Chapter 175
Chapter 175
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 175
Chapter Title: Omen (8)
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“…Can’t we just somehow call her out?”
“That’s why we don’t have a way either….”
The elf sentry wore a troubled expression, and it seemed like there really was no method.
“What about making a big noise from outside?”
“Once you go even a little inside, you can’t hear any sounds from the outside.”
“It’s amazing that no one’s found out about this place.”
“Pardon?”
“Nothing.”
If they weren’t deep in elf territory, researchers would have swarmed the area immediately—it was that peculiar of a place.
“What about waiting?”
“Well, with this many people, we could clear out some space for you…”
The elf sentry hesitated before continuing.
“Normally, once she goes in, she doesn’t come out for over half a year sometimes. And that’s on the short side.”
“Should we just leave Erendil here?”
The moment he said it, Erendil grabbed Kim Suhyun’s wrist. For such a small body, her strength was astonishing.
“Got it. Got it, so let go. Eida, could you get this one off me?”
“Erendil. Be a good girl. There you go.”
To think her grip made his body—enhanced by physical reinforcement procedures—throb. Suhyun was genuinely surprised. Superhumans often had improved physical abilities due to their superpowers, but it was usually just a little.
‘A physical enhancement-type superpower?’
There was no way Erendil wasn’t a superhuman, so Suhyun rubbed his wrist while thinking that.
“When did she go in?”
“About a month ago.”
“So at least five months if we wait…”
“And that’s assuming the short estimate.”
“I know. I get it.”
Suhyun rubbed his temple like his head hurt. Honestly, the best option was to leave Eida and Erendil here.
This elf tribe didn’t seem malicious, and there were no dangerous monsters around, so safety wasn’t an issue.
But looking at Erendil, she seemed ready to cling right away, and on top of that, Suhyun wanted to meet Aireum himself. Someone with vast knowledge of other races was a treasure among treasures—you couldn’t meet them even if you tried.
‘Should I go in?’
It felt iffy, but he didn’t think it would be that dangerous. Most elves came out terrified after seeing hallucinations, so he didn’t expect to get seriously hurt.
‘I should at least check it out once.’
“We’ve arrived.”
The elf sentry stopped in an empty clearing. It was barely a cramped space between trees. No matter how he looked at it, it didn’t seem like a place for a village.
But the elf sentry casually dismounted and grabbed a rope draped over a tree.
“Come on up.”
“!”
There really was a village up in the trees. The trees, several times thicker than those on Earth, didn’t shake at all even with people living atop them.
“Ah, so that’s how it is.”
Not all elves lived on flat ground like those in the Ames Plains. It had been so long he’d forgotten. Suhyun nodded as he grabbed the rope.
“This feels more elven, actually.”
Eida and Luiril’s ears twitched in unison.
“What’s that supposed to mean? That elves have to be good at climbing trees or something?”
“Exactly. Elves living in trees are the weird ones. Most live on the ground.”
“Got it. Got it.”
Their reactions were fiercer than expected, so Suhyun was startled into agreeing. Luiril was always like that, but he hadn’t expected it from Eida too.
“This way, please.”
“Where are we headed? Koldara Forest?”
“No. Of course we have to see our tribe chief first. She’s the one who permitted your entry.”
“Who’s the chief?”
“Lady Jerven! I’ve brought them.”
“Jerven? Jerven as in…”
“Someone you know?”
“The one married to Aireum. How do you not know that after guiding us here?”
“It’s not like knowing that serves any purpose, so why would I?”
While Luiril and Suhyun bickered, an elf emerged from inside. He looked ordinary but carried an air of wisdom.
“Ah, those two are Edan’s daughters?”
“Yes, that’s what they say, at least.”
“‘At least’? What’s that supposed to mean?”
Luiril grumbled, but the two ignored her.
“And the human?”
“As I mentioned earlier, he’s traveling with us because of a request.”
“A human? How intriguing.”
Suhyun raised his hand and spoke.
“Can I talk now?”
“Go ahead, human. Ah, what’s your name?”
“Kim Suhyun. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d like to meet Aireum. Could you call her?”
“Didn’t the child tell you on the way?”
“She did. Lady Jerven.”
“Then why?”
Jerven tilted his head.
“I thought there might be another way.”
“If there was, I’d have said so. To call Aireum, you have to go inside. And no one, including me, likes going into Koldara Forest.”
“Have you ever been inside?”
“I went in once with Aireum long ago. She kept begging me to go together. We nearly broke up over it, of course.”
“What did you see?”
“A massive spider. Lucky I came right out. I don’t intend to treat Edan’s daughters poorly now that they’re here, but sorry. I really don’t want to go into Koldara Forest. If you want to wait, I can give you a house—how about staying there?”
“We don’t have time to lounge around waiting. This one’s sick.”
“Oh dear, I’m sorry. How urgent is it?”
“It’s not that urgent, but…”
The moment Eida spoke, Suhyun pinched her back. She looked at him with teary eyes, as if asking why. Unlike Luiril, she wasn’t used to this kind of treatment.
‘We could’ve played it smooth.’
“Then waiting a little should be fine.”
“Just guide us. I’ll go in myself.”
“That’s not advisable.”
Jerven spoke sincerely.
“We don’t want to be blamed for letting a human get hurt.”
“That won’t happen.”
“We guarantee it.”
Eida stepped forward. From her perspective, it was unbearable for Suhyun—who had stepped up out of goodwill—to be misunderstood.
“Suhyun’s been squeezing time out of his busy schedule to help us. He’s not the type to break a promise…”
“You, just stay quiet.”
“?!”
She was only narrowing their negotiating position by butting in. Suhyun sighed and pushed Eida toward Luiril.
“Anyway, if it’s okay, we’ll go in. We’re not exactly in a position to wait either.”
“Understood. I’ll guide you.”
* * *
“Why this?”
“You’ll thank me later for tying it on—it’ll really help.”
After tying a rope of unusual color around his waist, Jerven lightly patted Suhyun’s shoulder.
“If you see something inside, don’t panic—take a deep breath. Think of it as not real, and you’ll be fine.”
“If you know so well, why not come with me?”
“If it were that easy, why would we fear Koldara Forest? Your judgment clouds once you’re inside.”
Suhyun recalled Kang In-gyu’s curse. This forest seemed to have a similar effect—clouding entrants’ judgment itself, preventing rational thought even amid illusions.
‘They say resistance grows with stronger superpowers… but I’m not sure. It’s not a person—it’s the forest itself.’
Blue trees stood densely, with a narrow path winding between them. The inside was utterly silent and dark.
“If something happens, just grab this rope and run out. Don’t try to tough it out. Usually, the ones who get badly hurt are the stubborn ones.”
“Thanks for the advice. Doubt it’ll help much, though.”
“Good luck!”
“You, shut your mouth and stay back.”
Suhyun decided to go in alone. If it was an illusion-creating forest, going in a group would be riskier. What if he attacked an “enemy” that turned out to be an ally…?
His superpowers were lethal even if they only grazed.
“Fuu…”
A cool mist greeted him as he entered. It wasn’t the kind that should be floating at this hour. It was fog that lingered perpetually in the forest. A damp scent stung his nose.
Soon, Suhyun’s figure vanished into the forest’s darkness.
* * *
“Hmm…”
Honestly, Suhyun felt deflated. He had entered tense and on high alert.
The place where the elves collectively dreaded and begged him not to go. Of course he’d been on edge.
But…
‘Why’s there nothing?’
Suhyun checked how long he’d been inside. Over an hour. Even so, there should’ve been something.
Suhyun wasn’t fearless—he had fears. Even if no dragon appeared, at least the spider Jerven mentioned should show up.
‘Am I too tense?’
Thinking that, Suhyun exhaled. The moment he relaxed, a dragon appeared before him.
“!!!!”
The dragon was poised to blast breath at any second. Startled, Suhyun desperately thought. There was no way a dragon would appear here now.
It was fake.
The dragon vanished.
“…”
At this point, he found the elves here odd. Were they scared of Koldara Forest over mere parlor tricks?
Suhyun didn’t think he’d endured because he was special. It just made the elves seem weak.
Passing a small spring, then a stump… Suhyun kept walking.
“!”
“Impressive. Realizing it after just two loops.”
The path shifted with the voice. Suhyun had been retracing his steps.
Frowning, Suhyun asked.
“You just watched while I was lost?”
“No, I heard a sound and came right away. I was surprised seeing you escape the ‘repeating path.’ Most don’t notice. The quickest besides me took about thirty loops. The oblivious ones never catch on, even after a hundred.”
“And you?”
Suhyun scanned around for the voice’s owner.
“Me? I wandered about twenty times my first visit, I think.”
“No—who are you, and where are you speaking from?”
“Ah, sorry. I’m Aireum Srandal. Ring any bells?”
“I heard outside and came to meet you, actually.”
“Me? Must be something important.”
“Why not come out first? I can’t see you.”
“Wait. I can’t just come out whenever I want…”
Instead of looking, Suhyun recalled the sensation he’d grasped before. The way superhumans sensed superpowers…
“Come out. Hey.”
“?!”
Far off, a perfectly fine elf flailed limbs while emitting energy. Suhyun strode over, grabbed him, and dragged him out.
“You saw me?!”
“That’s why I grabbed you.”
“How?!”
“With keen senses. More importantly… Edan’s brother?”
Disappointment laced Suhyun’s voice. Aireum was uglier than expected.
Rather than tall, he was wide; his appearance was near-hippie levels of unkempt. No telling when he’d last shaved.
“Hey now. Don’t judge by looks.”
“You read my mind?”
“Not the first person to say that. Anyway, could you let go? It’s starting to hurt.”
“Ah, sorry.”
Suhyun set him down. He landed with a bounce and shook his head.
“So you came to see me? Edan gets along decently with humans, but he doesn’t share family stories. You must be close.”
“Less ‘close’ and more ‘asked a favor.’”
“If he’s asking favors, that’s close enough.”
Aireum brushed off his knees and asked.
“So, what’s the favor?”
“Edan’s daughter’s very sick and needs help.”
“Eida?”
“Erendil.”
“Ah, Erendil. I told her not to fool around with that woman. Said something felt off. It’s too late now, and the kid’s not at fault, but…”
“?”
Suhyun looked baffled.
“What’s that mean?”
“Hm? You didn’t know? Eida and Erendil have different mothers.”
“?!”
What was this—some birth secret?
“An elf cheating?!”
Elves were people too, so infidelity wasn’t shocking, but Suhyun was a bit stunned. Edan, of all people.
“No, not cheating. My brother had been widowed for a while.”