The following months in the Great White Forest saw the small clearing transform from a survival camp into a thriving medieval settlement. As the first year since their arrival neared its end, the group worked tirelessly to build a legacy in the heart of the forest.
Under Emmet's guidance, the single wooden house became the centerpiece of a sprawling courtyard. No longer limited to just timber, Emmet discovered a vein of limestone and clay, after going on his usual exploration missions ,allowing him to create red bricks to reinforce their structures.
Emmet created a waist-high brick wall now encircling the living quarters, capped with sharpened wooden stakes to deter roaming monsters. While exploring the outskirts of the forest near their base Emmet found a large amount of local crops spotted out by violet which includes wheat. Violet was an expert in the local fauna helping the group find proper food sources and craft clothing despite claiming to not have any use, the demons have a very different idea of use full skill the group found out from violet, she was not very good at combat or using mana to cast spells even though her mana control was excellent she was still terrible when it came to casting spells.
Near the river, Emmet engineered a water-powered gristmill. Using interlocking gears and heavy stone wheels, the group could finally grind wild forest wheat into flour for fresh bread. It was only a small amount they could create a time due to the components needed to make it run faster needed iron which they still only had in small amounts.
A dedicated workshop was built, housing two large iron furnaces and a leather-working station where the hides of their hunts were processed to create furniture and clothing for the group to wear. Emmet had used all the iron ore the group had found to create his workshop and tools feeling proud of himself before he went into a panicked tirade about making machines for the base which the group ignored since they did not understand anything Emmet built or wanted to create.
The ecosystem of the forest provided strange, mutated livestock that the group managed to domesticate through a mix of Emmet's ingenuity and Shiori's forest knowledge: They successfully corralled several Giant Four-Eyed Sheep, whose thick, oily wool was incredibly warm. They also captured Forest Cows, massive, moss-covered bovines that provided rich, creamy milk. Using the refined silk Emmet produced and the wool from the sheep, Violet and Emmet collaborated on a loom. They crafted sturdy, multi-layered medieval tunics, reinforced trousers, and leather boots, replacing the tattered Earth clothes they had arrived in, though the creation of the items that required Emmet's silk were slow to create since Emmet was a natural at mana refinery but his mana reserve was as useless as violet own mana reserve.
The bathhouse was expanded into a communal laundry. With an endless supply of Emmet's "Sweet Soap," the group remained the only clean residents of the Great White Forest.
While the base flourished, Oliver encountered a frustrating plateau in his growth. Despite hunting several lesser monsters in the surrounding woods, the familiar golden light of a boss kill never returned.
Through repeated trial and error, Oliver realized he could not summon a second shadow. The Halberd Knight remained his only guardian; every time he tried to claim a new soul, the shadow would simply dissipate into the air.
Shiori explained that he had hit the maximum amount of summons and since Oliver does not possess the ability to open his status window he will not know the requirements to upgrade his skills. Because his status window only appeared during significant events like boss kills, Oliver was essentially flying blind. He could feel his technique improving under Alisa's training, but he had no way to track his "XP" or progress toward the next upgrade for his skill or ability
As the final days of the year approached, the atmosphere in the base grew tense but expectant. They had everything they needed: food, shelter, a small army of livestock, and refined equipment. However, the "Great Kings" of the forest still loomed in the distance, they were still not equipped to fight any of the great kings at their current strength.
"We've made a home," Oliver said one evening, looking over the brick-and-timber courtyard while his Shadow Knight stood guard at the gate. "But if we want to progress we need to get stronger or find others to join us."
"Today marks the one-year anniversary of our time here," Alisa said to Oliver, her voice soft but certain. "My original unit is most definitely gone."
"Are you worried that we might be trapped here for another few years?" Oliver asked, leaning against the railing.
"No, I am not worried about that. The rescue unit should be here in a few days if things went well on their end."
"I see," Oliver responded.
"Isn't the sky beautiful?" Alisa asked, turning to him. Her black hair flowed in the wind, catching the morning light.
"Yeah, it is. Spending so much time in the wilderness really changes your view on life."
"It's just so calm and relaxing," Alisa replied. "I finally see why Emmet loves it out here."
As the morning sun continued to rise into the clouds, the two sat on the porch of the base. Emmet had recently constructed a small cabin to store grain safely, but it also served as a perfect vantage point to admire the scenery of the domain. Their stay had not been what they expected; it was surprisingly peaceful. The monsters in this region stuck to specific territories and never wandered, making exploration and hunting for food remarkably easy.
However, two days' walk from their camp, the long-awaited rescue party was trekking through the dense forest. While small, their elite skills more than made up for their numbers.
The first in the unit was Commander Neil, The head of the party and a veteran Sword Master. His attire reflected his status as a powerful warrior who had spent years on the front lines. He wore battle-worn, darkened plate armor accented with a thick, golden fur mantle for warmth and prestige. A vibrant blue cloak was pinned beneath the mantle, the blue, gold, and silver representing the colors of the Holy Empire and his everlasting loyalty. His weapon of choice was a legendary steel claymore that glowed with a faint, internal light. He was a man in his late forties with a full, weathered beard.
Next in the unit was Kage, a veteran mercenary and seasoned warrior. He wore heavy, ornate silver plate armor that signified his high rank within the Holy Knight Order. His chest piece featured golden filigree and a white tabard draped over his shoulders, secured by a high, protective neck collar. A long, tattered white cape flowed behind him, adding to his imposing presence. He carried two massive, golden-hilted great swords—one sheathed at his back and the other held firmly in his hand, ready for any unwise creature that chose to fight him.
Erza was The party's healer and support mage. She wore a dark blue, high-collared tunic over a light olive-drab sweater, paired with dark leggings and sturdy brown leather travel boots. She wore no armor, as it would only hinder her movements. Despite appearing to be only twenty-five, she was a highly skilled second-tier mage. She carried a tall, gnarled wooden staff used to focus her healing, buffing, and defensive spells.
Last in the unit was Eliot. A nineteen-year-old fire mage with lime-green eyes and pinkish-green hair. He wore a dark teal hooded cowl that draped over his shoulders like a short capelet. Over a dark, form-fitting tunic with long sleeves and fingerless gloves, he wore a long, sleeveless white overcoat with vertical slits on the sides to ensure maximum mobility during combat. He carried a spell book at his waist ready to unleash high level fire spells in an instant.
This group was tasked with finding and rescuing the Heroes and any other survivors before escorting them back to the Holy Empire. Beyond the rescue, they were also mapping out a viable route for the Empire's elite "kill Squad." Once the route was established, the Empire planned to hunt down the remaining three Great Kings and destroy the domain entirely, ensuring it could no longer serve as a breeding ground for monsters or organizations plotting against the nation.
As they cleared through the forest they came to understand the domains layout, it was a strange place perpetually locked into four seasons summer winter spring and autumn each great king controlled a religion, they are tasked with finding the great king residing in the spring region and killing it making it possible for the individual trapped inside to escape and for the holy empire kill Squad to enter in their entirety and not be misplaced all over the domain. The rescue unit was equipped with a device that allowed them to track their members, unfortunately it only showed one point, Alisa was the last survivor of her unit.