Chapter 142: Another Headache

"As long as the task that you want me to do is not that difficult then I would gladly help you." Adrian stated bluntly as he does not want impossible tasks right now.

Adrian was then given the quest.

*QUEST NOTIFICATION*

SAVE THE TREE OF LIFE

The dryad Makiling wants you to find a cure for the poison that was poured unto the Tree of Life, Yggdrasil. Investigate the cause of the poison and find a cure. Makiling will guide you to the poisoned location. Each day Yggdrasil is not cured, its power will weaken bit by bit. Monsters previously warded by Yggdrasil will be able to attack Neo Alfheim.

Difficulty: S

Requirement: Cure Yggdrasil of its sickness.

Reward: Unknown Sapling

Failure: The Tree of Life will die and all of Neo Alfheim will vanish. All Elves or any other faefolk in Nebulon will grow weaker by 5%. Makiling will die.

Time Limit: 200 days

[Do you want to accept the quest?]

Adrian frowned a bit when he saw the job difficulty. It should be doable but he has a lot riding on his plate right now. He just hopes that he accept the quest.

"I am sorry. I am too busy." Adrian answered.

[You have cancelled the acceptance for the quest SAVE THE TREE OF LIFE.]

"I think this is something that the Champion of the Twin Gods can definitely do." Makiling insisted.

[Do you want to accept the quest SAVE THE TREE OF LIFE? YES OR NO]

"What the heck? I already said no." Adrian thought and once again said no.

"I am really busy right now." Adrian insisted.

[You have cancelled the acceptance for the quest SAVE THE TREE OF LIFE.]

"I am pretty sure the CHAMPION will be able to do it." Makiling said with a great stress on the word Champion.

[You have accepted the quest SAVE THE TREE OF LIFE.]

"What the fudge! I did not even accept the quest. It was forced unto me! I feel defiled." Adrian thought as he slung his shoulders in defeat.

"Since you insisted that I do the quest to help the tree then you should be able to help me." Adrian stated while hiding his eyes full of anger.

"If I can do it then feel free to ask me Champion." Makiling said with a smile as if she did not push a gigantic obligation on Adrian.

"Can you help me infiltrate and locate the location of the crown fragments of the Undead King?" Adrian asked.

"I do not know what you want to do with those dangerous fragments but I can. I am this forest and this forest is me. As a root of the Tree of Life, I can even transport you to ant forest area but I am currently weakened due to the poison." Makiling replied.

"Then do you know where the fragments are?" Adrian asked.

"Not really but I can transport you there as long as you know the location. I am one of the founders of this city after all." Makiling said calmly as she ate something like potato chips which was given by the server elf.

"If you are one of the founders then why do you not ask for the Church of Life's help?" Adrian asked.

"Unlike true faekin, elves do not obey those who are stronger than them. They have delegations for that which I find boorish. We are descendants of Asmodians after all and it is in our blood to obey the strong to a certain extent. We are also not sure if the perpetrator is still there. I am getting a wood ache." Makiling said and after sipped her apple juice.

"If the tree dies then so does this city. Why do they not want to help?" Adrian asked once again.

"I did ask someone who was level headed but those higher than him said they would do so in their terms. Even I do not know what poison that was used and I have lived longer than them." Makiling said with a bit of frustrated tone.

Adrian thought that there must be other ways to go about the mission. He need to cure the tree not cure the poison. Adrian thought to ask his mother as she tends to garden. Even though it is a long shot, he still had to try as he had no idea about plants.

"Can I inspect the poisoned part?" Adrian asked.

"Yes. I intended to transport us there when you accept my quest." Makiling said with a smile while Adrian was slightly angered once more because of the remark.

"Do you need to prepare Champion?" Makiling asked but Adrian said no.

"Let's Go!" Makiling said as she clapped her hands.

When Makiling clapped her hands, a flower could be seen growing below both of them. The scary thing was that the two flowers had teeth. Adrian felt a bit scared but he thought that making a slight move could result in being injured.

The two flowers swallowed Makiling and Adrian whole. Adrian though could feel his body moving through something. It was a bit uncomfortable as it felt like being buried in sand and struggling to free yourself.

"I think I am experiencing what it means to be an earthworm." Adrian thought.

A few minutes later, the two flowers spat both of them out. Adrian though felt sticky and when he looked he shouted, "Eww!"

The flower left some kind of nectar like mucus on Adrian. He looked towards Makiling and saw that she did not have the slimy substance on her body. Adrian really wanted to ask but she was looking at him with a smiling but warning eyes. It was if she was telling, "A lady never reveals her secrets."

Adrian looked at the room they were in and smelled a pungent bad aroma. He looked towards where the pungent bad aroma was strong and gasped. What Adrian saw was a tree trunk that was healthy but it was oozing violet liquid. Every time the liquid drops, the pungent horrible aroma would fill up the room. Adrian almost puked because of it.

This was one of the downsides of having close to reality games. Adrian tried inspecting the poisoned part but it came up as all question marks. The poison used was something even Adrian's evil eye could appraise.

"Have you found out anything about the poison used, Champion?" Makiling asked as she saw Adrian looking intently at the poisoned part.

Adrian only sighed in dismay and Makiling already knew the answer before it was said so she did not pursue the matter. Adrian then took a vial from his inventory and gathered a few drops. The interesting thing about this vial was it was formerly a bottle for potions.

Unlike some games where the potions disappear after use, Pandemonium was a bit grounded in reality. After drinking the potion, the player could either store it in the inventory or throw it. If it is thrown then the bottle disappears. If kept, the bottle would be a miscellaneous item called empty bottle or vial.

Adrian would be able to sell t for five copper so he dared not to throw it. Little amounts of money could pile up to large amounts as long as you know how to save. Adrian used the empty vial and collected a fair amount of poison. He almost filled the whole vial.

Item: Mysterious Poison

Type: Miscellaneous

Effect: Unknown

Description: An empty vial that was filled with poison seeping from the Tree of Life, Yggdrasil. Take it to a poison master to be appraised.

Adrian frowned a little because he does not know a poison master. It was just one way to find a solution but not the only solution though. Adrian stored the vial in his inventory and planned to ask the elders if they knew how to help him.

"I think I have seen enough. Can we please return back to the restaurant?" Adrian asked.

"Very well, Champion." Makiling stated and clapped her hands once again.

Adrian once again looked below his feet and a flower with sharp teeth swallowed him whole. Adrian could only keep his mouth shut to not offend the plant as it seemed sentient. A few minutes later, Adrian emerged or rather spit out by the flower with teeth.

There was the slimy substance sticking on his skin but he was a bit fine due to it having a flowery scent.

"Well then Champion of the Twin Gods, please call upon me if you need help with your business here in Alfheim. It would be my honor to serve the Champion chosen by them." Makiling said as she slowly became vines and disappeared on the floor.

Adrian seated himself once again on the same table. The elf server once again opened the doors and the atmosphere in the restaurant became merrier once again. Adrian though was a bit disturbed by their actions.

"It feels like I am in one of those movies where there is a secret cult and this establishment is their base of operations." Adrian thought but quickly denied that claim. He was though in fact not far from the truth.