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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: FusionX
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Though they had tentatively settled on investigating together, the problem came after that.
Cluna had coldly told them to leave, and they were actually in a situation where they had been ordered to leave.
If they were caught wandering around carelessly, they would surely be captured and expelled immediately.
So they had no choice but to seek cooperation from someone they knew, though Hans didn’t like it.
They were now hiding in a basement.Emily, who had agreed to cooperate, had hidden them in the basement.
Hans frowned with his arms crossed.
What was it?
He had a very, very bad feeling.
An indescribable uneasiness had been bothering him for a while.
It was as if they had entrusted a cat with fish…
“Clara.”
“Yes?”
“Is Emily really your mother’s colleague?”
“Of course. She’s a fellow forest guardian, right? Besides, they fought together to repel the 12 tribes’ invasion long ago.”
From the time of the 12 tribes’ invasion until now, they had been in constant contact?
Well, if they weren’t close, Clara wouldn’t call Emily “aunt” and follow her so familiarly.
Then was Hans just being overly sensitive?
No, it felt a bit similar to Comprachico, but he didn’t sense any signs of mental manipulation.
No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t come up with an answer.
So Hans gave up thinking.
If he couldn’t figure it out right away, the best method was to move and find out with his body.
“Let’s wait for now.”
“Let’s do that. Aunt must have something in mind.”
“I suppose so.”
This wasn’t the time to complain about being in a basement.
They had almost been driven out of the forest before.
Of course, it was a bit frustrating that they couldn’t even see outside without windows.
“It’s my first time in the Elven Forest. It’s quite a beautiful place.”
“Right? It’s nature in its purest form!”
“I was a bit surprised that it’s not managed though.”
As it felt a bit awkward to just sit still, Hans changed the subject to lighten the mood.
He had briefly seen the forest as they entered, and its natural state was impressive.
When he mentioned this, Clara responded with a bright smile for the first time in a while.
They seemed to chatter about this topic for a good 30 minutes.
Only then did the closed basement door open.
“Have you been waiting nicely~?”
“Aunt Emily!”
“You’re here at last.”
“It wasn’t such an easy task, you know? Finding out Cluna’s destination, I mean.”
Hans and Clara closed their mouths simultaneously.
The bright atmosphere from just moments ago was completely gone.
If Emily’s words were true, where was Cluna heading now?
She had left Clara behind.
Rather, she had coldly told her to go back.
In other words, it meant it was a very dangerous matter.
Here, it would be best to dissuade them first…
“Really?! Really?! Do you know where Mom went?!”
“Of course~ Of course! Have you ever seen me lie?”
“No! Aunt has never lied!”
“Wait…”
“Let’s go there quickly! Commander!”
“Calm down for a moment, Clara.”
If it had been usual circumstances, if it hadn’t been such a big deal, Hans would have reluctantly gone along with it, but not now.
It was a matter of life and death.
If it were just Hans alone, it might have been different, but he still couldn’t forget the image of Cluna coldly driving away the daughter she loved so much.
Cluna must be in an extremely dangerous place.
Hans didn’t know the reason.
It was true that he felt hurt that she hadn’t told them, but here, as the commander, he had to separate public and private matters.
“Where is Cluna now?”
“Let’s see, the center of the forest, perhaps?”
“Isn’t that a dangerous place?”
“It’s not just dangerous. It’s very, very dangerous.”
“Then all the more reason we should go!”
He had to separate public and private matters, and before that, he didn’t want to go to a dangerous place.
Because it was scary!
It was better not to fight if possible.
He didn’t like getting hurt in fights.
He didn’t want to die either.
Especially after his arm was twisted before, it had been real hell once things had calmed down a bit.
So Hans tried to dissuade Clara.
Until he heard those words.
“You said it yourself, Commander! We need to see with our own eyes!”
“…”
Ah, that.
He had just blurted out anything to take care of her mental state, and now it was coming back to bite him.
Hearing this, Emily whistled and said,
“That’s right~ Usually you can’t be sure until you check, right?”
“You seem oddly excited.”
“Me? No way. Well, if you really don’t want to, you can stay here?”
“No! I want to go! I’ll go even if I’m alone!”
“…I’ll go too.”
There was no way he could overcome the passionate feelings of a daughter worried about her mother.
Moreover, decisively, since he had already said such things, he had no grounds to dissuade her.
Before leaving the basement, they received masks and purple robes to cover their bodies from Emily.
Apparently, it was the official uniform of the tracking team she operated.
“Tracking team?”
“Simply put, they’re my private soldiers~ Forest guardians have a lot to do to protect the forest.”
“Private soldiers?”
Even for a forest guardian, was it okay to openly operate private soldiers like that?
He had slight doubts, but Hans accepted what she gave him, thinking it couldn’t be helped.
The mask was some strange stone mask with no expressions or anything, just holes for the eyes to see through.
When he put on the outfit, he felt like he had become some villain’s henchman.
“It suits you well~ Clara!”
“Really? Thanks!”
“Yeah~ If it’s okay, I’d like you to keep wearing those clothes~”
“Sorry, I can’t do that. I like my current job.”
“Emily. I’d appreciate it if you refrained from further suggestions.”
“You’re too sensitive~”
Emily laughed playfully and detached herself from Clara, who had been clinging to her.
No matter how Hans looked at it, something felt off, but there was nothing he could do about it right now.
They left the basement.
Houses made of vines and fallen leaves on trees came into view.
Apparently, they were houses made using natural materials that had completed their life cycle…
“But why is Cluna in such a place?”
“To fulfill the guardian’s mission.”
“The guardian’s mission?”
“Yes, protecting the forest with one’s life.”
“…”
“Of course, I hope she doesn’t die if possible~”
This confirmed it.
The elf called Emily was hoping for something to happen to Cluna now.
What was the reason?
Weren’t they fellow forest guardians?
Could it be out of jealousy?
But he couldn’t be 100% certain because he didn’t sense any negative emotions from Emily right now.
Rather, she seemed to exude friendly emotions, but Hans knew.
Having eaten humble pie without fail every day, becoming a master of reading the room level 20 or higher, Hans could tell.
Emily was hoping for Cluna to die now.
So he was about to say something, but…
“Ugh…!!”
“Clara?”
“Ah~ Looks like it’s starting~”
Clara let out a groan.
Hans was startled and hurriedly tried to support Clara, but she was faster.
Clara’s body, which had been staggering as if she had a headache, stopped.
“This mask, you see. It has a special spell engraved on it.”
“…”
“Once you put on the mask, your consciousness disappears and you become a puppet that moves as I say.”
“…”
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› Please only read it on the official website.
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“It’s such a basic engraving that most people would notice, but to think the so-called Royal Knights would fall for something this easy.”
Thinking they had completely fallen for it, she was rambling on her own.
Seeing that Clara wasn’t responding, it seemed she had really become a puppet.
But for some reason, it had no effect on him at all.
Could the engraving be broken?
Many thoughts crossed his mind, but right now it was important not to show any signs.
“Looks like almost everyone’s gathered.”
Emily put her fingers in her mouth and whistled.
Then elves wearing the same stone masks and purple robes as them moved in unison.
Clara was among them.
Afraid of losing Clara, Hans quickly ran and stood next to her.
Fortunately, Emily didn’t notice at all.
If he was discovered here, everything would be ruined.
Of course, escaping wouldn’t be difficult.
He could just use time stop and escape right away.
Since she said it was a basic engraving, the brainwashing effect would probably disappear completely if they took off the masks.
However, if they escaped like this, it could put Cluna in danger instead.
So he had to at least figure out exactly what Emily was aiming for.
Unaware that he was harboring such thoughts, Emily burst into laughter.
It was a smile with a flush on her face, but it was terribly twisted and scary to look at.
“Now I can finally have you~ Cluna!”
Drooling from her mouth, she was nothing short of what you’d call a pervert.
Looking at that sight, Hans clicked his tongue.
‘I see, so this one was that famous pervert.’
But he still didn’t know anything for certain.
He would wait until things became clearer.
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