The Ability to Shift Anything is Convenient, Even in Another World!

Veylir couldn't believe what she had just seen.

Was my eyes deceiving me!? Again!?

Unwilling to accept the results, she activated Appraisal once more.

There’s no way… I’m certain his status shouldn’t look like this!

But just as she focused—

“You should stop doing that.”

Veylir flinched.

“Eh?”

D-Did he know I was prying on him…?

“A-Ahh… Erm…”

“Don’t do it next time.”

Soru spoke in his usual calm tone before turning his attention back to the fight. Meanwhile, Veylir was left reeling.

H-He knew I was using Appraisal on him? But how…?

Unable to hold back her curiosity, she boldly decided to ask.

“M-Master Soru, may I ask a question?”

Soru didn’t respond immediately. Though he had clearly heard her, his eyes remained fixed on the ongoing sparring match.

Gahh! Did he just ignore me!?

Just then, Soru took a brief glance at her, noticing her unusual reaction.

“Go ahead.”

Upon receiving his approval, Veylir took a deep breath and asked seriously,

“What is the truth behind your ability, Master Soru? No matter how much I rack my brain trying to understand what it is and how it works, I can’t figure it out…”

Soru remained silent for a moment, his gaze still fixed on the ongoing match.

“Isn’t it enough to see it in action with your own eyes?”

“J-Just give me a clear explanation! I promise I won’t pester you after that!” Veylir insisted, desperation creeping into her voice.

Soru sighed. “You’re really persistent…”

Realizing she wouldn’t back down, he finally answered.

“…I can transfer anything that I deem useful or that threatens me.”

Veylir’s expression didn’t change.

I already knew that much…

“Then, explain why you always remain unscathed, no matter what attack is thrown at you.”

“I can see anything directed toward me, whether hostile or neutral. That’s why I can transfer them whenever I want.”

Veylir’s eyes widened.

"See"…? That’s how he knew I was using Appraisal on him!

“T-Then…!”

“Although I don’t know exactly what you were trying to do, the intent you directed at me was enough for me to know something was up,” Soru added calmly.

Veylir froze.

Does that mean… he knew right away and transferred the results of the Appraisal—just because he ‘saw’ my intent?

A heavy silence settled between them. Then, unexpectedly, Veylir sighed.

“I apologize, Master Soru. Because of my actions, you misunderstood and became wary of me.”

“Mhm.”

Even though Soru had answered every question, Veylir still wanted to know the true identity of his ability.

“If I may, could you at least tell me the name of that—”

Their conversation was abruptly cut short when Veylir sensed a strange aura converging beside her.

“Hm?!”

Without warning, a figure materialized before them, its body radiating a soft, greenish glow.

Veylir immediately recognized the presence and stiffened in surprise.

“What are you doing here…?”

At a distance, the dwarves noticed the commotion and turned their heads. The moment they saw the figure, they froze, their eyes widening in disbelief.

The being before them had fair skin and short, light-green hair. She wore a translucent dress layered with opaque, greenish cloth covering the essential parts of her body. Several vines floated around her, gently swaying as if responding to an unseen force.

Even from afar, the dwarves recognized her at once. Their sparring match came to an abrupt halt.

“I-Is that…!” Völun stammered.

“A dryad…” Alguis murmured.

“Dryads are spirits known to be the guardians and caretakers of the forest… What is one doing here?” Aeden asked, her voice laced with confusion.

Meanwhile, the dryad lowered her head in front of Veylir.

The dwarves were stunned, unable to believe what they were witnessing.

“Greetings, Wildfire Dragon Veylir. Forgive my sudden arrival, but I must inform you of a serious matter with haste.”

Veylir paused, surprised that the dryad knew her true identity.

“Hmph. I’ll overlook your impudence this time, but the fact that you recognized me in this form so easily is… unexpected.”

The dryad lifted her head, meeting Veylir’s gaze.

“We dryads are connected to the forest itself. We know everything that happens within it—including your death, Master.”

Veylir fell silent for a moment.

“…That makes sense. Now, tell me about this serious matter you mentioned.”

Closing her eyes, the dryad spoke in a calm but urgent tone.

“I have sensed a great disturbance in the forest. If left unchecked, it could lead to a catastrophe that will turn this entire forest upside down.”

Veylir’s eyes widened.

“Huh…?”

Meanwhile, the dwarves, eager to understand the reason behind the dryad’s sudden arrival, rushed toward where she and Veylir were speaking. As they reached the scene, they overheard Veylir pressing for more details.

“Would you care to explain what you mean by that?”

All of a sudden, the green vines floating around the dryad began to glow more intensely.

“A great monster wave of unknown scale is imminent. If the humans do not leave soon, they may be caught in the chaos of its wake.”

Hearing the dryad's warning, Veylir shrugged as a response.

“It’s just a mere monster wave. What’s there to be afraid of?”

The dryad’s eyes widened.

“…There are two disaster-grade monsters among them.”

Veylir froze.

“What…?”

The dwarves also went pale at the revelation.

“Of all times, why here?!” Alguis exclaimed.

“Those disaster-grade monsters… they’re not something to take lightly, right?” Aeden asked, her voice tense.

“H-Hey, just how strong are they?” Völun hesitated.

“They’re far stronger than you can ever imagine!” Veylir snapped. “They could raze an entire forest within an hour, and if left unchecked, they could reduce a nation to ruins!”

She crossed her arms, her expression darkening.

“O-Of course, back in my prime, I could take on one or two of them without issue… but now’s not the time to face them alone.”

Völun gulped, his body trembling.

“The previous Dwarven King once fought a disaster-grade monster that nearly destroyed the Dwarven Kingdom five hundred years ago,” Alguis said with a heavy voice. “Alongside the young Halvar Jörden, they managed to destroy its rampaging core… but not without great sacrifice.”

“I didn’t know such an event happened in our kingdom…” Aeden murmured.

“Have you identified these disaster-grade monsters?” Veylir asked the dryad.

The dryad nodded. “Yes. Their names are Gargantua and Adeptus.”

Veylir’s eyes narrowed.

“Gargantua, the Tyrant of the Lake…? Isn’t that the puny monster I defeated a millennia ago when it tried to take over the Great Forest of Drys and claim it as its own domain?!”

“It appears to be the same one you defeated, Master Veylir,” the dryad confirmed.

“Hmph. So it wants seconds, huh?” Veylir smirked. “Well, it won’t get what it wants.”

She folded her arms, looking pleased with herself.

“But thanks to that victory, I secured my seat as one of the Six Calamity Dragons. I’d say it was worth it in the end.”

Veylir paused, her expression shifting slightly.

“But this Adeptus… I swear I’ve heard that name somewhere before…” She frowned, trying to piece together her memories.

At the mention of the second monster, Alguis suddenly stiffened.

Veylir immediately noticed the dwarf's sudden change.

“Hm?”

“M-Miss Dryad, the second disaster-grade monster you mentioned… it was called Adeptus, right?”

“Yes,” the dryad answered briefly.

“No way…” Alguis muttered, his expression darkening.

Soru, Aeden, and Völun exchanged glances, noticing his unusual reaction.

“Do you know that monster, Sir Alguis?” Aeden asked cautiously.

“If I’m not mistaken… it’s the same disaster-grade monster that wreaked havoc in the Dwarven Kingdom centuries ago—the Lord of Variance, Adeptus!”

“What!?” Aeden and Völun exclaimed in unison.

“May I know what the monster looks like now?” Alguis asked, his voice tense.

The dryad met his gaze with a serious expression.

“When it first arrived at the borders of the Great Forest, several kilometers to the east, it appeared as nothing more than an opaque sphere. However, as it engaged in battle with multiple monsters, its form began to shift. Right now, its appearance is completely different from what it once was.”

A bead of sweat rolled down Alguis’s face.

“…What you saw initially was its core.”

Alguis anxiously stroked his beard.

“T-There’s no doubt about it. That’s the same monster the previous Dwarven King and Halvar Jörden fought!”

“Eh?!” Aeden and Völun exclaimed.

“Ah!”

Their attention snapped to Veylir.

“That monster—Adeptus—is classified as one of the strongest disaster-grade threats, bordering on calamity-grade.”

“There are five known monster threat classifications: Normal-grade, Special-grade, Casualty-grade, Disaster-grade, and finally, Calamity-grade. Monsters are ranked based on the level of destruction they can cause, but some stand above the rest, even among those of the same rank. Adeptus is one of those monsters with its strength close to a Calamity-grade...”

“D-Does that mean… Adeptus is as strong as a Calamity-grade monster?” Völun asked hesitantly.

“No,” Veylir replied.

“Why not?”

“Because the Calamity Dragons won’t allow it.”

“Our clan insists that calamity-grade status belongs exclusively to dragons. It’s what solidifies our standing as one of the strongest creatures on the continent. If Adeptus were officially recognized at that level, it would tarnish our reputation. Worse, others might use it as a justification to challenge us, plunging us into war and threatening our dominance.”

Aeden frowned. “Then how did Adeptus become so powerful? What abilities make it almost comparable to a Calamity Dragon?”

“It’s because Adeptus possesses an ability capable of rivaling calamity-grade monsters…”

“Adeptus wields an Ultimate-level ability called Reactive Selection. It allows it to adapt to any situation it encounters,” she added.

“I don’t know the exact details, but one thing is certain—when exposed to an attack, Adeptus immediately adapts to such stimuli. If you try the same attack again, it won’t work a second time and most likely gain an immunity to it.”

“That thing is the real deal! We wouldn’t stand a chance against it!” Völun exclaimed.

“That’s why I urge you to leave the forest immediately,” the dryad warned. “We don’t know when the monster wave will begin, but it’s better to act now than wait for disaster to strike.”

“Wait. Something doesn’t add up.”

The dryad turned to Veylir. “What do you mean, Master Veylir?”

“What’s Gargantua’s current status?”

“It hasn’t resurfaced yet and remains in its lake. Though it hasn’t been seen, its presence is undeniable—the sheer number of monsters gathering at the lakeside proves it. My three sister dryads are keeping constant watch.”

Veylir fell into thought for a moment.

“Neither of them has made a move yet… Interesting.”

“Maybe they’re waiting for something?” Aeden suggested.

The dryad met her gaze. “I fear they intend to conquer the Great Forest together.”

“That’s impossible!” Veylir exclaimed. “Monsters don’t cooperate, especially those of the same calibre. Their pride wouldn’t allow it.”

“No,” Alguis interjected. “There are one or two possible reasons behind their sudden activity.”

“Oh? And what might those be?” Veylir asked.

“They could be following someone’s command, or they’re fighting for dominance over the forest.”

Everyone was stunned by the possibility.

“Both are serious reasons, and one of them is likely true,” Aeden said.

“With the sudden disappearance of the Wildfire Dragon, those monsters might see this as an opportunity to seize control of the Great Forest,” the dryad added.

“It’s also possible that someone is leading them here for their own agenda,” Aeden said grimly.

“There’s no time to sit around debating which it is. Either way, it spells trouble,” Alguis said.

“Should we warn the settlers to evacuate?” Völun asked.

“We should. If they get caught in the crossfire, they won’t survive,” Veylir replied.

“No,” Alguis said. “Telling them right away would cause mass panic, especially if they learn about the existence of those two disaster-grade monsters.”

“Then what do we do, Sir Alguis? We need to act before it’s too late!” Aeden urged.

A heavy silence fell over them as unease settled in. The looming threat felt closer with each passing moment. Meanwhile, Soru listened quietly, never uttering a word.

“L-Let’s inform Miss Reika and Mister Silas first. They might have some insight on this matter,” Alguis suggested.

Everyone agreed and hurried back to the settlement, heading straight for the large house where they could talk in private.

As they passed through the village, several settlers took notice of the dryad walking alongside the dwarves, with Veylir and Soru accompanying them.

“Hey… did you see that?”

“Was that a dryad?”

“A dryad?! I never thought I’d see one in my lifetime!”

“So that’s what they look like… She carries herself with such grace.”

The villagers murmured among themselves, curiosity growing as they tried to make sense of the spirit’s presence.

“What’s she doing here?”

“Maybe she wants to discuss our settlement?”

“That’s probably it…” one villager muttered, nodding in agreement.

Meanwhile, Alguis spotted Silas speaking with another villager and immediately approached him.

“Sir Silas, we need to talk.”

Silas’s gaze shifted to the dryad behind them, his expression turning serious. He instantly recognized her presence as something out of the ordinary. Seeing Alguis’s urgency, he dismissed the villager and followed them inside the house.

Once they were settled, he faced Alguis. “What is it you wish to discuss, Mister Alguis?”

Alguis took a deep breath. “The thing is…”

He laid everything out—the looming monster wave, the existence of two disaster-grade threats, and the destruction they could bring.

As Silas listened, shock washed over him, and a flicker of fear appeared in his eyes. The weight of the situation pressed heavily on him—he was responsible for the villagers’ safety, but this threat was beyond anything he had prepared for.

“It’s hard to make such a decision so suddenly,” he murmured.

“In a practical sense, abandoning the settlement would be the safest option. But those villagers outside… They’ve already endured so much in the past few days. If we tell them something like this now, it’ll only cause mass panic.”

He let out a weary sigh. “They’ve just started to build a peaceful life here. Forcing them to abandon it again… I doubt they’d accept that easily. And even if they did, where would they go? We left the kingdom behind for good. The king won’t allow us to resettle on his land again.”

“That’s what I feared as well,” Alguis admitted. “Safety is our priority, but we can’t ignore the long-term consequences. We have to consider what comes after.”

As their discussion continued, a door suddenly creaked open.

All eyes turned to see Reika stepping out of her room, stretching as she woke from her afternoon nap.

“Hngggh…!”

She froze upon noticing everyone staring at her. Quickly, she straightened up and cleared her throat, brushing off the drowsiness.

She glanced around, puzzled by the unusual gathering. But then, her gaze landed on the unfamiliar figure standing behind Soru.

“Eh…?”