The Paladin Owns the Relic

157 – Ancient Forest (17)

All the commanding ranks of the big city Garnet gathered.

Suddenly, a large-scale raid. Like a big city, the damage wasn’t that big compared to the whole, but even so, being attacked was being attacked.

The restoration of the protective magic on the wall was quick. Wizards moved in a hurry, and built a new defense line using the materials accumulated in the castle.

Basmov, the lord of the castle, moved. As an aristocrat who is in charge of one axis of the front line, he coped with everything quickly.

“Give food generously. Do whatever the saint asks for as much as you can.”

We released the warehouse and calmed public sentiment. The army was summoned and lightly patrolled outside the castle.

The returning patrol gave a brief report.

“Your Excellency! The forest is strange!”

“What do you mean by that?”

“It will be easier to understand if you see it for yourself!”

The wall repair work was also completed just in time. Basmov stood on top of the castle wall and looked down at the forest.

Ancient Forest.

Long time and layer upon layer of lush vegetation was visible under the ramparts. Its size was very large, befitting its nickname of an ancient forest.

Ordinary plants grow taller than normal when they grow there. I heard that it is called the Blessed Forest by the elves.

Even simply small trees easily exceed several meters. Compared to the larger one, it is about 2/3 of the height of the wall.

A natural fortress.

But that was strange.

Originally, it was a forest that spread only to the south. However, due to the sudden attack, I didn’t look at it, and a huge forest surrounded it on all sides as if it were about to swallow the entire castle.

The vast plains were all covered with vegetation. It feels like a castle has fallen into the middle of an endless forest.

“…This is what it is.”

Basmov checked the path. Even the smooth roads that had been polished for generations were all eaten away by the forest.

The ancient forest was occasionally shaken. It was covered by the bushes, so I couldn’t see what was going on inside.

However, it was so large that I could guess that it was a huge creature wriggling from the inside.

“…Any contact with other cities?”

“I sent you a copy, but…”

As if to show it directly, one article launched a bird. The wings rose with the air currents. But before it could get any higher, something popped out of the Ancient Forest.

Arrows.

Something that might be a sharp branch.

The bird crashed. The body was hidden in the bushes and was not visible.

“…What about communication magic?”

“There is radio interference. The crystal also doesn’t work.”

“I entered the ancient forest, and it matches the words of those who came back alive.”

Communication is impossible.

It is also impossible to contact the outside.

But you can’t carelessly dig into it.

“…Gather the survivors who came back alive from the ancient forest.”

“Your Excellency. What do you mean…?”

“I need to hear the story. If you gather scattered information, something will come out. At least it is certain that an abnormality has occurred.”

Basmov’s coat fluttered.

“Maybe we… May have entered the ancient forest as a castle.”

. . .

The forest moved.

After changing into the new priestly uniform I brought, I went up the wall. The ancient forest overlooked was completely different from the one in the game.

Metropolitan Garnet.

Going further south from there, there was an ancient forest. However, contrary to what I thought, the ancient forest was close, as if I could reach it at any moment.

Not only that. The whole area as far as the eye could see was a forest. Regardless of the south, the north, east, and even the west where the road was connected were all forested.

“…The forest moved.”

There were several possibilities to infer. Most likely, the tree spirits were enraged.

They can move the entire forest. A force independent of the elves.

Dryad.

The managers of the Ancient Forest, and those who can be seen as the Ancient Forest itself. They are directly combed from the branches of the World Tree, and can be seen as their children.

It’s different from elves. Elves are simply beings that guard the World Tree. Unlike the Dryads who were born directly from them, they are a race that has benefited from the World Tree.

The beings who inherited the lineage of god-like beings and the gardeners who manage them.

It was obvious who would be stronger. In the first place, even though the Empire regarded the Fairy Forest as a vassal state, there was a reason why they did not recklessly enter it.

Those who can forgive those who touch the elves, but cannot forgive those who harm the forest.

The dryad was strong. They were much stronger than the elves. Everyone just doesn’t know the fear because he shrank himself and settled in the forest.

They are strong enough to stop the invasion of an empire several dozen times larger for a while.

“…It’s tricky.”

If the dryad was angry, why was it angry?

And that angry man…Does he have a reason to forcefully move the entire forest like that?

Leaning against the wall, he was lost in thought.

The leader of the dryads is a dryad individual called the queen of the forest. She has intelligence, and her appearance can be seen to resemble a human.

Of course we can also talk. You can easily trade with intelligent beings.

Did you make a deal with the crown prince? Is that why you broke down the entire gate to kill the delegation?

No…No…

There’s more.

There is too much to lose compared to what is gained. Invading Garnet is tantamount to announcing that they will become enemies of the Empire.

No matter how powerful the dryad is, if the empire decides to push it away at her cost, even the ancient forest will be trampled under its hooves.

It is not an empire for nothing. Because its power is the strongest on the continent, it is called the “Empire”.

There was a part that could not be explained simply by trading. Seeing them trying to devour a whole big city garnet… There must be something…

What is the ‘something’ that must be obtained even if you become an enemy of the empire?

“…Lack of clues.”

There are too few things that can be inferred in the first place. It’s not something I can think of right now.

I went down the wall. The gathered people laughed widely.

“Saint!”

“Where are you going?”

“Are you feeling better?”

There were so many eyes that it was burdensome. I smiled benevolently.

“It’s okay. How are you injured?”

“hahahaha! Thanks to the Holy Son, everything is healed!”

“The same goes for my child. Saint. I really… Thank you very much…”

“Rae be blessed!”

“The flames will devour everything… Is this the right way to do it?”

“I will teach you later.”

“Thank you! Holy saint!”

The popularity is so high that it just pierces the sky. Well, it’s a good thing.

Let’s do publicity activities while the identity is revealed.

“Scorched ash. Please love me a lot.”

“Scorched ash!”

“I will never forget you!”

“Cult of Ra! Live forever!”

Arpina, who was wiping the children’s faces with a wet towel, found me and ran diligently. She immediately followed along.

“Zahard.”

“Your Highness.”

“Don’t call me that, please call me Arpina. You promised to do that.”

She agreed with what she said about being caught, but her mouth didn’t drop.

To be honest, in terms of rank, she is at the very top of the church. She used to put her last name on Dimona too, but she came back and told her…

“…Don’t like it?”

Arpina sagged like a dead puppy.

I sighed.

“Arpina.”

Stupid.

“…Yes!”

“How are the patients?”

“There are few people who have had side effects. But it’s not entirely non-existent. There are a few people who need to take a break for a while because the loss of stamina is great. Private doctors are taking good care of those who have secondary infections as a side effect of excessive s*xual power.”

“Isn’t there a separate part to work on?”

“It is safe to say that I did everything I could as a priest. And I… Joe, I was a little moved.”

Arpina’s eyes sparkled.

“Zahard listens to me very well.”

“…Yes?”

“Sympathy… I couldn’t imagine that you would have said that you should help the innocent and weak as much as you have power, even while shedding blood. Zahard is… A very kind-hearted person.”

It’s a bit prickly with my conscience because I did it because of my skill level.

“I don’t think I did anything that great…”

“No! It’s such a great thing. Look over there.”

The children are playing by kicking a ball. Everyone is smiling broadly, as if they had cried while rolling on the ground.

“It was also thanks to Zahard that the children were able to smile again.”

“……”

“How are you feeling?”

“Well, that’s not too bad.”

Thank you is also good. Who would feel bad after hearing a compliment?

But what I was wary of was the other part.

“But I don’t know if this will happen again.”

“…Why?”

“Because I believe that all kindness needs a price.”

“…What did you get this time?”

“Things that cannot be said.”

“……”

Arpina was silent. I walked at her feet.

She skipped a few buildings. The center of Garnet, where the restoration work was taking a long time, was very dizzy.

People shouted and helped each other to rebuild the nest. I cleared the rock to one side and straightened the messy path.

Arpina stopped her feet.

“…Zahard.”

“Yes?”

“There are things in the world that cannot be valued.”

The wind blew. Arpina brushed her flowing silver hair behind her ear.

“We are always at a crossroads of choice. Whichever you choose, you lose the other.”

“……”

“However, there are people who cannot even choose that option. Incompetent and helpless people. People who are innocent but silent because they do not know how to speak out.”

“And there are many cases where such people rather stab others in the back.”

“I don’t know what kind of life Zahard lived. But I think everyone should be given an equal opportunity once.”

“Even if that one time hurts the person who reached out?”

“Zahard. Nobody knows the future. I don’t think what I’m saying will touch you. But…”

Alpina laughed briskly.

“Zahard is strong. Yes?”

“……”

“I think you will be strong both physically and mentally. So if I could give him a chance, I hope he would give it once. I think it will be okay to save people within reach.”

“…What if the person who saved me took mine away?”

“There is no such thing. I’ll be watching over you.”

“Why?”

“Just as Zahard listened to me, I will also listen to you. I want to repay you for the opportunity you gave me.”

Arpina walked.

The wind blew at her toes.

“If you give and receive like that… It’s a relationship that gets deeper and deeper. Yes?”

“……”

“Think of that village. There were people who tried to attack us, but there were also people who were silent.”

“Not really helpful.”

“Right now, yes. I don’t know in the distant future. Good deeds go round and round. I don’t mean to disparage your assertiveness. I just want to broaden my horizons a bit.”

A small hand wrapped around my hand. Gently pick it up and place it on your lips.

Whisper.

“We are priests. Even if your essence is close to that of a paladin… I think a little mercy will help you on your way as well.”

“……”

“It is not compulsory. Zahard. Just think a little bit. Those kids, all the people who are fixing the building over there…”

They met eyes and bowed their heads. The children laughed and clung between us.

“I am grateful to you. Also very much. Is that… not enough?”

“……”

“Ho, did you…do you think I was… presumptuous…?”

He moved his mouth.

I tried to answer.

But there was other news that broke the conversation.

“Get out of the way everyone!”

Soldiers rode their horses and hurriedly ran through the city. Inside the wildly clanking horseshoes was a bleeding outsider.

A doll of a passer-by. However, among the bloody body parts, there was one that stood out.

Long ears.

“…Elf?”

Why is the elf in the fairy forest… Brought in now?