The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 58

“I heard what you were saying. Was it the same situation back then?”

“Yeah, the news came in even later last time, so all we could do was handle the aftermath. At first, I thought it was a coincidence, but now with what happened in the Dras village, it seems seriously concerning. Since we are also part of this forest, we can’t just sit back and hope for the best. That’s why we decided to have a strategy meeting this afternoon.”

“Should I attend as well?”

“Of course, you’re a member of our village, aren’t you?”

The response came from an unexpected source. Kalph was standing there with a sullen face, having appeared at some point, and was holding a sleeping Syran at his side.

“Are you done talking? It seems Lord Syran has fallen asleep in the meantime.”

“I don’t know. He just fell asleep mid-conversation. Damn guy.”

“Well, he stayed up all night, so he’s probably exhausted.”

“Like I care. Seems I’m the one who did all the work. Anyway, Sei, sorry we took over your space. We’ll be out of your hair now, so you can finally rest.”

With only the necessary words spoken, Kalph walked off, fatigue evident in his steps as he carried the clinging Syran.

“When Lord Syran wakes up, will he remember Sei?”

“Not at all. I’d bet my sword on it, he won’t remember a thing.”

“It would be a relief if he didn’t ask where Rafiel is again.”

Irei and Talis chuckled grimly at the same time.

“Sei, if Lord Syran doesn’t remember you later, just let it slide. He tends to forget things easily, and situations encountered while half asleep are even less likely to be recalled.”

“Oh, I see. I understand. But, who is Rafiel?”

I had never heard that name before and wondered if he was also one of the Knights. But as it turned out, he was someone much more significant.

“Rafiel is the name of the King.”

“…Ah.”

“The King has been away for quite some time, so Lord Syran often misses him. It’s quite something, though, to mistake you for him in his sleep. Maybe it’s because your body shapes are similar.”

“Huh, I see. Our body shapes are similar.”

“If I had to point out something else, you also seem to be around the same apparent age.”

From this, I learned that the King of Clonne appears to be around my age. Whether I’ll ever need this information is something I’m unsure of.

A King, huh? The thought was laughable, so much so that I couldn’t even bring myself to feel any anticipation. The habit of trying to find connections in everything was something I definitely needed to stop.

* * *

In the afternoon, people gathered in the plaza. Everyone was aware of the tragedy that had befallen the neighboring village, so the atmosphere was heavy. The exhausted faces of those who had gone to help spoke volumes. Kalph, who came out to preside over the meeting, couldn’t hide his own fatigue either.

“Recent events in the surrounding area are unusual. All the clans living in this mountain range have been attacked by hordes of monsters. It’s not surprising to think our turn might come next.”

“But our village is hidden by a barrier. They can’t find us through ordinary means, so shouldn’t we be safe?”

“The barrier is a primary defense, but it’s not foolproof. If an impact strong enough to incapacitate Syran is applied, it will break.”

“For that to happen, they would need to strike the focal point directly. Do monsters really have that kind of intelligence?”

“The possibility is very low, of course. I hope it never happens. But in any situation, we must consider the ‘what if.’”

“Is there something on your mind, Lord Kalph?”

Someone asked cautiously, causing Kalph’s expression to darken.

“The size and composition of the monster hordes are too unnatural.”

He had mentioned this once during communication as well. Everyone’s expressions showed they felt the same.

“In this area, while it’s already concerning that creatures that don’t normally inhabit it have gathered, the fact that they’ve united as natural enemies is even more troubling. I really don’t believe this is just a coincidence.”

“Do you think there’s someone leading them?”

“Without that, it’s hard to explain. It’s an irrational situation by any standard.”

“That’s true.”

The atmosphere grew even heavier. Just as monsters have their own territories, monsters also live independently. There had never been an instance of them banding together for an attack. Such an occurrence was only known to exist in ancient times when the Demons ruled.

‘Could this be related to the resurgence of the Demonic Beast?’

Given how unsettling the situation was becoming, it wouldn’t be surprising if a portal connecting to the Demon realm had opened somewhere in the world. Or perhaps what we were seeing was just the beginning.

While I was lost in thought, I felt someone squeezing into the space beside me. It was puzzling, considering there were plenty of empty seats around, but I moved over slightly to make room. The person who took the seat was Knight Syran. He gave me a faint smile when our eyes met.

“What? Do you have something to say?”

“…No, nothing.”

Surprisingly, he seemed to remember me. However, I couldn’t understand why he chose to sit beside me. Kalph noticed him as well, frowned briefly, and then continued the conversation.

“Anyway, the method used to harm the kidnapped children is nothing short of unsettling. Killing them in less than half a day is strange enough, but the lack of significant mutilation on the bodies is even odder. There were only clear signs of bloodsucking.”

“Bloodsucking? Are there any bloodsucking species among the monsters?”

“There are among the undead, but none of the monsters that invaded this time. Moreover, the blood of the Dras species has light attributes, making it impossible for the undead to suck their blood.”

“Oh, right. Then who could have done such a thing?”

“It would be suspicious if it was just one or two, but if they were all killed by bloodsucking, it’s particularly strange.”

Listening to the conversation, I raised my hand as well.

“Is it possible that it could be the work of the Demonic Beast?”

I asked on a whim, but immediately, everyone turned to look at me at once. The sudden change in the atmosphere made me flinch. Even Syran beside me stared at me with a tense expression.

“Why… why are you all looking at me like that?”

“What did you just say? The Demonic Beast? Did you really say Demonic Beast?”

“Yes, I did. As far as I know, the Demonic Beast also practices bloodsucking. Am I wrong?”

At that, everyone held their breath.

“Sei, how do you know about the Demonic Beast…?”

“Do you even understand what you just mentioned?”

“Where did you hear that name?”

“Everyone, quiet!”

It was Kalph who quieted the murmuring crowd. However, his face was just as tense as everyone else’s, and he looked directly at me.

“Sei, could you explain in detail how you know about the Demonic Beast?”

“It’s not difficult… but is it that surprising for me to know about them?”

“That name isn’t known in human society, at least not now. The Demonic Beast was sealed away in ancient times and disappeared.”

I was the one who felt more bewildered. As soon as the official events resumed, the Emperor publicly announced the existence and dangers of the Demonic Beast, revealing everything about past events. Every newspaper had covered it extensively, so it should have been well-known across the Empire. But it seemed the news hadn’t reached this far.

“I’m sorry, but that seal has been broken.”

“What?”

“The Demonic Beast has been appearing in the capital for several months now. It has been attacking citizens indiscriminately. There was even an incident where His Majesty the Emperor was attacked and fell. My encounter with Serige was also due to my expedition to find medicine to wake him.”

“What are you saying…?”

“I’ve even met a Demonic Beast directly. He recognized me as a member of Clonne and attacked me. I barely survived thanks to the guardian Serige assigned to me.”

The air around us turned icy. No one, not even Kalph, who had turned pale, could find the words to speak.

“That’s impossible. How could the seal be broken?”

“Yeah, there’s no way. Are you sure it was really the Demonic Beast?”

“Could it be something that resembles the Demonic Beast, or perhaps some other creature impersonating them?”

The faces that had been downcast lit up with what seemed a plausible alternative. The desperate looks of hope made me feel like a villain, even though I had no ill intentions. But I couldn’t ignore the truth.

“I’m sorry to say, but that’s unlikely.”

“……”

“The imperial family conducted a thorough investigation. All ancient records and materials were verified. Additionally, on my journey, I met another Clonne aside from Serige, and he confirmed that they were indeed the Demonic Beast.”

“…Another Clonne? Who?”

Kalph, who had been lost in thought, showed interest at this mention. It appeared that Serige had not yet shared this bit of information with him.

“You met a Clonne before Serige?”

“Yes, he also looked at me attentively but did not recognize me. Serige said it was likely due to the strength of my defense instincts.”

“Hmm, what was that person’s name?”

“Ah, I’m not sure if it was his real name, but he was referred to as Semeion.”

At that moment, a profound silence fell upon the crowd. For some reason, it seemed as though everyone’s spirit had left them, their faces resembling those who had seen a ghost. Even Kalph’s expression had frozen.

“…Say that again. Who?”

“Semeion?”

“Did you just say Lord Semeion?”

“That’s impossible. Lord Semeion is in Seoryeong?”

Before I could respond, the murmurs spread all around. It was clear that he was someone well-known, someone who wouldn’t normally be encountered on this continent.

Reluctant at first due to the increasingly negative aura, I nodded my head. I briefly described his features and the situation at the time, which resulted in everyone’s facial expressions growing even stranger.

“Long hair, purple eyes – that certainly fits the description of Lord Semeion…”

“But it’s impossible for Lord Semeion not to recognize his kin. Are you sure it wasn’t someone impersonating him? There were a fair few back home who idolized and fashioned themselves after him.”

“Ha, really? There are still people doing such things? I’d like to see the face of this individual.”

“They deserve to be taught a lesson if caught.”