Meeting of the Ministers

Alden investigated what's left of Damian's body and found the sigil similar to the pin. He grit his teeth and examined the remains of the followers, finding out that one of them was a mage that was powerful enough to set a fire on a level similar to the disaster.

"They have the nerve to destroy the forest for some tree branch."

Alden reached out for Damian's body and placed a hand on the piece of flesh that was what's left of his brain. He raised the flesh in front on his chest and closed his eyes.

"Memory Collection."

The flesh emitted a faint green light. Alden used a skill to identify parts of the memory from Damian. The brain holds memories, and parts of it can be harvested using the Memory Collection skill.

It was one of his many skills as the guardian diety of the forest. For the thousands of years that he stayed in his post, he encountered numerous problems. This caused for the guardian to create skills to solve different problems that he encountered.

"So, it was an order from a so-called Crowned adventurer."

Alden slammed the flesh to the ground as the memory of the disaster flashed in his mind. How the innocent trees and animals were burned mercilessly and how they screamed for help.

He was always attached to the Great Forest of Dura. He was born in these woods and grew inside it. His mind and body before he became a Demon King is filled with nothing but the forest. Seeing it getting destroyed sparked anger in his heart.

It wasn't like forest fires was not common in the forest. Natural order of thing exists that Alden followed for eons. The balance of the forest allowed it to blossom into such a great home for all kinds of beings, and a tip toward the other side in the order such as a large-scale fire would slowly deteriorate its ecosystem.

Alden clenched his fist and stood from where he kneeled from. With a single swat of his hand, the blood seeped into the ground along with the flesh and remains of Damian's group. The power of what he took will allow the nutrients to replenish some of what they destroyed.

"You caused chaos in the forest. Now you will return what you destroyed."

Alden removed the cabin and the fence tha surround it, reverting back to his original form. He walked to the woods and looked up, seeing the light of the sun pass through the gaps of the tree tops.

"Adventurer..."

Just when Alden was about to go back into his home, a woman appeared from thin air. She wore a dark green dress with flowing vines of flowers running from the waist down to her toes. She had light brown hair and dark green eyes with skin as pale as a winter's coat.

"Great Guardian, you have been thinking."

Alden looked at the woman and shrugged.

"Lana, I think I have to know what these humans are doing right now. Why do they feel the need to destroy the forest?"

"Perhaps, it is because of greed, your greatness?"

Alden nodded slowly, placing a finger on his chin to think. He glanced back at Lana with an unfamiliar spark in his eyes.

"What if I become one too?"

Lana stared at Alden blankly. She was unsure on how to respond, thinking she would offend the guardian if she laughed or crack a smile.

"And why do you think that would be a good idea, Great One?"

Alden pursed his lips and smiled.

"Because I'm curious as to how humans think nowadays. Surely they think that they could touch me. I am the most powerful Demon King, ascending through all Demon Kings."

"But that was a few thousand years ago, your greatness. I am sure times have changed and your status do not mean as much."

Alden pouted. He sighed, and then shrugged, realizing that the woman was right.

It has been thousands of years since he went out of the forest and allowed outsiders to enter. The only reason why Bella's party was able to pass through his magic was because he was distracted by the fire and the presence of Damian's group. His mind could not maintain to put up the barrier of illusions properly.

"Then I will become an adventurer before returning as a Demon King. I have to learn the new ways of the world and how they evolved."

Lana nodded in agreement. She bowed and let Alden continue.

"The magic that was deployed to destroy the forest was unlike the ones I've seen before. It is modern and has more power, yet judging from the mage in that party, he doesn't have that much mana in him."

"Perhaps new techniques rose from the new age, my great one. If you could humor me, it would be more than my pleasure to investigate it for you instead."

"No."

Alden clenched his fists and grinned. He was determined to know what changes lie beyond the forest. If he could learn how magic is practiced in the modern age, then he could solve conflicts in dire situations.

"Lana, gather the ministers. I am going to leave the forest for a moment and learn modern magic."

Lana nodded, vanishing into thin air to call the rest of the powerful inhabitants of the forest. Meanwhile, Alden took his time to create a new face for him— a brand new identity where he can be an adventurer.

"It's time to pick from all of my identities."

Alden shifted forms several times before he decided to become a young frail adventurer, short and weak-looking. This will ward off any suspicions around him and would make him look like he was just starting to start his journey as an adventurer. He even made it seem like he was an actual human by hiding his true form beneath sheets of restricting magic.

"Human!"

Alden's head snapped to the direction of the voice— a short old man that had beard trailing down on the ground. He wore a dark blue coat over his arched back while a staff that he used as a walking stick with a bright blue gem on top was clutched by his right hand.

He jumped and used the end of his staff to tap several times in the air, creating spinning spheres of water after each tap. He grunted and fired the spheres at Alden, making sure to hit him right on his head.

Alden was surprised that he was suddenly attacked. He blocked all the spheres with his right arm and approached the man, grinning with a blazing excitement in his eyes.

"So, you wanted to fight, Quanos?"

The old man's eyes widened. He launched himself back to the ground and created a larger spinning sphere of water. This time, steam was coming out of the sphere, indicating that it was boiling hot.

"How do you know my name?!"

Quanos launched a powerful jet of boiling water at Alden, the latter just realizing that the old man mistook him for a human because of his form.

"Do I really look like an actual human?"

Alden laughed. He blocked the water and shifted back into his original form, the large humanoid tree with a face of a youthful man.

"Oh, Great One. Forgive me for attacking you."

Quanos bowed, face red in shame. He attacked the guardian of the forest without knowing that it was him. It was an embarrassing situation to be in even if he was deceived.

"It was his fault."

A large— almost gigantic, plump woman approached them. She was wearing a glittering tight blue dress with a live red fox restint on her shoulders. She was being carried in a palanquin by four dark red monkeys, each wearing masks that showed different emotions of joy, sadness, anger, and fear.

The woman stepped out of the palanquin after it was placed down by the monkeys. She took a whiff of the ceramic tobacco pipe on her hand and blew the smoke at Alden whom she towered over.

"What's this about you becoming a human, Eldryn?"

"My name is Alden now... Madam Ellaine."

Alden greeted as he nodded at her. While Alden was the guardian diety of the forest of Dura, he seemed to hold high regards for her that she did not need to call him his titles nor show any sign of submission towards him.

"Is it about the fire that happened last week?"

"It's about the new Demon Kings."

Lana intruded their conversation. She stepped forward with a rather frail yet tall man behind her.

"I have gathered four of the seven ministers of the forest, Great One."

"Good."

Alden slammed his palms together. The ground shook and a round stone table appeared. Eight stone chairs surround the table, with one of them significantly bigger than the rest. Alden took the seat of the largest chair while Ellaine, Urdock, the frail man sat on the third chair, while the rest of the chair remained empty. Lana stood a few meters behind Alden.

"Where is Veilin?"

Ellaine looked around to find for the fourth minister. She took another whiff of her pipe and blew it in front of her. The smoke from her mouth traveled to one of the chairs and took form of a young boy.

The boy giggled at Ellaine while the woman shook her head and smirked.

"Now, the four of seven ministers of the forest have convened."

Lana facilitated the meeting.

"Let me introduce the participants of this meeting. The Minister of Water— Quanos, the Minister of Light— Ellaine, the Minister of Beasts— Coil, and the Minister of Mist— Veilin, gathered here today after the call of the Guardian of the Great Forest of Dura, Eldryn who is now known as Alden."

Alden nodded, placing both his hands on the table.

"The meeting shall start."