The Deep Forest Warps the Clock
Tall trees block out the sunlight, and overgrown underbrush obscures the view. A labyrinth designed so no one can easily find their way. That's why the forest is fair. It traps all uninvited guests equally, regardless of whether they're on the attack team or defense team.
In a way, we're 'trapped' in this forest too. But I wouldn't come here without any preparation.
"Northeast, straight line, ten minutes. Five enemies."
"Got it, Hamburger."
"...My name is Donal."
Hamburger looked displeased, but he let out a deep sigh as he glanced at Relbrian, who had placed her palm on the ground and closed her eyes.
"...This info is accurate, right?"
"If you can't trust an elf in the forest, who can you trust?"
"Eh, elf? Oh, I've heard there's a half-elf in the magic department, and now that I see those ears... First time seeing one up close, though."
Come to think of it, anyone in the magic department would know Relbrian is half-elf. But Donal's from the knight department, so maybe he doesn't.
"...Should I relay it as is?"
I nodded, and he dashed off to inform the six spread-out members. Our combat squad of six. Donal's the nominal leader, but command is mine. Thanks to Reina, of course. Making him leader has been a huge help to me.
"Five minutes out. Advance fast."
Hamburger—no, Donal—glanced at me, and I beckoned him over.
"Knight department rank thirteen, Donal of the Dramac barony."
"Y-you know me?"
"I have my own background. You're from the western nobility too, aren't you?"
"...That's right."
"I'll give you a chance to earn some merit."
His eyes widened. That's Hamburger for you. A baron. Even in the west, it's an ambiguous rank—not high enough to boast, not low enough to ignore—so he prioritizes raising his family's status above all.
"Head to the lower right, to the edge of our line of sight. When the signal comes, charge in. Your weapon's a greatsword, so break their reconnaissance formation from the flank. To the professors, it'll look like you're leading the attack. How's that?"
Donal nodded without hesitation.
"Next?"
"After you start the attack, order the three mages on the left to unleash max firepower. Then Relbrian and I will join from behind."
He nodded and headed down. We waited a bit longer.
Finally, Relbrian murmured.
"They're close. Visible to the naked eye now."
"Yeah, I see them."
They were close enough to make out faces. A five-man team. Some familiar ones too. The guy up front with the shield. Two swordsmen behind him, and the two rear mages on full alert. They're advancing cautiously, assuming enemies ahead.
But this is the 'forest.' And we have someone half-assimilated with it.
"Relbrian, is it done?"
"Yeah, the forest seems convinced. It'll fight with us."
With those words, the wind picked up. Leaves rustled, a cool breeze blew from behind. A whistling wind danced past our ears, tousling the green hair of the girl before us.
Here it comes. This is why, in the 'Eastern Forest' arc, she becomes the unbreakable rice porridge party's top utility support.
A pale green light surged from her feet, and her lips parted amid the glow.
"Long forgotten, yet we endure."
"I am the forest's heir, sole descendant of the noble Queen Risilrote."
"Forest, heed my prayer. Rekindle the mythic pact here and now."
⟨ Queen's Canticle ⟩
Shing. Her waist sword slid out lightly. Then fierce winds whipped around her.
They must realize something's happening now. But...
"Too late."
I read the floating message and chuckled.
'Relbrian's exclusive field magic Queen's Canticle has activated!
All wind attribute magic and Attribute Sword bonuses apply around speaker 'Relbrian'!
Mana surges! Magic consumption reduced!
Body lightens! Movement and attack speed increased!
This lasts approximately 5 minutes and cannot be dispelled by any debuff!
Act 2 benchmark, an untouchable tier-1 AoE buff exclusive to Relbrian. She glanced at me, and I nodded back.
"Low-tier wind elemental magic: Wind Blade."
She raised her spirit tree branch, chanted the spell.
"W-what's that?!"
"Enemy attack!"
"Stay behind me!"
Dozens of wind blades rained vertically from above. That was the signal.
A shadow burst from the underbrush.
"Haaap! Attribute Sword: Pierce!"
Rock fragments clung to the sweeping greatsword blade. Donal Dramac's earth Attribute Sword.
Groooar!
It slammed the ground hard, upheaving the forest floor and uprooting nearby trees. Perfect. Signal given, Hamburger charged first—our turn.
I exchanged glances with Relbrian, kicked off the ground, leaped over the brush, and charged the ambushed foes.
Their eyes—all clustered defending against Donal's sword—turned to us and widened.
"Adrian."
"Speak."
"This isn't a fight—it's a hunt... Yeah, a hunt. Feels villainous like this."
"Hunt. Villain. Splendid, isn't it?"
"Eugh!"
Whoosh! Relbrian's triple swords, cloaked in wind, slashed down swiftly. I gripped my white branch tight, readying my Attribute Sword.
I've grown—plenty of mana left. Time to craft an unprecedented crisis. I wonder how you'll escape it.
Entered combat range!
Fated Companion 'Delicate Triangle' deactivated, automatically reactivating 'Lord and Knight'!
"Looks like you're cornered, Kalen."
Kalen's eyes quickly scanned the surroundings. Her shield hand trembled. It wasn't unexpected. No—if it was him, even a simple recon wouldn't be easy.
But.
"Perfectly read. Attribute Sword: Pierce!"
Lightning-fast—no, cloaked in real lightning—the sword whipped through the air. Faint sparks trailed the blade, thunder crackling endlessly at the tip. Amid the flashing purple lightning, turquoise eyes darted everywhere, short golden bob swaying.
But.
"Kuh!"
"Lady Lilin!"
She had to block it. Kalen kicked off the ground, thrusting her shield forward.
Bam!
The greatsword clashed against the small shield, shockwaves hitting hard, but Kalen gritted her teeth and shoved it back.
"...Kalen Snowwhite, huh."
She saw him grinding his teeth. A familiar face. Knight department rank thirteen, maybe? Far above her. Earth element. Earth perfectly counters lightning. Plus, that heavy greatsword one-shot, while their swordswoman favored quick lightning-synergy rapiers.
The mages...
One mage in recon top 150, but they're busy defending. Unlikely to overcome this perfectly.
I have to do it.
She poured mana into her shield, drew her sword. Ice formed on blade and shield, frost spreading underfoot. Even at elemental disadvantage, if she could create one opening...
"Kalen!"
She looked up at the call. Above. Wind blades pouring down suddenly. A familiar spell. And an odd sensation. Her shield felt lighter, her body stronger. Whenever she felt this, he was nearby.
Then.
"Looks like you're cornered, Kalen."
With those words, a wind-wreathed tree branch plummeted from the sky.
"Lord Adrian!"
She had to block. Absolutely. Letting that hit would shatter their hard-held formation!
"... Ice Crystal Shield Art: Novice!"
Her shield. Then ice crystals formed in midair above, spreading into a defensive barrier. Frost at her feet solidified, bracing the weight.
But.
"Still too soft."
Crack, craaaack! The ice barrier shattered. Kalen widened her eyes, retracted her shield, and thrust her sword.
A knight thrusting at her lord was disqualified. She hadn't even sworn proper fealty. Calling him lord was her selfish wish—embarrassing, unspoken.
But beyond lord-knight bonds, this was a test.
"Hm."
Understanding, he smiled.
"Now you're handling both properly."
He parried her sword lightly with his dagger's flat, deflected, and lunged. Not his usual uniform—blue short-sleeves, three stripes to the shoulders. Salenium gym clothes, just like hers. Sweat-soaked hair. Her heart wavered, but she steeled herself. Situation: predictably, still dire.
Everything's going as planned. Three massive spells detonating in sequence, Hamburger wrecking their defense, Relbrian and I charging frontally to shatter them.
I'd taught Kalen Ice Crystal Shield Art after last time, but right after learning, success rate and effect hinge on proficiency. With Relbrian's AoE buff and my Attribute Sword, plus long-unused Martial God Overlord, easy to smash.
And it did. As the ice shattered, she swung.
"Now you're handling both properly."
Kalen's eyes widened slightly. I smirked, deflected her sword with my dagger's flat.
Even now, Relbrian had smashed one mage's necklace. Top 150? In that time, recon down to two. We're all six intact.
"Hah, hah..."
Wiping sweat with her hand, still tense: knight department rank three, Lightning Sword Lilin. And Kalen before her.
Battle hit a lull. I stepped forward.
"Turn back now, and we'll call it even."
"Don't make me laugh."
Lilin glared, chewing her lip.
"...You?"
"What about me?"
"The idiot who made Kalen Snowwhite hold a shield instead of a sword."
Unexplained malice.
"Kalen should've wielded a sword."
"That's not for you to decide."
That instant.
"I won't forgive you!"
She charged with a yell. Lightning-enhanced speed too fast to track.
"Adrian!"
"Fine. Relbrian, remaining Queen's Canticle time?"
"30 seconds."
30 seconds. Plenty. Knight department rank three, Lightning Sword Lilin. Lightning-infused slashes with massive damage and insane speed. Dodge after reading? Too late. Predict trajectory? She bends it.
Spirit tree branch in one hand, dagger in the other.
"Filthy trash!"
"30 seconds."
I twisted past the low thrust, ducked the overhead slash. Blocked left high with the branch, swung dagger. She extended to block dagger, so I stabbed her chest open side with the branch. Exchanges split in a flash; Lilin took damage and staggered back.
"...Why."
"Simple."
I twirled my arm lightly, grinning.
"I already know everything."
Block, parry, strike, slash. 30 seconds of Queen's Canticle buff gives me huge edge. Knowing all trajectories, blocking all, exploiting gaps—her 'speed' means nothing. I know every attack.
I blocked all, counterattacked, blocked all again, counterattacked.
"...Why! Why can't I hit?!"
"Simple."
The opening. I thrust my dagger at Lilin's throat.
"...!"
The necklace gem shattered, her body engulfed in light. I turned away from her fading form.
"Because I know 'Kalen Snowwhite' better than you do. At least."
I have no equals. That's a veteran. That's me. Even if a truck hit the devs, or the fanmeet tanked and forums burned—I stood at the top, unshaken. Always.