TMLLT 58

Chapter 58

“An Uneasy Dream”

No matter how much I thought about it, it had to be that story. I’m at least perceptive enough to know that much.

‘What should I do?’

Today was the day I planned to tell him to get rid of the Necroquad no matter what…
But then,
“……”
I suddenly stopped myself from saying it.

“Serdin? Why do you look like that?”
“What do you mean?”

I was in a hurry, but it felt hard to tell someone who’s glad the Necroquad exists that I want to destroy it.

“But didn’t you say you wanted to talk?”
“I-I already did.”

I waved my hand to avoid it.
“You did?”
“Yes. I said I think you’ll do well.”
“Thanks.”

I closed my mouth but then said,
“Actually, I haven’t said it yet. But I can’t say it now.”
“Why?”
“Just some reasons. But I’ll say it soon. Just wait for now.”
“……Okay.”

Roitz looked confused but didn’t ask more since I said I wouldn’t talk now.

“So, when are we leaving for Edikal Forest?”
“Tomorrow.”
“……?”

Roitz stood and helped me up.
“You need to prepare fast. There isn’t much time.”

I frowned at his fresh smile.

Early morning before departure.

Roitz, who had briefly dozed off, slowly opened his eyes.
“……”

He had a terrible dream.

A dream where he couldn’t control the Necroquad beast inside him.

If that was all, maybe it wouldn’t be so terrible.

‘Serdin! Don’t come!’

Roitz’s hand trembled slightly as he remembered the dream. He wrapped his shaking hand with the other and looked down.

‘Why did I have this dream?’
And just before the dangerous mission, too.

Actually, he knew why.
He felt something trying to take over his body. He clenched his fist hard to suppress it.

The Necroquad was slowly invading his body.

No one in the empire had ever hosted a summoned beast in their body before.

Roitz was the only person with this power and the only test subject.

He was now facing unknown side effects no one could explain.

If the beast’s energy fighting him was all there was, he could bear it.

But if it started to harm the things Roitz cared about…

If that happened, it would be beyond what he could handle.

If that happened, he would go insane.

“……”

Roitz sighed deeply and held his forehead with both hands.

He felt uneasy—not because of the dream itself, but because it might really happen.

If it did, then maybe…

‘I should keep some distance.’

His lightless eyes stared into the early dawn.

The day to leave for Edikal Forest arrived.

I loved Elche, but sometimes Elche made life hard, like today.

‘Isn’t one day too little to prepare?’

But there was no choice. Since knights were fighting in the forest, there was no time to delay.

At dawn, I couldn’t sleep and tossed and turned.

‘Roitz is the commander now.’

I thought about that and more.

‘When I join the subjugation team… I’ll tell him my plan right away. If I say it during chaos, he might just ignore it.’

Soon I fell asleep, waking as the outside light dimmed.

‘I should tell my family too.’

Before dawn, I packed my things and left the residence.

“I’m going to Edikal Forest for the subjugation. I’ll visit after I return.”

After sending a short note to the Vivi family, I headed to the knights’ headquarters early.

Once we leave for the forest, I didn’t know when I’d come back.

‘The Garden of Demons.’

That was the nickname for Edikal Forest. Such names weren’t given lightly.

At dawn, everyone gathered.

The horn sounded to announce departure.

“Hmm…”

My bag was packed, and I’d slept enough, but something bothered me.

“When should I tell him…”

I couldn’t find the right time to tell Roitz my plan.

“New recruit, what did you say?”
“Ah, nothing.”

Originally, I planned to say it as soon as I joined the team, but an unexpected problem was that Roitz was too busy.

‘And I didn’t expect to be this far from him.’

I stared at Roitz’s back at the front of the line.

The line was long—knights from Elche and soldiers from the royal army, plus carriages with supplies and support.

If Roitz turned around, I’d look like an ant. Now, his back looked like an ant in my eyes.

‘I didn’t think he’d cut direct contact right after becoming commander.’

Normally, new recruits get a direct senior knight, so it would be standard procedure.

But since everything happened quickly and Roitz didn’t even have a formal aide yet, I thought the direct relation would continue.

Anyway, I was at the very end of the line, waiting for the group to stop.

After two days of travel, there’d be a break and chance to talk.

When the line stopped, I ran toward Roitz about a hundred meters ahead.

“Sunbae, I have something to say…”
“Serdin, let’s talk later.”

But Roitz was too busy even when stopped, receiving reports and managing tasks.

When he briefly rested, I couldn’t bother him.

When he opened his eyes again, he passed me by looking busy.

Two full days went by like that.

A cold wind smelling of dirt blew.

The group entered the cold west.

The air felt different from the capital, and fog covered the path.

The front was hidden in the mist.

Suddenly, a loud voice shouted ahead.

“Edikal Forest!”
“……!”

I, full of thoughts to speak with Roitz, realized again where we were heading.

The forest appeared through the fog.

A cold wind swept my cheek through tall black trees.

Dark and eerie energy filled the destination.

‘So this is Edikal Forest.’

I had been distracted by other thoughts and hadn’t prepared my mind.

Edikal Forest was known as a demon-filled, cold, and eerie place.

Even without that, the condition of returned knights showed how harsh it was.

“Keep moving.”

I heard Roitz’s voice ahead as the line entered the forest.

The dense tall trees covered the sky, making it look like there was no sky.

Our spirits, once high, felt crushed facing the forest.

Just like people can have overwhelming auras, so did Edikal Forest.

I swallowed nervously.

At that moment, Aurelle, a knight, shouted at the new recruits.

“Newbies! Who will deliver the description of the back forest path to the commander?”
“I will!”

Manon and Aaron raised their hands, but when I waved mine desperately, they lowered theirs.

“Good, Serdin Vivi. You go!”

Aurelle smiled, seeing how eager I was.

I quickly took the map from Aurelle.

I listened carefully and slipped from the line to run toward Roitz.

It was a perfect chance to talk.

Since it was work-related, Roitz would have time.

Even if I couldn’t say the main point, I could at least ask when I could.

I ran through the cold wind toward Roitz at the front.

The Roitz who looked like a tiny ant for two days was getting closer.

His upright posture didn’t look tired.

His side profile showed calm eyes and a straight nose.

Roitz showed no sign of nervousness even facing the huge, threatening forest.

“Sun… commander!”

Roitz turned, looking at me like “What are you doing here?”

I shook the map and moved my words close to his.

The chance to talk was finally here.

“This, this is…”

But the map didn’t reach him.

A leopard-like monster suddenly jumped at my hand and snatched the map.

“……?!”

How bad was this timing?

Angry, I jumped off my horse.

I grabbed the leopard’s neck and stabbed my sword to get the map back.

“Serdin!”

Only then did I realize my mistake.

Suddenly, something fast came from the left.

“……!”

I dodged instinctively.

Another monster attacked with a sharp scream.

I fought it off, but it wasn’t over.

Monsters quickly gathered.

‘I shouldn’t have gotten off the horse…!’

I had no time to count how many.

I drew my sword and started fighting monsters blindly.

We had entered Edikal Forest, and even one monster meant this was their territory.

Though surrounded, no one could help me.

Clashing sounds of swords echoed everywhere.

The first battle in Edikal Forest had begun.