Shota's Isekai NTR Adventure Chapter 2055: Not fairies

The instant I seized the stone, it went completely motionless again.

This stone appeared to be pretending to be lifeless right after I took hold of it, yet it couldn't pull off the act perfectly because its limbs were still visible to me.

Though it lay utterly still, I wasn't tricked in the least, thanks to those clear arms and legs sticking out.

Yet, only I possessed the sight of these odd traits.

Klein and his companions continued staring at me with puzzled expressions, completely baffled by my actions.

Following an extended pause, Klein muttered uncomfortably, "It's definitely odd to find a rock perched on a tree branch like that. Still, it's not too surprising that it might tumble down if left in such a spot."

The rest of the royal guards nodded along, endorsing his words.

They all shared the same view, believing this stone held no particular significance. To them, it was merely an unusual stroke of chance, nothing more.

But I refused to accept that explanation.

The reason was clear: as they spoke, a subtle vibration pulsed through the stone in my grip, as though it responded to Klein and the guards' remarks.

The quiver was barely noticeable, yet I detected it because my hold on the stone was firm.

This stone had indeed shifted independently, joining the group that had been observing our every move. It baffled me that I hadn't spotted it earlier, given how evident those bizarre limbs should have been.

Still, it was logical that nothing had caught my eye if they could camouflage themselves so well as ordinary rocks.

Maybe it went beyond just the stones... I still sensed those watchful eyes pressing in from every direction. Right now, we remained encircled, under constant scrutiny from unseen presences.

Be they stones or another form entirely, I couldn't say.

At the very least, I understood how to force them into the open.

"There's no point in staying hidden any longer—show yourselves." I declared, brushing off Klein and the rest. Their faces twisted into even more bewildered stares upon hearing me, but I paid them no mind.

Noting the lack of reply from our hidden observers, I lifted the stone higher and applied a gentle pressure to it.

Nothing seemed poised to shift at first, but I felt the stone stir in response. It recoiled from the squeeze, and the reaction didn't feel positive.

Maybe I'd gripped it with excessive force...

As the stone quivered in reply, the earth beneath us began to transform abruptly.

I had clearly agitated our watchers, for the ground now trembled violently.

A variety of stones emerged all around, quickly forming a ring that hemmed us in.

Though Klein and the others were clueless about the cause, they recognized the brewing threat. Only their training allowed them to finally draw weapons and assume defensive stances.

I was equally in the dark, but standing by wasn't an option for me either.

Thus, I transferred the stone to my free hand while readying myself for battle.

Yet the second the stone switched hands, a surge emanated from the Mark of God. With that surge from the Mark of God, the entire scene halted abruptly.

The advancing stones halted mid-step, behaving as if they were utterly shocked by the sight.

After another drawn-out quiet, a voice rang out: "Why do you possess that?"

I couldn't grasp what the voice meant, but it originated from the stone I clutched. Glancing down, I saw a face materialize on it, aligning with the protruding arms and legs.

This appeared to be a tiny being crafted entirely from rock.

"A fairy?" My initial assumption upon viewing this diminutive rock entity, though I dismissed it immediately—I'd encountered fairies previously. I'd even created a garden for them to inhabit, encountering them frequently.

I was certain no rock fairies existed like this compact stone being.

Thus, its true nature eluded me completely.

Regaining my composure, I replied, "I was dispatched here to aid you. This Mark of God serves as my evidence."

I had no clue how this would land, but it proved remarkably persuasive. The instant those words left my mouth, the stones scattered across the ground rose up, unveiling their actual shapes.

Every one of those ground stones turned out to be identical to the small stone creature in my grasp.

These were the very entities that had spied on us from the start.

Unlike Klein and his group, who stared in total astonishment, I wasn't thrown off balance. They'd detected nothing unusual, so their stunned response to the reveal was expected.

Having braced myself somewhat, since I'd anticipated this turn, I steadied my thoughts and asked, "What exactly are you? How long have you dwelled in this area?"