This Heroine's Friend Has the Power of Botany

Chapter 57

Misfortune!

That evening’s meal was grilled meat, melting in the broth with a slight burnt aroma that stirred appetites. However, the game caught wasn’t plentiful, and even Ellie felt it was insufficient for her small stomach, let alone for others.

Many students who had missed breakfast due to oversleeping and weren’t served lunch, complained about the scant dinner. Luckily, several had brought food enough for the first few days and exchanged meals with each other, making the most out of it. Ellie, knowing she wouldn’t be full from the start, also set up a fire beside her own tent.

Originally, she planned to grill 3 heads of potatoes for the next morning and lunch. However, once the appetizing scent of the roasting potatoes began to spread, the two distinguished young ladies uninvitedly appeared.

Gurgle...

Aria’s stomach rumbled first, catching Ellie’s attention effectively since their tents were not too far apart.

Ellie had chosen a spot near a cliff with a high cave where some patrol units were stationed, making the area relatively safe. The two ladies had heard about this and set up their tents around it. With their magic equipment occupying only a 1x1 meter space, they could afford to set up camp here.

In contrast, other tents required more space, which couldn’t be accommodated in the uneven terrain, unlike Ellie’s. She had Setters’ magic equipment, allowing her to pitch her tent in this area, giving all three a sort of private zone.

"What are you doing?" Aria’s face flushed with embarrassment after her unruly stomach had audibly groaned.

"I’m roasting potatoes," Ellie replied, already deciding how to divide the three potatoes, and indeed, she wasn’t stingy with just this food if it could make the two ladies feel indebted to her.

"Oh, the Setters must really treat you well. They even prepared these tubers for you?"

"Yes, they are very considerate," Ellie smiled, not denying it, letting them believe it was the Setters who had provided the tubers. It was better than revealing she had a secret dimension for cultivation, which would be more astonishing if the Setters gave such a generous gift to an outsider like her.

“Then...” Aria hesitated slightly, unwilling to ask outright to share the meal, but Vida was different. Knowing how to maintain her dignity, after seeing that Ellie seemed to understand Aria and her intentions, Vida immediately tossed a coin.

"I’ll buy those tubers from you." Vida casually threw two gold coins, valuable in others’ eyes, to buy the roasted potatoes. She did this to feel that she wasn’t indebted to Ellie, while also appearing as a regular transaction. Ellie, initially puzzled, took the money and realized Vida’s intent of not wanting to owe anyone. She couldn’t help but sigh.

Ellie could have chosen not to accept the money, but it was clear that Vida wouldn’t accept the roasted potatoes either. This woman was too rigid and honorable, even using money to correctly solve such trivial issues.

"Of course, here is 1 roasted potato each for you," Ellie said, handing over the tubers wrapped in green leaves to reduce the heat. Her hands were numb from the heat, likely calloused from her hard work, but it could be considered an advantage.

The two nobles accepted the roasted potatoes easily, pleased to see that Ellie was a person of straightforward understanding. Her sharp response confirmed Vida’s assumptions well. It seemed this villager was truly astute, not the simpleton who acted without forethought.

The three sat quietly eating the roasted potatoes together, not uttering a single word. After losing 2 roasted potatoes, Ellie tossed another 2 into the fire for tomorrow’s breakfast. Vida wanted to request more for themselves but didn’t feel it was her place to demand such. They didn’t know how many tubers Ellie had left, besides, the dinner seemed sufficient to last until the next morning.

However, Vida and Aria’s understanding was gravely mistaken. Who would have thought that by dawn the next day, the food would be gone? The soldiers mentioned that yesterday’s foraging was insufficient for substantial distribution. Life in an emergency camp was like this; some days there was plenty to eat, and none the others, which wasn’t strange at all. So, the two ladies returned to their tent disappointed, thankful at least they had eaten well the previous evening, which meant they weren’t as hungry after missing breakfast. But this was starkly different from the other students’ predicament!

"Ah!! This is too much! We didn’t even have a good dinner, and now you’re saying there’s no food again in the morning. What are we supposed to do now? Don’t tell me we have to eat our own supplies again."

"I only prepared emergency food for a few days. If it’s going to be like this all the time, isn’t that terrible?"

"I saved food for lunch, but who knew we’d have to eat it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner like this? Instead of lasting a week, it might only last 2 days now."

"Exactly. We have to work hard all day, and there’s really no food? What kind of camp is this?!"

"I heard that besides patrol duties, the seniors are also tasked with bringing back food. No one knows why there are no small animals around to catch for food."

"Mmm, I heard about that too. The plants around here are drying up, and some have even become poisonous, so we can’t use them for food either," students discussed loudly, some just heard about this and felt that it was indeed a significant concern because the food issue wasn’t something that could be overlooked.

However, among the panicking students, Ellie remained the calmest. Well...the presence of demonic beasts in the vicinity meant it was not unusual for there to be no small creatures around. These animals naturally had instincts to survive, preferring to flee rather than wait for death.

As for the plants in the area drying up or becoming toxic, it was clear that this problem stemmed from the toxins of the demonic beasts. These phenomena were what allow the heroine of the story to track the location of these demonic beasts when others cannot.

Knowing this, Ellie made sure to bring essential food with her, including dried meat and fully grown plants from a secret dimension. According to the story, everyone would have to endure this hunger for almost 2 weeks. But while others may endure, she certainly would not.

The murmur of the students gradually faded as Professor Regan approached, his expression grim as though he too was aware of the unusual circumstances. The sudden disappearance of wildlife clearly indicated the presence of dangerous animals nearby, making the area felt unsafe for them. This, combined with the toxic or withered plants, was a clear sign of demonic beasts’ presence, which was never a good thing.

Those with experience, not just Regan, understood these signs. In fact, he felt that many priests should have already discovered them, but they did not want to deal with the demonic beasts themselves. Eliminating such beasts meant risking their own lives.

As dealing with the demonic beasts each time could lead to the mind being overwhelmed by their toxins. Priests who had been affected by such demonic toxins would lose their credibility, so no one wanted to take action.

But what was most disappointing was the selfishness of these priests. Instead of informing the institution beforehand, they chose to act ignorant, as if unaware. If the faculty had known, they might have sent others to handle it instead of risking their students’ lives.

Regan’s gaze was icy as he looked around. To him, these students were paramount, and he would not allow them to endanger themselves for others.

It was no wonder Lucien refused to align with the Church, which seemed to harbor many selfish individuals...

"Everyone, from now on, I order no one to leave the camp area under any circumstances. The dangers around us are greater than you understand. If something happens, I cannot assist everyone. Therefore, stick to your duties and help the patients as much as you can. If I find anyone leaving the camp, severe punishments will be issued." Hearing what Regan declared, the students exchanged looks.

They sensed the gravity in his words. Therefore, after Regan finished his general knowledge lecture in the morning and joined the other professors to discuss this situation, many students grouped together to talk.

Ellie knew these students were incredibly curious, but she didn’t care about others’ speculations. She returned to her tent to prepare breakfast. However, what she least wanted to pay attention to appeared right before her!

Since everyone was still gathered at the meeting point, Ellie was the only one who returned to the lodging area. Thus, she was also the only one to see a creature the size of a fist, resembling a squirrel but with dark black eyes and a black aura emanating from it.

"Demonic beast..." the freckles-faced woman muttered to herself, regretting not using her powers to check the surroundings before returning. Who would have thought that the demonic beast, which should be hiding in the forest, would appear so close to where she had set up her fire for roasting tubers the night before.

The demonic beast seemed to notice Ellie as well. It was sniffing hungrily at the scent of the roasted tubers, but who would have thought that a human would catch it in such a state?

The demonic beast was like any other ordinary animal, but was more ferocious and also possessed a toxic aura far more dangerous to human than the monsters or wild animals, making it despised by all. The difficulty in eliminating it was great because after its death, the demonic toxin would infiltrate the killer’s spirit like a parasite, instantly enslaving to the demonic toxin when weakened. Before humans understood the capabilities of this toxin, they became its victims and eventually turned into crazed beings, unable to control their own minds.

Ellie wasn’t confident in dismissing with the toxin. She wasn’t a Mary Sue heroine, so she always took care to avoid unnecessary risks. However, her carelessness this time made her feel as if she was drawing disaster upon herself!

"Keek!"

The demonic squirrel growled at the foolish human trying to retreat from it. Seeing the fear in the human’s eyes, the tiny demonic beast felt even more confident. Additionally, the scent of the roasted tubers lingered on the human before it.

"Better not come any closer," Ellie threatened. However, she involuntarily took a few steps backward.

The petite figure eyed the little beast, but it seemed the tiny demonic beast had the upper hand. It took a step forward, and Ellie stepped back. They stared at each other like this until the demonic beast, feeling bold, lunged at her aiming to kill.

"Get back!!"

A roar sounded from behind, and Ellie felt her small world spin before she hit the ground. It was Professor Regan, who had used a gust to fling her small body away from the demonic beast.

His expression showed clear concern. As soon as he sensed the black aura, Regan had no hesitation in coming to check. Seeing Medik’s little student in danger, the usually stoic professor immediately reached out to help.

"Professor," Ellie expressed a slight surprise at his appearance. However, she didn’t have time to lay around. Her small fingers quickly commanded her own little spores to spring into action.

No matter how scared she was of dying, how could she let Professor Regan bear the consequences of her misfortune...Soon, one student and one professor were confronting the feared demonic beast together...

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