The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 65

The next day, a joint meeting was held in the village. It was a strategy meeting composed of representatives from the forest inhabitants, including the Dras and Nina races. The fact that the Demonic Beast had resurrected was already well known, and it seemed the discussion would focus on relocation plans.

This meeting was also the first major event since the Clonne had established their settlement in the Seoryeong. Everyone was busy preparing to welcome the guests from early morning. Of course, this hustle and bustle had nothing to do with me, as I was not assigned any specific role.

“Aesang, go outside and play or something.”

After several attempts to find something to help with, I was shooed away. Resigned, I decided to get on with my physical training and began running. After running for a while, I was catching my breath when I noticed the bushes rustling. Suddenly, someone emerged from the foliage.

The sudden appearance belonged to someone so tall that I had to look up. His skin, which had a hard texture, was light blue, and his glossy eyes resembled those of an insect. His appearance was distinctly different from that of a human, and I froze instinctively upon seeing him. Then I remembered, with difficulty, that this was characteristic of a certain race I frequently encountered in books.

‘Dras.’

A race blessed by the spirits who love the forest and nature.

Out of all the races, they were known for their unique appearance and exceptional physical senses and abilities. Although I had seen illustrations describing their features, the real-life presence was on an entirely different level.

While I stared in a daze, several more people followed him, revealing themselves one by one. It seemed the delegation from the Dras race had arrived to attend the meeting today.

“Behold, this is the land of Silva, the village blessed by the spirits of creation and home to the Clonne.”

“This is our first visit, and the manner of entry is truly astonishing.”

“Even the air feels different. We have never smelled such fragrant and pure air before, so please understand our constant glances around.”

They walked in slowly, marveling at their surroundings. I had heard that the common language of the Seoryeong and the Dras language both descended from the same ancient tongue, so while their speech was a bit archaic, I could roughly understand it. In the Empire, nobles often used such speech intentionally to differentiate social classes.

Perhaps due to the significant difference in our heights, they had not yet noticed me, standing lower down. Eventually, the one who appeared to be the highest-ranking noticed me and frowned deeply. What happened next was something I did not anticipate.

“…Argo, son of Elfin, my eyes are weary and confused. Tell me what you see before us.”

“Honorable Elder, if what my eyes perceive is not mistaken, it is a Rinum before us.”

‘Rinum’ was the term the Dras used to refer to humans. I didn’t know the exact etymology, but I’d heard it meant “people who turn to earth upon death.” Essentially, they were mistaking me for a human.

“You and I see the same, so this is undeniable truth. Impurity has entered this sacred land, and we cannot overlook it.”

“As it was decreed in the Genesis, we must adhere to its will. Child of Rinum, explain the rightful reason for your presence here. We shall not forgive those who trespass upon this sacred ground through deceitful means.”

“I, well…”

It was well-known that the Dras distrusted humans. The moment I tried to explain, their demeanor had already changed dramatically. As I instinctively stepped back, one of them, standing behind, drew an arrow on his bow. The swift movement of the air made me close my eyes reflexively.

“Oh dear, oh dear. It seems a huge misunderstanding has occurred, gentlemen~.”

A breezy feeling accompanied by a cheerful voice. It was a voice I recognized well. Opening my eyes, I saw a familiar back blocking my view, an arrow clutched in one hand.

“Are you okay, Sei? That was close.”

“Serige…”

It had been a while since I last saw Serige after our parting. He turned to me and winked playfully, easing my tension despite the dangerous situation I had narrowly avoided. Conversely, the Dras delegation looked startled by his sudden appearance. Keeping their displeasure evident, they stepped back slightly.

“Master Serige, please do not misunderstand. This one appears to be a Rinum. We cannot comprehend why you would protect him.”

“The host must carefully choose which guests to invite. Are you not aware that Rinum has no right to participate in this sacred meeting? If such a decision has been made by Silva, then our steadfast alliance will not remain intact.”

Given the complexity of entering the village, I’d heard that guides were assigned to each delegation, and it seemed Serige was responsible for the Dras. Their lengthy speech revealed their displeasure plainly. They seemed ready to leave, depending on Serige’s response. Quickly, he waved his hands to calm them.

“You’re really saying some dangerous things here. It’s a misunderstanding, gentlemen. Look closely. Why are you mistaking our Sei for another race? He’s a Clonne.”

“What…?”

“Did you just say he is a Clonne?”

The Dras delegates’ eyes widened, their expressions more skeptical than accepting. Faced with such obvious distrust, Serige burst out laughing again.

“Haha, you really can’t tell? You all need to reconsider your expertise. Sei is currently in a strong protective coloration phase. He’s still an Aesang. It’s naturally hard for other races to recognize him.”

This was spoken confidently by someone who hadn’t been certain until they tested me with poison. The impact of his words was immense.

“An Aesang?”

“An Aesang, really!”

The Dras delegates were taken aback, and the air around them buzzed with surprise. They soon began examining me with a newfound interest. The compound eyes, so different from human eyes, getting closer made me inadvertently flinch.

“May glory be upon the land of Silva. Our ignorant eyes failed to recognize a young sprout. Precious child, what is your name? Which branch did you extend from, and from which fruit did you sprout?”

“Uh, I’m…”

“Forgive our rudeness, noble youth, for our lack of wisdom. How old are you and when did you reach germination?”

“Your pure and graceful aura signifies your nobility at a glance.”

Once again, it was Serige who saved me from the barrage of interest and questions. He effortlessly positioned himself between me and the Dras delegates, creating some space.

“Come on now, you’ve come here for a meeting. How long are you going to stay here chatting? Our boy is at a sensitive stage right now. Stop it and go inside. Everyone must be waiting.”

“…! Just a moment, please!”

“There’s still much we wish to discuss, may we have a little more time?”

“Oh no, that won’t do. Sei isn’t here for your amusement. No more talking. Let’s move forward. Come on, let’s go.”

Despite the desperate pleas, Serige paid them no heed. He just kept pushing the delegates forward, ignoring their attempts to stop and look back. Only after they had moved a considerable distance away did he mouth, ‘See you later,’ to me. I nodded, uncertain if he noticed. They disappeared from sight quickly. It felt like a storm had passed.

News came that other delegations were arriving in succession after the Dras. Fortunately, I didn’t encounter anyone else, avoiding further commotion. The main meeting proceeded without issues.

The meeting was held in the square and was open to everyone. While I could have attended, I chose to stay in my room to avoid unnecessary attention. My body felt particularly heavy that day, likely from the previous day’s training. I also felt slightly feverish.

‘Is this a cold?’

As it was now autumn, it was the season where colds were common. Though I had never been sick before, it seemed prudent to prepare for unexpected situations, given the recent unusual events.

“Sei, are you here?”

While I was checking my forehead, there was a knock at the door. When I replied that it was okay to come in, Irei peeked his head in, followed by Talis and Serige.

“We’re not disturbing your rest, are we?”

“Not at all. Please come in.”

Reassured, they entered the room. Although it wasn’t small, their tall stature made the space feel crowded.

“I heard what happened. The Dras delegation mistook you for a human and almost attacked you? Are you hurt?”

“No, I’m fine.”

“Did they really shoot an arrow? Even if they thought you were human, attacking someone on another’s territory without hearing them out is too much.”

“Serige, why didn’t you explain things beforehand if you were the guide?”

“I didn’t expect this, honestly. I just let them in first and then this whole thing exploded. I was just as shocked; it felt like my lifespan got cut in half.”

“Hot-tempered as always. Their ferocity is something else.”

It seemed they had come by to check on me after hearing about the morning’s incident. Despite my assurances, their expressions remained tense with evident worry and possibly some guilt. To lighten the mood and change the subject, I brought up something else.

“It’s been a while, Serige. How have you been?”

“Ah, well, you know. Have you settled into village life? I imagine it hasn’t been easy with everything that’s happened since your arrival.”

He scratched his head sheepishly before looking at me with a serious expression.