Ch.171171. The Sea of Trees (2)

The Great Forest.

A vast sea of forest spread around the World Tree, a massive ancient tree rooted in the continent.

The Great Forest, known as a treasury of nature, is now recognized as the exclusive territory and homeland of the elves, a noble race steeped in their belief of being the chosen people.

Furthermore—

‘This whole place is going to be destroyed.’

The High Elf who reigns as king of the elves.

According to the prophecy he received, flames will engulf this vast forest, and the elven race will face the terrible fate of extinction.

‘It’s the apocalypse.’

The more I imagine what magnificent events will unfold here, the more chills run down my spine.

The forest is essentially the elves’ front yard.

Bow-wielding elves leap freely across the massive trees of the Great Forest, while those pointy-eared ones who descend to the ground tear through enemy flesh and scrape bone with their distinctively agile swordsmanship.

When they step on grass, they make no sound, and they’re also skilled at concealing their presence.

To make matters worse, fighting them in the forest would be no easy task even for the most vicious and powerful demons or truly fanatical zealots, given how they masterfully wield both the mysteries and strength of spirit magic.

What kind of atrocity would it take to corner the elves and ultimately drive them to extinction?

‘…Well, this is the world inside a dungeon where I died once before.’

Come to think of it, this world has already fallen once.

It’s a world inhabited by monstrous demons who swept away even the elite Hunters who had somehow desperately survived and were about to clear the dungeon.

If such monstrous beings crawled around here, would it be so difficult to wipe out a few elves?

“Sigh…”

Someday again, just like what happened at the Count’s estate, demons will properly manifest once more. Thinking about how much worse things will get then makes my head throb.

Moreover, not just demons.

I clearly remember seeing with my own eyes just how mercilessly cruel the elves can be in tormenting their opponents to death.

Cruelty hidden behind beautiful appearances. Walking voluntarily into the center of the Great Forest, where the World Tree grows and is filled with those pointy-eared ones, wasn’t exactly pleasant.

After all—

‘As Friel said, the elves in the Great Forest won’t be very welcoming to us.’

While most elves will accept our entry into the Great Forest according to the High Elf’s words, they won’t exactly welcome us warmly.

To those pointy-eared ones, we’re nothing more than numerous, incompetent short-lived species.

My abilities might pique their interest, but whether that will lead to positive attention remains uncertain.

‘Just look at Friel.’

Even that greedy pointy-eared one doesn’t show it much now.

But at first, didn’t he look at me with such intense greed, as if licking my body with his eyes?

Since entering the Great Forest, I’ve been frowning while looking out the carriage window at the uneven road and the seemingly identical forest scenery passing by.

Sione looks at me with a chuckle.

“You told me not to be nervous.”

“…?”

“But now it seems like Ray is more nervous than I am—”

Sione folds her arms with a triumphant expression.

“I guess it can’t be helped…?”

For some reason, she seems extremely excited.

Suddenly, the corners of Sione’s mouth keep twitching up and down repeatedly.

…Cookie withdrawal symptoms?

I just gave her some, so it’s too early for that.

As I quietly observe her, Sione extends her right hand in front of her right shoulder. The cotton puff that had been playing with her and resting on her shoulder looks at her with a tilted head.

“……”

—…….

As if just making eye contact was enough for Sione and the cotton puff to understand each other’s intentions.

For some reason, the cotton puff obediently climbs onto her hand.

…She doesn’t know spirit communion techniques, but they seem to understand each other perfectly after playing together and fighting so much. In some ways, they might be closer than it is with me.

—Myeong!

When the cotton puff barks softly, Sione grabs it.

“Heya!”

Whoosh!

Sione throws the cotton puff without hesitation.

The cotton puff flies in a straight line and sticks to my cheek.

Then it curls up and rolls off.

Pop!

I can feel the cotton puff that slipped inside my clothes crawling slowly across the bare skin of my lower abdomen.

“Ugh.”

—Myeong!

Why is it being annoying and going in there?

I lifted my top to get the cotton puff out.

The cotton puff appeared on my exposed stomach, and when it made eye contact with me, it tried to hide back inside my clothes.

Whoosh!

“Where do you think you’re going?”

—Myeong…

I easily catch the cotton puff with my left hand that had been idle.

“Don’t go into places like that. Stay quietly on my shoulder.”

—Myaang.

After placing the cotton puff on my shoulder, I looked back at Sione who had thrown the spirit at me.

Sione was busy watching me nervously, unable to close her mouth.

For some reason, her eyes, with ears flushed red, were trembling as if an earthquake had struck.

Her gaze alternated between my expression and my stomach.

I had acted without thinking.

But it seems that when applied to this world’s context, it was quite a provocative sight.

I stared at her quietly for a moment, then smiled and said:

“Lady Sione.”

“Eh… uh, what?”

“Aren’t you staring at my stomach a bit too intently?”

“N-no, I’m not!”

After saying that, Sione quickly retreated to her bedding on the floor, covered herself with a blanket, and avoided my gaze.

“Cotton puff, come here.”

—Myeong!

Whoosh!

I threw the cotton puff to her, feeling like teasing her a bit more.

“Why, why are you here…!”

—Myeong!

* * *

The Great Forest is home to numerous creatures.

From gentle herbivores to apex predators at the top of the food chain.

Moreover, with cultists’ schemes happening here and there in the current Great Forest, Magia-contaminated monsters also roam in increased numbers.

These monsters, stripped of all desires except the will to kill, show hostility to all living beings around them. Weak herbivores can only flee in panic, and even decent predators often retreat with their tails tucked when confronted with these creatures.

Nevertheless, the monsters persistently track and strive to end their prey’s lives.

These monsters, which attack regardless of what stands before them, showed no retreat even when faced with armed humans and elves.

And that was exactly the situation we now found ourselves in.

“…They say even dogs don’t disturb people during meals.”

Who would have thought these damned monsters, steeped in Magia, would disturb us while eating?

Just as we had stopped the carriage, set up our spot, and were about to taste the lunch we had worked hard to prepare.

Wolves much larger than those we had caught in the Beltrin Mountains in the past jumped out and interfered. Judging by the sticky killing intent in their breath and their blackened fur that seemed to be rotting, they were definitely corrupted by Magia.

“There are many knights and soldiers around, but…”

I quickly scanned the surroundings.

“There are quite a few wolves, so Lady Sione should also prepare for battle.”

“Hmm… soup tastes best when it’s warm.”

“We can reheat it if it gets cold… for now, please take your bow.”

The soldiers, with expressions of disgust at having their rare mealtime interrupted, began drawing their swords.

The vulnerable servants quickly hid behind the soldiers’ backs.

‘My weapons—’

I only had one sword.

Before boiling the soup, we needed firewood to start a fire.

Since carrying a quiver and bow would be too cumbersome, I had only worn a sword.

As a result, the only bow available now was Sione’s, who had brought it to stretch her muscles by shooting some arrows during the break.

“I’ll borrow this for a moment.”

I quickly picked up Sione’s bow instead of waiting for her slow movements.

Woof! Woof!

Seeing a wolf howling and charging toward a servant who was showing their back while retreating late.

Even as I picked up the bow from the ground, I swiftly drew an arrow from the quiver I had grabbed along with it and nocked it.

Proper posture, but with movements flowing smoothly to connect seamlessly.

While quickly drawing the arrow with a pinch grip and using a dead release, I imbued the arrow with swiftness through a gathering whirlwind.

Twang!

Once I shot the arrow, there was no need to watch the target further. It was obvious it would hit and kill instantly.

I returned the bow to Sione’s hand, saying:

“It’s quite an excellent bow, perhaps because Lord Ainel gave it to you.”

“Ah, y-yes.”

As she received the bow in bewilderment and hurriedly strapped on the quiver that had been rolling on the ground.

I saw a wolf that had slipped through a gap and quickly drew my sword.

Shing!

The sound of blade against scabbard, heard after a long time.

I had heard it occasionally when sparring with Siabel, but I wonder if I’ve been neglecting my sword too much lately.

Well, I’m an archer, so as long as I shoot well, that’s all that matters.

Despite these trivial thoughts, with practiced, skilled movements:

“Hup!”

With a short exhalation, I struck with a single slash.

“Kheung!!”

The wolf’s flank.

I felt the cold sensation of taking a life traveling up my sword as it cut through tough hide and thick fat, but soon the blade’s path was blocked.

It seems I lacked the strength to cut through in one go when controlling my Mana so carefully.

“Woof!!”

Instead of writhing in pain, the wolf turned forward and opened its muzzle wide.

Dozens of sharp teeth perfectly suited for ending prey’s lives and tearing them apart.

If my neck were caught in such a muzzle, I would surely perish.

But without even blinking, I drove my sword deeper.

I’m not just skilled at creating wind.

I put my will into the Mana extending from my heart. What I desire is a blazing heat that burns strongly according to my will.

As I feel the Mana that had been heavily gathered around my heart release and rush through all the blood vessels in my body.

Bang!

A small explosion sounds from inside the creature where my sword is embedded.

“Whew.”

I pulled out my sword while catching my breath.

I pushed aside the wolf’s body with my foot as it began to go limp before it could fall.

I shook my sword to flick off the blood.

My impression after a proper battle after a long time:

“…Why are there so many?”

Just annoyance at the increased number of enemies compared to before.

I’m pretty sure Friel said that the elves were definitely exterminating and managing the monsters in the Great Forest…

What were those pointy-eared ones doing while so many Magia-infested creatures gathered like this?

“This is really frustrating.”

Surely… the pointy-eared ones aren’t already lacking the strength to handle even these monsters?

And where are Friel and the other pointy-eared ones? Why aren’t they visible?

As my irritation toward those damn pointy-eared ones rises already:

“…Tch.”

The targets of my frustration were the enemies right in front of me.