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The moment the story emerged, actions quickly progressed. No, they had to progress swiftly.

Beyond the barriers of Edelin, the High Elf and Grand Elder of the Great Forest, death swelled. That death sent shivers down the spine of everyone present. All we could do was fight with all our might to survive.

“Those left here to protect the Great Forest cannot know when combat will commence. We must not let our guard down.”

At the Grand Elder’s command.

Those who could not join the group seeking the ancestors’ arrangement remained in the city, raising their vigilance. They dedicated themselves to burning with duty, wary of skirmishes with the remnants of evil that could strike at any moment.

Even the spirits, usually reluctant to reveal their intent to kill or animosity unless they were exceptionally wicked, showed substantial wariness and aggression toward the entity beyond the barrier, which was something rarely seen, even after frequent trips into dungeons.

This realization accentuated that this place was ultimately bound to become a battleground, just as foretold by the oldest elf.

And unlike them…

“Everyone ready?”

The Grand Elder, speaking with a tone of authoritative calm at the forefront.

As one of those following her, I couldn’t help but silently curse with a grim expression.

“Shit…”

It was impossible not to feel frustrated. They said we had to go beyond the barrier to obtain that legacy.

“Is it really any different from stepping into a minefield?”

I had already made a decision, but feeling worse than I ever had was unavoidable.

Wearing armor sturdier than the gifts from the Count’s House, I had received the Grand Elder’s armor to change into—but this metal and leather surely wouldn’t purify the dark magic deeply infiltrated in the air beyond.

Even among the elves who served the great tree and wielded something akin to Divine Power, there was no way they could completely cleanse the dark magic and poison emitted by that demon spirit.

“It looks like it’s going to be tougher than before.”

With gaping holes in the legs, the previous hunting squad’s experience seemed trivial compared to what was ahead.

Even if I wished to smile, it was impossible.

As I wore that rotten expression, my master, Shione Shianella, stood quietly next to me, tapping my shoulder.

“By the way, Ray.”

“Yes, what is it?”

“What does that word… shit mean?”

“Uh…?”

“I mean, you keep muttering it when you look exhausted, so I was just a bit curious—”

Just as I was racking my brain to respond appropriately to the sudden question,

“That word… it means whispering to oneself that things will get better when you’re struggling—”

Tania, who had been summoned earlier and was surveying the area, stealthily approached to whisper in Korean so I could hear her.

“Park Shin-woo.”

“…?”

“I’m about to tell you something really good.”

“….”

“Right?”

With Tania’s words, I couldn’t help but close my mouth tightly, forgetting the response I was giving Shione.

How embarrassing. People can indeed live while swearing occasionally. After all, it’s said that one learns curses first when picking up a foreign language.

As I kept my mouth shut, wearing a still rotten expression, Elvis piped up.

“…It might be a bit much as she said, but… I’m on Dad’s side!”

“Changsik, you stay quiet too.”

*

The lightened mood didn’t last long.

At some point, my presence, along with Shione and the spirits bouncing around, merged into the tense atmosphere, and the light-hearted banter we shared was abruptly cut off.

Then came a voice from the front line, the Captain of Edelin’s Royal Guards, who had been quietly observing the soldiers preparing for departure.

“Attention!”

The booming voice of a strong woman.

“Direct Royal Guards of the proud Great Forest! Twenty individuals summoned to battle! All present!”

Before the World Tree, elves adorned with symbols depicting a face remarkably similar to Edelin’s on their breastplates and pauldrons stamped their feet in unison, shouting out their war cries.

‘Those elves…’

With knife-like movements and crisp calls, they were a league beyond the pathetic earpieces of Ianette or the forest guardians of Arielte and Chelness, radiating a raw strength incomparable to the rest.

‘These must be elves that the High Elf raised with intention. Nothing compare to mere mediocrity.’

Their very presence gifted me with a sense of security that eclipsed our previous hunting squad’s competency.

But we weren’t the only ones clawing through hell.

“And Airine Ianette and her loyal followers! Thirty sworn to battle! All present!”

Having lost the prestige and pride embedded in my name after the fall of my mother and family, it was only natural.

Once the Great Forest fell to shambles, everything that was my family’s armory, as well as our coffers filled with treasures, was stripped bare, just to supplement the inadequate military supplies.

Airine Ianette.

She, too, turned to face me, Shione, and Edelin, the Queen of the Great Forest, with a gaze burning with determination, vowing she would carve a path ahead for us.

“Continue─!”

And then the Captain of the Royal Guards introduced a few elves who were willing to put their lives on the line to carve a path for us.

As the introductions concluded, Edelin, who had been quietly listening, gave a silent nod.

“It seems everyone is ready—”

With those words, Edelin began to walk slowly toward us.

Not a single individual dared block her path. The elves naturally parted to clear a way for her. The High Elf strode regally toward us.

She softly raised the corners of her mouth.

“Please, dear heroes, do not stray from my side, no matter what happens.”

“Understood…!”

The moment my master responded stiffly to the High Elf’s words, Edelin turned with an even deeper smile, shouting out.

“From now on, we will pass the barrier and retrieve the arrangements of the Southern Forest!”

““Ha!””

Whooom─

The sound of the battle horn echoing through the city that had been fortified for war.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The thick vibrations of drums began resonating in harmony with my heartbeat, and the heavy tread of our steps pushed us forward to the city’s exit.

How long had we walked?

As we neared the edge of the barrier, we paused momentarily to catch our breath.

“…We’re entering.”

With Edelin’s signal, we took our first steps beyond the barrier, one by one.

And in that moment, despite my irritations, I followed suit.

The instant my feet touched the ground beyond the barrier—

“…Cough!”

I couldn’t help but let out a ridiculous sound.

“Hey, Park Shin-woo!”

“Dad!”

As the spirits, now shouting at me to snap out of it, fell silent behind me, I realized this fragile body of mine was indeed ill-equipped to withstand the oppressive waves of poison and magic.

With every breath I took, a thick haze of poison filled my lungs. The raw repugnance from the magic gnawed at my sanity beyond measure.

“…Ray!”

Sure enough, it was Shione, who, with her formidable immunity to demons, would be fine.

While I looked like I was about to collapse, Tania and Elvis, not to mention even the short-legged Orna, were thoroughly striking my cheeks.

Shione, seemingly shocked by my struggles unlike her own, began to fluster as she checked on my condition.

“Ray, Ray. Are you okay?”

“…I apologize. I will gather myself shortly.”

Even though it was tough, I should be able to manage it.

Though overcoming this nauseating feeling would be difficult, if I regulated my mana, I could at least alleviate it to some degree.

When my complexion started to improve, Shione finally seemed relieved and put her hand over her chest.

“It would be wise to be cautious. It’s not just you—”

Shione rolled her azure eyes.

Reactions from the various elves were evident as expressions hardened even further than before we crossed the barrier.

Only the High Elves with considerable experience or perhaps a calmer demeanor could withstand the infiltration of magic.

“It seems the magic is so strong that nearly everyone is utilizing mana to stave it off.”

Several members of her guard exhibited slight twitches in their brows, clearly feeling the sting from the magic blend in the air.

Thanks to their blood-stained abilities, the magic infused in the air wouldn’t cause any consistency in losses with the additional mana—excluding my master, who had a magic-purging device.

Yet time lost could only worsen our situation.

“I shall advance swiftly!”

Accompanied by Edelin, her Royal Guards encircled her while Airine Ianette’s forces formed a protective barrier around her.

We hurried southward toward the location that held our ancestors’ arrangements.

However, our reckless advance met an obstacle.

“Ray, don’t move any further.”

As Shione quickly blocked my path, Edelin gave a knowing nod to her action.

“You truly are the descendant of my dear friend.”

Swish─!

Edelin drew a small dagger hidden within her robes.

As the white blade glimmered upon emerging from its sheath, a fierce aura erupted from her guard enveloping us.

“It seems it won’t be quiet going forward, so we should charge ahead full force.”

With determination, they took the lead before us. They were the dead yet living; a gathering of beings worse off than those who were alive.

Beasts in grotesque form, showing their decaying bodies, soon descended upon the elf closest to them, waiting for this very moment.

Just as the attack was about to strike the elf, a low command reverberated through the battlefield of the forest.

“Sacrifice your lives, and carve a path for me and the heroes.”

Using elves as offerings, the furious rush to break through had begun.

 

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