Chapter 44 – Flowing Forest (4)

Stepping onto unfamiliar land always requires great courage. How much more so when it is not a land crafted by humans, but the domain of monsters.

Since even mercenaries who were experts in killing, elven swordsmen, and dwarf warriors trembled, there was no need for lengthy words. However, all those facts did not apply to Velloc’s party, who was currently walking along the forest path.

What did they care if it was a monster’s mouth or its nesting ground? They had experienced far too much to be frightened by such things.

“They say everyone who enters dies. It is certainly understandable. This forest is very bizarre. A space where not even sunlight reaches.”

Cara looked up at the sky. Unlike looking from the outside, it was different once they entered.

Bizarrely twisted branches wrapped tightly around the entire forest like caterpillars.

Thanks to that, her role in this space where not a single speck of light entered became even greater.

Cara muttered with her lips and cast a spell. The light of the staff in her hand flared up.

In the single ray of light blooming in the darkness, the party looked around as they walked. Not much time had passed since they crossed the gates of Karben and entered this forest. However, this strangely atmosphered forest already seemed unwelcome of intruders.

Trees with expressions as if someone had carved them to laugh, cry, or look annoyed looked down at the party. Bared of a single leaf, they looked like skeletons in human terms.

‘The atmosphere is killer. It puts haunted houses to shame.’ Velloc stood beside Cara as if to protect her, ready to swing his sword at any moment.

This was because he thought that whatever jumped out or shot from the darkness, it would target the light first. Adele was walking behind the elf who joined them this time to keep an eye on her.

Naturally, the party consisted of the three centered around Cara, and Isabel walking at the very front. Isabel, who was walking with her hood off and wearing leather armor that revealed her figure, suddenly stopped dead in her tracks. The bow slung over her back and the sword at her waist jingled.

As Adele raised her guard, Isabel turned her head. When the magical light shone on the elf’s already pale face, her features could not even be seen properly.

Only two green eyes and a mouth were visible. The elf’s mouth opened.

“Which ruins are you going to first?”

Her voice did not have a single trace of perturbation. At that calm tone, the party thought that for a lady who had run away from home to find a family treasure, she had gone through quite a few bloodbaths. She might possess a few hidden secret arts. Or, she was a true minion of a demon. Velloc spoke.

“You said with your own mouth yesterday that you came all the way here targeting gold. Can we take that to mean you will follow wherever we go as long as you can get some treasure?”

“Of course. In a dangerous place like this, following the words of the commander is more important than anything else.”

‘That sounds like some military spirit.’ Isabel, who nodded and approached, pulled a map from her chest. A variety of ruins were marked, as vast as the forest’s size.

It was information that any adventurer would have salivated over. However, Velloc pointed toward the waterfall located in the center of the forest without hesitation. Isabel’s pupils shook slightly.

“This place… doesn’t seem like much. Wouldn’t looking around the old building sites first give us something to gain?”

Velloc shook his head.

“No, we are going here.”

In the first place, the reason they entered this forest was to unseal the magic book Cara held and find a relic that would help in catching the archdevil. To do so, they had to go to the ruins hidden behind the waterfall. Velloc searched his pocket and pulled out a coin pouch.

“Even if we don’t salvage any treasure, I will make sure you are well compensated, so do not worry. This is a token of trust.”

Despite having used it during their journey, many gold coins and gems still sparkled in his hand. Velloc picked up a gem and handed it to Isabel. The sapphire emitted a cold light. Isabel accepted the gem with an unreadable face.

“…I understand.”

Velloc did not miss her expression. For someone who claimed to have come here targeting gold, when she received the gem, not a single trace of greed or avarice appeared on her face.

As expected, it was certain that she had come to this forest with another purpose. He thought about pressing her further, but decided to let it go. It was because her attitude was extremely cooperative.

“In that case, I will guide you to this location. If you have any doubts, you are welcome to look over the map with me.”

With light, elf-like steps, Isabel looked at the map and took the lead again, and the party followed behind her through the forest.

Every time they took a step, rotten fallen leaves rustled. Even the soil beneath was muddy, and the color of the trees was pitch black as if covered in dirty water. This place was a forest in name only now, merely reminiscent of a deep tunnel or cave.

A claustrophobic person would have collapsed on the spot. Except for the party’s breathing and the clanking of their armor, the silent movement continued. After they had walked like that for a long time, a scream was heard out of nowhere.

“Aaaargh!”

It had not come from very far away. Following the scream, Velloc’s outstanding five senses captured the sound of something chewing along with the rustling of the bushes.

Stopping his steps, Velloc put down the luggage he was carrying on his shoulder. Then, without a word, he drew his sword. As the greatsword revealed itself with a metallic clang, Adele also raised her sword and shield, and Cara likewise spun her staff.

Isabel also pricked up her ears and aimed an arrow.

After a moment. A figure cut through the bushes and revealed itself.

“S-Someone save me…”

The thick cloth armor and the sword at his waist allowed them to guess the man’s identity. He was an adventurer. However, as if he had been chewed on, the flesh of one arm dangled, and his eyeball protruded, making it doubtful whether the man should still be considered within the category of human.

The man staggered but somehow managed to walk toward Velloc’s party. It was a fierce attachment to life. However, no one stepped forward to lend him a hand.

No, just one person. As the elf was about to step forward, Velloc stopped her. In the knight’s eyes, the monsters grinning and creeping up behind the man were faintly visible.

“He is bait.”

“They are using their heads quite well? Clever bastards.”

Cara cast a spell. To those who had even a slight understanding of magic, it was the mystical language called Rune. However, to Velloc’s ears, it was just a sequence of incomprehensible sounds.

The battered man had just collapsed. Cara had nothing holding her back anymore either.

Her eyes flashed, and lightning flickered from the tip of her staff.

Crrrackle!

The forest that had been submerged in darkness lit up in an instant, and the ghouls hiding within revealed their true forms.

“Are they wild dogs? No, zombies?”

Cara shouted as she saw the rotting beasts shaking their bodies from the electric shock. But her panic was brief. Quickly regaining her composure, she cast another spell to create a sphere of light and threw it into the midst of them.

Then, along with a squelching sound, another group was seen approaching, trampling the corpses of the fallen ghouls. With a terrible stench, the surrounding temperature dropped in an instant. Cara let out a dry laugh.

“Our missing friends were all gathered here.”

Their hollow pupils stared at the living. A guy whose body was completely decayed and bones clattered, without even eyeballs visible. Another guy who had purple flesh remaining, as if he had not died long ago.

Between the dark shadows, the owners of the bodies gradually revealed themselves. Their types were as diverse as the state of the corpses.

“Humans, beasts… there are even elves.”

Caw! Caw!

Adele, slicing down a flying carrion crow with her sword, muttered. Along with the fluttering feathers, Isabel’s pupils, as she held her bow beside her, shook violently. In Velloc’s eyes, those emotions were embarrassment, regret, and finally, anger.

“Roen… why are you lying sprawled here when you’re supposed to be carrying out your mission…”

Isabel muttered as if spitting it out. Hearing this, Velloc tilted his head.

‘Mission? As expected, she didn’t come targeting gold. She doesn’t seem to be a minion of a demon… It looks like she has some story. But right now, disposing of the bastards in front of us is the priority.’ Whether she had the same thoughts, Isabel, gritting her teeth, shot an arrow.

Swish!

It was a powerful force that created a sound of tearing air. However, the arrow only lodged itself into the ribcage of the elven zombie and shook its body. It could not stop the creature.

“Kieeeek!”

Rather, angered by the feather lodged in its body, the elven zombie opened its mouth wide and growled. ‘Bad matchup.’ Smirking, Velloc stepped forward.

Toward the army of the deceased, the black-haired knight charged bravely. To Isabel, it looked like an incredibly reckless act.

What was the use of that greatsword being powerful? There would be no space to swing it due to the thick trees scattered around. It would be the end if he got surrounded and eaten like that. She hurriedly tried to stop him.

“Wait a minute! The location is too bad! We must retreat and reorganize our formation first—”

Ignoring Isabel’s words, Velloc swung his sword. The result was astonishing. Along with the wind pressure, trees like logs snapped with a loud crack. The zombies that charged between them were also sliced into pieces at once.

Thud! Thud!

Between the falling firewood, rotten blood and entrails spilled in all directions. Isabel gasped.

“What in the world…”

“Now I see how you caught the Dark Elf archer.”

Cara, shaking her head, cast a spell. Soon, as light sparkled from her staff, the charging wild dog zombie bounced off as if struck by a hammer. Perhaps because she received treatment from the priests, power overflowed from Cara’s body. She spoke while looking at Adele.

“Control your output. If a big fire breaks out, it cannot be put out even with magic.”

“Do you take me for a fool? Of course.”

Due to the risk of fire, Adele also minimized the output of her holy power as she swung her sword here and there. Even so, perhaps due to the advantage in attribute energy, the creatures were helpless. Isabel blinked her eyes. These people were somewhat strange. This kind of situation seemed very familiar to them. Was it just her imagination?

While the messenger of the elven kingdom was having such thoughts, Velloc was cutting down the deceased without hesitation.

“Kyaaaak!”

With a shriek, a dead adventurer swung a sword. It was chipped and heavily rusted, looking as though one would contract terrible tetanus if cut by it.

Velloc propped his sword like a shield. A massive rampart was completed in an instant. The worn-out sword snapped. The rampart advanced.

The zombie, which had already died, was sliced into pieces without even having time to feel the pressure.

At that moment, another creature thrust a spit-like rapier. It was the elven zombie from earlier. Velloc reached out his hand and grabbed it firmly. Then, snapping it like a toothpick, he jammed it straight into the creature’s forehead.

The stroll with the deceased did not stop.

Velloc swung his sword without a break. The crawling one was kicked away hard with his boot. Rolling heads, falling trees, and a swinging greatsword.

The quiet forest became a scene of carnage in an instant. But that too was only temporary. No matter how tireless the army of the deceased was, their numbers were limited.

If the targeted human did not tire, they were the ones who would be hunted instead. It did not take long for all of them to fall by the knight’s blade.

Drip, drip.

Having drifted far from the party before he knew it, Velloc shook off the blood from his blade. At that moment.

The bushes shook and another figure popped out. As if heavily armored, metallic sounds echoed here and there, and heavy footsteps resounded as well.

Velloc spoke without even turning back.

“So, what are your thoughts after watching from afar?”

“To crush the army of the deceased single-handed… Honestly, I am impressed. Leaving aside that simple-minded blade, your skill in wielding it makes me doubt whether my eyes are indeed playing tricks on me.”

Velloc shrugged his shoulders and turned his body. In the light shining from Cara’s sphere in the distance, a knight clad in faded plate armor holding an axe was visible.

“I am more surprised by the vocal structure of a bastard like you who can speak even when your head is cut off.”

At Velloc’s murmuring, the headless knight laughed pleasantly.