The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 30

I never considered myself someone who easily trusts others. I believed I had been skeptical all along. But evidently, that wasn’t the case.

‘I was too careless.’

Swallowing dryly, I slowly raised both arms. Though I carried a defensive knife, using it would only provoke him further, especially as I wasn’t very skilled.

“What have you done?”

Looking at my fallen comrades, Serige (if that was his real name) smirked.

“Do you know a plant called Sarche?”

“…Sarche?”

“On its own, it’s an excellent tonic. But if someone addicted to Nephium consumes it, it causes paralysis of the nerves. As the symptoms worsen, they fall into a deep sleep like they are now. At this stage, they won’t wake up without the antidote.”

“What in the world is Nephium?”

“It’s one of the ingredients in the herbal tea you’ve all been drinking every day.”

Ha, the sheer absurdity of it all made me chuckle ironically. Serige nodded, as if understanding my reaction.

“Everyone drank it without suspicion, enjoying its effects, but you were a variable. I didn’t expect anyone to be immune to this combination. I wanted to avoid a bloody outcome if possible.”

“…What do you intend to do with us?”

“Well, what should I do? In situations like these, killing is usually the best option, right?”

Why is he asking me that?

His casual tone made me frown. Then something unexpected happened. Just as I heard him laugh, the hard, cold sensation at my neck vanished. Serige had withdrawn his dagger.

“…?”

Confused, I looked at him. He winked with one eye.

“You didn’t really think I’d kill you, did you?”

“What…”

“I was joking, joking. I know it’s hard to believe in this situation, but I really don’t want to shed blood. As things stand, this might be for the best. How about we negotiate?”

“Negotiate?”

“Yes, negotiate.”

He hummed as he answered and pulled out a small vial from his robe.

“It’s the antidote.”

“…!”

“What if we just head down the mountain? Your companions will be safe, and nothing more will happen.”

I watched his sly smile and then glanced at the vial he held. If Camille were here, he’d probably attempt to snatch it by surprise. I should have trained in martial arts.

“What if I refuse?”

“Oh, well, I’d rather you didn’t make that choice. But if you insist, I’ll have no choice but to knock you all out and carry everyone down forcibly.”

“You’d just knock us out?”

“Yes, I told you I wouldn’t kill anyone.”

“Then we’d just wake up and climb back up.”

“Ah, come on. Don’t do that. I really don’t want to resort to rough methods.”

The exasperation in his sigh and tone came close to a plea. Whoever gave him orders clearly instructed him to avoid getting his hands dirty. From my perspective, it seemed rather naive.

“Those rough methods—just use them.”

“What?”

“Whether we turn back now or later, it’ll end in death for us anyway. If you mean to stop us, it’s more convenient for both sides if you kill us here.”

“What?”

Failing the expedition was one thing, but abandoning it halfway? Returning in disgrace wasn’t an option. This mission concerned the Emperor’s life. The execution was certain, and if we were unlucky, we might even be accused of treason, leading to the annihilation of our entire family. Dying in the line of duty at least meant retaining some honor.

Surprisingly, Serige looked genuinely shocked.

“Why are you being so extreme? What exactly are you aiming for in the Forest of Life? It doesn’t seem like you’re targeting Dras specifically. Is it really worth risking your life to get there?”

If he was asking this, it seemed he wasn’t trying to obstruct our expedition. Or maybe it was a trap to gauge our intentions. I stared intently at him.

“Whose orders are you following?”

“Huh? Me?”

“You seem conflicted. Why not join our side? Whatever your reasons, we can resolve them. I promise you and your family will be safe.”

“Wait, what? Is that how you’re playing this?”

“For your own good, I’m warning you: killing us won’t solve everything. Your life will only get more complicated and difficult. I think you already understand what it means to make enemies of us. But it’s not too late. You can still turn back.”

“No, hold on! Don’t talk like a detective convincing someone to surrender. Wow, I really picked the wrong target, didn’t I? Who are you people, anyway?”

He didn’t seem to be acting. He genuinely appeared clueless, which was a relief. This meant there was room for negotiation.

“We can’t reveal our identities.”

“Yeah, I get that you people are important. But then, what important business do such high-ranking folks have in the Forest of Life?”

“If we tell you, will you let us go?”

“Tell me first. I can’t promise anything without knowing more. I have my reasons for acting this way.”

Of course, he did. Nodding, I noted the anxiety in his eyes. Even though he held the upper hand, he seemed more on edge than I was.

“We are searching for the Lupinus Fruit.”

“…What? The what?”

And his face soon became filled with bewilderment.

“Lupinus? The fruit?”

“The one we serve was recently poisoned with an unidentified substance. We heard that the Lupinus Fruit can counteract any poison. We were told this tree resides in the Forest of Life.”

After I calmly explained, he blinked stupidly. He rubbed his lips briefly, then spoke in a disheartened murmur.

“Huh, I see. So that’s why you’re heading to the Forest of Life… But who told you it’s there? I mean, do you really believe that? What if you go and it isn’t there?”

“It’s recorded in ancient texts. If it’s not there when we search…then we’ll have to think about it then. Regardless, we have a mission and must confirm its existence.”

“Oh, I get it. Hold on. Sorry, but can you wait for a moment? This reason is just…unexpected…”

He then began to rub his face dryly, showing every sign of bewilderment, confusion, and disbelief. If there were ever a perfect expression for all those emotions at once, it would be his.

“Oh my goodness. You’ve come all this way based on such a far-fetched record…”

His sigh made my expression harden.

“Do you know something about it?”

“…Well, I’m not sure whether to say I do or don’t.”

“Please, speak honestly. Our lives are on the line.”

Whatever his true identity, it was clear that he was knowledgeable about herbs. He might have information others didn’t. Nonetheless, Serige hesitated to answer immediately. But then, as if he made up his mind, he nodded.

“Well, alright. This actually simplifies things. Let me tell you one thing for sure: there’s no Lupinus in the Forest of Life. And naturally, there’s no fruit.”

“…!”

“It might have been there once, but it definitely isn’t now. I swear as someone who frequents the Forest of Life. If you want to find it, you’ll need to go to Dongryeong.”

Dongryeong. A place we wouldn’t be able to reach in time even if we left now. The realization made me feel dizzy, and I couldn’t speak for a while. Seeing my reaction, Serige let out a deep sigh.

“First, let me tell you that the Lupinus Fruit—phew—it’s not an actual tree fruit.”

“…Not a tree fruit?”

“Yes, not at all. To be precise, it’s a concocted elixir.”

This was even more unexpected. I swallowed hard, feeling my throat go dry.

“That can’t be. The ancient texts we verified depicted the tree and the fruit in detail.”

“That’s because some twisted people like to fabricate things to make them look authentic. They disguise the recipe intentionally to keep it hidden. The Lupinus Fruit is one of those instances.”

“…How do you know all this?”

“I might look simple, but I know more than most people. I’m just telling you the truth. There’s no reason for me to lie about this.”

His manner of speaking felt oddly familiar, reminding me of the apothecary Semeion had met before. They might be from the same lineage. However, Semeion seemed to believe that we might find what we were looking for in the Forest of Life. He didn’t seem like someone who would send us on a fool’s errand knowing better.

‘No, what does it matter now?’

Whether it’s a tree fruit or an elixir, the conclusion is that it doesn’t exist in the Forest of Life. Memories of our tumultuous journey flashed through my mind. Why was I the only one awake at such a moment? What glory were we supposed to achieve? A bitter laugh escaped me.

“Are you okay?”

“…Does this look okay to you?”

“No, that’s why I’m asking.”

I thought he was mocking me, but his expression was sincere. To worry about the person he intended to kill—what an unpredictable man. Feeling overly fatigued from the mental blow, I sighed. The already oppressive mountain air felt even more nauseating. Unconsciously clutching at my chest, Serige noticed and looked puzzled.

“What’s wrong? Are you in pain?”

“No, it’s just a bit stifling…”

“Hmm, feeling short of breath again?”

He seemed to ponder for a moment before pulling something out from his robe and offering it to me. It was a small, brownish pill.

“What’s this?”

“It’s a medicine I made. Try it. If your symptoms are like mine, it might help you feel better.”

Thinking back, he did mention that mountain air didn’t agree with him either. Still, I was hesitant to accept it right away. Sensing my skepticism, he gave a bright smile.

“This time, it’s really medicine.”

“How can I trust that?”

“You seem to have enough energy to be skeptical. Well, if you want to stay in that state…”

Well, at this point, it didn’t really matter. I decided to take the pill and wash it down. It dissolved quickly, leaving a bitter taste in my mouth. Serige observed me keenly.

“How do you feel?”

He seemed anxious. Why was he so impatient when I had just taken the pill? Even though I thought he was a bit hasty, the medicine worked almost immediately. My obstructed breathing eased miraculously.

“What is this made of?”

“Why? Does it feel strange?”

“No, quite the opposite. It’s very effective. I didn’t expect a medicine to work this quickly.”

Serige’s eyes widened. His lips curled into a sudden, wide smile, as if he couldn’t contain his joy.

“Ha ha, really? This medicine suits you?”

“Huh? Is that a bad thing?”

Could it be he had given me something strange again? But the effects were evident. Maybe he was just happy to hear praise on his homemade remedy. As I was about to dismiss it as insignificant, something unexpected happened.

“I was right.”

Suddenly, I felt hands cupping my cheeks. Serige had moved closer, staring intently into my eyes.

“What are you…!”

I tried to push him away in panic, but he didn’t budge. His face was filled with ecstasy.

“Which tree’s child are you?”