Chapter 42 – Flowing Forest (2)

After dissuading the soldiers who said they would notify the lord, the three wandered around downtown Karben to find an inn. As the saddles they rode on shook, the long legs of the warhorses strided across the main road.

Looking down from an elevated perspective, it felt as if they had become giants.

Neighhh.

As the horses snorted roughly, passing pedestrians frowned. But that was all. The pedestrians quickly turned their gazes away.

Two suits of plate armor glittering in the setting sun, and one robe embroidered with strange patterns. The identity of those riding the horses was visible at a glance.

“I see many armed people.”

At Adel’s words as she looked around, Cara replied nonchalantly.

“I heard Karben was originally a military city built as a buffer zone for the Flowing Forest. Most places like this are like that. Meaning blades are closer than books.”

“Judging by their appearance, they don’t seem to be regular troops.”

Velloc also said as he looked around. They only carried swords, and most of them wore free-spirited clothing. Armors and helmets that did not fit their sizes were basic, and protectors that exposed their skin as if prioritizing style made him question if they could really expect any protective effect.

Cara smiled faintly.

“They are mercenaries or adventurers. Even if fallen, that place was the land of ancient elves. They probably came to see if they could pick up some gold crumbs. And this city lives off the money that comes out of their pockets.”

Velloc racked his brain for a moment. According to Cara’s words, Karben was a military city built to block the adjacent elves in the past. However, since the elves had now migrated to other lands, that meaning faded. If so…

“So when the elves vanished, it went from a military city to a tourist city, is that it?”

Cara nodded. A mercenary who met her eyes let out a gasp and quickly fled. The wicked spellcaster smiled once more.

“The lord of Karben used his head well. A land full of treasures and legends. How romantic is that? Just by spreading a few rumors, all kinds of halfwits come looking with coin purses.”

Velloc rubbed his eyes.

“The problem is that we are also one of those halfwits.”

“We are different. Didn’t you say you know the location of the ruins at least?”

“Behind the falling water, insert the key into the groove between the cracks.”

“Huh?”

As Cara tilted her head, Velloc looked at her and said.

“This is the location of the ruins I know.”

Cara’s face frowned fiercely. It was because the range was too broad.

Then did that mean they had to search through that wide forest one by one? A place called the labyrinth of adventurers? She let out a dry laugh.

“So that’s why you said we should gather information. This… will be a massive undertaking.”

“It means it’s not something that can be done with just a click of a mouse.”

“What do you mean?”

At Cara’s question, Velloc smirked.

“It means reality is a gutter, as expected.”

The light of the setting sun dyed half of the knight’s face red while painting the other half black. It was an appearance that seemed to represent his bitter voice.

With that story finished, the three stopped the horses they were riding. They had arrived at their destination.

Maybe because the land value was expensive in the city, the building visible to the naked eye was not that big. However, the well, the stable, and the boisterous laughter heard from the window were enough to call it an inn.

“Tear the Snake to Death? What a unique name. Does the innkeeper have memories of being bitten by a snake or something?”

Cara, who checked the inn’s sign, muttered. Having entrusted their horses to the stablehand, the three entered the inn. At that, the laughter that had been heard cut off. Instead, wary gazes and whispers tickled the party’s ears.

“Why on earth is a knight in a place like this…”

“There’s a mage too. Could it be that they also came targeting the forest’s treasure?”

“That greatsword. Can he really swing it?”

Leaving the gazes of the future grave robbers who called themselves adventurers and the merchants who came targeting them behind, Velloc’s party moved their steps.

With floors creaking because they were old, a fireplace crackling and spitting sparks, and the wafting smell of food, it was a typical inn.

Except for one person sitting in a corner setting the mood with a robe pulled over their head, there was nothing that looked special.

Perhaps because they were busy cooking, the owner was not in sight. Only the sounds of slicing and stirring could be heard from inside the kitchen.

Thus, a clerk greeted the party instead. A woman who was placing beer mugs on another table turned her head. Soon, she gasped in surprise.

“Welcome. Cust… Goodness, the knight!”

Her high-pitched voice echoed loudly. The mercenaries flinched, and Velloc’s party was also surprised. Cara asked.

“What? Is it someone you know?”

Velloc and Adel looked at each other. Adel shook her head, and Velloc did the same. Just as they were about to open their mouths, the woman shouted loudly toward the kitchen.

“Father! Come out quickly! Look who has arrived!”

“Lian. What on earth happened that you make such a fuss? Is it some noble… No?! Aren’t you the lords?!”

At the woman’s call, a middle-aged man wearing an apron came out of the kitchen. Soon, he also saw Velloc’s party and cried out in surprise.

At the sight of the father and daughter making a fuss, Adel asked in a slightly lowered voice, uncharacteristic of her.

“Who on earth are you that you know us?”

The innkeeper wiped the water on his hands on his apron. Soon, bowing his head, he spoke.

“I am Dodon, lords. Didn’t you save Lian and me at the Oker fief?”

“Oker fief?”

It was the land ruled by the snake monster. Was he one of the survivors saved there? But why meet in a place like this?

As Velloc stroked his chin, the innkeeper grinned.

“I used to run an inn there too. Though I came here because of those damn bastards.”

Only then did the two realize who the father and daughter were. The memory of saving the father and daughter who were being harassed by the lord’s men at the inn came to mind.

‘They ran away with the wealth they had gathered, and somehow managed to settle down without dying.’

Lian led Velloc’s party with a broad smile. Velloc, who sat down at an empty table following her, looked at Dodon and spoke.

“You managed to rebuild it.”

“Originally, it was a place run by my cousin. I bought it and only changed the sign. Thanks to you saving us, we are earning a living like this.”

Without even being asked, Dodon said as he put down three large beer mugs.

“Hmm. I guess you didn’t live entirely like a gangster?”

Perhaps due to what happened in the previous village, Cara, wearing a surprised expression, looked at the three. Adel drank her beer silently, and Velloc shrugged his shoulders. Dodon, wearing a grateful expression, spoke again.

“I don’t know why precious people like you came to a place like this, but first, I will bring some food. And if there is anything you need, call me anytime. Of course, I won’t accept money.”

“Thank you once again, knight.”

As Dodon and Lian departed with a bow, Cara tapped the table.

“This is perfect. An innkeeper should know more than most street ruffians. We might get some decent information.”

There were many things they needed to know, such as the current situation of the city or information about the Flowing Forest. However, Velloc expressed doubt.

“They also must have settled in this city not long ago. Would they know anything?”

The day right after the Dodon father and daughter left, they had departed. Even if their plans were tangled due to being caught up in various incidents on the way, the difference would be a few weeks at most. However, Cara shook her head.

“That much time is enough for a country fief’s innkeeper to become a city’s innkeeper. Especially since he had his cousin’s help.”

‘A connection chance, is it? Things like this are the same wherever you go.’

“I see.”

Velloc, nodding, raised his glass and took a sip of beer.

Perhaps because little water was mixed in, the taste was quite decent. Instead of a bland urine taste, a proper barley flavor was strong. Perhaps one of the reasons Dodon could make a comeback was also thanks to his brewing skill. ‘Human connections are truly fascinating.’

Velloc smirked as he sipped his beer.

It was also his first time handling things without using money, violence, or authority. However, it was not a bad feeling. The water droplets condensed on the glass soaked the wooden table mindlessly.

Watching closely in case the knight’s party would make trouble, the mercenaries, seeing them remain quiet, soon began to chatter excitedly among themselves.

The sound of slamming down glasses, dirty jokes about laying a woman in some village, boasting about past fighting skills, and so on. The inn quickly became talkative.

“These undignified bastards…”

Just as Adel, frowning, grabbed her scabbard and tried to rise, Dodon approached and placed a large plate on the table.

“I roasted a fresh one. Please try it.”

A whole roasted turkey sizzled and glistened with grease. Adel quickly sat down. Then she tore off the leg parts and put them on Velloc’s and her own plates. On Cara’s plate, she placed the breast portion. Cara, who was licking her lips holding a knife, frowned slightly.

“Out of all the many parts, why must it be the breast? I hate dry food the most in the world.”

“Being picky is bad.”

“That may be so, but at least a wing…”

While Cara wore a crying face, Velloc, who was cutting the meat and bringing it to his mouth, spoke to Dodon.

“I have something to ask.”

Dodon, who was looking at the two women bickering with a warm gaze, perhaps thinking of his daughter, said.

“Ask away. If it’s something I know, I will answer anything.”

“I want to hear some information about this city’s situation and the Flowing Forest.”

Dodon nodded immediately as if he understood.

“So you lords also came to find the elves’ treasures?”

“Something like that.”

“It seems the story will be long… well, it shouldn’t matter. May I sit?”

As Velloc nodded, Dodon, who pulled a chair from the next table, joined them. He cleared his throat for a moment and opened his mouth.

“It has been over hundreds of years since the elves migrated to the Nas Jungle. This forest, which they used as their shelter before leaving…”

Dodon’s story was roughly like this. He did not know for what reason the elves had left. However, a mysterious magic was cast on this forest, where the heritages and ruins they left behind were occasionally discovered. Namely, that it blurred and deceived people’s five senses.

“It means extraordinary things happen, like a thick fog suddenly spreading where you can’t see an inch ahead, or trees and bushes swelling colossally.”

Dodon said as if it was absurd. ‘Is that why it is called the Labyrinth Forest or the grave?’ While Velloc thought internally, Cara, who was eating the turkey, wiped her mouth and spoke.

“To cast such a spell semi-permanently on such a wide space? Even if several archmages stuck together, that…”

Cara, who was about to answer “impossible,” trailed off and soon chose silence.

Magic was the act of twisting the laws of the world to bring the caster’s inner power outside. Making the impossible possible was magic. Thus, nothing could be determined for sure.

As Cara shut her mouth, Velloc, who took a sip of water, asked.

“So it’s a dangerous forest cast with magic. Is that all?”

Dodon shook his head.

“Normally yes. However, the situation has changed slightly.”

Clearing his throat and adjusting his voice, he spoke again.

“The story I am about to tell you from now on is also related to the current situation of the city. The magic cast on the forest has been broken.”

The party widened their eyes. Having explained so lengthily until now, only to say the magic was broken? Velloc, who let out a dry laugh as if it was absurd, asked.

“Then isn’t that a good thing?”

Dodon shook his head with a bitter smile.

“Back when the magic was cast, if ten went in, three returned alive. Even if they were in a starving state because they couldn’t even eat gruel. But now…”

Dodon, gulping, spoke in a heavy tone.

“Ten go in, and ten die. Because the forest is now filled with revived dead and distorted monsters.”