I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 78

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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 78

Morning had broken.

Ponia came out alone into the forest for a walk.

Sionel, who was always with her, was absent.

Two days ago, Sionel who had slept in the same bed looked strangely haggard, and when she suggested yesterday that he could sleep in the bed again, he firmly refused.

And then, he fell into a deep sleep alone.

“How strange.”

Since their roles had always been reversed, it felt awkward.

After leaving a note at the cabin, Ponia slowly strolled through the forest.

As soon as Sionel woke up, she planned to confess everything about her family circumstances and current situation.

Two days ago, after hearing Sionel’s words, she realized that she was the one who hadn’t seriously considered their relationship.

‘Honestly, I never properly thought about what I wanted to do with Sionel after leaving the forest.’

Unconsciously, she had thought of it as a relationship that could break at any time, trying not to get hurt. Sionel had seen right through that.

Jerome would arrive sometime tomorrow.

She would reject Jerome’s proposal and say she wanted to terminate the contract early, receiving only her payment if possible.

Then Sionel wouldn’t need to stay in the forest any longer either, so his return to the Ducal House wouldn’t be delayed.

“Since there are results, Jerome won’t be able to refuse outright.”

Ponia walked through the forest with a sly smile by herself. As she walked, she reached the entrance.

She had come just in case, but Chad hadn’t returned today either.

‘Rather than returning tomorrow and running into Jerome, it would be better if he came back after Jerome has left entirely.’

However, her heart felt restless for no reason.

The Imperial Court, the Ducal House. All the places Chad had unknowingly turned into enemies were powerful.

After lingering around the entrance for a while and turning to go back in, something caught her eye.

One black carriage. And several horses were rapidly approaching toward the forest. There were people riding on the horses.

Just from what she could see, there were about ten or so people.

“What’s this.”

It was too late to hide.

She made eye contact with one of the people on horseback.

While Ponia watched them with wary eyes, the people finally arrived at the forest entrance.

Ponia stiffened when she saw their appearance.

All the riders were wearing black hoods. Moreover, they had black cloth wrapped below their eyes, completely concealing their faces.

‘They’re not merchants or people from nearby villages.’

People who concealed their faces like this usually only did work that shouldn’t be discovered by anyone.

‘Like assassins, for instance.’

Chad, who had shown his face from the beginning, was an exception.

Now that she thought about it, the thought crossed her mind that Chad had shown his face from the start because he intended to kill Sionel and her… but it was an untimely reflection.

She turned her gaze to the carriage.

However, no one emerged from the carriage.

Only after some more time passed did she realize there was no one inside the carriage.

It was ominous.

There was no reason to drag an empty carriage to this remote place.

If she had to find a reason…

‘To take someone away?’

And right now, only Ponia and Sionel were in the forest.

Ponia tried her best to speak as nonchalantly as possible.

“What’s the matter?”

Though her wariness was clearly evident in her sharp voice, this much should be passable.

Cold gazes fell upon her. Her body instinctively shrank back.

Then, a man with a slender build from the group approached her.

“Are you the forest keeper of this forest?”

Unlike the frozen atmosphere, the man was surprisingly polite.

Ponia pondered how she should respond.

There was nothing else she could do here. She knew nothing about these people.

“I suppose so.”

While answering stiffly, Ponia observed the man’s reaction. At the same time, the man’s eyes curved.

The cold surrounding air relaxed.

“That’s a relief.”

“If other assassins had arrived first, it would have been difficult.”

The man continued with words that were still incomprehensible to her.

Ponia belatedly asked.

“Who are you?”

“Who are you?”

“We are employees of the House of Debenham.”

Ponia clenched her hands.

These are the ones sent by Gideon.

‘But why? Gideon would already think that Sionel is dead.’

The man immediately continued speaking, as if to deny Ponia’s thoughts.

“I came here knowing that Lord Debenham is here.”

Ponia stepped back hesitantly at the man’s attitude, as if he had come knowing everything.

“What are you talking about? There’s no way a high-ranking noble like that would be in a place like this.”

The man blinked for a moment, then raised both hands with a flustered expression on his face.

“…”

“There seems to be some misunderstanding. We weren’t hired by the duke.”

“Rest assured. We have been hired by Rowan, the ducal house’s aide.”

‘Rowan?’

Ponia frowned at the familiar name.

Rowan was the one who appeared as Sionel’s aide in the original work.

Even when Gideon had taken control of the ducal house and everyone believed in Gideon, Rowan remained completely on Sionel’s side, not the duke’s.

After Sionel became duke, he was someone who loyally assisted him alongside Chad.

“…”

“I understand your suspicion, but time is of the essence. The Duke found out that the Prince is alive and sent assassins. Rowen learned of this and immediately sent us.”

“We must escort the young master to safety immediately.”

Ponia felt conflicted as she looked at the man who was gazing at her desperately.

Could these people be trusted? If what this man said was true, there was no time to hesitate while agonizing over it like this.

“Nia.”

At the man’s urging, Ponia steeled her resolve and turned away.

“Follow me.”

Half a day’s distance from Mirvan Forest.

Rowan was riding his horse to the Mirvan Forest.

‘My uncle sent assassins to capture my brother!’

Three days ago at dawn, Aren came to see him and poured out his words incoherently.

Aren’s confession was shocking, and Rowen was able to learn the full story behind the assassination attempts that had been targeting Sionel.

As soon as I heard the story, I sent my subordinates to Mirvan Forest, but I was too anxious to just sit still.

Tap.

A water drop fell onto Rowan’s head.

Looking at the sky, it was getting dark rapidly. It looked like it would start pouring rain any moment.

“It wouldn’t be good if we’re too late.”

They had to arrive before Gideon’s men somehow. Gideon would never make the same mistake twice.

“Please stay safe.”

Rowan sent an unreachable wind toward the forest.

“The weather isn’t very nice.”

A water droplet fell on her palm. Ponia withdrew her hand. Then, she explained to the man.

“Rain in this forest isn’t good at all.”

“Is that so?”

“When it rains, it gets dark quickly… and then, the dangerous beasts in the forest start becoming active.”

“Are the monsters that strong?”

At the man’s innocent question, Ponia hesitated for a moment before answering.

“They’re dangerous. If you don’t know the proper paths in this forest, you’ll become monster food in less than half a day.”

“I see. It was fortunate that I met you at the entrance.”

With those words, they walked without opening their mouths any further.

Had about an hour passed like that?

The water droplets that had been falling one or two at a time gradually increased in quantity. A light rain began falling in the forest.

Caaaawk!

A bird’s cry was heard from above. The man following behind asked another question.

“By the way, where is the young master?”

“Ah, we’re almost there. It’s quite far, isn’t it?”

“Not at all.”

Caaaawk!

Ponia, who had been leading the men, continued walking, then stopped for the first time. And she turned around.

“Ah, there’s something I’m curious about.”

“Please speak.”

“How did you know my name?”

Ponia asked with a calm expression.

The man didn’t answer.

“No, it’s just strange. I never told you my name.”

“…”

“Of course, information about the forest keeper could be found out if someone wanted to look into it. It wasn’t being hidden.”

“…”

“But you came here without having time to look into that. To find and protect the Devonham young master before the Duke.”

Caaaaaawk!

The rain grew heavier.

“And I never said this was a forest with monsters. I only said beasts.”

The forest’s true nature was classified information. Therefore, only a very few people knew this secret.

Even Sionel, the heir to the Devonham Duchy, hadn’t believed there were monsters until he experienced it directly. His aide naturally wouldn’t know either.

But the man had casually mentioned monsters.

Only Gideon could have passed such information to a mere subordinate.

“The Duke sent you.”

At Ponia’s confident words, the man no longer smiled even perfunctorily. The man pulled out a hidden weapon from his chest and smiled.

“If you had just quietly guided us, I might have spared you.”

Those standing behind the man also drew their respective weapons and approached.

They were all assassins after all.

‘That would have been terrible if I had gone to the cabin recklessly.’

Ponia felt relieved. Though that didn’t mean her own safety was guaranteed.

“Hey.”

While backing away, Ponia spoke up.

“Have you ever been chased by a crazy bird?”

Those who thought Ponia’s words were just simple bravado sneered. To them, Ponia pointed upward.

“Look up, you idiots.”

The assassins all raised their heads in unison. And they discovered a single bird circling above where they stood.

No, it was a monster.

Caaaaaawk!

The bird that had been making its presence known from above all along flew toward them with its final cry.

Now almost four months as a forest keeper.

Ponia had now become able to utilize all the terrain that made up the forest, even the monsters.

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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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