I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 46

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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 46

 

The rain that had fallen continuously for two days swept through the entire forest before disappearing without a trace the next day. Water droplets clinging to the green leaves gradually moistened the ground, showing traces of the previous day.

 

The dark clouds that had brought the rain all disappeared, and a clear sky covered the forest.

 

Though strong winds had toppled trees and made the paths uneven and rough, the surviving trees and thickets sprouted fresh green leaves, making the forest lush.

 

“Wow, the sun’s out.”

 

Chad stepped outside and stretched. He savored the refreshing feeling of being outdoors for the first time in two days.

 

“Do you really have to go right now?”

 

Despite the scenery being so bright it was almost blinding and full of life, a gloomy voice that didn’t match the atmosphere could be heard.

 

Ponia, who had followed him out, grabbed onto him with a face dripping with reluctance.

 

“Can’t you stay just a little longer…?”

 

“Come on, the cabin got completely ruined because of the rain. The materials I brought initially won’t be enough.”

 

As Chad said, the cabin without a roof couldn’t withstand the wind and rain. Most of the planks attached to the walls that had been relatively intact also flew away, leaving only the frame.

 

“I need hinges, nails, locks, and also…”

 

While counting the lacking materials, Chad packed his toolbox and bag just as he had when entering the forest.

 

“And while I’m out, there’s something I need to look into.”

 

Chad looked at Ponia meaningfully before grinning and changing his expression.

 

“Don’t worry! While I’m in the village, I’ll get all the medicine that Nia lost!”

 

“That’s not what I’m worried about…”

 

“Did you two become close while I was unconscious?”

 

A sullen voice interjected into the conversation.

 

The patient who had been unconscious and in critical condition until the previous day had made a miraculous recovery overnight and was completely healed.

 

While his quick recovery was welcome news, considering how much Ponia had struggled and desperately hoped for his recovery.

 

Right now, it was absolutely not! Not at all! A welcome voice.

 

Sionel leaned crookedly against the door and looked at them with a displeased expression. Ponia glanced sideways at Sionel for a moment before putting her hand to Chad’s ear.

 

“Don’t leave just the two of us alone…!”

 

Chad covered his ears and slowly backed away from the sound piercing directly into his ear.

 

“Yesterday’s incident was a bit shocking for me too, but Sio doesn’t remember it. It’ll be fine if Nia just stays quiet.”

 

Ponia and Chad both looked at Sionel, but as if their gaze was unpleasant, he tilted his head provocatively. Especially at Chad.

 

‘That shameless face pretending to know nothing.’

 

“Then, take me too— Achoo!”

 

“Nia, you caught a cold. Rest.”

 

She knew she was being unreasonable too. As long as she was the forest keeper, leaving the forest itself was a breach of contract.

 

“I’ll be back in about a week.”

 

Then Chad looked at Sionel and waved his hand.

 

“Take good care of Nia, okay?”

 

Despite Sionel’s cold laugh of disbelief, Chad added one more thing.

 

“Don’t think about doing anything inappropriate.”

 

He hurriedly started walking before Ponia could grab him.

 

“Well then, I’ll be back!”

 

She stared helplessly at Chad who had already disappeared down the forest path.

 

‘Don’t leave me with this ticking time bomb.’

 

And due to an unbearable foreign sensation, Ponia covered her mouth.

 

“Achoo!”

 

Sionel approached her with concern.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

“Yes, I’m fine… Achoo!”

 

Perhaps because she had wandered around in the rain the day before, she kept sneezing at random times. Her body also felt heavier than usual.

 

“Let me take a look at you.”

 

“I said I’m fine.”

 

Stopping Ponia from waving him off, he swept up his bangs and pressed his forehead against hers. Her round green eyes widened, but he was focused on checking her condition.

 

Warm body heat transferred from his forehead, which still had a slight fever.

 

“You have a bit of a fever.”

 

“What are you doing…”

 

“I’m checking your temperature. I thought it would be easy to tell by comparing it with my forehead.”

 

Sionel, who was purely checking her temperature as if he had no other intentions, was calm. Although he didn’t touch her body except for her forehead, Ponia waited silently, feeling like she would lose if she moved away from his forehead first.

 

“Did you catch it from me?”

 

“It’s probably because you were outside for so long.”

 

The time she had spent in the same space as Sionel was shorter than with Chad, and she hadn’t been that close to Sionel…

 

‘I’ll absolutely never let go…’

 

‘No way?’

 

“…”

 

“Your fever suddenly got higher.”

 

Ponia hurriedly stepped back, but Sionel naturally caught her hand.

 

‘Since when did physical contact become so natural?’

 

It wasn’t her who was being natural. Sionel Devonham, the gentleman of high society who always maintained boundaries with others, was acting naturally.

 

It felt like everything she knew was crumbling.

 

“This happened because of me.”

 

“No, it didn’t.”

 

“Let’s go inside.”

 

Ponia entered inside following his lead as if enchanted by a monster. And Ponia completely realized it.

 

Sionel Devonham was strange.

 

Both subjectively and objectively, Sionel’s current state was clearly not normal.

 

“Here, say ah.”

 

Unless she was already delirious from fever and seeing things, Sionel was holding a spoon of soup near her mouth.

 

“Who are you?”

 

“What?”

 

The expression he made at times like this was exactly the Sionel she knew. Even as she took a bite, she became more and more confused.

 

What’s more.

 

“Achoo!”

 

“…”

 

“…Huk!”

 

The soup splattered from her uncovered cough dirtied his face.

 

Before she could even apologize, he casually wiped his face with a handkerchief and asked her.

 

“Are you okay?”

 

‘So I’m asking, who are you?’

 

“I, I’ll hold it and eat myself.”

 

Ponia quickly took the soup and spoon and began eating. He sat beside her and leisurely watched.

 

His gaze made her uncomfortable so she ate quickly, then she heard his laughter. She stopped the spoon she was lifting quickly.

 

“Why are you laughing?”

 

“Because you’re funny.”

 

Ponia, who had been frowning, diligently finished the soup again. Sionel soon brought a spoon containing brown liquid. It was the cold medicine he said he had taken.

 

Ponia glared at it before opening her mouth.

 

“I don’t think I need to take it. I don’t have much of a fever.”

 

“Take it anyway.”

 

“Since there’s no cold medicine, I think it’s better to save it.”

 

“Why don’t you take it before I feed it to you directly?”

 

Relief finally appeared on Ponia’s face. This was the side of him she knew. Making threats that weren’t really threats with an annoyed expression.

 

It was rather reassuring.

 

But at the words that followed, Ponia doubted her ears.

 

“Or I could feed it to you in a different way.”

 

“…”

 

“If that’s what you want, I’ll do it that way.”

 

He looked like he would really do anything, so Ponia took the medicine.

 

“You’re not saying this because you remember something, are you?”

 

“What?”

 

“Never mind then.”

 

Ponia, who had been looking at him with suspicious eyes for a while, soon fell asleep from the medicine’s effects.

 

* * *

 

With her asleep before him, Sionel had thoughts similar to Ponia’s.

 

The Unnamed Man was strange.

 

Like a wary cat with its fur standing on end because there was no way to escape, she had been watching him constantly, afraid he might do something.

 

Even her upturned eyes resembled a cat, making him chuckle. Sionel propped his chin and openly stared at her.

 

“Ponia.”

 

“….”

 

“Ponia.”

 

Sionel, who had been playfully calling her name, called that name once more.

 

“Ponia Harbel.”

 

To think he failed to recognize her when she was right in front of him.

 

“So that girl has become like this.”

 

Worried she might wake up, Sionel carefully touched her crimson hair.

 

This noble young lady, who had confessed boldly yet fidgeted the moment their eyes met, seemed not much different from back then.

 

Still approaching him on her own, disappearing quickly, then suddenly appearing before his eyes again to stir him up.

 

‘My heart only has room for my dead first love, you know?’

 

Seeing him completely changed from three years ago, Ponia Harbel seemed disappointed and had closed her heart entirely.

 

“I think I’m starting to find you endearing now.”

 

* * *

 

The three men at the Employment Office, who had been basking in happiness after solving a difficult job and weren’t taking any other work, welcomed a client after a very long time.

 

“Who…?”

 

Max set down his tea and looked at the ridiculously dressed man. The man, who had been smiling and acting friendly, was leisurely looking around the office when their eyes met.

 

“Ah, hello! I’m Chad Moreau!”

 

Despite his innocent greeting, Max hesitated as he caught a glimpse of intense eyes behind the glasses.

 

“What brings you here?”

 

Despite his suspicious demeanor, the man smiled brightly and readily stated his purpose.

 

“I’d like to know about a forest keeper named Nia that you hired here.”

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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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