Chapter 6: What I Picked Up in the Forest [Part 1]
The moment I stepped into the Blackleaf Forest, I was immediately surrounded by dense green, just as its name suggested.
Tall trees stretched straight toward the heavens, and when I looked up, I could barely see the sky through gaps in the leaves.
Along the highway, sunlight still occasionally filtered through between the trees.
It didnât seem to be constantly pitch-dark, as I had heard.
Well, as long as the weather was clear.
But if I glanced even slightly away from the road into the deeper parts, it was obviously darker there.
The density of trees increased, and the undergrowth grew thicker.
An indescribable tension hung in the air, as if something lurking deep within the forest was stirring.
The air inside the forest was cool, and it felt pleasant.
It cooled down my body, which had begun to warm from walking.
The ground was dirt, and the grass of the undergrowth was somewhat long, making it easy to stray from the path if I wasnât careful.
I advanced one cautious step at a time.
Unfamiliar birdsong and what sounded like the cries of beasts echoed from various parts of the forest.
In the stillness, broken only by the sound of wind brushing the trees and my own footsteps, those noises felt strangely loud.
I had been walking for a while, but with little sunlight reaching the ground, I had no sense of time.
I was used to gauging time by the position of the sun, so this was inconvenient.
It probably wasnât evening yet, but I had no idea how far I had traveled or where exactly I was on the map.
Thinking it might be time for a break, I found a relatively open area along the road where the trees were sparse.
I sat at the base of a large tree and lowered my backpack.
I took out the now-standard meal since beginning my journeyâdark bread and dried meatâand bit into it.
The hard bread made my jaw ache, but it was filling.
While eating, I pulled out my notebook and checked the map.
But it was useless.
Inside the forest, there were hardly any landmarks.
All I could tell was that I was somewhere within this vast woodland.
It was rare to have a map this unhelpful.
Suddenly, I sensed something.
A prickling sensation ran across my skin.
It was instinctive caution.
The sense for danger I had developed to survive was sounding an alarm.
I stopped chewing the bread and focused on my surroundings.
It wasnât the wind.
It wasnât the cry of an animal.
It was clearly the sound of something approaching.
Quickly, I stuffed the remaining dried meat and bread back into my backpack.
Before I realized it, my hand had already reached for the hilt of the sword at my waist.
The rumored disappearances in the forest.
This might be the cause.
A trace of tension ran through me.
At the same time, I felt a faint surge of excitement.
This was likely to become troublesome.
An opponent that even the guards couldnât get a handle on.
What kind of thing could it be?
Without fully drawing my blade, I gripped the hilt and concealed myself behind a tree.
I waited silently, making no sound.
The noise drew closer.
It was frantic footsteps, as if someone were running desperately, chased by something.
Then, onto the open stretch of road, a figure emerged.
She was very young, though I couldnât tell her exact age.
A girl with dazzling blonde hair.
But her appearance was painful to see.
Her clothes were torn, dirty, and in tatters.
Her hair was disheveled, and her complexion was pale.
She staggered along the road, her steps unsteady.
It was obvious she had been fleeing from something, or perhaps searching for something and collapsing along the way.
Seeing the girl, I inwardly held my head.
âŚThis is bad. Iâve found her.
Should I ignore it, or should I help?
One option was to pretend I hadnât seen anything.
If I didnât get involved, I wouldnât be dragged into danger.
My motto had been to travel freely and avoid unnecessary trouble.
But the image of the battered girl wouldnât leave my mind.
Another part of meâthe part that couldnât ignore someone in needâbegan to surface.
If I abandoned her here and something happened afterwardâŚ
It would definitely gnaw at me later.
I probably wouldnât even be able to enjoy my journey.
The conflict raced through my mind in an instant.
Trouble, or regret.
As if mocking my hesitation, a thunderous sound approached from behind the girl.
A heavy pounding noise and a low growl.
It was not human.
A beastâor perhaps a monster.
Before I could think, my body moved.
Before I could think, my sword was already drawn from its sheath.
I leapt from behind the tree and landed in front of the girl.
“Watch out!”
Shouting that, I stepped forward and raised my sword, standing between the ragged girl and whatever was chasing her.