DBOFS 79

Chapter 79

You might think there’s some kind of human-hating forest, but in Si Cheon Gui, where even child spirits exist, there was nothing it didn’t have.

Before the Ramsus Empire was founded and Godwin’s essence was created, this forest was apparently a temple of an ancient kingdom.

Unlike the present, where humans are the dominant race, in the days of the old kingdom, various races coexisted.

“But it disappeared at some point, right?”

Later, it’s mentioned in Si Cheon Gui, but it wasn’t just gone—it had been massacred.

“By the ruler of the old kingdom.”

According to Si Cheon Gui, the old kingdom was the first human kingdom ever founded and was the source of all the evil that caused its own destruction.

In an era when different races coexisted, the forests imbued with mystical power had consciousness as well.

The sentient mystical forest became furious at humans who slaughtered other races, turning into an extreme human-hating forest.

So if humans entered its domain, it would attack as if trying to take their lives.

“I understand. I can see why it would feel such hatred.”

But that was ages ago!

The events of the old kingdom hardly appear in Si Cheon Gui. The Ramsus Empire has been the strongest power on the continent for so long; can’t we just move on?

“Now, the Ramsus Empire is about to collapse, you know?”

Jade desperately wished for mercy—or at least for the forest to turn a blind eye—because the ownerless flying beast was running straight toward the forest.

“It’s going to be fine…”

So, while frantically performing R=VD, Jade didn’t realize what misunderstanding Dymuard was under.

“Fine… aahhh-?!”

There was no moment for understanding.

Already injured and agitated from humans’ attacks, the flying beast was suddenly struck and staggered.

[Kyieeeek!]

“Uwaaaah!”

As the flying beast fell, Jade screamed.

It had been hit by a punch—or punch-like movement—from a gigantic tree in the heart of the forest.

“A tree with a punch?! Why does that exist?!”

The human-hating forest had truly gone mad!

Clinging tightly to Dymuard while falling, Jade silently wailed.

This wasn’t a spirit of self-sacrifice to save Dymuard but a primal instinct to grab onto anything nearby in sheer terror.

“Because of me…!”

Dymuard, of course, didn’t realize this and assumed it was for his own sake.

And in the thickening confusion and misunderstanding…

Thud!

The forest’s punch struck the flying beast again, sending it flying completely.

[Kuweeeek-!]

Unlike a magical beast, Jade couldn’t even scream.

Even though the flying beast had been barely reliable, falling through open air without even that support was utterly terrifying.

All she could do was clutch the boy in her arms.

Branches and leaves scraped against Jade’s delicate skin as they fell at high speed, leaving her disoriented.

It was at that moment.

[…A fairy child?]

The voice echoed in Jade’s mind.

Jade wouldn’t have known it, but having the flying beast flee toward the forest wasn’t the worst choice.

Because…

“It’s a summoning circle!”

After failing to kidnap Dymuard, the enemies were pouring into Godwin’s essence coordinates like crazy.

“Hah…hah…hah…”

Lenor gritted her teeth and swung her greatsword.

[Craaaak!]

The beast’s neck flew, crimson blood spurting.

Yet it still struggled; kicking limbs, Lenor spat out the blood.

It was better than when she had helplessly witnessed her brother’s kidnapping from the secret passage.

Better, but…

“…It never ends!”

A Lyergan knight shouted in despair. The overwhelming number of enemies blocked their vision and took their breath away.

Compared to now, when Dymuard had been kidnapped, there had actually been fewer enemies.

‘From their perspective, kidnapping Dymuard was enough. No need to call in more.’

But for some reason, Jade suddenly leapt onto the flying beast, and enemy corpses rained down around her.

“Kidnapping failed!”

Lenor was briefly relieved and thanked God, but the flying beast, enraged by Sebric’s death, flew off into the forest with Dymuard.

Into the evil forest, sealed since the crimes of the old kingdom!

“No—!”

Knowing the Ramsus Empire’s lord stays in the northern territory to protect his subjects from that forest, Lenor’s face turned pale.

Even the thought of being kidnapped by enemies seemed preferable—for a moment.

“Kill them!”

Realizing their mission had failed, the enemies summoned reinforcements via summoning circles in the air.

It was as if they wanted to temporarily occupy Godwin’s essence to capture Dymuard.

“These insane bastards!”

Did they think they could survive having both Godwin and Lyergan as enemies?

“No, that won’t be the case.”

But in their position, they would rather risk even greater losses than leave empty-handed.

‘If Dymuard is captured, Lyergan won’t be able to respond!’

No! Dymuard had barely escaped the kidnapping; they couldn’t let that happen!

Lenor gritted her teeth and cut through the enemies charging at her with her greatsword.

Although she held out, Lyergan’s guards around her were falling one by one.

“Change formation!”

After kicking aside corpses to check the situation, Lenor…

“Magic tower! You bastards!”

Unknowingly, she shouted harshly. The summoning circles were now calling not just ghouls but golems too!

“Damn them!”

Lenor could no longer deny it.

The ancient protective magic on Godwin’s essence had been broken. Otherwise, such reckless summoning wouldn’t be possible.

Thundering vibrations shook the ground. Lenor turned in alarm and saw the familiar Godwin crest, letting out a sigh of relief.

“Lenor! Where is my granddaughter?!”

Luckily, the previous duke’s knights had rushed to join upon hearing the news.

“Damn them! Can’t they leave my only granddaughter alone?!”

The grandfather and granddaughter, awkward with each other before, became instantly close under the threat of death.

“I-I’m safe! Grandfather, mother is—!”

“Irine is safe; you worry about yourself!”

The previous duke shouted, swinging his spear atop his horse.

“Ugh!”

The throat of someone casting a spell was severed instantly.

The Godwin knights and the former duke’s forces were renowned and contributed greatly to the battle.

“Re-Redian Count!”

“I’m fine…ugh! Step back, Your Grace!”

Still, there’s a limit to withstanding such overwhelming numbers.

Soon, Lenor and the previous duke were back-to-back, surrounded in a circle by Godwin and Lyergan knights.

‘We’re surrounded.’

Only now did Lenor realize.

Without Dymuard secured, the enemy would try to kidnap either Princess Irine or herself to threaten Dymuard.

They want us to come out and submit to save them…

‘…I won’t!’

She’d rather die than live that way!

Lenor swung her greatsword with defiance.

Clang!

The blade, worn down from constant fighting, finally broke.

“…!”

In that desperate moment, a mercenary grabbed her by the collar behind a broken ghoul.

“Lenor!”

She was almost dragged away.

Swaa—

The air, hot with blood and violence, suddenly turned cold.

Shadows at her feet rose like smoke, grabbing the enemies’ ankles and climbing over them.

“W-What is this?!”

The mercenary holding Lenor’s collar shouted, but before he could react, the dark smoke at his chin twisted his neck.

Crack!

Lenor had seen death before, yet her body froze instinctively.

It was a strange feeling.

More terrifying than any frenzy of slaughter—it was the unnaturalness of what unfolded right before her eyes.

‘This is…’

Lenor shivered.

Redder than any blood on her sword, hair darker than the stacked shadows, a face so pale it hardly seemed human.

“Jade?”

A low voice, like the darkness of a cave.

“H-Harris Godwin…”

He had returned.

‘Why? How?’

The dungeon he had gone to was far from here!

Rational questions were suppressed by an inexplicable sense of intimidation.

“…Ugh!”

During her stay at Godwin’s essence, Lenor had suspected that the reports about Harris were overly exaggerated.

‘No.’

And now she realized how naive that was.

The human-like, gentle face had only been allowed for his guide, Baron Lian.

“Jade, where are you?”

To anyone else, he appeared utterly inhuman and terrifying.

At that moment, Lenor instinctively stepped back, overwhelmed by his presence.