Ch 219
“Hoo… Hoo…”
Lisir suddenly had such a thought.
‘Was my breathing this loud?’
The forest, as boisterous as a predator’s stomach digesting its prey.
A quiet silence had settled there.
Within it, Lisir’s rough breathing, left alone, sounded unusually loud, creating a sense of incongruity.
Chirp chirp.
A bird’s chirping was heard from somewhere.
Lisir thought it was a sound quite unsuited to the damp and dark forest, like a predator’s stomach—
but that thought didn’t last long.
“…”
Lisir frowned as the warm sunlight shone down on him.
Looking up, what spread out there was a clear blue sky.
The lush trees, which had greedily swallowed up even the sky, were basking in the sunlight as if nothing had happened.
The plants, which had wildly swung their vines and branches in a distorted form, now calmly showed off their graceful posture.
Now, even a single gorgeous flower wouldn’t be out of place there.
The sight of the bright forest, where gorgeous colors blended naturally, embraced Lisir.
Was it because he was looking at that peaceful sight?
Lisir felt his mind and body calming down surprisingly quickly.
-I must have been more surprised than it seemed. I’m sweating this much.
A cool breeze blew, pleasantly cooling his sweat-soaked body.
Lisir flinched, his body trembling as he came to his senses.
He belatedly realized that he was the only person in that peaceful scene.
He looked around.
“Everyone!?”
The figures of his comrades, who had been swallowed by the forest, were nowhere to be seen.
Sa-rru-rru-rru-ruk.
As if to calm Lisir’s agitation, the forest created a gentle breeze.
The entire forest swayed gently in that breeze, and that gentle movement created a path of flowers.
-When you’ve calmed down, walk along this path. I have a lot to talk to you about.
A gentle and peaceful tone.
Through her tone, Lisir realized a few things.
First.
He seemed to be recognized as a guest by her.
He had been permitted to visit and remain in the forest.
And another thing—
his comrades were completely excluded from her interest.
As if it were already over.
That fact caused a kind of unease in Lisir.
“Forest Night! If you don’t mind, may I ask what happened to my comrades!?”
-My child. You wouldn’t know. It’s been a long time since I’ve been so excited to welcome a guest. I don’t want to ruin that excitement.
It’s none of my business.
That was a very kind way of rephrasing her arbitrary statement.
The unease Lisir felt at her gentle tone deepened.
He felt even more strongly that her kindness was directed solely at him.
Lisir suddenly thought about the meaning of the name ‘Night’.
Considering that even an arrogant person like Carozen is given the name ‘Star’.
The name ‘Night’, which is diametrically opposed to ‘Star’, would not simply symbolize power.
At this moment.
Lisir felt it keenly.
That he shouldn’t let his guard down just because she was an acquaintance of his Master.
Forest Night.
She was undeniably the most dangerous being on the continent.
Moreover, a being who reigned during the chaotic era before the current peace.
“Nevertheless, I humbly beg your pardon. Those people are very important to me. If they have shown you disrespect, I will do everything I can to make amends! Please, for my sake, won’t you give them a chance!?”
-I feel it again, you speak very beautifully. I wonder if the influence that child had on you wasn’t that great?
“…!”
Lisir was greatly surprised by her statement.
‘Master!?’
How could she know his Master to say, ‘It’s admirable to see you’ve been less influenced by your Master!’?
It even seemed to be a fairly accurate judgment.
In that his Master had made his disciple dream of ‘reverse entropy’.
“I, I see you know my Master well!?”
Sa-ra-ra-rak.
Lisir involuntarily admired, and once again the forest burst into laughter.
-That child. What kind of Master was he in front of his disciple, that he produced such an interesting disciple as you?
“…To borrow your expression, he was a very interesting Master.”
-Hohoho. I see. Now I understand.
“Understand? What do you mean…?”
-I heard that child had taken a disciple, so I wondered what kind of wind had blown on him. But. That wasn’t it. He was exactly as I remembered him. If there was any change. It would be your existence. Just in case I ask, my child. Have you heard anything about me from your Master?
“No.”
-That’s right. If you had heard anything, you wouldn’t have shown such an attitude in front of me.
“…Perhaps, without knowing it, I have shown you disrespect?”
-Considering my relationship with Pamon… you could say that, and you could also say that you didn’t.
Sa-ra-ra-rak.
Another gust of wind blew, and the flower path before Lisir moved vividly.
-My child. My hand is starting to hurt. How long do you intend to keep me waiting? I wish you would hurry up and choose. Let me make it clear. I have absolutely no intention of leaving such human traces in my garden.
Despite the beautiful sight before him, Lisir felt his vision blurring.
Her statement.
He realized that the fate of his comrades had been decided.
Forest Night intended to kill his comrades—
and had no intention of changing her mind.
She wouldn’t feel any anguish like, ‘What if the cute child’s comrades are sad or angry?’
From our brief conversation.
She was a possessor of extraordinary thought, befitting the name Night.
If he were to grieve or become angry over the death of his comrades, she would dismiss that sulk with a single ‘stop’.
And then, as if nothing had happened, she would start a heartwarming conversation between the two of them.
‘Damn it…’
Lisir felt a severe headache.
In this situation.
Against such a person.
How could he save his comrades?
“I beg your pardon, but I ask you. What disrespect did my comrades show you? Please tell me. If you allow it, I will correct the mistake with my comrades.”
Lisir made a decision.
To appeal to the affection she showed him.
Appealing to that affection and begging for mercy would be hopeless—
but at least, couldn’t he get a chance to correct the mistake?
-…
Sa-ra-ra-ra-rak.
The forest sighed.
-Seeing your anguished expression, I thought you would think that if you said that, I would dislike it but still listen. It would be an act of appealing to the affection I showed you, right?
At that moment.
Lisir felt as if the hairs on his entire body were standing on end.
-You’re cunning. Should I break your neck?
That single word, spoken in a still calm tone.
That single word that made Lisir feel instinctive fear.
Surprisingly, it was nothing more than a muttered word without any intention.
The forest immediately continued.
-Originally, I would have felt that way, but affection is truly frightening. My child. I’ve lost. Even your current appearance makes me feel cute.
A presence felt nearby.
Lisir turned his gaze to where he felt the presence.
“Everyone…!”
Long vines.
His comrades were hanging there.
Lisir barely managed to suppress his desire to check on his comrades’ condition—
especially Melthas and Didoa’s condition—and listened to the forest.
-Did you ask what they did? I’ll tell you if you’re curious. They entered my forest without permission and ruined it. They cut, broke, trampled, and even burned my children.
“…”
Lisir could tell that it was not a ‘riot’ but a ‘struggle’.
Forest Night had tried to swallow the intruders without question, and they had resisted.
They had only resisted because they had been threatened, yet they were being held responsible for their actions.
It was truly unfair.
However.
She was Forest Night.
She was a being who was itself a great disaster and evil.
Like a natural disaster.
Therefore, it is natural to be in an unfair situation when encountering it—
and the key would be how wisely one copes with that unfairness.
“We will correct it.”
Sa-ra-ra-ra-rak.
The forest sighed.
-Right now. I can easily break their necks with my power and bring you before me. I don’t understand why I have to endure such unpleasantness.
“But that won’t erase the unpleasant memories already ingrained in you, will it?”
They had been given the ‘opportunity’ to deal rationally with the natural disaster thanks to the name ‘Pamon’.
That is.
At the point of being alive, they were already in debt to that natural disaster.
Lisir approached the conversation with that mindset.
-Oh my.
At Lisir’s attitude, the forest burst into laughter.
-It sounds like you’re saying you’ll overwrite my bad memories of them with good ones?
“If you give me the chance, I will do my best to repay you.”
-To be honest. Actually. I don’t really care. I don’t care much about them, and I don’t intend to.
“That’s…!”
But.
Just as Lisir was about to be flustered, she continued.
-Regardless, I’m interested in your plan. To overwrite bad memories with good ones. I wonder how our child will create happy memories for me?
Tuk.
Tuduk.
Those who had been hanging on the vines fell to the ground.
Lisir smiled wryly.
As Forest Night put them down, she meticulously changed the ground, which had been covered with grass, to bare earth.
As if she didn’t even want to give them her grass.
‘Really, if it weren’t for Master, we might all be dead…’
Lisir couldn’t help but be grateful for his Master’s grace, a rare occurrence.
The fact that he was able to save his life in this Demon Realm was entirely thanks to that name.
-I’ll give them four days—no, two days.
Feeling the tremor in her voice, Lisir could only gratefully accept.
It sounded like the voice of someone who was eager to kill a pest that had entered their house.
-After two days, I will break their necks and use them as fertilizer for my children, and I will bring you, who will be alone, before me. At that time. Can you promise me that you will smile brightly at me without complaint?
That tone.
Lisir felt like a child throwing a tantrum and nodded.
-Alright. Then, let’s meet in two days.
Lisir finally released his tension and breathed deeply.
Her presence, which had been revealed throughout the forest, finally disappeared.
Her presence, which had been felt throughout the forest, finally disappeared.
“Ugh…!”
“Everyone!”
Then, the comrades who had lost consciousness began to stir one by one.
Of course.
There was no time to rest easy.
Forest Night had come early, and the sky was already darkening.
What was the basis for the two days she had given them?
“Wake up.”
“Ack!”
“Ugh!”
“Ouch!”
Kok. Kok. Kok.
The pigeon, the only one who had remained conscious and witnessed everything.
The Archmage’s clone urged them to regain their spirits with gentle pecks.
“Master!? W-what!? This is—”
Rocard and the others who had awakened looked around in dismay.
They were helplessly devoured by the forest.
That was their last memory.
“Everyone, show your gratitude to Lisir.”
Carozen said to those who hadn’t come to their senses.
“You were able to save your lives from that woman entirely thanks to Lisir.”
Then.
The pigeon hopped to Lisir’s side.
“I, too, on behalf of the Yellow Tower, express my gratitude.”
The pigeon gave a short bow to Lisir.
“Hu, hu-uh…!”
Everyone present was startled by the shocking（?） behavior of the arrogant Archmage.
✦✦✦
“Let’s move!”
After hearing the whole story, Lisir stopped them from trying to lift him up in celebration and immediately took action.
He left behind his comrades who had become forest fertilizer, because he didn’t want to be a good child in front of Forest Night.
“Move? Where to?”
The pigeon landed on Lisir’s shoulder and said.
“To solve this problem, we need to restore the forest that was damaged by our intrusion. Do you remember where you were subdued!?”
At Lisir’s words, they looked around hesitantly.
The representative of the White Iron Adventurer’s Guild.
Racheta scratched the back of her head and said.
“I’ve visited famous forests once or twice. But. This kind of forest is my first time.”
Lisir belatedly realized.
How unreasonable his request had been in his haste.
How could he remember and find a specific spot in the middle of a forest he was visiting for the first time?
“I can solve that problem.”
At that moment.
The pigeon—no, Archmage Carozen—spoke.
He flew from Lisir’s shoulder and landed on his disciple Rocard’s shoulder.
“Rocard. Lend me your power for a moment.”
“Understood!”
The golden pattern on the pigeon’s body glowed.
At the same time, the same golden pattern appeared above Rocard’s eyes.
“Oh…”
Lisir immediately understood what had happened to the priest.
As Carozen said.
His consciousness had entered Carozen’s body, temporarily borrowing his body.
It was possible because they were priests who shared the same Unique Magic and energy.
“…”
Thus, Carozen, borrowing Rocard’s body, extended his arm forward.
Sa-a-a-ak-
The gold that Rocard carried on his body reacted and disintegrated into the smallest possible powder.
That powder scattered throughout the forest.
“No way—”
The wizards who understood Carozen’s intentions were astonished.
Carozen’s energy was contained in each of the countless grains of powder, and that energy became Carozen’s new sensation.
That’s right.
He was now searching the entire forest to find the place where they had stayed.
It was an incredibly foolish act—
and the concentration that made it possible.
“…”
Lisir briefly imagined himself doing the same thing, and shook his head in horror.
It was an eccentricity he couldn’t even dream of.
He felt awe for Archmage Carozen—
and even greater awe for the being that even Carozen couldn’t handle.
“Found it.”
Soon, Carozen spoke.
Rocard’s face, whose body he was borrowing, showed signs of fatigue.
A moment later.
Tiny golden dust began to glow and guide them.
“Tower Master, the other gold—”
Master Yerika cautiously asked.
The gold that Rocard handled was an artifact specialized for his Unique Magic, and it was a treasure of immense value.
“This is the limit for now.”
Carozen said that and started walking ahead.
Fortunately.
The place in question was close to where they were.
After about 10 minutes of pushing through the lush trees and grass.
A clearing appeared before them.
“Hmm.”
Upon arriving at the location, Lisir felt embarrassed rather than relieved.
A large tree had been completely burned to a cinder.
“Lisir. I’m sorry.”
“No, Master Melthas. You don’t have to apologize.”
They said.
The moment they regained consciousness in the forest, the tree had attacked them with its will, and they had come up with the effective countermeasure of fire.
“…”
As they recalled the tree’s memory, they suddenly looked around.
Trees that were no different from the one that had attacked them filled the forest densely.
Gulp.
They involuntarily swallowed their saliva.
At that time.
Lisir approached the tree without hesitation and began to examine it.
“Lisir, what are you going to do?”
Master Didoa, already rolling up her sleeves to help him, cautiously asked.
“Unless this tree is revived… that person won’t forgive us.”
At Lisir’s words, Carozen and all the wizards looked hesitant.
Only Racheta, the adventurer, didn’t understand the seriousness of the situation and asked.
“Can’t we revive the tree with magic?”
“That’s the exclusive domain of elves. Perhaps only the Master of the Green Tower could even imitate that.”
“Ah.”
Then what do we do?
Just as Racheta was expressing that with her eyes.
The attention of everyone, including her, focused on Lisir.
“Sir Lisir…?”
He had begun to dig near the base of the burned tree.
Lisir’s expression was serious for reasons they couldn’t understand.
-To burn such a pitiful tree!!!
When he asked the spirit for its opinion, he received such a kind（?） answer.
-It is absolutely not a wise choice to defy it in this place! Offer them as sacrifices to appease its wrath!
At Dangaleon’s answer, Lisir realized once again.
It was indeed a serious situation.
“This should be enough.”
Soon.
Lisir took something out of his pocket, and planted it in the hole he had dug.
“Sir Rocard!”
“W-what!?”
“Do you still have the elixir you mentioned earlier?”
“Ah!”
An emergency elixir always carried as the Golden Divinity.
Rocard immediately took it out of his bag and gave it to Lisir.
“Hu, hu-uh…!”
“S-Sir Lisir!?”
The Golden Magician and the adventurers who were watching were horrified.
Lisir opened the elixir and poured its contents onto the ground without hesitation.
Carozen raised his wing to calm their agitation.
“Lisir. What did you put there?”
“Senior Gogos—no, it’s a seed.”
“A seed?”
“Yes. A rather special seed. A gift from my Master. Master Didoa?”
“Yes. Lisir.”
“By any chance, do you have any potions? For example, something like nutrients that promote the growth of living things or the effect of magic—”
“…”
After a moment’s hesitation, Didoa began to take out various bottles from her bag.
“Ms. Racheta!? Ms. Racheta and your comrades, too—”
“W-what!? Just a moment—Hey! Everyone gather around!”
Thus, a collection of supplies was made—
and numerous magical liquids gathered near Lisir.
Lisir poured them onto the ground one by one at regular intervals.
“…”
The owners of those liquids could only watch the scene with troubled faces.
At first glance, it looked like he was just pouring them on the ground—
and they were heartbroken about it—
but what could they do?
He must have a reason for doing this.
They silently supported Lisir’s actions.
Thus.
Lisir’s actions continued until that night—
and until two days had passed.
✦✦✦
-My child. The promised time has come.
How much time had passed?
The space around the clearing where Lisir’s party was located took on a will and spoke to them.
“You’ve come at the right time. Will you look here?”
-Huh?
Forest Night.
When she arrived at the clearing, the first thing she saw was the people surrounding the burned tree.
Ssssuu-uuu-uuu.
A chilling gust of wind swept through the forest.
As if representing the anger of the forest’s owner.
Suppressing the urge to break their necks immediately—
she looked at the place Lisir pointed to.
-This is…
The burned tree.
A small sprout was sprouting at its base.
She immediately recognized the sprout.
-Gogos…
Her disciple’s child.
It was proof that it was rapidly growing based on the overflowing magical power and the nutrients remaining in the burned tree.
“Right now… a new life is trying to grow from this dead tree. According to the laws of nature… isn’t it? The death of this tree was not in vain… or something like that.”
Lisir smiled wryly.
As if aware that he was forcing things.
Sa-ra-ra-ra-rak.
At that smile, the forest burst into its biggest laughter yet.
-Hohohohoho.
That melodious laughter filled the entire forest.
Soon.
A path opened before them.
It was the flower path.
Lisir stepped onto it without delay, lest the flower path close again.
At the end of it, a hut stood.
“You’ve come, my child.”
A Dark Elf who was watering the garden greeted them.
“Come in. I have a lot to talk to you about.”
Her half-closed eyes created a playful smile.
“If there’s still a way to amuse me, you can have high expectations.”
✦✦✦
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