Chapter 64
Chapter 64
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Translator: Ace
Chapter: 64
Chapter Title: Heart of the Forest (2)
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West of Meursault Fortress lay a hilly region riddled with steep slopes.
Just yesterday, this place had been a barren wasteland without a single blade of grass, but now countless trees soared toward the sky.
It was a change that had happened overnight.
A guard standing atop the fortress walls muttered in a dazed tone.
"H-how did a forest spring up here overnight?"
The vast forest now enveloped the western side of the fortress.
Normally, it would take decades—no, centuries—for such a forest to form.
Yet the western side of Meursault Fortress was now blanketed in lush, verdant foliage.
"This has to be the work of a mage."
"What in the world is going on?"
"Could it be Young Master Federback, who returned not long ago?"
As the soldiers whispered among themselves,
"Don't make a fuss."
A cold voice came from behind.
A stern-faced old knight was approaching.
Sir Dvorak.
He was a knight who had served House Meursault for a very long time.
Even as the house declined, he had remained loyal, steadfast in his position with unwavering heart and will.
Sir Dvorak addressed the soldiers.
"The Patriarch has ordered an investigation of that forest. Prepare yourselves—we'll go see for ourselves if it's dangerous or not."
"Yes, sir!"
The disciplined guards saluted sharply in unison.
Only then did Sir Dvorak nod.
"The entire platoon is to join the investigation team. Make sure everything is in order. We depart at dawn tomorrow."
"Understood!"
The soldiers shouted once more.
Their faces, oddly enough, looked quite glum.
Night.
Sir Dvorak sat deep in thought in his home office.
The gloomy expressions of the soldiers on wall duty lingered in his mind.
'Of course. It'd be terrifying for them.'
Even he, a knight, felt uneasy about it—how much more so for them?
The forest that had suddenly appeared beside Meursault Fortress was rumored to be the "Nightmare-Devouring Flood."
The tale of a magical forest that appeared overnight and vanished just as quickly was known to everyone in the North.
'...That must be the thing from Grandma's fairy tales. A cursed forbidden zone for sure.'
The Nightmare-Devouring Flood.
All who had entered it thus far had either died or gone missing.
And Sir Dvorak had received orders from the Patriarch to investigate it.
'The Patriarch said there's nothing to worry about... but it's still a forbidden zone.'
Sir Dvorak let out a deep sigh.
Though he was nearing seventy, the fear of the monsters and mages said to dwell in forests—instilled in him since he was seven—had never faded.
Any Northerner would understand.
'But I've received orders, so I must go. Even if it's forbidden. That's a knight's duty.'
Sir Dvorak rose from his seat.
He had to uncover the secret hidden within that overnight greenery.
'I should at least leave a farewell for the family.'
Sir Dvorak headed straight for the bedroom.
The dimly lit room glowed faintly from candlelight.
On the bed slept his wife, along with his grandchildren who had visited recently.
'Dear, thank you for living with me all these years.'
Sir Dvorak placed a letter beside his sleeping wife.
It was his will.
If he did not return, it asked her not to grieve, as he had met a knight's honorable end, and to dispose of his estate as she saw fit.
Sir Dvorak's resolve in entering the Nightmare-Devouring Flood was profoundly grim.
'Alright. Here I go.'
With that, the white-haired old knight snorted once and left the house.
Soon after, he met his subordinates in a plaza not far from home.
Thud—thud—thud—thud—
The soldiers naturally fell in behind Sir Dvorak.
All of them were rugged, fierce, and loyal Northerners.
Longtime comrades understood each other without words.
Sir Dvorak led his men out through the fortress gates.
Their destination was the lush forest, the Nightmare-Devouring Flood, so close it was practically within arm's reach.
A few hundred meters west of the gates brought them straight to the forest edge.
The trees, soaked in night, stood as dark silhouettes.
Beneath the great trees grew smaller ones, and under those, dense bushes and shrubs—so thick that one couldn't peer inside from afar.
Whatever it was, it was obvious fearsome, dangerous monsters lurked within.
Sir Dvorak, at the forefront, drew the sword at his waist.
"Alright, let's go in."
The Northern soldiers followed, gripping swords, spears, and axes.
All had written wills at home and staked their lives to investigate this suspicious forest.
"Damn, I should've taken one more look at our newborn's face."
"If we make it back alive, you'll see him plenty. Let's all return safe."
"When we get back, I'll name him myself."
"Don't jinx it. The ones who talk like that before scouting always bite the dust."
But their voices trembled all the same.
The scouting party, led by Sir Dvorak, bravely pushed through the underbrush into the forest depths.
...But.
"Huh?"
Everyone's eyes widened in shock.
Moss and mushrooms glowing faintly throughout the dark forest made it brighter than the night outside.
The forest interior resembled a paradise recreated.
Apples, pears, peaches, grapes, oranges, and more hung heavy from every tree, while the ground was carpeted with cherries, berries, wild strawberries, and the like.
Broad clearings brimmed with beans, wheat, rice, barley, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, arrowroot, and more. Even the mushrooms and moss on rocks and trees were all edible.
The insects and small animals scurrying about posed no threat to humans—only benefits.
"Well..."
Sir Dvorak, standing dumbfounded, finally muttered one thing.
"I could move the whole family here."
It was the moment his grimly penned will felt utterly ridiculous.
A few days later.
Meursault Fortress was busy expanding its walls.
It was a major project to build a new gate leading to the "Nightmare-Devouring Flood."
The investigators who had returned all agreed: the forest was a "great place to live."
Afterward, teams were organized to transport the abundant food and timber growing wild in the forest.
The forest spirits diligently multiplied the plants, and humans diligently harvested them.
Even when fruits were picked or trees felled, the plants didn't die but held their ground, allowing the spirits to keep expanding the forest.
The Nightmare-Devouring Flood was no longer forbidden.
It had become a familiar land, merging into human territory right next door.
"...They're exploiting it one-sidedly."
Queenbits.
She spoke to Federback, who stood atop the walls.
Federback nodded as he watched fruits and timber flying in from the forest.
"If you don't like it, leave the North. I'll burn it all down."
"Why are you so selfish and extreme?"
"To protect my people."
"Does that mean you can just take from others? They're hauling off every bit of timber, fruit, moss, and mushrooms."
"They're not taking all the mountain produce they harvest. Some goes to taxes, some to family—barely any for themselves. Think of it as collecting taxes from the forest spirits too."
"So what do the forest spirits get out of it?"
"Protection."
"?"
Queenbits tilted her head at Federback's answer.
She asked as if she couldn't comprehend what she'd heard.
"Protection from whom? From what?"
"From me. From the Demon King."
"!"
Queenbits furrowed her brow.
She shook her head.
"The Demon King from fairy tales? What, is he about to resurrect or something?"
"..."
Federback fell silent, offering no further reply.
He simply gazed down at the people passing below the walls.
Patrolling soldiers, laborers pulling carts, merchants carrying timber and fruits, hunters returning with small game...
Vitality shone on their faces and in their movements.
A rare sight in the North, where food was always scarce.
As Federback watched the crowd for a while,
...Tap!
Queenbits climbed the air like stairs and stood beside him.
"By the way, why'd you tell them to make the forest on the west side? The slopes there make transport tough. East or south would've been gentler for hauling heavy timber."
"Those walls are sturdy. But the west one's relatively weak."
"You didn't... use my forest as a shield, did you?"
"If the wind's right, it'd be perfect for fire attacks too. Plenty of fuel."
"You bastard... Ugh, forget it."
Queenbits started to get angry but held back.
She realized yelling at someone she'd bound herself to with a mana oath would only hurt her.
With a deep sigh, she turned away.
"Fine. I lost the fight—my fault. The forest spirits like it here anyway. Better to leech off a strong house than worry about being chased off."
"Chased?"
Federback's eyes narrowed.
"Chased by whom?"
"..."
Queenbits hesitated, realizing she'd misspoke, then finally spoke.
"Just... some guys. Mages always have lots of enemies. You wouldn't know even if I told you."
She turned away, signaling she didn't want to discuss it further.
Federback didn't pry into Queenbits's past either.
But there was one thing she didn't know.
"Are the ones chasing you after Garameld's legacy?"
"...!"
Federback already knew quite a bit about her.