How a Reincarnated Warlock Lives – Chapter 41

Chapter 41: The Soot-stained Forest (2)

There are many similarities between mercenaries and adventurers, but the most crucial one is money.

Mercenaries fight for a fee, and adventurers seek treasures and ancient ruins hidden throughout the continent for a chance at a life-changing fortune.

Of course, there are those who value loyalty over a few coins, and those who enjoy the adventure itself more than hidden treasures, but Beren’s party wasn’t one of them.

The news that something strange was happening in the Berenhith Forest wasn’t exactly a secret. Of course, the rumors hadn’t spread far because it hadn’t been long since the incident occurred.

And as always, moths are drawn to the secrets of suspicious events happening throughout the continent, hoping to uncover something valuable.

Because unusual changes in places other than the heart of cities or major locations where factions clash on the continent often mean that something is hidden there.

Things like dungeons or ancient relics.

“I’m sure of it.”

Beren, the leader of the adventurer party, said confidently.

He held up a stick in his hand and continued.

“See how it’s turned black? There’s definitely something in the forest.”

Strange phenomena occurring in remote areas or their surroundings. What it meant was simple.

There’s a possibility that the energy dormant within ancient dungeons or ruins is slowly leaking out due to the passage of time or natural phenomena like landslides or earthquakes. It was fairly common knowledge among adventurers.

Of course, most of these cases were caused by crazy wizards or demon worshippers, so it wasn’t a very popular gamble, but there were occasional jackpots.

Like discovering ancient artifacts imbued with great power or mountains of gold and jewels protected by various magic.

“I have a bad feeling about this.”

The bearded man muttered. Unlike the confident Beren, his tone was mixed with a bit of suspicion.

“You saw that damn forest too. It’s cursed.”

Another adventurer, who was polishing his weapon, chuckled at the bearded man’s words.

“To be scared of something like that, it’s not like you. Where’s all the bravado from your mercenary days gone?”

“……I’ve survived this long by being cautious.”

“You’ve gotten more cowardly with age, huh, huh.”

Beren tossed the stick, whose end was blackened as if burnt by fire, onto the ground, interrupting the meaningless conversation between the men.

“Everyone knows what this means, right? Let’s just decide without any more talk.”

The eyes of the three adventurers, excluding Beren, fixed on the burnt stick.

An item with the ability to detect mana fluctuations within a radius of several tens of meters. It was quite expensive for a disposable item.

“……What’s the chance that this detector malfunctioned?”

Beren responded to the bearded man’s question with a smug look.

“I bought it directly from the ‘Shadow Market.’ There’s no chance of that.”

“……Hmm.”

Everyone’s gaze turned to the forest with its strange shadows. Greed gradually began to appear in the adventurers’ eyes.

There was still some risk since a proper investigation hadn’t been conducted yet, but that also meant that few people had noticed the value of this place.

“……”

Instead of worry and concern, the adventurers’ faces were filled with greed for potential treasure.

“Let’s go before other guys catch the scent.”

Beren, having confirmed that everyone’s opinion was aligned, said decisively, as if driving in a wedge.

“I should have spent more money and brought a priest.”

One of the adventurers muttered, looking at the somewhat gloomy forest even in broad daylight.

Just as they had finished agreeing to cautiously explore the forest and were checking their equipment,

Crackle.

They heard the sound of someone approaching as small twigs scattered on the path connecting the edge of the forest and the village broke.

Soon, two strangers slowly approached from a distance.

“We’re not the only ones who’ve caught the scent.”

One of the party members, realizing they weren’t villagers, muttered quietly.

“……Wait.”

Beren narrowed his eyes and carefully observed the attire of those approaching them.

Equipment that couldn’t be easily found in the wilderness, clearly not belonging to a mercenary or an adventurer. And the black cloak worn by the person walking confidently in front, as if draped in the night.

And the symbol engraved on it. Beren unconsciously muttered a curse.

“……Damn it.”

An intimidating symbol of a cross-shaped sword and the flames of a pyre.

“What the hell is an Inquisitor of Hesterica doing here─”

Another adventurer, recognizing the identity of the other party, gripped his sword tightly with a hardened expression.

Thud.

The young Inquisitor, seemingly accustomed to the adventurers’ gazes filled with vigilance, fear, and a bit of hostility, looked at them silently.

“……”

A brief silence followed.

Just as Beren, gauging the other party’s reaction, let out a small sigh and was about to speak,

“You seem like quite experienced adventurers.”

“……”

The other party spoke first.

The adventurers’ gazes fixed on the Inquisitor.

A neat appearance, as if he hadn’t been an adult for very long. If it weren’t for the intimidating symbol of the Inquisitor embroidered on his cloak, he could have been mistaken for a young lord from a noble family.

He looked at them nonchalantly and continued speaking leisurely.

“Do you have any business in that forest?”

🔹🔹🔹

For most adventurers and mercenaries who live a life far removed from faith, Inquisitors are not a welcome presence.

The clear hostility and vigilance on the adventurers’ faces. I briefly scanned them.

A total of four.

They looked more like adventurers than mercenaries. Although there wasn’t much difference between the two.

“Whatever our purpose is, we don’t seem to have any obligation to tell you, Lord Inquisitor.”

A not-so-polite answer.

“Are you telling me to get lost?”

“Oh dear, I didn’t mean it that way.”

The adventurers’ hands rested on their weapons as they spoke in a tone that didn’t sound apologetic at all.

I looked past them at the forest.

The place where the strange phenomenon occurred. It was quite natural for mercenaries and adventurers to flock to a place like this, especially one not under the control of a noble. And it was also natural that such people wouldn’t welcome those associated with the Church.

Because they often snatched away what others had discovered first, citing God’s will or evidence of heresy.

In their eyes, I probably looked like a damn robber.

Of course, the thing hidden here was truly mine.

“Fine.”

I looked at the adventurers and spoke conclusively. They wouldn’t listen even if I told them to go back quietly.

“I don’t care what you do in that forest. Let’s go our separate ways.”

“……!”

The adventurers looked at me with surprised eyes, as I spoke in a perfectly normal manner, instead of ordering them around or rambling about God.

I didn’t wait for their answer and immediately headed into the dark forest. Jerit hurriedly followed behind me.

“Uh……!”

Astonished cries escaped the adventurers’ mouths as they watched me head into the gloomy forest without a moment’s hesitation, as if they were nothing.

But I knew they would follow me, unable to resist their greed.

Those blinded by the treasure in front of them usually wouldn’t easily give up their desires until they experienced it themselves.

🔹🔹🔹

The forest was dark and silent.

Beren swallowed the curse rising in his throat as he walked.

“Damn it.”

The bearded man muttered a curse in a show of defiance. Black marks were scattered on the adventurers’ clothes and faces.

Unsure of what might happen, they initially tried to avoid touching the blackened trees as much as possible, but it didn’t take long for them to realize that it was just ordinary soot.

It was as if the entire forest had been lightly scorched, just enough not to burn.

How that was possible, they didn’t know.

The combat gear they had carefully prepared was useless. No, it was just a cumbersome burden.

Unlike the snow-covered exterior, the interior of the Soot-stained Forest was dry. Every step they took made a rustling sound from the dry and withered branches.

“……”

Beren wiped the sweat dripping down his face. Unusually for winter, the forest was rather warm. It was a dry warmth, different from the humid heat of a rainforest, and somehow repulsive.

“Any more water?”

“Damn it, Keren. Did you erase from your memory that you already drank all three bottles?”

“……My throat feels like it’s burning.”

If they were the only ones exploring this place, they would have left this damn forest long ago and thought about other options.

“That guy isn’t even tired, damn it.”

But in front of them, about ten meters away, a figure was walking leisurely.

The Inquisitor in the black cloak. And the Esquire following behind him.

The Esquire, clad in light chainmail, seemed to be walking with some difficulty, but the Inquisitor, moving without a moment’s hesitation at the front, seemed as light as if he were out for a stroll.

“He moves like he knows the way.”

“No way, that’s impossible. We’re the first to find this place, except for those stupid villagers.”

Their ambitious goal of uncovering the forest’s secrets before the Inquisitor had long since vanished. They were just panting and following the black cloak that was traversing the forest with unhesitating steps.

Fortunately, as he had said a few hours ago, the Inquisitor showed no reaction to them following him. Only the Esquire, gripping his sword with a tense expression, occasionally looked back to check on them.

As they continued to move, shedding their cumbersome outer garments one by one,

Suddenly, they saw something white fluttering in the air.

‘Is that, snow?’

The adventurers looked up in surprise.

They couldn’t be happier to see cool snow falling in this eerily quiet and unpleasant forest. Even insignificant snowflakes seemed to be proof that this place was connected to the outside world.

But their faces stiffened as they licked the white snowflakes that landed on their palms.

“……Huh.”

“……”

“Damn it.”

What was fluttering in the air wasn’t snow, but white ash.

“Ugh!”

One of the adventurers spat on the ground, his face flushed red, after spitting out saliva that barely came out due to his dry mouth.

“We’ll be dried up like this. I’m getting out of this damn forest!”

Beren smiled a little ferociously at the adventurer who shouted at him while turning back.

“Well, Keren. If you see that, you might change your mind.”

“……?”

The adventurer, puzzled, looked forward again and his body stiffened.

“Oh……!”

In the distance, they saw a fairly wide clearing, not the soot-covered, dreadful forest.

And in the middle of it, something emitting a strange light was waiting for them.

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