Nic immediately activated the God of Gardening skill and quickly helped Hinata in the garden.
Then Nic asked, "Hinata, do you know the place called Natural Tree of Heaven?"
Hinata turned her head. "Oh, that place is quite far from here. It is a beautiful tourist spot. Do you want to go sightseeing there?"
"Maybe? Is it crowded there?" Nic said.
Hinata shook her head. "Usually, only tourists from other countries like you go there. They usually come because they are curious and then leave... that's why I was surprised you want to stay here that long."
"Why? Do they not intend to stay long?" Nic was curious.
Hinata scratched her cheek. "Because the weather here is very strange. Right at midnight, rain always appears until 3 in the morning."
"Huh? Is that every day?"
Hinata nodded. "My grandfather said not to worry about it and just get used to it because it's not a scary thing or anything."
Nic didn't want to ask more about this and just kept the question to himself. Then Nic and Hinata finished gardening.
Nic and Hinata cleaned up by the riverside. After they were done, Hinata asked.
"Are you really going to that tourist spot? Just letting you know that the chief guardian of the area is sensitive to foreign visitors."
"Isn't it a tourist spot? And haven't many people visited?" Nic said.
"True, but the chief guardians rarely appeared, but now, for some reason, they often appear at the tourist spot," Hinata explained.
"Hmm, is that so? Are you really sure you don't know why?" Nic said.
Hinata shook her head, but a voice emerged from the bushes next to them, and when Nic checked, there was a girl fishing there.
"It's because their territory is threatened," said the fishing girl named Marin.
Hinata also checked, and it turned out Hinata knew Marin.
"But isn't their territory a tourist spot? The president should know not to destroy an important place," Hinata said.
"Fufufu, you're wrong, Hinata. Not the tourist spot, but their real territory, which is the forest where they live," Marin said while getting a strike. She caught a quite large fish.
"Wow, crazy, that fish is huge," Nic said.
Marin turned to look at Nic. "Huh? Are you focusing on my fish? Not what I just said?"
"I heard it... so I'm curious. How do you know that?" Nic asked.
"It's because I often fish everywhere and often get information while fishing. I don't know, I just intend to fish, but I always get good information," Marin said, sitting back down and continuing to fish.
"Ahem, would you two like to accompany me on a trip there?" Nic said suddenly.
Hinata shook her head. "Ah, I'm sorry, I have to take care of the garden, and my grandfather definitely won't allow it."
"Oh, it's okay, take it easy. What about you?" Nic said, looking at Marin.
"Huh, me? We just met, and you're inviting me?" Marin said, surprised.
"Then let's introduce ourselves. My name is Nic. Nice to meet you," Nic said casually.
"Hmm, nice to meet you, I'm Marin."
Marin put down her fishing rod and moved next to Hinata, then whispered.
"Psst, Nata, who is this playboy?" Marin whispered.
Hinata held back a laugh. "Uh, he's a tourist and staying at my grandfather's inn."
Marin understood, then returned to her spot. "But I don't have money to go to that tourist spot. Just so you know, it's really expensive."
"Relax, I'll take care of the travel costs, food, everything. The point is, you just need to accompany me and provide enough information," Nic replied.
Marin was slightly suspicious. "You're not going to do anything weird to me, are you?" she said with blushing cheeks.
"No, take it easy. I'm not that kind of guy."
After that, Marin got another strike and said, "Agreed! But I have one condition!"
"???" Nic tilted his head.
---
Nic was at a fishing tackle shop with Marin while Hinata went home.
It turned out Marin asked Nic to buy her a fishing rod.
"AHHH, THIS IS IT! THE FISHING ROD I'VE BEEN DREAMING OF! I CAN DEFINITELY CATCH SEA MONSTERS!" Marin screamed.
"Alright, alright, don't be dramatic. Now, take me there," Nic said, pulling her out.
Marin was happy because Nic actually bought her the fishing rod, so she gladly accompanied him.
On the way, Nic asked if their real territory was close to the tourist spot.
Marin explained simply, "The place is far, and the real one is more beautiful, but the chief guardians of the area deliberately show up at the tourist spot to divert attention, making it seem like their place is that tourist spot."
"Hooo, interesting..." Nic smiled.
Seeing that, Marin was even more convinced. She mumbled to herself, "Hmph, I'm sure even if he's kind, he's definitely a high-class playboy!"
---
A few hours later, they finally arrived at Wisteria Road, the first area of the Natural Tree of Heaven tourist spot.
Nic saw that this area was beautifully themed in pastel purple.
"Nic, let's buy the tickets first and enter the first Natural Tree of Heaven tourist spot!" Marin said.
"Okay, LETSGO."
Nic bought the tickets.
And upon entering, Nic was immediately greeted by beautiful Wisteria trees. They walked in the middle, and on their sides stood very beautiful Wisteria trees.
"Crazy, this is so beautiful," Nic said.
But suddenly, Nic bumped into Marin, who stopped.
"Huh, why did you stop?" Nic asked.
Then, when Nic looked ahead, there was a woman in front looking in their direction. The woman wore a pastel purple gown with Wisteria decorations, and she slowly walked towards them.
"Is that the person you said is the chief guardian of this place?" Nic asked.
Marin nodded and seemed nervous.
A few steps later, the woman stood in front of them. The woman said,
"Welcome to the first Natural Tree of Heaven tourist spot, Wisteria," she said calmly with a sweet smile.
Nic was confused. "Eh... not sensitive...?"
"Ah, if you ask like that, you must be a new tourist~" the woman said, looking sharply at Nic.
Nic swallowed hard, and Marin became even more nervous.
"Ah, I'm sorry, I am a new tourist! My name is Nic, and I want to see the beauty of the Eastern country," Nic said politely.
The woman smiled warmly and extended her hand. "Welcome. Let me introduce myself, I am Aisteria, the chief who guards this Wisteria tourist spot."
"Wow, your name is very similar to the Wisteria tree's name," Nic said, impressed, Then accept his outstretched hand.
Aisteria then asked why Nic said she was sensitive.
"Ah, I only heard that the chief guardian of the tourist spot is sensitive. I apologize," Nic replied.
Aisteria laughed. "Oh, not all the chiefs are sensitive. Maybe a few are... the point is, just behave politely."
"Oh, I see. In that case, may we continue looking at the Wisteria trees?" Nic asked.
Aisteria nodded. "Please enjoy~"
Then Nic pulled Marin, who had been silent the whole time. He didn't know why she was silent.
Nic walked quite far until Aisteria was out of sight. "Hoi, why were you silent all this time? Nervous?"
Marin took a breath. "How can you be so relaxed talking to the chief guardian of the Natural Tree of Heaven??"
"Well, why not? Isn't it normal to talk like that, and the chief was very polite, even," Nic asked, confused.
"Ugh, I forgot to tell you... that the 7 chief guardians of the Natural Tree... have members called the 7 Sacred Flower Guards!" Marin said.
"Good heavens, what is that now?"
"They are younger than the 7 Natural Tree chief guardians, but they are very loyal, and if you interact with their chief, including Aisteria just now, the chief will definitely tell them about you! And what will happen is you will always be watched!" Marin said, panting.
"Hmm, is that a crime?" Nic said casually.
"Ah, I don't care! The point is, if you meet the chief guardian of the Natural Tree, just be silent! Don't greet them back! They also won't care if you don't greet them back!" Marin explained, warning Nic.
"I won't," Nic said briefly.
Marin was annoyed but still warned Nic.
"I'm sorry, Marin, but no matter what, I won't ignore them," Nic said firmly, making Marin angry and finally leave, refusing to accompany him any longer.
Before she left, Nic shot Marin with Cupid Arsenal > Pistol.
"Thanks for accompanying me this far."
[ Ding! Congratulations! Marin is 100% loyal and in love with Master Nic! ]
[ Ding! Hearth Claim active! Marin has been added to the girlfriend list! ]
[ Ding! Skill Transfer active! Gained new skill: God of Fishing (Master Nic will catch the largest fish in the area Master Nic uses as a fishing spot every time he fishes) ]
"Zeta, this calm country turns out to be more than I imagined. Let's see what I will experience next."
[ I already have the popcorn ready, Master Nic. Continue your randomness. ]
To be continued...