Chapter 8
Chapter 8
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 8
Chapter Title: Party Met in the Forest (2)
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1.
"Th-this... this can't be..."
That was something that never should have happened.
The man who had come to the forest was stunned by the sight unfolding before him, questioning whether this could truly be real.
Bloodstains dyeing the green grass red.
That blood had flowed straight from the corpses of the Minotaurs, known as the forest's watchmen.
They were so powerful that even taking down a single one required a full subjugation team.
Moreover, blades barely scratched them, and few people could wield magic that worked against them.
Just two hours or so ago, those Minotaurs should have captured the adventurer party.
But now, they were utterly annihilated.
He hadn't been able to shake his growing anxiety over their delay and had come to check, only for his worst fears to come true.
And they had died instantly, stabbed through vital points without even mounting a proper defense...
Even veteran adventurers would struggle with that.
"Who the hell did this? Don't tell me it was that elf...?"
But there was a prime suspect.
They were a party with some reputation, but most of the adventurers were greenhorns who had yet to taste true hardship.
Getting wiped out by a sudden Minotaur ambush was their fated end, but there had been a 'Forest Elf' watching over those rookies.
Elves had long lifespans.
As such, they surpassed other races in both mental fortitude and experience by leaps and bounds.
She probably knew how to handle Minotaurs too, but that elf was an archer, not a mage.
In other words, she wouldn't lead the charge, typically serving as a scout or reconnaissance—disadvantageous in a head-on fight.
Plus, Minotaurs had hides tough enough to deflect steel, so a few puny arrows wouldn't do much unless they hit the eyes.
"There's a mana reaction. Based on the traces in the forest, I'd estimate it's graviton-series magic."
"I see... So that's how it is. That elf wasn't just an archer—she could fill in as a mage too."
But that line of thinking only held if you assumed she was purely an archer.
The traces left behind showed these Minotaurs had been crushed in an instant by overwhelming magic.
That idiot dwarf couldn't cast anything that potent.
The boy was a swordsman, the other woman a priestess—so the elf was the only one left.
The man came to that conclusion and bit his lip.
He had been thrilled, thinking he'd snagged a top-tier catch this time, but beautiful flowers came with thorns, it seemed. He hadn't anticipated things twisting like this.
In a situation like this, he needed to dispose of the Minotaur corpses—and fast.
If 'that one' caught wind of it, everything would get far messier.
-Thud! Thud! Thud!
But it looked like he was already too late.
"This sound...!"
At that moment, the forest began to rumble.
The man panicked at the unexpected arrival.
―Who dares slaughter my kin so cruelly?
A beast expelling breath hotter than flames.
Those were the footsteps of the 'king' who ruled this stretch of forest.
A colossal figure soon emerged.
1.5 times larger than an ordinary Minotaur, its hide black rather than red.
The entity known as the Minotaur King.
He was furious.
Enraged beyond measure at the gruesome scene of his kin slain before his eyes.
"King of the forest, this wasn't my doing."
―I know... You humans are bound by contract to me. Even a child knows you couldn't stoop to this.
That was right.
The king had made a pact with this man.
The terms were straightforward.
In exchange for the man ensuring the Adventurer's Association never sent subjugation teams into this forest, he could borrow some of the king's Minotaur underlings.
Already vexed by Association intruders, the king had eagerly accepted the proposal.
And sure enough, no adventurer requests ever led parties here to hunt Minotaurs.
Occasional merchant caravans passed through, leading to clashes, but their escorts topped out at 2- or 3-star adventurers.
Even a dozen of them weren't equipped to face Minotaurs.
―But why... have my kin ended up like this...?
Any killed or captured in those skirmishes had been cleanly 'disposed of' by the man without fuss, earning the king's tentative trust.
―Ooh, what a foul stench... This lingering mana. Elf—it's laced with elf! Those wretched vermin...!
And that was why he raged.
―That loathsome creature butchered my kin...! Why didn't you tell me, human?! I trusted you. Had there been an elf, you should have spoken up!
He was livid over not being warned about the 'elf'—an existence as good as blood enemies to Minotaurs.
"...Calm yourself, Your Majesty. If you make an appearance, they'll dispatch a subjugation team loaded with knight-rank or higher adventurers! Even I couldn't block that."
The man pleaded his case.
This king cherished his kin dearly.
That was the root of his fury.
But he was a monster capable of rational thought, determined to avoid sacrificing his own to his anger.
For a beast, he was intelligent and reasonable—that was this king.
"If you'd shown yourself, the Association wouldn't have sat idle. That's why I kept it quiet. Your Majesty, you go berserk at the sight of an elf!"
Hence the contract.
"That would trigger a subjugation team, dooming your kin. I hid it deliberately to prevent exactly that!"
He had deemed it the optimal way to spare his kin.
―Grr... Understood. It was my failing not to grasp your foresight. Forgive me.
Seemingly calmed at last, he bowed his massive head.
"It's alright, Your Majesty. I'll ensure vengeance for your kin. Just wait and endure... as always. I'll capture that elf and deliver revenge."
The king nodded at the man's words.
Then he lumbered his enormous frame into the trees, vanishing from sight.
His arrival had been grandiose; his departure, silent.
"Whew... lost ten years off my life there."
Only once the monster's presence fully faded did the man relax.
He had stashed subordinates in the underbrush for contingencies, but fear had gnawed at him all the same.
The Minotaur King was a natural disaster on legs, potent enough solo.
Subduing him by force? Impossible without a 6-star adventurer or equivalent.
The beast could raze multiple cities alone.
"So that's the Minotaur King... First time seeing one in the flesh. Truly awe-inspiring. And it converses with humans? Hard to believe it's a monster."
His men gazed at the king in wonder.
They marveled equally at their boss.
Wasn't he casually 'utilizing' such a powerhouse?
This man was a slave trader.
He exploited the Minotaurs to raid adventurers for loot, enslaving any pretty women for massive profits and amassing a huge operation.
His influence rivaled lesser nobles; he was infamous in black market slave circles.
"And you're on friendly terms with that monster king to boot. Impressive, boss."
"Hahaha, you know it... Anyway, pursue them! The elf's premium stock—we can't let her slip. They fetch top dollar; losing her here is a disaster!"
The man laughed.
Not only was a rare 'elf' inbound soon, but sweet extras too.
That idiot monster had played his part perfectly again. Regrettable escape, but they couldn't have gone far.
"But she's an elf mage. We'll suffer heavy losses..."
If monsters failed, his crew could handle it—annoying, but doable. Still, the target was a mage.
A mage skilled enough to crush Minotaurs; even his sharp, swift men would bleed badly in a straight fight.
"No worries—a mage is welcome news. Snagged something perfect from the black market recently."
"That necklace...?"
"Mana-sealing restraint. No matter how elite her magic, she's just a fragile elf."
But the man wasn't concerned.
Elven spells were a pain, but he'd acquired a mage-killer 'magic tool'—perfect opportunity.
"...Especially since it neutralized even a 'High Elf's' power once."
Half a year back.
A stunning elf hit the black market.
Goddess-like fragile beauty, lustrous silver hair—the legendary High Elf.
Fetched an astronomical sum.
Enough for dozens of castles, they said. Some loaded noble bought her for 'personal' use.
Likely to break the proud, mighty High Elf in bed and have his fun.
Trendy among rich nobles lately; demand was booming.
Curious how they'd caught her, he asked the seller: Dwarf King's own magic tool, exploited a moment's lapse.
Unlike regular elves, High Elves leaned hard on magic; physically, like any human woman.
Seal the spells, and she was harmless.
"Heh heh heh... Someday I'll bag a High Elf myself."
Thus, he'd scoured for the same tool and finally obtained it.
Clutched in the man's hand gleamed a golden necklace.
◇◇◇◆◇◇◇ 2.
After dinner, I opted to wash up alone.
The moonlit sky was beautiful.
Twilight Forest knew only sunlight; night brought pitch darkness, visibility nil—like peering into ocean depths.
This sky felt alien to me.
Yet nostalgic too.
'The sky's not so different from Earth's.'
No—differences existed.
Not merely brighter stars from the plains; the constellations were absent.
No familiar patterns.
Makes sense, maybe. This wasn't my old world—it was the game world of Novel Online.
Just my theory, but easiest to assume so.
"Perfume, huh..."
I pulled out a small vial.
The priestess had handed it over: "Use this if you're washing up."
Desperate for soap or shampoo, I'd accepted gratefully—but now, how to use it?
Spray bottle, easy. But liquid in glass?
"Sigh. No clue."
Ex-guy; no idea on girly stuff.
Settled for water alone.
This stream flowed from those mountains; even in gloom, the clarity was obvious.
No pollution sources, likely.
No factories spewing waste like back home.
Not Twilight Forest-pure, but drinkable.
'...Submerging feels divine.'
Baths rock.
Body adrift in the current, worries flow away.
I indulged often.
Life's stresses sloughed off like dead skin.
Vital for sanity in Exile Tower; loved that tub from guardian scraps.
...Reset in a day, though.
'What if I drift with the current?'
Out to sea, unless fished out.
'Nah, bad plan.'
Dunked fully under.
This body breathed underwater fine.
Demons that OP? Or innate magic, unbeknownst to me.
'Needed for sunken ruin dives.'
Vivid recall even eyes closed.
Mystic ocean ruin held Time Transcendent's 'Book of Prophecy' chest.
Standard route: spirit pacts with water or wind spirits.
Demon? No dice.
Hunted alternatives: pored over tomes for underwater breathing spell. Rough going...
...
Wait—that game lore?
Felt like lived memory.
Yeah, quest existed; demon penalty barred spirits, forced clunky path...
But game.
No vivid recall possible.
"What did I just dredge up?"
Headache surfacing.
Brief.
Not mere cold water.
Saw eerie hallucination.
Deeply nostalgic...
Missing home, kin, roots—like phantom past joys.
"Idiot."
Glanced at the thicket.
"Gasp...!"
Locked eyes with 'him'.
Hallucination distracted; missed the peeping creep.
"Thought you'd fool me hiding there?"
Scooped water, hurled.
-Boom!
His hiding rock exploded.
Water's formless, but pressurized? Slices steel, diamond alike.
"Tch..."
Missed.
Aimed un-dodgeable; escaped weirdly.
"Right, this too."
Torn paper scrap on ground.
⚔ ITEM ⚔ ▶ Item – Consumable 『Magic Scroll』 ※Imprinted with Teleportation Magic. Using it transports to designated coordinates. ※Already used. Common one-shot magic circle.
Detected, he ripped it—instant escape to some remote spot.
Torn, untrackable. Pre-use, destination known; post-use, even Cyan's power struggles to pursue.
"...Got your face. Next time, I'll pluck those eyes out while you're screaming."
Miss unavoidable, but face memorized.
Then? Feed eyes to monsters.
Or pulverize the groin first.
"Look forward to it..."
I muttered alone.
While on that quest, hunt the peeper too.