I Alone Regress in a Hero Party That Was Annihilated - Chapter 64

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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#64. Heart of the Forest (2)

 

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West of Mörsolt Castle, in the hilly area with many steep slopes.

 

In this place that had been a wasteland without a single blade of grass until yesterday, countless trees now soared as if to pierce the sky.

 

It was a change that had happened in just one night.

 

A guard standing atop the fortress spoke in a bewildered tone.

 

“H-how did a forest appear in just one day?”

 

A vast forest surrounding the west side of the fortress.

 

For such a forest to grow would require at least decades, if not hundreds of years.

 

But now the west side of Mörsolt Castle was covered in lush, abundant greenery.

 

“This must definitely be the work of a mage.”

 

“Could it be Prince Featherback who returned recently?”

 

While the soldiers were murmuring among themselves.

 

“Don’t make a commotion.”

 

A cold voice came from behind.

 

An old knight with a stern expression was walking toward them.

 

Sir Dvorak.

 

He was a knight who had served the Mörsolt Family for a very long time.

 

A loyal retainer who had always maintained his position with the same heart and same will, even when Mörsolt was in decline.

 

Sir Dvorak spoke to the soldiers.

 

“The Family Head has ordered an investigation of that forest. We plan to go see for ourselves whether it’s dangerous or not, so prepare yourselves.”

 

“Yes sir!”

 

The disciplined guards gave a resounding military salute.

 

Sir Dvorak finally nodded his head.

 

“The entire squad will be included in the investigation team, so everyone prepare without fail. We depart at dawn tomorrow.”

 

“Understood!”

 

The soldiers shouted once more.

 

Their expressions had somehow become gloomy.

 

* * *

 

Night.

 

Sir Dvorak was lost in deep contemplation in the office of his residence.

 

The gloomy faces of the soldiers who had been standing guard duty on the castle walls wouldn’t leave his mind.

 

‘Of course they would be. Naturally they’d be scared.’

 

Even he, a knight, felt reluctant about it, so how much more so for them.

 

That forest that had suddenly appeared next to Mörsolt Castle was rumored to be the ‘Nightmare-Eating Tree Spirit.’

 

The story of the magical forest that appears overnight and disappears overnight is known to everyone in the Northern Region.

 

‘…That must surely be the very existence from the fairy tales Grandmother used to tell me. It’s definitely a cursed Forbidden Zone.’

 

The Nightmare Sea.

 

All the people who had entered that place until now had either died or gone missing.

 

And Sir Dvorak had received orders from the Family Head to investigate that forest.

 

‘Although the Family Head said there would be no problems… it’s still entering the Forbidden Zone.’

 

Sir Dvorak let out a deep sigh.

 

Though he had reached the age of seventy, the fear of the Monster and Mage said to live in the forest that he had heard about since he was around seven years old had not disappeared.

 

Any Northerner would sympathize with this.

 

‘But since I’ve received orders, I must go. Even if that place is the Forbidden Zone. That is a Knight’s duty.’

 

Sir Dvorak rose from his seat.

 

The secret that would be hidden within the greenery that appeared overnight.

 

He had to investigate and uncover it.

 

‘I should at least leave a farewell to my Family Members before departing.’

 

Sir Dvorak headed straight to the Bedroom.

 

The Bedroom illuminated by a dim Candle.

 

On the Bed, his Wife and his Grandson and Granddaughter who had come to visit recently were sleeping.

 

‘Darling, thank you for living with me all this time.’

 

Sir Dvorak placed a letter beside his sleeping Wife.

 

It was a will.

 

A letter containing his wishes that if he could not return, it would mean he met a glorious end as a Knight so they should not grieve, and that his inheritance should be handled as they saw fit.

 

Sir Dvorak’s resolve as he entered the Nightmare Sea was tremendously tragic.

 

‘Good. I’m going.’

 

Eventually, this white-haired old Knight snorted once and left the house.

 

And soon, he met with his Subordinates in the Plaza not far from his house.

 

Thud— Thud— Thud— Thud—

 

Soldiers naturally following behind Sir Dvorak.

 

All of these were rough and fierce, yet honorable Northerners.

 

Comrades who had worked together for a long time had aspects where they could understand each other without needing to speak.

 

Sir Dvorak led his Subordinates who followed him and exited through the Castle Gate.

 

Their destination was the dense forest ‘Nightmare Sea’ that had appeared at a stone’s throw distance.

 

* * *

 

After exiting the Castle Gate and walking a few hundred meters west, they immediately came upon the Forest Area.

 

The trees soaked in the darkness of night stood as dark blue silhouettes.

 

Under the large trees were small trees, and under the small trees, bushes and shrubs grew so densely that it was impossible to see inside from a distance.

 

But whatever the case, the fact that terrifying and dangerous monsters would be living inside was self-evident.

 

Sir Dvorak, standing at the very front, drew his sword from his waist.

 

“Now, let’s go in.”

 

The Northern Soldiers also took up their swords, spears, and axes and followed behind Sir Dvorak.

 

All of them were heroes who had written their wills at home and risked their lives to come investigate this suspicious forest.

 

“Damn it, I should have looked at my youngest child’s face one more time before coming.”

 

“When I get back this time, I’ll personally give the child a name.”

 

“When I go back this time, I’ll give you a name myself.”

 

“Cut it out with the jinxing. People who say shit like that before expeditions always end up dead.”

 

But their voices are trembling just the same.

 

The expedition led by Sir Dvorak courageously pushed through the undergrowth and ventured deep into the forest.

 

…But then.

 

“Huh?”

 

Everyone’s eyes widened in surprise.

 

The moss and mushrooms glowing softly throughout the dark forest make it brighter than the night outside.

 

The forest looked as if it had recreated a scene from heaven.

 

Every tree was laden with fruits like apples, pears, peaches, grapes, and tangerines hanging in clusters, while the ground was covered with berries like cherries, wild grapes, and raspberries.

 

The vast plains were filled with soybeans, wheat, rice, barley, corn, potatoes, sweet potatoes, kudzu, and more, and even the mushrooms and moss growing on rocks and trees were all edible.

 

The insects and small wild animals roaming around were all creatures that posed no harm to humans whatsoever and were rather beneficial.

 

“Hah….”

 

Lord Dvorak, who had been standing with a blank expression, soon uttered a word.

 

“I could bring my family and move here.”

 

It was the moment when the suicide note he had written so solemnly became embarrassingly pointless.

 

A few days later.

 

Meuersault Castle was busy with the construction work to expand its walls.

 

It was a major construction project to create a new gate known as the ‘nightmare-eating beast.’

 

The survey team members who investigated the forest and returned unanimously called that forest “a good place to live.”

 

Subsequently, workers were organized to transport the large quantities of food and timber that grew naturally in the forest.

 

The forest spirits diligently multiply the plants, while humans diligently harvest them.

 

Since the plants didn’t die and remained in their places even when their fruits were harvested or their wood was cut, the spirits were able to continue expanding the forest.

 

The baku that devours nightmares is no longer forbidden.

 

It was familiar land that had grown very close to human living areas and was now blending into one with them.

 

“…You’re exploiting them quite one-sidedly.”

 

Quinbits.

 

She spoke toward Featherback who was standing on the castle walls.

 

Featherback nodded as he watched the fruit and timber flying in from the forest.

 

“If you don’t like it, leave the Northern Region. I’ll burn everything down.”

 

“Why are humans so selfish and extreme?”

 

“It’s to protect my people.”

 

“Does that make it okay to steal from others? You’re taking everything – timber, fruit, moss, even mushrooms.”

 

“They don’t keep all the forest products they gather either. Some goes to taxes, some to family, and what actually goes into their own mouths is truly just a small portion. Think of it as collecting taxes from the Forest Spirits too.”

 

“So what do the Forest Spirits get from this arrangement?”

 

“Protection.”

 

“?”

 

Quinbits tilted her head at Featherback’s answer.

 

She asked as if she couldn’t understand what she had heard.

 

“Who are the Forest Spirits being protected from, and from what?”

 

“From me. From the Demon King.”

 

“!”

 

Quinbits’ brow furrowed.

 

She shook her head back and forth.

 

“You mean the Demon King from fairy tale books? Why? Is he about to be revived or something?”

 

“…”

 

Featherback no longer answered Quinbits’ words.

 

Instead, he simply gazed quietly at the faces of people coming and going below the castle walls.

 

Soldiers on patrol, workers pulling wagons, merchants carrying timber and fruits, hunters who had hunted small beasts…

 

Everyone’s expressions and actions were full of vitality.

 

A scene rarely seen in the Northern Region where food conditions were poor.

 

As Featherback looked down at the crowd for a while.

 

…Thud!

 

Quinbits climbed up and down the air like stairs and stood beside Featherback.

 

“But why did you tell me to make the forest on the west side? The west has steep slopes that make transportation difficult. The east or south have gentler slopes, so it would have been easier to carry heavy timber.”

 

“The castle walls on that side have strong defenses. But the western wall is relatively weak.”

 

“Don’t tell me you’re using my forest as a shield?”

 

“If the wind cooperates, it would also be advantageous for fire attacks. Since there’s so much to burn.”

 

“This bastard… Ugh, no.”

 

Quinbits tries to get angry but holds herself back.

 

She realized that getting angry at someone she’d made a Mana Ring Covenant with would only be a loss for herself.

 

She turned her head away with a deep sigh.

 

“Fine. It’s my fault for losing the fight. The Forest Spirits seem to like this place in their own way anyway. I’d rather be attached to a Strong Family’s territory – it’s more comfortable without worrying about being chased.”

 

“Chased?”

 

Featherback’s eyes narrowed.

 

“Chased, by whom?”

 

“…”

 

Quinbits hesitated for a moment as if she’d misspoken, then opened her mouth.

 

“Just… there are guys like that. Mages naturally have many enemies. You wouldn’t understand even if I told you.”

 

She turned her head away as if she didn’t want to talk about this topic anymore.

 

Featherback also didn’t try to learn more about Quinbits’ past.

 

However, there was one thing Quinbits didn’t know.

 

“Are the ones chasing you perhaps after Garmelda’s Legacy?”

 

“…!”

 

The fact that Featherback already knew quite a lot about Quinbits.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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