If it had been the her from the past, by now on her journey to find the Foreign Magician, she would probably have already beco both nervous and anxious, right?
But now...
"I already have like-minded companions."
Altoria looked at Reiger, who was sitting beside her.
"Hm?" Reiger noticed Altoria’s gaze and asked with confusion, "What’s the matter?"
"...No," Altoria shook her head and smiled, "It’s nothing."
The Altoria who said this had an obvious fondness in her eyes, a fondness that had not been there before.
She wouldn’t tell Reiger that, in fact, when she dreamt of her Panhuman History self last night, she also dreamt of him.
She dreamt of him turning into a sun once again, illuminating the path beneath her feet, escorting and protecting her.
Thanks to this, she was able to persist in watching the life of another self to the end.
Otherwise, she would have already been crushed by that heavy pressure.
...
Just as Reiger’s group set out on their journey, on the coast of a distant frontier forest, several figures appeared here.
They seed to have traversed across from the other side of the sea, and upon landing, imdiately plunged into a thick fog.
"...Is this the Britannian anomaly zone?"
A voice spoke up first.
"I can’t see anything, such thick fog."
Another voice followed.
"Wait for , I’ll survey the surroundings first."
This was a childish voice; as it spoke, the sounds of operating instrunts began to echo.
"The temperature is moderate, humidity normal. Given these values, this fog is probably not made from ordinary water vapor. Plus, the mana concentration in the air is highly unusual. If it’s this thick, many ancient mysteries must still linger in this land, so everyone should be careful, and not be careless."
The youthful voice reminded in a surprisingly wise manner, giving off a precocious feel.
"Yes."
"Understood."
The other two imdiately responded, showing great respect for the opinion of the owner of the youthful voice, even completely following their advice and judgent.
But as the trio prepared to move, a fourth voice suddenly erged.
"...I am very sad. Are you not aware of my presence right beside you?"
With these words, the first three were startled.
"...Eh?"
"You, you are...!?"
"Tristan!"
In response to the exclamation of the three, the owner of the fourth voice seed to finally smile.
"Yes, Knight Tristan, at your service."
A beautiful sound of a harp followed, resounding through the thick fog.
The self-proclaid knight Tristan played the harp, bringing joy to the three in front.
Unaware to them, the fog around them thickened further.
And, so shadows quietly approached, slowly making their way towards where they stood.
...
The Naless Forest.
This was located in the southwest direction of Fairy Country Britannia, at the very corner of the island nation, near the coast.
It was called the Naless Forest, not because it was naless.
"A forest where one would forget everything about themselves, even their nas, never to be recalled...?"
On the carriage, Altoria repeated the introduction brought by Alberon to herself in a murmur.
"Exactly," Alberon still sat on Blanca but had entered the carriage, coming to face Reiger and Altoria, saying, "Whether a fairy or a human, anyone who enters that forest will beco lost in the fog and gradually forget everything during their wandering, until they can’t even rember their own na."
"That is the Naless Forest, once you enter, there is no return, the forest where you lose your na."
It was the worst fairy domain in Britannia.
It was the most dreaded, the unwelcoming land of death.
At least, for fairies, it was as good as a dead end.
The reason was simple.
"Once a fairy loses its na, it will lose the aning of its existence and even its concept. Eventually, they will either completely wither or beco cursed Moors, wandering the lands of Britannia until they are vanquished and only then can they be redeed."
Alberon spoke confidently.
"We are heading to such a terrifying place, how do you feel about that?"
What else to say?
Anyway, Altoria was holding tightly to her chosen staff, with a posture ready to resist.
The Naless Forest had a great deterrent effect on fairies, and it evoked a sense of dread far greater than that in humans.
At least, humans, when they lose their mories and nas, will not turn into Moors, will not beco cursed creatures and fall into degradation.
But fairies were different, unless they wished to commit suicide, they wouldn’t dare approach the Naless Forest.
"...Did that Chaldea really dock in such a place?"
Altoria revealed a troubled expression.
"I would love to say no, but sadly it’s true," Alberon shrugged and said, "According to the information I have, recently, there have been unidentified objects washing ashore only at the coast near the Naless Forest. That’s likely Chaldea’s boat."
That ant unless they gave up the search for Chaldea, they must go to the Naless Forest.
"Are you two okay with this?" Alberon asked Reiger and Altoria, "I myself have a way of not being affected by the Naless Forest, how about you?"
Altoria hesitated.
She didn’t know if she would be affected by the Naless Forest.
Reiger, however, was certain that these kinds of mory-interfering effects had no influence on him.
But as he was about to speak up, a strange disturbance suddenly occurred, drawing Reiger’s attention.
User Comments
0 comments from readers