20 – Wizard’s Forest (1)
Finally, we got off the wagon and lined up in front of the forest entrance.
Over Professor Wilhelm’s shoulder, we could see a bifurcated tree welcoming us.
In contrast, there was only thick darkness beyond that, so I couldn’t see anything.
It’s a sight that makes me doubt whether it’s broad daylight.
I wonder if it is possible to create such a rare scene even if the forest in Amman is dense.
Prof. Wilhelm drew our attention again by clapping as before he left.
Next to him was a teaching assistant who accompanied him in case of an emergency.
“Now, let’s start exploring the Wizard’s Forest. Before that, everyone should get this.”
At Professor Wilhelm’s glance, the female assistant brought out something.
A rather heavy-looking leather pouch.
As soon as I saw it, I was able to intuitively guess what was inside.
Opening the bag, the female assistant delivered the items inside to us one by one.
It looked like a blue stone, a little smaller than my hand.
“Professor, what is this?”
“Um. That is what is called the ‘Hand of the Spirit King’.”
As expected, this was it.
I shook my head and waited for Professor Wilhelm’s words to follow.
“If you keep this, the nearby low-level spirits will not come to you. However, this does not work for the mid-level spirits who are guarding Astesia’s blessing, or for monsters that can be encountered occasionally.”
“Then what should I do? For us students, even low-level spirits….”
A female student raised her hand and asked a question in a trembling voice.
Somehow, since spirits themselves are rare beings, they must have felt uneasiness.
“The purpose of this exploration is to bring Astesia’s blessing, not to defeat the spirit. There are plenty of means to get it from intermediate spirits, such as diversionary maneuvers and tricks.”
“Are there a lot of intermediate level spirits?”
“No, only three of them currently exist in this forest.”
A belated sigh of relief flowed from among the students at Professor Wilhelm’s assertion.
After confirming that the cadets’ expressions had softened a little, he continued his words with a faint smile.
“In this expedition, you are a team and enemies. A high bonus point is given to the group that brings Astesia’s blessing, but if no one brings it, everyone is penalized.”
“Then, is it valid to steal Astesia’s blessing from someone else?”
“Yes. The group that won it and brought it before us is the final victor.”
The space of the wizard’s forest is literally just a place to produce as close to the real world as possible.
Besides, because of the Spirit King’s touch, the lower spirits won’t even be able to interfere with the cadets, so the battle between the cadets will only intensify.
Even in the original work, this class was called a survival among cadets under the name of exploration.
Of course, it’s not a brutal death survival where you die and kill each other.
“If you decide that it is impossible to proceed further in the middle, infuse magic into the hand of the Spirit King. Then you and Jo Won will be moved out of the forest. Instead, you should know that that group is the lowest bid.”
“Yes!”
Prof. Wilhelm took two steps to the side with a satisfied smile at the enthusiastic answer.
Then, the entrance to the Wizard’s Forest, which had only been visible over his shoulder, finally revealed itself.
“Then, good luck.”
After saying that, all the cadets kicked off their seats and ran out as if they were competing in running.
Those idiots.
Nothing good will happen if you go quickly.
* * * *
Sticky and damp.
It was all of the first impressions that came to my head after entering the Wizard’s Forest with Lone.
There was no time to be astonished at how nature has been preserved almost intact, or to infer the names of the trees growing nearby.
“It’s kind of dismal. Right… ?”
“There is a joke that the ground does not dry out when it rains. It would be awful.”
I replied without even giving a glance to Lone, who was sneakily clinging to me.
The sunlight, which was bright just a moment ago, suddenly stopped reaching our sight.
At least it’s not so dark that I can’t even tell the road ahead, but the ambiguous brightness seems to heighten the gloomyness even more.
Took. Toduk.
With the blunt wooden stick you picked up a while ago, you move your steps while simply cutting off bushes and tree branches.
Damn it. Bored to death
That’s why it’s cumbersome to even move on unpaved mountain or forest roads.
I want to cut it off with my sword, but if Lone, who was following me, suddenly clings to me, I can’t help it because it’s dangerous.
At this time, as if he had noticed the dissatisfaction in my eyes, Lorne quietly spoke to me.
“Bell. Would I rather clear the way with magic?”
“Arthur. Do you have anything to promote to the people around you that we are here?”
Since it was an unreasonable story, I cut off Lone’s words at once, like cutting off a branch from a tree.
Thank you for caring about me, but that’s a very short-sighted choice right now.
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Of course, there would be no reason to interfere with us without Astesia’s blessing.
However, even if you don’t know about the same cadets, the monsters that probably live around you are an exception.
They are usually sapless, and will attack anything that moves.
As Professor Wilhelm said, the Spirit King’s hand is to protect us from the low-level spirits in the forest, and it has no effect on monsters.
That’s why it’s best to refrain from clashing with them as much as possible and reach the center with all your strength.
For that, you will have to endure some hassle.
While walking through the bush again like that.
“Huh?”
Lorne suddenly moved his gaze to the right and uttered a questioning voice.
“Why?”
“Oh, no…. I feel like something has passed. It must be an illusion.”
“A misunderstanding?”
Lorne said it was just an illusion, but I frowned at the strange feeling of déjà vu.
Come to think of it, in the original work, Lorne had a very high affinity for magic, so he felt things that others couldn’t detect.
It may just be my inclination, but there’s nothing wrong with being careful.
Besides, it wouldn’t be strange if the soon-to-be-appearing enemy was lurking nearby.
“Rone. If you see something similar next time or feel something, tell me.”
“It might be because of my mood… ?”
“Because it’s okay. Please tell me even the smallest things.”
“Yeah, okay.”
Let’s say it as much as possible, Lone also showed a sign of acceptance.
From now on, it will be a battle against information.
If I could find a gap on this side, that would be the best direction.
‘Come out, you bastard.’
I gnashed my teeth at the invisible enemy and strengthened my will.
It doesn’t matter which of her students takes Astesia’s blessing, so I just want to get rid of Barter quickly and rest.
* * * *
A man was holding her breath, hiding her body among the dense forest.
A thick robe with a color similar to that of a bush worn to hide one’s presence as much as possible.
Her hat was pulled up to cover her face, but her sharp eyes shone as clearly as she could.
Before long, the man’s shoulders trembled slightly as she narrowed her eyes as if searching for something for her.
“Did you notice?”
The words that flowed from her man’s mouth.
But in fact, there was one audience member who was listening to it.
“You noticed. Did you even get caught by the professor?”
The man who had been hiding her by climbing on a branch of a tree came down below her and expressed his doubts.
According to the information they obtained, the faculty were not supposed to enter the forest during the search.
“No, I am a cadet. A little while ago, they followed Magician’s Eye with their eyes.”
Magician’s Eye.
Literally, it is a search spell and creature used by wizards.
It is shaped like a one-eyed bat that wanders in the sky, and it acts as a substitute for eyes by wandering in a certain range around it according to the magician’s ability.
Originally, it is a creature that can be seen with the naked eye, so it is common to have it explore the surroundings at an altitude that is difficult to reach.
However, in this man’s case, she cast an invisibility spell on the magician’s eye a while ago.
Although it’s a bit cumbersome because you have to maintain both spells at the same time.
Instead, in this case, you can search the inside of the forest unnoticed, so it’s overwhelming in terms of efficiency.
However, it was captured.
It may be because of her mood, but from the perspective of her man, the silver-haired female student was definitely following Magician’s Eye with both eyes.
In other words, it must mean that he has a better sense of magical power than others, or that he has special eyes by nature.
The man inferred that it would be the former.
“It seems that the other side is also going to go to Gingamin. I think he’s probably the type with good perception.”
“That’s bothering me.”
“… I speak comfortably. It’s your duty. ‘Warter’.”
At the words the khaki-haired man uttered in a cold tone, the snake-like man Barthère made a backward gesture and trembled.
“Let’s not do that too much. Who said he would participate in the first place and later intervened?”
“Don’t talk. So what about the flowering of flowers?”
“There must be three hours left. The preparations are finished.”
Barther showed off an empty pocket and giggled.
“I see.”
The man who recalled the contents contained in it calmed her eyes and nodded her head.
No matter what, she is an excellent guy for her sincerity in her duties, so I thought she would have thoroughly prepared.
“I pour my magic into it exactly thirty minutes before it blooms. You can take advantage of that gap and bring only flowers.”
“You treat me like a dog. Good. Wouldn’t it matter if I killed a few people along the way instead?”
Barter showed off a bizarre-shaped dagger and asked, and the man replied without even looking at her.
“Do whatever you want. This is a signal flare that hints at his resurrection, so you can do it a little harshly.”
“That’s a good answer.”
After that, Barter disappeared in front of the man without even a hint of sight.
【Soundless Blade】
However, as if the man was not very impressed by her, she moved her steps to fulfill her duty with her grave expression.