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Great Forest

A vast sea of majestic woods rooted in the continent, centered around the World Tree.

The Great Forest, a treasure trove of nature, is also recognized as the unique territory and homeland of the noble elven race, imbued with a disdainful ideology of purity.

Moreover—

‘This is where everything is destined to fall apart.’

Ruling over the elves as their king, the High Elf has received a prophecy, predicting that fierce flames will engulf this vast forest, and the elven race will meet a horrific fate of extinction.

‘A catastrophe indeed.’

The mere thought of the exquisite events yet to unfold in this place sends chills down my spine.

The forest is practically the elves’ backyard.

Elves with bows dart around the towering trees of the Great Forest with agility, while those who venture to the ground employ their unique and nimble swordsmanship to tear into the flesh of their enemies.

They tread on grass without making a sound, mastering the art of concealing their presence.

To further compound matters, engaging in battle within the forest against them—who are adept in both spirit magic and resilience—would be no easy feat for even the most cunning and brutal demons and fanatics.

What on earth could compel the elves to such dire straits that they would face annihilation?

‘…Well, this is the world where I once died in a dungeon, after all.’

Thinking back, this place is a world that has already perished once.

It’s even the home of a monstrous demon that wiped out the elite hunters who had somehow managed to survive and strategize.

Such a dreadful being dwelled here once. Could it really not obliterate a single elf?

“Phew…”

Soon enough, just like back at the Count’s House, the demon will surely manifest again. Just thinking about how chaotic that might become gives me a headache.

Moreover, not just demons.

I have personally witnessed how merciless the elves’ adversaries can be, who seem determined to squeeze the life out of them.

The beauty they hide is matched only by their brutality. Entering the heart of the Great Forest, where the World Tree grows, filled with elves, isn’t particularly pleasant.

That’s because—

‘The elves in the Great Forest, according to Friel, won’t exactly welcome us with open arms.’

Though most elves might accept us into the Great Forest under the words of the Grand Elder and High Elf, they won’t offer a genuinely warm reception.

To those pointy-eared fellows, we’ll only be seen as countless incompetent short-lived beings.

While my abilities might catch their interest, whether that attention is favorable remains uncertain.

‘Just look at Friel.’

That greedy elf may not exhibit it greatly now, but didn’t she initially gaze at me with insatiable desire?

After entering the Great Forest, I find myself peeking outside the carriage at the repetitive scenery of the woods, my expression contorted.

Shione gazes at me, chuckling softly.

“You told me not to be nervous.”

“…?”

“Now that I see it, Ray seems more nervous than I am.”

Shione, with a self-satisfied expression, crosses her arms.

“Well, what can you do…?”

For some reason, she seems oddly excited.

Suddenly, Shione’s mouth twists into a grin, moving up and down like a cookie addict experiencing withdrawal.

…Cookie withdrawal symptoms?

I just gave her one, so it shouldn’t be that yet.

As I watch her, Shione extends her right hand forward over her right shoulder. At that moment, Cotton Puff, who had been resting on Shione’s shoulder, tilts its head and looks at her.

“…”

─…

It appears that just exchanging glances was enough for Shione and Cotton Puff to understand each other’s intentions.

For some reason, Cotton Puff obediently climbs onto her palm.

…It’s not like it knows the spirit communication technique. I guess after playing around so much, they’ve become like two peas in a pod. In a way, it might even be closer to her than I am.

─Meow!

With a little bark, Cotton Puff is clutched tightly by Shione.

“Hey!”

Whoosh!

Without hesitation, Shione tosses Cotton Puff.

As Cotton Puff flies straight towards me and lands flat against my cheek—

It then rolls off and tumbles down.

Plop!

I felt Cotton Puff sneaking inside my clothing, crawling over my bare stomach.

“…Ugh.”

─Meow!

Why does it keep going in there again?

I lifted my top to retrieve Cotton Puff.

As it pops out on my exposed stomach and meets my eyes, it tries to hide back into my clothes.

Whoosh!

“Where do you think you’re going?”

─Meow…

I effortlessly snatched Cotton Puff with my left hand, which was idly playing around.

“Don’t go into places like that, just stay calmly on my shoulder.”

─Meow.

I placed Cotton Puff back on my shoulder and looked again at Shione, who just flung her spirit at me.

Shione can’t seem to close her mouth, busily glancing at me.

For some reason, her eyes have turned red, trembling like there’s been an earthquake.

Her gaze shifts between my expression and my stomach.

What I did was merely a mindless act.

But perhaps in the context of this world, it came off as quite provocative.

As I stared at her in silence, a smile crept onto my face.

“Princess Shione.”

“Eh… Ah, uh?”

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

“N-No, I’m not!”

Immediately after saying that, she dove under the blanket she had laid out on the ground, covering herself with a blanket to avoid my gaze.

“Cotton Puff, come here.”

─Meow!

Whoosh!

Feeling playful, I tossed Cotton Puff again.

“W-Why are you here…!”

─Meow!

*

The Great Forest is home to many creatures.

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

With the current state of the Great Forest, cultists are wreaking havoc here and there, and monsters tainted by magic are also patrolling the grounds in increasing numbers.

The monsters, stripped of all desires except for a hunger for murder, express malice toward all living things around them. The weak herbivores can only flee in panic, while most predators often retreat, tails between their legs, when facing such a foe.

Yet those monsters, undeterred, continue their relentless pursuit to snuff out their prey.

No matter who or what comes in their way, even armed humans and elves cannot expect mercy from these beasts.

That is exactly the situation we now face.

“…They say dogs won’t bother you during mealtime.”

Who could have guessed these damned monsters would disturb our meal?

After halting the carriage and setting everything up, just as we were about to enjoy the lunch we painstakingly prepared, out came much larger wolves than the ones we had captured in the Beltlin Mountain Range, causing a ruckus. Given the ominous intent steeped in their breath and the fact that their fur is a sick black, they surely must be tainted by magic.

“While there are plenty of knights and soldiers around…”

I scanned the surrounding area.

“The number of wolves is quite significant, so Princess Shione, you should prepare for battle.”

“Hmmm… Soup tastes best when it’s hot.”

“If it gets cold, we can just reheat it… for now, let’s eat in the carriage.”

The soldiers, faced with what they seemed to think was a meal rehearsal, began drawing their swords, sporting expressions that looked as if they had bitten into something sour.

The frail servants quickly hid behind the soldiers’ backs.

‘My equipment is—’

Only a single sword.

Before cooking the soup, I needed firewood first.

Since carrying around a bow would be too cumbersome, I had only chosen to walk around with a sword.

As a result, the only bow present was Shione’s, as we planned to stretch our muscles by doing some archery during the break.

“May I borrow it for a bit?”

I quickly grabbed Shione’s bow, who was moving sluggishly.

Bark! Bark!

One wolf, having belatedly turned back to face a servant, sprinted for it, and seeing that, I swiftly picked up the bow from the ground and nocked an arrow from the quiver.

The stance was firm. Yet the movements were fluid, transitioning smoothly.

As I deftly pulled back the arrow in a Pinch Style and released it with a Dead Release, I infused it with the whirling winds of speed.

Whoosh!

The instant the arrow flew, I had no need to look any longer at the target; it was clear it would meet its doom.

I registered the sound of the wind splitting and the wolf’s final cries in my ears as I returned the bow to Shione’s hands.

“Since it was gifted by Lady Ainel, this bow is rather impressive.”

“Ah, umm.”

As she hastily took the bow, strapping the quiver filled with arrows on her back—

I spotted a wolf lunging in through the gap and quickly drew my sword.

Swish!

The familiar sound of the sheathe and blade scraping against each other rang in my ears.

I’d heard that sound now and then when I sparred with Siabel, but lately, I’ve been neglecting my swordplay.

But, well.

I’m an archer, so as long as I shoot arrows well, that’s all that matters, right?

Rather than such mundane thoughts, I executed my proven motions with practiced ease.

“Ha!”

With a short breath, I delivered a swift strike.

“Grrr!”

To the wolf’s side.

The chilling sensation of taking its life surged up through my blade as I cut through its tough hide and thick fat.

But that sensation was short-lived, as soon enough I felt my path blocked.

I had carefully restricted my mana, so it seemed that the strength wasn’t quite enough for a single clean cut.

“Grrr!!”

Instead of writhing in pain, the wolf gaped wide open its maw.

With sharp, dozens of glistening teeth suited for severing its prey’s throat, who knows what would happen if I got caught in that bite.

However, I didn’t blink an eye, driving my sword even deeper.

I wasn’t only capable of summoning winds.

I channel my will through the mana flowing from my heart. What I desire is a raging flame, stronger than before.

As I felt the mana, heavy and collected around my heart, rush through my blood channels—

Boom!

A small explosion echoed from inside the body of the wolf I stabbed.

“Phew.”

Taking a breath, I withdrew my sword.

The wolf’s body, now going limp, was casually kicked to the side before it hit the ground.

I shook the blood from my sword.

After having fought properly for the first time in a while, my thoughts were—

“…Why are there so many?”

Simply frustration at the increased number of adversaries.

Weren’t the elves supposed to manage and eliminate the monsters of the Great Forest?

What in the world were those pointy-eared fellows doing while the magic-tainted beasts gathered to this extent?

“I can’t believe this.”

Could it be… the elves are already too depleted to handle even a single monster?

Plus, where the hell were Friel and the other elves?

I could feel irritation mounting towards the damn elves.

“…Tch.”

 

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