Survival Queen of the Frozen Wastes novel Chapter 200

Chapter 200 The Silent Architect

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She’d been unable to summon it in the instance, and with the Long Night chaos, she’d nearly forgotten about it.

With a thought, Riley pulled the Sealing Orb from a corner of her bag.

The surface of the sphere still pulsed with a faint green light, the sign of a contained inhabitant.

“Come on out.”

Riley pressed the release, and a soft green light,projected onto the living room floor.

Whirrr-

The light faded.

A little fellow, only half as tall as a person, appeared on the rug.

Riley, Neeko, and Ash all stared in unison at the new arrival.

It stood about four feet tall, composed entirely of dark brown bark and vibrant green leaves, wearing a pair of denim overalls.

A large pocket on the front of the overalls bulged with various hand tools.

Currently, the little treant was staring back at Riley with an expressionless face.

No noise, no fuss, no cuteness.

It just stared directly into Riley’s eyes.

“Uh…”

Riley gave a tentative wave. “Hi? Hello?”

The treant said nothing.

It blinked once but gave no other reaction.

“Can it talk? Or does it not understand?” Riley turned to Neeko, hoping the native could bridge the gap.

Neeko leaned in curiously, her ears twitching.

“He smells like the forest!” Neeko sniffed the air, clearly liking the newcomer. “But he looks kind of… slow?”

Neeko reached out a finger, intending to poke the treant’s cheek.

Tap.

A quiet sound.

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Chapter 200 The Silent Architect

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The treant raised a hand that looked like a dry twig, precisely and calmly parrying Necko’s finger away.

Then, it pointed toward the coffee table behind Riley.

Specifically, at the leftovers Ash hadn’t finished yet.

“Oh! You’re hungry?”

Riley realized.

She stepped aside and made an inviting gesture. “Help yourself. All you can eat.”

The treant didn’t hesitate.

It marched toward the table on short, root–like legs that made a rhythmic thudding sound.

Under the curious gaze of Neeko and Ash, it didn’t dive in like a predator. Instead, it elegantly picked up a single Thunderfruit.

Crunch.

One bite.

Chew, swallow.

Then… it set the fruit back down.

“Done?” Riley blinked. “Is it bad? Not to your taste?”

The treant shook its head.

It picked up a piece of meat–floss cake, broke off a small crumb, and popped it into its mouth.

“Here, try this!”

Neeko reached out and offered her private stash of honey potato chips. “These are super yummy! Ash tries to steal them all the time!”

Ash let out a supportive “Chirp” in agreement.

The treant took the chips, glanced at the bag, and then at the expectant Neeko.

It politely took one chip, shoved it into the crack that served as a mouth, and crunched it down.

Then, it did something no one expected.

It brushed the crumbs off its hands and handed the remaining chips back to Neeko.

Then it reached into the large pocket of its vine–overalls and began rummaging around.

“What’s it looking for?” Riley leaned in curiously.

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Chapter 200 The Silent Architect

+10 Free Coins

A second later.

The treant pulled out a hand–sized device carved from some kind of crystal… a Tape Measure?

And a miniature Carpentry Hammer.

With the tape in its left hand and the hammer in its right, it turned and marched toward the front door.

“Hey! Where are you going?”

Riley quickly followed. “It’s freezing out there, and it’s nighttime!”

The treant ignored her. It reached the door, and though it was too short to reach the handle, it simply pointed a finger. A thin vine grew from its fingertip, coiled around the handle, and pulled.

Creeeeeak.

The door swung open.

The freezing wind rushed in, making the green leaves on the treant’s head rustle, but its steady.

“Is it running away?” Neeko gasped. “Are my chips that bad?”

“No…”

Riley grabbed a coat and followed them out with Neeko and Ash.

The yard was clear of snow thanks to the campfire altar, but the wind still howled.

The treant didn’t go far, heading straight for a corner of the yard.

pace

remained

It stopped in front of Neeko’s “handiwork“-the crooked, drafty, and structurally unstable wooden shed.

Neeko had built it for the coal, and while her effort was admirable, her skill… well, it was very “naturalistic.” The posts were uneven, the roof was slanted, and it was only standing because it was leaning against the wall.

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