BKSF 03

Chapter 03

Ponia’s ears perked up at a name she couldn’t ignore.

The boy darting around with newspapers had a loud voice and quick feet.

But Ponia was not one to just walk past that.

“Fresh news that just came in!”
“Hey, give me one too.”
“Whoa! When did you get here? Here.”

It had been three years since she met Sionel. Whenever news related to him appeared in the newspaper, she would collect it separately and even made a scrapbook.

As soon as she received the newspaper, Ponia quickly began reading the article. Soon, her hand trembled, and her expression darkened.

<Exclusive! Sionel Devonham, Duke’s Son, Missing!>

“Missing this time?”

For the past two years, every article about Sionel had been bad news: kidnapping, poisoning, arson, assassin attacks.

Ever since he was supposed to inherit his title, articles like this appeared sporadically. Even after three years, he had yet to inherit his title.

It was all exactly as it appeared in the novel.

<I Want a Happy Ending> tells the story of the heroine, Lana, whose heart is broken by the betrayal of family and friends, and how she eventually finds happiness with the duke hero, Sionel.

In the story, Sionel feels a connection to Lana because she bears wounds similar to his own past struggles. They grow closer and eventually fall in love.

The problem is that Sionel’s “many hardships” are happening right now.

In the novel, Sionel’s past hardships are briefly mentioned, so it didn’t seem like much…

But this is just too cruel, author! Sionel should only be walking on a path of flowers!

Feeling even more down, Ponia skimmed the bulletin board, but nothing caught her eye.

“Doesn’t money fall from the sky?”

She didn’t need much—just 20,000 gold would do.

Whoosh—

“Ah!”

At that moment, a flyer blew over in the sudden wind.

Peeling it off, the contents were revealed beneath the faded paper:

<Easiest Forest Ranger Job in the World>

• Duty: Patrol the forest once a day, eat and sleep there.

• Location: Mirvan Forest

• Duration: 6 months

• Requirements: Healthy, diligent, and brave individuals

• Reward: Communication with plants and animals, enjoy beautiful forest scenery, private time, …

• Contact: Employment office

“What now?”

The glint in Ponia’s eyes quickly vanished.

This had been circulating in the territory for two months already.

Even a job for a normal forest ranger remained posted for two months because of Mirvan Forest.

Once you enter, you can never come back. That was the phrase used to describe Mirvan Forest.

The reason was unknown. No one returned, so the cause could never be discovered.

But Ponia knew the forest’s true nature.

Because this forest was the main setting where the protagonists first meet in the story.

Early in the novel, Lana is betrayed by her family and sold to an old count. After a carriage accident, she falls into Mirvan Forest.

Taking advantage of the situation, she tries to escape, only to soon face the forest’s “dangers.”

It is Sionel who saves her.

Owning the forest, Sionel had a secret duty to eliminate its dangers. Lana, having been exposed to these “dangers” from a young age, knew a lot about them.

Eventually, the two join forces to remove the forest’s dangers, heal each other’s wounds, fall in love—basically, everything.

But that’s all in the later story.

Their first meeting and the elimination of dangers occur only after Sionel becomes a duke, so there’s still a long way to go.

I know what’s in there, so there’s no way I’m going.

Disinterested, Ponia casually read the remaining text.

“Let’s see… the reward really is…”

Ah, here it is.

20,000 gold.

“Oh, perfect! I needed exactly 20,000 gold.”

She let out a snicker and counted the numbers again.

“1, 10, 100, 1,000…”

20,000 gold.

The number didn’t change. Ponia blinked slowly and then shot her head up.

“What? 20,000 gold?!”

“Such a headache.”

Max threw the flyer onto the desk in frustration.

Except for three employees, the employment office, which should have been bustling with people, was completely empty.

Another employee, sprawled on the sofa, complained.

“I said I wouldn’t take it. The reward is too big—it’s suspicious.”
“You think I wanted such a dangerous job? The commission is huge; I thought we just had to find someone.”

Having already received a massive commission, they had to find a forest ranger by the deadline no matter what.

“If we can’t find someone, one of us will have to go into the forest…”

Hearing Max mumble this, the other employees shook their heads firmly in shock.

“No way! If someone goes, it should be you!”
“I’m not going either! Honestly, Max, you took this job!”
“Why always me?! I moved to a bigger house because I took it!”
“That… that’s beside the point! Who would volunteer for something obviously dangerous? I wouldn’t! What kind of crazy person would do it?”

Ding.

A cheerful bell signaling a truce rang. The arguing employees all turned to the door.

The setting sun lit the doorway, and the woman standing there was bathed in red light.

Her well-maintained crimson hair gleamed, contrasting with her shabby clothing.

Max, staring at the woman appearing in the sunset, finally spoke.

“Uh… what brings you here…?”

The woman’s gaze swept the office, landing on Max. A small exclamation escaped his lips unconsciously.

Maintaining silence, she soon smiled faintly.

“You’re looking for a forest ranger?”

“I, that crazy man, will give it a try.”

In front of the stunned employees, Ponia deliberately smiled brightly.

After all, it was too much money to pass up.

“You say it.”
“You’re the one handling consultations, so you say it.”
“You brought the job, so it’s your turn!”

It had already been an hour.

After making Ponia sit on the sofa, they had spent 30 minutes in the conference room without coming out, and now they were wasting time right in front of her, trying to pass the job off.

Eventually, Max, who brought the job, spoke.

“Uh… Miss, you want to do this job?”
“The flyer made it look simple. I meet the requirements.”

She clearly knew nothing.

Seeing the woman so innocently cheerful caused distress to appear on his face.

Every applicant Max had sent to the forest had known the danger beforehand; he had ignored the guilt of sending them. Seeing this pure face, that guilt began to creep back.

“…It might be a little dangerous. You know, wild animals! Yes! How dangerous they can be.”
“I once followed a group of wild animal hunters. I’ve learned a lot about how to deal with situations. I also like animals.”

Max, flustered by her calm demeanor, continued to question her.

“You’ll have to do everything alone. What can you do with such a frail-looking body?”
“I’m used to doing things alone. I have more muscle than I look.”
“Ah! You’ll be isolated for six months; it could be lonely.”
“I was just hoping to be alone!”
“Nights will be very scary!”
“Spending nights in the forest sounds romantic…”
“Romantic? It’ll be noisy with animals crying!”
“If I fall asleep, no one can wake me up even if they sing or shake me.”
“Isn’t that a problem…? Have you seen a doctor?”
“No.”
“Go see one. I know a doctor.”
“Thanks for the advice.”
“Eh, no need for thanks… that’s not what I meant to say!”

The conversation went off track instead of scaring her. Finally, Max tried a last attack.

“There’s nothing there!”
“Creating something from nothing is my specialty.”

Ding. Ding. Ding.

Winner: Ponia Harbel.

Max turned his head sharply to hold back tears. He pitied the woman who was so positive, knowing nothing.

She must have lived alone without family, unaware of loneliness…

No one had told her that.

But Max, already full of preconceptions, made up his mind.

“In fact, others have gone into this forest first.”
“I see.”
“But none of them came back!”
“Why would you say that!”

The other employees shouted nervously, but Max lowered his head.

“Ugh… I can’t deceive her anymore. She’s too pitiful!”
“But if we don’t, one of us will have to go!”
“Why are you crying?! If you cry, I’ll cry too…”

Ponia, observing the three men hugging and crying, was thoroughly perplexed.

…Why are they crying all of a sudden?

These men clearly had a major misunderstanding. Ponia sighed.

“I already know what I’m getting into.”
“…Huh?”

The employees, eyes red, still couldn’t grasp the situation.

“Anyway, I have one question…”

Instead of extra explanation, Ponia got straight to the point.

“The reward is guaranteed, right?”
“….”
“Money is the most important.”
“….”
“Oh! Do you provide an advance?”

Money must be calculated carefully.

Numerically and physically, Ponia was clearly the weaker party. She deliberately wore a serious expression to appear unapproachable.

Crazy woman.

She didn’t realize that she had already had a significant effect on the employees.