Chapter 5

A Full-Time Healer Gradually Grows Stronger

(4)

The Outskirts Forest.

In this world, it was generally used in two ways.

First, it literally referred to the forest outside the village.

Second, it encompassed all the forests that formed the boundary around the areas where humans lived.

When Eun-ho (Messi) first heard this from his master, a question mark appeared in his mind regarding the phrase "the areas where humans lived."

To resolve this, he needed to understand what this world was like.

When he asked his master about the original world, the first response he received was:

"In this world, there is no sea. The concept doesn't even exist, so no one knows what a sea is."

Instead, only the Sea of Trees exists. A vast, endless green sea of forest completely surrounds the areas where humans live.

To put it simply, it means that humans live within a massive, boundless forest that no one has ever seen the end of.

They cut down trees, kill monsters, and gradually expand their living space. In the process, new countries are born, heroes appear, legends are created, and civilizations are built.

The entire history of the people here is a struggle between the forest and humans.

Messi thought that their current journey through the Outskirts Forest to the Forest of Resentment was also influenced by this history.

Fifty elite knights, eighty mercenaries, thirty attendants, and three guides.

This is the largest number of people to enter the Outskirts Forest of Venuda Village at once in recent times.

Perhaps because of this, the air in the forest was trembling.

"It's noisy."

"Yes, young master. The monsters are chasing us, maintaining a distance of about fifty feet."

"Sir Ramon, wouldn't it be better to just clean them up once and for all?"

"From what I can tell, they seem to be just monsters... but since the guides aren't reacting, it should be fine to ignore them."

"Can those monsters even sense that we're here? We can only feel it because we're this many."

He said this intentionally for the guides to hear.

When evaluating this young master, Sir Ramon often described him as "someone whose inside and outside are different."

He was more cautious than anyone else, but he didn't show it and often spoke carelessly.

Just yesterday, after dinner, he suddenly warned about the need to be cautious of the other races, said they should prepare more magical defenses because there might be many other races in the Forest of Resentment, suggested bringing villagers who could serve as leashes for the other races, and insisted on an early departure to prevent the other races from making any plans.

Now, he was speaking dismissively of the guides, including the other races.

"Sir Ramon, it's better not to react to the monsters chasing us. It's just that the path we're taking crosses the boundary of the monster villages in the Outskirts Forest. They're just surprised by the sudden appearance of a human group."

"Thank you for easing my worries, herbalist."

"You're welcome. If we keep going straight for about five hours, we'll reach a clearing near the Forest of Resentment. They'll turn back then."

Reto bowed politely to Ramon and Ereb, then ran back to the front of the formation.

"Young master, it would be good to take a rest when we reach the clearing."

"Yes, that's a good idea. We should also reveal our destination there, to the mercenaries and the guides."

* * *

About 160 people, after walking for about eight hours at a brisk pace, finally reached a clearing in the Outskirts Forest.

They had set out at dawn and planned to have an early lunch here before finally entering the forest that was their goal.

The attendants were busy preparing meals for the knights, while the mercenaries made their own arrangements for their meals.

Reto, the village chief, and Messi, the guides, were about to have a quick meal of dried meat and vegetables when Messi's hands kept filling up with food.

"Hey, thanks for saving Gaston yesterday."

"We appreciate your help. We hope you'll continue to do well."

"Vil was always saying he couldn't do it, so I was worried, but it's better with you around."

"Do you have any mysterious blessings from your tribe? If so, could you cast one?"

The mercenaries kept coming to Messi, giving him small gifts.

They were grateful for saving their comrades and wanted to be on good terms with Messi, not just for his guiding skills but also for his healing abilities.

Their dissatisfaction with the healer Boil and their fascination with the shamanism of the other races also played a role. In any case, it was good treatment for Messi.

At least, it meant that his first impression among the mercenaries was quite positive.

When Reto pretended to relay specific words through hunter sign language, Messi smiled and went along with it.

Especially the last person, who placed his hand on Messi's head, closed his eyes, and solemnly recited the national anthem, started to cry from the third verse. Why?

"You won't go hungry with you around. Right, Chief?"

"Ha! Yes, it's good that you won't go hungry!"

"Are you still upset? It's time to accept reality. No matter what, it was something you couldn't refuse, and... the sacrifice of the few for the many..."

"Stop it! I was wrong! Please, stop saying that nonsense about the sacrifice of the few for the many! How many times now?"

Reto had been adding "the sacrifice of the few for the many" to every conversation on the way. The chief could have been repulsed.

"Oh, there's a lot of food here. Can I join you?"

"Hehe, how can we refuse a beautiful lady?"

The female mercenary captain appeared, and the chief completely changed his demeanor, speaking in a deep voice and offering his seat.

Reto and Messi thought, 'We shouldn't end up like that when we get old.'

After finishing their meal and drinking a tea made by boiling pine needles in water, the woman spoke to Messi.

"Be careful."

"....?"

"This young master seems to have a lot of interest in you."

'Me? Why?'

He glanced at Ereb, who was now setting up a small tent and seemed to be in a meeting with Ramon.

He thought about whether he had made any mistakes, but couldn't find anything specific. He vaguely wondered if it was because of his magic.

"Last night, I almost broke our agreement and told him everything. Oh, how well he handles me..."

The woman blushed and pressed her lower abdomen, massaging it. Messi understood what she meant. The chief's eyes narrowed, and his cheeks rose.

"I said it was okay to tell."

"Hmm... It seems you haven't dealt with nobles before, have you?"

It was true. This was the first time he had met a noble and a knight in this world.

"Your words yesterday were very convincing. I admit that. But, thinking about it, I realized you don't know much about nobles. Nobles are not as logical as you think."

"They'll keep you alive just because you're useful as a guide? No, especially not this young master. He's the type who won't tolerate subordinates playing tricks on him. Nobles can kill anyone for their own prestige. They might not even care about the lives of other races."

Only then did Messi realize he had been interpreting nobles from a modern perspective. They were at the top of the ruling class in this world, a group that could decide life and death as they pleased.

There must have been a reason why Boil was so terrified and begged for his life yesterday.

"They might cut off both your arms and drag you along as a guide, just because a lowly other race lied to them. Of course, it could be even worse."

An awkward silence fell between them. The woman, realizing how her words might have sounded, added:

"Ah, this isn't a threat to you. It's more of a warning. Consider it payment for healing two more people besides Gaston. You're different from us... so if you make a wrong judgment, it could be more dangerous."

The woman finished her tea and asked Messi:

"What's your name?"

"Hehe, you're finally asking? I'm Eila."

"Thank you, Eila. I'll remember your advice."

"Hehe, indeed. A wise man's advice is like blood and flesh."

Despite being only a few years older, Messi found her act of being an elder somewhat cute.

"You said you're from the Forest of Resentment? You know it well, then?"

"Of course, that's why I was dragged here."

Eila laughed at Messi's straightforward answer.

"Tell us more specifically. We need to prepare mentally, right?"

Eila had been speaking more casually to Messi. Since early morning? But it felt more friendly than unpleasant.

Her advice earlier was also appreciated. It pointed out something he might have overlooked.

So Messi felt it was okay to help again.

"How much did you get paid to come here?"

"Oh, you. Suddenly talking about money... You're interested in money, I see. But business secrets can't be shared lightly."

"It's not that... I'm curious how much it would take for the entire mercenary group to sign a contract to enter a dangerous place."

For a moment, it was so quiet that the sound of a cold breeze passing by could be heard.

"From the mercenaries' good moods, it seems they weren't forced like us, and from what Gaston said, they even provide settlement support for the families of fallen mercenaries... So, it doesn't seem like they're being sent to their deaths for a cheap price. Why are they here, then? It seems they came voluntarily."

" Messi is right. I've been wondering the same. The Forest of Resentment is a place no one would go to, no matter how much they were paid."

"Especially since you're the captain. If you die, who will lead the mercenaries?"

As if assuming death was certain, Messi and Reto spoke. Eila's expression turned blank.

"...That much? But when we investigated, it wasn't like that. We're not fools... We value our lives and our bodies are our assets. How could we not check that? Maybe we misunderstood something?"

Eila's words made Messi and Reto look at each other in disbelief. Had she forgotten why they were here?

"Shouldn't that be our question to you?"

"....Oh..."

'So, we've been heading into a dangerous place without even knowing it?'

Eila felt a chill run down her spine. She jumped up and looked around.

The faces of the mercenaries showed no tension or fear of death.

Especially yesterday, the knights had provided so much food and drink that the mercenaries were in high spirits and relaxed.

"Where did you get your information?"

"...The deputy captain bought it from the information guild."

"Where is he now?"

"At the mercenary headquarters..."

The destination in a protection mission is crucial. The lives of all the mercenaries depend on where they're going.

If the information was valuable enough, it would make sense to have a dedicated team within the group to handle it, but it seems they entrusted it to just one person.

"Why did you leave it all to him?"

"Well... We've always done it that way..."

Habits can be dangerous.

Especially the Red Fox Mercenary Group, which started small and grew larger, had a big body but no system.

Because of the lack of a system, many things were handled by habit, and over time, everyone became used to it.

It wasn't a big problem until now.

"Everyone... attention!!"

Ramon and the young master Ereb walked out of the small tent. Ramon's voice echoed loudly.

"I will now explain our goal and the formation we will take! The mercenaries and guides must remember this clearly!"

"Our first goal is the 'Lumberjack's Fortress' in the Forest of Resentment! We will re-occupy and fully repair it to gain complete control!"

"Our second goal is to fully develop the 'ruins' that the lumberjacks didn't fully excavate and retrieve the 'artifacts' from there! That's all!"

The End

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