Chapter 226
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 226
Chapter Title: Planned Murder - 1
The Elderwood Forest was so vast it could rightly be called an ocean of trees.
Even with countless plants, animals, and monsters inhabiting it, the forest remained eerily silent.
The only sounds were the occasional whispers of the wind and the party's chatter.
"This place really is a creepy forest."
"Feels like it's watching us, doesn't it?"
"Yeah... if it weren't for the lack of eyes..."
The group pressed deeper into the forest, a chill running down their spines.
There was no need to search for a path—the branches parted as if guiding them.
Geom-in said excitedly,
"Elderwood is leading us. We're like the heroes from a fantasy tale."
Da-jeong teased him.
"Heroes usually marry princesses, right? Too bad there's no princess in sight."
Seok-hyeon nodded toward the stag beetle perched on Geom-in's head.
"What about that one? Looks like an elf princess if you squint."
"Too savage for a princess."
"Ow."
"Sung-ho said it, but Geom-in's pulling its ears."
"That thing's got a nasty temper too."
"Ah, ow!"
The group bantered noisily until they finally reached Elderwood's heart.
A wall seemed to appear out of nowhere, but looking up revealed a tree of dizzying height.
"My God..."
"What tree grows this massive?"
"Earth's giants are saplings compared to this."
As Da-jeong said, Elderwood's trunk dwarfed Earth's largest trees.
Even with its dense canopy of branches and leaves, the surroundings weren't dark—an oddity.
It was as if the tree absorbed light and radiated it back.
The party marveled at the tree's majesty, but they all grimaced upon turning around.
Muscular tissue—like what they'd seen on the Great Labyrinth's 7th floor—encased part of the trunk.
"Earth guy, this what you sensed? Good instincts."
"Heard it hurt, but not like this."
"Hey, sap's leaking—sap!"
Sure enough, Elderwood sap oozed from the necrotic tissue.
Rare stuff, so Sung-ho quickly pulled out a container to collect it.
Pain resistance was nice, but skin regeneration was the real prize.
Party members who'd drunk it had baby-smooth, glowing skin.
"Tree... blood."
At Little Fist's words, everyone looked up at Elderwood.
This sap might be its blood.
Elderwood was being corroded by Judeca, bleeding out.
Distressed, Geom-in tried prying off the tissue, but it was futile.
"It's fused solid... like it was always one."
"Earth guy, use some real strength."
Seok-hyeon tried, but no give.
He pulled out a fire starter, earning glares.
"Fire's the worst option. Find another way."
"Can't we just cut it off?"
No solutions in sight.
Da-jeong contacted Amelia to explain.
But she had no sharp ideas.
—What about burning it? You said it'd regenerate.
Amelia's response was practically a scream.
Da-jeong shrugged and handed the Whisper Stone to Geom-in.
"No go."
"Why me... Yes, yes... Lady Amelia, that's not..."
"Whoa, Lady Amelia."
While they chatted, Seok-hyeon had the stag beetle on his bald head again.
It pointed to a large hole.
Inside was surprisingly bright.
Seok-hyeon climbed as directed, grunting.
High up, he spotted something.
A bright red fruit dangling from a barren branch.
Elderwood Fruit
"Only one?"
Just the one, even after looking around.
He pocketed it in his underwear, getting his ear yanked by the beetle.
His tough body barely felt it; he hopped down lightly.
Showing the fruit, Da-jeong freaked.
"Seriously! Don't put stuff there!"
"Looks tasty, right? From inside Elderwood."
They examined the red fruit—no peculiarities.
Sung-ho crossed his arms.
"No effects listed. What for?"
"Eat it."
Seok-hyeon chomped and swallowed.
Eyes widened; beetle yanked his head. He ignored it.
Chomp chomp.
Juice dribbled; pulp ground by tough teeth down his throat.
The party watched in shock.
Da-jeong kicked his butt.
"You idiot! Spit it out!"
"Spitting now would be weird, right?"
He'd eaten most already.
Left: a radiant gem.
Gazes locked on it.
"Elderwood Seed... but isn't it an Etherstone?"
"Too shiny for Etherstone."
"This is the core. Fruit was bait."
Da-jeong eyed him suspiciously.
"You calculated that before eating?"
"Nah. Let's plant it. Poor Man's got it."
All crops/animals went to Ji-man.
"Then..."
Sung-ho gathered everyone and the ogre.
"Split here. Da-jeong, Geom-in—head to Bellond Forest, show this, find a way. Seok-hyeon and I at Ezequium outpost."
"After?"
"Scout shelter spots. Lake area probably."
"Got it."
Sung-ho locked eyes, stressing,
"Watch for knights with eerie eyes. Not normal."
"Tough for you?"
"Not too bad. Weird items, tanky. Top ones split rocks—careful."
"Wow. They'd wreck Seoul."
Geom-in said; Sung-ho added,
"Quiet now, but who knows. Faking reports to their Transcendent Knights or whatever."
Using the Whisper Stone looted from them.
Regular fake intel to their vice-commander, Pistel.
Da-jeong grinned wickedly.
"Busted later, they'll rage 'You tricked us!'"
"Best if never busted. Anyway, camp here tonight."
"Camping!"
They ate by Elderwood, encountering a Gizetli herd.
Far bigger than Bellond's.
"Interrupting dinner?!"
"Little Fist... not happy."
Dozens fell to furious veterans and ogre.
After Seok-hyeon's massacre, a strange tension gripped the Korean shelter.
Nearly a thousand dead—dissidents banded.
Still few, but noticeable.
Lee Beom-seok.
Shelter's No.2 drew the malcontents.
Gripes didn't spread far.
Veterans hearing would react badly; voices hushed.
Lee Beom-seok became anti-veteran hub unwillingly.
Not proud.
Most: shelter stay-behinds, not battlefield vets.
No Gimpo bloodbath scars.
'Just whiners safe inside...'
He included.
Self-loathing hit.
Presidential rift; he turned to booze.
Normally scolded for apoc drinking; now different.
Drowned sorrows with malcontents in corner.
"Speaking of—decision time? They go or we do."
"Guns, supplies split—we could leave."
"Levels low, but guts? Right?"
"Hear hear! Applause!"
"Woo!"
Drunk ramblings—impossible with Jang Won-taek or vets present.
Whispers spread shelter-wide.
Sung-ho's crew heard hours later.
"...Trouble brewing."
"Jang's there—no moves."
Sang-shin and Hyung-jun watched outside.
Shelter mood off; they knew.
Vets at Lotus deterred action.
Hyung-jun paused auction comment.
Lotus nighttime—sleeping.
Door burst: Ji-hye, Su-yeon.
"Women's side tense too. Used to cook with Ji-hye unnie."
"Yes. Now?"
"No invites... What now?"
Ji-hye bowed guiltily; Su-yeon consoled.
"Not your fault."
"Overt shunning."
Hyung-jun grimaced.
Women-only gatherings: chat, cook.
Ji-hye ostracized lately.
Not overt, but rumors: pro-massacre, dirty vet ties.
Sang-shin spat from window.
"Scary. Folks sucking up to Seok-hyeon days ago..."
"Hearts flip fast."
Sighs.
Sung-ho'd rage, mithril blade out.
Seok-hyeon, Da-jeong no pushovers.
Peaceful shelter stirred.
Su-yeon pushed imaginary glasses, awkwardly lowered hand.
Subtly to Hyung-jun,
"Prep time?"
"For who?"
"Lee Beom-seok... Bad vibes."
"Doubt it—low level."
Most staff lowbies.
Many under 20.
No real threat.
Traits known...
But Su-yeon shared,
"Judeca. Those monsters... exploiting gaps. Classic tale."
"...Tentacles, brainwash specialty?"
Sang-shin shook head.
"Nah. President's his sky. Rift obvious."
Decades together—no feud imaginable.
Su-yeon,
"Rumors of rift. Yeo-ul overheard recon."
Night Island patrol.
Dismissed then; now suspicious.
Cornered Lee snaps? Judeca lurks.
Vets prime target, but brainwash anyone.
Hyung-jun massaged temples.
"No Sung-ho contact... Handle ourselves. Mi-kyung where?"
"Kids at Night Island."
Mi-kyung, Yoo-hyun, Ji-man, Yeo-ul.
Ji-man tending animals; stayovers.
Hunting too.
"Lee's Blink—only Mi-kyung tails if dumb move. Alert her."
"Has Sung-ho's stealth cloak."
"Perfect."
Geared up—no detection likely.
"Not now—call if he moves. Stay holed up ideally."
All hoped.
No trouble.
But he exited boldly, escort in tow.
Recon: monster mapping.
Why personally?
Mi-kyung shadowed, cloaked.
Lee entered dark alley.
Recent downpour: damp reek, blood, flesh chunks littering.
He looked up suddenly.
A woman mismatched the horror: Go Ho-kyung.
"...Long time."
"Saw me?"
"Chief of Staff... President knows I know."
"Ah ha. But rift rumors?"
His brow furrowed.
"Cut crap—why summon here?"
She smiled seductively.
"Woman lures man to shadows... other reasons?"
"No mood for games with monsters."
"Then why come?"
"That's..."
Lee swallowed dryly.
Recent enhanced ghoul hunt with new pals.
Solid gains, but touched ghoul-woman.
"Dead" one leaped, hugged him.
Buddies joked lewdly; he couldn't enjoy.
Voice in head.
Shook head; migraine clung.
Scoffed first; replayed.
Boose-weakened health, lost trust cornered him.
Listen, bolt if needed.
Go Ho-kyung smiled at ragged breaths.
Fish hooked.
Mi-kyung eavesdropped cloaked in corner.
'Insane...'