Chapter 115

“It’s only natural we part ways here.”

On the day of departure.

Aiseus spoke with an air that questioned if there was even a need for discussion.

Unlike her usual attire, she wore a versatile light armor adorned with leather and some chainmail on key areas, her small baggage tied tightly to her back as if ready to leave at any moment.

“Why is that?”

Had there been no prior discussion?

Minette asked, seemingly surprised, to which Aiseus responded with a tongue click as if to say, “How could you not know this?”

“If people already know I’ve taken Carriel away, what do you think will happen when he and I show up together? How do you think they’ll react?”

“That’s….”

“Right now, all eyes will be on me, so we should use that. It’s better if we don’t join forces immediately, though we can later. Besides, I have a few places to visit. If you have time, I’ll find you then. Though, who knows if you’ll still be around by then.”

With that, Aiseus departed in a direction completely opposite from Carriel and Minette, her confident stride fading into the distance.

Was there concern for her wellbeing lingering in their minds?

“Will she be alright…?”

Minette voiced her inner thoughts aloud.

Though dressed simply for convenience—plain brown trousers and an undyed linen top—she seemed slightly uncomfortable under the unfamiliar blue short cape that reached her waist, often glancing at herself.

“Who are you worrying about?”

True, both Aiseus and Minette were special cases, but even Aiseus was a walking catastrophe by worldly standards.

Not someone who’d falter easily.

“That’s true…”

Thanks to her grown stature, the clothes she had worn upon arriving here no longer fit properly.

Still, the cloak gifted by Ellie was invaluable among mage tools and remained highly useful.

In fact, aside from that, the only thing she brought when leaving Rutania was her lyre.

Even the sword given by Ellie had been merged with one arranged by Grandeous.

Large and heavy luggage was stored efficiently this way.

Thus, after observing Aiseus’ retreating figure, the two turned toward a forest in the opposite direction.

The summer heat dissipated, and a faint cool breeze carried the refreshing scent of the woods.

Though exposure to sunlight would quickly warm the skin, otherwise it was perfect weather for traveling.

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If branches aren’t pruned in winter, snow accumulation can cause them to snap under strong winds, damaging roofs or nearby areas.

It wasn’t uncommon for children or adults passing by to get injured by falling branches.

So, branches near villages are cut beforehand, also serving as firewood.

But cutting isn’t done randomly.

“Leo. Trees are living beings too. Should we just chop them down recklessly for our own benefit?”

“Dad, but if we don’t, it’ll cause problems, right?”

“That’s true. So, instead of cutting off the tree’s arms or legs, we’re trimming its nails.”

“Do trees have nails?”

“It’s just a metaphor.”

“Alright, climb up and take a look.”

Skillfully climbing the tree, Leo focused his gaze where his father, already perched higher up via a ladder, pointed.

“What do you see?”

“A tree?”

“…”

His father gestured to a specific spot.

“Look here.”

“??”

“This was cut before. Look now. See how the bark has naturally covered the area?”

“Is that so?”

“Cultivate your powers of observation. You’ll need these skills when I’m unable to work.”

“So, does being a forest guardian involve this kind of work? Other uncles help out when things get busy, right?”

“That’s why such issues arise. No, let me show you directly.”

Descending the ladder, Leo followed nimbly down from the tree and approached another tree nearby.

“Look at this one.”

Despite being similarly pruned, this branch showed no signs of bark covering the cut surface.

Perhaps because of that, the area looked unhealthy, as if pierced by something.

Taking a closer look, the man carefully extracted fragments from the wound.

“Cutting nails grows them back, but chopping off fingers doesn’t. As you can see, doing this kills the tree—it gets diseased.”

“I see…”

“The person who did this probably didn’t mean harm. But if I hadn’t taken care of it, this tree would’ve rotted soon, stinking horribly, fostering mold, and eventually growing mushrooms. That might’ve ruined the surroundings. This case is actually mild compared to others.”

This way,

Leo learned to differentiate between various trees while following his father, though the distinctions weren’t always clear.

“If there are too few trees, mountains collapse. That causes great damage to villages too.”

“Is that so?”

“When I was a kid, some neighbors’ houses got buried because of that. Afterward, everyone started building homes farther from the mountain.”

“Oh.”

Living close to the mountain meant easier access to firewood, so why go through the trouble of moving farther away?

Now, he understood the reason behind it. Fires destroying homes and landslides burying houses were serious matters after all.

“But we have a cabin, right?”

“Do we use it alone? We share it with everyone.”

This way,

though today felt like learning a lot, within days, memories would fade, and new lessons would emerge.

Seasons change,

and every year brings differences.

There’s so much to learn and understand.

“…”

Awoken suddenly by crackling campfire sounds, Leo glanced around dazedly, noticing Louilin poking the fire with a stick.

“Were you asleep?”

“You were deeply asleep. Must’ve been tired?”

It’s rather quiet.

After wrapping up major tasks and separating temporarily from his companions—

was it really temporary?

“…”

“Does the sudden silence make it hard to adapt? It’s been days since everything ended, yet you still seem uneasy.”

“Really?”

Leo scratched his brown hair, his dark eyes gazing pensively at the pre-dawn sky.

“We should arrive by today, right?”

“That’s correct.”

Luciri’s silver eyes sparkled mysteriously alongside her lavender-hued tresses, reflecting beautifully against the flickering flames.

Perhaps because she wasn’t entirely human,

despite traveling together for quite some time, her appearance and physique hadn’t changed significantly—just slightly taller, maybe by a handspan?

“Well, I’ll nap for a bit. I plan to rest thoroughly after we arrive, so wake me when the sun rises.”

“Sure. Thanks for looking out.”

Wrapping herself in her enchanted cloak like a blanket, Luciri closed her eyes, her breathing soon evening out.

“Phew.”

Even though it wasn’t winter, dawn remained chilly.

Re-adjusting his fur-lined cloak, Leo sat quietly stirring the fire, occasionally adding more logs when needed.

-This marks three years since your first real journey, doesn’t it?

“That’s right.”

Upon hearing the sacred sword resonate, Leo instinctively grasped it, hearing the voice naturally follow.

-Weren’t there quite a few events after you took hold of me?

“That’s true.”

Unintentionally becoming a warrior,

he met none other than Ruelde, the head of the nine Great Warriors, shortly afterward.

Ruelde suggested following him as one option, but Leo declined humbly due to his attachment to his village and homeland.

However, becoming a warrior brought unexpected consequences.

He was summoned everywhere, embroiled in dangerous missions and conspiracies, causing chaos.

Still, with comrades by his side, solving problems one by one, they pursued clues to resolve Luciri’s burdensome predicament.

Finally, after a long chase, they concluded matters decisively.

-Do you believe she’ll keep her promise?

“…She too was, in a way, a victim.”

Looking at Minette,

her enemy—or perhaps vengeance incarnate—

the one who sought to kill him and destroy his village.

Eventually, the daemon who left the Edenlevan Legion to embrace evil fell to Leo and his companions.

All his plots and machinations unraveled and froze thereafter.

“The world seems complicated.”

-Naturally.

A solemn yet gentle voice comforted him.

For how long had this continued?

Sensing a faint presence nearby, Leo turned his gaze.

“Who’s there?”

A man appeared in tattered leather armor,

holding a bow in poor condition.

Only…

“Uncle Jeban?”

“Huh? Who calls me uncle… oh, you? You look familiar. Wait, Leo? Leo, son of forester Jusek, right?”

“…”

Leo wondered if this was a dream or reality.

Just moments ago, he dreamt of being dragged around by his dad during childhood.

Now…

“You survived…?”

“Survived? Yeah, I did. But wow, time sure flies when you don’t notice, huh? What happened? Why are you so mature all of a sudden? Not like you at all.”

As Jeban approached and sat near the fire, catching sight of Louilin, he jumped in surprise.

“What the?! You’re neither beast nor human—how come you make almost no sound?!”

“…Leo, do you know this person?”

“Uh, yeah. So, um….”

Leo struggled to articulate amidst swirling emotions.

Words wouldn’t come out.

Amidst this overwhelming feeling,

he remembered a promise.

‘You kept….’

Carriel.

And…

Minette.

Leo vividly recalled the frozen house,

the tiny bed where he and his family lay.

That he now opened his eyes meant…

“Um, Dad…? And the villagers…?”

“Your dad? Villagers? Hold on, not ‘dad’? Why are you talking so formally? Too old for your age.”

“…Ha…ha.”

Leo glanced unconsciously at Louilin.

She acted as if she anticipated everything, smirking knowingly despite it being impossible.

“While Uncle Jeban was asleep, quite a few things happened.”

More importantly, did you know?

“I became a warrior.”

Jeban instantly protested.

“Don’t joke around. A mountain boy becoming a warrior? Sounds like a rabbit eating a dragon.”

“Er, well….”

It’s true though.

Laughing yet feeling awkward, a mix of sadness and joy welled up inside.

Regardless, describing it all with words proved difficult.

Still, it felt good.

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