I Became the Keeper of a Suspicious Forest - Chapter 90

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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 90

“Master, we have selected all the exploration personnel.”

Roen handed over the list he had just received to Sionel.

Although he had checked it first, his master always made sure to review the list himself.

As if searching for traces of someone on the list.

Roen spoke cautiously.

“…The person you’re looking for doesn’t seem to be on this list either.”

However, Sionel’s gaze lingered on the documents longer than usual.

“Master?”

When Roen called him again, sensing something strange, Sionel finally looked up from the documents.

“There’s a name that caught my eye.”

Roen understood immediately when he looked at the documents Sionel was holding.

“The name ‘Poni’ isn’t very common. The special remarks also draw attention.”

That was as far as it went. Sionel quickly placed the documents on the desk.

Roen spoke with a dark expression.

“More and more civilians are applying after seeing the announcement. They’re all applying just for the pay, completely unaware of the forest’s dangers.”

“…”

“There will be limits to what the guards can prevent. If an accident happens, the responsibility will fall on the ducal house.”

Sionel sighed.

“Since His Majesty desires this, there’s no other way for now. We can only try to prevent casualties.”

Though he voiced his concerns, Roen didn’t have any alternative solutions either.

Sionel soon fell into thought.

He had moved to receive Mirban Forest as a grant immediately after ascending to the ducal position.

When he frequently entered the forest to search for Ponia, the Emperor gave him a warning.

Even as the heir of House Devonham, he shouldn’t enter the forest without imperial permission.

From the very next day, imperial guards watched the forest entrance, and he couldn’t enter.

And he couldn’t find any traces of Ponia either.

Mirban Forest was the only clue to finding the missing Ponia.

If he had waited about three years, the Emperor might have given him ownership of Mirban Forest first.

As time passed, guards with no experience with monsters would frequently die attempting subjugation, and the number of monsters would reach unmanageable levels.

If they just watched the forest that had already become a troublesome burden, all the facts would be revealed later, and all responsibility would fall on the Emperor.

The only option would be to pass it on to someone else.

Among the noble houses that knew the forest’s secrets, only House Devonham was suitable.

They would try to make a deal by offering something good to House Devonham.

Considering going through all that process and making a decision, three years seemed about right.

However, the current Emperor had no particular reason to hand Mirban Forest over to Sionel.

When he became duke and requested the Emperor to transfer ownership of Mirban Forest during his audience, the Emperor smiled.

‘How strange. The duke hasn’t even been to the forest… Could there be something the duke treasures in the forest?’

He asked this while clearly knowing that Sionel had spent considerable time in Mirban Forest.

‘If the duke does a few things to help the Empire, I too can grant the duke’s request.’

From then on, the Emperor used Sionel’s hands to weaken the power of noble houses he had always considered thorns in his side.

And after a year passed, the Emperor transferred ownership of the forest to him as promised.

With two conditions.

First, subjugate all monsters in the forest.

Second, when subjugating monsters, always include five civilians in the group.

He showed goodwill by saying the imperial court would pay their wages, but this wasn’t really born from good intentions.

The Emperor’s stated reason was that he wanted citizens to see monsters within a safe range to develop awareness and survival skills regarding monsters.

But in reality, they were essentially hostages and watchers.

If citizens got caught up and injured during subjugation, the problem would escalate.

Unlike with the missing forest keeper, the imperial court would immediately publicize the situation and hold House Devonham responsible.

If the civilians returned safely, they would tell people from the imperial court everything that happened in the forest without omission.

They would become the Emperor’s eyes and ears.

High wages and guaranteed stability drew crowds of applicants to the job posting, and careless movement would likely result in accidents.

The Imperial Court had nothing to lose.

Rather, the Emperor would probably hope for Sionel to fail in the subjugation.

Then he could put a leash on the big shot called the Duke of Devonham.

And Sionel had taken ownership of the forest knowing all of this.

How much of a threat this choice would be to him, or how it might endanger someone else.

None of that mattered at all.

This forest was the only clue to finding Ponia.

That reason was enough for his actions.

“…”

Roen looked worriedly at Sionel, who was lost in thought alone, then bowed and left.

While assisting Sionel by his side, Roen had also been thinking a lot lately.

The relationship with the Imperial Court was problematic, but there were many other issues as well.

Roen swallowed all those concerns inside.

If it was something he knew, Sionel would naturally know it too, and also.

Because the current Sionel looked far too unstable.

His master who returned from the forest was upright and kind to everyone as before.

But there were definitely things that had changed.

While always making choices that benefited the Ducal House and showing excellent work performance, when it came to matters related to just one person, he showed a completely different side.

As if nothing else mattered except that person, he would act without calculation.

Even if it harmed the family.

Watching him act while abandoning all composure and prudence, Roen was suddenly gripped by anxiety.

Perhaps, to the current Sionel, the Devonham Duchy was no longer considered an important value.

Having such thoughts, Roen even had the impious thought that it might be better if Ponia Harbel never appeared before Sionel again.

Roen hastily shook his head.

‘What am I thinking.’

From birth, Sionel had learned the long history of the Devonham Duchy and cherished its values.

It was a ducal house that the previous duke and duchess had died unjustly for, and that was barely reclaimed from Gideon, so it couldn’t mean nothing to Sionel.

However, Roen’s anxious heart would not easily subside.

* * *

“Now then, everyone. We have arrived at Mirban Forest.”

Following the guide’s words, five job applicants got off the carriage.

Despite the long journey, their expressions were all bright.

It stemmed from the anticipation of receiving tremendous money after just one week.

Except for Ponia Harbel, whose expression was particularly dark.

‘I actually came here.’

Seeing the forest entrance made it feel real.

“Wow, nothing has changed here.”

Chad marveled beside her. He couldn’t hide his cheerful expression throughout the entire journey to the forest.

Ponia scolded him with a sullen expression.

“You never said you were coming with me.”

“It was a surprise, how about it? Doesn’t it make you feel more at ease going together?”

“I’m very anxious. I’m worried you might cause some unnecessary trouble.”

“Oh my.”

Ponia looked at the other applicants.

As expected, they looked curiously at Chad, who had covered his entire face and even wore strange glasses.

Ponia whispered to him.

“You planned to follow from the beginning, didn’t you.”

“Of course.”

“What would you have done if you hadn’t passed?”

“I would have snuck in.”

Just imagining Chad being caught by the guards gave her a headache.

Chad said.

“Still, now that you’re here, isn’t it enjoyable? It brings back old memories.”

Ponia was about to deny it completely, but soon gave up.

To her, this forest was like a prison she needed to escape from as soon as possible, but at the same time, it was also the only place where she could be free.

Except for the once-daily patrol, Ponia could do whatever she wanted.

Her family thought Ponia never left them alone for a moment, so they secretly enjoyed the year without her.

Ponia felt the same way.

Toward the end of her forest keeper life, she even came to think of it as the only refuge where she could escape from her family.

Her heart seemed to become as peaceful as when she was doing forest keeper work.

Just then, the guide gathered them together.

“The guards have already arrived and entered the forest, so let’s wait until they come out.”

The wait wasn’t long. Soon, the guards emerged from the entrance.

Having just finished subjugation, their armor was stained with monster blood.

Ponia memorized the guards’ faces one by one.

Since they would protect her life for a week, it would be good to make a favorable impression.

Then, seeing the face of the last guard to emerge, Ponia froze in place.

“Have the volunteers arrived?”

A gentle low voice tinged with fatigue.

A man with an unusually sharp-featured face, yet possessing a gentle impression at the same time.

Particularly when his black hair caught the sunlight, it showed hints of blue. The beauty from that mysterious combination was enough to draw attention.

‘This can’t be happening.’

She had been hiding so well all this time.

The guide gestured toward the guards.

“These are the guards from the Devonham Estate. Please introduce yourselves to each other.”

If she could, she wanted to refute the guide’s words.

How could they be called guards when the Duke of Devonham himself was standing right there!

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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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