In a quiet residence deep in the forest, surrounded by Wisteria trees and Orchid flowers.
Aisteria entered and knocked on the door.
Then, a woman opened the door. She smiled and immediately pulled Aisteria inside.
Inside, Aisteria told the woman about meeting a new tourist again.
"Should we test him again?" asked the woman named Chira.
Chira is one of the 7 Flower Guards, representing the Orchid, and she is Aisteria's right-hand woman.
Aisteria laughed. "Wouldn't the result be the same? Are you sure you can hold back again?"
"I'm sure! I'll bring my friend to accompany me later," Chira said confidently.
"Your friend? Who?" Aisteria asked.
"Well, she also admires you, Aisteria. Her name is Iliyasviel. I'll bring her here when I'm done... she's a bit shy," Chira said.
She immediately prepared herself and carried a bag containing Orchid flowers.
After that, she said goodbye to Aisteria and left.
---
Meanwhile, Nic was resting and eating snacks.
"Hmm, after checking, they are all local residents; there are no tourists like me," Nic thought inwardly.
Nic was surprised but tried not to care and continued walking.
While enjoying his walk and looking at the Wisteria trees again, Nic realized he stepped on something, and it turned out to be an Orchid flower.
He backed up and picked up the Orchid flower. When Nic looked ahead, he saw that Orchid flowers were scattered everywhere.
"Huh? Why are there Orchid flowers here?" Nic said, confused.
And in the distance, Chira was peeking with her friend Iliyasviel. It turned out this was her doing... Chira wanted to see if the tourist would be indifferent and continue walking while stepping on the flowers.
Chira looked like she was about to get angry when her flower was stepped on, but luckily Illiya was there.
"Chira, don't be impulsive yet! Let's watch first!" Illiya said, holding Chira's hand tightly.
Nic paid attention to the Orchid flower, then activated the God of Health skill.
He healed the flower and then rubbed it gently.
Nic walked and picked up all the Orchid flowers, collecting them into one pile, and continued walking.
Chira was silent from a distance. This was the first time a tourist had cared like that.
Illiya released her grip. "Chira, he seems different?"
But Chira shook her head and tried to remain skeptical. "Illiya! You are naive! He must have another motive! Let's keep following him."
Chira pulled Illiya along, following Nic.
"Zeta, are they following me?"
[ Yes, they are following you, Master Nic. ]
Nic smiled and reached the end of the tourist area. He exited and went to the nearest store, which turned out to be a flower shop.
Nic bought a flower bouquet, then combined the Orchid flowers with the bouquet.
Chira and Illiya watched Nic come out carrying a bouquet of Orchid flowers.
Chira was blushing, seeing her Orchid flower treated so sweetly. She, who was dedicated to guarding the Orchid flower and felt one with it, felt that the random tourist she saw was treating her warmly.
"He... he is different... his warmth..." Chira said, flushing red.
Illiya, seeing this, just smiled awkwardly at her behavior.
After that, Chira confidently went to meet Nic. Illiya followed her from behind.
Nic saw them approaching and just stayed put.
"Ahem... introduce myself, my name is Chira, one of the 7 Beautiful Flower Guards in the East and the right hand of the 7 Tree Guardians."
Nic introduced himself in return. Chira praised Nic's good behavior as a kind and polite foreign tourist.
"Um, sorry, I was actually testing you with those Orchid flowers... could you give the Orchid flowers to me?" Chira said.
Nic smiled and was about to give them to her, but when Chira was about to receive them, Nic put them aside and instead gave them to Illiya.
"E-eh?? W-why give them to me??" Illiya looked shy and awkward.
Illiya shook her head very quickly and nudged Chira's arm repeatedly, while Chira was frozen like a statue, still holding out her hand with a face holding back anger.
"Just take it for yourself," Nic said with a smile.
The confused Illiya finally took the bouquet of Orchid flowers while covering her face.
Then Nic was about to leave immediately, but his shirt was strongly pulled by Chira. She was actually calm and graceful near Aisteria, but when she got angry, she was terrifying.
"Why..." Chira said, her eyes already very sharp.
"Huh?" Nic turned and saw his shirt being held by Chira.
"WHY DIDN'T YOU GIVE THE FLOWERS TO ME??" Chira shouted.
"Why are you angry? I know you were testing me, but these flowers were thrown away intentionally, and it would be a shame if they were all stepped on," Nic said.
"Ugh, I didn't throw them away! It was just a test, not intentional..." Chira explained.
"But it's the same as throwing them away, isn't it? It's weird to test someone that much," Nic replied casually.
"Ahh, alright, alright, I was wrong, fine, I apologize!" Chira gave in.
Illiya chuckled slightly, and Chira saw that and immediately pinched her cheek.
"Ouch, ouch! That hurts!" Illiya said.
Chira was both annoyed and fond of Illiya, so she took it out on Illiya's cheek, and Chira pulled her away to go home.
Nic just stayed silent at this randomness, then he saw a TV station car.
"Hmm, is there going to be news here?"
But it turned out the car didn't stop here and kept going. Finally, curious, Nic followed it with God of Speed.
And the car stopped at the Weeping Willow Tree tourist spot.
They got out of the car and didn't look like TV station workers but rather men in neat suits observing the surrounding area of the tourist spot.
The Weeping Willow Tree is the second least-visited tourist spot.
Nic used God of Analyst, and it turned out they were looking for information.
"Hmm, Zeta, do you think they are making their move now?"
[ I don't think so, Master Nic. They should only be gathering information and observing the situation first. ]
"Do you think I need to do something openly? Or secretly?"
[ Up to you, Master Nic. ]
"Hmph, typical girl."
---
Since he was already here, Nic decided to continue his sightseeing. He bought a ticket and walked like a normal person.
And Nic saw a strange incident. He saw someone he concluded was also one of the 7 Tree Guardians, but... he was sitting on the ground with a dejected face.
Nic was about to approach him, but the man in the suit went up to him first.
His name was Pillow, the chief guardian of the Weeping Willow Tree.
The man in the suit whispered something to Pillow, then he calmly left.
Meanwhile, Pillow just sat silently with a dejected expression. He seemed to have no energy.
Nic approached him, standing in front of Pillow, and he immediately stood up straight with a friendly smile.
"Your aura is different from the usual residents who come here. You must be a tourist, right?" Pillow said. His voice was cheerful but weak.
"Eh, ah yes, my name is Nic. By the way, why were you sitting on the ground?" Nic asked curiously.
"Hmm, no reason, just a habit... well, I'll be going now," Pillow walked past Nic.
"This conversation was so fast..." Nic turned around, and instead of leaving, Pillow just sat down on the ground again, just in a different spot.
"Wow... what is he doing?" Nic became even more confused by the absurd behavior of this particular Tree Guardian.
To be continued...