NOVEL NEXT Chapter 301: Evil Forest
"Vargan!" Azel exclaimed the moment he stepped into the sick house.
The place smelled of blood and wet fur.
The beds were lined with wounded werewolves, and every one of them looked wrecked… gashes, burns, and shredded limbs.
But none looked as bad as the former leader himself.
Vargan was barely recognizable.
One arm was gone, his teeth shattered, and a deep gouge tore through his left eye.
The bandages were already soaked red, and his once-proud form trembled weakly on the bed.
"M-my… my lord…" Vargan wheezed, trying to lift himself.
His remaining hand reached toward Azel. "The forest… it's evil."
"Evil?" Azel repeated, moving closer.
He glanced at another wounded werewolf sitting on a nearby bed. "What does he mean by that?"
The soldier looked up, his yellow eyes dull with exhaustion.
"My lord… what Vargan means is that the forest has changed. It's too strong now… filled with monsters that can kill us easily."
Azel frowned. "The monsters are stronger than before?"
The werewolf nodded weakly.
Azel's brows knit.
On one hand, that was a good thing… maybe the beasts wouldn't be hunted to extinction so easily again.
But if even werewolves couldn't handle them… that was a different problem altogether.
He sighed and walked toward Vargan's bed.
The massive wolf had reverted to human form; scars lined his skin, and though he was unconscious, his breathing was shallow.
Azel placed his palm on the man's chest, golden energy spilling from his fingertips.
Warm light enveloped Vargan's body, the healing aura spreading through torn muscle and bone.
With his other hand, Azel called up his system screen.
[Territory: Lycas, LV.1]
[Neighboring Territory: Evil Forest, LV.2]
'A neighboring territory?' he thought.
That explained a lot.
But why was the forest… ranked higher than Lycas itself?
He tapped the tab.
[Territory: Evil Forest]
[Level: 2]
[Description: A forest that is evil.]
Azel stared at the glowing words blankly. "…Yeah, that's not ominous at all."
But before he could dismiss it, a new line appeared under the description:
[This was the original forest that the werewolves once conquered. After its restoration, it evolved and adapted to their strength. Every monster within is now capable of inflicting lethal damage on a werewolf.]
Azel's expression flattened. "What the fuck…"
Werewolves were supposed to be one of the toughest species in this realm… with thick skin, enhanced healing, and ridiculous endurance.
If the monsters could kill them easily, what chance did anyone else have?
Then another line blinked into existence.
[Would you like to trigger a Conquest?]
[Y / N]
Azel raised an eyebrow. "The hell is a conquest?"
[In a Conquest, two territories engage in open conflict until one absorbs the other.]
He didn't even hesitate. 'Hell no.'
The last thing he needed was his newly restored town going up in flames because some digital interface wanted a territorial war.
"I'll need to check this forest myself," he said under his breath, pulling his hand away from Vargan.
The giant's wounds had closed, but his body was still too weak to move.
Around them, the other hunters watched him with hopeful eyes.
"Here." Azel reached into his ring, pulling out a small glass vial filled with glowing blue liquid.
He tossed it to one of the wounded. "Drink it, then share it with the others."
The soldier caught it reverently. "Y-yes, my lord!"
Azel nodded and turned toward the exit.
…
The lord's mansion was quieter now.
Late morning light streamed through the wide windows as Azel entered his room again, closing the door behind him.
He stretched once, rolling his shoulders, then walked toward the desk beside his bed.
His black crown rested there.
He lifted it, placed it on his head, then reached for his cloak… the black one he'd taken from his inventory.
'I should really transport everything in my storage ring into my inventory,' he thought as he checked the ring's surface.
The storage rings were durable, but not indestructible.
If someone managed to crack the enchantment, all his items could be lost.
'Meh. Later.'
He took out two bone daggers from his ring and slid them into the straps at his waist.
The curved blades were white as ivory, as expected of Elyon.
He was ready.
He adjusted his cloak and reached for the door, just as it opened.
Azel blinked, expecting Ravik's wife or a maid, but the figure that stepped in wasn't either.
It was Selene.
For a moment, he didn't recognize her.
Her usual kimono was gone, replaced by simple, tight-fitted clothes… a dark tunic, leather trousers, and boots.
Her hair was tied into a neat braid, and she carried herself differently… more natural if he had to say.
'Why does she look so different?' he wondered, then realized… this was the first time he'd seen her dressed like an ordinary woman.
She bowed slightly.
"Good afternoon, my lord…" Her voice was soft.
Azel nodded. "Afternoon, Selene."
Her eyes darted toward his cloak and weapons. "Are you… going somewhere?"
"Yes," Azel said, fastening one of his daggers. "I want to check out the forest."
The words made her flinch. "The forest?"
He was about to ask her to come along then stopped himself.
[Every monster within is capable of inflicting lethal harm to a werewolf.]
If she went with him, she'd be walking into death… even though he was sure he could protect her, he still wasn't taking any chances.
"I won't be long," he said simply.
Selene hesitated, looking down.
Her voice dropped into a small whisper. "Okay…"
He was halfway to the door when he heard her speak again… For some reason, her voice was trembling.
"D-daddy… can I ask for something?"
Azel froze mid-step.
His brain short-circuited.
'…What? Did she just say what I think she said?'
"Yes?" he asked, blinking.
How did she even know he liked being called that?
What happened to werewolf culture?
"I want you to…" She stepped closer until she was standing right in front of him, her silver hair brushing against her shoulders.
Her eyes met his and he could see she looked confident. "Please let me kiss your forehead."
Azel stared for a moment, completely thrown off.
Of all the things she could've asked for, that was not on the list.
The air, which had been full with tension, suddenly felt lighter.
"Just to kiss my forehead?" he asked with a small chuckle. It really sounded funny when you thought about it.
"Yes, my lord… it's a good luck charm," she said with a straight face. "You'll be successful when you go to the forest."
He blinked again. "O-okay."
He didn't believe in good luck charms, blessings, or forehead kisses that changed destinies unless it came from Nyala or Kyone, but… she looked so serious it was impossible to refuse.
Selene walked closer, her expression showed that she was composed but her ears twitching slightly in nervousness.
When she stood before him, she realized something else.
"You're too tall. Bend over."
Azel huffed a laugh but complied, leaning down slightly so that his crimson eyes were level with hers.
From this close, he could see the faint pink dusting her cheeks and the way her breath hitched when she looked at him.
'Does she like me?'
She reached up, hesitated for half a moment, and then pressed her lips gently against his forehead.
A soft chime rang in his ears.
[Ding!]
[You have received a Blessing]
[Blessing of the Wind: For the next 12 hours, you will be able to control wind properly. It will flow like water to you.]
Azel blinked as the message faded. "…Wait, it actually worked?"
Selene stepped back, clasping her hands together.
"Do you like it?" she asked, her tail swishing nervously behind her.
"Yes, totally," Azel said with a grin. "It's perfect."
Her shoulders relaxed, and before she could react, he leaned forward slightly and kissed her forehead in return.
Her breath caught.
"Here's mine," he said simply.
It didn't grant her a blessing or anything magical… but judging by how red her face turned, it didn't need to.
A few minutes later, Azel stood before the Evil Forest.
The wind rustled through the dark trees, and the shadows between them swayed like living things.
The crimson light of the sky painted the canopy in an eerie glow.
He took a slow breath. "Alright. Let's go."
The forest didn't respond which was nice.
For once, it looked like he might have an uneventful start.
He took his first step forward.
And immediately stopped.
Something brushed against his ankle.
Azel looked down… a rope was sliding lazily around his legs, like a snake that had just remembered how to tie knots.
He frowned. "Who the hell uses a rope out here?"
Before he could reach down to cut it, the rope suddenly tightened and yanked.
He barely had time to blink before his feet left the ground.
"Wait—hey—!"
There was a loud whoosh as he was catapulted straight into the air, spinning like a particularly uncoordinated kite.
His cloak flapped violently behind him as he soared right into the forest canopy.
[Author's Note]
Happy New Month Fam 🖤Hehe