I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 10

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

Chapter 10

“Just say you’re not a forest keeper. It wouldn’t be that surprising.”

“Just wait and see!”

“So I’ve been waiting for 30 minutes now.”

She was left speechless.

“I’ll take the lead, so just follow me.”

The map had already been taken away. Keeping her complaints to herself, Ponia followed Sionel.

‘Has his build gotten even bigger than before?’

Three years ago, while comparing Sionel’s height to her own as they walked, he suddenly stopped.

“We’re here.”

He was right. The valley and stepping stone bridge that had been their destination came into view.

Ponia’s expression brightened at the sight of the clean water.

Though there was some basic water provided, it wouldn’t be enough if she was going to stay with Sionel, so this worked out well.

“There might be monsters in the water too. Check before you go.”

“I’ll just quickly fill up some drinking water.”

Ponia reassured Sionel, who was standing far from the water’s edge, and filled her bottle with water.

“See, I filled it up quickly, right? Hm? Why is your expression…?”

She waved the water bottle at him, but Sionel’s reaction was very strange.

He looked horrified.

‘His gaze is behind me?’

Sensing something was wrong, when she turned around, a giant monster resembling a crocodile already had its mouth open toward her.

“Aaah!”

Ponia barely escaped from the monster’s range.

A loud explosive sound came from the monster’s mouth, and the shockwaves caused water to overflow, soaking her completely.

The monster, having failed its attack, reluctantly went back into the water. It seemed to only be active in water.

“Wow… I almost died.”

However, Sionel still didn’t relax his expression.

“Your clothes are all wet.”

“It’s fine. It’s a bit uncomfortable, but I have spare clothes at the cabin.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

“Then what?”

“If your whole body gets wet like this, wouldn’t the lavender scent that monsters dislike be completely washed away?”

Ponia’s expression hardened instantly.

Ponia hurriedly checked her bag, but there was no perfume. It seemed she had sprayed it at the cabin but didn’t bring it with her.

Caw! Caw!

“Let’s go back for now.”

“I think it’s already too late.”

“What do you mean by that…?”

Caw! Caw!

…Why had the cries of the bird monsters that could only be heard from far away suddenly gotten closer?

Her ominous premonition wasn’t wrong. Soon, the shape of a bird with wings spread wide could be seen in the sky above them.

The bird that had been circling around the same spot paused for a moment, then began diving straight down toward them.

* * *

“Can’t you run faster?!”

Caw! Caw!

The bird-shaped monster was fiercely pursuing them from behind, but Sionel showed an indifferent expression and was only being half-forcibly dragged along by Ponia.

“I didn’t get wet. Why should I run?”

Oh, that’s right?

She gained enlightenment from this unexpected fact, but anger welled up first.

“Still, to show no affection to someone who saved your life!”

“I never asked you to save me.”

Is his character completely ruined?

She could hear it. The sound of what little remained of her first love memories being shattered in real time.

“Let go of my hand.”

“Why?! Are you trying to stay behind alone?!”

Sionel didn’t answer. Instead, he shook off her hand, turned around, and stopped. Ponia also stopped with him.

“Hurry up!”

The demon beast that had been flying low, avoiding the trees, saw Ponia and flew toward her rapidly.

It was then that Sionel pulled out a dagger from his embrace.

‘That thing…’

And he threw the dagger aimed at the demon beast with all his strength.

The dagger that flew straight through the air struck precisely into the demon beast’s right eye.

Kaaaack!

The demon beast that fell to the ground writhed in pain.

“That dagger is the one I brought from the cave? When did you take it?”

“When I put you to sleep with the sedative.”

We don’t have much to begin with. How resourceful of you to take it.

Then, seeing the demon beast that had stopped moving, Ponia casually spoke.

“Did we kill it?”

Kaaaaaaaack!

As soon as she spoke, the bird-shaped demon beast began to move.

“It looks angry!”

“Seems like it. Now it’ll be targeting me too.”

Sionel, who left a dry comment as if he had no expectations from the start, began to run.

“Huh?”

While grabbing Ponia’s hand.

A large, thick-jointed hand held her firmly.

“You’re too slow.”

Now the only option left was really to run away.

* * *

Kaaaack! Kaaaack!

The demon beast that had lost them circled high in the sky again.

Ponia secretly watched this scene and let out a sigh of relief.

They had run frantically and luckily discovered a space under the bushes that saved them.

Looking to the side, Sionel was expressionlessly brushing off the leaves and dirt from his clothes.

Though he had gotten a bit disheveled, as befitting a young nobleman, his actions still showed the characteristic dignity of nobility.

Ponia narrowed her eyes.

“Do you feel like living a little now?”

“What are you suddenly talking about.”

“The person who said he’d kill me if I came even a little closer has suddenly changed too much.”

“Ah, that.”

Sionel tilted his head sideways.

“I just realized I have nothing left to lose.”

“…”

“Either way, dying would be similar, so as you said…”

Eyes that sparkled like transparent water surface receiving sunlight collided with hers.

“I thought I’d try causing some chaos.”

“…”

“Even if I die, I want to take the person who made me like this with me.”

It was a statement that felt even more frightening because she knew all too well who that target was.

“And you said we should make a deal.”

“…”

“Instead of me using you, you’d also use me. Wasn’t helping with the forest keeper work the condition?”

“But you suspected I was an assassin the whole time and were wary of me. Can we really live together now?”

“No problem.”

“…”

“I’m convinced you won’t harm me.”

The straightforward answer was bewildering, but her mood wasn’t bad.

Still, the week of persistent care wasn’t completely useless after all. She felt proud that she seemed to have gained some trust…

“Whether you’re an assassin disguised as a forest keeper, I don’t care.”

“Hm?”

“Your assassination skills are terrible.”

“…”

“You couldn’t kill anyone like that.”

“…”

“If you’re an assassin, I’d advise you to go get retrained.”

Did this man throw away his ability to read the atmosphere along with his corruption?

Thanks to that, the rising emotion was shattered to pieces.

“How very kind of you to say.”

“Good, as long as you know.”

I was being sarcastic out of disbelief, but he even takes that as a compliment.

“I don’t hear any sounds now. Let’s go out.”

It’s my fault for expecting anything.

To think I believed I could hear kind words after experiencing that ruthless personality all this time.

‘Thanks to this, I’ll finally abandon the last remaining attachment to my first love.’

As they emerged from the thicket, sunset was settling over the Forest. Sionel also followed her out.

“How old are you?”

“I turned twenty this year.”

A curt tone came out without me realizing it. Ponia didn’t look back.

“You’re young.”

What exactly would be a non-young age to Sionel?

Contrary to his completely ruined personality, his unchanged mindset after three years made me laugh bitterly without realizing it.

“I’m not young anymore, you know?”

“Anymore?”

“There’s a reason for that.”

Memories with my first love that you don’t know about.

“How old are you then?”

‘Though I already know.’

“Thirty.”

…That can’t be right?

“Twenty-three.”

‘You should have said it properly from the start!’

For a moment, seeing Ponia’s wavering eyes, Sionel chuckled and asked.

“Your name?”

“You’re asking now after all this time?”

“We’ll be living together from now on, so I should know at least that much.”

“…Why are you saying something normal?”

“What?”

Ponia didn’t turn around. Even without looking, she could clearly picture his crumpled face.

“It’s Ponia.”

“Your surname?”

“…I don’t have one. I’m a commoner.”

“Didn’t you say you were Nobility yesterday?”

“That was a lie. I was afraid of being looked down on.”

Lying was just a bit of spite.

It’s a little unfair that only I remember Sionel. Still, if he remembers the name Ponia…

“It’s a ridiculous name for an assassin. A surname would suit it even less.”

He can’t do it.

“Don’t make unnecessary comments about other people’s names.”

Maybe it’s actually good for my well-being. What if that personality-ruined person causes me trouble for no reason?

It’s definitely a good thing, but…

Feeling somehow bitter, Ponia quickened her pace.

“Hurry up before the sun sets completely.”

“I’m Sionel.”

“…”

“Sionel Devonham.”

At that familiar name, Ponia stopped walking and turned around.

The sun was setting behind Sionel. The sky was dyed golden and he melted perfectly into that brilliant scenery.

No, the most brilliant thing was…

“Why are you so surprised? Didn’t you already know? You’re an assassin.”

‘That damn assassin thing!’

Now it seems like he knows everything and is teasing me.

“Not at all. I was surprised because your name suggests you’d have a terrible personality.”

“Ponia.”

At that single call, Ponia’s body froze completely.

“Ponia.”

As if savoring each syllable, he kept rolling it around in his mouth.

“Still, it’s a name that suits you well.”

“….”

“I’ll be able to call it easily.”

A smile like gentle ripples on a quiet lake appeared on his face. Within it, though faint, she could see playfulness and mischief.

The only faces she had seen for a week were his cold face filled with spite or his resigned expression.

Was it because of the sunset light? It seemed like the first time since their reunion that she was seeing his characteristically warm face.

Indeed, a smiling face suited him much better than an expressionless one, and speaking calmly suited him far better than showing anger.

Sionel spoke firmly.

“I’ll remember it.”

Ponia’s green eyes widened.

‘Ponia! Ahem… I’m Ponia Harbel.’

Those words reminded her exactly of their introduction that day.

Because it felt like a promise that this time he wouldn’t forget.

Ponia couldn’t take her eyes off that smile for a long while.

* * *

It seemed like the long day was ending relatively peacefully.

Knock knock.

Until the sound of knocking in the dead of night woke them up.

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