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Philip blurted out suddenly as they were walking their horses.
As grass and trees beca denser, at so point, randomly sprouting branches began obstructing the riders path.
Ultimately, everyone dismounted and walked with reins in hand, moving in a single file.
Thanks to being right behind Miguel, Philip finally began to express the frustration he had been holding in.
You two are making quite an effort. If one of you trips, it will be very troubleso.
Thats true, but damn, this is strange. I dont rember it being like this before.
Miguel scratched his neck and muttered.
Philips brow furrowed.
When was that?
Well, its been about three or four years? At least it hasnt been five years. I went down this path and headed to Balk City.
What? Youre bragging about going down a path you took so long ago?
Well, theres still a path here in reality.
Ian, who had been walking at the back, clicked his tongue.
However, he didnt try to silence them.
There was aningful information mixed in with their talk.
Strangely annoying, isnt it?
The surrounding landscape felt ominously unwelcoming. The grass and trees looked lackluster and lifeless. At the sa ti, there was sothing familiar about it.
Stay on the path. If you make a mistake, itll be a big problem.
Despite this, Philips jabs didnt stop. It was as if he was intent on exacting revenge on Miguel for the teasing he received the previous night.
Ugh, co on. Were doing our best. Besides, we were told it was a dangerous path from the beginning. Its not as if its beco much more hazardous.
Well, it isns more dangerous than before, I guess. When I ca before, there were goblins and gremlins here. Unless theyve all left, its impossible for the undergrowth to have grown this thick.
Goblins and Gremlins?
Ian suddenly interjected.
W-well, yeah. This was their den.
Miguel replied quickly.
Philips voice followed.
Theres a fortress a days distance from here. How could demons live here?
Even if its a border region, soldiers dont recklessly chase demons around here. If they die or get injured, whos at a loss?
Miguel added with a chuckle.
You either have to cause enough damage for lords to take notice or preemptively strike. Unless theyre causing damages that the lords would be concerned about, they wont pay attention to them. So, people like rcenaries make their living.
If those creatures were here, it would be troubleso in many ways. Thanks to them.
Without those creatures, a thicket like this cant exist. Theyre like locusts, eating whatever they co across. Surprisingly, they like grass too. So, in the forest where they lived, only trees without bark were left. What do you expect to know? Tch.
They might be in an inedible state.
Ian softly concluded.
He had unknowingly narrowed his eyes while surveying the surroundings.
It must connect to the corrupted forest
What do you an by inedible state, Sir?
Philip seed to have read sothing unusual in his tone, as he asked.
I an it literally. Youve probably experienced it too. Creatures moving around even when theyre dead.
Ghouls You an? Are you saying that demons can turn into ghouls?
Normally, that wouldnt be the case, but if the forest itself has been contaminated by corrupted magic Strange things can happen. Just like the swamp forest.
Did you enter the cursed jungle? Were you just in the swamp and not there?
Thats right.
It was a truly precious place.
Ian swallowed the rest of his words.
It was a story from a ti when he didnt have the confidence to face a swamp drake.
Instead, he had set foot in the jungle and moved forward recklessly, battling everything from undead animals, moving trees, to insane fairies.
The creatures werent particularly strong, but the problem was that both they and the forest seed endless.
Eventually, after a few days, Ian managed to escape and never set foot in any jungle around the swamp again.
Of course, this place was slightly different from that jungle.
The madness of the black wall seed to be the cause. How the madness seeped into this remote forest was unknown, but when he received the quest in the ga, it was in a state of contamination so severe that even the lord couldnt intervene.
And from his perspective, this place seed very close to the origin of that contamination.
Its probably impossible to pass through here before nightfall, right?
Ians question was t with a puzzled response from Miguel.
Itll be sunset in an hour or two at most. Theres no ti.
Well then, we need to prepare for a fight.
Theres another cursed forest besides the Graveyard Forest? And its just a days distance from the fortress?
Philip asked incredulously.
Ian chuckled dryly.
It hasnt been contaminated for long. Also, this is a barely inhabited forest. It would take a while for rumors to spread.
Only after a few dozen people have been devoured by carnivorous plants, though.
Co to think of it, sothing was odd.
The corrupted forest was connected to the shortcut to the Graveyard Forest. He had never deeply considered this connection in the ga, but it was astonishing when it beca a reality.
Theyre probably trying to block the path to the Graveyard Forest. So thats why I didnt know about this route.
Thinking this, Ian spoke up.
So, be careful from now on. Plants can also undergo mutations.
Are you saying that even grass and trees can turn into demons?
Thats right. Since you can easily distinguish them, never touch them.
The plants tainted by the madness of the black wall could mutate into demons in various ways.
Among them, the majority were carnivorous trees that functioned like pitfall traps.
They had noticeable fruits and leaves, and when sothing touched them, they attacked reflexively. Thanks to these carnivorous trees, there were many areas they couldnt traverse.
Even after dealing with the source of the curse, they didnt return to their original forms.
If contamination began near this area
Even if its an earlier point in ti than back then, they could encounter it at any mont.
Are you talking about things like that?
Miguels chilling voice asked the question then.
The stopped group turned their heads and looked in the direction he indicated.
Strangely, a towering tree had suddenly sprouted by the side of the road. While the other trees around it were thin, this one had grown upward so high that it completely obscured the nearby sky.
What stood out about this tree was the abundance of red fruits hanging from it. As if inviting them to taste.
Its probably that.
Ian added, raising his head.
You better not pass right in front of that tree.
Miguel sighed.
Damn Ive never seen a tree like that before. Its been years since a tree grew this much in such a short ti.
It was you who led us to this unusual forest, Miguel.
Philips retort made Miguel mumble awkwardly.
Could I have known that a sect like that would erge during that ti?
If you keep talking, I might just let you experience what kind of demon that is firsthand.
Ian finally spoke, silencing Miguel and Philip. Then followed a brief silence.
A mont of silence was broken by Ians small laugh.
What are you doing? Lets go.
Miguel, who had turned pale, swallowed his dry saliva and muttered.
Alright, fine. Damn it. As long as we dont touch it.
He started walking, his steps hesitant and his expression nervous. Both Philip and Maeve, who walked soundlessly, followed behind. Both of them held their reins as if they were their lifelines.
Its still growing, huh? Will it look like what I know when its fully grown?
Observing calmly, Ian passed by the carnivorous tree again.
Though it was much smaller than in his mory, the tree was still the sa kind. It just hadnt fully matured yet. If other carnivorous trees were at the sa stage, it seed possible to pass through this path for now.
As long as were careful not to touch anything
Just as he was about to say that, the leaves of the tree they had just passed suddenly trembled violently.
Shihak-!
In an instant, sothing like a whip lashed out from behind Ian and struck him.
!
Ian turned his head and saw the image of a grotesque, ash-colored maw clamping down on the head of the horse he had been riding.
The maw had ash-colored shells like a saw blade, even though they were much smaller than he rembered.
Despite the horses screams, the head was crushed to pieces, and the maw retracted as quickly as it had appeared into the thick foliage.
Damn it What the hell?
Translator; ippo
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