Volume 4 Chapter 2-2 Forest of the Wolves
Edited by: Kanaa-senpai
Ms. Claire and I make our way toward the forest.
”Oh, wolves! Brave hunters of the forest, I am Claire of the Horsefolk, bound to the swift Maroi. I seek passage through your domain to the Valley of Trials.”
Ms. Claire’s voice rings out boldly near the forest entrance.
After a moment, I hear the distant howl of wolves echoing through the trees.
Good, it seems they’ve granted us permission.
If we hadn’t received the wolves’ blessing after our greeting, we couldn’t enter the forest.
Breaking that rule would tarnish not just Ms. Claire’s reputation but the Horsefolk’s as well.
In that case, we would have had to take a long detour around the woods.
Ani-Ani’s life is precious, but we can’t afford to lose the tribe’s credibility either.
It’s a notion I find somewhat troubling, but in this world, some things do take precedence over life itself.
On the flip side, it’s precisely because the Horsefolk has cultivated trust with the wolves that we can now pass to save Ani-Ani’s life.
To borrow a phrase from Ms. Erin, it’s a virtuous cycle.
For now, let’s humbly express our gratitude and go along with the larger flow of things.
And someday, when the wolves are in need, I’ll return the favor, even if it costs me my life.
Honestly, it feels like I won’t have enough lives to spare for this.
But still, I think this is a worthy way to spend my life.
At least I could die with some sense of satisfaction.
I’ve witnessed my fair share of unjust deaths.
Anything would be better than that.
That said, death has suddenly become much more real since yesterday.
No, I suppose the truth is I just hadn’t noticed──it’s been lurking close by all along, like a reaper.
In this world, the grim reaper isn’t considered an evil god.
Not a good god either, but rather a deity to be revered and respected.
From now on, I think I’ll face it head-on, without turning away.
* * *
The Wolf Forest is filled with grand, towering trees, but here and there, unnatural clearings break the lushness.
Beautiful young grass, vibrant green and covered with wall barley, stands out──but these clearings seem out of place in the woods.
Thankfully, the trees aren’t too dense, making it easy to traverse this area.
Still, seeing wall barley intruding like this is bothersome.
The trees in this forest are all valuable species, starting with cork oaks.
The poison of wall barley doesn’t just wither away useless plants──it’s like it’s got a purpose.
It’s eerie how there’s not a single sapling in sight.
All that’s left are ancient trees, so thick they must be centuries old.
I can feel the presence of wolves drawing near──there must be about ten of them.
They wouldn’t attack us, would they?
One wolf is running parallel to us, closing the distance.
I’ve never seen a wolf in this world before, but damn, it’s huge.
Bigger than an Earth tiger, maybe.
Seems like this wolf is here to guide and watch us.
The wolves’ growls may not sound like human words, but it seems we can communicate our intentions.
Lately, I’ve been doing a lot of Mind Communication with the Ms. Ants, and that’s probably why my skill’s been improving.
It’s not that the Ms. Ants can’t talk; they just find ultrasonic communication too convenient.
We’ve got permission to pass, but it looks like hunting or gathering is a no-go.
I was warned that without the elf blessing, they’d eat me alive.
So the wolf knows about the elf blessing too?
Unexpectedly useful, thanks to Ms. Erin and Ms. Hóa.
Well, even with the blessing, if I do something stupid, I’ll be eaten on the spot.
And it’d ruin the trust the elves have built up.
When I tense up too much, I might do something silly, so I was told not to worry so much──or else I got laughed at.
It’s terrifying when a wolf laughs; you can see its fangs.
Typically, humans heading to the Valley of Trials would take a route that detours around the forest from the capital.
Coming from Toyata village, it’s the opposite way, but it’s still quite the detour.
Even a party over level 50 would be in trouble if they anger the wolves in the forest.
There are a few with brute strength that seems on par with dragons.
As long as you don’t mess with the forest, there’s no real issue──and it acts like a barrier against the Demonfolk too.
For the past few centuries, humans have pretty much left the wolf forest to its own devices.
The influx of cheap lumber from abroad probably played a part in that.
Whatever the reason, there’s no sense in fighting a pointless battle.
The wolves follow the forest’s laws, keeping a stable ecosystem in place without human interference.
Hmm, still, I’m worried about the wall barley.
That stuff is bound to mess up the ecosystem.
When I mentioned it to a wolf I was running with, my fears got laughed out of the park.
Seems like the increase in mice and quail is just what they need.
About an hour later, we made it through the forest and arrived safely at the Valley of Trials.
For a spontaneous trip, we got there pretty smoothly.
As we parted ways, the wolf told me his name──Uruu, the rabbit slayer, apparently.
Despite his name, he doesn’t seem too corrupt.
Maybe it’s because he’s protecting the forest’s laws.
The rabbits living in the forest are pretty big, and they say they’ll attack people.
I’m glad Mr. Uruu was there to help.
I can pass through the forest on the way back, but at night, it’s a no-go.
I’ve been warned to make sure and call for a guide before entering the forest again.
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Edited by Kanaa-senpai.
Thanks for reading.
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