[Quest: Find the Missing in Asellen Forest]
[Quest: Investigate Asellen Forest]
[Quest: Escort the Herbalist in Asellen Forest]
It was clear now. Mada's claims about sothing happening in Asellen Forest were true. Though other adventurers seed unbothered, the missing people, the need for an investigation, and even escorts in a forest so close to the city—all indicated trouble in Asellen Forest.
So, I guess we have to go?
Once again, I sold my companions on the idea of heading to Asellen Forest using the na of Goddess Aria, and as always, they believed . Goddess, what a cheat code... like a Deus ex Machina.
"Everyone ready?"
We had completed our self-checks and purchased a staff for Sophia. We had a hearty breakfast and checked our inventory. Now, all that was left was to proceed with the main quest.
'Finally... it begins!'
The thought of starting a real adventure with our party of heroes made my heart race.
"Ah...! Here, here! This is Brutus, the herbalist I requested for the escort."
"Pleased to et you. I'm Deokbae, a rank 6 adventurer, and these are my companions, Sophia and Siu, also rank 6."
We had taken on the 'Herbalist Escort' quest from the guild. We could have investigated Asellen Forest without any specific quest, but why would we? Taking on a quest ant earning money and having a free guide to show us around the forest. It was too good an opportunity to miss.
Brutus, the herbalist, was initially shocked to think that just the three of us were there to escort him but soon laughed heartily, reassured by our presence, and led us into the forest. There was no reason for him to refuse since he wasn't paying extra for the escort.
Asellen Forest looked like any ordinary forest from the outside, but as we entered, the atmosphere changed. It seed sothing had indeed happened; the expressions of the people we encountered were gravely serious, and there were no smiles to be seen.
"Mr. Brutus, do you normally hire escorts for gathering herbs?"
"Oh, no, not usually. But... with all the disturbing rumors lately..."
"Could we hear so of those rumors?"
"Well... it’s not just one or two things. Experienced woodsn losing their way, piles of bones suddenly appearing, unexplained bloodstains showing up, and... oh, people going missing."
Hmm... what’s this, a mystery? It sounded like a ghost story fit for a sumr night, with bones and bloodstains that seed far too fantastical. No wonder the rumors hadn't spread to the city.
But with reliable information from Mada, it couldn’t all be just tall tales... What, are there demons in the forest?
"Brother... are we okay?"
Upon hearing Brutus's story, Sophia clung to , clearly frightened, but it seed more like she was using fear as an excuse for so physical closeness. Yeah, Sophia wouldn’t really be scared by this kind of thing. I played along and comforted her by wrapping an arm around her shoulders.
"Mr. Brutus, are you not worried? With rumors like these, it sounds dangerous."
"Ha! With adventurers like you around, what’s there to be scared of? Plus, with fewer competitors, I should take the chance to gather as much as I can."
Brutus planned to venture deeper into the forest than usual to collect herbs that were not typically reachable. With no competitors and escorts present, he seed eager to make the most of it. We didn’t object to his plan. Even if Brutus had chosen not to go, we would have insisted; it actually worked out better this way.
"But, brother... doesn’t sothing feel off?"
As we walked towards our destination following Brutus, Siu spoke up from behind with a concerned tone. It seed he had noticed sothing that we had missed. Trust a hero!
"Siu, don’t scare !"
"Why? What’s wrong?"
Seizing the mont, Sophia once again clung to my arm, pretending to be frail while I comforted her and pressed Siu for an answer. But really, is he so unfazed by this level of contact now? The kid’s all grown up.
"It feels like we’re walking in circles... I’m not sure, but haven’t we seen that tree several tis already?"
"Really?"
When I looked where Siu pointed, I indeed recognized the tree. It was a significantly leaning tree that I rembered thinking was surprisingly still standing...
Wait, are we lost?
"Sophia, no!"
This ti, Sophia genuinely seed frightened as she buried herself into . Her trembling was real, not like before.
"What if it's true? Brother, what if we’re trapped here forever?!"
"Calm down, Sophia..."
Seeing Sophia genuinely scared was endearing, but her near tears made my heart ache. I held her tight, trying to soothe her.
"I can’t believe it... losing our way? Then those rumors—oh no!"
Even Brutus, not typically one to lose his composure, slumped to his knees as if he had just gambled away his last coin.
"Mr. Brutus, snap out of it!"
"Actually... I’ve been aware since earlier... I hoped it wasn’t true..."
You knew? You should have said sothing earlier! It was frustrating. If Siu hadn’t realized, we might have wandered aimlessly much longer, wasting energy.
"Brother! What do we do now?"
Siu, are you panicking too? Even Siu seed to panic, as shocked as a child who had lost his parents in a departnt store. Co on, you’re supposed to be a hero—keep it together!
'Sigh...'
Everyone relies on too much. Sophia leaves everything to , and Siu looks to for answers instead of trying to figure things out himself. This is not good.
'Ah well.'
"What do you an, what do we do? If we’re lost, we find our way."
I turned away from Siu and sighed heavily before using my Observation skill. And just like eating a piece of cake, I easily found the cause.
'As expected... so this is what happened.'
"Brother! Did you find sothing?"
As I confidently led the way to a particular spot, Sophia, seeing hope, brightened up and stuck close to . I patted her head and stopped in front of the tree Siu had pointed out.
"There’s a barrier."
"A barrier?!"
"Yes, there’s a barrier on this tree."
It wasn't visible. I couldn't feel it. But my Observation told it was there. If it says there’s a barrier, then there is.
"Ah! I can feel a faint magic here!"
Really? She’s not just a saint for nothing. Sophia easily felt the magic I couldn't and praised . That’s... a bit embarrassing.
"It’s true... you’re amazing, brother!"
Hearing that we had found the barrier, Siu regained his composure and ca over, quickly verifying the magic of the barrier and looking at with trust. Ah, the guilt.
"Really?!"
Brutus too? The herbalist followed Siu to the tree and expressed his amazent.
"Mr. Brutus, do you feel the magic too?"
"No, just going with the flow."
"Ah, I see."
...This guy really is sothing. I thought I was the only one who couldn’t feel it!
"Can we find our way again if we break the barrier?"
"Yes. But... revealing the hidden space might also bring out whatever is concealed by the barrier."
"Eek! What if there are loads of monsters inside!"
What then? We fight and kill them.
I wasn't too worried. Siu, true to his hero role, would likely receive [N O V E L I G H T] a protagonist's buff in a crisis, and Sophia had her staff with a shield function, worth five gold pieces. I had also grown much stronger, and in a pinch, I could resort to my hidden technique.
However, the fact that soone had created a barrier was concerning. Are there really demons, or perhaps a monster with high intelligence... This fight might be tougher than expected. The fight with the modified goblin was already challenging, indicating that this place had a higher difficulty level.
"Don't worry. We'll handle the monsters. If the barrier is broken, Mr. Brutus, please return to the city and request support from the guards."
"Ah, understood!"
"Then everyone, get ready!"
We left Brutus behind and prepared for battle. Everyone drew their weapons, and we ford the battle line we had practiced continuously the day before.
How do we break the barrier? We have a hero wielding a holy sword.
"Siu!"
"Yes! Here I go!"
-Kwaaaang!
As Siu swung his holy sword towards the barrier, a loud noise echoed, and the tree was cleaved, distorting the scene in front of us. Along with it, a dank, musty sll wafted through the air, assaulting our nostrils.
-Kwieek? -Kwik!
Why is there an orc here?
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