After the Guild Council was brought under control, things went smoothly going forward. Minas Mar claimed their former headquarters for themselves, and people quickly began the repairs. The Oathguard, Pip, and Asterion had shown off their power, and nobody who saw them intended to pick an open fight.
Pip smoothly took on the reins, although this was only a superficial control for now. The young woman would have to work hard to achieve her goals of not just controlling, but bettering New Hope in the future.
Still... Considering the danger the dark court posed, they would have wanted to stay for longer, but they couldn't prolong their stay. Seth and the others were needed on the front. They actually had one of the most important locations they had to visit.
"Maybe I could call Viggu here, as another reinforcement," Seth suggested, summoning one of his Vassals. The oni had done well working for Minas Mar, and his level had risen to 118. Together with Asterion, he would make for a good insurance against the dark folk.
"Thank you, but that won't be necessary. You won't have to worry about the city's safety," Pip said with a cheeky smile. Grinning, like she was letting them in on a big secret, she revealed a bean, glowing with a toxic bright green light on the palm of her hand.
"Is that...?" The blacksmith more or less recognized the seed, although the ones he had seen so far had been bigger and looked more like rugged burls. This was a seed for the sapling of the Guardian Tree.
The light it exuded seemed more intense than the ones he had seen before. Even if there were bigger ones, this seemed special. Seth was a little surprised, but with this, his worries subsided.
"This is Karina's gift for my birthday. I will plant it here and claim New Hope as a Tree Station. Although the tree won't be as big as the others, it will grow with time," she said with a warm smile, and it didn't sound like she was only speaking of the tree.
Although he had intended to ask Karina to set up a Tree in New Hope, he had not expected that the dryad had already gone ahead with the idea before he could consult her. She had been quite cranky about making Tree seeds for their Cloud Continent Campaign, so he had wanted to wait a little.
"I guess then we really won't have to worry," Mina said with a smile. Even if it were a "small" guardian tree, it would probably reach a size to cover the inner city of New Hope with ease. None of them could imagine anything less than a legend taking up a fight with a sapling of the Guardian Tree.
Even then, it was hard to imagine the tree losing. The only time a guardian tree sapling truly lost was when it fought the avatar of a god to a draw and sacrificed itself to take it down. Seth doubted this dark court could muster the same power as the enemy at Mount Agra.
"I will still summon Viggu and leave him here. Although you will be safe under the tree, you might need some more high-level people," Seth still insisted on leaving a vassal with her. "I will also leave Trepadora with you," Seth added and brought out one of the named golems from Legion's space.
Trepadora was a tall, lanky golem knight, using a rapier and a dagger for fighting. His proportions were not too far off from a stick bug's, but his fighting prowess in single combat was extraordinary.
"I'm sure they will be helpful," the blacksmith insisted.
"Then I will not refuse the help, thank you," Pip accepted with a sweet smile.
"I think it is time to leave now," Idyllin Mo interrupted their goodbye talk. The man, who had simply watched the Oathguard battle and stayed in the rearguard the whole time, finally made his presence known.
The sun was slowly setting. It was the second day since they set off from the Northern Mountains. It meant the other strike teams were two days ahead of them now.
"Right, I guess it is time. Well then, Pip, I wish you the best of luck," he said and shook her hand with professional respect, making the girl grin.
"I'm sure you will succeed," Mina said and kissed her on the forehead.
"Ugh!" Pip exclaimed with a pain expression, when Fin caught her in a tight hug. "I'm sure you can do it, never doubt yourself!" she exclaimed with a laugh, before letting Pip back down.
"Thank you, everyone, and good luck on your journey," Pip said, slightly hesitant. Was she worried for them?
"No need to worry about us. You should worry about the Cloud Continent," Seth assured her with a grin.
"Sounds like you are done. Let's go now. I don't wish to spend the night here," the space wizard urged them, revealing his true objective. Getting into a warm bed by sunset.
"Okay, okay, let's go. Bye Pip, see you later," the blacksmith said again. Fin and Mina also said goodbye, as Idyllin Mo cast his magic and they vanished from New Hope, leaving the big task to the little girl.
For a while, her gaze lingered on the spot where the four had stood until a moment ago. It was true, there was worry swirling in her mind. She knew all of them were strong, but it didn't stop the little voice in the back of her mind from whispering its doubts.
She had been pushing these thoughts aside. She simply enjoyed the travel and avoided thinking of their departure. But now that they were gone and she was alone, she had to face her own feelings.
Too often, she had lost her home because people she believed in sacrificed themselves. Wasn't she just watching them leave to sacrifice themselves? Sure, they were strong, but there was always someone stronger, right? Unexpected things could happen and...
Pip shook her head; her grip on her staff tightened. Her parents may never come back, but Karina had returned, thanks to Seth. Seth was going to return, too. She couldn't allow any doubt. Until he returned, she would rebuild New Hope into one of the best Tree Stations and then....
Then she would join the Field Teams and fight alongside everyone.
"Looks like you found your resolve?" Viggu, the massive oni, put his hand on her shoulder and spoke with a tusky smile. Right, she wasn't alone, either. She had a team of Oathguard, Asterion, Viggu, Trepadora, and... She opened her hand, looking at the little bean.
And the Guardian Tree.