Chapter 340
Chapter 340
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>Translator: Ryuma
>Chapter: 340
>Chapter Title: Adventure 33-(Special) "The Forest No One Seeks"
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You were patrolling the northeastern cold forests of Pandea, heading southward.
Then, a fairy woman whose name you didn't even know approached you. All you'd learned about her were trivial details.
She was being pursued by someone while carrying some form of life sealed within a red prison.
She made one request of you: to help her shake off her pursuers.
An ominous aura of fate made you want to refuse, but the reward she promised held you in place.
It was too late to back out now.
For her sake, you must throw off the pursuit.
To do that, your best bet is to head for the Forest of the Sleeping Ones.
**Goal: Block the pursuit heading toward the woman of unknown identity.**
**Caution: This adventure is extremely dangerous.**
**Caution: The situation in this adventure changes from moment to moment.**
**Remaining time: "Unknown"**
*Snap—!*
With a flick of Kang Seol's fingers, Coco's shadowy form shot forward like an arrow, sinking its teeth into another wolf.
*Splash—!*
*Crunch crunch crunch!*
*Kyeeeek!*
‘...It dodged?’
*Thud thud...*
Coco's jaws held one of the wolf's severed legs intact, while the attacked wolf writhed on the ground in agony.
*Kiiiing...*
*Grrrrrr...*
The scene was unexpectedly brutal, but Kang Seol's mood was far from good.
‘That was aimed at its throat. How did it dodge?’
It would make sense against a higher-grade mana beast.
But this was something that shouldn't have happened right now.
Judging by the wolf pack, these were just ordinary wild animals anywhere—creatures that lived quietly to avoid encroaching on mana beast territories.
For such beings to clumsily dodge Coco's attack was an ill omen.
‘Something's off....’
Their blackened fur and red eyes were suspicious too, as if they'd been tainted by something.
Of course... that didn't mean the situation would reverse or the outcome ahead would change.
*Grrrrrr—!*
*Grrrf!*
Coco and Kukuru split off simultaneously, tearing into the wolf pack.
*Crunch—!*
One smashed a wolf's head with its forepaw, snapping its neck.
*Splurt...*
*Thud thud thud...*
Another raked open a belly, spilling its guts entirely.
*Kyyyeeeek—!*
*Grrrrr...*
Kang Seol stood still, observing the wolves' final death throes. With no other anomalies apparent, it seemed the fight would wrap up quickly.
*Crunch crunch!*
*Splashhhhh!*
Soon, Coco and Kukuru returned, drenched in black blood.
The fairy hadn't helped him even once.
Kang Seol was her escort, and these weren't particularly tough foes, so it wasn't a big deal—but it was a shame, as it might have helped uncover who she was.
Kang Seol turned his gaze to the wolf corpses.
‘Black blood... and all the entrails are rotten.’
Incongruous.
Kang Seol wrapped his hand in mana and rummaged through a wolf corpse.
The squelching sensation was deeply unpleasant, but he sensed there was more to it.
‘...Found it!’
*Splurt!*
He pulled out an oddly shaped stone fragment embedded near the wolf's heart.
‘Hm?’
**[Intermediate Insight activates.]**
**[This is a substance that induces corruption.]**
‘Corruption....’
Kang Seol's expression grew grave.
That was when the word "corruption" started appearing.
‘Is this adventure related to corruption?’
Corruption.
A mechanic that cropped up across Pandea.
A power that tainted the very essence of its target, turning it into something profane. Not that it was always seen as purely bad.
In fact, some classes grew stronger by harnessing corruption, and gear tied to it existed too.
Kang Seol personally viewed those classes as inherently flawed—like they each had a screw loose—but anyway.
‘This could be a headache.’
When corruption showed up in adventures, you had to steel yourself. Facing a skilled necromancer felt like their forces never diminished, but corruption made the enemy seem to grow stronger instead.
The entire forest might become the enemy.
‘I'll take this just in case....’
It could prove useful.
The fairy approached and spoke.
“It's profane energy. Definitely his aura. He's searching for me.”
“...Corruption, huh.”
As Kang Seol's gaze turned to her, the fairy murmured.
“He's a lord, but no one truly serves him. They're all merely puppets under his control.”
“Hmm... A lord with no true followers. Sounds familiar....”
He couldn't get more answers, though.
The fairy swiftly changed the subject.
“Now that corruption has caught our scent, the pursuit will begin.”
“Wolves are no big deal...”
“These aren't wolves.”
“......”
“He will keep coming.”
The fairy's face drew closer.
“He will knock on the door to confirm your presence.”
Closer still.
“In the end, he will appear himself.”
- Thought it was a horror movie;;
- But it was good.
- Like certified mail.
Her radiant beauty was overshadowed by the grim words spilling from her lips, making the conversation anything but enjoyable.
She spoke of her foe as if invoking some superstition.
Kang Seol dusted himself off and stood.
“...No need for rest, then?”
“I need it, but I understand it's not a priority.”
She meant she wanted to rest but knew they couldn't. He was starting to grasp her way of talking.
“Ha... Anyway, once we reach the Forest of the Sleeping Ones, we'll shake off most pursuers. That place can cost you your life if you're not careful, let alone pursuit.”
“......I can't relax yet.”
“...Even after reaching the Forest of the Sleeping Ones?”
“But lead me there at least. We need a safe haven.”
“If I get you there safely, everything's good?”
“Yes. Your role ends then. You can leave if you wish.”
If you wish, you can leave.
Like saying clock out if you want to after work—an ominous phrase.
But he did want to clock out.
Most people would choose to leave at a time like this.
‘She said I'd learn all the truth once we get there anyway.’
He could satisfy his curiosity then and make his choice.
‘Come to think of it, this might be easier than I thought?’
Topped off with extra pay for what seemed like light work—perfect.
‘Yeah, gotta take jobs like this sometimes.’
He recalled the grueling adventures he'd endured without respite. Kang Seol had always done far more than the rewards justified.
He had no real complaints, but he wasn't about to turn down this stroke of luck.
“This way.”
The Forest of the Sleeping Ones was a place he remembered clearly. Guiding them along a familiar path was a piece of cake.
* * *
*Grrrrr...*
The air was thick with wolf howls from all directions.
A hideous black orc approached a handsome man who was frowning with his eyes closed against the noise.
“They're heading into the forest.”
“...The forest?”
“Probably planning to lose us in the Forest of the Sleeping Ones. Obvious move. Might be the best call for the ones fleeing.”
“...Annoying, indeed.”
The man knew little about the Forest of the Sleeping Ones.
Nor did the orcs under his command.
“What should we do? We're pursuing right now, but...”
“It's trouble if they go deep into the Forest of the Sleeping Ones. Can we catch them before they enter?”
“My subordinates are already closing in. But... from the seeds we scattered, it seems a new ally has appeared.”
“An ally?”
The man tilted his head.
“Weren't all her useful allies already dead? Even if any remain, they wouldn't get involved in this.”
They shouldn't, anyway.
Daring to oppose him was the act of a fool with two lives to spare.
“That's just it... We don't know the ally's identity. The traces and info only say human and troll. No major worry...”
Humans dominated over half the continent, but that was collective strength, not individual.
The black orc thus dismissed the ally as insignificant. Trolls were inferior by their standards too.
But contrary to the orc's thinking, the man ahead pondered cautiously.
“...How strong?”
“No major clashes yet, so we can't say for sure.”
“...You sent someone who could gauge that, right?”
“Yes, one of the most brutal and savage from the tribe. Probably up to your expectations...”
The man cut the orc short.
“Expectations? I have none for you lot.”
“...Pardon?”
“To me, you're mere tools to reach my goal—nothing more.”
“Y-Yes...”
After dismissing the orc, the man grinned.
A smile as if savoring the complication.
“An ally, huh... Intriguing.”
* * *
The deeper they ventured into the cold forest, the thicker the shadows draped over it grew.
It had already been two days of nonstop travel without sleep.
The fairy's condition was decent for two days on the move. Still, she marveled at Kang Seol's superhuman stamina.
They had finally reached the edge of the Forest of the Sleeping Ones.
After handling a few issues.
“Gack... keh heh hek...”
A black orc writhing under a crushed throat.
Dozens like him lay scattered around.
All dead.
*Crunch...*
*Crunch...*
An orc shuddered at the sight of shadow wolves tearing into the corpses.
Darkness surrounded him; the only glow was the golden eyes fixed on him.
“Kh... kuh huhk...”
They'd been wiped out.
By the freak controlling the wolves.
That freak was, naturally, Kang Seol.
**[The surviving orc seems to have something to say. Sway him right, and you might get the info you want. What question will you ask?]**
1. Who sent you?
2. How far has the main force advanced?
3. What's the main force's size?
4. Got important info to trade for your life?
......
He'd learn the truth soon enough anyway.
“How far off is your main force?”
The black orc laughed.
“Can't say.”
“Who sent you?”
“...What?”
“Who sent you, I said.”
“Khuk kuk... Kuh hahahahaha!”
The orc, already bleeding profusely, burst into laughter.
As Kang Seol's mood soured at the inexplicable cackling, the orc finally spoke.
“Kuhk... You have no idea what you've gotten involved in, do you? Pity—it'll feel hollow knowing why you die.”
“...What’s that supposed to mean?”
Kang Seol projected confidence at the orc.
“The Forest of the Sleeping Ones is ahead. No one gets to take it easy there. Pursuit will get tough. You won't catch us anymore.”
“......”
“Kuhk... kuh kuk kuk...”
The orc's reaction was odd.
“Shake off pursuit? You think that's possible? Ask your companion there.”
Grinning with rotten teeth, the orc called to the fairy.
“Same for you? Tantuinu-yeo.”
“Shut your mouth!”
“Kuhk... If this human knew who you were, he wouldn't help. And who you're with...”
*Crunch—!*
A dagger flew, piercing the orc's throat.
“Tan...tuinu?”
“Tantuinu?”
Kang Seol and Jamad murmured in unison.
Tantuinu.
The name rang bells the more he chewed on it.
‘Tantuinu! No way!’
Now he understood why she'd hidden her name.
She was...
“Tantuinu, I've kept my promise.”
“......”
“We've reached the Forest of the Sleeping Ones. Now it's time for the truth.”
“...You may leave.”
“No. Answers first.”
Kang Seol spoke politely yet firmly.
“...Young dragon.”
“......Fine.”
*Crack...*
*Crack crack...*
Tantuinu's body transformed.
Pearl-like skin sprouted scales in an instant; wings grew from her arms.
And she swelled to a size incomparable to before.
She became a small dragon in the end.
Kang Seol remembered the name Tantuinu well. She was a descendant of Tancred, the Mother of the Earth.
“Forgive me... human.”
“So that's why you hid your name.”
Dragons were being hunted now.
Who in the world hunted dragons?
He pondered deeply.
‘Someone who can hunt Tantuinu? Who the hell...’
Why was Tantuinu being chased, and what was she carrying?
His eyes naturally drifted to the red prison.
What was trapped inside was more immediately knowable than the pursuer.
‘Definitely... Tantuinu seemed reluctant about it.’
Higher than Tantuinu, the one she served...
Then, like a bolt of lightning, a name flashed in his mind.
“My god...”
“No way...”
Jamad seemed to realize it too.
As Kang Seol stood speechless with goosebumps, Jamad slowly approached the red prison.
*Thud... thud...*
“Tancred... Mother of the Earth...”
“......”
“Is that you? Are you the one inside?”
*Hummm...*
The red prison vibrated.
Kang Seol closed his eyes.
This adventure likely wouldn't end today.