Chapter 133: Chase the Spirits! (2)
***
Crack.
Cassion swatted away the sparks flying from the bonfire with his hand to protect himself. Recently, he had overcome a wall where he could go without sleep, so it was okay even if he didn’t sleep a wink.
After just an hour of closing his eyes, the fatigue had vanished completely.
“Can’t sleep, Aris?” Cassion spoke after looking at the sleeping Ruel and Leo. Ruel’s breathing became increasingly irregular, so it seemed like it was time to give him Breath.
Aris sat up awkwardly.
“Yeah, I don’t think I can sleep tonight.”
It seemed like he was having a hard time falling asleep today.
Ruel’s words have already become a memory of yesterday.
“But it’s alright because you guys are here with me.”
Aris felt so happy to hear that. He didn’t dare describe it as family, but Aris felt that way.
“Ruel-nim is quite clumsy about expressing his feelings, so I was surprised when he said that yesterday.” Cassion was also secretly surprised, but he didn’t show it.
Sometimes, it happens that way.
Aris cautiously spoke as he stroked his hair.
“That’s because I’m too happy to fall asleep. Despite almost being an adult, I still feel like a child.”
“Being an adult doesn’t make much difference. Would you like some tea if you can’t sleep?”
“It’s okay.” Aris shook his head at Cassion’s suggestion and quietly looked at the bonfire, just like Cassion did.
“Ruel-nim.” Cassion started the conversation first, and Aris turned to look at him.
“You know he cares for you, even if he doesn’t express it, right?”
“Yes. I am well aware of that,” Aris used a spell to block the sound as he approached the bonfire, in case Ruel woke up. “However, I always feel sorry for not meeting Ruel-nim’s expectations.”
“Aris, don’t the knights usually say you’re unlucky?”
“How did you know? I can’t fool your ears,” Aris expressed slight surprise before smiling. “I still have a long way to go to keep up with the knights. I need to work harder to catch up.”
Cassion clicked his tongue but then quit.
Comparing a mage to a knight in that way didn’t sit well with him. It seemed to be an unchangeable aspect of his personality to always consider himself lacking.
Even if Aris reached a higher state than now, that thought might not change.
‘If he surpasses me, maybe things will be different then.’
Cassion tried to imagine Aris surpassing himself, but it didn’t come to mind easily.
“Now Ruel-nim will be able to smile a lot, right?”
“Well…” Cassion couldn’t give a definite answer to Aris’s question.
The only thing that had collapsed was the Red Ash in Leponia.
They hadn’t even encountered the higher-ups yet.
The future remains uncertain, casting a slight gloom over Aris, then he clenched his fist.
“I want to become stronger, so that no one can harm Ruel-nim.”
“I think the same.”
Aris was surprised by Cassion’s words that followed. Cassion becoming stronger from here was unimaginable.
“Why are you surprised? I haven’t reached my peak yet. Stopping here would be foolish.”
Cassion chuckled and looked at Aris.
When Ruel’s heart stopped, he realized that if the weak master died, he would die too.
To protect his own life, he needed to become even stronger, ensuring no one could harm Ruel.
“I feel reassured because of you, Cassion.”
Aris smiled faintly as he looked at the bonfire.
A challenge seemed to lace Cassion’s words as he questioned, “Not following behind me are you?” Aris met Cassion’s gaze once again. Observing the determined glint in Cassion’s eyes and his smug smirk, Aris clenched his fists once more.
“I will catch up. Definitely.”
***
The spirit passed through the gate and headed towards the Beast Forest.
Ruel, watching the lone figure, stood in line with those trying to pass through the gate and leisurely looked around.
Seeing the Setiria Gate after a long time, a satisfied smile naturally appeared on his face.
He had only heard news of the gate being repaired, so he didn’t know what it looked like afterwards.
‘Seems like it’s been rebuilt.’
The old, worn-out feeling was nowhere to be found.
The number of soldiers had increased significantly, and their armor and weapons sparkled brightly.
‘Good, good. It’s very well done.’
Ruel then tried to see the large rock covering Leponia, but it was still shrouded in mist, making it impossible to see.
“Ruel-nim.”
Ruel inhaled Breath and looked at Cassion.
“I will go talk to the soldiers at the gate.”
Ruel was now feeling the chilly wind despite Aris’s warming magic and Leo being in his embrace.
However, Ruel was still shivering from the cold and shook his head.
“No, it’s a rule I’ve set. I don’t want to break it with my own hands.”
Breaking the rules would undermine their resolve.
There should be no exceptions at the gate.
“Understood.”
Cassion took out a blanket from his magic pocket and covered Ruel with it.
They waited for their turn in line, unsure of how much time had passed.
When it was finally their turn, Cassion handed his identification to the soldier.
The soldier, wearing an expressionless face, was taken aback and urgently searched for someone.
Soon, his gaze fell on the man with a white cloak and a blanket covering him.
A finger covered with thick gloves rose to Ruel’s lips.
“Be quiet. Do you understand?”
“Y-yes, I understand perfectly! Please go ahead quickly!”
As Cassion retrieved his identification from the soldier, Ruel mounted his horse ahead of time. Cassion followed suit, and the horse started moving energetically again.
“Can we still catch up?”
Aris asked Ruel.
Ruel glanced at Leo in his arms before looking ahead.
“Well, it’s not visible from here. We might see it if we go a little further.”
“In that case, let’s keep moving,” Cassion said, tightening the reins while remaining vigilant of their surroundings. Once they passed through the next gate, they would enter the Beast Forest. Curiosity got the better of Cassion as he asked, “Ruel-nim, do you plan on using that power?”
“I’d rather not use it. I shouldn’t collapse.”
Ruel had never used the power to control monsters without fainting.
This time, they were going to pursue a spirit, not stop something or thwart an enemy’s intentions.
“Good point.” Cassion showed a faint smile. He was slightly anxious that Ruel might use that power.
“Leo, do you know where the spirit went?”
Ruel asked Leo after inhaling Breath.
—This body doesn’t know. There are too many scents mixed together, making it difficult to distinguish. And this body hates being here.
Leo nestled in Ruel’s arms, only showing his ears. As they got closer to where Ruel first met Leo, Leo became silent. Ruel hurriedly spoke while petting Leo.
“Stop for a moment.”
“What’s wrong?” Cassion halted the horse and scanned the surroundings.
There were no monsters in sight, nor did any signs of their imminent appearance exist.
Cassion had sent his men ahead to clear the road, so there shouldn’t have been any obstructions.
Ruel silently gazed towards the forest.
‘The monsters seem to be chasing something. Just like when I first met Leo.’
Cassion had said before that monsters didn’t gather like this. However, dozens of them were clearly chasing something.
‘What are they chasing? Are they chasing a Purifier like Leo?’
Ruel pondered for a moment. The spirit was not visible on the straight road ahead.
“Cassion, Aris.”
“Yes.” Both Cassion and Aris responded to Ruel’s words at the same time.
“Something is being pursued by the monsters. It’s very similar to when I first met Leo.”
Leo’s eyes widened.
—Is that true? This body was suddenly chased by monsters too!
“Yes, it’s quite similar to what happened back then,” Ruel confirmed, pointing towards the gathering of monsters in the distance.
“Over there.”
Cassion sighed from behind.
“Understood. Please dismount for now.”
Cassion dismounted from his horse. Ruel looked at him with a puzzled expression.
“Horses are skittish creatures. It’s best not to take them into the Beast Forest,” Cassion explained, chuckling lightly at Ruel’s reaction.
“Are you suggesting we go on foot?”
Ruel looked displeased.
Originally, he had no intention of going to the Beast Forest, but the situation had changed. Perhaps the spirit, who had gone ahead of them, had been chased by monsters and ended up in the Beast Forest.
“I will cast a Hold spell.” Aris dismounted from the horse and used the Hold spell as Ruel came down to the ground.
“Alright, let’s go.” Ruel smiled contentedly as he felt the sensation of floating.
Cassion took the lead, and as they walked, Aris voiced his concern while glancing at the horses, “Should we leave the horses like this?”
“My subordinates will take care of them, so we don’t need to worry.”
“Alright.” Finally, Aris let go of any concerns and followed Cassion.
Kuroo kuru.
As soon as they stepped into the Beast Forest, the spirits suddenly began to cry and cling tightly to Ruel.
Ruel pointed to the spirits gathered around his abdomen and asked Leo, “Why are they acting like this?”
—They say it’s scary here. This body is scared too. It feels like this body is surrounded by something bigger and scarier than before.
Ruel had already sensed that Leo was trembling slightly in his arms.
Ruel gently stroked Leo and the spirits.
“Are the monsters scary?”
—The monsters are scary, but it’s something different. This body doesn’t know how to express it.
In Ruel’s own gaze, there was nothing else visible or felt besides the mysterious scene and the monsters.
‘Is there something in the Beast Forest?’
Ruel looked around the Beast Forest more intently, and he noticed that the monsters were instinctively retreating from the direction Cassion was heading.
‘Even the monsters are afraid. What a monster.’
Ruel laughed and inhaled Breath.
***
How far had they ventured inside?
Just when Ruel thought they had gone quite far, he heard a cheerful sound that didn’t quite fit in with the Beast Forest.
Pop.
Something stomped on the ground, like a game sound effect.
—Huh?
As Ruel turned his head in surprise along with Leo’s words, something resembling a rabbit was hopping alongside them.
“What is that?”
Ruel’s startled voice made Cassion and Aris stop in their tracks.
“What’s wrong? I don’t see any monsters,” Cassion said, scanning the surroundings with his dagger at the ready.
He couldn’t see what Ruel was referring to, but it appeared to be a spirit.
Ruel, who had now noticed a rabbit-like spirit stuck to his leg, looked around and saw cute little creatures peeking at him from behind trees, in the grass, and on branches.
In an instant, he felt a chill run down his spine.
“Aris, can you see them too?” Ruel asked anxiously, pointing out the spirits surrounding him.
Cassion might not be able to see them, but Aris should.
Aris replied somewhat awkwardly, “In fact, there is so much natural mana here that it’s difficult to distinguish.”
“How does it appear to you?”
“It seems like a thick fog has settled.”
As Aris answered, Ruel looked around and clenched his fingers.
The twinkling eyes of the spirits resembled the eyes of the smaller, fuzzy spirits as they stuck to his body.
‘One of them has already attached itself to me.’
Ruel still saw the rabbit-like spirit clinging to his leg.
—It seems like everyone is drawn to Ruel’s scent.
Leo sniffed and said with a big smile.
Ruel sighed deeply and wiped his face with his hand.
Is it the scent again?
“Is this place full of spirits?”
Aris asked anxiously, his face showing a desire to take out his notebook immediately.
“Yes. There are so many.”
Although Ruel didn’t know why there were spirits in the Beast Forest, it seemed like he needed to first confirm the beings being chased by the monsters.
Ruel was about to speak as he made eye contact with the spirits, but he stopped himself.
Even if he told them not to follow, the spirits were already in pursuit.
“It’s that way.”
Ruel pointed in the direction again with his finger.
They ventured deeper into the Beast Forest, with the spirits following behind them.
Sounds from the spirits and unfamiliar voices echoed from all directions, making Ruel increasingly frown.
Ruel couldn’t help but glance back.
‘What? They’ve increased more than before, right?’
Ruel was surprised by the procession of spirits following him one after another.
—Oh! This body didn’t know there were so many spirits!
Leo, who was always fascinated by anything, was busy admiring them.
“It feels like something unpleasant has been lifted, and I feel like I can breathe more easily.”
Aris took a deep breath and spoke with a calm expression on his face.
Is it because of the spirits?
Ruel paused for a moment while inhaling Breath, recalling Aris’s words.
“You mentioned that there is a lot of natural mana here. Shall we take a break?”
“It’s okay. I’ve been slowly converting it into my mana anyway.”
“Is it possible to convert your mana while walking?”
“Yes, it is possible.”
Ruel was amazed at how easily Aris answered.
If he made a slight mistake, he wouldn’t be able to convert it to mana while in such a precarious situation.
‘That’s why geniuses…’
Ruel closed his mouth, understanding the knights, especially Horen’s feelings.
“Ruel-nim, it seems like we’ve ventured too deep into the Beast Forest. How about turning back from here?” Cassion, who had been silently moving forward, spoke up.
The Beast Forest was dangerous.
At the moment, the monsters around him were at a level he could handle, but as they went deeper, he felt a sense of danger.
His sense of direction was starting to blur.
“It’s up ahead. Let’s just check here and then turn back.”
Ruel was just as tense.
While in the beginning, they leisurely admired the surroundings, it was different now.
Because of Cassion, the monsters didn’t approach, but it was clear that they were starting to gather, considering them as tasty prey, which created a significant sense of pressure.
After a few more steps, Cassion stopped walking for a moment.
“Please wait a moment. My subordinates are dealing with the monsters up ahead.”
“Okay.” Ruel nodded and looked at the spirits.
‘It seems like there are even more now.’
—Ruel, Ruel.
Leo called out to him, scratching the ground with his front paw.
“What?”
—The spirits said that the monsters attacked while they were on their way home.”
‘Home? Are they referring to the place where the spirits are heading?’
Ruel inhaled Breath, waiting for Leo’s words.
—They said they were running away and happened to catch a good scent that led them to you, Ruel!
‘Again, this scent…’
Ruel petted Leo, who was seeking praise, and met eyes with Aris, who seemed to be expecting something with a fervor for knowledge.
He must be curious about what spirits look like.
Ruel glanced at Aris and asked Leo, “Surely they won’t attach themselves to me again?”
—No, they won’t. It seems like they have found the direction to go back home.
It was good news at the right time.
Ruel’s lips curled up into a smile.
“It’s okay now. Let’s move again.”
Cassion resumed walking after stopping.
As they arrived at a place where traces of battle were visible, Ruel spotted a spirit running towards him through the bushes.
—It’s a spirit! We found it!
Leo laughed gleefully and hugged the spirit tightly with his short hands. It seemed to be the same spirit that had left the gate first.
‘It’s not a great purifier.’
Although disappointed, Ruel was initially satisfied with the fact that he had discovered an important piece of information. The place the spirit was heading was none other than the Beast Forest.
‘A very unlikely combination…’
Suddenly, Ruel’s eyes widened.
A monster was rapidly approaching him at an incredible speed.
It was different from the previous monsters. It was of enormous size, unlike anything he had seen before.
“A giant is coming!”
Ruel immediately shouted loudly.
Knowing where the spirits were heading, there was no reason to fight the monster.
Author's Thoughts
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