I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 7

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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 7

“What the hell? Dog… what?”

Did I mishear? Sionel doesn’t know how to say things like this?

“Damn it, stop pulling this bullshit and get to the point.”

I don’t need to repeat myself.

Sionel acted as if he would pounce at any moment, but he couldn’t.

Every time he moved, the sound of metal clashing could be heard. It was because of the iron chain tied to his right arm.

“Untie it.”

“That’s for your safety…”

“Bullshit.”

I said I don’t need to repeat myself.

Ponia rolled her eyes and looked into the air.

‘I had no choice either.’

Ponia touched her neck where bright red handprints were clearly visible.

At dawn yesterday, Sionel, who had barely been put to sleep, woke up immediately and rushed at her again.

No matter how much I tried to have a conversation, he wouldn’t listen, so what could I do? I had to put him to sleep the same way.

At the end, something even got on the stone, but let’s move on.

His fierce appearance trying to kill her was unfamiliar, but she wasn’t deeply hurt.

‘He must have had a hard time for 3 years, this much isn’t even corruption.’

More than that, she was more worried about the state of his cracked throat.

“First, calm down and have some water…”

Crash!

In an instant, the water cup flew toward the wall.

…I think that was flying in the direction of my head.

Unlike Ponia, whose body was trembling, Sionel was only cold.

“What’s your reason for keeping me alive?”

Why? Obviously I helped an injured person.

…Of course, if it hadn’t been Sionel, helping someone collapsed in a forest teeming with monsters might have required more hesitation and time, but still.

‘Because I like you.’

“…Do you perhaps not know who I am?”

My expectations were already crushed from the moment my throat was strangled, but this is the first time we’re facing each other and talking in broad daylight, right?

“Uncle must have sent you.”

“No!”

I refuse to be associated with such trash!

“Actually, I met you 3 years ago.”

“…”

“I confessed to you.”

Bringing up memories of the confession with her own mouth was more embarrassing than she thought.

Still, with no reaction from him, Ponia unnecessarily added more words.

“The situation is like this, but I’m still glad to see you again.”

“…”

“When I saw you collapsed in the forest, I was so shocked…”

“Ha.”

A clear sneer pierced her eardrums.

“So what.”

Sionel’s gaze toward Ponia was no different from before.

“You seem to want me to lower my guard, but it’s useless. There were plenty like you.”

“I’m really…”

“People like you would make me relax by saying we had met before, then stab me in the back.”

“No, I’m really a noble who confessed because I liked you…”

“The number of times unknown young ladies confessed saying they liked me, then stabbed me with a knife wasn’t small either.”

“…”

“So which one are you?”

Ponia couldn’t answer.

‘They’re exactly like me.’

I’ve heard of scolding someone with a confession, but this is the first time I’ve seen people who actually attack with confessions.

Let’s just tell the truth. I’ll say I’m Ponia Harbel.

“I am!”

Under his steady gaze, Ponia unconsciously averted her eyes. A question also arose in her mind.

‘Even if I tell him, would he believe me? When he’s acting like this?’

Rather, if he knew her real name and tried to harm her…

“…I’m just a forest keeper passing by…”

“…”

“I found you collapsed during my patrol, and with the sole intention of saving ‘just another’ person, I brought you to the cabin ‘with all my might.'”

Instead, she deliberately emphasized certain words with dissatisfaction, but he didn’t even pretend to listen.

“Forest keepers put on shackles, I see?”

“Because you keep lunging at me!”

“Then unlock them. I won’t lunge anymore.”

“…That won’t do.”

When his eyes were already glaring as if ready to kill, there was no way she’d unlock them.

Then she was startled by her own thoughts.

‘How did I end up not trusting Sionel?’

Even if Sionel didn’t know her, she knew him.

The always upright, thoughtful, kindest male lead in the world.

‘But can I say I know the current Sionel?’

Ponia quietly met Sionel’s bright blue eyes.

Eyes filled with venom after many betrayals and brushes with death.

For his personality to completely change in three years, many things must have happened to Sionel.

But still, Sionel would overcome it.

“Just until your wounds heal a little more…”

Until he returns to being the kind male lead I know.

“If you could just bear the inconvenience until then, uwah!”

Even the empty cup that had been on the table came flying. She reflexively ducked and heard a crash behind her.

“If you’re going to spout nonsense, at least put some effort into it.”

‘This will also gradually get… better, right?’

Though an ominous feeling crept up from within, Ponia tried to ignore it.

But she should have known.

How far a person who has lost everything can change.

She really didn’t know at the time.

* * *

“Unlock it right now.”

“That won’t do.”

It had been a week since living with Sionel. Ponia had learned about his different sides.

“Damn it.”

That Sionel had more talent for cursing than expected.

“Instead of that, how about eating some soup? You saw me eat it first earlier. There’s no poison.”

“You must have had poison training too. Truly like an assassin.”

That his distrust of people exceeded imagination.

Except for the soup she forced down his throat when he was unconscious, he hadn’t touched a single spoonful while conscious. In frustration, she tried making fresh soup in front of him, but it was useless.

In the end, it was Ponia whose patience ran out first.

“What would it take for you to trust me?”

“Unlock these chains.”

“That’s not possible.”

“Then the conclusion is the same. You’re an assassin.”

“…Isn’t there anything else? I’ll grant anything except unlocking the chains!”

“Let me go outside.”

The green eyes that had briefly sparkled immediately dimmed again.

“…That’s not possible.”

“If you’re only going to say no, why bother asking?”

“Don’t you think you’re only asking for difficult things…”

And immediately covered her mouth.

‘I’m being sarcastic to Sionel!’

At times like this, she needed to give him trust.

“There are good reasons for it.”

Even though no one was listening, Ponia looked around and lowered her voice.

“Actually, there are monsters living in this forest. If you go out in your current condition, you’ll only be putting your life in danger.”

Naturally, Sionel didn’t believe her.

“You expect me to believe that? All monsters are under the Imperial Court’s control.”

“The monsters in this forest are too strong, so the Imperial Court is turning a blind eye and leaving them alone.”

“Yeah, right.”

It’s not like I can go catch one and show him.

If only I could contact the outside, I could let them know about Sionel’s life and death situation…

“Ah! Why did I forget about that?”

“…”

“In a few days, someone’s coming to repair the cabin roof! I can inform them about your situation then!”

If Jerome knew, he would surely guide Sionel outside. Then, he could strike first and attack before Uncle could lay a hand on Sionel.

“You want me to wait for another assassin coming in a few days? With you?”

“Jerome isn’t an assassin. He’s someone trustworthy.”

“To you, maybe. Since you’re accomplices.”

Our male lead… he has a talent for sarcasm too?

“…If you don’t like that, I’ll guide you out of the forest once your body gets a bit better. At least eat some soup.”

“…”

“Honestly, why would I go through all this trouble trying to convince you to eat some soup? You’re tied up anyway, so if I wanted to kill you, I would have done it already.”

“…”

“Are you listening to me?”

Sionel’s gaze strangely dropped down and avoided Ponia. It seemed he was determined not to engage with her at all.

This is frustrating.

Like an onion that keeps revealing more layers no matter how much you peel, his defensive stance showed no signs of breaking down.

‘If this kind of thing worked, I would have succeeded already. I’ll just have to pour soup down his throat while he’s sleeping…’

“Give it to me.”

It worked…?

“Give it here. I’ll eat.”

“…Really?”

“But you eat first.”

He held out his spoon to her, not letting go of his suspicion until the very end, but still, this was progress!

Afraid he might change his mind, Ponia quickly took it and ate a big spoonful. The potato soup, which had developed deep flavors from long cooking, went down smoothly.

“There, satisfied? Now eat.”

“Eat the potato too.”

So suspicious.

Ponia took the largest potato chunk from the soup and chewed it thoroughly before swallowing.

Sionel silently stared at the bowl.

“I really didn’t put anything in it.”

“Seems like it.”

Then he stared intently at her. It looked like he was observing her reaction.

I found myself unconsciously mesmerized looking at him, but before long, everything around Sionel started spinning round and round.

‘Is this what it feels like to be enchanted by someone? The whole world is really spinning.’

My eyelid movements gradually slowed down, and even my vision became blurry.

“Why am I getting so sleepy…”

“Just sleep. Don’t try to fight it.”

“What do you mean by… that…”

And then, darkness came.

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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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