I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 41

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

Chapter 41

 

Kraaaang!

 

The willow tree disappeared, leaving only its base, destroyed by the monster. The monster entered the river as it was.

 

A whirlpool formed where the monster had entered, and the obstacles around it were sucked into it.

 

“I almost really died….”

 

Ponia trembled as she watched the whirlpool from the tree right next to it.

 

She could picture herself dying helplessly inside that vortex.

 

She released the broken thin branches and leaves that were in her hands.

 

The fairy tale knight, when about to fall into deep water, had grabbed onto a long curved branch nearby and landed on the ground.

 

“To think that would become reality.”

 

The branch wasn’t as sturdy as depicted in the fairy tale, so she couldn’t hang on for long or move far, but this was enough.

 

Ponia took out a bottle from her bosom. The completely dry bottle sparkled in the air. Fortunately, the willow bark was safe.

 

Looking up at the sky, the dark blue color was clearly visible between the pouring rain.

 

‘It must be dawn now.’

 

She didn’t know how long Sionel could hold on. Since she knew the way now, she could return faster.

 

As she climbed down from the tree to start her journey and stepped on the ground, a throbbing pain suddenly shot up from beneath her foot.

 

“Ugh….”

 

She sat down immediately and examined her foot. Her left foot had swollen red, perhaps from stepping wrong when moving between trees.

 

Running would be too much.

 

“Haah….”

 

After letting out a deep sigh, Ponia got up. She limped toward the pitch-black forest path.

 

‘Just hold on a little longer.’

 

She kept sending words to someone who couldn’t hear her.

 

* * *

 

“You’re going this evening, right?”

 

“Of course! I have a good feeling this time. Today’s the day I’m going to win it all.”

 

“You said that last time too, then lost all your money and just threw a tantrum!”

 

“Today’s for real, I tell you, gold coins were rolling toward me in my dream!”

 

“Excuse me.”

 

A clear voice interjected among the large men who were chatting with giggling, rough voices.

 

Not thinking they were being called, they continued their conversation, but someone called to them again from right behind.

 

“Excuse me.”

 

Only then, sensing something strange, they turned around. The one who had called them was a passerby of suspicious appearance—small in stature and wearing a worn cloak.

 

Even seeing them standing there with their intimidating presence, the passerby gently brought up the main point.

 

“Do you happen to know someone named Gren?”

 

Hearing his own name from a stranger’s lips, one man raised his hand.

 

“That’s me?”

 

“Ah, then what about someone named Volke?”

 

“That’s him?”

 

As if looking for people, the passerby nodded earnestly and gradually checked their faces.

 

“Then, lastly, is this person Orgun?”

 

“That’s right.”

 

As it happened, everyone present was exactly who the passerby had mentioned.

 

“I see. Then I’ve found the right people.”

 

The passerby muttered alone and even let out a small laugh. Even then, the three men couldn’t grasp the situation.

 

Eventually, a palm was extended in front of them.

 

“Hand over the money.”

 

Could such a clear voice sound this chilling?

 

“What?”

 

Though the large men all had menacing faces that should have been frightening, the woman didn’t change her attitude.

 

“Didn’t you hear? Hand over the money. The money you swindled from our father.”

 

“Who’s your father?”

 

“I guess you’ve swindled many people?”

 

The woman removed the hood that covered her face. Rose-colored hair that held sunlight flowed down to her shoulders.

 

Ponia irritably swept back her hair.

 

Three days ago, she felt a chill from her father who had handed over more than half the family’s annual budget without even a single verification, claiming he had bought land ownership rights at a bargain price.

 

As expected, that land ownership was a scam, and she had followed the trail of those who had swindled her father all the way to this place after making inquiries around the area.

 

‘In what way do they look like people in the land business? Maybe if they said they were mercenaries.’

 

Under their worn cloaks, their eyes widened at the well-maintained hair and appearance that couldn’t possibly belong to commoners.

 

The surprise was brief, as interest and excitement seeped into their faces.

 

“Oh my, we failed to recognize a beauty.”

 

“Better late than never. Will you return the money? Our father has changed his mind and won’t buy it.”

 

Ponia took out the land deed from her bosom and showed it to them.

 

Seeing the paper, they hesitated for a moment, then smirked. Then, they burst into laughter.

 

“Miss is quite bold!”

 

“Oh my! How scary.”

 

Ponia showed no other reaction and looked at them dryly.

 

The laughter died down, and they exchanged secretive glances with each other.

 

“Of course, we can make it like it never happened.”

 

An unpleasant smile appeared on their faces.

 

“But before that, how about coming somewhere with us?”

 

Nobles are thoroughly mistaken. Having only stayed in safe greenhouses, they believe everyone will treat them well if they show their status.

 

To those living without backing like them, the fact that she was a noble posed no problem at all.

 

They gradually approached her. The man called Volke stepped forward and grabbed her delicate wrist. A smile formed at the hand that was lifted helplessly without being able to exert any strength.

 

“Now, you don’t need to be too frightened.”

 

Volke savored the woman’s face that should have been colored with bewilderment and fear.

 

“Hmm?”

 

However, her face remained as calm as ever. Rather, quiet anger rippled within her tranquil green eyes.

 

“I’m not scared.”

 

Ponia put her remaining hand inside her cloak. Then, she took it out gripping something and threw it directly at him.

 

“Ugh!”

 

An unidentified powder got into his eyes. Volke closed his eyes belatedly, but unbearable stinging began.

 

His strength gave out, and naturally Ponia became free.

 

“What’s wrong?”

 

The other two, who were behind and couldn’t see the exact situation, looked on in bewilderment.

 

While they were panicking at seeing their suffering companion, Ponia threw powder at them as well.

 

“Argh!”

 

Their curiosity disappeared. The remaining two also ended up in the same state as him.

 

Ponia looked proudly at those who had collapsed on the ground clutching their eyes.

 

Those swindlers were thoroughly mistaken.

 

Not only was Ponia not a delicately raised noble lady, but she had already dealt with swindlers like them many times, really many times.

 

“You picked the wrong opponent.”

 

She was also someone without backing.

 

Whether she starved to death from not recovering the money or died to them now was just a difference in timing – it made no difference to her.

 

Of course, the target they had chosen was only Viscount Harbel, not his daughter, but that wasn’t her concern.

 

“You, what did you do!”

 

Volke, who was the first to be hit by her and still couldn’t open his eyes, noticed the changes in his body. As time passed, his movements became sluggish and his body began to stiffen.

 

Ponia recited matter-of-factly.

 

“It’s one type of poison that causes paralysis. The method of mixing it in food for ingestion is mainly used, but honestly, whether you eat it through your mouth or put it in your eyes, it’s the same as entering the body, right?”

 

“Uugh!”

 

He seemed to want to say something, but his meaning didn’t reach her. Due to the paralysis, it would be difficult for him to even open his mouth.

 

“This cost quite a bit of money to buy. So, I definitely need to get the money back, right?”

 

From the beginning, she had no intention of getting money from these people. They were probably just intermediaries anyway, so she would have to raid their headquarters to retrieve it.

 

It would be even better if she could teach them a lesson in the process.

 

Ponia put her hands into the clothes of the fallen men and rummaged around before pulling something out in her grip.

 

‘Found it.’

 

“So annoying and in the way.”

 

She stepped on and trampled over the bothersome obstacles. She could hear crushed death rattles, but it didn’t particularly bother her.

 

Ponia moved busily toward the Guild.

 

* * *

 

The alley, devastated by Ponia’s remarkable performance, was filled only with groaning sounds.

 

After she left the alley, Sionel got up.

 

Those crawling on the ground spotted his feet and lifted their hardened faces to show slow smiles.

 

They seemed to think he was their ally.

 

Sionel bent his knee to check the man’s pulse, then struck his neck with his hand. It seemed he wouldn’t be getting up for a while, but it looked better to make sure.

 

Just like with the woman, he searched through the other person’s belongings and found an item.

 

A bear design was engraved on a badge made of copper.

 

It seemed the woman had the same destination as him.

 

When he emerged from the alley, red hair immediately caught his eye. He quietly followed behind her and then felt something strange about himself.

 

While it was true that his gaze was drawn to the woman’s hair color and unusual behavior, was that all? Was he concerned about the woman for only those reasons?

 

His thoughts naturally branched out.

 

By any chance, had he seen that woman somewhere before?

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