I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 79

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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 79

It was worth deliberately leaving the safe zone and entering the new monster’s activity range.

The monster set the assassins as its attack target just as Ponia intended.

“What is that thing?”

While the assassins were distracted by the monster, Ponia didn’t miss the small opening.

She immediately turned around and started running.

She had to escape the monster’s attack range before the rain completely washed away the lavender perfume she had sprayed on her body.

Soon after, she heard the sound of something colliding behind her followed by screams.

‘It won’t be easy for them to get out.’

There was a clear reason why Ponia chose the bird among the many monsters in the forest.

If they were assassins sent directly by Gideon, they would all surely be skilled. They would also have pride in their abilities.

They would definitely try to fight against the bird monster.

That was exactly what Ponia was aiming for.

The bird monster had a strong obsession with prey, but its aggressive tendencies toward those who attacked it were much stronger.

Just as it had been with Ponia and Sionel.

Caaaaaaawk!

Ponia’s prediction was exactly right.

The bird’s painful scream reached her ears. And then came the assassins’ cries of agony.

Ponia wore a smile filled with satisfaction.

She had worried about what would happen if there was a monster like Chad among them, but fortunately the feared situation didn’t occur.

‘This should have eliminated about a third of them.’

Given the nature of assassins, they were quick to make judgments in urgent situations.

Seeing their comrades being attacked by the monster, there would also be those who would try to flee.

However, even that wouldn’t be easy.

That bird monster was the fastest among all the monsters Ponia had seen.

The bird’s cries, which seemed almost excited, continued to echo through the forest.

For the first time, the monster’s sound that had been so nauseating to hear felt pleasant.

If she could, she would even want to pat its head and praise it.

‘Do more. Do more!’

Ponia ran quickly through the forest in the heavy rain.

She passed through monster habitats along the way, but there was no time to worry about safe zones now.

She needed to inform Sionel of this situation, but she couldn’t return to the cabin right away.

Assassins might follow her trail.

Ponia moved away from the direction of the cabin.

Rather, it might be safer to deal with all the assassins in this forest if possible.

The problem was that Sionel might leave the cabin to look for the missing Ponia.

Having that thought made her feel anxious.

At this time, Gideon learning of Sionel’s survival was definitely not a good thing.

In a direct confrontation, they couldn’t defeat the current Gideon.

Ponia ran while blaming herself for being lukewarm and wasting precious time.

The bird’s cries that had been continuously echoing through the forest had also subsided.

And then, a person jumped out from a tree right next to her.

“Ah!”

Since there was no time to prepare, Ponia couldn’t protect herself and rolled mercilessly on the ground. Her hair was grabbed immediately.

“Got you.”

When she opened her eyes, a man with a lean build was right above her.

She struggled and tried to break free, but his grip was strong and she couldn’t budge.

The assassin lifted her head.

“I let my guard down thinking you were an innocent forest keeper, but you fooled me completely, didn’t you?”

He wiped the blood flowing from his head and spat out saliva mixed with blood.

“Do you know how many assassins I lost because of you?”

The assassin who looked ready to kill her immediately drew his blade.

However, the blade wasn’t pointed at Ponia. The assassin showed a contemplative expression and lowered his sword.

“I’ll deal with you after I capture the young master. Where is he?”

He thought she had utility value as a hostage.

‘That’s not going to happen.’

Ponia raised her free hand and aimed it at his head.

It was a stone she had grabbed while fleeing, just in case.

However, the surprise attack didn’t work. The assassin easily caught Ponia’s delicate wrist.

“I won’t fall for it twice.”

The assassin grinned and quickly struck Ponia’s neck before she could resist.

Thud.

Her head, which had been held upright, drooped to the ground.

* * *

Sionel woke up when morning had passed and lunchtime was approaching.

As he sat up, he realized Ponia wasn’t in bed.

Only after checking the time did Sionel realize he had overslept, and he let out a hollow laugh.

No matter how tired he was, he couldn’t believe he had slept in this late.

As he arranged the blankets and was about to go out, he noticed a note on the table.

It was Ponia’s handwriting.

You must have been very tired? I’m going for a quick walk, so don’t bother coming to look for me and just rest.

Sionel’s lips curved upward.

“I wonder whose fault it is that I’m tired.”

Sionel looked out the window for a moment, then changed his mind about going out and stood in the kitchen instead.

Since he had no talent for cooking, Ponia always prepared the meals.

He had learned something from watching her, so it would be fine for him to make a meal just for today.

Sionel clumsily prepared tomatoes and sliced bread.

He made simple tomato soup and kept it simmering while waiting for Ponia.

Cracks began to appear in his peaceful daily life about an hour after the soup was finished.

The sky began to darken. It was full of clouds as if it might rain.

Sionel quietly gazed at the forest. Soon, rain began to fall.

“….”

It was just another ordinary day.

The rain was getting heavier, but it was natural for weather to change constantly. Ponia’s walk was taking longer than usual, but she would return soon.

Sionel kept watching the path she would take to come back.

The grass surrounding that small path, the trees seemed unusually dense. As if they would soon block that small gap where Ponia would return.

While trying to suppress an indescribable sense of foreboding, Sionel was already moving.

There are times when you get a certain premonition.

A small sense of discord discovered in daily life that feels exceptionally happy.

And the first day he felt that discord, he had noticed his uncle’s betrayal.

Sionel left the cabin and quickly headed toward the familiar path.

He wanted to find Ponia and eliminate this groundless anxiety.

When he reached the path, Sionel could immediately see Ponia.

“….”

“What? You were here?”

A man wearing a black hood looked pleased to see him.

However, Sionel wasn’t looking at him. His gaze was entirely focused on Ponia.

Ponia was slumped over the man’s shoulder. She appeared to be unconscious.

“You’re definitely Sionel Devonham. You look like the Duke.”

Sionel slowly turned his head.

“Did Gideon send you?”

At the ominous voice, the assassin’s face hardened momentarily. He had observed and dealt with countless assassination targets, but this reaction was different from all the others.

Far from showing any sign of fear, he displayed strong killing intent as if he would charge at him at any moment.

However, the assassin relaxed his expression again.

After all, he was just a mere nobleman.

“The Duke told me to bring you back. So, I need to bring you back alive, but could you cooperate a bit?”

At Sionel’s indifferent response, the assassin pointed to the woman slung over his shoulder.

“If you don’t resist and come quietly, I’ll spare this woman’s life.”

Judging by the forest keeper’s attitude and resistance, the two seemed to be in quite a close relationship.

Moreover, according to what he had heard from the Duke, Sionel Devonham extremely hated it when others suffered because of him.

He wouldn’t just ignore the forest keeper who had helped him.

However, Sionel gave a completely unexpected answer.

“So what.”

An indifferent voice without a trace of emotion.

“If you’re going to kill her, then kill her.”

Sionel Devonham in person was completely different from the Duke’s report.

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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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