Chapter 50 Beast
"So, this is the so-called Lost Forest. Looks pretty normal to me."
"Yeah, I guess that's true."
The sky was a burnt orange at sunset.
The trees stood tall, their young leaves turning autumn colors.
In front of this wide, chunky view, 2 people dropped their honest thoughts.
Yep, that's us.
"The first one vanished picking wild plants here. The second disappeared playing some wannabe adventurer."
"The third went fishing in a nearby river. The 4th was in the village, still in his mother's arms when he vanished. Overall, the strangest one is the 4th person's disappearance, but the third one isn't completely unrelated to this forest."
"...The river upstream runs through here. It all comes back to this place."
"So this forest is linked to the disappearances of 3 people. I thought it would have a creepier vibe, though."
"Yeah. The Magi flow doesn't feel off, either. If there's a beast here, there should be some kind of distortion."
(...Distortion, huh? If we're talking about that, the communal grave behind us feels way creepier.)
When I turned around, I saw a group of wooden grave markers lit by the reddish light.
Seeing so many markers for people I didn't know made it hard not to feel a bit uneasy.
"Enough yapping. We won't know what's what until we get in there."
"Are you planning to just take your chances? Well, that's more your style than being overly cautious."
"Shut it. You scared we'll run into a beast, loudmouth?"
"Hah. You really barked there, Nameless. Who do you think you're talking to? I'm not scared of a beast at all!"
I've gotten used to her teasing tone by now.
But for Shura, she had to take it seriously.
"Actually──I'm looking forward to it."
As she spoke with more intensity, her trademark red scarf fluttered dramatically.
Before I could even think about whether I said too much, Shura took a step forward.
"Wait, you young ones!"
"Whoa!"
"Huh?"
A sudden third person caught us off guard.
The asg valkyrie lady, who stepped forward angrily, looked like she just got her knees knocked out from under her.
* * *
"You travelers, are you?"
The old man wrapped in tattered black silk made the rumored girl freeze in place.
His interception was impressive, but his appearance was pretty creepy. Holding a rusty shovel and an old lantern, he stared at us intently.
"No, we're not travelers. The village head sent us. We're here to solve the missing persons case."
"I see. So you are the knights Hauchi mentioned."
"Hiiro Merifar, at your service."
"...Eshurareze."
"I'm Eigun. I'm the gravekeeper."
Looks like this guy is from the village. Mentioning Ms. Hauchi confirms it. But a gravekeeper? Yeah, that makes sense since this is a graveyard.
On the other hand, maybe because she felt embarrassed, Shura glared at him with sharp eyes. For some reason, she was glaring at me.
I didn't do anything wrong, that's just mean.
"So, what do you want with us? I don't plan on having my name carved on a grave anytime soon."
"Shura, don't act tough just because you got spooked."
"I-I'm not scared! ...I just tripped a little, okay!?"
"I see. Sorry for surprising you. I noticed you were about to enter the forest."
"I said I wasn't surprised!"
Maybe her pride was hurt, but Shura was desperately trying to explain herself. Her red face was just as cute as the sunset.
"...So, is it bad to enter the forest?"
"Yes. The forest is very dangerous. You've heard, right? Two children have already gone missing in this forest."
"Yeah, but that's why we're here—to put an end to it. We don't need your warnings."
"However, it will soon be night. Even the villagers can get lost in this forest, and the darkness will confuse you even more."
It seems like Mr. Eigun called out to give me a warning.
I understood what he was trying to say. Honestly, I should probably wait for another day to go into the forest. I know it would be a lot safer that way.
'Please, please save my village... Korghi Village!'
But my heart didn't agree with that.
"...Even if you're right, I made a promise to this village. I'm going to put an end to this damn nightmare. Tonight."
"..."
"If we're talking about the fourth one who vanished, there's a damn good chance someone else disappears tonight. We don't have time to sit around second-guessing. We charge in now."
"...You're young, aren't you? You're a straightforward guy. You're willing to jump into danger for a village like this? I didn't think there were still knights like you around."
Do they think I'm reckless?
The old man's raspy laugh mixed with the dry wind.
Looking down at the unlit lantern, Mr. Eigun spoke again.
"Then let me tell you one thing. You must never go near the ruins deep in the forest."
"Ruins?"
"It used to be an orphanage."
"Orphanage..."
(Shura?)
When he gave this new warning, the air felt colder, as if the impatient night was falling.
It was partly because of the tense atmosphere around Mr. Eigun. But more than that, I could see Shura's clear unease.
He shook his head, as if to say it was nothing. Maybe he didn't want me to ask.
I was curious, but right now, that wasn't what I should be focusing on.
"Why can't we go there?"
"...Aren't you knights? Digging up graves is a terrible sin for those who have no pride or honor."
"Graves, huh..."
"No one has the right to wake the 'sleeping souls of the orphans' from their dreams. Not even knights or kings. Don't you think so?"
"..."
Mr. Eigun called the orphanage a grave.
That meant there was something life-threatening about that place.
As I slowly turned around, the way he stuck the shovel into the ground clearly showed he didn't want to talk about it.
(So there's something going on there.)
But I kept getting more and more confused.
Honestly, it was frustrating. But to be honest, I was the one with the biggest secrets in this world. Everyone has things they don't want others to know. Me, Shura, and everyone else.
Just when I felt awkward and scratched my cheek because of that unexplainable feeling...
"...Hiiro."
"Huh? What is it, Shura?"
"Something feels off."
"Off? What are you──"
"...The 'forest'!"
Two months ago, just like it attacked the peaceful village.
The "threat" came out of the darkness without warning.
[GeaGea!]
[GGi? GiGii, Giiee]
[Gya, Gya!]
(What... what is that? Shadows are coming from the trees in the forest!)
What appeared was a swarm of shadows.
They crawled toward us, making strange sounds that I couldn't understand.
[[[GGG──! GiiiGyaGyaGyaGya!!]]]
"What the hell are those?!"
"Hiiro! Get ready for battle!"
They were definitely not normal.
They had big, round bellies and hands with claws.
Their faces were so dark that I couldn't even see their eyes or nose. Only their mouths were grinning like crescent moons.
This wasn't right.
Oh, I see. I get it now.
I understood it instinctively and logically.
Those things... they are humanity's worst enemies.
"──They're 'beasts'!"
[Gya]
The dark shadow, like a mass of darkness, let out a short cry in response.
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