior I was terms of stats.
That big a difference probably can’t be made up for with just a little bit of levelling.

Maybe I could do something with the help of Aro and treant.
But, I don’t think God’s Voice is at all interested in their strength.
With that in mind, it makes sense that the reason I was sent into this world was to find a way to evolve.

So, this theory aligns with the idea that God’s Voice could be using this world to store divine skills.

Just returning probably won’t let me beat the [Spirit Servants].

『After exploring that tower…if I still haven’t found what I need, I’ll come back to fight that black sphere, the origin matter.』

I scratch a cross through the circle representing black sphere on the ground.

『…M-master-dono, that monster is fearsome.
Surely there’s no need to fight it?』

『The origin matter is like me… No, it used to be.
Now that I’ve seen it, I want to put it to rest.
Besides, if I’m not strong enough to defeat the origin matter, there’s probably no point returning to our previous world.』

『Th-that might be true, but… Do we have time? There could be any number of former divine skill holders… There could be no end to it if you wanted to put them all down…』

I shake my head.

『That’s why it’s only if we can’t find an answer in the tower.
I suspect it’s quite possible that the origin matter could be holding the key to conquering this Forest of Ngai.』

“The key to conquering…?”

Aro tilts her head to the side.

『Yeah.
Thanks to [God of Madness], no one in this forest is able to hold a conversation.
As a result, we have no choice but to thoroughly search for an answer ourselves.
That’s why I thought, but…there’s just one place where it seems likely that [God of Madness] won’t penetrate.』

“S-so, if we go there, someone might know more about this forest…?”

『It’s a possibility.』

“Where…?”

『Inside the origin matter.
Apparently the inside of its body acts as a powerful seal where time is stopped.』

It’s what I found out by checking its species description.
When I first heard it, I thought it was a terrifyingly powerful ability.
But, if that property can be used well, it might be possible to avoid being driven mad.

Escape from inside is impossible, but if someone else were to defeat the origin matter, anyone inside should be released.
With that in mind, it wouldn’t be strange for there to be a divine skill holder or two from a previous generation.
It’s not impossible that by defeating the origin matter, I’ll be able to talk with someone.
It’s a plan that’s relying on assumptions stacked on assumptions, so it’s not the most reliable though.

『The origin matter itself is ridiculously strong, so I have to put it off for now, and there’s no guarantee there really is anyone inside.
But, if we don’t find any other clues, I don’t think it’s a bad idea to try it.
Defeating the origin matter should also give a good amount of experience.
Investigating the tower and treant’s levelling comes first, though.』

In response, Aro and treant nod.