The Paladin Owns the Relic

164 – Ancient Forest (24)

I want to go back even now.

Ed, the leader of the Grave Mercenaries, thought so. He had unknowingly avoided dangerous requests, but now he came and threw his life at his limbs.

The troops aren’t large enough to use someone as a shield. Minor elite. In the first place, Ed, who knew that he was not a place to join, was drying his blood in real time.

If you get swept away, you die. It will also become a shield and will be the first to be discarded.

The looking up gaze that was always directed at him was not here. It was full of only the gaze looking down at him as if he was treating the youngest.

Even though someone pushed him on the shoulder, Ed couldn’t say anything.

“What are you doing? Sick.”

“Aren’t you going forward?”

“…….”

The Grave mercenary corps were in a state of complete dismay. Unlike them, this place was overflowing with decent A-class mercenaries.

A veteran of veterans.

Reverse warriors who have actually overcome limbs, and true warriors who have always faced limits.

The Grave Mercenaries complained.

“Captain, why would you say such a thing…!”

“I heard everything from the Bacon Company!”

“If he was going to die, would he die alone…!”

“Everyone, shut up!”

Ed grabbed his quivering weapon with both hands. He gasped.

Yes. You just have to go back. Let’s aim to return safely by using the surroundings somehow.

You can. Still, isn’t it an A-rank mercenary in name and color? Even if that rank is only a façade, I’m sure it’s somehow…!

“The enemy!!!”

“f*cking tree chicks are happening!”

“Watch out on the side! It’s coming from the left!”

“Here’s the weapon!!!”

The dim hope was quickly dashed.

In an instant, the war situation became dizzy. A real exhaust battlefield where a person’s body soars into the air and flesh piles up on the floor.

The gigantic tree spirit was so big that you had to look up far away. His actions were a bit sluggish, but his hands were full of superpowers enough to make up for it all.

When the hand holding the dried tree moved, the ground shattered. The grass was shredded, the stone that was swept away was broken, and the human form was crushed beyond words.

“Quaaa!!! My paaal!!!”

“Leave the injured behind!”

“Wizards, cure them right away!”

“The avant-garde!! Jump forward right now!!!”

“Oh sh*t! Don’t flinch and get out!!!”

A flaming arrow pierces the air. The chanted magic heals the sick, and a simple bomb with sparks shatters the tree spirit’s hand.

A horror reminiscent of war.

From noble mtl dot com

Someone pushed Ed on the back, who was standing vacantly behind, shivering.

“You f*cking b*tch! Jump out in front of the avant-garde, you idiot!”

“Huh?!”

Ed staggered forward. Unexpectedly, he mixed up with the avant-gardes and raised his shield.

I met eyes with the tree spirit. The sound of the calm wind escaping.

The dried tree in his hand hit Ed hard.

Quang!

“Hooky?!”

A strange sound came out of my mouth. In an instant, every muscle in his body was torn to pieces. Without a moment to feel the pain, the crushed limbs let go of the weapon at will.

Blood flowed from his nose. It was the same with his mouth. I just trembled and spat out words in my distorted vision.

“Buy, save…”

It feels like everything has been ruined.

At that moment Ed realized how stupid she was.

If I had been constantly diligent like the others, I wouldn’t be lying around in a place like this.

She must have done her part and slammed the sword into the tree spirit’s body.

If she hadn’t been condescending in the first place, she could have lived a quiet life buried by others!

A kaleidoscope passes by. Ed blinked her eyes. He noticed the end of his life in the arm of the giant tree spirit who lifted it up again.

As it is.

End like this.

Ed cried out. The only thing that really came out was the sound of the wind leaking out. Even the lungs were broken, so no sound came out.

I don’t want to die.

His broken hand crawled on the ground. He tried to escape somehow. But the tree spirit’s arm was faster.

He heard the air breaking behind his head.

Ed closed his eyes.

And…

Quaaa!!!

An explosion occurred.

“Isn’t it because it’s a stage where you just have to burn everything down… that’s good!”

Ed opened his eyes again. I saw torches flying in the air and tree spirits breaking.

The giant, desperate to block his only one attack, collapses to the floor. He rolls on the floor with his entire body burnt.

A man like a flame.

The spinning spears increased to dozens. It bombed the entire area and turned the area into a sea of fire.

In the blurred vision, Ed realized. He listened intently to his ears, wondering if he was the only one thinking.

I heard the sound of talking. The voices murmured in vain as if they were tired.

“No… f*ck… Is that a priest?”

“I thought you were specialized in healing…”

“Even a high-ranking knight… can’t do better than this?”

“What the hell is that window? f*ck you nimmy…”

“Why is life so unfair?”

“Is that a human or a monster?”

Ah.

I’m not the only one who thinks so.

Ed shook his head. For some reason, a handful of smiles hung on his lips.

. . .

“Hmm.”

I slung the spear over my shoulder.

“There can’t be only this number of guys like this…”

Estimated level 50 or so. This is the weakest tree spirit.

I received the buff effect because it was inside the ancient forest, but a mediocre janitor is almost as good as an imperial knight.

They keep springing up. Those who died will also return to a simple old tree, and will resurrect after time passes.

At least one thing is certain.

The moment the big city garnet is eaten by the ancient forest, the city collapses. There’s no way to use her hands.

I glanced at the ancient forest where the torch was burning. As long as the torch was lit once, it wouldn’t go out unless I picked it up. However, it was impossible to keep the fire burning all over this vast ancient forest.

In the first place, I have never seen the expansion story of the Ancient Forest. It’s not expanding its territory like an alien, it’s a forest that expands its own territory…

What the hell did the forest queen do?

Is the world tree the right thing to aim for in the first place?

I was full of questions, but I had to move. I glanced back.

“Bunny.”

Bernie spat bloody saliva. The gaze at me trembled.

“You really…What are you doing, are you so strong? Could it be the secret weapon of the Sun God?”

“Let’s start with what to do.”

“…Good. In action! Cubs! Collect tree spirit samples now! You don’t know what might come out of the forest, so don’t separate from the person next to you!”

Bernie’s command was effective. As the mercenary wizards had heard beforehand, they collected samples of the tree spirits, and also cut off parts of the vines and stored them separately.

The collection list gradually increased. We moved on. After a few bumps, we found what looked like a natural cave.

There were no vines growing inside. There was no grass either.

“…Only this place is strange.”

Rakkeom removed the old tree clinging to the spear.

“Is there something inside?”

“I don’t think so. Rock. Look.”

Vulcan pointed to the shadow.

“It is the only space where sunlight does not enter. If you think about it differently, wasn’t it usually during the day when those monster-like guys expand their territory? It seems that you can’t use your power in a place where sunlight doesn’t penetrate.”

“Eh. Then, isn’t my strength rather negative to them?”

“Did you forget that your strength is so ignorant that it surpasses the odds?”

I threw a joke once, but take it seriously.

Well, it is an accurate hypothesis. I glanced back at the investigation team. In several battles, the investigation team was half-stretched.

It was a fierce battle, though. Even though the A-rank mercenaries were somewhat ahead, it was like losing a goal if they got hit wrong with their insane strength.

Patients were also significant. Said Bernie firmly.

“It’s better to take a break. You didn’t even think it was an investigation that would end in a day or two anyway. You need proper rest. And most of all, it will be mentally stable if you decide where to live.”

I lit the torch in my hand. I checked inside the cave.

A large natural cave with nothing special. I glanced up.

I could see the sun slowly setting, which was hidden by the dense bushes. If even the last year disappears, the Ancient Forest will also weaken, but it will become more dangerous as the field of vision narrows.

Move during the day and rest at night.

That’s the basics of the expedition, though.

“Okay. Bunny. Let’s rest here.”

Bunny commanded the scene neatly.

“Send all wagons into the cave! In action! We need to make a base camp here before nightfall, so move fast! You you. And to you Thoroughly check inside and report separately. Okay?”

“The wagon is too big to fit in?”

“Then split the ceiling a little. Sick.”

Under Bunny’s leadership, the site that would become the base camp is slowly beginning to take shape. A cozy nest formed inside a cave.

I knocked down Brunak. Beatrice, who climbed over her head, whispered.

“Zahard.”

“Yes?”

“Something reminds me of the old days.”

“What do you think?”

“Although I was called the saint of fire… I actually spent more time outside than within the Sun God Church. I always repeated battle and rest. It was a dizzying time. There were many monsters to kill, and many of them needed the help of a paladin.”

Beatrice smiled brightly.

“I am the only one among the daytime shamans who has been permitted to fight outside. Ah. It was fun then. There were so many things to burn… hehehehe… I want to go back…”

“Saliva flows.”

“Ehehehe.”

Beatrice tugged at my hair.

“Zahard. You know. My disciple I saw the rogues of the Ancient Forest. It’s strong. Much more than normal articles. And their leader could be stronger than any foe you’ve ever seen.”

“…What, is that so?”

“Perhaps the current Zahard is not enough. So, I think I have to learn it slowly.”

“What?”

“The unique surname born from Zahard’s stigma and internal image. A world of your own that cannot be followed by others.”

Beatrice whispered.

“Let’s go further. Zahard. Your vessel is stronger than mine. If I can learn the knowledge I have, I will be able to move farther forward than I used to. And you won’t die miserably like me. I don’t want you to die.”

“…Why?”

“Do you think there is a teacher who wants the death of a student?”

“Since when did the student-teacher relationship…”

“Then isn’t it?”

I grabbed his hair and glanced at Beatrice, who had landed on his shoulder.

He laughed.

“What should I do first? Master.”

Beatrice laughed ehehehe.

“It’s a good attitude. Disciple.”