Chapter 23
The frozen forest slowly began to breathe again.
Between the strips of bark, pale green buds poked their heads out, and melted snow seeped down between the roots.
The yokai forest, which had remained silent through the whole winter, was waking once more.
Small animals rubbed at their eyes and began to emerge again toward the spring water.
As the animals started moving, the Dungeon grew busier in turn.
Then, at the entrance, a dragon and a crow stood waiting.
"Dragon, it’s spring. We’ve got company."
At Heok-o’s words, Dohyun gave a small nod.
From the Dungeon’s entrance all the way into the distance, he could feel a stirring vitality, the awakening of life itself.
At the same time, Dohyun felt something strange.
Why had he never noticed it until now?
Is this what the yokai sense...
A pressure, as though an entire mountain were moving, was slowly approaching the Dungeon.
At that ominous presence, Dohyun stepped out toward the entrance at a measured pace.
A wolf’s howl split through the forest and rang out.
The undergrowth shivered.
Startled small beasts fled and hid themselves deep in the woods.
A pack of silver wolves marched forward with ruthless strides and lined up before the Dungeon.
And then, all at once, they parted.
The center of the wolf formation opened into a path.
Through it, a massive gray wolf walked out.
Tap... tap...
Its footsteps were light.
But every time it took a step, the air itself seemed to press downward.
...Gwiwolrang.
At the far edge of Dohyun’s vision, a wolf with gray fur that seemed even larger and more massive than Geoung’s came into view, its coat rippling in the spring wind.
Just looking at the approaching wolf made Dohyun’s body begin to stiffen.
Behind him, Geoung’s presence wavered faintly.
The enormous orc was tense.
The goblins had not come at all.
The stopped wolf’s red eyes locked onto the dragon.
A brief silence.
The forest held its breath.
"Hey, wolf."
Heok-o called out without the slightest fear.
"I’m right here. You really think I’d be happy to see you acting jealous like that?"
The wolf replied in a heavy voice.
"...Crow. Don’t spout nonsense."
"Then why are you glaring like that?"
As though he had no intention of wasting more time on conversation, Gwiwolrang turned his gaze to Dohyun.
"Dragon."
His red eyes sank deeper.
"Are you prepared?"
Of course.
When Dohyun finished answering, the huge wolf slowly nodded.
"Good. Just follow with your body."
For a moment, Dohyun hesitated.
Then Heok-o gave a snicker from the side.
"Hey, wolf. If you keep acting all mean-spirited, that one’ll hear every bit of it."
Gwiwolrang’s ears moved faintly.
The trees of the forest trembled with a subtle rustle, though no wind was blowing.
"...That’s the proper procedure for the council. Safety is guaranteed, so just come with your body."
Gwiwolrang did not look at Heok-o at all.
Keeping his red eyes fixed on Dohyun, he went on.
"Kuhuhu, jealousy makes you ugly."
His red gaze seemed about to move toward Heok-o, then stopped.
The forest air grew colder.
"Follow."
His tone made it clear he wanted nothing to do with the crow.
"Where are we going?"
At Dohyun’s question, Gwiwolrang looked toward the depths of the forest and said,
"To the forest’s center."
After saying that, he turned.
Just as Dohyun was about to step forward, Heok-o laughed softly.
"Dragon, this should be a pretty interesting place."
At the crow’s amused words, Dohyun let out a short breath.
He lifted his head and looked out over the forest for a moment.
The forest had only just begun to bloom with spring.
Life was awakening, bright with hope.
And yet, in this moment, that forest was anything but peaceful.
The wolves opened a path.
Their silver fur swayed as they all turned at once.
Gwiwolrang started walking first.
Behind the huge gray wolf, the pack flowed after him like water.
Nothing blocked the way.
The forest itself was opening a road.
Dohyun stepped forward.
The earth gave softly beneath his foot.
Heok-o flew up and landed on his shoulder.
"Hey, Dragon,"
the crow said with a low chuckle.
"Don’t tense up."
Dohyun said nothing.
As if I could help it.
The forest was watching him.
Among the trees.
In the shadows.
Countless unseen gazes moved slowly, all around him.
Beings impossible to measure.
It was the first time he had ever sensed anything like them.
In front of creatures like that...
The yokai forest.
The wolf pack was heading into its center.
And after them, the dragon followed.
.
.
.
Dohyun and the wolves moved without hesitation.
The forest grew deeper and deeper.
At first, it had been full of spring vitality.
Damp soil.
Meltwater trickling through the ground.
Beasts waking from winter sleep.
But as the forest deepened, spring’s warmth began to vanish.
In its place, a heavy presence filled the woods.
Dohyun narrowed his eyes.
It was because of what he could feel in his senses.
...Spiritual energy...
A place appeared where the energy was denser than in the Dungeon.
As soon as he sensed it, the wolves slowly scattered.
As though to say this was as far as they went.
The silver fur disappeared between the trees.
Only Gwiwolrang remained.
Silently, Dohyun kept following behind him.
Then the forest suddenly opened up.
It was a clearing.
An enormous ancient tree.
A trunk so thick it would take dozens of people joining hands to encircle it.
Roots that rose above the ground were tangled together like natural chairs.
Around it, other beings lurked in the shadows of the knotted roots.
One was a huge monkey with fur Dohyun had never seen before.
Leaning against a wooden seat, idly picking at its own fur, it looked bored.
Beside it, perched on a root, was a brilliant bird preening golden feathers with its beak.
And last, between the roots, there was a giant black bear, scarred all over, crouched like a boulder.
Great yokai.
Dohyun did everything in his power not to tremble at the auras they gave off.
Heok-o laughed low and said,
"Dragon, those things are the forest’s great yokai."
Whether they had heard him or not, every yokai’s gaze fixed on Dohyun.
Inwardly, Dohyun was angry at the crow for suddenly drawing all that attention to him, but he had no time to dwell on it.
Curiosity.
Caution.
And then, blatant hostility.
Just meeting their eyes made tension clamp down through his entire body.
Gwiwolrang stepped in front of him.
"This is the lord’s place."
He swept his red gaze across the assembled great yokai.
One by one, their eyes dropped to Dohyun.
Dohyun’s eyes narrowed a little.
...The forest’s great yokai.
He understood in his bones that he had been summoned to the council chamber where this forest decided everything.
At the same time, he could tell the beings of the forest were not favorably disposed toward him.
As he was deep in thought, Gwiwolrang said,
"Don’t do anything unnecessary."
With that, he stepped forward.
Then he lowered his tail to the ground.
And slowly bowed his head.
"Your Majesty."
It was exceedingly respectful.
And deeply solemn.
"I have come in response to your summons."
The moment his head touched the earth, the forest fell silent.
The wind stopped.
Even the sound of leaves rustling vanished.
Even the traces of beastly presence.
All of it disappeared.
.....
Within that suffocating stillness, Dohyun’s breath caught, and his head lowered of its own accord.
The other great yokai also bowed lower.
The monkey removed its hands from its fur.
It lowered its head with ceremony.
The bird ceased grooming itself and dipped its head.
The bear uncoiled its crouched body and bowed.
At that moment, the giant ancient tree of the forest slowly stirred.
But the silence remained.
It moved as if it were breathing.
Dohyun, with his head still bowed, found his gaze drawn naturally toward it.
Deep within the trunk’s cracks.
Out of that darkness.
A red light began to rise.
The moment those red eyes opened, even the great yokai lowered themselves further.
Just seeing that light sent a terror through Dohyun’s spine so strong his legs nearly went weak.
The thought of running away right then and there threatened to paralyze his reason.
"It’s been a while. You’re still in pain, I see."
That was if Heok-o had not spoken so casually.
Drawing in a ragged breath, Dohyun had a ridiculous thought.
Should I run?
Fortunately, his body refused to move.
A voice that seemed to resonate through the entire forest reached him.
"You have accepted my invitation."
The voice sounded gentle enough.
But its presence was overwhelming.
Dohyun’s heart lurched once more.
The voice had come from the tree.
No.
It had come from the forest as a whole.
"Young Child of the Dragon."
Dohyun realized that this tree was the one who had summoned him.
He even doubted whether it was truly a tree.
It was the tree Heok-o had spoken of.
The master of the forest.
Silence passed for a moment.
"Do not be afraid."
Meeting the gaze that made him tremble, the red eyes seemed to show regret at Dohyun’s state.
"Gwiyeongmabok. It’s been a long time."
Then Heok-o stepped forward.
For a moment, Dohyun could see Gwiwolrang starting to lift his head.
But Gwiyeongmabok went on.
"It has been a long time for you as well, wise crow."
"Hey, foolish dragon. You should greet it properly."
...Good day.
At the voice echoing through the entire forest, the chill still crawled up Dohyun’s spine.
But Heok-o remained calm.
In his foggy state of mind, Dohyun briefly entertained the thought of opening the crow’s belly and checking his liver for himself.
Still, he answered as carefully as he could.
"Welcome to the forest council, young dragon."
Welcome?
He wasn’t sure this was what he would call welcome at all.
A complicated expression flickered across Dohyun’s face.
At the same time, he felt as though the forest were looking at him stripped bare.
"Interesting."
Silence lingered for a moment.
"Then I will ask you this."
Dohyun’s heart beat quietly.
Gwiyeongmabok said,
"Will you become one of the forest?"
The entire forest waited for his answer.
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