The Erased Existence
Two weeks of peaceful days had passed.
Training with Lizette, learning herbs from Aunt Serina—the same gentle rhythm, day after day.
And then, that day—
I entered the forest for the first time.
A few hours before we set out—
A knock sounded at the door.
"Come in," Mom said evenly.
The door opened, and Aunt Serina and Lizette stepped inside.
"Unnie, how did you know it was us?"
"I heard your footsteps."
"Serina and Lizette—what's going on?"
"Is that even possible?"
"It is, but…"
"You're this on guard even with us?"
"So what brings you here?"
"You two didn't come just because you were bored."
"Well… would it be all right if we took the kid into the forest?"
"What?"
Master gripped her ladle so hard it bent, eyes fixed on us.
"An adventure!"
"What for?"
"Well…"
"May I explain?"
"We're running low on herbs, so I put in a request with Lizette."
"And Lizette asked if she could bring the little one along."
"And?"
"I thought it would be good study for him—learning about useful herbs firsthand."
"I agreed."
"With Lizette, I figured he'd be fine."
"Master, I believe experience is the only real answer if a child is going to grow stronger."
"And for that, even a little experience is better than none."
I walked carefully over and looked up at Mom.
"Mom… I won't cause any trouble. I'll stick right next to Nuna."
"Can't I go?"
"Ha…"
"That child isn't even registered as an adventurer yet."
"He can't enter the forest anyway."
"About that…"
"The guild changed the rules. If someone of high enough rank takes them in—"
"—it's allowed now."
"That guild master and his useless meddling…"
"Mom… I want to see the forest too."
I gazed up at her with bright, earnest eyes.
"Even if I say no…"
"My son will find a way to go somehow."
"Well, he is Master's son."
"That's true…"
"All right. But only after you've learned about the forest from your nuna."
"Really?"
"Yes!"
"Congratulations, kid."
"I figured Lizette would pull something like this, but…"
"I never expected Serina to join in too."
"Haha…"
"At first I thought it was a bad idea myself."
"But keeping him cooped up forever didn't seem right either."
"…"
"Serina has a point."
"Locking him away forever isn't the answer."
"Unnie, it'll be fine."
"If things get dangerous, just use Lizette as a shield."
"That's true enough."
"With Lizette, he should be all right."
"Excuse me?"
"Is that how you people treat me?"
"You're the one who brought it up."
"Well, yes, but…"
"That's so mean."
"Son, come here a moment."
"Yes!"
Mom stretched out her hand, and magic flowed from her fingertips.
"Mom, what's this?"
"A protection spell."
"It's a sub-attribute magic too."
"Thank you, Mom!"
"Master, could I get one too…?"
"Handle yourself."
"Yes…"
"Nuna, tell me about the forest!"
"All right, kid. I'll teach you what to watch out for in there."
"First—once you enter the forest, don't touch anything carelessly."
"Why?"
"There are monsters that disguise themselves as plants."
"Touch the wrong one and you'll get eaten on the spot."
"Don't say such terrifying things, Lizette."
Aunt Serina frowned and shot her a warning look.
"I know. But the rookie needs to know too."
"Second—once you're in the forest, stick right next to me."
"I can only protect you if you're close."
"Got it!"
"And third—last one."
"If anything happens, run. Don't look back."
"Like Unnie and Master always say—I can escape on my own."
"So just think about your own safety."
"Got it!"
"Stick close to Nuna."
"Don't touch anything carelessly."
"And last—think only of my own safety!"
"Mm. You learned well."
"But Mom, aren't you coming with us?"
"Huh?"
"You're strong too."
"Wouldn't it be fine if you came along?"
In that moment, Master said nothing.
"You idiot."
"If Master comes, do you think training would even be possible?"
"The whole area would get blown away."
"Oh… right…"
"All right, enough talk."
"Kid, the herb we're bringing back this time is called Taya grass."
"Taya grass—that's the ingredient for stamina-recovery potions, right?"
"That's right."
"Just pick fifty of them."
"Doesn't Taya grass grow in slightly damp soil?"
"Correct."
"Luckily our village has all kinds of herbs."
"You'll probably find some just a little ways into the forest."
"Understood!"
Aunt Serina gently ruffled my hair.
"Well then, Auntie will head out first."
"You're not coming with us?"
"No."
"I'll go downstairs, pack some potion bottles, and wait ahead."
"Lizette, take your time."
"Yes!"
"Son."
Mom came down from the attic.
"Take this with you."
From her hands emerged a sword that fit me perfectly.
"What's this?"
"It's the sword your father used when he was young."
"It's been well maintained—you should be able to use it."
"Dad's sword!"
"Go as if your father is right beside you."
"Yes!"
"Honestly…"
"I still wish you wouldn't go."
"I'm sorry."
"No."
"You need to start learning about the world before it's too late."
"Don't get hurt."
"Yes!"
"Don't worry."
"If anything happens, I'll stake my life to save him!"
"Don't say things like that, even as a joke."
"Both of you come back safe."
"Yes…"
Lizette bowed her head, looking awkwardly sheepish.
Stepping outside, I turned and called back to Mom.
"I'll be back."
We hadn't walked far when Mom called out to me.
"Son!"
"Yes!"
"Aren't you forgetting something?"
I checked myself over, making sure I had everything.
"I've got it all!"
Mom watched me, then pointed a finger at her cheek.
"Are you sure you haven't forgotten anything?"
"Mom, Nuna's right here—can't we skip it just for today…?"
"Want to turn around and come back?"
I gave up, ran to her, and kissed her on the cheek.
Mom pulled me into a hug, delighted.
"Go carefully."
"Okay—I'm really leaving now!"
"Lizette!"
"Yes?"
"Be careful out there, and take good care of my son!"
"I will!"
As we walked farther away, Mom's hand grew smaller and smaller in the distance.
"Rookie, you still kiss your mom goodbye?"
"Nuna… Mom said that even when I grow up, I'll always be her little kid."
Lizette launched into gleeful teasing.
"Aww, is that so? Master's orders, huh?"
"Ugh, annoying."
"Aww, is that so? You're annoyed, huh?"
"Oh no."
I just smiled brightly.
"What's with that grin?"
"It's the exact same smile Master gets when she's about to torment someone."
"When we get back… I'm telling Mom everything."
In Lizette's mind, scenes of getting beaten senseless or drilled into the ground by Master flashed past.
"Rookie… is there something you want?"
I shrugged.
"Hmm, I have no idea what you mean."
"Ahh… I can see Fer and Master in that kid's face…"
"Terrifying…"
That was the first day she felt genuine fear of the rookie.
"Fine. Later I'll let you take down one monster."
I looked up at her with pure, shining admiration.
"Nim! I love you!"
"Yeah, yeah."
"Worship this nuna of yours."
"No thanks."
"Weren't you playing along?"
"This kid's attitude flips so fast I've got nothing left to say."
Lizette crossed her arms and drawled in a sly, theatrical tone—just like Dad.
"Just now you sounded exactly like Dad."
She charged at me, fuming.
"Don't say that even as a joke!"
"You little rookie!"
I fled from her all the way to the forest entrance.
Aunt Serina was already waiting there.
"I told you to take your time, but…"
"Aren't you a little too late?"
Lizette grinned with a wicked look.
"Well, Serina Unnie, about why we're late…"
She leaned in and whispered into Aunt Serina's ear.
Aunt Serina immediately joined the teasing.
"Our little one is still such a baby."
"Want a kiss from Auntie too?"
"Wouldn't want our little one feeling left out."
I hadn't even entered the forest yet, and my face felt like it was on fire.
"Why are you two like this?!"
"Haha."
"But still—kissing your mom goodbye?"
"That's just too adorable."
"Even so…"
"Stop teasing me!"
"Oh my, the rookie's face has turned into an apple."
Aunt Serina settled down gently and said,
"Sorry. You're eleven already—we teased you too much."
"…"
"Later… buy me something tasty."
"All right."
"If I buy you something tasty, do I get a kiss?"
"Absolutely not!!!"
I shouted loud enough to echo through the forest.
In the end… I lost to Aunt Serina's relentless persistence.
And I had to kiss her on the cheek too.
"The herbs should be just a little ways into the forest."
"If you don't find any, don't go deeper—just come back. Understood?"
"Yes."
Aunt Serina gave me a soft hug.
"Don't push yourself. It's your first adventure."
"See lots of things, enjoy yourself, and come back."
"And above all—don't get hurt."
"I know!"
"I'll be fine!"
Aunt Serina thumped her chest.
"I'm here—what's there to worry about?"
"Haa… if anything happens, use Lizette as a shield and run."
"That's really too much…"
Even though Aunt Serina said it that way, it was clear she trusted Lizette a great deal.
"Well then, we're off."
"You've got all the potions, right?"
"Lizette, take good care of the little one."
"Don't worry."
My heart was pounding with anticipation.
My first adventure of a lifetime had begun.
We entered the forest.
"Nuna, what's this forest called?"
"Its name? It's called Tarsha Forest."
"They say a dragon used to live here long ago."
"Dragons exist?"
"Of course they do."
"Wyverns and lizards are types of dragons too."
"But why Tarsha?"
"Because the dragon that lived in this forest long ago was named Tarsha."
Hearing dragon stories like the ones from fairy tales made the adventure feel even more thrilling.
"How big are dragons?"
"Hmm… probably so big that even if you looked, you'd only see a single claw."
"Isn't that basically a monster?"
Lizette laughed at my words.
"In the old days, people called anything they didn't understand a monster."
"That's fascinating."
Lizette stopped short and sharpened her gaze.
"Rookie—see that over there?"
"That's Taya grass."
"It looks exactly like the pictures in the books."
"Long roots, leaves shaped like muscles…"
"It looks weird, but it's still a medicinal herb."
"Then let's dig them up and go!"
"Hold on."
Lizette grabbed me in a hurry.
"I told you, didn't I?"
"Don't leave my side."
"Right—sorry."
"And don't make too much noise."
"Some monsters have sharp hearing."
She placed a hand on the ground and channeled mana into it.
"Nuna, why are you sending mana into the ground?"
"It's detection magic—a sub-attribute spell."
"Wait—you can see mana?"
"Yes."
"Ha… that's genuinely amazing."
"Anyway, no monsters nearby."
"Let's harvest quickly."
"Yes!"
We walked slowly, gathering Taya grass as we went.
"While we walk, I'll give you a question."
"Why was sub-attribute magic created in the first place?"
"Hmm…"
"To read the situation around you?"
"Correct."
"But there's another reason too."
"What is it?"
"To survive."
Lizette's eyes looked a little colder.
"Well, there's also the reason of using magic more efficiently."
"Though that doesn't really apply to you or Master."
"What does that mean?"
"Oh—sleep grass!"
She ignored my question and headed toward the herb.
"Sleep grass is used for sleep recovery, right?"
"That's right."
Lizette crushed the herb and put it in her mouth.
"Is it okay to eat it like that?"
"If you fall asleep, Nuna, I'm leaving you behind."
"Coming from you, that actually sounds real… I'm hurt…"
"Sleep grass originally puts people to sleep, but—"
"—I just use mana in my mouth to strip out that effect."
"No wonder you're Mom's disciple."
"Obviously."
"Do you know how hard I worked for this?"
And so we wandered, gathering Taya grass and other herbs along the way.
"Thanks to you, Nuna, I've seen so many herbs."
"And we completed the request—thank you!"
"Even if you say nice things like that—"
"—I'm still only letting you take down one monster."
"Tch."
"So that was this brat's real goal all along."
"Let's find a monster nearby, take it down, and head back!"
"Yes…"
I didn't know then.
That that greed would call down a terrible calamity.
The forest fell silent in an instant.
Lizette's hand clamped around her sword hilt.
Grrrrrrr.