Ch.172172. The Sea of Trees (3)

The worst timing for monsters to appear.

Looking at them individually, they were mere beasts that our knights and soldiers could handle without much damage, but their numbers were the problem.

Even corrupted by Magia, somehow their pack mentality and sense of camaraderie remained intact. The wretched creatures never turned on each other.

Instead, they targeted the County of Sianella and our powerless servants first, which was the problem.

Since we were ambushed during a meal, those without proper training panicked at the wolves’ size and ferocity. Some of them were frozen in place, unable to hide behind the soldiers.

‘I can’t just let them die.’

Whether men or women.

We’ve spent time together building fires, making soup, and sometimes restocking supplies when staying in villages. After all this time together, I’d rather not see their blood soaking the ground.

Whoosh!

—Myeong!

I summoned back the cotton puff that I had temporarily dismissed while eating, wanting some peace and quiet.

The spirit appeared with a cheer, flapping its tiny wings as if it had been waiting for my call.

The small spirit flew quickly in circles around my head.

But that was short-lived as the fierce battle cries of the women and the beasts’ roars filled the air.

The cotton puff tilted its head curiously at the metallic scent of blood carried by the wind.

“Protect those who haven’t properly taken shelter behind the soldiers. Can you do that?”

—Myeong.

Nod, nod.

Perhaps sensing the Magia from the beasts, the cotton puff raised its energy with an uncharacteristically cautious attitude.

Hoong!

Rising high with a gust of wind, the spirit surveyed the scene below, identifying those in the most danger.

Even a low-level spirit can easily create wind sharp enough to slice through skin.

If the cotton puff moves freely and quickly like the wind to lend its strength, it would be quite helpful.

—Kyeong!

I readied my stance, feeling the sudden wind and hearing the cotton puff’s sharp cry.

Just then, Diolia approached us with her long hair flowing. Judging by the blood on her sword, she must have cut down a couple of beasts on her way.

“Lady Sione, I will begin escorting you now.”

“Ah, Lady Diolia.”

Sione looked at Diolia standing with her back to her.

She frowned at the red blood staining Diolia’s clothes.

“…Are you injured?”

“Hmm… there is quite a bit of blood, but it’s all from the beasts, not mine.”

“I’m relieved to hear you’re unharmed.”

Diolia smiled slightly at Sione’s words.

“A knight of the County would never be wounded by such beasts.”

She nodded slightly while making direct eye contact with me.

She probably meant that she would protect Sione, so I should quickly clear the area. Even though I’m an archer without a bow, she didn’t hesitate to have me handle this annoying task, perhaps because she knew I had crossed swords with her before and had been sparring with Siabel for some time.

“Besides, our knights can easily dispatch such beasts.”

At some point, Diolia’s treatment of me had changed from “male knight” to just “knight.”

…I was taught that men in this world should be cherished like precious flowers.

While I didn’t expect to be treated like a hothouse flower, I didn’t think I’d be pushed to fight these drooling beasts either.

Anyway, we needed to eliminate all the creatures that had appeared here to calm the situation.

I slightly furrowed my brow and began to face them again.

“Kyeong!”

I dodged the ones that lunged at me first with careful steps and cut them down with minimal movement.

Rather than striking and moving on, I focused on deep, decisive cuts.

I twisted my sword as I pulled it out.

“Grrrr……”

A wolf that no longer had the strength to bite collapsed weakly.

I had taken down three wolves by myself so far. As mana coursed through my meridians and permeated my body, I began to feel more energized.

As I fought the wolves among the soldiers who were struggling to protect the carriages and servants…

‘Finally, they’ve arrived.’

The elves, led by Friel Arielt and Elisa, belatedly joined in to deal with the monsters.

Perhaps because we were inside the Great Forest, near the World Tree.

“I didn’t expect trouble to break out while I was briefly away… Piel?”

—Yes?

Friel Arielt’s spirit, Piel.

The spirit, just beginning to take human form, had already transformed into a high-level appearance.

About 50cm tall, its form was perfectly that of an adorable tomboy girl.

The spirit, now more human-like, could control stronger winds than when it was mid-level.

Originally it was a higher-level spirit, but being far from the World Tree of the Great Forest near the County had reduced it to mid-level. It seems Friel was right—Piel was indeed a high-level spirit or above.

Friel looked down at the beast glaring at her with bloodshot eyes and said:

“Could you sweep the area for me?”

—Sure! Those friends… they’ve already been corrupted by demons… I’ll make it easier for them before they suffer more.

As expected of a high-level spirit.

The spirit’s attack, hitting without any defense or preparation, was a mysterious force of incredible power.

When the erupting wind swept past the enemies, only what used to be living creatures remained sprawled on the ground.

As blood seeped into the cold earth, creating a dark carpet of blood, other elves unhesitatingly walked across it to finish off the remaining stragglers.

‘This situation will be over soon.’

As I said that, with the situation being wrapped up thanks to the quick response of the other knights, I was helping by swinging my sword occasionally.

Pang!

Sione, who had just fired an arrow, shouted:

“Ray, fall back!”

At Sione’s words, I expanded my perception and retreated without hesitation.

Then, at the edge of my expanded senses, I began to detect something massive approaching.

A presence charging forward, violently pounding the ground.

It seemed quite far away.

Either Sione had expanded her senses while shooting her bow, or these creatures were also corrupted by Magia and caught in her power.

‘…No rest before the second round, huh.’

Talk about terrible luck.

“Hoo……”

I regulated my breathing and briefly relaxed my stance. A momentary respite to give my body a short rest.

With a deteriorating expression, I felt the vibrations gradually rising from the ground through my feet and focused on what lay ahead.

…Thud. Thud…. Thud……!

What appeared were massive green-skinned bodies.

“…Orcs.”

The monsters I had hunted to exhaustion on that blizzard-filled day had appeared.

‘Really, all sorts of things are popping up.’

As expected of the Great Forest.

Not just rare flora and fauna, but also quite a variety of monsters.

I readjusted my grip on my sword to a middle stance and heightened my senses.

These creatures were also corrupted by Magia. The ones I met in the blizzard weren’t affected by Magia, so these would probably charge more violently.

Judging by the slight clarity remaining in their eyes, they hadn’t been completely consumed by Magia yet. Well, at this level, they would soon lose their reason.

But there was something more concerning.

‘…Their bodies are covered in wounds.’

As if they had been cut by something sharp, their bodies were full of what appeared to be lacerations.

They even looked like defeated soldiers.

If they were injured, that would make them easier to deal with—a small consolation as I was about to kick off from the ground.

‘Hmm…?’

My expanded perception.

Within it, I sensed multiple presences.

But their presences weren’t felt on the ground.

Above my head. From the sky.

And from the thick branches of the tall ancient trees surrounding us.

The moment I turned my eyes toward where I sensed the presences.

Sssaaeaek—!

Whoooosh——!

The sharp cry of a hawk soaring through the sky echoed.

Something that reflected the sunlight flashed in my field of vision, then fell mercilessly to the ground—specifically, onto the orcs that had rushed at us with their wounded bodies.

It wasn’t the aggressive charge of a ferocious hawk, but an iron rain created by sharp arrows.

The orcs, their backs pierced by the sudden rain of arrows covering the battlefield, finally lost all strength to support their heavy bodies on two legs.

Thud—!

…Thud!

The many massive bodies gradually collapsed from the back.

And finally, even the one that had approached right in front of me.

“Keureu……”

Bleeding profusely, it collapsed forward.

The orc died with its head at my feet.

As my view widened, no longer blocked by its massive house-sized body.

“……”

I could see them.

The race that ruled the Great Forest and its inhabitants.

And among them, those who served in the military.

A considerable number of elves in elegant uniforms were looking down at us with cold eyes.

As if it were natural for them, as elves, to look down on us humans.

They were elves.