I Just Traded in the Forest of Monsters, but the World Changed - Chapter 32

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 32
It was a little while before Erasmus leaned the broom against the wall and made his way to the chair beneath the parasol.
Accepting a cup of Mix Coffee, he held it carefully between both hands as he settled into his seat.
Se Hui watched him and turned the matter over in her mind.
‘I might pick up some useful hints if I ask around a bit.’
She tapped the armrest twice with her finger and spoke.
“By any chance, have you heard rumors about this place from outside?”
Erasmus raised an eyebrow slightly.
“From outside?”
“The Capital, or nearby cities.”
Erasmus glanced down at his cup once, then spoke slowly.
“Ah, so you already knew.”
“It’s not so much that I knew—I was just curious.”
Erasmus stroked his beard thoughtfully.
“A strange tale’s been circulating these past few days. They say a stronghold has appeared somewhere in the Monster Forest.”
His gaze swept slowly across the clearing.
“It seems they were referring to this very place.”
Se Hui listened intently to Erasmus’s words.
“But that’s not all.”
Erasmus lowered his voice slightly.
“They’ve even begun spreading word that rare Magical Stones turn up near this stronghold.”
Se Hui’s hand stilled for a moment.
“Really? What do you mean by that?”
“If a Wyvern frequents a place, naturally you’d find mid-grade Magical Stones or better.”
“So the rumor has spread quite a bit?”
“Among merchants, certainly. It’s begun to be seen as a place worth visiting.”
Se Hui was silent for a moment.
‘A place worth visiting.’
That phrasing nagged at her somehow.
If more people came to sightsee, more customers would follow.
But if uncontrolled numbers showed up, they could end up repeating last night’s scenario with the Knight Order—creatures scattering at the disturbance.
‘I need to dig deeper into this.’
Just as Se Hui was about to ask Erasmus something more, Rowen spoke up quietly.
“Actually, we’ve already heard about this ourselves.”
Se Hui turned her head.
“Several requests for entry permits have come to the Knight Order headquarters. Permission to enter this forest, all from noble houses.”
Se Hui’s eyes narrowed.
“How many?”
“At least three that I’ve confirmed. There are likely more.”
That meant the rumor had already spread far and wide.
And that such permits had to come through the Ducal House.
“Is entry permission for this forest solely under the Ducal House’s jurisdiction?”
“It is.”
Rowen answered firmly.
“No one, noble or otherwise, can enter without the Duke’s approval.”
Se Hui’s gaze naturally shifted toward Cassian.
Cassian sat quietly with his arms crossed.
Sensing her attention, he slowly raised his head.
“I decide whether to grant permission or not.”
Cassian added matter-of-factly.
“And I have no intention of granting it easily.”
Se Hui nodded.
‘So that gate is firmly in Cassian’s grip.’
It meant he could control both the number and type of visitors allowed to enter.
“Then is there any noble who might be planning to enter this place?”
At Se Hui’s question, Cassian’s lips curved into the faintest smile as he spoke.
“There won’t be. This is a monster’s forest.”
He added curtly.
“Granting permission carelessly would invite disaster.”
“I see.”
Se Hui paused, turning the matter over in her mind.
‘So they’re not nobles, then?’
“It’s just that nobles are remarkably willful.”
“I’m sorry?”
“Those denied permission won’t simply accept it. They’ll sneak into the forest regardless.”
Se Hui felt a flutter of exasperation at his words.
Whether this was good news or bad, she couldn’t yet say.
‘I need more information first.’
Having sorted through her thoughts, Se Hui rose slowly from her seat.
The knights were scattered about, lounging at ease.
After a night of camping, some had their eyes half-shuttered with fatigue.
‘Now’s the time.’
Se Hui opened her Inventory.
[Trevi × 10]
Blue cans with white lettering emblazoned across them.
When removed from the Inventory, they maintained their chill on their own.
It was thanks to the Inventory’s built-in cooling function.
Se Hui drew out a single can and held it in her palm.
The cold sensation transferred directly to her skin.
Beneath the morning sun, droplets of condensation sparkled across the can’s surface.
‘There’s no way anyone here has seen something like this before.’
Without a word, Se Hui walked over to Rowen.
“Would you like to try this?”
Rowen looked down at the blue can she offered.
He’d never seen its like.
A cylindrical metal vessel with condensation beading its surface—the sight was peculiar.
‘Why is it so cold?’
Rowen’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“Is this… enchanted with Cooling Magic?”
“Something like that.”
Se Hui answered matter-of-factly.
Rowen then accepted the can.
It was lighter than expected, and the chill against his fingers was far sharper than he’d anticipated.
The other knights’ attention naturally gravitated toward them.
Several even shifted forward slightly in their seats.
Se Hui began withdrawing the remaining cans one by one, distributing them among the knights.
Each one that emerged from the Inventory was cold to the touch.
One of the knights murmured aloud.
“I’ve never felt a vessel this cold before.”
“Right? It’s not ice, but what on earth is it?”
“She said it was enchanted with Cooling Magic.”
“At this level, isn’t that high-rank magic?”
Se Hui suppressed an inward laugh.
‘It’s just the Inventory’s cooling function.’
After distributing all of them, Se Hui took one for herself and stood before the knights.
“I’ll show you how to open it.”
The knights focused in unison.
Se Hui hooked her thumb beneath the tab at the top of the can.
Every eye converged on that thumb.
Then she pulled slowly.
Click—
A sharp, clean sound rang out across the clearing.
None of them had ever heard such a noise.
Two or three of the knights jerked back slightly.
Some recoiled; others moved their hands toward their sword hilts before stopping short.
Rowen stared at the can with a rigid expression.
“…What was that sound just now?”
“The sound of opening the lid.”
Se Hui said it calmly, holding the can aloft.
From the open mouth wafted a subtle aroma of coffee.
Erasmus leaned forward.
“The aroma of coffee.”
“That’s right. It’s cold coffee.”
In this world, coffee was always served hot, so the concept of cold coffee didn’t exist.
Perhaps that’s why Erasmus’s eyes widened noticeably.
Se Hui brought the can to her lips and took a sip, demonstrating how to drink it.
Sweet, cold, followed by the characteristic bitterness of coffee.
“It really is delicious, isn’t it? Did you all see that? Just drink it like this.”
The knights watched her and gazed down at their cans.
One knight carefully opened the Trevi tab.
Hiss—
“Oh!”
He seemed startled by the sound himself.
The other knights who heard it began opening their cans one by one.
Cassian, meanwhile, was struggling to open his can.
‘Is it the gloves? He could just take them off for a moment.’
Se Hui watched him for a moment before extending her hand.
“Let me. I’ll open it for you.”
After opening the can and handing it over, Cassian brought his nose close to the opening.
The coffee aroma rose up along with a cool sensation.
As Cassian hesitated, Se Hui spoke.
“Just drink it. It’s not poison or anything.”
“Like this?”
The knights around him were also hesitating to drink, watching Cassian.
Because of that, Se Hui quickly understood what was happening.
“Yes. That’s how you’re supposed to drink it.”
Cassian looked down at the can for a moment.
‘Will I be able to taste it like this too?’
He raised the can again and took another sip.
This time he swallowed more slowly.
The sweetness came first, followed by the bitterness of coffee.
The moment Cassian finished drinking the Trevi, a Status Window appeared before Se Hui’s eyes.
[Trevi]
Effects: Reduced Fatigue / Increased Concentration / Quenched Thirst
Side Effects: Sleep Disruption if Consumed Excessively
‘Wait, now?’
But there was no time to examine the Status Window closely.
Cassian was already sharing his impressions of the Trevi.
“…Sweet.”
The corners of Se Hui’s mouth lifted slightly.
“Yes. It’s coffee with sugar in it.”
“…Normally, I wouldn’t have been able to taste anything at all, whether sugar or anything else.”
At his words, Se Hui found herself speechless.
“Ah…”
Cassian looked at her like that, then took another sip of Trevi.
The knights who had been watching him brought their cans to their lips cautiously, one by one.
The moment they took a sip, their expressions changed.
“…!”
Exclamations escaped from among the knights, each one distinct.
“This is better than I thought.”
“It’s sweet, but there’s a bitter taste afterward.”
“But what is this coldness? It’s not ice, yet…”
The cold sensation traveled down their throats, and it felt as though their heads were refreshed and cooled.
“It’s a taste that really clears your mind?”
The fatigue that had been building moments ago felt just a little lighter.
The knights laughed with satisfaction.
Then, from one corner, the quiet sound of a paper cup being set down was heard.
It was Erasmus.
He had stopped sipping his Mix Coffee and was staring at the knights for a while.
His gaze was fixed on the cans.
“Over here.”
Erasmus turned to Se Hui, his voice carefully measured.
“Might I have a taste?”
Se Hui looked at him.
In her hand, a paper cup still held half of the Mix Coffee.
“Would you like to try it?”
“Ah, well—not if it’s any trouble.”
Yet his eyes never left the can.
Se Hui smiled helplessly and drew another can from her Inventory, pressing it into his hands.
Erasmus received it in both palms.
The moment the cold metal touched his skin, his eyebrows lifted slightly.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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