Diary of the Improper Monster Girl Transformation.

Chapter 550 The Lord of Nature's Request (Bonus Chapter 312!)
"Is that... the heartwood of a tree?"

Herbert's gaze was completely drawn to the lifelike heart, which had a warm and lustrous wooden texture, and an absurd thought flashed through his mind.

"Is He being so kind as to cut this open and give it to me?"

Is this guy trying to stage an accident to extort money?
By the way, how many bowls of noodles did Liu Zi eat back then?

But Herbert also knew that the heart was not made of real wood.

The Heart of Nature he received from the Goddess of the Forest had already revealed the truth to him—it was an entity formed from the purest life energy and laws.

The heart's texture is delicate and intricate, as if it contains the growth rings and life code of all trees in the world.

It lay quietly in the squirrel's little paw, yet it exuded a gentle yet powerful pulse. With each slight thud, the surrounding natural elements trembled, and the plants seemed to bow silently to it.

What alarmed Herbert even more was that he sensed a similar, vast, complete, and ancient aura emanating from this heart, aura that was also similar to the fragments of divinity.

The aura that truly belongs to the gods.

It is the will of nature, and also represents a fragment of some kind of authority.

Once Herbert integrates this "Tree Heart" into his body, his "Heart of Nature" will definitely advance to the next stage, and may even touch upon more fundamental laws of nature...

Perhaps, through special abilities, one can touch the edge of the [Nature] realm, something that many great druids may not be able to do.

The temptation is real.

"What does it mean?"

Herbert lowered his voice unconsciously, revealing a hint of surprise that he could hardly hide.

He wasn't amazed that the other party could produce such a thing, but rather surprised that the other party was so generous right away.

Is a manifestation of a portion of His authority and will simply handed over to an outsider?
No, is it not going through any procedures?
Aren't you going to pull them apart at all?
You're giving me something this good right off the bat. Aren't you afraid I'll just take it and run away?
After a moment of silence, Herbert did not take the tree heart, but slowly asked, "Did the Holy Tree say anything to you when it gave this to you?"

"Huhao?"

The squirrel blinked and tilted its head in confusion: "The Holy Tree didn't say anything. By the way, hurry up and catch it."

Herbert, of course, couldn't accept such a frivolous answer without question. He frowned and pressed on, "Didn't say anything? Not a single word?"

"OK."

The demigod squirrel carefully cradled the wooden heart, as if it were the most precious treasure in the world, its eyes sparkling as it stared at it.

Although the guardian of the sacred tree did not know what this thing was, he liked it very much and felt a great affinity for the wooden heart.

"He just told me to give it to you, and said nothing else."

It stared at the tree heart and muttered matter-of-factly, "In fact, He didn't say anything at all."

It swished its big tail triumphantly and snorted proudly, "The Holy Tree didn't say anything, so I just naturally knew."

"Even the fact that I'm entrusting this to you was something I only found out about after I touched it!"

"If you don't believe me, just touch it yourself!"

This answer did not reassure Herbert; instead, it made him frown slightly.

This "sincerity" is a bit too much.

The weight of the object made Herbert's first reaction not surprise, but vigilance.

Showing courtesy for nothing is either cheating or stealing.

Herbert had dealt with many gods and knew the significance of receiving divine gifts.

For an ancient being of potentially very high status, such generosity must be backed by an equal or even more weighty demand.

He didn't reach out to take it immediately, but stared into the squirrel's eyes, trying to glean more information from them.

But there was no malice in those pure eyes, only an almost innocent urging, as if saying, "Hurry up and take it, something good will happen if you take it."

Either the squirrel is an excellent actor, or it really doesn't know anything and is just a deliveryman.

Herbert preferred the latter.

No other reason than that he'd seen far too many unintelligent fellows like that... cough cough.

Herbert frowned silently, asking himself, "...So, Nenasha, what do you think?"

Don't pretend to be an expert and remain silent when you should speak up!

"Hmph, you've finally remembered me now that you're in trouble?"

"Hehe, what are you talking about? I haven't forgotten either."

Herbert smirked slightly, effortlessly engaging in banter with Miss Harmony.

"Really? I don't think so~ You were very focused when you were coaxing your little dragon girl just now!"

"Alright, let's deal with this later. Let's focus on the important matter first."

"Fine, I'll take a look then, hmph~"

Nenasha stopped cooperatively, hummed thoughtfully for a moment, and said, "Well, how should I put it? Anyway, I haven't found any problems~"

"The aura above, though immense, is pure; it's the most primal life force and natural power, unmixed with curses, contracts, or any other superfluous elements."

"But clearly, that big tree left a message inside, trying to convey something to the recipient."

"That is not bad."

Herbert felt somewhat relieved; since there was no danger, things would be simple.

"So, does that mean I can understand His meaning just by touching it? What message will He leave for me?"

"I don't know~ Why don't you give it a try? Anyway, I'm here, nothing will happen to you~"

Nenasha's tone was relaxed, with a hint of certainty. "Even if something goes wrong, it's okay. I'll take care of it! It'll take a lot of energy, but protecting you will be a breeze."

"Yes, thank you so much."

"Hmph~ You could have been a little more sincere!"

After Nenasha promised to cover everything, Herbert was completely relieved and stopped dawdling, reaching out to grab the tree heart.

And the moment your fingertips touch that warm, smooth wooden surface—

"Buzz!"

A vast and harmless flow of information, accompanied by extremely pure life energy, instantly surged into his body and mind.

There was no pain, only a warmth and peace as if returning to the womb.

Then, Herbert saw it.

He "saw" an ancient forest, boundless and shrouded in a hazy mist, with towering ancient trees blocking out the sun, and the air filled with a rich life force and the mellow smell of decaying branches and leaves.

Deep in the forest, he saw a colossal tree that seemed to reach the heavens and support the entire sky.

However, the condition of this giant tree is alarming.

Its trunk was covered with scorch marks and cracks, most of its huge crown was broken off, and the remaining branches and leaves were withered and yellow, exuding an indescribable atmosphere of decay and desolation.

He... has fallen.

Then, before Herbert could be affected by the atmosphere around him, his expression suddenly changed.

"This is!!?"

He heard it.

I heard it—that extremely unpleasant and rough singing voice!
"I am the primordial root, the ancestor of all trees, in the long river of time..."

Again!!?

Herbert had considered that the Tree of Mist might have left a special contingency plan to give him some unexpected experiences.

But he never expected that the old tree would be so despicable and so lacking in martial ethics.

So despicable!

To get people to attend his solo concert, he actually offered such a huge lure.

fishing!

This guy is fishing!

"hiss!"

But compared to the first time, Herbert, having heard it once before, showed some resistance this time and was not as distressed as he had been last time.

No, that's not right...

"Eh?"

This time, it wasn't painful at all?
"Um!!?"

Herbert was bewildered to discover that he could even discern a special rhythm and emotion in that rough, hoarse roar, which sounded like sawing wood.

Even though the melody, lyrics, and even the raspy voice were exactly the same, the feeling they evoked was completely different.

It was no longer a pure noise attack; instead, it carried a sense of... desolation, tragedy, and even a hint of relief.

It's actually kind of nice to listen to?
What's wrong with me?
Is there something wrong with my ears? Or has this old tree hypnotized me?
Herbert was certain that the singing hadn't changed at all; the only difference was himself.

But what's different about me compared to before?
He squinted and thought for a while, then suddenly a possibility came to mind.

"Is it... because of the Heart of Nature?"

After receiving the authority of the Heart of Nature from Freya, Herbert has become completely different in relation to nature.

He was regarded as a darling of nature, a nature practitioner recognized by the sacred realm of nature.

As the holder of the Heart of Nature, he is qualified, or rather, "permitted" to hear the truth behind the song.

That was not the Lord of Nature roaring in anger for the sacrifice, nor was it an unconscious scream after falling into chaos.

It was a calm murmur, a frank narration after having long foreseen his own fate.

It is a prophetic poem by a savior who, before taking action, clearly foresaw his own demise.

I see……

It's not that the singing has changed, it's that I've come to understand it.

After knowing the future, He did not roar in anger over His sacrifice, but faced death with equanimity.

Finally, the singing subsided, and Herbert heard the final words once more.

He said:

"I am a remnant, ashes, and even more so, an undying root."

"A new world will awaken from my charred silence..."

That was not a resentful murmur, but a gentle prayer, a steadfast prophecy.

He was wishing, and also certain, that the world could awaken and be reborn from His broken and burned remains.

Judging from the results, the Lord of Nature did indeed succeed.

The world we live in today can indeed be said to have been built upon His "corpse".

At this point, Herbert had definitively confirmed the identity of the Mist Tree—the Lord of Nature.

It is not the offspring or master and disciple as previously speculated, but Himself.

More accurately, it should be described as an avatar with a broken will.

He had been recovering in a daze, and suddenly he revived at this moment. "However, his condition doesn't seem to be very good... It's like a revival, but it's also like a final burst of energy before death."

Just as Herbert was pondering this discovery, a fluctuation arose in the will within the tree's heart.

That aged yet gentle voice resonated in Herbert's heart, slowly saying, "Young man, the task is now in your hands..."

!!!

Herbert was startled, unsure of what the Lord of Nature meant by those words.

give it to me?
What are you giving me?

Are you referring to the heartwood?
Or……

He wanted to ask more questions, but the images in his mind quickly dissipated, and everything shattered like a bubble.

When he came to his senses, less than three seconds had passed in the outside world.

Herbert raised his hand, and the "Heart of the Sacred Tree" had already turned into specks of emerald light and dissipated into the air, but the pure life essence it contained had remained in Herbert's body.

He felt lighter and more energetic than ever before, and his senses became more acute. He could even hear the subtle sound of the grass growing slowly under his feet and smell the fragrance of a wildflower blooming several miles away.

He felt that his natural heart had reached a new level, and his perception and control of nature had reached a new level.

With a slight thought, the grass in the small area around his feet, which had been burned by Valentina, began to recover at a visible speed, growing and becoming even greener.

He could even vaguely sense the "emotions" of the nearby old trees—a calm, slightly curious gaze.

This ability is almost like that of a great druid who has thoroughly comprehended the true meaning of nature.

This "prepaid reward" is quite generous.

But Herbert felt no joy at the benefit he had gained; instead, he was rendered speechless by the enigmatic words of the Lord of Nature.

"Tsk, the Lord of Nature truly lives up to his reputation as an ancient and senior deity; he really doesn't speak human language at all!"

He rubbed his temples, feeling a wave of weariness.

Do these old guys who have lived for who knows how many years feel that it's a loss of face to speak clearly?
That's how the ancient gods are; they love to spout cryptic pronouncements and issue divine pronouncements that only reveal half of the truth.

It's utterly baffling!
"Since you've already said it, are you just missing that half-sentence? Can't you just explain it clearly?"

Even just a keyword or a direction would be helpful!

Now, even though they've received the benefits, they feel even more uncertain.

It feels like signing a contract without any terms, and who knows what you'll have to pay in the future?
Damn it, Riddler, get out of Gotham!
Just as Herbert was getting so angry he was grinding his teeth, the demigod squirrel saw him open his eyes and immediately asked expectantly.

"Hoo-hoo, how is it? Do you understand now? Do you understand now too?"

"……Um."

After a moment of silence, Herbert slowly nodded and said with a serious expression, "I think I already know everything, well, I know part of it."

This isn't entirely about putting on airs.

He did indeed learn the true identity of the sacred tree, its state, the meaning of the song, and that he had been "entrusted" with something, though he didn't know exactly what it was.

Anyway, as for which part it is... well, I can't tell you.

The Lord of Nature likes to be a riddle teller, doesn't he?

Okay, everyone can be a riddle solver!
Let's hurt each other!
As a result, the demigod squirrel wasn't curious at all about what the other half of Herbert's story was, and happily clapped its paws, laughing:
"Great! My mission is complete!"

It shook its fluffy tail, put down the small basket of pine nuts, and said somewhat impatiently, "Well then, I'm going back now. By the way, do you want to come back with me?"

Herbert looked at the squirrel that was in a hurry to leave, and moved his lips as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"Uh……"

Are you really not going to ask?
Ask them!
I'll feel really bad if you don't ask me anything!
"Wait, you..."

Herbert wanted Miss Squirrel to chime in, but he changed his mind halfway through, saying, "If I'm not mistaken, I'm afraid we don't need to go back."

He sighed, looking into the squirrel's innocent and happy eyes, and the mischievousness in his heart dissipated, replaced by a sense of sympathy.

It may not yet know what it will face when it goes back.

"Ok?"

He wasn't deliberately keeping us in suspense.

If Herbert is not mistaken, the Tree of Mist is probably no longer in its original location.

After completing the two most crucial actions of "transmitting the tree heart" and "leaving a message," the already collapsing clone had likely exhausted its last strength and completely dissipated.

Or perhaps, they have hidden themselves in a way that is incomprehensible to ordinary people.

He deliberately lured the squirrel away, gave himself the heart of the tree, and left behind half a riddle... With all these factors combined, he probably won't appear again anytime soon.

Otherwise, if it just stands there, its prestige won't be enough!

"Or am I overthinking things... Does He mean to entrust this demigod squirrel to my care?"

The thought flashed through Herbert's mind.

But should I take care of it?
Eh, me?

Let me take care of a demigod who is unparalleled in martial arts?

He looked at the seemingly harmless but actually incredibly strong squirrel in front of him, and his lips twitched slightly.

Honestly, does it really need me to take care of it?
Who's taking care of whom here... With its strength, it could roam freely in this forest without any problem.

"Ok?"

The demigod squirrel clearly didn't take Herbert's words to heart, and burst into laughter: "Haha, you're joking! How could the Holy Tree not be there!"

It thought about it and assumed that Herbert was reluctant to let it leave, and found him rather cute.

But eager to get home, it didn't plan to linger any longer. It waved its hand nonchalantly and laughed, "Alright, alright, I'll come back to play with you guys later!"

Without waiting for Herbert's response, it pushed off with its feet and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing at the edge of Eldar territory and leaping deeper into the distance.

It came suddenly and left just as quickly.

Herbert was left standing there, watching its figure disappear quickly.

"I estimate... it will be back soon."

Herbert thought with pity and silently shook his head.

He could imagine the squirrel's bewilderment, panic, and helplessness when it returned to that familiar woodland only to find that the sacred tree had vanished, or that only an ordinary ancient tree devoid of any spirit remained.

"Hopefully it can face reality soon and not react too violently."

He did not go with them.

On the one hand, Herbert was worried that in its emotional state, it would vent its anger or sadness at not finding the sacred tree on its surroundings.

On the other hand, it's his thoughtfulness.

In times of sadness, let it adjust on its own.

When relationships aren't strong enough, no one wants to expose their vulnerable moments to others.

……

Meanwhile, inside the wooden house.

The goddess of winter withdrew her gaze from the distance, her delicate brows furrowing slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

Although He did not intentionally release His divine sense, He still clearly perceived that faint yet extremely powerful fluctuation of natural authority.

"Was that feeling truly that of the Lord of Nature?"

He murmured to himself, his fingertips unconsciously twirling a strand of hair as he recalled the fluctuations in energy he had just sensed.

"Although that aura was faint, it must be Him... So weak, it seems that His condition is worse than I thought, almost like an ember that could be extinguished at any moment."

For Herbert, the aura of a demigod was already something to be wary of, but in the eyes of the Goddess of Winter, who had witnessed the peak of the Lord of Nature, it was simply pitiful.

In such a state, even maintaining its own existence is difficult, let alone exercising authority.

"In this state, why isn't He in a hurry to recover? Why did He hand over authority to Herbert? Was it to seek help, or... did He have other intentions?"

"No, in the end, why would He be associated with Herbert?"

The Goddess of Winter scratched her head in bewilderment, feeling that things were getting more and more confusing.

"How did they, father and daughter, get involved with Herbert?"

"Could it be... that Herbert is truly some kind of 'key' to destiny? Something extremely important to nature?"

The goddess of winter's gaze flickered uncertainly.

The ancient goddess increasingly felt that Herbert was someone she was worthy of condescending to do something herself... cough cough.

Should we be more proactive?

The goddess hesitated for a moment, then glanced silently at Theresa, who was still fast asleep beside her, and a thought flashed through her mind.

"How about we let her test the waters first? After all, she's in love with Herbert too..."

However, looking at the adorable face of the snake-woman girl sleeping soundly, the goddess's heart softened, a deep maternal instinct flashed in her eyes, and she gently shook her head.

Over the course of their time together, He had developed a peculiar protective instinct towards this simple, kind, and somewhat clumsy snake-woman girl.

He, overflowing with maternal instinct, would naturally feel a deep sense of guilt for taking advantage of such a child's pure emotions.

"Unless she asks me for help, I should just let things take their course and not interfere too much... This poor child shouldn't be taken advantage of."

He gently brushed aside a few strands of hair that had fallen across Theresa's cheek, his movements so tender as not to disturb her sweet dream.

The snake-tailed girl unconsciously smacked her lips in her sleep, as if she were dreaming of something delicious.

"Heh, never mind, let's not rush to expose ourselves..."

He gently lay back down, his legs clamping Teresa's cool snake tail between his legs, and closed his eyes as if he had never woken up.

at this point.

Let’s go to bed first.

……

After seeing Miss Squirrel off, Herbert did not rush back to the Disciplinary Office, but stayed in Elda to distract himself.

While distractedly guiding the unfortunate Steven away from the depths, he watched the soul crystals in the pool of heroes gradually regain their luster.

As the sun was about to set, the crystal, which had been soaking in the pool for half a day, finally underwent a tremendous change.

It... cracked!
It was as if someone had cleaved it open with a sword; a crack appeared, and then it instantly split open from the middle!

! ! ?

Upon seeing this, Herbert's heart leaped into his throat, and he wanted to rush forward to provide first aid.

As a result, Nenasha, who had said she didn't care about this at all and had remained silent all along, breathed a sigh of relief.

【"call!"】

He whispered in Herbert's ear, "Don't worry, everything is going well."

"It's a success."

(End of this chapter)