The Paladin Owns the Relic

158 – Ancient Forest (18)

“Ancient Forest?”

Old and experienced guides of the ancient forest.

People of all ages, from middle-aged to old people, gathered and buzzed. We shared opinions and whispered.

Those who have been to the ever-changing outskirts, if not to the depths, carefully raised their heads.

“Your Excellency.”

“Speak.”

“We have gathered opinions, but we also do not know anything.”

The guide who acted as the representative bowed his head.

“The Ancient Forest is a known death forest since ancient times. We, the guides, have been recognized for not harming the forest spirits for a long time… All we have to do is enter the boundary for a short time.”

“That is not what I am curious about. Guide. Is there a man who went into the woods recently? Have unusual people ever talked to you?”

“If you are looking for the culprit… He was also nothing unusual. In the first place, those who ask us for directions are all those who collect sweet fruits or herbs from the outskirts of the forest. Those who want to go inside will not ask us for our opinion in the first place.”

“Hmm…”

Basmorph nodded.

“Tell me what you know about the ancient forest.”

“…I understand.”

As if starting a long story, the guide groped his neck.

“The ancient forest has been regarded as the most sacred forest since ancient times…”

“Omit the phrase of mass.”

“…The Ancient Forest is divided into three structures. Suburb. Inner wall. And the fairy forest in it. If there is such a thing as drawing paper, I will explain with a picture.”

“Bring it to me.”

He drew lightly with a pen. It was a little sloppy, but there was no problem recognizing it.

“The outskirts consist of complicated forest roads. Even when those who enter go out, most of them must get permission from the forest spirit. If you can’t get help, you have to break through by force… At that time, workers tending the forest appear.”

“A worker?”

“This is Ent. Dismissal. They are impressive people with wooden bodies and tall heights like giants. Its movements are rather slow, but its very thick outer shell looks like the bark of a tree.”

“…Did those monsters invade my city?”

“I don’t know the minor. They are usually gentle people… There are very few cases where I get angry…”

I could feel the respect in every tone of voice. Was it Entra?

They might have destroyed their city. Of course, I didn’t like being given honorifics.

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But Basmov respected age.

What would it accomplish if you disregarded your experience when you asked them about the case?

“Keep saying.”

The guide bowed.

“Ent, I have had several separate conversations with the workers. He is a very friendly child.”

“I am me. Dismissal.”

The plain woman hurriedly stood up and bowed her head. Her hands trembled as if she were nervous.

“Ha, but they are really nice people…I don’t think they would do something like this…”

“Calm down. The first thing I want to know is the truth. Tell me what you know.”

“…Yes. All right.”

The girl took a deep breath and said.

“Ant-sama said… I heard that if you go beyond the outskirts of the Ancient Forest and reach the inner part, the highest old ‘old ones’ will appear.”

“…The ‘old stuff’?”

“The spirits of the forest who have lived a long time… You said that they are on a different level from Ent-nim. There are four of them in total… They serve one queen…”

“Queen.”

Basmov was troubled.

“Is the spirit called the queen also an intelligence?”

“Go, Your Excellency. I also communicated with all the Ents. I don’t think there’s anything to say if they follow them…”

“I see. If so, there could be situations where they would have traded with others.”

“Go, Your Excellency! It can’t be!”

The woman let out a shrill scream.

“There are few people as innocent as they are! Very nice people! It’s as if there are no people who will step forward and hurt living things…!”

“Then how about the opposite situation?”

“…Yes?”

“Possibility of that innocence being tricked by others and deteriorating.”

“…Huh?”

“Judging from your unsure, you seem to think it could be.”

Basmov glanced at the old guide.

“Are you the most experienced guide here?”

“That’s right. Dismissal.”

“How do you see the current situation?”

“The forest is angry. It’s unprecedented. The forest seen from the castle wall maintains a shape never seen before.”

“How to solve it?”

“How about having a conversation? They must also have a reason. Shouldn’t you at least know the truth of the matter?”

“…….”

Basmorph nodded his head. He immediately set up an envoy.

A group of about 10 talented people accompanied by a guide.

But when they left the castle and came back, only two humans remained. One of them had disappeared with one arm torn off.

The knight, who came back quickly out of breath, immediately asked the wizards for help. Among the things brought was also a single elf, not a corpse.

An elf who pours out blood as if he would die at any moment.

“Help!”

“We must save this man! Dismissal!”

Basmov immediately called the wizard. But no one could lightly nod his head.

A wound that does not heal even when healing magic is applied. Purple blood flowed from his veins as if he had been poisoned.

“…It is a curse.”

“It is a very terrible curse.”

“What the hell did you do?”

“Even we don’t know.”

“All I saw was something like a thorn tree entangling an elf…”

A knight raised his head.

“Your Excellency! You mustn’t let him die! Seven knights sacrificed themselves to save him!”

“Why?”

“He knows something! I’ve heard that the Fairy Forest beyond the Ancient Forest isn’t in my condition either!”

“Why didn’t you steal more information?”

“I was a friendly person to us. I even owed my life once. As a knight, how could you point your sword at the person who owed your life!”

That is also true.

Basmorph nodded his head. He silently looked down at the elf.

He is a young man. He is very young, befitting an elf whose age rarely shows outwardly. His skin was plump and very white.

It is tempered. At least one of the warriors of the elves.

And besides… You’re communicating with the spirits.

Basmov knew. That there are two types of spirits in the world.

One is the type that manifests itself in the world and wanders around.

The remaining one is hidden in another dimension, and it is the type that occasionally reveals itself through the caller.

A faint light continued to wander around the elf who seemed to be out of breath at any moment. The lights flickered as if they were trying to say something, but there was no conversation.

“…Cool.”

Blood poured again. The wizards poured healing magic with all their might.

“Inject a little more medicine!”

“Regenerative power is already at its limit!”

“What a terrible curse…!”

“Isn’t that the power that gnaws at the soul itself…?!”

The elf’s body convulsed. The purple blood that was sprayed everywhere was full of stench.

“Your Excellency! Back off!”

“You never know what will happen if you touch blood!”

Basmov wrote with a frown.

“Do you think I will leave this place and leave you alone?”

“Go, Your Excellency…!”

“Don’t worry about me and focus on your treatment. In the midst of this commotion, there is someone coming out through the ancient forest… He must be carrying valuable information.”

We must live. But how?

Basmov, who had been rolling his head, came to a conclusion in the end.

“Go and call the saint of the Church of Ra.”

It is an old saying that the priest’s healing is superior to the magician’s. But Basmov remembered the miraculous scene from not too long ago.

“…Then.”

Unfounded belief.

But I’m sure it’s right nonetheless.

“There must be a way.”

. . .

“…Saint.”

The soldiers gathered. The knight at the front jumped off his horse.

He knelt down to show his respect. I also bowed my back.

“What are you doing late at night?”

I knew the intention even as I spit it out. The elf’s condition was close to critical. It felt like I was going to run out of breath any second.

Otherwise, there is no reason to find me in the present situation.

“…Saint. I think you must have been physically and mentally exhausted from taking care of so many people… But that’s…”

Is it because I saw a scene where people were cured by pouring blood? The knight paused for a long time.

“Can I ask for help if you don’t mind…?”

“Are you a patient?”

“Yes. That’s right.”

“I will go.”

The knight’s face turned red.

“Seo, Holy Son… As expected…!”

Elfra.

Judging by how they suddenly came out here, they must have some valuable information.

In the first place, the spirits of the forest were very friendly to the elves. Even so, an attack must mean that something went wrong between the two of them.

In return for the treatment, if you listen to the information together, you may be able to understand the current situation to some extent.

“Seo, if you are the Holy Son, you will surely be able to heal!”

“Well…”

To be honest, I’m not confident.

You can’t cure yourself!

I tried my best to hide my smile while looking at the status window.

“For now, I will try as much as I can.”