I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 5

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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 5

“Huff… huff…”

Though his body was scratched by the dense thicket, he couldn’t stop running.

“There he is!”

An urgent voice was heard close by.

Having rolled down a hill while escaping from the careless assassins, his back was burning and his legs wouldn’t obey him.

How did it come to this?

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

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

Different voices echoed in his head. He gritted his teeth.

“Shoot!”

Right after the signal, an arrow pierced his shoulder. His body lost control and crashed straight to the ground.

“Ah, finally caught him.”

“Haa… haa…”

Soon after, two burly men emerged from the thicket. Each held a sword and bow respectively.

Watching him gasp for breath, the masked man smirked and approached closer.

“I’ll make sure you can never run away again.”

The masked man heavily stepped on his severely swollen ankle.

“Aaaaah!”

The man’s screams continued as he writhed in agony, then suddenly stopped. His body went completely limp.

“Too much time has been wasted. Let’s finish this quickly.”

The masked man withdrew his foot with a regretful expression. He raised his dagger high.

Screech. Screech.

It was then that an unidentifiable sound was heard.

“Damn, how unlucky. It’s not a bear, is it?”

“I’ll go check.”

Following the sound, his companion quickly disappeared into the thicket. The one left alone also didn’t let his guard down.

However, no matter how long he waited, his companion didn’t return. Instead, the crying sound was heard again.

Screech. Screech.

“…”

The masked man, who had been looking back and forth between the unconscious man and where his companion had disappeared, finally moved his steps toward the thicket.

And before long, he discovered a cave.

“Hey. Are you here?”

There was no answer in return. The quiet cave had not a single light. Eventually, he entered the cave.

“What, there’s nothing here.”

His relief was short-lived.

Screech. Screech.

Because the crying sound was heard again.

Right above him.

“Ah!”

Along with his death cry, the man’s voice was heard no more.

A moment later, only a blood-soaked dagger and bow remained in the cave.

* * *

Caw! Caw!

Day 2 in the forest, accompanied by the cries of magical beasts announcing the morning.

The sunlight was exceptionally bright, and the refreshing air seemed to purify everything in the forest.

Except for me.

“Ah, I was hoping it was a dream.”

Upon opening her eyes to see the bare ceiling, she barely suppressed the urge to close them again.

Rising like a zombie with her body swaying limply, she checked her reflection in the glass window.

Her under-eyes were dark, and her skin had become rough.

It was because she had tossed and turned all night, hearing sounds like human screams.

“What a great start.”

Last night, upon entering the cabin, she realized that the exterior was a minor issue compared to the interior.

The wooden floorboards were rotting in places, and spider webs hung in layers from the ceiling corners.

That would be all.

Inside the dust-covered fireplace, half-burned firewood was still piled up, and one side of the kitchen shelf had collapsed.

She thought about cleaning the house, but…

“I don’t even know if I’ll survive today.”

Starting today, she had to begin patrolling the forest in earnest.

Actually, as soon as she heard the real duties of a forest keeper yesterday, she immediately said she would quit.

‘That won’t do. It should be clearly stated in the contract.’

I know. That damn clause about not being able to terminate the contract midway.

The penalty fee for breaking it was twice the compensation amount!

These were all clauses she had carelessly listened to and overlooked.

‘Who could have known it would turn out like this!’

Should she leave the forest and confirm irreversible bankruptcy, or should she at least struggle and die in the forest?

After intense deliberation, Ponia ultimately chose the latter.

Leaving the cabin, Ponia checked the bag tied to her waist once more.

A map, food, a portable lantern, lavender flowers, and perfume made from them.

Although she had been deceived by a fraudulent contract, Ponia had prepared in her own way for coming to the monster forest.

Monsters had sensitive senses of smell and were vulnerable to certain scents, one of which was lavender.

Just spraying perfume on her body could prevent monster attacks.

Moreover, the time when monsters were most active was at night when there was no light. As long as she didn’t stay out late, she wouldn’t be in immediate danger.

For now, at least.

“At least the weather is nice.”

She tied her disheveled red hair up high in a ponytail and changed into the light green dress with good mobility that Jerome had provided.

Light shone through the gaps in the forest path between the dense trees.

“I wonder what Sionel is doing and where he is…”

Usually, she was busy cleaning up after the accidents her family caused, but when she had leisure time like this away from the manor to think about other things, Sionel invariably came to mind.

It was even more frustrating since she couldn’t get any news after entering the forest.

If Sionel’s past in the novel had been described in more detail, could she have helped him?

Ponia suddenly came to her senses and shook her head.

“What am I thinking about?”

‘Zero!’

A bad memory came to mind.

Three years ago on that day, Ponia had desperately held onto Sionel who was trying to leave.

‘Don’t eat the lemon tart!’

Just once in the novel. There had been a scene showing a past assassination attempt on Sionel.

At that time, she only wanted to help him.

【Breaking News! Sionel Devonham, assassination attempt by poisoning!】

The poison used was revealed to be in the steak served at dinner.

He is currently hovering between life and death…

Although it led to the worst possible outcome.

In the novel, it only resulted in vomiting.

However, unlike desserts where other additives would be immediately noticeable, the steak with its strong-scented sauce perfectly concealed the presence of poison.

The plot had changed because of her.

That’s when she realized.

No matter how painful the present might be, following the novel’s plot was the best future for him.

The bitterness was brief, as Ponia stopped in front of a cave that looked ominous to anyone.

She checked the map, but as expected, there were no markings around this area.

‘Do I really… have to go in and check?’

Jerome’s words came to mind as if catching her ankles as she stepped backward.

‘You must patrol once a day. If you don’t do the work, compensation cannot be provided.’

‘It would be best not to leave false marks. If damage occurs due to incorrect information, we will hold you responsible.’

“A demon… He’s definitely a demon…”

Eventually, Ponia began moving her feet little by little toward the cave.

‘Please let there be nothing. Please…’

Praying desperately.

Despite her hesitant, slow steps, Ponia finally arrived right in front of the cave and bit her lips at what she saw.

A blood-stained dagger and bow were lying in front of the cave.

It must be my imagination that they look like a dying message…

She carefully picked them up and peered into the cave, but it was filled only with darkness and nothing could be seen.

Ponia slowly entered the cave. Her body trembled involuntarily at the distinctly lower temperature.

Little by little, steadily.

Ponia reached the end of the cave.

“…”

And nothing happened.

The empty cave showed no signs of monsters living there.

Only then could she breathe properly.

“…I got scared for nothing.”

As she released her tension, fatigue washed over her.

Perhaps because she had wasted too much time in front of the cave, the sun was already setting.

Ponia hurriedly exited the cave.

‘I need to hurry back and have dinner…’

“Ugh!”

While hurrying out, she didn’t see the ledge and fell flat on her face.

But wait, was there a ledge here?

She turned her head to check, and something covered in dirt was protruding from the middle of the ground.

“What is this…”

Then something began to move little by little.

What! Why! Was it a monster after all?!

She stepped back in terror, but then heard a sound from what she assumed was a monster.

“Help… me…”

It was a human voice.

“Are you… human?”

It was a stupid question, but in this forest where encountering monsters was easier than meeting people, normal thinking was impossible.

Ponia slowly approached what she presumed to be a person.

As she got closer, the human form became more distinct. Black hair caught her eye belatedly.

‘It seems a bit blue too…’

In any case, it was an uncommon hair color. Among the people she knew, there was only one person with such hair.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

But why was her heart pounding with this strange sense of déjà vu?

“Excuse me…”

When the person still didn’t move, Ponia finally grabbed his shoulder. Without resistance, his body fell toward her.

Long eyelashes, a straight nose bridge, a firm jawline.

Though he had changed little by little from how she remembered him, he was someone she could never fail to recognize.

“…Sionel?”

Why is the male lead coming out from 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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