I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 71

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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 71

Caaaaw! Caaaaw!

Mirban Forest, teeming with monsters. The ominous cry of a bird-shaped monster echoed through the sky above.

And right below.

Thud. Thud.

Ponia and Sionel walked through the deep forest.

They weren’t on patrol. They had already finished their patrol early in the morning, and this was a safe area where they had already confirmed there were no monster habitats.

Today, they were doing something that no one would think to do in this forest.

Tension hung between the two of them.

Ponia tried to find something to talk about to break this atmosphere.

“The weather is really nice today.”

“Yeah.”

“How was the bread we ate earlier? I thought it was a bit tough.”

“I liked it.”

“…I see. Then, are you hurt anywhere? We patrol every day, aren’t you pushing yourself too hard?”

“I’m fine.”

“…”

The conversation kept cutting off.

‘Does this person even intend to keep a conversation going with me?’

She couldn’t remember how she had managed to talk with Sionel for over three months.

“…”

“…”

Silence continued again. Ponia alternated between looking at the ground and at Sionel as she walked, then suddenly stopped.

Then, Sionel, who had been paying attention to Ponia the whole time, also stopped and looked at her.

“What’s wrong?”

‘Is he really asking because he doesn’t know?’

Sionel tilting his head really seemed like he couldn’t find any problem. Ponia opened her mouth, then finally couldn’t hold back and blurted out.

“So, we’re on a date right now, right?”

At Ponia’s direct question, Sionel’s eyes widened for a moment, then he answered.

“…Yeah.”

Rarely, there was shyness evident in his voice.

‘Right! We were on a date in this forest teeming with monsters. Our first date at that!’

It was all fine that this place was a forest where monsters lived everywhere, that the path was bumpy and hurt her feet, that the trees were so dense that grass stains often got on her clothes.

What wasn’t fine was Sionel’s attitude of acting stiff and only giving short answers to her words.

Ponia had been too busy cleaning up after her family’s troubles to properly enjoy even one banquet, and had never dated another Yeongshik.

But Sionel was different. He had been the most gentle and gentlemanly noble in the Empire, and was considered the Empire’s best marriage prospect.

She couldn’t understand why such a person wasn’t being more cooperative on their date.

For the past three years, Sionel hadn’t gotten engaged to another young lady, but there had often been scandals in the newspapers.

All with perfect noble young ladies who possessed both intelligence and beauty.

Though they turned out to be false, he must have still gone on a few dates with noble young ladies here and there.

Sionel was obviously a good person, so people around him wouldn’t have left him alone.

She could picture Sionel and a noble young lady laughing heartily as they strolled through the capital’s streets.

‘Compared to that, our current date is.’

Thinking of Sionel having such dates, it wasn’t unreasonable for him to show such a lukewarm attitude now.

Along with sadness, irritation suddenly welled up.

“This kind of date isn’t fun, is it?”

A sulky tone that a neighborhood thug might use came out. Sionel asked back again.

“What do you mean?”

“It would be nice to dress up properly in the capital, have a delicious meal, and walk down streets with lots to see and a good atmosphere. Like you used to do.”

“Like I used to do?”

Sionel frowned as if he didn’t understand what Ponia was saying.

“Yes. You’ve done it a lot with other noble young ladies. I saw it in the newspapers.”

“Ah.”

Sionel let out a dry realization.

“It’s not like that.”

“Right, it wouldn’t be like that.”

There was no point in denying it now.

“All the articles were false reports. The articles were also intentionally published by the opposing family’s side.”

“Yes, yes.”

Ponia answered halfheartedly and started walking first. Her expression had already hardened.

“Let’s go back now.”

Ponia knew she was being childish right now. If jealousy in moderation might be understandable, she was going beyond jealousy and being petulant.

The past time when she thought it would be fine for Sionel to be happy with someone other than her seemed meaningless now.

If she from three years ago had seen this scene, she would have immediately screamed to drag that crazy person away.

“Why don’t you believe what I’m saying?”

“I believe you.”

“You don’t believe me.”

“I said I believe you.”

“Ponia.”

“What.”

“Did I hurt your feelings?”

“Not really.”

‘Am I crazy? Instead of apologizing, I’m even being snippy? Apologize right now! Apologize!’

Contrary to her inner thoughts, the words wouldn’t come out of her mouth. Ponia walked relentlessly toward the cabin.

The worst first date ever.

‘Sionel must think I’m really strange too.’

As she was thinking that and walking, her body suddenly lost balance and one foot sank deep into the ground.

Just as she was about to fall, Sionel quickly wrapped his arms around her body.

“Are you okay?”

Sionel’s blue eyes held only worry, without a trace of irritation.

“…Yes.”

The spot where her foot had gotten stuck was immediately covered with dirt, making it difficult to get out. With Sionel’s help, she barely managed to escape, but Ponia felt something strange.

‘Was there a hole like this here?’

The ground was particularly weak compared to the surrounding area, and the hole was deep enough for her foot to sink in up to her ankle.

During their time staying in the forest, she had never seen such a hole.

And such artificial changes in terrain were highly likely to be related to monsters.

Ponia looked at Sionel.

“I think I stepped on a trap.”

Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud.

Her ominous premonition was not wrong. Soon, the sound of something digging could be heard.

Ponia looked at Sionel.

The source of the sound was quickly identifiable. From the right side, a small monster was digging through the ground and approaching them at high speed.

It really was the worst date ever.

* * *

‘How did this happen again?’

Kiiaaak!

“Aaaahhh!”

A monster burst out from right under where Ponia had been standing. Instead of her, who couldn’t react in time, Sionel grabbed Ponia’s hand and pulled her away, barely avoiding it.

The monster that had briefly emerged above ground went back underground.

Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud.

And again, that terrifying sound.

The two, holding hands, began running again without even a moment to catch their breath.

Whenever they tried to somehow escape toward the cabin, it would sense them like a ghost and block their path. Eventually, they had to turn back again.

The monster was faster underground than above ground. The monster created holes under Ponia’s feet, and she almost fell right in.

If only Sionel hadn’t lifted her up.

“Eek!”

Ponia wrapped her arms around his neck in case she might fall and pressed herself close to him.

Unlike Ponia, who was focused only on the monster without knowing what she was doing to him, Sionel looked at her and gritted his teeth.

With his ears completely red, Sionel let out a low groan as if trying to endure something.

“…This is driving me crazy.”

Sionel ran while carrying Ponia without losing speed, and said.

“When the monster goes back underground, I’ll draw its attention. Use that chance to escape.”

“No.”

“I can’t concentrate properly like this.”

“What?”

It seemed like he heard Ponia’s words, but Sionel didn’t answer. Instead, he brought up something else.

“But at this rate, we’ll both be caught soon.”

Sionel’s words were true.

The monster confirmed the direction they were running and tried to go underground.

‘What should I do?’

While wondering if there was another way, Ponia caught something in the monster’s movements. And nearby, she spotted a plank that Chad had left unfinished.

Ponia looked back and forth between the monster and the plank, then urgently pointed.

“Sionel, do you know whack-a-mole?”

“Whack-a-mole?”

Sionel shook his head, but it didn’t matter.

“Put me down!”

Thud thud thud thud thud thud thud.

As soon as Sionel set her down on the ground, the monster began approaching from underground. And Ponia also picked up the plank.

Since Ponia was the first to fall into the monster’s trap, she would be its primary target.

Ponia stared intently at the ground beneath her feet.

As expected, the monster came to her at the factory.

‘With good timing. Well.’

Ponia took a deep breath and raised the plank high.

‘One, two.’

Kiiiaak!

“Three!”

Crash!

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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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