Ch.170170. The Sea of Trees (1)

During the few days we stayed at the Marquisate, Sione and I kept to ourselves as much as possible.

After witnessing the second and third sons of this house having a conversation with a strange atmosphere in the hallway. The County’s affairs had become quite bustling.

Some new wave of activity had begun to spread, and accordingly, the second and third sons started moving busily.

Vassals frequently gathered for meetings, and the second and third sons would visit the territory’s military camp, or sometimes even summon vassals separately for discussions.

‘Allen’s dereliction of duty. And Abel taking over Allen’s role in the west instead.’

It seemed that deeper conversations about this matter were taking place within the family.

It might have been interesting to gather fragments of information by asking questions amid the confusion.

But we didn’t come to the Marquisate of Kallia to dig into another family’s affairs.

We were just making a brief stop before entering the Great Forest. Nothing more, nothing less.

We were simply staying quietly in our lodgings to avoid getting caught up in the situation.

‘…There’s nothing good about taking interest in another family’s business.’

Even a commoner tending to their small plot of land would get angry if someone came along saying plant potatoes here, plant wheat there. They’d tell you to mind your own business, brandishing their sharp sickle while weeding.

Nobles are no different. They’re all just people.

So we avoided the people of the Marquisate and focused only on conversations with people from our County, or those affiliated with the Great Forest.

It couldn’t be helped.

Unlike ordinary commoners, nobles—especially families of Count rank or higher—are interpreted more politically than anyone else, and thus must be more political than anyone else in the kingdom.

When such a high-ranking house has some kind of problem, it could become a bigger issue if the Count’s second daughter were to wander around and get involved in strange affairs.

Especially since the County and the Marquisate apparently have a somewhat awkward relationship due to some fighting between their ancestors.

During the day, we would occasionally go out for some fresh air. Then return to our room, shut the door firmly to cut off connection with the outside, and I would comfortably summon cotton puffs from the spirit realm to throw at Sione.

Just like now.

Whoosh!

A cool breeze enters through the open window.

Then the wind blows onto my palm, gathering and condensing.

In place of the gathered wind, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

A cotton puff suddenly appears, brightening its two sparkling eyes as it looks up at me.

—Myeong!

“Ready?”

—Myaang?

“I’m going to throw you like before, and you’ll fly over to Sione. Got it?”

—Myaaang.

The cotton puff puffed itself up, increasing its size and creating an imposing appearance, as if saying it was up to the task.

Honestly, it just looked like a slightly fluffier sparrow.

I gently picked up the small spirit after it turned around to face Sione.

“I’m throwing you.”

—Myeong!

As I aimed…

At Sione, who was dozing off in the armchair, at that moment.

“Sione?”

“Mmm…?”

“Wake up.”

“Mmm….”

Seeing that Sione showed no signs of waking up, I called her name more loudly and clearly.

At least enough to make her look up in surprise.

“…Sione!”

“Uh, oh, yes…!”

Sione was startled by my slightly louder voice.

The moment she lifted her heavy eyelids and captured my image with her clear sky-blue pupils.

In her pupils, I was reflected having completed all preparations to throw the cotton puff.

“…Huh? Ray?”

Whoosh!

My arm was extended in the air.

—Kyaang!

Whoosh!

The cotton puff flew.

The small spirit that rose up began to fly in a parabolic trajectory at high speed.

Drawing a smooth curve as it flew, the cotton puff—

Thud!

“Eek!”

—Pya!

Hit Sione’s nose with force.

The cotton puff, which had curled itself into a ball, didn’t seem to be in pain.

But Sione seemed quite stunned, with a tear forming in her right eye.

“Ugh…”

After letting out a small groan, Sione glared at me.

“Ray, I told you not to throw that moth…!”

“Did you?”

“You promised not to throw it…! Don’t pretend you don’t—”

Just as Sione was about to say something.

—Myeong!

After hitting Sione’s nose, the cotton puff that had been fluttering on her shoulder curled up again.

The rounded cotton puff rolled and went inside her clothes.

“Ugh…! Get out! What are you doing!”

—Myeong?

“…Stay still. I’ll get you out—”

—Myeong!

“Oh geez…seriously…!”

Hmm, peaceful.

This is the most boring time with nothing to do.

It’s not bad to pass the time watching Sione and the cotton puff play with each other.

After they bicker for a while, an exhausted Sione declares surrender.

The cotton puff sits on the forehead of Sione, who has collapsed on the bed, looking at me with sparkling eyes as if asking if it did well.

Just as I was about to raise my hand to call the cotton puff back.

Knock knock—

Someone came to Sione’s lodgings.

“…Ray, you go check. I can’t move.”

“Alright.”

Leaving Sione sprawled on the bed, I went to check on the visitor.

When I opened the door, the first thing I saw was beautiful golden hair.

Then familiar features with teal eyes came into view.

An elf from the Great Forest.

Our visitor was none other than Friel Arielt.

“…Friel, hello.”

“Oh, Ray is here too?”

Friel’s nose twitched as she said that.

Sniff sniff…

Again, for some reason, Friel was sniffing. I really don’t know why this pointy-eared one keeps smelling things out of nowhere.

As her green eyes began to shine more brightly and intensely,

I suppressed the creeping uneasiness and simply responded to her normally.

“The scent of spirits fills the room. Such a nice fragrance… I almost got intoxicated for a moment. You were summoning spirits, I see?”

Ah. Spirits.

Indeed, I was summoning the cotton puff.

It seems the pure natural energy emitted by the cotton puff had spread throughout the room.

“Yes, I was summoning a spirit for a while.”

“Hmm—”

Friel slightly raised the corner of her mouth and nodded at my words.

After casting a subtle glance at me and into the room visible through the door crack,

Her closed lips opened slightly.

“Ray, is the young lady in the room right now?”

“If you mean Sione, she’s inside…”

“That’s good. No need to go around. I have something to tell her, so may I come in for a moment? Would that be alright?”

At Friel’s words, I turned around to check on Sione.

I wanted to make sure she wasn’t still sprawled on the bed with the cotton puff triumphantly declaring victory on her forehead.

It would be better not to let others see such embarrassing things.

When I looked at where Sione had been lying, she too had heard that Friel had come as a guest.

With the cotton puff on her shoulder, she had gotten up and was tidying her clothes.

Nod.

A nod meaning it was okay to let her in.

I opened the door as she wished and allowed Friel to enter.

“Of course. Please come in.”

“Thank you, Ray.”

Friel smiled brightly as she entered the room.

Sione, who had risen from the bed, greeted her with a proper posture.

“Friel. What brings you to my room?”

“Young lady. I came to tell you something.”

“Something to tell me… perhaps our schedule has been set?”

“Yes, I’ve told everything that needs to be conveyed to the head of the Kallia Marquisate… And I’ve also finished all the conversations I needed to have with trusted individuals. So there’s no reason to delay anymore.”

Friel began to whisper softly, with a subtle yet by no means light smile.

The elf’s beautiful voice lingered in the quiet room where only the breeze occasionally entered and left.

“Young lady, it’s time to prepare.”

The reason why Sione and I went through all sorts of hardships to come here.

“In two days at the latest, we will finally head to the Great Forest.”

The battlefield that will be turned upside down by Demons and cultists, and the homeland of the elves.

We’re finally entering the Great Forest.

* * *

The supply of materials had all been completed during our stay at the Marquisate.

The maintenance of bows and swords was also finished with Ray’s help.

“Sigh…”

However, what Friel Arielt had conveyed—the future seen by the High Elf, the Great Elder of the elves.

The fact that we had to enter the Great Forest, which would be filled with Demons and destined for destruction, was quite a mental pressure. Perhaps even more so than during the war at the County.

Back then, my heart was full of the desire to protect my beloved homeland, and I was surrounded by people I could trust.

My mother who became the kingdom’s Sword Master, my spirited sister, and my knight who calmly shot arrows to reverse our troops’ morale, as if Demons were nothing special.

But this time was different.

An unfamiliar foreign land. The excessive expectation that only Ray and I could twist the fate of the elves’ extinction and the Great Forest turning to ashes. And the pressure that grew as we got closer to the Great Forest, piling up with the expectations.

‘…I can do this, right?’

It was inevitable to feel nervous and worried. Negative thoughts were unavoidable.

At just twenty-one years of age.

Even my most confident skill, archery, I’ve only been drawing the bowstring for a year.

And my swordsmanship has only been brought up to a decent level after years of dulling.

Although unlike others, I have the difference of having experienced the battlefield firsthand.

But in front of the grand title of someone who will twist fate, I can’t help but doubt my abilities.

Whether I’m worthy of it, whether I can handle it. Only doubts and worries deepen.

“…Sister.”

I stroke the handle of my short sword, a gift from my sister.

I can almost feel my sister’s warmth in the leather wrapped around the handle.

At this hour, she must be training hard in the training ground.

…I wish I could just stay at the County, eating, sleeping, and shooting arrows.

After erasing my worries with these idle thoughts.

I asked Ray.

“Ray, are you prepared?”

He simply nodded, as if it were obvious.

“Everything is ready.”

“Then… let’s head to the carriage. Everyone must be waiting.”

“Yes. I’ll follow.”

He was always calm.

And he simply stayed by my side as always.

As we were quietly heading to the carriage.

Ray was the first to softly speak.

“Relax.”

“Relax?”

“Your joints are too stiff. You look like a wooden doll.”

“…A wooden doll?”

“Why not try petting a spirit? Something fluffy might help you relax.”

“I don’t want that one.”

After I answered, Ray kept his mouth shut for a moment.

After we got into the carriage, he spoke a few more words.

“Don’t worry so much.”

“Hm?”

“Even if the Great Forest is turned upside down as the Great Elder said, you and I will never die.”

“…?”

“If things go wrong, I’ll carry you and run away. Honestly, they say we’re here to twist fate, but does it make sense that the fate of extinction and destruction can be changed just because two more humans showed up?”

“…”

“Don’t be so tense. As I’ve said before, I’ll be by your side. What could be worse than death anyway?”

“I thought you said I would never die.”

“…”

“…”

“…That’s just a figure of speech. Rest assured that if we die, we die together.”

I couldn’t help but smile at Ray’s uncharacteristic slip of the tongue.

Thanks to him, my mood had lightened a bit.

So I smiled slightly as I looked out the window of the carriage that was slowly starting to move forward.

It was during that moment.

“…?”

While my eyes were closed for a moment, I felt a sharp gaze from outside the window.

The sensation that constricted my heart sent a powerful warning, similar to when I saw a Demonkin.

I suddenly opened my eyes to check outside the window again, wondering what was happening.

But outside the window, not even a tiny ant could be found.

All that remained was the sound of my heavily beating heart.

As I frowned while looking out the window, Ray spoke to me again.

“Are you still that nervous?”

I just shook my head at his question.

“No, it’s nothing.”

After answering like that, I looked at the scenery of the Marquisate outside the window with a cold gaze and was certain.

That something suspicious was definitely happening at the Marquisate.

Although we’re leaving like this now, I’m sure that someday trouble will break out not only in the Great Forest but here as well.

It was a day of uncharacteristically deep thoughts.

—Myeong!

“Oh come on!”

At least until Ray threw that moth at me again because I looked too down.