---

After the dusk fell, the forest was darkness itself.

With the dense foliage blocking out sunlight, the forest was seriously forbidding any intrusion of the soft moonlight.

We had no choice but to remain stuck in one spot.

After quickly finishing our simple camping preparations, we stood guard in turn, taking a moment to rest until dawn.

Dinner was a humble affair with the preserved food we brought, and the flames were conjured by the spirits of other elves, creating a small light to illuminate our surroundings.

Once we sat on the flattened ground, the accumulation of fatigue began to creep in.

‘Shione and Diolia said they had a bit more to discuss with Friel, right?’

The important part was that they promised to tell me later.

As I recalled the chaotic events of the day, I started evaluating our current situation and couldn’t help but frown.

‘The monsters we faced, and the level of the demons that attacked us, weren’t that high.’

Beasts. Those mindless creatures moved predictably.

Those hell-bent on tearing their enemies apart were easy prey, and it wasn’t just me who felt this way.

Moreover, the demons too, even with arms severed, with a knife lodged in their heart or throat—

They might have seemed threatening until the last moment they retained their consciousness, still wielding their weapons.

But apart from that mad zealotry, when I looked at their other capabilities, they didn’t seem impressive at all.

The elves, who were sharp-minded, could take down those wild beasts without even a scratch.

‘Yet, our side suffered more damage against such pathetic foes than I expected.’

Three elves were dead, and two were gravely injured.

To make matters worse, two of their corpses were snatched by the bastards.

‘Why on earth?’

Those who handled spirits and were more adept at bows and swords than your average archers and knights—

Did they just sit back and allow such shame against those pathetic demons?

It was me, Shione, and Friel, who were tasked with dealing with that half-demon taunt. They merely had to face the demons.

Were they really a proper army, even with their decent looks?

‘…Something’s off.’

It felt wrong.

The skills I had seen during our training before entering this forest were no illusion.

Those arrogant elf brats had sufficient talent and abilities to elevate themselves as the best among their kind.

Furthermore, they were beings shaped by years spent on this earth, with feelings dulled and only reason left. They weren’t the kind to impulsively lash out and get stabbed by their enemies.

‘At one point, I looked around and saw three of them collapsed on the ground.’

While we were focused on that half-demon, an elf, who had been facing off against the demons on the opposite side, chimed in.

Not one elf had fallen during the combat.

Yet, the moment the damned fanatic ordered a retreat, I began to see elves rolling on the ground with the cultists.

Like they were intoxicated by something, seemingly unable to comprehend that their comrades were laid out on the floor.

‘As I suspected… those cult bastards must have pulled something.’

If they had used magic to play some trick, Shione would definitely have noticed.

Yet, thanks to Shione saying she hadn’t caught on to anything, the confusion deepened.

Moreover, there was something else capturing my attention.

“Hmm…”

[…@, *※# is intervening…….]

“So what the hell is this?”

An unidentified presence appeared before me once more, just like before summoning Tania in the military barracks.

It had created yet another quest.

I began reading the contents of the newly generated quest.

「Danger Removal」

「Eliminate the enemies hiding in the eastern forest. They are demons and numerous spawns……in various locations……*※#……@@…….」

「Reward: @, *※#’s…─, ■■」

The task was to behead the demons and their remnants hiding in the forest, restoring stability to the Great Forest.

However, similar to before, much of the content was garbled, and this time, the reward too was entirely unreadable.

My status window was broken. No, it would be more accurate to say that some entity was toying with my status window.

“…Tch.”

I couldn’t find peace of mind.

My trustworthy status window, which always delivered tasks and rewards—the objective explanations of situations—was now being manipulated by someone else.

It meant that an unknown force had taken control of it, guiding my actions.

So far, it hadn’t directed me toward conflicting goals, but who knew when that might change? I quietly gazed down at the status window and shut my eyes.

At that moment.

Whack!

Something rushed to me and smacked my shoulder.

“Hey, Park Shin-woo.”

“…You haven’t returned to the spirit realm yet?”

“I still had something to say before heading back. By the way, why are you gripping your shoulder like that?”

…No, you just hit me here. You should’ve held back a bit, right?

I gazed at Tania as she looked at me, her fingers on my shoulder, and let out a light sigh.

Then, as if she had been waiting for this reaction, Tania giggled and continued talking.

“You know, you shouldn’t be surprised. Got it?”

“……?”

“It’s really difficult but…if we do it right─”

As Tania dragged her words out, she raised both hands in a victorious pose.

“We might just be able to bring our Changsik over here too!”

“Changsik? Really?”

“…Aren’t you happier now than before?”

“No, that’s─”

“…Shoulder again! You bad guy.”

In the end, Tania playfully tapped my shoulder once more, looking smug as she began explaining.

According to Tania, unlike how the High Elf Edelin stubbornly expanded the portal, Changsik would lower his rank and fit through the opening.

Since she remembered the location of my world, all she needed to do was inform Changsik.

However, what’s unfortunate about this was that Changsik would be coming over here as a mid-level spirit, not a high one.

Plus, instead of transitioning in his original form naturally according to the surroundings, he would be weakened by a portion of his rank being cut down based on the portal’s size.

There could be unknown side effects, and maximum, his form might only be mid-level.

Furthermore, separating or erasing the highest ranking spirit for even a moment would be quite challenging, making it potentially impossible.

“Well, I’ll just tell Changsik what you said. Now, let’s head back!”

—Myaang!

“No way! This time, I’m definitely making sure you introduce me to Changsik. We should go back soon.”

—Myaang…

“Yeah, even if you look at me like that, it’s not going to work.”

Afterward, Tania and Orna returned to the spirit realm.

The surroundings fell silent again. Still no sign of Shione and Diolia returning. And I could see several elves in the distance, keeping watch.

I closed my eyes for a moment, hoping to shake off the fatigue a bit.

The cold ground. The chilly night air breezing in. It had been a while since I had camped like this, but I quickly found myself drifting into slumber.

Just like I always did back in the day.

*

I started hearing voices.

Amid the sound of an owl hooting, two women were talking about something.

The voice of a woman that had been right next to me from the beginning, and another voice approaching from a distance.

Since I recognized both voices, I was able to ease my tension.

As I lay there, using Shione and Diolia’s voices as a lullaby, I could hear the owner of the voice next to me… it seemed like Shione was getting up.

At the same time, I woke slightly from my sleep.

Well, if it was time to change the watch, she would simply shake my shoulder to wake me. It didn’t seem like a lot of time had passed.

If something happened, Shione beside me would wake me up.

Soon enough, I found my senses sharpening involuntarily.

Swish—

The sound of steel was something I recognized better than anyone else.

“…?”

Why on earth was I hearing the sound of a sword being drawn right in front of me at this hour?

My eyes instinctively opened. As I focused on the front with still uncertain vision.

Clang—

With the sound of swords clashing, I witnessed two figures aiming their blades at each other.

“Wait a second.”

Just waking up, my voice was still groggy.

As I hastily rubbed my eyes and focused on the front, I couldn’t help but twist my expression in disbelief.

“…What the hell.”

A coarse exclamation slipped out in Korean.

I was that stunned.

“Lady Diolia.”

“…Princess Shione, step back.”

The ones locked in a duel, pushing against each other’s swords, were none other than Diolia and Shione.

 

---