"Hurry!"

"Bring the materials over!"

"We need to finish the house today!!"

The next morning, the Ogre Tribe, led by Benimaru and Souei, began constructing a new home for Damien and Ogerpon.

Building the wooden house was swift, with the ogres' monstrous strength turning them into a veritable construction crew.

In just one morning, a team of dozens completed a two-story house in the style of Japan's Edo period, complete with a small garden outside, filled with wildflowers picked by the village children.

"What do you think?"

Shuna was assigned to liaise with Damien.

Any requests he had could be raised with her, and the ogres would do their best to fulfill them.

"It's great. I'm very satisfied!"

Damien and Ogerpon thanked Shuna, appreciating the Ogre Tribe's sincerity and straightforwardness.

They repaid kindness with action.

Efficient and forthright, they were ideal allies.

"Hm?"

"Bo-ne!"

That very night, an unexpected guest arrived at Damien and Ogerpon's new home.

Clad in a flowing green dress adorned with sprouts and branches, her stunning beauty left even Damien... who'd seen countless influencers in his past life... momentarily awestruck.

Fortunately, knowing her identity kept him from being swept away by her grace and charm.

Instead, Damien grew wary, joining Ogerpon in eyeing the visitor cautiously.

"It seems you know who I am."

The guest was Treyni, guardian of the Jura Forest. She gracefully curtsied and introduced herself. "I am Treyni, steward of this forest."

"A Dryad?"

Damien didn't play coy, directly acknowledging her identity. "What brings the mysterious Dryad lady to visit us in the dead of night?"

His tension wasn't unwarranted... Treyni's strength was hard to gauge.

Firstly, her true form was a "Great Spirit Tree" in the forest.

Her current Dryad form was more like a projection.

In terms of monster ranking, Treyni was near Special A-rank.

In a straight fight, her strength was comparable to Ogerpon's.

With cheats like Destroyer and Explosion Magic, Ogerpon had a good chance of defeating Treyni one-on-one.

However, Treyni was unique.

Much of her power stemmed from her contracted spirit, the Elemental Lord of Wind.

With over a million magicules, the Elemental Lord of Wind rivaled an True Demon Lord. In the original story, it even severed Laplace's arm.

If Treyni summoned the Elemental Lord of Wind, Damien and Ogerpon's only option would be to activate Planeswalker and flee to another world.

"No need to be on guard. I bear no ill will."

Thankfully, Treyni was gentle by nature.

As long as the Jura Forest's ecosystem wasn't harmed, she wouldn't intervene.

"No worries."

Treyni smiled. "In fact, I'm here to thank you both for resolving a major crisis for the forest."

"You mean those bug monsters?"

"Yes."

Treyni then explained the bugs' origins.

Several months ago, they appeared from another world, building a nest in the forest.

They multiplied at an alarming rate, beyond even Treyni's expectations.

Unnoticed, they became a dire threat to the forest.

Had Damien not intervened, Treyni would've had to seek help from other monster tribes, as she did during the Orc Lord crisis.

"Do you know where they came from?"

"Well…"

Treyni shook her head regretfully. "I only know they're not from this world. Beyond that, I'm unsure."

"Alright."

Damien suspected the bugs were linked to the Celestial Demon, a corrupted version of the Cardinal World's angels, possibly bioengineered weapons for invading other worlds.

But such matters were far beyond his current concerns.

"No need for thanks."

Damien said, "I'll be living in the Ogre Tribe's village, making me a part of the forest."

"I don't mind taking out threats to the forest like those bugs."

This wasn't flattery but his genuine sentiment.

"That's wonderful."

Treyni beamed. "From now on, Mr. Damien and Miss Ogerpon are our neighbors. I hope we can get along harmoniously."

Damien's indifference was one thing, but Treyni couldn't take it for granted.

She began pondering what gift would suit as thanks for their protection of the forest.

"Well, I look forward to working together."

Confirming Treyni's lack of hostility, Damien relaxed, taking the chance to ask about the current state of affairs.

For instance, how many years remained before the main story began.

From Treyni, he learned the Storm Dragon was still sealed, meaning Rimuru hadn't yet reincarnated into this world.

Further details were beyond his ability to discern.

"If you need anything, Mr. Damien, just call my name."

Treyni added, "As long as you're in this forest, I'll hear you."

"Got it."

Having connected with a powerhouse like Damien, Treyni's visit achieved its purpose.

The Jura Forest was like a neighborhood, and Damien and Ogerpon were new residents.

Knowing Damien was a courteous, rule-abiding neighbor, Treyni felt reassured.

"I won't disturb your rest any longer."

With a curtsy, Treyni's form dissolved into green specks of light.

"Phew…"

Only when Treyni's presence fully vanished did Ogerpon lower her tightly gripped vine club.

"It's okay, we can stand down. She doesn't seem hostile."

Knowledge was one thing, but Damien never dropped his guard.

Ogerpon's combat stance was a precaution, just in case.

***

Hi guys, I hope you're all doing well! I want to share that I'm currently working on a new project related to Lord of Mysteries.

If you're interested, feel free to visit my profile and start reading. Below is a brief summary:

[Lord of Mysteries: Incarnation of Chaos]

Have you ever wondered what would happen if someone from a Lovecraftian world got isekai'd into another world built on Lovecraftian themes? Well, it's absolute chaos.

Meet Alaric, a human(questionably) survivor of the madness and chaos caused by a certain crawling chaos, who, thanks to the kindness of a certain bubble daddy, got isekai'd into the "fake it till you make it" world.

What will he do in this strange new world? Climb the ladder of power to become that impossible god unless you're just a pawn of a certain russian priest or a certain goth mommy?

Or become a cheshire cat, leaping onto the 4D chessboard to disrupt the schemes and mind games of these bizarre folks?

For Alaric, it's not a tough choice. But before he picks either path, he must, of course, uphold the time-honored tradition of isekai'd victims(questionably) that forms the foundation of this world.

What's that tradition?

Keeping a diary.

---

[Alaric's Transmigration Diary]

[Day 1: I encountered Amon. Used a special technique to summon a projection of the Ancient Sun God, who personally delivered a heavy slap to Amon. Hope Amon appreciates this weighty paternal affection.]

[Day 2: I received an invitation from the Aurora Order. Told them I want it all... looks, brains, and combat prowess... and invited them to join my newly founded Joker Club.]

[Day 3: I met Leonard and acknowledged Gramps Pallez. Declined Leonard's enthusiastic suggestion for the old man to move in with me, as I'd rather not have a old man critiquing my every move, even in private moments.]

[Day 4: I told Klein I plan to pray to a deity named The Fool. Watched his eyes widen in shock and kindly offered him some eye drops.]

[Day 5: I listened to Medici perform a two-hour comedy routine. Suggested he go professional and invited him to share a meal.]

.

.

.

[Day 666: I fully absorbed a certain crawling chaos fragment within me. From now on, I am the Fifth Pillar.]