"Lewis! Lewis! You finally came to see me!"
The moment Lare spotted him, she became unusually excited. She bounded forward and rubbed herself against him so enthusiastically that he nearly lost his footing.
"Sorry, sorry, Lare. I came late."
Lewis stroked the unicorn's head, gently smoothing out her mane.
Around her, several young unicorns gathered, circling Lewis curiously. Some carried berries in their mouths, trying to offer them to him, while others tugged playfully at his pant legs. Their innocent, adorable behavior nearly melted his heart.
After thoroughly indulging in a round of unicorn petting, Lewis finally asked, "On my way here, I noticed the Forbidden Forest is in terrible condition. Dead trees everywhere, and animals lying lifeless. What happened?"
"It's that monster!" Lare said, her voice trembling with both sadness and fear. "I sensed its presence not long after the term started, but it's only recently become active."
"Luckily, our nest is hidden deep enough that it hasn't come near us yet."
"But at this rate, it's only a matter of time before the basilisk finds this place," Lewis said quietly.
"Isn't that the truth?" Lare lowered her head, then looked up at him with her beautiful blue eyes. "Lewis… I know this is difficult, but… can you help us?"
Her voice was soft, almost pleading.
Meeting her gaze, Lewis felt a pang of guilt. She was truly frightened. He shouldn't have ignored the basilisk just because it felt like a hassle. It wasn't just harming students—it was destroying the entire forest ecosystem.
He should have come sooner.
"What are you saying, Lare?" Lewis wrapped his arms around her neck. "We're friends. Whatever you need, I'll help you."
"Really?!" Lare lifted her head, overjoyed. "You're amazing, Lewis!"
Overwhelmed with happiness, she began licking his face enthusiastically, leaving it drenched.
A young unicorn nearby followed her lead and licked his hand as well.
"Alright, alright, that's enough," Lewis said after a while, gently stopping her. Then he added, "Lare… have you ever considered moving?"
"Moving?" Lare tilted her head, confused. "Is that your solution?"
"Yes," Lewis nodded. "But I promise—you can return here anytime you want."
"I've prepared a place for you. A separate space, free from danger, with plenty of food. It's actually near my home."
He was referring to the vast woodland surrounding his tower within his demi-plane.
Lare understood this time. "So you want us to live near you? That sounds wonderful! I'd love to be your neighbor."
"…Wait, you agree?"
Lewis blinked in surprise. He had expected a long process of persuasion.
In truth, he had wanted to relocate magical creatures from the Forbidden Forest into his own domain for a long time. But he had neither the justification nor the opportunity.
Now, with Lare and the unicorns willing to move, it was the perfect beginning.
Unicorns were natural rulers of the forest. Wherever they settled, other magical creatures would gradually gather.
Lewis had even prepared a list of arguments to convince her—but it turned out unnecessary.
Still, he couldn't help asking, "Aren't you going to think it through? What if I'm lying? What if the place isn't as good as I say?"
"But you wouldn't lie," Lare replied matter-of-factly. "If you say it, I believe you. And if you want me to be your neighbor, then I'll stay by your side."
Her simple trust moved him deeply.
He hugged her again. "Don't worry, Lare. I'll take good care of you."
Then, with a gesture, he cast Magnificent Mansion.
In an instant, the unicorns found themselves in a new world.
The vegetation wasn't as dense as the Forbidden Forest, and the ecosystem was less complex, but it was still breathtakingly beautiful. Trees grew strong and healthy, and the animals roaming the forest looked lively and well-fed.
Lare even spotted a curious diricawl nearby. If left unchecked, this place could easily become as dangerous as a wild rainforest.
At the center of it all stood a massive oak tree beside a tower.
From that oak radiated an incredibly rich aura of nature—far stronger than anything in the Forbidden Forest.
Lare felt an immediate sense of familiarity.
If she lived here long-term, she might even surpass her parents in strength.
But she also understood that such concentrated natural power, if left unmanaged, could become dangerous.
As unicorns were born stewards of the forest, it was now her responsibility to maintain balance.
Realizing this, a strong sense of duty rose within her.
"Thank you, Lewis! Thank you for letting us live here!"
After joyfully running around the area, she returned to him, her voice filled with excitement.
"Don't worry—we'll take good care of this forest for you."
"In that case, I'll leave it to you."
Lewis waved goodbye and returned to the Forbidden Forest.
"Finally got the unicorns moved into the demi-plane," he thought, feeling satisfied.
"Too bad their nest was too remote—Lare doesn't know much about the basilisk. I'll need to find the centaurs next."
Leaving the now-empty unicorn sanctuary behind, he headed toward the centaur valley.
Halfway there, a sudden commotion erupted in the distance.
A centaur emerged from the trees. He had red hair and a beard, a gleaming chestnut horse body, and a long red tail.
"Oh, Ronan. Good evening," Lewis greeted casually.
Having visited the centaur tribe often, he was quite familiar with them.
"Greetings, honored Child of Destiny," Ronan said respectfully, placing a hand over his chest and bowing slightly.
"I've told you so many times—just call me Lewis."
Ever since helping Daisy become a druid, Lewis had earned an almost excessive level of respect from the centaurs, something he still wasn't used to.
"Are you here to visit Lady Daisy?" Ronan asked.
"Not exactly. I came to learn more about the creature in the forest," Lewis replied. "Visiting Daisy is just a bonus."
"In that case, allow me to guide you," Ronan said. "We can talk as we walk."
"The timing of your visit is unfortunate. Recently, the creature has become far more active. Its appetite has grown, and it's begun ravaging the forest. Wherever it goes, life disappears."
Before he could continue, a sudden disturbance echoed through the trees.
Birds burst into the air in chaotic flight, their movements frantic—one even dropped mid-flight.
The sound of hurried footsteps grew louder.
Lewis and Ronan's conversation was cut short. Lewis drew his Arcane Sword, eyes fixed on the source of the noise.
Ronan raised his upper body, drew his bow, and stepped forward, shielding Lewis.
Moments later, the source revealed itself.
Giant acromantulas, each as large as millstones, burst through the undergrowth. Their massive pincers clicked rapidly as they charged forward, their eight eyes wide with panic.
They weren't hunting.
They were fleeing.
Something far more dangerous was chasing them.
The spiders, in blind terror, rushed straight toward Lewis.
Just as he prepared to strike, a wall of thorns suddenly erupted from the ground, blocking their path.
At the same time, a clear, commanding voice rang out behind him.
"Get lost, you disgusting spiders! You're not welcome here!"
The leading acromantula instantly changed direction, ignoring Lewis entirely as it fled around the thorn wall.
Lewis turned.
A beautiful female centaur galloped toward him. She had a green horse body, rainbow-colored hair and tail, and a wreath of thorns atop her head. She carried a wooden staff and wore a feathered vest that revealed her toned physique.
"Daisy!" Lewis waved.
"Teacher! You finally came to see me!"
She rushed over, scooped him up effortlessly, and held him in her arms like a child.
Standing next to a centaur really made the height difference painfully obvious.
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