I didn’t like the idea of potentially giving up ownership of the gun, but I felt a bit embarrassed that I had even momentarily thought of relying on Shedding, who was naturally a higher level.

I wanted to maintain an equal partnership with him, not ride on his power like a bus (where a high-level player carries a low-level one).

Sadly, when it comes to druids lower level than me, only one comes to mind: Rowella, who is training hard in the 28th terrarium.

To use the bullets I’d receive now, I’d need Rowella or another newbie like her to accompany me, but would it help to have a newbie along on the journey down the rear lane?

But I also accomplished quite a lot when I was a newbie. Just because low-level players are restricted by COST due to their level doesn’t mean they can’t do anything.

Speaking of which, among my guild’s traits, there’s ‘Growth Promotion,’ which can greatly aid a newbie’s growth. So maybe I should recruit a promising newbie and raise them now…?

Recruiting an already strong druid into the guild is fine, but a guild member who joins from the start and grows together not only has a better bond but also higher attachment and loyalty… And perhaps they could serve as a good mirror to reflect on myself, who might become arrogant as I keep growing.

I handed the gun over to Romgato. He went to the next room with the mistletoe, and after a while, he came back with a lavishly transformed gun.

What had looked like a simple water gun now had a gold rim on its frame and a small bead on top. The handle was engraved with a pattern of small flowers blooming like vines winding around it.

With the change in appearance, it definitely felt like the weapon had been upgraded. If this were a game, would it be a weapon enhanced to about +5?

“Since you’ll be using multiple bullet types, you can tell which one is loaded by the light coming from this bead.”

Testing it out, I loaded the ahwae tree bullet, and the bead turned white. Oh…

“Then, shall I make more mistletoe bullets?”

“Yes, but it doesn’t seem to be the type that can be fired indiscriminately like the Ahwae tree, so there’s no need to overdo it and increase the quantity. Just make enough for immediate use.”

The researchers let out a sigh of relief, as if they were worried that I might recklessly increase the quantity again, like before I left the 18th terrarium.

“Ah, if you have time, there’s one more bullet that’s still in the pre-completion stage. Would you like to take a look?”

“For something like that, I’d make time even if I didn’t have any. What is it?”

One of the researchers, following Romgato’s instructions, brought a small box from the next room. Inside the box, there was a colorless, transparent bullet.

“I am ready to condense the power, but I have yet to decide on a dryad for this bullet. I have conducted research on condensing the power of a dryad from a druid other than the Awana tree, which is soul-linked to me, and have seen results, thus I was able to create a bullet containing the power of Cattail Mistletoe. Since Arc is a researcher, I could increase the accuracy further, but if you wish, I could attempt to select one of Lady Jae’s dryads and imbue this bullet with its power.”

“Wow, really? You said that if I carry a dryad whose power is infused into the bullet, the efficiency would be higher, right? That sounds amazing. Whose power should I ask for? Mesquite?”

The mere thought of what abilities a bullet infused with Mesquite’s power might show was thrilling, but Romgato shook his head.

“Lady Jae, if you are not a researcher, you must stay here for a long time and conduct research with us to improve accuracy. While attempting to infuse that special-grade dryad’s power is easy in itself, the probability is high that the bullet will not withstand the power and will be destroyed.”

“How long would that be?”

“You must account for at least two weeks.”

“I can’t stay that long… What about a Unique-grade one?”

Since a Special-grade Mesquite was rejected, an Original-grade Wolfsbane might be even more impossible? Also, I might have to explain the Original-grade to others, so I can’t reveal it recklessly.

I glanced at Elder, and he was staring at me with sparkling eyes. He wanted to try it himself.

“How about an Elder-grade one?”

“I’m not entirely keen on putting my power into some strange object.”

Even as he said that, he strode over to me as if he had been waiting. He kept glancing sideways at the transparent bullets in the box.

Ah, right. That did look like a rather pretty, sparkling gem in its own way.

“Well, we can certainly try. But I can’t guarantee which ability of the Elder Flower will be infused into the bullet. If I were linked to it with my soul, I could draw out the desired ability, but with someone else’s dryad, that’s difficult.”

“It would be nice if it were a recovery ability. Then I could at least provide some support from behind…”

“Additionally, due to its low accuracy, the power isn’t fully condensed, so even with a dryad, its performance may decline. Please note in advance that this bullet might end up being wasted.”

“Well, bullets can just be made again.”

At my words, the researchers’ faces froze solid. I felt a pang of guilt.

Guided by Romgato, I approached a strange machine with a huge glass tube. The bottom of the glass tube was covered with soil, and a warm orange light faintly illuminated the interior.

“Elder Flower Dryad, this way…”

Romgato opened the glass tube’s door and gestured. When I waved my hand for her to go, Elder slightly furrowed his brow and walked slowly into the glass tube. Romgato closed the tube’s door and called a researcher.

“Elder, standing there like that makes you look like you’re potted.”

Whether he didn’t hear my teasing words or not, Elder crossed his arms without any reaction. He seemed to be sulking for it to be over quickly.

The researcher placed an empty bullet in the center of the machine, in a spot resembling a dryad pot.

“Both the transparent bullet and the overall look of the machine remind me of a greenhouse.”

“That’s because it uses that principle. Please give me the hand wearing the artifact.”

As I was about to place my left hand on Romgato’s outstretched one, Siedling lightly grabbed my wrist to stop me.

“You shouldn’t hand over the artifact to someone else recklessly and defenselessly.”

“It won’t cause any harm. Now that I think about it, your face looks familiar. Have we met somewhere before?”

I wondered why everyone was so quiet upon seeing Siedling; maybe they only just recognized him now?

“It’s fine, he said it won’t cause harm.”

I quickly pulled down Siedling’s hand and extended my left hand to Romgato. Although Siedling’s hand had stopped me, it fell lightly when I released it.

Romgato placed a strange ring onto my artifact. It was slightly unsettling because a similar thing had once been forcibly put on my artifact during the Cannabis incident.

“This is an item made to utilize someone else’s dryad. It only helps improve accuracy to some extent and doesn’t damage the artifact, so you can remove it yourself whenever you want.”

Perhaps to show it was harmless, he earnestly explained while looking alternately at me and Siedling. Afterwards, he used it and Wallet to display a Stonehenge mode and even formed a party. Seeing that my and Romgato’s dominance over the Stonehenge was similar, I figured he was a skilled alchemist but had a low level as a druid.

“Now, just like when blooming a dryad fruit, bring your hand with the artifact close to this bullet. Guided by the druid’s spirit, the power of the Elder Flower will slowly accumulate in the bullet.”

With a pounding heart, I touched the bullet. I felt nothing but the cold glass, but I kept trying to regard it as a dryad fruit as instructed.

But it didn’t seem to work, so I closed my eyes and focused. Then, a faint warmth from my heart spread very weakly into my left arm.

“You’re doing well.”

The feeling of the glass under my fingertips changed. A light, exhilarating energy gently wrapped around my fingers.

“As expected, the power isn’t fully condensed. It seems this is the limit. You can take your hand off now.”

I opened my eyes at Romgato’s words. The transparent bullet had become a translucent one, filled with a hazy mist. Seeing that it didn’t have a vivid color like the other bullets, it seemed this was the limit for me, not a researcher, and my dryad.

“What kind of power is contained in it?”

“I think we’d have to test it to know. But if we use this bullet now, we can’t make more replicas… What would you like to do?”

Our elder’s abilities are all invaluable, so what does it matter? Since this was a bullet imbued with my dryad’s power, even if it was a defective product with only a little power, I felt fond of it.

Even if its utility in battle is low, how about making more to give out as souvenirs? I also want to show it off to Iris’s party.

“Then please make more. I’m planning to leave the terrarium tomorrow, so just enough to produce until then.”

Everyone will probably have to work overtime because of me, but…

“I’ll try to produce as many as possible today.”

I should leave the bullets here and get new equipment in the 18th terrarium.

“I never expected to get two new types of bullets like this. I’m satisfied. And once these final ones are made, how about everyone taking a few days off? I’ll also arrange special vacation pay. Everyone looks so exhausted from my unreasonable demands that it pains me. If someone collapses, it’s a loss for me in the long run, so I think it’s best for you to rest well and recuperate.”

College students have breaks, but what about researchers? So I decided to just create a legal break for them myself.

“Then, since we’re going to be resting anyway, we’ll have to give it our all for today.”

The researchers, whose eyes had been moved by my words, turned gloomy again at Romgato’s statement.