Ch.96Report on the Downfall of Kindness (6)

Lily carefully examined the bizarre decoration. There was an inexplicable unpleasantness about it that couldn’t be explained simply by saying someone had drawn a human face on wood.

Looking at it piece by piece made it even more repulsive. The protruding parts like the eyeballs, nose, lips, and cheekbones had a pronounced three-dimensional quality. In contrast, the cheeks and jawbone areas were so flat they seemed sunken.

That half-finished human-like appearance, that incomplete human carving, disturbed Lily. She even had the thought that the tree was trying to imitate a human.

‘But… this feels so wrong.’

Yet Lily couldn’t explain this hostility she felt.

There was something beyond mere discomfort. Threat. Contempt. Conflict. The desire to fight. A feeling so unpleasant she wanted to crush it…

‘Is it because of the eyes?’

The eyes protruded, but the pupils were deeply hollowed and scorched. Burned with sap still inside, they truly resembled the eyes of a taxidermied beast.

Lily turned her head this way and that, slightly shifting her position to look at the carving’s eyes. From any angle, those eyes never stopped staring at her.

Unable to bear it any longer, Lily moved closer to Kain. Unlike Maria, who was twitching her cheeks trying to hide her confusion, Kain was just his usual self. His consistency was a comfort to Lily.

“Honey.”

Lily approached Kain. Without a word, he wrapped his arm around her waist. Despite it being just for show, the affectionate embrace made Lily’s legs go weak. She actually sat down with a thump on a broken tree stump before she knew what was happening.

Startled, Lily quickly stood up. Thankfully, she hadn’t been poked or scratched by any sharp parts. Edith laughed, finding Lily’s embarrassment amusing, and looked with interest at the unperturbed Kain.

“The gentleman doesn’t seem very surprised?”

“I steeled myself since you warned us there was something scary. But these patterns are similar to those carved on the longhouse pillars. I was really surprised when I first saw those too.”

“Ah, yes. Exactly. They still give me the creeps sometimes. If Roberta hadn’t explained the reason, I would have suggested leaving immediately.”

“Is there a reason why it has to be here?”

At Kain’s question, Edith pointed to the cut tree stump.

“It’s actually because of this tree. It’s a type of Rosewood. It normally grows in warmer regions, but there’s a variety that grows in these high, cool mountains. This is the only place in the Black Forest where rosewood grows.

The wood color is red and the sap is truly blood-red, so it’s quite gruesome when you chop it… but when properly dried, it’s incredibly beautiful. The wood is also hard, so it’s often used for instruments and furniture. It’s especially popular in the southern kingdoms where they favor red colors.”

Maria nodded with an “Ah” of understanding. But Kain was a bit worried. Maria had turned deathly pale and was sweating profusely. She looked like she was suffering from acute indigestion. But hadn’t she been fine until they entered this place?

“Ah. Rosewood. I’ve heard of it. I heard the drying process is finicky and labor-intensive. So it comes from here.”

“You said you’re from Magdeburg? Rich cities really are different,” Edith smirked.

“I’ve never seen instruments or furniture made from this either. Instead, we cut down the whole tree, dry it well, and sell it to merchants for a good price. This rosewood is our main source of income. It’s a bit eerie, but the rosewood deeper in, around the logging area, doesn’t have these patterns.”

Maria moved closer to Kain and Lily. She looked down at the broken tree stump. The heartwood (the center of the tree, dead tissue where growth has stopped) had rotted and collapsed, leaving it hollow.

“It’s like looking down the throat of a beheaded convict.”

Maria complained quietly, pointing at the tree stump.

“Oh, is the inside all rotten?”

“Yes. That happens often with rosewood, they say. Some trees have heartwood that provides a solid core, but rosewood tends to be hollow inside. Funny, isn’t it? The wood itself is hard, but the inside is completely empty.”

Lily hid behind Kain. She seemed to feel considerable aversion. But Kain instead stepped forward.

Kain thought about the Holy Grail Knights.

While rosewood products are traded at high prices even in the Empire, not many people know about the rosewood itself. That’s because it doesn’t grow well in the Empire.

So even within the knightly order, few would have known much about rosewood. An axe barely penetrates its tough structure, and when it finally does, blood-like sap drips out.

‘It would be tempting to give up chopping. And if the inside was rotted like this, it wouldn’t have been impossible to push and “break” it.’

Even so, the tree rings were quite thick. A storm strong enough to break this tree would have knocked down several surrounding trees as well. But only this tree was broken.

‘Did someone secretly knock down the tree without the knights knowing?’

That seemed unlikely. While the Holy Grail Knights might be incompetent, they weren’t so low as to not post a single guard, and they wouldn’t have just watched while someone “pushed” a tree until it fell.

Still, wondering, Kain ran his hand over the tree stump. He wanted to check if it had been further cut with a saw or axe. Judging by the uneven, irregular surface, it didn’t seem like such tools had been used.

‘So either it fell on its own or someone pushed it until it broke, but does that make sense?’

As Kain pondered, something caught his eye.

The Black Forest is as dark as its reputation suggests. The area where the group stood was no exception. Kain wanted to see what was wriggling in the lower part of the hollow heartwood, but he couldn’t see it clearly from where he stood.

Kain leaned on the tree stump and peered inside. As his sleeve rolled up, everyone could see the bruises on his arm from fighting the thugs.

And then “it” erupted.

It didn’t shoot up like a fountain. It just regurgitated sticky, bright red, rose-scented sap like a backed-up sewer.

But could this be called a sap eruption? No tree in the world releases sap like this. Unless it was like sitting up a beheaded body and watching the blood flow, this wasn’t a normal amount of sap to come out just from placing a hand on a tree stump.

Kain withdrew his hand a bit late. Half his hand was covered in bright red sap. Kain shook his hand with disgust, then reached toward a nearby tree.

“No!”

Edith shouted loudly. Kain stopped. Edith, though trembling, tried to smile and explained, “I’m sorry. But the sap doesn’t wipe off well on other trees. It’s better to shake it off on the ground.”

Bright red sap continued to ooze from the broken tree.

“My God. What is this…”

Lily, who had unconsciously groaned, looked at Maria.

“…Sister?”

Startled, Lily rushed to Maria.

“What, what is it?”

Maria was confused. Lily tapped under her own eye with her finger. Maria reached for her cheek. Her fingertips came away wet and slick.

“…Am I crying?”

“Don’t cry.”

Lily hugged Maria tightly. She wiped the cold sweat from her forehead and flowing tears with her sleeve. Kain looked at Edith. He also noticed that her gaze was fixed on the bruises on his arm from blocking the thugs’ punches.

“I think we’ve seen enough. Let’s head back and clean up.”

Maria took the lead in wrapping things up. Everyone gladly moved to leave. Just before completely exiting, Lily glanced back at the carving that had been staring at her.

The carving glared back at her. To Lily, it seemed as if it had slightly turned its pupils.

Just like a real person.

* * * * *

Edith guided them to Brother Henry’s cabin. She joked that while being late for dinner wouldn’t matter, they might end up scraping the bottom of the stew pot with their spoons if they didn’t hurry.

Brother Henry wasn’t there. Only a note on the table saying, ‘I’ll be out gathering herbs for a while.’

As soon as they entered, Lily pressed herself against the doorway to check if anyone was eavesdropping. Kain approached the window and stopped Maria, who was also about to take a defensive position.

“Maria, rest. You look really unwell.”

“That’s right. You were sweating so much. Are you having indigestion?”

“Didn’t you see me bouncing around just fine?”

Maria growled, but she clearly lacked strength.

“Damn it, why is this happening!”

“What’s wrong?”

“My body won’t listen to me.” Maria frowned. “This has never happened except when I was dunked upside down in a beer barrel, or when you knocked me out with a club to the forehead…”

“Are you pushing yourself too hard?”

Maria glared at Kain incredulously.

“What have I done today?”

Lily, who had been watching quietly, mediated between them.

“Could it be because of that carving? I felt sick just looking at it. I’ve never seen anything like it before. It was like looking at the gargoyle waterspouts on a cathedral. But those are clearly monsters, while…”

“That thing is clearly human.” Maria grimaced.

“I’ve never seen anything like it either. I’ve never seen such things in the Empire before. There are all sorts of superstitions, but carving human faces into trees with a knife? Pagans and ancient kings? Nonsense. That’s from what era? Kain, you saw it too, right? The sap wriggling.”

“I did.” Kain waved his hand. The sap had been wiped off, but a faint sweet smell still lingered.

“It’s a lie. Those things are very recent. I scratched the burned part slightly with my hand, and it came right off. And rosewood? Do they think I don’t know what rosewood is? There’s no rosewood that looks like this. There’s no rosewood that mixes bright red, white, and dark red like a pig cut with two-handed swords.”

‘Right. It’s not rosewood.’

Kain quietly looked at the bruise on his arm from fighting the thugs. The stump that had no problem when Lily sat on it spewed sap when he reached out and “touched” it.

The fat and skinny men had described Kain as “spoiled.” Edith had also stared intently at Kain’s bruises.

And Edith had shouted when she saw Kain about to “touch” another tree. “No.” Why not? As if he was about to do something dangerous, something impure…

Kain suddenly stood up. He approached the desk as if entranced. He opened the books covering the monk’s desk at random. The elegant handwriting characteristic of a scholarly monk was visible.

After opening the books, Kain compared the handwriting with the note. Obviously, the handwriting on the note was extremely crude. It was closer to an imitation than actual writing, but judging by the pressure state and the angle at which the alphabet was written, it was a note written by a completely different person.

“Why are you suddenly doing that?”

Maria asked with difficulty.

“This note is fake. Someone imitated Brother Henry’s handwriting.”

Maria fainted.

Kain stopped Lily, who was startled and about to rush over. He picked up Maria and laid her on the bed. She was trembling and her eyes were rolling back. It was a seizure. But he couldn’t tell what was causing it.

“Lily. I think we need to loosen the leather strap inside Maria’s clothes. I’ll hold her while you…”

Maria grabbed Kain’s wrist tightly. It was a strong grip, strong enough to hurt and leave a bruise. It felt like she might crush his bones.

“…Maria?”

Under her closed eyelids, her eye movements were clearly visible. Maria mumbled something incoherently.

“Maria. It’s okay. Lily and I are here with you…”

Maria’s eyes flew open. She glared at Kain as if she wanted to devour him. With her jaw clenched tight, her eyes were filled with a viciousness he had never seen before.

“Why?”

Her voice was different too. As if she were a completely different person. Like when he knocked her out in Magdeburg. Like when she was walking around with a pierced heart in Masada.

“…Why did you bring my daughter to this filthy place? Was it you? Was it your doing? You with hands full of tree blood, you who committed an unforgivable sin against the tree! What are you trying to do to the daughter of the ash tree!”

Maria’s hands grabbed Kain’s neck. Kain tried to break free, but Maria’s grip was incredibly strong.

“Maria… Maria!”

Lily tried her best, but she wouldn’t loosen her grip at all.

“…He…lp…”

Kain struggled with all his might.

“It’s a misunderstanding! We’re trying to help! Your daughter, us, the world! Just as Haspel did! So, please help us!”

Maria abruptly let go. Her eyes still burned with hatred, and she growled, baring her teeth.

“Haspel…”

“Yes. Father Haspel… your…”

“Stop!”

Maria raised her finger threateningly. She looked ready to stab Kain’s eye. Instead, she bit her own finger.

Lily let out a small scream. But Maria paid no attention. She forcibly opened Kain’s palm and quickly drew a symbol on it. A symbol Kain knew well—the Black Phoenix.

“Don’t carelessly ask favors of a witch or treat her as you please! A witch repays good deeds threefold and bad deeds threefold as well.

There may be good and evil people, but there are no witches in seclusion. There are many witches full of temptation, threats, whims, and hatred, but none who have severed ties with the world!

So neither just receive nor just give. Size doesn’t matter. If you’ve received, give; if you’ve given, receive!”

The Black Phoenix drawn on Kain’s hand burst into flames. It wasn’t a holy fire. It was a blackish, flickering fire that devoured other fires, that crushed and distorted and tore. Kain gritted his teeth against the burning pain.

But it soon disappeared without leaving a scar. As if it had never been there. It didn’t burn or hurt anymore.

Maria’s body went limp. Lily examined Maria’s finger. There was not a single wound where she had bitten it.

“Maria, Maria!”

Lily frantically shook Maria. Maria opened her eyes with difficulty.

“Stop shaking me. My head hurts… Huh! Hey, hey, Lily!”

Lily hugged Maria so tightly it looked like she might break her. Maria struggled, saying she couldn’t breathe. Kain pressed himself against the doorway instead of Lily. The watchers outside were still in place.

“I hate trees. I hate forests even more.”

Maria sighed. As she finally managed to get up, something fell from inside her clothes with a thud. It was a leather strap inscribed with ancient script.