Chapter 160
Chapter 160
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 160
Chapter Title: Bewildering Forest (3)
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"Um, sir mercenary...? If it's not too much trouble, and you're heading to the Great Forest, might I join you?"
Benson asked Kadim as politely as he could, only to receive this reply.
"Get lost. Before I slice open your gut and rip out half your insides."
"......"
The threat didn't sound like a joke at all. The woman standing behind him shot a cold sneer. Benson's stomach twisted in frustration, but there was nothing he could do. He backed away slowly for now.
And so, with only Ilenia joining them, the party heading to the Great Forest numbered three.
Duncan glanced back and forth between Kadim and Ilenia.
It was downright suspicious. How on earth had they run into this woman again, of all places? As he'd seen before, she wasn't your average archaeologist. And Kadim clearly didn't seem thrilled about her either, which nagged at him...
'...If something felt off, he would've just kicked her out, right? So why let her tag along? Wait... could it really be...?'
Pink-tinted fantasies unfurled in his mind unbidden.
Kadim and Ilenia. Sometime after their last encounter, they'd become that kind of couple. They'd tearfully parted with a promise to meet here someday. But lo and behold, when he arrived, there she was, clinging to some toad-faced slob. They'd cleared up the massive misunderstanding in a deep heart-to-heart, but lingering jealousy had Kadim acting out like that—it all fit together...
"...What nonsense are you daydreaming about, you worm?"
"Gahhh!!"
His fantasy shattered. The man himself had appeared right beside him before he knew it. Duncan flinched and waved his hands frantically.
"N-nothing at all, my lord! I was just... surprised to see her here again, that's all..."
"...She'll be guiding us for now. She seems to know more about the Great Forest than we do."
"R-really? Well, she is an archaeologist, after all... B-but why's she heading to the Great Forest?"
"...Something about a dragon."
"A d-dragon? Not to meet up with you, my lord?"
"She picked her destination after leaving the Magic Tower. How could she have arranged to meet us beforehand?"
"B-but still... isn't that kinda out of left field? She's no elf, so why suddenly go dragon-hunting in the Great Forest...?"
Duncan tilted his head, but a sudden chill prickled his skin. He looked over to find Kadim staring at him with heavy eyes. Duncan swallowed hard for no reason.
"Duncan, remember our deal? If you ambushed me successfully three times yesterday, I'd name your blade."
"Y-yes? Oh, right, of course, my lord..."
"Change of plans. Succeed just once, and you'll get the same reward. In exchange, sneak a peek inside that woman's bag later."
"...Pardon?"
"No need to steal anything. Just check what's inside. And if you find something suspicious, report it to me."
"...Huh?!"
Duncan's mind filled with question marks.
Okay, easier than ambushing his lordship, sure... but why? If the contents are fishy, just search it outright. It's not like stealing secret docs from the Magic Tower... Why sneak into someone else's bag? Wait... is he hunting for proof of infidelity...?
His wild speculation couldn't go further. Kadim had clamped his mouth shut. Sensing something off, Ilenia slowed and approached from ahead.
"Everyone, we're almost at the Great Forest... Um, see that fringe of trees at the edge there?"
Ilenia pointed to the distant horizon.
Following her finger, they saw a forest replacing the skyline.
They were still quite a ways from the entrance. Yet its presence overwhelmed the distance. For a moment, the group forgot all stray thoughts, entranced by the vast vista.
An endless undulation of emerald green, a deep verdant outline capping the boundary between heaven and earth. Every path branching out was blocked by this fortress of nature. No matter how they detoured, no road would appear—just an infinite wall of foliage stretching to the world's end.
The warrior's eyes, long surpassing an eagle's gaze, now scrutinized the forest in even finer detail. Teeming leaves fluttering thickly, trunks bearing thousands of rings... At a glance, it seemed merely a densely overgrown wood.
But that was just the forest's skin.
Beyond a certain boundary, distortions and warps seeped into the landscape. Senses didn't advance there; they merely circled the same spot. Staring at that barrier infused with unyielding refusal to allow entry, one couldn't help but feel the forest's reputation was well-earned.
The Great Forest, the continent's vastest woodland harboring bizarre rumors and mysteries.
A realm of utter unknown even Kadim from his first playthrough had never visited.
Duncan stood mesmerized by its grandeur. Kadim, after a single sweep, realized why Ilenia had trailed off ambiguously.
"Can't just charge in blindly, then. Looks like there's a separate entrance somewhere."
Ilenia clapped in admiration.
"Exactly! The Great Forest's fringes have paths that twist unnaturally—you could wander a hundred years and end up right back where you started! You can only enter through a specific passage called the 'Root Cave'!"
"Where's this cave, then?"
"There are a few... but the others are farther away. The closest one's right there! It'll be quick—just follow me!"
"Quick" turned out to be rather long. It took nearly two hours after she spoke.
But her guidance held true. At the roots of an ancient tree that must have stood for centuries, on the forest's fringe now much closer, Kadim's group finally found a cave-like opening.
The problem was the unmentioned extras nearby.
"...Looks like guests."
"......"
Some twenty roughnecks with swords and spears milled around the cave mouth. Far too many for such a remote spot.
Ilenia's face darkened sharply. She scanned the area carefully, then shook her head.
"Yeah... that one's no good. Better find another cave."
"...Is it because they're blocking the way? That'd be easy enough to fix right here."
The barbarian raised his throwing axe, nature's master key to any path. The archaeologist's lips twitched awkwardly as she denied it.
"No, it's not them... They've triggered something, and the Root Cave has 'awakened.' Can't pass normally in that state. We should head to another one now."
"...?"
Kadim furrowed his brow—what nonsense? Only after another look did he vaguely grasp her meaning. A sinister aura crept from the pitch-black depths.
This wasn't just any earthen tunnel.
"...Unbelievable. You were gonna lead us in there?"
"It's fine if it's dormant! And anyway, there's no other way into the forest proper..."
"So, what happens if it wakes?"
"Well... maybe the merchant shouldn't hear this...?"
"...Me? Why?"
"Y-you might get scared and refuse to go..."
Duncan made the most wronged, valiant face imaginable. But Kadim merely gave him a disinterested look. Only after Duncan shuffled off did Ilenia relax and explain about the Root Cave.
After hearing it all, Kadim pondered deeply.
Before deciding, he asked Ilenia one last thing.
"...The other caves are pretty far, you said?"
"Yes, it'd take a day or five...?"
"Then we'll take this one. It's not like we can't pass now that it's awake—in fact, we might get sent even farther."
"...Pardon? B-but sir mercenary, going deep via that cave means..."
"Not saying I'll use those guys."
Kadim eyed the roughnecks impassively. They'd spotted the group earlier and kept staring. When he didn't approach, one grew impatient and came over.
"...Though if they start trouble first, no reason not to."
"......"
"...?"
As Ilenia gave an ambiguous look and Duncan blinked in confusion, the messenger arrived.
A man stained with grass and sweat, the spitting image of a bandit. He hesitated at Kadim's bulk but soon spoke casually.
"Ahem, greetings. You folks headed into the Great Forest too?"
"......"
"No need to be wary. We're not suspicious types. Think of us as... patrols helping lost travelers in the Great Forest. It's remote, but folks keep getting lost hunting elves and such..."
"......"
"Anyway, you're in luck meeting us before entering. Fate, right? So I'll give you a free top-tier tip."
He whispered that plunging in anywhere else just loops you back—only through that cave.
Too bad they already knew. Ilenia and Duncan looked sour. But Kadim smirked slyly and thanked him like it was news.
"Thanks. Dodged a nasty mess there."
"Ahem, no need to overthank us. Helping travelers is our joy..."
Emboldened, the man prattled on.
But the cave was complex and dangerous, he warned—needed pros like them to pass safely. Pure luck finding their cave. Kadim listened silently, so he got to the point.
"Ahem, but... we can't live on dirt. So we take a modest 'donation' for guiding. Don't worry—not money. Just share half your food..."
Scanning the group, his eyes locked on one. A woman with bright yellow eyes, beauty unseen even searching remote wilds.
Lust flickered in his dull gaze.
"...Ahem, well, humans don't live on food alone... If that lady could... cheer up us weary patrols a bit... we might even skip the grub..."
Kadim cut him off there.
"Guess we gotta feed 'em, Duncan."
"...Pardon?"
"That thing's whining for food. Better stuff it full before it's too late."
"...?"
Duncan and the man failed to grasp the meaning.
Duncan wondered why waste food on thugs; the man puzzled over being called "that thing." Even handing over provisions from the bag, doubt lingered on their faces.
Ilenia got it instantly.
Kadim's "feeding" target wasn't the patrols. She glanced meaningfully at him, then toward "it."
A faint tremor rippled the root-covered cave rim, veiled in fine tendrils.
*
Kadim's group approached the cave mouth, led by the man.
The self-proclaimed patrols grinned widely. The food he'd extracted was plentiful. But seeing Ilenia among them twisted their faces with unspeakable anxiety.
"Uh, miss...? Stay back here—we'll send you through later. Cave's dangerous; who knows what happens inside?"
"Right. Let the brave folks go first, confirm it's safe, then you go. We'll escort you proper, haha..."
A thin veil of kindness, but lecherous intent shone through. Ilenia smiled fakely and refused flat-out.
"Sorry. Sending my husband ahead and staying alone feels disloyal."
"......"
She flicked her sharp chin toward the barbarian. The patrols grumbled in regret but backed off without argument. Kadim shot a frosty glare, but Ilenia shrugged innocently—no better excuse.
Before entering the Root Cave, the guide warned gravely.
"Absolutely no fires inside. Roots and dry deposits everywhere—could spark a blaze. It'll be dark, but hold hands in line and follow me slowly."
"......"
A perfectly reasonable warning. To those sensing the truth, it rang differently.
The entrance looked ordinary enough. Musty leaf mold wafting scents, neat moss and mushrooms, dangling fine roots... Just an abandoned wild tunnel.
But deeper, where light failed, the cave's true face emerged.
A foul stench assaulted the nose. Something moist and hard snagged feet repeatedly; faint vibrations hummed from the floor.
"Urk, sir patrol... S-something keeps tripping me—what is it? Ground's shaking too..."
"...Mashed beast corpses and dung. Shakes from herds overhead—ignore it. Oh, methane pockets could explode, so no flames from here on..."
The no-fire warnings repeated suspiciously. But the excuse was solid, tone firm—hard to doubt. Duncan grimaced but bought it.
The other two didn't.
Priestess of the Forgotten God of darkness and chaos, and the superhumanly keen-eyed warrior pierced the gloom effortlessly. No wonder the fire ban—they'd bolt if they saw this lit up.
The man wasn't lying, though. Deposits were indeed animal remains and waste.
To be precise, humans counted as animals too.
"......"
Kadim and Ilenia advanced grimly, dodging the densely strewn bones.
Ignorant, the man played guide zealously. Fumbling walls to "find" paths, nudging aside large skulls slyly, parroting warnings, urging them on as "almost out"...
His comical solo act ended at the damp depths.
Sudden racket from behind.
Crack, crack, crack...
"Hold—everyone stop."
Crack, crack...
"Hmm, what sound is that? Not beasts passing..."
The man muttered gravely. But relief lit his shadowed face. The long-awaited signal—he could finally leave.
"Gotta check the source. Stay put; I'll be right back..."
"No need. I'll handle it."
Kadim blocked him with one hand and hurled lightning without pause.
Whirrr... Crack—thunk!
'Gahk!'
Whump—whoosh, whump—whoosh, whirr, whirr—thud!
The axe screamed briefly before returning. Kadim threw again. Wavy blades cleaved darkness, spreading ruin's wings.
Whirrr... Crack—thunk! Whirrr... Crack—thunk!
'Wh-what!'
'Gurk!'
'Urk!'
Whump—whoosh, whump—whoosh, whirr, whirr—thud!
Screams ceased at some point. Kadim shoved the dripping axe in the man's face.
"See? Source of the noise—eliminated. Keep up the 'act' without worry."
"...Wh-wha?"
"Weren't you planning to feed us to this cave?"
A chilling smile bloomed in the dark. The man lost his mind entirely. Hot tears streamed from wide, terrified eyes.
Droplets of his comrades' blood, the signal to flee.
Rumble...
A hungry echo resounded from the humid blackness beyond.