The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 26

“…It’s already dead?”

“Yeah, it was so surprising. It was just lying there at the entrance of the rocky area, as if someone had left it there deliberately.”

“Was it the one we’ve been looking for?”

“Edmil confirmed it. It’s the same one that injured Hamar. The Captain and Lisa came by and examined the body briefly; it seems it hadn’t been dead for very long.”

“What was the cause of death?”

To be honest, rather than the fact that a Demonic Beast was dead, I was more curious about who or what had killed it. The local militia had been searching the area, but if they had dealt with the creature, they wouldn’t have left the body behind. Camille furrowed his brow in discomfort and lowered his voice dramatically.

“Well, it’s kind of strange… It looks like it was bitten by an animal.”

An animal?

An animal capable of hunting down a Demonic Beast?

Camille, noticing my confusion, added that the body had clear marks of fangs and claws, similar to those inflicted by big cats like leopards or tigers.

“Does that even make sense?”

“Honestly, no. Even if it was the weaker one, if an animal that could hunt it down existed, Hamar wouldn’t have been injured. My guess is that there might have been two Demonic Beasts, and one killed the other before escaping. Although the bite marks were a bit different.”

“That’s a possibility. There could indeed be different species, like the Bestian.”

“That’s exactly what Lisa said. Anyway, the Captain said he wants you to come.”

“Me?”

I knew why I was being summoned. They wanted me to use my ability to discern what happened at the scene.

“I will take care of your companion here. Please don’t worry about things on this end and go ahead.”

Just as our eyes met, Semeion spoke nonchalantly, reassuring me.

“Don’t worry, I will take good care of him.”

I felt a bit guilty leaving him with the task, but it was actually a relief. This awkward place now gave me a justified reason to leave. After a nod of thanks, I headed out.

“Ah, wait a moment, Sei.”

As I was opening the door, Semeion’s voice called from behind. I stopped and turned around to see him smiling gently.

“I have a strong feeling we’ll meet again someday.”

“…”

I couldn’t respond to the cryptic words. After bowing my head once more, I stepped out of the room. From behind, I heard Camille grumbling.

“What’s up with that guy? Isn’t it obvious we’ll meet again? We’re going to come back here anyway.”

“……Lord Camille, just to ease my worries, you did take the admission test, right?”

“Huh? You mean for the Security Department? Of course, I did!”

“Good to know. I almost thought the Duke just placed you in there.”

“Huh? What’s that supposed to mean?!”

What else could it mean? It meant I was worried about the future of the Duke of Rouster’s household.

Ignoring his retort, I heaved a sigh.

“We’ll meet again someday.”

Slowly, I rubbed the center of my chest. The unsettling heartbeat I felt was long gone, but the uneasy feeling lingered. I had a suspicion I’d be having restless dreams for a while.

* * *

The Dugal Mountains, renowned for their rugged terrain, have long served as an excellent defensive line protecting the key locations of the Empire. Even the most formidable armies would falter and kneel before the steep and treacherous landscape of the Dugal Mountains. Because of this, it is said in foreign lands that the Aslan Empire is blessed by the Mountain Gods.

The problem, however, was that this imposing terrain didn’t only protect the Aslan Empire. The Forest of Life and the territory of Dras, nestled within its ridges, were equally shielded.

The treacherous path on the way in means the way out will be just as difficult. Staring at the seemingly endless ridgeline ahead, it was easy to understand why every army had no choice but to kneel before it.

Though we had been traversing mountains all along, from here on, it felt like we’d be blazing new trails where none existed. The cliffs, offering no foothold, seemed insurmountable.

“If we fall, that’s it. Are we sure this is our only route?”

Lisa’s face was pale as she asked, understandably so. We had braced ourselves since studying the map, but theory and reality were starkly different. This wasn’t a path meant for human traversal. Hale’s expression wasn’t any better as he answered.

“As you all know, this is the shortest route. If we take a detour, we won’t make it in time, no matter how quickly we travel.”

“But if we fall and die along the way, it will lead to the same outcome, won’t it?”

“It’s okay, Officer. That’s why we brought magical devices to help us climb the cliffs smoothly. We won’t fall.”

These magical devices, developed over ten years at an astronomical cost, were one of the reasons our expeditionary force was kept small. They were designed to enhance balance and allow the wearer to cling to walls regardless of the material. Despite Hale’s assurances, his words seemed to fall on Lisa’s deaf ears, her fear evident in the face of the daunting cliffs.

“But these weren’t even made by the Mage Tower! How do you expect us to trust something designed in the royal palace?”

“Avil, you were part of the team that developed these devices…”

“Which is why I’m even more worried! The devices were originally intended for something else entirely; creating them was a lucky accident! No one fully understands how they work!”

Thanks to her, we were now privy to some disturbing inside information that we might have been better off not knowing. Our faces turned even paler. Hale quickly stepped in to calm the situation.

“Still, we thoroughly tested their efficacy. There’s no need to be overly concerned. Just remember to replenish the magic stones regularly to ensure they don’t stop working mid-operation.”

Complaining wouldn’t change the fact that we had to cross. Silently, we accepted the magical devices Hale handed out.

Once the device was fastened, a peculiar sensation spread through my body. It wasn’t heavy, but it felt like the ground was sticking to my feet with each step. When I touched a nearby rock, it adhered like a magnet, yet detaching it was easy. It seemed like slipping or falling would be difficult.

“Officer Sei, how does it feel?”

“It’s better than I thought.”

Like Lisa, I wasn’t adept at physical tasks. My positive evaluation made Hale’s face light up.

“See? I told you. With this device, even a child could climb cliffs as long as their limbs are fine. There’s nothing to worry about. Actually, Hamar is our biggest concern…”

“Huh? Why me? I’m perfectly fine.”

Hamar’s cheerful response made everyone look at him with curious expressions. He seemed overly fine, smiling brightly and brimming with energy.

Who would believe he had been gravely injured just yesterday? If it weren’t for the bandages on his arm, I might’ve doubted he was hurt at all. However, the bandages were a reminder that he was still a patient. Hale, who had been concerned all along, asked seriously,

“Are you really okay? Don’t overdo it. In cooperation, checking your own condition is crucial. Sometimes, knowing when to stop is a skill in itself, Officer.”

“No? I’ve never overdone it. I’m well enough to remove the bandages right now. Should I show you?”

“…No, that’s alright.”

Everyone stopped him before he really started swinging his arm around, Hamar looked disappointed.

“But I really am fine. I still feel some stiffness, but there’s no pain, and I can move without issues. You all saw the wounds had healed, right?”

“…”

Indeed, the wound we checked this morning had completely healed. While some scars remained, it looked like it had been healing for weeks. No one would believe it was from an injury suffered just the day before.

The fact that someone who had suffered from a high fever all night was now fully conscious and performing, as usual, was unbelievable. As a result, our formerly skeptical group had to admit that Semeion wasn’t just boasting.

“You saw, right? I told you it would heal.”

Semeion’s words, spoken with a smile to our bewildered group, still echoed vividly in my ears. Even Katten, the renowned healer known as the Divine Healer of Dongryeong, couldn’t have cured a severely wounded person so quickly. We were still debating who he really was and how such a feat was possible, even after leaving the village.

“Do you think he might actually be a healing priest?”

“Holy power seems the most plausible. Magical healing usually requires a recuperation period since it only repairs the surface.”

“He must be a priest. Who else grows their hair that long besides priests? Even women don’t wear their hair down to their backs anymore.”

The consensus among everyone was that Semeion was a healing priest highly knowledgeable in apothecary. They speculated that he infused his concoctions with holy power. Given the rarity of healing priests, they surmised he was concealing his true identity.

I too found this explanation most plausible. But I couldn’t shake the memory of the red liquid he added last, or the wound that had appeared on his palm. I knew priests had various methods of utilizing divine power, but self-harm wasn’t one of them. Even I couldn’t fully understand why I insisted it was blood, despite it seeming illogical.

‘Maybe it’s because he asked for my blood.’

Without that strange request, perhaps I wouldn’t have been so certain. It had been an unusual demand, especially since I still didn’t know what he had been trying to confirm.

“Anyway, it was an odd experience in many ways. Not to mention the Demonic Beast.”

Lisa’s comment left everyone with complicated expressions. We all had a lot to say on that matter too.

‘It was truly unbelievable.’

The dawn was breaking when I used my ability to discern the cause of the Demonic Beast’s death. What I saw was a beast carrying the corpse in its mouth. It was a black panther with unusually beautiful golden eyes. It was larger than typical panthers, imposing even in the illusion.

But it didn’t change the fact that it was a beast. Stronger than a normal animal but still weaker than a demonic creature; it was something a warrior could handle. Such a beast had been carrying the Demonic Beast’s corpse in its mouth.