Chapter 298
Chapter 298
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 298
Chapter Title: Afterglow of the Flowers
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—Murmur murmur.
Just like always, the Adventurer's Guild in the morning was noisy as hell, like a slaughterhouse with the butchering machines running full tilt on pigs. Or maybe more like an abandoned nest crammed full of baby birds on the verge of starvation. Either way, they were all screeching desperately for life.
"Alright, Kobson. Any new rumors floating around?"
"Hmm... There's one story making the rounds."
As usual, I'd come to look for work and bumped into Kobson.
Pretty sure this is the first time seeing him since we took down that winter spirit. His healthy complexion suggested he'd been doing great, so I skipped the small talk.
"What story?"
Feeling bad about always pumping him for info, I'd offered to cover the beer and snacks, so here we were, pounding them back from morning. —Clink. Kobson downed his mug in one go, let out a burp, and spoke up.
"It's starting to feel like proper spring now, huh?"
"Summer's close enough to call it that."
With the weather warming up, time itself seemed to speed by.
Life sprouts from devouring rotten earth. The already recovering Green Forest was lush beyond belief. Monsters awakened from hibernation were rampaging extra hard, thirsting for blood.
Trade routes blocked all winter were finally reopening in earnest, merchants caravans on the move, and starved monsters were ambushing them left and right.
Which meant more escort quests.
That was the setup.
More than half the adventurers squawking around here were probably hustling for those gigs, I figured.
—Munch munch.
I chewed on some jerky while waiting for Kobson to continue. Winter had passed without much fuss, and spring was going smoothly too.
Summer was right around the corner.
"There's a spot where the forest is getting abnormally thick."
"Makes sense for the season. Plants must be thrilled."
"Nah, it's more than that."
"What?"
Kobson's face darkened suddenly.
"It's... a jungle appearing."
He looked downright spooky about it.
Building the mood like he was spinning some off-season ghost story, he crammed jerky into his mouth irrationally and said,
"Jungle?"
"Yeah. Jungle."
"What jungle?"
From what he was saying, it sounded like an area where plants were growing extra fast... but that didn't seem like something to hype up dramatically.
What the hell was it?
"Normally, there's no jungle right near this city. Remember that time way back when we went to the dungeon with Sister Elise?"
"Oh yeah, we hacked through a jungle right after arriving."
"Exactly."
Necropolis Orcota Catacombs.
About a day's ride by carriage. I remembered pushing through the jungle immediately upon arrival to find the dungeon.
That was around spring last year—almost a full year ago.
Time flies.
"The nearest jungle zone from here is way out there. Nothing this close."
"So what's the takeaway?"
"Well, needs more digging, but... seems like some kinda natural anomaly."
Anomaly?
"The jungle's expanding."
His eyes were sharper than a poacher warden's.
Plants grow extra if they're happy, right? Those leafy bastards thrive on just some classical music.
Not a big deal for all the serious talk, but his grim attitude piqued my interest a bit.
"So, you're saying a jungle zone popped up out of nowhere. Doesn't add up. It's unnatural. That it?"
"Spot on. Finally getting it."
Kobson naturally ordered more snacks and shifted his posture. He looked smug, so I mirrored him.
We clinked glasses arrogantly.
"Hm... Doesn't strike me as that suspicious, honestly."
"Same here. Just feels a tad off... and it's buzzing among adventurers lately."
"Your info network's solid."
"Heh heh. Knowledge is power, right?"
Still, a jungle.
If one really cropped up, it'd spawn plenty of money-making ops. Less anomaly, more opportunity.
"Doesn't sound like a huge crisis, though."
He downed his beer and elaborated.
"Everything's got a cause, yeah? Plant seeds, rain falls, crops grow. Farmer harvests, lives on, sows again next year. Weird result means weird cause—that's my take."
Totally wasted Kobson started spouting profound shit, but it mostly went in one ear and out the other. Drunk guys always bullshit to show off.
"What I'm saying is... hic! Weird shit happens 'cause of weird causes. Heh heh. Weird causes mean money, right?"
"Yeah yeah, you're right. Drink some water."
I handed a glass to hiccuping Kobson personally. He chugged it and slammed his forehead on the table, mumbling.
"My hunch is... hic! If it's a real anomaly, mages'll swarm it... that's our money shot... hic...! Ugh, barbarian, what'd you do...!"
Guy was smashed.
I hauled his ass back to his inn. What a pain in the dick... but I'd keep that jungle tip in mind.
Anyway, that day I drank with Kobson, chatted bullshit, and headed home.
After that, I spent days with Winia and Claudy foraging magical plants that only bloomed in spring.
Having a mage along made it stupidly profitable.
Unlike my brute-force trial-and-error, Winia knew habitats and habits cold, pinpointing prime spots with experience on top.
"Hmm... What's this?"
Claudy, gloved up, yanked a sleazy-looking mushroom and a vicious orange orchid, asking Winia.
"Glowironbelly Mushroom. Process the poison right, and it's mana potion material."
"And this?"
"False Heavenkiller Orchid? Probably an aphrodisiac? Oh, sis. Grab a ton of that."
"Hee hee. Let's."
Felt like some otherworld nature study class.
Claudy, curious about everything outside the desert, stuck to Winia, soaking up spring plant lore.
I listened in, studying poisons and herbs. Didn't memorize it all, but good for cash and knowledge.
"Why the hard-on for aphrodisiacs?"
"Academic curiosity."
"Wanna see your savage side, Katt."
I could show Bed Demon Kim Katt anytime, no pill needed. We scoured hills for valuables, smashed any monster heads in our way.
—Tchaaaaat!!!!
Spring's a brutal season.
Monsters this time are fearless. Seeing gremlins charge without a care sparked unbelievable rage in my chest.
—Whoosh!
I unleashed peak taekwondo, grabbing the biggest gremlin with both hands. It thrashed limbs, screeching its signature "Tchaaaaat!!"
"No mercy!"
I hoisted it overhead and slammed it down hard.
—Splat!
It hit the ground with a grotesque death cry and croaked. Claudy laughed; Winia sighed.
We gathered, wrecked stuff, roasted beast-like monsters for snacks, then headed back.
That's how those utterly peaceful days rolled on.
Until one day.
—Kobson's words hit reality.
"Barbarian. Feast your eyes."
"Fuckin' jungle alright."
"Fuckin' jungle, yeah."
By now, the rumors reached my ears naturally. Spring wasn't even over, but freakishly overgrown plants formed a jungle.
Incredible sight.
"Get it now, what I said back then?"
"Kinda."
Early morning guild run alone, bumped Kobson, decided on a whim to scout outside the gates.
I rarely used this gate, so I'd missed it, but up close? This was no "forest"—straight-up "jungle."
Even peak summer on the lushest mountains didn't match this. The twisted vines and massive undergrowth screamed unnatural.
—Squirm squirm.
Armed adventurer groups nearby were chopping through man-high foliage, heading in for recon.
Mages investigating, lord's soldiers too. Like Kobson said, anomaly response.
"Hmm, let's head in."
"Seeing it up close, it's fuckin' creepy. We good just the two of us?"
We'd come to check lightly, but the scale was insane. Weird noises nonstop—like the jungle growing right now.
"Quick peek and bail. Gotta scout for profit spots at least. Today we eye it; if it feels right, form a proper party later."
"No bitching. Let's go. Can't pussy out."
His logic checked out, so I drew my blade and plunged into the jungle.
No plans to go deep, obviously.
Just skim the entrance and bounce.
"Barbarian. Remember what I said last time? Effects have causes."
"Yeah. Pretty cool for drunk ramble."
"Hey, not drunk ramble! That's my philosophy!"
—Slice.
Some green upright vine stretched to my head height. Knife over longsword. I slashed a path manually.
"Heh heh. Philosophy my ass. You join a cult?"
"Actually, made it up to impress chicks."
Kobson hacked bushes and vines busily. Ground felt squishy—super gross. Real rainforest vibe.
"Yo, Kobson. This range wasn't this jungly before, right?"
"That's why it's weird."
"Hm... Yeah, can't grow this fast normally."
Wait, actually... maybe it could.
Back in the army, it was worse.
Gangwon plants overran bases overnight. Slack off, and you'd die weeding.
Recalling that, hacking felt hatefully familiar—gripped harder.
—Slice! Slice!
"...Impressive vigor."
"Hurry up, punk. Team attack."
"Sweet!"
Thus, Kobson and I powered through the thicket. Took about 30 minutes of bullshit to break trail.
This thing's massive.
"This is..."
"...Hm."
Past the undergrowth: pure fantasy mystery in the heart of a dense rainforest. Freak plants, irrationally huge trees. Perfect humidity... and buzzing bugs.
Exotically foreign.
Exaggerate: local hill turned Amazon. Rear thicket felt like a wall.
"Yo, Kobson. Since we're in, let's farm some mana grass or whatever."
"Good call."
We agreed on light scouting and farming, pushing deeper.
Just don't go too far.