The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 81

“By the way, what was that about the gate earlier? The suspicious wagons?”

“Oh, it’s nothing significant. A caravan passed through about a week ago, but the soldiers who inspected it don’t seem to remember what was inside. The report records don’t match either.”

“Typical negligence on their part.”

“Exactly. They did a shoddy job, and now that they’ve been caught, they’re making excuses about suspicion and whatnot. It’s just a hassle for me. The head of that caravan is a really prickly guy. He’ll nitpick and be uncooperative, and I already have a headache just thinking about it.”

“You have it rough, brother. I hope it gets resolved smoothly.”

“Thanks.”

While the three of them chatted, Camille remained silent and kept his seat. He only reacted when Lisa casually mentioned something.

“Oh, speaking of which, I heard that the situation in the Dugal Mountains has been unusual recently. Have you heard anything about it?”

“…The Dugal Mountains?”

Camille blinked slowly and set his drink down. It was the first time he showed interest since joining the gathering. Lisa, thinking he might be interested because it was related to their past expedition, nodded eagerly.

“We received some updates from researchers dispatched there, and it seems a bit concerning. It looks like the Dras might have relocated to another land.”

“What? That’s impossible. Knowing the Dras, there’s no way they’d abandon the territory they’ve guarded since ancient times.”

Hamar shook his head, disbelief written all over his face. The Dugal Mountains had been the Dras’ domain for eons. Leaving one’s birthplace was challenging enough, but abandoning a territory they had defended for thousands of years was unthinkable. It was as absurd as an entire country relocating. Lisa agreed.

“I also think it sounds ridiculous. But it does seem like something odd is happening. Apparently, the Dras have been untraceable for about a month now. They show no response even when approached near their territory. There have also been signs of battles in the vicinity.”

“Hmm, something must have happened internally.”

“Yes, there seems to have been a major fire in the area. We haven’t fully assessed all the damage yet, but quite a lot of the forest has been completely burned down. As you know, such an event is impossible under the Dras’ management.”

The Dras, being a nature-loving race, cherished the forests more than anyone else. Thanks to their diligent care, the Dugal Mountains had not seen a major fire in thousands of years. Allowing a fire to spread unchecked was unthinkable. Hamar’s expression grew serious as he grasped the gravity of the situation.

“I’ve heard reports that the number of monsters in that area has significantly increased recently. This might be related.”

“Oh my, is that so? Then it’s possible the Dras were driven out by the monsters in a territorial dispute. Though, it’s hard to believe the Dras would lose.”

“Hold on a moment. What do you mean by that? Are there more monsters in the forest?”

Camille, suddenly flustered, interrupted. Noticing his unusually pale face, Hamar shrugged.

“It’s not confirmed, but it seems a large number of monsters, mostly high-ranking ones, have settled there. The migration of such high-level monsters is rare, so they investigated it. However, they haven’t pinpointed the cause yet.”

“…Does that mean the creatures living in the forest are in danger?”

“That could be the case if the Dras were indeed driven out.”

Camille’s face turned almost ghostly pale. Lisa, concerned, was about to ask if he was alright, but he stood up before she could speak.

“I apologize, but it’s getting late, and I should head home. I’ll see you guys next time.”

“Sure, take care. It was nice seeing you today.”

“See you next time, Camille.”

“Have a good night!”

After respectfully bowing, Camille turned and left the tavern. The remaining three exchanged glances for a moment.

“Something’s definitely going on.”

“Indeed. I thought it was just because we hadn’t seen him in a while, but his demeanor has changed.”

“Did you notice that too? I thought it was just me. When we were in the same department, he used to smile a lot and was quite outgoing. But today, he was so quiet that I almost didn’t recognize him.”

“Hmph, hasn’t he been doing well since his promotion? It feels like something’s up, but I can’t put my finger on it.”

However, their concerned words did not reach Camille, who had already left. As he walked through the darkened streets beneath the deep night sky, he looked up at the heavens. He stared at the cold moonlight and then clenched his trembling fist tightly.

“Are you safe right now, Sei…?”

Words filled with concern for someone who couldn’t possibly hear them dissipated into the void of the night.

* * *

I had a dream.

It was a dream where someone was desperately searching for me.

No, I wasn’t sure if that was truly the dream. As I woke, it faded away like foam, leaving only a vague, inexpressible lingering feeling.

I sat dazed for a while before slowly looking around. The sky was beginning to lighten. Large and small rocks stood like sculptures along the steep rocky ridge. Majestic, yet desolate. It was a familiar sight from the past few days.

I packed my sleeping bag and slung my backpack over my shoulders. Wetting my throat with the remaining water in my canteen, I left the spot where I had spent the night without hesitation. Hoping that today’s bleak journey will bring even a small amount of progress.

“Welcome, traveler! Are you looking for a place to stay, or perhaps just a meal?”

The voice rang out, drawing the attention of the people around. However, the curiosity towards a stranger didn’t last long. They quickly lost interest upon seeing that I had no companions and was simply dressed. Only the cheerful employee who approached me retained their interest.

“I’m looking for lodging.”

“Okay, a single night is three rads. Payment is upfront~”

I handed over several days’ worth of payment to the employee and received the room key.

I paid for a few days’ worth and received the room key from the employee’s outstretched hand. “Please, rest well, traveler!” Turning my back on the cheerful voice, I entered the accommodation, which, despite being an old inn, was well-maintained. The furniture consisted of just a bed and a small table, but it was clean without any dust, and it smelled pleasant. After the past few days spent on hard, uneven floors, this place felt like a luxury.

* * *

I set down my luggage (which was really just a backpack) on the floor and sat on the edge of the bed. My legs, which had walked all day, felt like they were screaming. Taking off my shoes revealed the many blisters that had formed. They would likely be healed by morning anyway.

I tossed my shoes aside and collapsed onto the bed. I realized I hadn’t even brushed off the dirt, but I didn’t have the energy to move a finger. I had pushed myself too hard, determined to find a village by the end of the day. At least now I had a bed to sleep in, so there were no regrets.

‘…At least I made it somehow.’

Herna Viscounty. I repeated the name I had noticed upon entering the village. It was a name you’d have to search for at the bottom of a map. This meant I had entered the southern region of the Empire.

It had taken me over a month to get here. The south, where the largest iron production site of the Empire was located, was a powerful military stronghold, but overall it was still underdeveloped. It was home to monster lairs, surrounded by barbarian lands and borders, and the terrain was too harsh. There were few transportation options, and even fewer well-maintained roads.

Even thinking about the journey made me sigh. I hadn’t initially planned to undertake this adventure. In fact, I never intended to set foot here again in my life.

Knight Semeion. Had his trail not led here…

‘Why the South, of all places.’

It was the plants around me that provided the information. According to hearsay, he had left the village not long after parting ways with our group. They knew he headed south, but no further details about his whereabouts. The real challenge was the Latio Desert one had to cross to get there.

The Latio Desert is the largest desert in Seoryeong. Though mostly flat and not too difficult to traverse, it featured vast barren rocky areas with scarcely any vegetation, stretching on for days. Following a trail requires witnesses, an impossible feat for plants disconnected from trade routes.

Thus, I had no choice but to head southward blindly. I hoped to gather news along the way, but so far, I had found no significant clues. The timing was also not in my favor.

Clatter, clatter—

The window frame had been rattling noisily in the wind for a while. As the sun began to set, cold drafts seeped through the gaps. The sharply dropping temperatures signaled the changing season. Winter was at the doorstep.

One thing I recently learned was that plants entered dormancy during winter. Grass and stems dried up, and the same went for trees.

Even in the south, winter was still winter. I could already feel it gradually encroaching. Each day, the voices around me grew quieter. Those that remained were sleepy with the approach of hibernation. Soon, it would be completely silent around me. I’d be entirely on my own.

‘…I hope I’m not too late.’

Not too late to find Semeion, and not too late to save everyone.

Swallowing a deep breath, I clenched my fist tightly. The thoughts I had forcibly pushed out of my mind began creeping back in. The fate of my kin who were taken away was still unknown. I had tried to track them, but their captors had covered their tracks well. All I had discovered was that they were transported by wagon, but their destination remained a mystery.

Perhaps it was already too late.

No, that can’t be. They must still be safe.

I slowly closed my eyes as a headache began to throb. The weight of my fatigue felt like it was pressing me down.

—–
(T/N): I’ll be changing “clan members” to “kin”.