Chapter 36: To the Sage’s Forest (3)

Relying on a pathetically crude map that was embarrassing even to call a map, I finally reached the edge of the forest after several days of riding, but I felt nothing but unease.

‘Is this really the place?’

There was nothing wrong with the forest itself. It looked like an ordinary forest, no different from any other.

Even though it was called the Sage’s Forest, its exterior was unremarkable. What bothered me, however, was the nearby village.

The village, about a 30-minute ride away, appeared as ordinary as the forest.

It resembled one of the villages near the mountains back home.

‘Why is there a village near a forest with dangerous magic beasts?’

The wooden fence around the village looked flimsy, as if it could be easily breached by wild dogs or goblins.

The map did show a house symbol near the forest, but I had thought it was just a small hut.

I never expected a village.

‘Well, let’s check it out….’

If there was an inn with a stable, I wouldn’t need to take Silence into the forest and could go alone.

Besides, the village next to the Sage’s Forest might have information I didn’t know.

Having decided, I rode Silence towards the village.

The closer I got, the more it felt like a typical village, with old men sitting under trees and children playing happily.

But that impression changed when I reached the center of the village.

‘What is that?’

In the middle of the village stood something you’d expect to see in a city, not in a rural village.

A large bronze statue made of brass.

The well-crafted statue depicted a man riding a wolf.

‘…Is that Pierre?’

I approached the statue and read the inscription on the base, confirming it was indeed the statue of Pierre, the magic swordsman.

Pierre’s statue, holding a staff high, suggested he was more skilled in magic than swordsmanship.

‘Why is such a statue in a rural village….’

The cost of materials and hiring a skilled sculptor would be considerable.

When I wanted to make a statue of the Swordmaster out of respect, I couldn’t afford it.

So, there was no way a struggling village like this could have such an impressive statue.

“Excuse me, sir! Can I ask you something?”

“Hm? What is it…?”

I asked an old man sitting leisurely under a tree.

“What’s this statue? I know it’s impolite, but it seems too grand for a village like this.”

“Why? Is it strange to have a statue in a tourist spot?”

“……A tourist spot?”

While I tilted my head, thinking it was a joke, the old man tapped his lips playfully and said,

“Ah… calling it a tourist spot was inappropriate. If you want to know more, you should go to that souvenir shop over there.”

“……A souvenir shop?”

The old man left after saying that, and I headed towards the shop he pointed out, puzzledly.

“Hmm? Oh, welcome!”

The man, who had been half-asleep with his face on the counter, quickly got up as I entered. His mouth was covered in drool, suggesting he might have kept sleeping if I hadn’t arrived.

“Sorry for the unsightly display. What can I do for you? If you’re looking for our best-selling souvenirs, they’re over here….”

“Well, I have a few questions.”

Hearing that, the man openly showed his annoyance. Disliking his attitude, I placed a few gold coins on the counter and spoke.

“Please answer honestly.”

Seeing the gold coins on the counter, the man’s face lit up, and he responded in a friendly tone.

“Of course, sir! Ask me anything! I’ll even tell you my wife’s underwear color if you want!”

“No, that’s not necessary…. This place looks like a tourist spot. What’s going on?”

“Although it feels wrong to exploit his death, many magic swordsmen visit here to pay their respects to Sir Pierre.”

Every year, during the period believed to be the anniversary of Pier’s death, many magic swordsmen visit this village to honor the great magic swordsman Pierre.

Most of the visiting magic swordsmen were nobles who spent lavishly, and the money they brought in during that short period was more than enough to sustain the village.

The profits were so great that they could afford to erect such a magnificent statue in the village center.

“But why ‘believed to be’ the anniversary? What does that mean?”

“Well, it’s because we don’t know the exact date of his death.”

Pierre’s death was shrouded in mystery. No one knew why he came to this forest or how he met his end; everything was cloaked in secrecy.

This led to many speculations about Pierre’s death. Some believed he was still alive, while others thought he was assassinated by a rival swordsman….

The speculation caused a great uproar at the time, but ultimately, nothing was revealed, and it remains a mystery to this day.

“But if no one knows how he died, how do you know he’s dead?”

“We have a credible witness.”

A few days after Pierre entered the forest, the high earth spirit he had contracted with came directly to the village chief and conveyed the news of Pierre’s death.

Initially, few believed the spirit, but as weeks and months passed without any sign of Pierre, everyone had to accept the reality.

Several search parties were sent to recover Pier’s body, but all were annihilated, and except for one person, no one returned.

“Did that person bring information about Marang?”

“Sir, you knew about Marang?! Yes, it was through his information that we learned there was Marang in the forest.”

Unable to accept his master’s death, the wolf Pierre rode turned into a magic beast, tearing apart anyone who approached its master.

A knight order was dispatched to eliminate Marang, but after their first encounter, they withdrew, and the mission was stopped.

The reason was that the losses outweighed the gains.

The king at the time decided that the cost of subduing Marang was greater than the benefit of obtaining the legendary magic swordsman Pier’s artifacts.

“Over the past 200 years, some fools have come, hoping to slay Marang and find the hero’s relics, but none have succeeded.”

There were also those who aimed to retrieve just the body, but none succeeded and all became Marang’s meal.

“Why do you live here, then? Isn’t there a risk that Marang could come down to this village?”

“No! In the past 200 years, that has never happened! Marang stays deep within the forest.”

This is why rumors persist that Pier’s body lies within Marang’s claimed territory.

Having roughly understood the situation regarding Marang and Pierre, I nodded. The man then cautiously asked,

“So, are you here to slay Marang?”

“Why else would I be here? I need materials for a new sword.”

“Are you serious? You should reconsider! You seem young; you should value your life!!”

Just for that? To achieve a more satisfying Baldo, risking my life is only natural.

I gently spoke to him, who had no way of knowing about Baldo while living in this backwater.

“You can perform a more satisfying Baldo, so isn’t a mere life a cheap price to pay?”

“…What?”

Whether you die young or old, it’s all the same death. If it’s the same death, it’s better to live a more satisfying life, even if just a little.

Despite the souvenir shop owner’s dissuasion, I left him behind and looked for a stable to leave Silence.

Silence was an excellent steed, but he couldn’t run faster against a beast, especially one comparable to a young dragon.

After leaving Silence in the stable attached to the lodging for worshippers, just before leaving, I recalled the story of Marang and looked back at Silence.

‘If I die, will that guy become a beast and guard my corpse?’

That wouldn’t happen, but considering how well I’ve treated him so far, of course he would.

Even though I didn’t call him by name directly, I had given him the cool name Baldo Maru in my mind.

When I returned to Silence, no, Baldo Maru, and patted his head, he looked at me with an indifferent expression.

Isn’t this what they call tsundere? He’s surprisingly cute in a way.

Leaving Silence behind again, I headed towards the Sage’s Forest, navigating the rugged forest paths towards where Marang would be deep within the woods.

An hour later, after continuing through the forest, I――

“…Sh*t, I’m lost.”

I was lost.