Chapter 100

The forest, now free from rain, was silent.

Sunlight filtering through the leaves made the dew sparkle, and the refreshing scent of the forest tickled the nose.

Ariel slowly made her way toward the Elf’s Forest.

The ground was soggy and squishy, but it wasn’t too uncomfortable to walk on.

However, her eyelids were growing heavier. The drowsiness from her recent meal was setting in.

Ariel struggled to keep her sleepy eyes open, but it was no use.

Her steps gradually slowed, and eventually, she collapsed forward.

What caught her fall was a large leaf.

The soft leaf gently cradled Ariel’s body like a bed.

Though slightly damp from the rain, it didn’t disturb her sleep.

Ariel curled up on the leaf.

A ray of sunlight warmly settled on her face.

The breeze rustled, and the sound of water droplets falling from the leaves came rhythmically.

Ariel spread a shield around her and drifted off to sleep.

“……”

A short while later.

A small shadow emerged from behind a nearby rock.

It was an elf boy.

The boy cautiously approached Ariel. His sparkling green eyes were filled with curiosity.

The boy slowly circled Ariel, tapping her shield with his hand.

The shield seemed incredibly sturdy. It looked like even a sharp object wouldn’t leave a scratch.

Then, Ariel slightly shifted her body and turned over.

“!”

The boy was startled, but seeing Ariel’s steady breathing, he quickly calmed down.

But only for a moment, as rustling sounds came from beside him.

The boy turned his head, and his face immediately paled.

‘Ent!’

Standing before him was a massive tree.

The forest spirit, Ent.

Normally, the boy would have smiled and waved.

And the Ent would have slowly extended its branches to embrace him.

But now, the atmosphere was different.

Black smoke was oozing from the Ent’s body.

It had been corrupted, just like the other Ents.

‘Greenheart…’

This Ent was even the boy’s friend.

An older Ent named Greenheart, who often spent time with the boy.

But Greenheart didn’t seem to recognize him at all.

“Greenheart, it’s me, Silvan…”

Silvan’s eyes were filled with sorrow and regret as he looked at Greenheart.

Finally, Greenheart swung a branch toward Silvan.

Swish!

The branch lashed out like a whip.

“Ah!”

Silvan quickly dodged, and Greenheart’s branch struck Ariel’s shield instead.

Thud!

Silvan, barely avoiding the attack, stepped back.

Greenheart didn’t chase Silvan but began attacking Ariel’s shield.

Thud! Thud!

No matter how much Greenheart attacked, Ariel’s shield remained unscathed.

‘What should I do…’

Silvan wore a worried expression.

Though the shield was unharmed, Greenheart’s branches were slowly breaking.

Thud! Thud!

Yet, Greenheart didn’t stop.

If this continued, all its branches would surely break.

Silvan bit his lip, deep in thought.

How to save Greenheart.

‘Ah, maybe…’

Silvan rummaged through his pocket and pulled out something.

It was a small, delicate flute.

‘Maybe I can lure Greenheart with the flute’s sound.’

Of course, that might put Silvan in danger.

But it was better than letting all of Greenheart’s branches break.

If all its branches broke, Greenheart would be in great pain.

Silvan brought the flute to his lips.

He took a deep breath and began to play.

Whistle-

A clear, melodious sound echoed through the quiet forest.

The soft, cheerful melody spread with the wind.

Hearing the flute, Greenheart paused, and a glimmer of hope appeared on Silvan’s face.

‘Greenheart, come this way!’

Silvan continued to play.

Greenheart was now fully listening to the flute’s sound.

And finally, it began to stomp toward Silvan.

Silvan slowly stepped back, luring Greenheart.

A small smile appeared on Silvan’s lips. His plan was working.

But only for a moment.

Greenheart’s slow steps suddenly quickened, and the situation changed rapidly.

For some reason, Greenheart’s movements had sped up.

In an instant, Greenheart was before Silvan, swinging its branch.

“Ah!”

Silvan barely dodged, but in his panic, he dropped the flute.

And before Silvan could pick it up, Greenheart’s branch swung again.

Silvan tried to dodge, but the muddy ground made it difficult.

Thud!

Finally, Greenheart’s branch struck Silvan’s leg.

“Ahh!”

Silvan rolled on the ground, screaming.

Blood gushed from his leg.

“G-Greenheart…”

Silvan clutched his injured leg and looked up at Greenheart.

Greenheart, emitting black smoke, threateningly raised its branch.

“Snap out of it… It’s me, Silvan…”

Silvan pleaded, but nothing changed.

Greenheart swung its branch down, and Silvan tightly shut his eyes.

At that moment, a monotone voice rang out.

“Purification.”

Silvan cautiously opened his eyes.

A brilliant white light now enveloped Greenheart’s body.

And beside Greenheart, a silhouette of light was walking toward Silvan.

The elf who had been sleeping on the leaf earlier.

It was Ariel.

In her hand was the flute Silvan had dropped.

Ariel handed the flute to Silvan.

“Ah…”

As Silvan numbly took the flute, Ariel cast another spell.

“Healing.”

With a holy light, Silvan’s leg healed.

Silvan was still stunned, but seeing Greenheart’s branch reaching out from behind Ariel, he flinched.

“Ugh!”

But Greenheart wasn’t attacking.

It simply extended its branch and gently lifted Ariel and Silvan.

“G-Greenheart…!”

Silvan’s eyes welled up with tears.

The black smoke from Greenheart’s body had vanished, and it had returned to its usual gentle self.

*

Silvan’s choice to lure Greenheart with the flute was risky.

But thanks to that, Ariel woke up.

Hearing the flute, Ariel quickly assessed the situation and fortunately saved Silvan in time.

Greenheart, restored by Ariel’s purification magic, felt deeply apologetic.

It felt great remorse for attacking Silvan.

Though Ents couldn’t speak, they shared emotions with the forest-dwelling elves.

That’s why Ents and elves had been friends for a long time.

“It’s okay, Greenheart. You didn’t mean to.”

Silvan stroked Greenheart’s body as he spoke.

Then he turned his gaze to Ariel.

Ariel was deep in thought, looking serious.

What do Ents even eat?

Wait, I don’t see any mouth. Do they absorb nutrients from the ground while standing?

“Miss.”

Silvan’s voice called out.

“Thank you. Because of you, Greenheart returned to normal.”

“Mm.”

Ariel nodded, and Greenheart’s branch gently stroked her back.

Greenheart was expressing its gratitude too.

Ariel decided to ask Silvan directly.

“Hey, about Ents…”

“They’re corrupted.”

“Huh?”

“That black smoke earlier? Most Ents in this forest have turned like that. We call it corruption.”

“……”

Ariel nodded slightly.

That’s not what I meant. I was going to ask where their mouth is.

Silvan continued.

“By the way, what you did earlier, restoring Greenheart. How did you do that?”

“Sacred magic.”

“Then can you restore other corrupted Ents with that sacred magic?”

“Mm.”

“Even if there are many corrupted Ents…?”

“Mm.”

Seeing Ariel answer so simply, Silvan felt a bit dumbfounded.

The Elf’s Forest is in chaos because of this corruption, and it can be solved so easily?

“T-Then, miss, please. The Elf’s Forest is in big trouble because of this…”

Swish!

At that moment, an arrow shot toward them.

The arrow aimed straight for Silvan’s heart, but Ariel quickly deployed a shield, saving him.

But one arrow wasn’t the end.

Numerous arrows began to rain down.

Ariel expanded her shield, and the arrows blocked by it fell to the ground.

Terrified, Silvan hid behind Ariel, and Greenheart also crouched down.

“T-These are elf arrows…”

Silvan picked up an arrow from the ground.

The arrow had a blue feather, the kind elves typically used.

“Why would elves…”

As Silvan muttered, Ariel stared intently into the bushes.

Specifically, at the unknown assailant hiding there, shooting arrows.

Swish!

Another arrow flew.

Ariel flicked her hand, easily deflecting the arrow.

And the next moment, Ariel vanished from her spot.

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