I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 31

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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 31

 

Sionel and Chad both rushed toward the direction of the sound without hesitation.

 

Fortunately, the sound came from a place not far from where they were.

 

‘Even after wandering around for so long earlier, we still haven’t escaped this path.’

 

Meeting Chad Moreau had also happened not far from where they had separated.

 

As if they had all been going in circles from the beginning.

 

Sionel gradually slowed down and then stopped. Chad, who had been following behind him, also stopped and tilted his head in confusion.

 

“Why did you suddenly stop?”

 

“Something’s strange.”

 

“What is?”

 

“Have you ever been separated briefly and heard my voice?”

 

“Not at all?”

 

“Even though we’re in fog, we all scattered just from letting go of hands once.”

 

Sionel raised his hand and caressed the elusive fog.

 

“This fog isn’t naturally formed.”

 

Normal fog would be swept away by hand movements and scatter even briefly, but this fog didn’t move as if it were fixed in place.

 

Most importantly, he couldn’t feel any moisture from the fog touching his skin.

 

“Did a monster create the fog?”

 

“Come to think of it, Nia said she saw a deer.”

 

Chad said while stroking his chin.

 

“A deer appeared, and she said she somehow wanted to see it up close? She said its appearance was very unusual.”

 

Chad, who had been thinking deeply, shrugged his shoulders and shook his head.

 

Unless he saw it directly, he couldn’t know if that deer had caused this situation.

 

Sionel started walking again.

 

“First, let’s find Nia and then…”

 

“Huh? Is that the deer?”

 

What?

 

His gaze naturally turned toward the direction Chad was pointing.

 

Certainly, in a spot where nothing had been visible due to the fog just moments ago, there was a deer.

 

Sionel immediately gripped his dagger properly.

 

However, the deer had no intention of approaching and quietly watched them from its spot.

 

It seemed to be waiting for them to make the first move.

 

“I think that’s the deer Nia saw?”

 

Glancing at Chad, who was unnecessarily bright for the situation, Sionel kept his eyes on the deer.

 

From the outside, it looked like a gentle deer rather than a monster.

 

Sionel raised his gaze and focused on the deer’s antlers.

 

The white flower buds on the antlers blended seamlessly with the deer in the fog.

 

Looking at the three fully bloomed flowers, he could identify their type.

 

“Lilies?”

 

Though they were often used in social circles as symbols of love, finding lilies in such a desolate forest wasn’t welcome.

 

Crystals glinted ominously from the center of the petals.

 

Sionel slowly approached the deer. He intended to deal with it in one strike.

 

And with one step left before reaching the deer.

 

The well-formed buds bloomed fully in an instant. And the crystals inside them sparkled brightly.

 

Suddenly, a small light struck directly into his eyes. When Sionel, who had reflexively closed his eyes, opened them again.

 

Thud.

 

He had no choice but to drop his dagger.

 

“Sio?”

 

Chad, sensing something was wrong, tapped his shoulder, but Sionel didn’t respond.

 

The voice calling him grew distant.

 

Because.

 

“Sionel.”

 

“Brother.”

 

Before his eyes were Uncle and Aren.

 

Just like some day in the past, they were smiling warmly toward him.

 

* * *

 

“….”

 

Ponia couldn’t close her mouth at the unbelievable sight before her eyes.

 

As she carefully moved her feet, golden objects spilled out with a jingling sound.

 

The marble floor was full of gold coins. That wasn’t all. There were countless jewels and dresses that were popular in high society.

 

She couldn’t remember what she had been doing just before. What mattered was that with this money, she could not only pay off her family’s debts but also live without worry in the future.

 

It didn’t feel real. Ponia knelt down and touched the gold coins one by one, but the cold metallic sensation was vivid.

 

Then, is this really….

 

“Ponia.”

 

When she looked up, there was her father with a gentle smile.

 

“Did you bring all of this, Ponia? I’m really proud of you!”

 

Baron Harvel looked at Ponia with a joyful expression. He threw away the business plan he was holding.

 

“I won’t do business anymore! I regret making my daughter suffer because of such things.”

 

I’m glad you realized it now.

 

“Oh my, these are all the dresses I like? Ponia, did you buy them?”

 

Right next to her father, her mother was examining the dresses and looked at Ponia. Her face was full of concern.

 

“But you’re more precious to me than these luxury items. My heart breaks thinking you must have suffered for these trivial things.”

 

It’s nothing. I’m sorry I couldn’t buy you much until now.

 

“Wow, sister! You’re really amazing. I want to be like you! I’ll stop thinking about other things and study hard now!”

 

If you’re going to do it, do it right now.

 

Ponia, looking at her family, was also smiling brightly before she knew it.

 

Every single one of the fantasies she had longed for had become reality.

 

Could this really be happening?

 

“Come, you don’t have to work in such a scary place anymore.”

 

“Let’s go home together.”

 

Her father and mother reached out their hands toward her.

 

Ponia looked down at her feet. Where she stood was still gloomy, in a forest where monsters could appear at any time, while her family stood in a gleaming manor.

 

Just a few steps, no, just one step forward and she could reach her family. Ponia slowly reached out her hand.

 

A father who wouldn’t be deceived, a mother who no longer showed interest in luxury items, Albio who had matured.

 

If she took this hand, she could truly be happy without worrying about money.

 

Just before their hands touched, her loving mother’s words reached her ears.

 

“Yes, now you’ll be able to confess to Duke Devonham’s son whom you like.”

 

“…Sionel?”

 

“Yes, you like Duke Devonham’s son, don’t you.”

 

That’s right, I really like Sionel. That’s why I was waiting for the day to confess again.

 

But….

 

Ponia’s hand, which had been reaching for her mother’s fingertips, stopped abruptly.

 

“Ponia?”

 

Ponia still wore a smiling expression, but a thin crack appeared in her smile.

 

“…But, mother. I’ve already met Sionel.”

 

‘I’m looking forward to that time.’

 

‘Do you want to die?’

 

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

 

‘The connection I made in such a place is just an eccentric forest keeper. That’s too cruel.’

 

‘…Thank you.’

 

The memories that had been floating in her mind quickly found their place. It felt like the fog that had filled her head was lifting.

 

And.

 

‘Don’t let go of my hand.’

 

Finally, light returned to her cloudy green eyes.

 

And when she blinked once more, the scene before her eyes had completely changed.

 

“Aaaaah!”

 

Instead of appearing exactly like her family members, a giant flower covered her, wrapping her entire body in petals. It wouldn’t have been strange if she had been trapped in a bud at any moment.

 

Ponia was horrified and escaped from the giant petals.

 

Just as she was about to catch her breath, there was another giant flower in front of her, identical to the one she had been trapped in.

 

And inside it was.

 

“Sionel?”

 

She hurriedly approached the flower, but Sionel was staring into empty space, not at her.

 

“Snap out of it! Sionel!”

 

“….”

 

‘I was wrong. He can’t hear me.’

 

Ponia squeezed between the petals and grabbed his arm. However, as if his feet were rooted to the ground, he didn’t budge at all.

 

Instead, he continued to quietly repeat a few words in a murmur.

 

“…Uncle. …Aren.”

 

She didn’t know exactly what scene he was seeing, but it was certain that Uncle and his sibling in that scene were not as they appeared now.

 

There was no way Sionel would smile like this while looking at them.

 

Ponia, who had hesitated for a moment at his happy appearance, came to her senses when she saw the tears flowing from his eyes.

 

At the same time, she heard the sound of something moving.

 

Looking up, she saw the petals gradually closing.

 

If they stayed like this, they would be trapped. She had to quickly make Sionel come to his senses.

 

‘How did I come to my senses?’

 

She thought about her own situation just now, but there was nothing particularly memorable.

 

She had just tried to hold her mother’s hand when suddenly Sionel’s story came up….

 

‘Come to think of it, I thought it was strange from that moment.’

 

The wish her mother spoke of was one she had vaguely thought about before entering the forest, that is, before reuniting with Sionel.

 

And the confession was completely out of sync with the current situation, which had long since passed that point.

 

Perhaps that flower showed the ideal that the person desired.

 

That’s why she was able to escape by hearing words related to reality that felt disconnected from that wish.

 

She looked at Sionel, who was still smiling and crying.

 

If Sionel was seeing the most ideal version of Uncle and his sibling.

 

Fortunately, Ponia knew words that would make Sionel feel disconnected from that ideal.

 

Ponia’s lips slowly parted.

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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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