I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 15

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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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Chapter 15

“The construction is taking too long.”

“Huh? I’m actually working pretty fast for this kind of job. Everyone always says I have quick hands…”

The repairman hung his head dejectedly.

“Even three months is cutting it really close…”

Since Ponia seemed to doubt his skills, he genuinely showed his hurt feelings.

“It’ll be a bit inconvenient for three months, but once the repairs are finished, you’ll be able to live much more comfortably.”

However, such additional remarks didn’t register in Ponia’s ears.

She could barely endure even a week, and now three months? That was ridiculous.

There was a 99.9% chance that Sionel would cause trouble first before the repairs were even finished.

Ponia sighed and called out to the repairman who was examining the trees surrounding the cabin.

“Excuse me.”

“Yes.”

“I was going to stay quiet, but I’m saying this because I’m worried about you. You know this place is extremely dangerous, right?”

“Yes, of course. The rumors in the village were pretty terrifying too.”

“Do you know why that is?”

“…Why?”

As Ponia deliberately lowered her voice, tension also appeared on the repairman’s face.

“The wild animals here only eat people.”

“…What?”

“I don’t know if there’s something wrong with this forest, but they don’t even look at other animals—they only treat humans as food. So many people kept dying that they banned people from entering.”

Using the speech patterns of the employment office staff from two weeks ago, Ponia created a serious atmosphere.

“Since people stopped coming in, accidents naturally decreased, but occasionally people who wander in by chance get brutally eaten by the starving wild animals. They can’t even recover the bones.”

‘Well, it’s not entirely wrong.’

Since magical beasts were carnivorous by nature, any living creature could become their prey, but they particularly favored human blood and flesh.

Ponia cleverly mixed lies and truth in her story.

When she signed the forest keeper contract, it included a confidentiality clause, so she was obligated to keep everything she saw here secret.

Of course, Sionel was an exception.

She couldn’t let unnecessary stories spread to the village through a repairman who would soon leave here.

Sure enough, the repairman stood there dumbfounded after hearing her story.

“Really?”

“Why would I lie? I’ve been here for less than a month. By the way, all my predecessors were reported missing. They couldn’t even find the bodies.”

He gaped with his mouth wide open. He seemed to realize how absurd his decision to enter the forest on his own had been.

“I’ll guide you to the exit, so don’t worry and come with me…”

“Is that really…”

“Yes, yes, it’s scary.”

“Fascinating!”

However, the repairman’s response was beyond her expectations.

“To think the forest had such secrets—I’d love to see those wild animals myself!”

‘What is this guy saying?’

Whether he was babbling from fear or had lost his mind, the man laughed.

But with his next words, Ponia could no longer dismiss the man’s words as nonsense.

“Could you take me along too?”

Sunlight streamed in through the hole in the roof. The light reflected off his round glasses, glinting eerily.

‘He’s serious. This guy is genuinely interested.’

Instead, fear washed over Ponia.

‘He’s insane.’

If the employment office staff had seen this scene, they might have nodded vigorously and told her that this was exactly how they felt when they looked at her.

Ponia took a step back.

“We’ll see about that later…”

Her plan to make him abandon the repairs and run away had gone down the drain.

Ponia changed her mind to persuading Sionel instead.

After all, wouldn’t it be better to deal with someone with a rotten personality than a crazy person?

Creak.

Suddenly, a sound was heard.

If it had occurred during their conversation, it would have been a small sound that would have been immediately drowned out, but the noise that came during their unfortunate silence sounded particularly loud.

The repairman tilted his head and looked around the inside of the cabin.

“Hm? What’s that sound?”

Screech. Scrape.

Before Ponia could make an excuse, the same sound was heard again.

The sound of fingernails scratching wooden boards.

“….”

The man’s gaze turned directly toward the closet. Ponia looked at the repairman anxiously.

‘We’re in trouble.’

* * *

The closet door closed, and Sionel was left in the narrow, dust-filled space.

“Ha.”

This forest keeper must be crazy.

Sionel immediately put his hand on the closet door to get out. However, the door only opened enough to let in a bit of light and wouldn’t open fully.

Through the gap, he could see Ponia tying a rope tightly around the closet handle.

“Are you crazy? Open it right now.”

“Please. You said you didn’t want other people to see your face either.”

“Do you think that statement matches this behavior? Is tying people up your hobby or something?”

“Just 10 minutes! No, 5 minutes! I’ll solve this in 5 minutes and get you out!”

“Stop talking nonsense and open this door. Otherwise, I’ll break it down and come out.”

As if to show he wasn’t lying, Sionel punched the closet. Ponia was startled and pressed herself against the closet.

“You’ll hurt your hand! Your hand! Please let’s cherish our precious bodies! After I went through all that trouble treating you….”

“Open it.”

“…I don’t want to.”

Sionel raised his hand again. However, Ponia stepped away from the closet.

“Ah, I don’t know, I don’t know! I’m going to open the door now, okay? I’ll open it right away, okay? Do you trust me?”

Faced with the forest keeper’s unreasonable behavior, Sionel couldn’t add any more words. It would be more accurate to say he had lost his fighting spirit.

“Good… day.”

“Yes, come….”

Ponia, who had finally opened the door, seemed conscious of him in the closet, and her voice showed she wanted to handle the business quickly.

“…the roof is here….”

“More than I thought….”

While waiting for this annoying time to pass quickly, he soon began to feel suffocated.

“….”

Having to stay in one position, he couldn’t move his body freely, and even with the gap, hot air circulated inside.

“Haah….”

His naturally exhaled breath became a bit rough as it came out through his mouth. The voices from outside that had been clearly audible gradually faded from his ears.

‘Of all times….’

This was not a good sign.

The problem didn’t end there.

‘When did it become this dark?’

Darkness where he couldn’t distinguish objects in front of him, humid air, a body unable to move due to the effects of medicine, faintly audible voices.

In the environment surrounding him, Sionel recalled a familiar memory.

‘Want to know something interesting?’

‘Your parents who supposedly died in a carriage accident. We actually killed them. On your uncle’s orders.’

That disgusting memory was right before his eyes now.

“….”

And another voice could be heard.

‘See, you shouldn’t have trusted anyone.’

His breathing became rapid, and his whole body began to lose strength and grow cold. The situation outside no longer mattered to him.

‘I need to get out of here right now.’

Sionel desperately tried to move his body, but only his hands had any strength.

Even then, all he could do was scratch at the wall in front of him.

Screech.

“Haah…. Haah….”

Creak. Squeak.

Nothing changes. Even his raised hand loses its strength. His vision begins to blur.

Memories, no, reality begins to consume him.

‘S-sorry, hyung. I just… wanted to live…’

‘You did it because you wanted to live!’

Through the sinking words that accompanied him, a clear voice pushed its way in.

‘Answer me!’

“…”

The sharp voice continued to wake him.

And bright light came through the closet.

“…”

His mind still isn’t fully clear.

Nevertheless, through the light pouring toward him, Sionel reached out for the only thing he had found.

“Sionel?”

He caught it.

* * *

“Alright! Then I’ll assume the repair work will take 3 months for now! Let’s head out!”

“Wait a minute. I think I hear something from over there.”

The repairman wasn’t going to just let it slide, but she had nowhere left to retreat either.

“I don’t hear anything.”

At this point, she had to play dumb.

“It sounded like scratching on the wall. I think it’s coming from the closet…”

“I don’t hear anything at all. Please leave now.”

“W-wait! Don’t push me…”

Five minutes had passed. By now, Sionel must be grinding his teeth while looking at her from inside that closet.

“Let’s start the repair work tomorrow, not today. Well then.”

Ponia forcibly pushed the man to the door and closed it with her announcement.

The flustered man said something from outside the door, but Ponia didn’t respond. Soon she heard the sound of the man going down the stairs.

“I thought we were going to get caught.”

Still, she had kept her promise since she let him out just a little over five minutes.

“You can come out now.”

She caught her breath and spoke, but there was no response, not a sound to be heard.

‘Right, I locked it.’

Walking quickly toward the closet, she continued her excuses.

“You know I really had no choice earlier.”

But still, no sound came from inside the closet.

It would be better if he cursed at her, but this complete silence was more unsettling.

‘He’s not going to try to kill me as soon as I open the door, is he?’

Ponia untied the string with an anxious heart. She had tied it so tightly that she had to struggle for quite a while to undo it.

Preparing for the curses that would fly at her, Ponia opened the closet door wide.

“I’m really sorry. So don’t be too angry… Aaah!”

As soon as she opened the door, a large hand suddenly emerged. Ponia was grabbed by the shoulder and fell backward. And.

“…Sionel?”

Sionel suddenly pulled her into his arms.

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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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