episode_0039

Provelitu, Forest of the Unknown

“…. Aria.” “Yes.” “How many days have we been here now?” “Hmm… It’s the seventh day.” “…. Damn it…”

Unlike the first day, when my expectations were high from encountering the unknown, now I’m filled with the desire to quickly leave this forest. Why? Because the only monsters I’ve seen since entering were the snakes on the first day. After that, there were no more monsters, just a peaceful forest where ordinary animals roamed. Monsters or plants suddenly attacking explorers? None of that existed. And what’s more…

“Seriously, who spread the rumor that there are elves here? Ugh…” “That’s true, but didn’t Cecilia say that no explorers or creatures have ever made it out of here?” “Oh, right.” “Then how did the rumor about elves being here spread? Didn’t they say no one ever returned? If no one returned, how could such a rumor spread?”

Now that you mention it…? If no one ever made it out… who started that rumor? And what’s more…

“Hmm…” “Zeke-nim? Is that…” “This is the map we received before coming to the Kriton region. Since Provelitu was marked on this map, I thought someone had already explored it. But hearing what you said… there are several unsettling things. Who made this map, how did they know the width of Provelitu… when I think about it, it’s all full of questions. And it doesn’t even make sense.”

“…It seems like you’re getting fired up again, though…” “No… I’m just a bit upset because there are so many things that don’t make sense. If Cecilia is right, then this map shouldn’t have even been created in the first place. But the explorers who came here never returned home, yet this map and the circulating rumors exist, which is extremely strange.”

“Yes… Since we don’t know what the truth is, I can’t predict what might come out of this forest. I thought there wouldn’t be any monsters since it’s the Kriton region, but monsters appeared.” “Perhaps because there are no predators, even such weak monsters live here… it doesn’t seem like there are major risks.” “But! With the Cecilia incident, we must always be careful!” “True. But I have you.”

“…!! You’re saying that again… Ugh… You know I can’t win against those words!!” “Hahaha! Alright then… Aria, could you protect me while I record?” “Don’t change the subject!! Ugh… Lately, Zeke-nim, you seem to have become more mischievous…”

I’m still scared of you, damn it…. Ugh… But your dependability hasn’t changed. I entrusted my safety to Aria and opened my record book. I tore out a page and placed it on my left arm, then took out my exploration log and began writing down its contents.

‘Let’s see… discovered plants… and edible fruits and creatures…. Good. With this, I can at least make some records.’

The Forest of Provelitu is a calm and quiet forest. Due to the towering trees, it’s very difficult to observe the forest’s interior from afar, and even inside, the trees are so densely packed that one could easily get lost. Therefore, when exploring this place, be sure to bring a rope. Since low-level monsters like Whisla Snakes exist here, it’s best for ordinary people not to enter.

“This much warning should be enough…”

Apple trees, pear trees, even peach trees. Fruit trees whose appearances have changed to be almost identical are growing. Though their shapes differ, they are not poisonous, so they can be safely consumed. Even if not, many wild vegetables grow here, so there is little chance of experiencing food shortages. This means starvation due to lack of food, one of the presumed reasons why explorers couldn’t return, is naturally excluded.

“Aria, do you remember what kind of animals there were?” “Hmm… Well…”

I listened to Aria list all the animals we had seen, and based on that, I started recording again. We really found a lot… and ate a lot…

Wild animals such as snakes, rabbits, wild boars, and deer are commonly found. There are many beetles among the insects. However, there’s something strange. Birds do not live in Provelitu. Just as there are no monsters in the Kriton region, no birds are seen here.

“Now that I think about it, I haven’t eaten any bird meat recently.” “Should I cut down all these trees to see if any come out? To prepare a dish for Zeke-nim…” “Hey! Don’t do that!! Just cutting down someone else’s forest like that… Ah.”

She already broke through trees ruthlessly when chasing Fertea before, didn’t she…? But I don’t want to see that again….. Huh? Wait a minute…. The trees are…

“Aria, it’s March now, isn’t it?” “No. It’s April. Is there a problem?” “…. Is it a characteristic of Provelitu? All the leaves seem to be enduring the cold… Look. We’re still wearing thick clothes because it’s cold.” “Oh my. Now that you mention it, that’s true. The leaves are so vibrant and alive.” “Perhaps the explorers got lost because of these immortal trees and died mysterious deaths?” “Indeed… it would be easy to get lost in a forest with so many tall trees like this…. Provelitu… it truly is a forest of the unknown.”

“Uh… And how are these trees continuously alive? How fertile is this land that so many trees are not just healthy, but stand as if they’re piercing the sky? This… it’s quite chilling…” “Right…?”

Just as Aria was about to agree with me, my stomach rumbled. Oh… this is embarrassing… It seems I forgot about lunch after walking for so long. Well… I also forgot to eat because I was busy speculating about Provelitu… As my stomach demanded food, Aria smiled and spoke.

“Hehehe…. Zeke-nim. I’ve heard that when you’re hungry, you can’t even think straight. I’ll make you another delicious meal~” “Hmm… What food supplies do we have?” “Don’t worry~ I can make you a delicious stew using the leftover rabbit meat from yesterday and the fruits we can gather here!” “Haha… Stew is good. Indeed… they say stew is a good food to eat when exploring, right?” “Is that so? Hehehe… Anyway, I’ll make it delicious for you!”

Aria’s cooking skills have been improving lately. Her cooking, which could subtly alter the taste of stew so that it felt like I was eating it for the first time in ages, was so impressive that she won first place in a cooking competition we stumbled upon while exploring the Magrion region. Well… if only Aria’s cooking skills were the only thing improving… I recently found out that for a week, Aria had been watching me sleep with a terrifying smile. Isn’t it time she stopped that…? Does it make sense that this habit has continued for four months?!

“Ugh…” “Why, Zeke-nim?” “Oh… nothing. It’s because of Provelitu.” “Ah… You’ll be able to solve it! With your curiosity, Zeke-nim!” “Y-Yeah… I guess so…”

What I *really* want to solve is that habit of yours, Aria… It’s not just a sleeping habit anymore; you’re doing it on purpose… The only way I could fall asleep was by counting sheep. But even that didn’t always work. Aria’s gaze was too intense… In such cases…. I would succumb to sleep as if I had suddenly fainted.

“…Aria. Have you slept at all lately?” “Huh?” “Just asking…. *Gulp*.” “Hehehehehehe…..”

I was cooking, then turned my head back and saw Aria giving me an eerie smile, and a shiver instantly ran down my spine. That smile… surely you… haven’t been sleeping all this time, have you?!

“You don’t mean… you haven’t slept…?! For four months?!” “Hehehehehe…. For me… watching Zeke-nim sleep all the time… is one of my heavens…? Hehehehehehe…. Hehehe… Ihihihihi…. ”

“…Why are you laughing like that all of a sudden…?” “Hihihihi… Th-That’s because… when I remember Zeke-nim… sl-sleeping and even drooling… oh… ohhhhhh… my entire body shivers…. Y-You’re just too adorable!!”

…. Is that a compliment… or am I just scared of Aria…? I didn’t even know I drooled in my sleep…. At this point, my wariness towards Aria seemed to intensify. I had lowered my guard lately, fearing she might have been traumatized by all sorts of past incidents… but seeing this, she’s back, she’s really back…

“Here you go, Zeke-nim! Stew made with my love….!! Please enjoy it!” “…Well… I guess it’s a relief that you’re okay.” “Huh?” “Nothing. I’ll enjoy it, Aria. Thank you, always…?” “Ahhh….”

When I said thank you, Aria suddenly fell backward and landed on the ground. I put the stew aside for a moment and quickly checked Aria’s condition…. Why is her face so red again…

“…. You don’t have a fever, do you?” “The… the… the fever of l-love for Zeke-nim…” “…Judging by the strange things you’re saying, you seem fine… Let’s eat…” “Yes, Zeke-nim…?” “Take my hand.” “Ahhh… Hehehehehehe… Uhhehehehehehe….”

…. When I offered my hand, Aria took it with a somewhat eerie laugh. She’s back, alright… but it seems like she’s returned in an even more extreme state. Before, she used to hide that kind of laugh… but now she’s expressing it freely, huh…. I let out a dry laugh and helped Aria up, then began eating the stew, holding the bowl in one hand.

‘It’s delicious, as expected… Is this why she won first place in the cooking competition right away….’

“How is it…?! I’m a bit worried since there’s an ingredient I used for the first time…” “It’s delicious. Really…. Wait. An ingredient you used for the first time?” “Ah, yes… This fruit, peach… I’d actually never seen it before. So I wondered if it was okay to put it in the dish…”

…. What exactly is her deal? Is that a talent too? I do envy Aria in times like these… but what can I do? You could say that’s a kind of intuition. It must be because Aria has a superhuman body that she shines in such fields. Hmm…

“Aria?” “Yes?” “But you serve a god, don’t you? To use abilities like blessings, you need faith. So, is it okay to eat meat? As far as I know…” “I was taught that too. So I never ate meat at all. But… now there’s no such thing as a god in my heart… Only… only!! Zeke-nim!! There’s no place for a god in my heart…! Only Zeke-nim can be in my heart!!”

“Uh… haha… B-But what about the blessing abilities…?” “I don’t know either. Why I can still use blessing abilities… But if I have them, it’s best to use them without reservation for Zeke-nim!!” “Is… is that so?” “Yes! Ah… that’s right! I might still be full of faith! Because… I believe in Zeke-nim!!”

“…I’m not a god.” “Hehehe… But it’s true that you’re the one I love, isn’t it! So I think that’s why I can still use blessing abilities!”

Is that so… Lately, I’ve realized many things through this exploration. For one, the most shocking fact was that angels were bad and demons were good… To be precise… I’m realizing that everything I thought I knew was a lie. Because of that, I feel betrayed, and I also feel sympathy for victims like Cecilia who suffered because of those lies.

“…. Aria.” “Yes?” “If this journey makes me learn things I shouldn’t know…. would you…” “Leave you?” “Yes.” “Absolutely not! Even if Zeke-nim gains forbidden knowledge, I will face destiny with you! Imagining the one I love struggling alone… my heart… *Sob*… *Sob*….”

Huh…? Ah, wait. What do I do if you suddenly cry?! I put the empty bowl I had finished eating aside and comforted Aria. No, if she suddenly cries, what does that make me for saying such a thing? Ugh…. Still, she’s doing this because she doesn’t want to be alone, so perhaps I should understand….

“If Zeke-nim loses his life… I will follow you…!!” “…. Why?!” “Because Zeke-nim will be there…!!”

…. Ah, no. It’s definitely not because she doesn’t want to be alone. She’s just doing this to follow me wherever I go… Well… it’s not like I didn’t expect something like this.

“…. Just finish eating. I’ll rest for a bit… No, I should clean my bowl. ” “Huh?! M-Me.” “Just put my mind at ease… I’ll do this one thing. Okay?” “Ugh…. But…” “…Ahaha… If I can’t even do this, what kind of person am I…?”

Seeing Aria’s fidgeting, I let out a hollow laugh, greatly flustered. But at that moment, a girl emerged from between the trees, met my gaze, smiled brightly, and then started running away somewhere. There’s a person?!

“Aria! There’s a person over there!!” “Huh? But I didn’t sense any human presence?” “Let’s ask that girl, Aria! Then we might find out something….” “Wait a minute! Did you just say ‘girl’?!”

…. Oh, right. Even if she’s young… she’s still a girl, isn’t she?! Suddenly, Aria swallowed the entire bowl of stew in one gulp, grabbed her staff, and began striding towards where I had seen the girl… Whoa whoa whoa… N-No!!

“Aria! Control yourself!!” “How dare that child try to tempt Zeke-nim… I’ll definitely kill her with my own hands…!!” “Nooo! Stop it!!! We need to learn about Provelitu first, don’t we?!” “I don’t care about that…!! Right now, all I care about is killing that child who tried to lure Zeke-nim!!”

“No, that child could be an elf!! Her skin was green…” “Green? Then I should kill her even more, shouldn’t I?” “What?! Why?! She could be an elf…” “Oh? Zeke-nim… Have you perhaps heard of an Alraune?” “What? An Alraune?”

It was a name I’d never heard before. From her reaction, Aria seemed to know something… As I showed a completely clueless expression, Aria turned her head to me and began to explain about Alraune.

“An Alraune is a flower in the form of a human woman. To be precise, it’s a half-human, half-flower. The upper body is human, but the lower body is a flower.” “What?! What is that?!” “It’s a variant of a plant. According to rumors, Alraune seduce young men, then either consume their life force or simply kill them. I know their skin color is green.”

“…Wait. So earlier… if what you’re saying is true, I could have died?” “Yes… So I’ll go kill that child right now…!!” “No, there was the Cecilia incident too!! Just calm down and let’s investigate thoroughly later, and if we decide it’s dangerous, then we’ll deal with it!!!” “…. Tsk… That child… I was definitely going to kill her with my own hands….”

…. With my repeated pleas, Aria eventually clicked her tongue and gave up on chasing the child. Phew… So Alraune are also depicted as a bad race, like demons… I need to investigate thoroughly and then decide…. Otherwise, I’ll end up like the angels who tormented Cecilia…

“First… this forest has Alraune living in it. So if that legend is true, then it’s also true that explorers were eaten and died by those Alraune…” “Elves could also be a reason.” “Why elves?” “I’ve heard that elves are mostly reclusive. So… we could be ambushed like this, right?”

“Huh?…. Wh-What?!”

Without a hint of surprise, Aria lightly snatched a spear that had suddenly flown from somewhere with one hand. Where did *this* spear come from?! Wait…. When I listened closely…

‘Something’s moving above the trees… And footsteps…. Could it really be…?!’

“Hear, humans!! You have trespassed upon the sacred land of Provelitu! Therefore, you shall be severely punished according to the laws of the elves! Do not even think of resisting!!” “Damn it… They’re ambushing us while we’re eating now…” “Hmm…. There are many elves around. About… 30?”

As Aria finished speaking, many elves emerged from the trees and bushes, aiming their spears at us and slowly approaching. Those pointed ears, yellow hair… and blue eyes… There really were elves! But…. Damn it, we’re surrounded…