Chapter 22

#022 Episode

“Lady…!”

As Philip’s eyes widened, Meave looked up at Ian.

“I didn’t know you were so skilled in medicine… Thank you, Ian.”

“I’m not that skilled. It just happened to work out the way I saw it done.”

Meave laughed weakly, as if taking it as a joke.

“Well, that’s not quite… But if you say so, then that’s how it is.”

Meave gripped the hilt of her sword.

She staggered to her feet and added,

“Philip, rewrap the bandages. We’re going to fight.”

“Huh…?!”

Philip bowed his head in shock.

“Please reconsider, Lady!”

“…What?”

“You haven’t fully recovered. Your wounds will worsen.”

“Swinging a sword can be done with one hand. I’m fine.”

“But—”

A hollow smile spread across Ian’s lips.

To think I’d have to witness such a farce again.

Meave turned to him at that moment.

“What do you think, Ian?”

“Well… there’s some truth to it.”

Ian scratched his chin as he spoke.

Philip’s expression brightened.

“That’s a wise decision!”

“…Do you think so too.”

On the contrary, disappointment laced Meave’s voice.

“Well, there won’t be any more fighting for you tonight, anyway.”

Ian’s words weren’t over yet.

Meave’s helmet tilted.

“What do you mean? If you’re planning to handle it alone again—”

“It’s already over.”

“Ultimately, the same thing— What…?”

As Meave stiffened, Philip, who had also widened his eyes, spoke up.

“So that commotion earlier was from fighting the source of the contamination, not the monsters?”

Ian shrugged.

Meave staggered shortly after.

“Again… it’s come to this….”

She pushed away Philip’s hand, which was trying to support her, and lifted her visor.

Her red hair fell down.

Meave looked at Ian without wiping the blood from the corner of her mouth.

“Can you tell me what happened?”

“It’s not impossible….”

But I’m too lazy to do it myself.

Ian turned his gaze and found the right person.

He met the eyes of a man who was eager to join the conversation.

“…It would be easier to hear it from that guy.”

Miguel came running.

“Where would you like to start?”

Meave replied with a serious expression.

“From right after I collapsed.”

“You’re on the same page. Sit down, there’s a lot to tell.”

Miguel continued his story, gesturing with his hands and feet.

As Meave’s expression grew heavier, Miguel paused and looked at Ian.

“At the end, there were pillars of fire and screams. Only you would know what that was, right?”

He’s doing well until the end.

Ian’s eyes narrowed.

Miguel quickly shut his mouth and looked away.

Meave looked up at Ian, pushing her hair back.

“It must have been the scream of the creature that contaminated the forest. What kind of monster was it?”

“A giant tree. It seemed to have deep grudges.”

“Grudges that drove it to madness….”

“Perhaps.”

“Then what about the pillars of fire?”

Philip interjected.

Ian answered calmly.

“You must have heard, I brought kerosene.”

“You burned oil? But the flames were too large for that, don’t you think, Miguel?”

“Of course, that’s—”

Miguel stopped mid-sentence, glanced at Ian, and continued.

“—impossible to think. There must be some secret technique you have. Come to think of it, you used fire to complete a mission before. It was impressive then too.”

“Is that so…?”

“Curiosity is unimportant, Philip.”

Meave cut off Philip’s doubtful expression.

She looked at Ian with a guilty expression.

“The truly important thing is that you alone defeated such a dangerous monster. …Again.”

“Well, it wasn’t a complete loss for me.”

Ian shrugged and pulled out something palm-sized from his pocket.

“I also got some loot.”

Miguel frowned.

“A seed…?”

“Yeah.”

“I’ve never seen such a large seed.”

“Neither have I.”

Ian looked down at his palm.

“This is the seed of the giant tree.”

An information window appeared before his eyes.

It was the same as in the game.

Additional skill points upon consumption.

But he didn’t eat it immediately because there was actually a hidden linked quest.

This option was a kind of bait.

He had taken the bait before, but this time, he wouldn’t.

‘Whatever the quest reward is, it’s better than just eating it.’

Philip said hesitantly.

“If it’s the seed of the giant tree… could it be contaminated?”

“It doesn’t matter. It’s just a seed. Nothing will happen until it’s buried in the ground.”

“Hmm….”

While Philip and Meave were pondering,

“Then, have we seen everything here?”

Miguel interjected.

The group’s attention naturally turned to him.

“You came into this damn forest to eliminate the source of contamination. Now that it’s done, we can go back to our original path… right?”

Feeling uncomfortable, Miguel gradually pulled his neck in like a turtle and finished speaking.

Philip clapped his hands shortly after.

“An excellent point! There’s no reason to stay in this cursed forest! Isn’t that right, Lady? …Lady?”

Philip turned his head.

Seeing Meave’s face, he blinked in disbelief.

“Lady…?”

“You’re not wrong.”

Meave finally spoke.

“But by investigating the source, we might find out why this happened.”

“…”

Philip’s mouth opened wide. Miguel, muttering “Rusola,” covered his face.

Ian was the only one who wasn’t flustered.

He looked at Meave with the same expression as if he had found a gold coin on the road.

Meave turned her gaze.

“But this time, it’s proper to ask for permission. What do you think, Ian?”

Philip and Miguel looked at him with pleading eyes.

Ian replied.

“Just because we eliminated the source doesn’t mean the forest is purified. It means there are still monsters beyond.”

Hope spread across the two men’s faces.

Ian added calmly,

“So let’s stay here tonight and leave when the sun rises tomorrow. It will be easier to investigate that way, won’t it?”

“No, Lady!”

Philip exclaimed, looking as if he had been hit on the back of the head.

Miguel closed his eyes tightly.

This time, instead of looking for Rusola, he let out a sigh of resignation.

“It’s a good point. I understand. Let’s do that.”

Meave nodded in satisfaction and immediately turned to Philip.

“Prepare the camp, Philip.”

“…Understood.”

Philip responded in a barely audible voice and shuffled away.

Ian looked at the resigned Miguel.

“You’ll take the night watch.”

Miguel’s eyes widened.

“I will? All night?!”

“Or you can do the fighting.”

“…We’ll split it. Philip! You take the second watch!”

Miguel ran off.

Ian, finally sitting on the ground, took off his mace and lay down.

Now I can finally relax.

Just as he was about to exhale,

“…We could have just gone back.”

Meave, sitting beside him, suddenly said.

Ian chuckled and replied.

“You were planning to come back later, right? It’s more efficient to go together.”

Though he said it as a favor, Meave’s suggestion was also welcome to him.

Time was tight, so he had grabbed the seed and fled like a thief.

There might be more loot to find.

Meave, unaware of his thoughts, sighed in admiration.

“I’ll take the lead tomorrow. I hope you don’t refuse this too.”

“Do as you please.”

There won’t be much fighting anyway.

Swallowing his last words, Ian closed his eyes.

He really didn’t want to move a finger anymore.

***

The next day. The return journey was as smooth as Ian had expected.

The forest wasn’t purified, but most of the remaining monsters had hidden from the sunlight.

After about an hour of occasionally dealing with carnivorous trees,

“Damn… this is crazy….”

The group arrived at the center of the contamination.

There was no need for Ian to explain.

“The place was a mess, but I didn’t expect this much.”

The area was entirely gray, and the remains of the giant tree were clearly visible.

“Did you set fire to everything? Remarkably, the fire didn’t spread.”

Philip stepped on the scorched and overturned ground.

“This place was once the forest of the fairies, Philip.”

Meave, who was walking ahead, lifted her visor and replied.

“The trees in the fairies’ forest are not easily burned. That’s why many of the kingdom’s fortresses and camps are built in the forests where fairies lived. Didn’t you know?”

“I didn’t. That’s interesting….”

“Perhaps Ian knew. That’s why he used fire.”

I didn’t know that.

Ian shrugged.

Miguel, who had tied up the horses, looked at the giant tree with a suspicious eye.

“Is it really dead? It looks like it’s been roasted. But it looks so damn ominous.”

Ian turned to him.

“Why are you asking me?”

“Then who should I ask?”

“Are you here for a vacation?”

“I’m here to work. I’ll check.”

Miguel immediately turned around.

Philip, who also received the gaze, sighed and followed.

“Report back whatever you find.”

Ian’s steps finally became more relaxed.

Overtime was enough for last night.

Today, he planned to enjoy the day and get some food.

Meave walked beside him.

She suddenly spoke, lost in thought.

“There seems to be someone else who has incurred the wrath of a black mage. Ian.”

Ian turned his head.

“What do you mean?”

“Yesterday, the contaminated mana of the spring was overwhelming me. I could barely hold on, so I couldn’t resist.”

There was such a thing…?

As Ian raised an eyebrow, she continued.

“I could sense his presence. I heard his laughter. Then he whispered, ‘Turn back if you want to live.’”

“He didn’t try to contaminate you but warned you?”

“I don’t understand it either… but that’s what happened. He said everyone has their role, and we should stop overstepping.”

Everyone has their role….

Ian’s frown finally relaxed.

He recalled the Meave from the game.

The kingdom’s black hand made her a bloodthirsty avenger.

The black mage must be in on it and know something.

“…So. There’s someone else who has incurred his wrath?”

“Yes. He said the red one is enough for overstepping. He said the one who overstepped will pay the price.”

“…”

Ian’s eyebrows slightly raised.

“Red… probably referring to a mage. If we can find out who it is, it might be helpful in the future.”

A hollow smile formed on Ian’s lips as he looked at her.

‘He never thought it could be me.’

Even with the charred giant tree in front of him.

Meve added, as if misunderstanding Ian’s smile.

“I’m not asking for a favor, Ian. I just wanted to share what I learned with you.”

“If you say so. I’ll keep it in mind.”

Just as Ian nodded,

“Brother! You need to come and see this!”

Miguel’s shout echoed.

Meave’s gaze turned.

“It seems they found something.”

“I’ll go first. Follow slowly. I’ll let you know if anything comes up.”

Ian turned around, speaking calmly.

‘That kid, he’s caught on.’

He mulled over the story he had just heard.

***

Behind the giant tree’s trunk.

“Damn… bad luck in the morning.”

“Did they hunt humans?”

Miguel and Philip’s voices came from between the two massive roots that stretched out like a giant snake.

“It’s not hunting. Look at these marks. They were buried in the ground and then exposed. Do animals bury what they eat?”

Clearly, it’s not loot.

Ian clicked his tongue and stepped between the roots.

“What is it?”

Miguel turned to him.

“A body was found.”

“There are quite a few, Lady.”

Philip stepped aside and added.

The scene they were looking at was revealed.

On the ground, dug up by the roots, were decayed bodies.

“Definitely… a lot.”

Ian muttered, standing in front of them.

His memory of the game faintly connected.

The half-buried bodies around the giant tree.

But at this point, before the forest was fully contaminated, a pile of bodies was unexpected.

‘Is there a setting I don’t know about?’

As Ian began to examine the bones, Philip asked,

“Do they look like they were hunted, Lady?”

“No. They look more like… sacrifices.”

“Sacrifices?”

“It’s strange. A giant tree like this in the middle of the forest, and it’s never been discovered before. Someone should have found it.”

Ian’s eyes stopped on one spot.

Miguel, frowning, asked,

“Are you saying someone was trying to raise this damn monster by offering bodies?”

“I don’t know. But based on the circumstances, it seems more natural.”

Ian bent down.

He picked up something buried halfway in the ground among the bones.

A heavy, mud-covered iron ring.

While he was cleaning the mud off the ring, Meave’s voice came from behind.

“Did you find something?”

“I’m not sure if it’s what you were looking for….”

Ian threw what he was holding.

“A ring. Found among the bodies.”

Meave’s eyes darkened as she caught it reflexively.

Approaching and scraping the ring with her glove, Meave finally stopped.

“I didn’t think it would be. But it’s the kingdom’s handcuffs. The seal is still there.”

Meave held out the handcuffs.

On the part that secured the ring, a blurry deer antler pattern was visible.

Philip, puzzled, asked,

“Are you saying these bodies… are all criminals of the kingdom?”

“We’ll have to confirm that.”

Ian turned his gaze.

“It’s time for you to do what you’re good at, Miguel.”

“What is it? …You can’t be serious?”

Ian nodded slightly.

Miguel sighed and turned around.

“I’ll get the shovel….”