Another World Reincarnation Chronicle

---

After riding in a carriage for about two weeks, we finally reached our destination, the Forest of Karbain’s Slumber.

The carriage stopped right in front of the forest. It was impossible to enter on the carriage due to the thick jungle terrain.

“Wow…”

I stood in awe, mouth agape, taking in the sight of the forest.

Unlike the snow-covered areas, the Forest of Karbain’s Slumber radiated intense warmth.

It felt like I was being soaked in the scorching sun of mid-summer.

Apparently, this was also the first time for the other adventurers to visit this forest.

Everyone was amazed as they compared the cold regions with the hot forest.

Squeak, squeak, squeak—!

At that moment, a strange cry echoed from deep within the forest.

True to its hot tropical climate, the monsters inside were quite active.

It was a stark contrast to the cold winter outside.

Luna confirmed that the adventurers were ready to set off, then jumped down from the carriage.

I tilted my head as I looked at the horses left behind.

We needed those horses to return; were we really just going to leave them?

However, unlike my worries, it seemed they had chosen someone to stay behind to guard the horses.

One of the five swordsmen began to set up a campsite next to the carriage.

“Alright! Let’s go!”

Luna started walking ahead as if she knew the way.

What did these first-time adventurers know about this place?

We began to follow her without a clue.

As we entered the forest, the cool breeze at the entrance was replaced by a hot, enveloping heat.

Just as the adventurer guidebook described, the ecosystem deep within the forest was quite bizarre.

There were types of trees and grasses not seen outside.

And for the first time, I spotted unique flying insects with strange appearances.

If the entrance looked like this, I could only wonder what kinds of creatures awaited us deeper inside.

I wiped the sweat off my brow, my eyes sparkling with excitement.

Hot and humid regions quickly increase people’s stress levels.

Even the adventurers who had been walking energetically began to frown in this unpleasant environment.

Those who had previously walked quite close together started to distance themselves from one another.

At that moment, a strange sound echoed.

Curious, I turned my head and saw an enormous mosquito buzzing around us.

Given the long, sharp proboscis at the front, it was clear it wasn’t approaching with good intentions.

I immediately drew my sword and charged at it.

Startled by my sudden approach, it attempted to fly up into the air, but I was faster.

As my legs propelled me forward, damp earth flew everywhere.

By explosively releasing the mana within me, I leaped about two meters in an instant.

This was enough. I swung my sword with all my might.

A downward slash, aiming from above.

The blue flash that burst forth from the sword severed the mosquito’s wings and legs.

The creature, now cleaved in half, lost its balance and fell down.

As it struggled, desperately flapping its severed wings, the other swordsmen caught up and stomped on it, finishing it off.

“Huff…”

Flowing from the massive mosquito were green fluid and red blood.

So it looked like a mosquito and it really was one that sucked blood.

It was slightly larger than a goblin.

If an ordinary person got sucked dry by this mosquito, it would’ve been no surprise if they died right on the spot.

“This is…”

Luna, who approached next, assessed the giant mosquito and said,

“This is a mosquito.”

“Just an ordinary mosquito?”

“Yeah, it seems the mana in this forest caused a mutation.”

“Hmm…”

I absentmindedly nodded at Luna’s response.

I had felt the mana as soon as I entered the forest, but nothing particularly special registered.

What was so special about it that even this ordinary mosquito became so massive?

I tilted my head and wiped the blood off my sword.

There had been a brief commotion, but we didn’t stop our advance.

Luna resumed leading the way.

As we moved deeper into the forest, the perceived temperature began to rise rapidly.

It felt hot enough to be unbearable.

Unlike the sweating adventurers, the female wizard, Isoline, didn’t sweat at all.

A gentle breeze swirled around her, suggesting that she was using mana to create wind.

I could do that too, but I couldn’t maintain it like she did all day.

My mana supply simply wasn’t enough.

“Hot, huh? Want some water?”

“Oh, no thanks.”

I shook my head in response to Isoline’s inquiry.

Isoline was the only adventurer who I’d gotten close to since we hadn’t introduced ourselves to the others.

It seemed she felt friendly since I was the only other woman among the adventurers.

Thanks to the muggy weather, the adventurers were sweating profusely.

With all this sweating, it naturally increased fluid loss, and as a result, our water supplies ran out before we even reached our destination.

Even I was out.

Probably, the only one left with water was Isoline.

“Ha…”

“I can’t take it anymore. Let’s find some water.”

One of the adventurers, unable to endure any longer, spoke up.

He took off his shirt and wrung it out like laundry.

I couldn’t tell how much sweat he had lost, but when he twisted his shirt, an enormous amount of sweat poured out.

“If we keep going like this, we’ll all die of dehydration.”

Once dissatisfaction began to spread, the other adventurers nodded in agreement.

Luna, who had been leading, wiped her sweat and nodded as well.

Her water bottle was equally empty.

With our destination temporarily changed, two rangers stepped forward to lead the group.

The two of them examined the surroundings closely and moved forward without hesitation.

The skills of the two rangers were impressive. Before long, they discovered a large lake.

However, one problem remained.

There was a large lizard-like monster crawling near the lake.

The rangers who had been in front raised a hand to signal the adventurers back into the bushes.

I too hid in the foliage, closely observing the lizard.

From a distance, it seemed to be about 20 meters long.

It had a skin pattern of yellow and green spots, and what was unusual was a volcanic vent-like structure on its back.

From that vent-like structure, white smoke curled up amid shimmering heat waves.

“What should we do?”

This was Luna’s question. What to do.

It seemed she was asking if we should fight or look for another spot.

The adventurers exchanged wary glances.

Honestly, none of us felt confident about fighting that enormous lizard.

It appeared that no one else was ready either.

The adventurers looked to the wizard for her opinion.

Of course, it was only with their eyes.

Isoline, receiving their collective gaze, shook her head.

“I think I’d have a hard time… Most of the lizard monsters in this forest have strong magical resistance.”

“We can’t help it then…”

With Isoline’s response, the adventurers sighed and got up.

It seemed they were ready to look for another source of water besides this lake.

Just as we were about to set off on our way, the lizard, idly roaming near the lake, suddenly exhaled a cloud of white smoke from its vent, then charged deep into the forest.

“This is…”

Before anyone could say anything, the adventurers sprinted to the lake.

Since there were no monsters around except for that gigantic lizard, there was nothing to worry about.

Thoughts of whether this water was drinkable could be considered later.

The adventurers proceeded to fill all their water bottles with lake water.

While we were busy scooping up the water, I noticed strange ripples spreading across the lake’s surface.

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Then a massive tremor reverberated.

It seemed I wasn’t the only one to feel that tremor; the other adventurers also froze, staring across the forest.

“What the hell…”

Before one adventurer could finish his curse, the opposite forest erupted as the gigantic lizard emerged.

[Kwaaaak!]

As the enormous roar filled the entire forest, gigantic birds soared into the sky.

Should we fight? I placed my hand on the sword’s hilt, assessing the status of the adventurers.

They seemed to have lost their strength, sitting helplessly on the ground.

No one was in a fighting state.

I shouted at the adventurers while supporting the slumped Luna.

“Everyone, pull yourselves together!”

Among us, only Isoline and I were standing upright.

I delivered a sharp slap to the face of the nearest adventurer and shouted again.

“Move!”

[Kwaaaak!]

At that moment, the lizard emitted another roar.

It seemed my voice had irritated it.

Finally, the party stood up and began to run in a panic.

Thump! Thump! Thump! Thump!

Gasping for breath, they sprinted with everything they had.

Yet still, the distance to that gigantic lizard didn’t seem to shorten.

As we kept running, a ranger at the front suddenly screamed.

“This way! Run this way!”

There was no leader to guide us in this situation.

Everyone ran blindly in the direction of the ranger’s voice.

There was a narrow cave up ahead; it seemed we planned to hide inside.

“Get in!”

The leading rangers dove into the cave.

Next, the swordsmen and I slipped in after them.

Last to enter were the priestess and wizard Isoline.

Just then, the giant lizard thrust its head into the narrow opening.

Boom!

The cave trembled as if it were about to collapse.

As the entrance caved in, the creature’s snout stretched forward.

But that was all it could do.

Its massive body couldn’t fit through the narrow passage.

The gigantic lizard stared at us, hidden inside the cave, looking disappointed. After circling the cave for a while, it turned away.

“Ha…”

Only then could the party let out a sigh of relief.