Dryads are.........

　They are one of the subspecies that live in the territory of the demon race.
　Their main habitat is the forest, where they live in the shadows of the trees with many places to hide, and live a quiet and peaceful life.

　Even though they are a sub-race, they don't have the same useful characteristics as the knockers, and they are ignored by the demon tribe.

　At the very least, they are neglected by the demon tribe, telling them not to bother them.
　And they live in the depths of the forest that is their home.



　He is taught the "Dance of Invocation" to meet with the dryads.

　The special wavelengths (?) that this dance emits But they say that they can penetrate a wide area and can only be detected by dryads.

　In the deep and wide woods, it is reckless to try to find a dryad by searching blindly.
　That's why it's best to send out the "Summoning Dance" and have them find you from the other side.

This was the surest way to get in touch with the dryad, which is known as the "Son of the Forest.

"I will introduce you all to them. These are the dryads.

　There were already a number of mysterious human beings gathered around me, only as tall as my waist at most.

　There are about five or six of them, if you count them roughly.

　I could tell at a glance that they were neither humans nor demons.

　They were not only dwarfed, but their skin was also bizarre.

　Their skin was many times less moist than normal human skin, becoming cracked and cracked, with multiple wrinkles carved into it, making it look like tree bark.
　In addition, the skin had become more and more bark-like, with the appearance of old skin or grime rising to the surface.

　A dwarf clad in bark, so to speak.
　It was a sub-race called dryads.

"Wow, I've never seen a dryad before!

　The first thing he did was to give his honest opinion of Zebiantes.

　''You're right.
　I'm sure you'll find that there is a huge difference in status between you four heavenly kings and the sub-race.

I'm sure you'll be able to find a way to make it work.
'That's the Dance of the Calling,' as the dryads once taught me.

　How many years has it been?

　There was talk of clearing the forest for development in the demon territory, and the Dryads were in great opposition.

　For the Dryads, it was a matter of life and death for them to have their forest as their home to be cut down.

　The conflict escalated into a war, and the Demon King's army was even sent out to put down the enemy.

　Thanks to this, the demon tribe and the dryads were able to reach a compromise that satisfied both sides, and it was then that I gained the trust of the demon tribe, and they taught me the Dance of Calling.

''Thank goodness...!　Mr. Dariel, I thought you had suddenly lost your mind...!

　That's a hell of a thing to say, Radey.

"No, wait, but you still don't get it, do you?　What's the point of bringing a sub-race here?

　Serious Droyer says.

''According to what you guys said, we were going to set up a transit point between the village and the Demon King's Castle.
That's why these guys...

　To the dryads.........

I'll have them build a forest village to serve as a transit point.
Hey, Chipmunks.

　The dryads give me a quick tug on my pants.

'We answered the call, didn't we?　No hospitality?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

　I hold out something that Malika had prepared for me on my way out.

　It's in a leather bag, and one of the dryads opens his mouth to check it carefully.

'....Sugar, right?　Well refined. It's as white as cotton and has a fine texture of the finest quality. As a local product, it's a passable grade.
You talk too much. You better get up, or I'm taking it with me.
'Oh wait!　They're here!　Thank you for such a nice souvenir!

　Many dryads are crooked people in terms of character.
　I'm sure it's a race trait, but I think it's also one of the reasons why the demon race has abandoned them.

　I'm sure the demon race will find it much easier to deal with an obedient, simple, and quietly do the job that has been assigned to them, like Knocker.

　Then, there will be questions like these.

　What is the point of having contact with such an inedible dryad that can neither be boiled nor grilled?
　Wouldn't it be inefficient to try to make these guys, who even the demon race had spoon fed them, do something?

　But I know.
　I know what's so great about these guys that most people don't know about.

"Are you guys still in business?

　When I pointed it out to them, the dryads' faces changed.

　Some looked away, some deliberately tried to whistle but couldn't.

''Aheheh...?　What are you talking about?　I don't understand what you're saying, do I?
Yippesots, he must have gotten old after all these years.　We are a people of nature living in the forest in poverty and modesty.

　That's not true.

　When I was in the Demon King's Army, I learned about your 'underhanded business' and my soul was obliterated.

　The reason why you were so stubbornly opposed to the development of forests by the demon tribe was because there was a market for them in the area of development, right?

Hey, this is Dryad, the black market divider.
Black market?

　My companions responded to that phrase.

''Wahhhhhhhh!
''Ahoy!　You shouldn't say that, that's a promise!

　The dryads hurriedly try to cover my mouth.
　But it's too late.

'Radie, Droyer, I'm sure you've overheard at least a few of them.　That somewhere in this world, there is a black market for selling human things to the demons and demon things to the humans.
"What, exactly...?

　Droyer says, puzzled.

I know that there is such a thing, but it's a myth. But it's a myth, right?　Is the black market a figment of your imagination to explain how the products of the enemy's side occasionally blunder into your life?

　Well, it does exist.
　The black market in dryads is real.

The forest these guys live in overlaps with the boundary between human and demon territory, so it's like a garden for the dryads. To begin with, it's difficult for both the humans and demons to reach the forest.

　So they can do whatever they want with it.

"The specialties of the humans and demons from the other side of the forest, and they're happy with the difference in resale.

　In fact, there is no way for the humans to get their hands on the products of their enemies, who are inherently enemies of both races.

　It could be said that this business was the exclusive market of the dryads.

　Come to think of it, a long time ago, the now deceased old man Smith had an Atanor furnace used by the demon race, which must have also entered human territory through the dryad's black market.

''Is that, um........legal?''
'Of course it's illegal?　I wonder if they'll eradicate it when it becomes public, dryad?

　If you bought the enemy's goods and gave the enemy profit, it would be a serious act of profit.

""Ochaaaaaaahhhh?"

　The dryads suddenly start crying.

"You, you eeeeeeeeeeeeeeee?　You're not going to destroy us?
You said you'd overlook our actions!
"Without people like us, a lot of people are in trouble.

　Yeah, that's right.

　I'm sure there are a lot of people who benefit from the dryad's black market.
　I'm sure you'll find a lot of people in high positions of power purchasing these items through the black market. If the powers that be wanted, the black market was well protected.

"Don't worry, I'm not going to get in the way of your business.
Oh, jeez.

　The dryads patted their hearts in relief....

'On the contrary, I'd like you to let me bite one.

　Now I can tell you what I'm talking about.

"I want you to set up your own community here. I want you to open up a black market.