Chapter: 235
“What the hell…!”
“This is bad…”
Amidst the gathered members of Astra’s hunting party, surprised voices were heard.
The Fury Beast that flew in, scattering flames.
The Witch of Wrath who, thought to be dead, had risen again and sent the beast back.
The series of bewildering events that occurred in such a short time was enough to leave them in shock, but there was something else that made them even more flustered.
“Sylvia has disappeared! And the witch…!”
“Could it be that Sylvia went with that witch…?”
Just after a blinding flash that could momentarily blind them erupted, they opened their eyes to find Sylvia and the witch, who had clearly been right next to them, completely vanished.
That was the reason for their utter confusion.
It was already an emergency situation for Sylvia to come out to such a dangerous place, but to disappear together with the witch was on another level.
While they were momentarily bewildered by the situation, they quickly regained their composure and thought of a way to find Sylvia.
“Elder! If the young lady went with the witch, we can locate her!”
“I’m already verifying that. So, the witch’s current location is…”
The First Elder, having checked the magical tool that indicates the witch’s location, confirmed the direction and let out a strained breath.
“Whoa… of all places, it had to be there.”
“Are you saying Lady Sylvia went deeper into the forest?!”
Someone exclaimed in horror.
Where Sylvia had gone was even further north from where they currently stood, the place with the burned forest.
That forest, once the land of elves, had become a real nightmare ever since it was set ablaze by the Witch of Wrath 500 years ago, filled with Fury Beasts roaming about.
Since it was designated as a dangerous area after many heroes, including the former captain and deputy commander of the 4th Squad, were killed attempting to explore it a decade ago, it was alarming that Sylvia had ventured in there.
The First Elder, momentarily stiffened by bad thoughts, soon bit his lip and muttered.
“…She should be fine. Didn’t we just see that? The Fury Beasts seemed to follow the witch. If, as she said earlier, that witch is truly friendly to Sylvia, then at least while she’s with her, Sylvia shouldn’t be harmed.”
“…Are you really sure about that?”
“…For now, we have no choice but to believe that.”
At least there was some relief in the fact that the most dangerous element of that forest, the Phoenix-type beast, commonly known as the End Bird, seemed to obey the witch.
However, regardless, the current situation was far from favorable for them.
Sylvia was a symbol of unparalleled importance to Astra.
They couldn’t allow the only star still shining in Astra to fade away, so they had a duty to get her back to safety at all costs.
“Whatever happens, we’ll be heading into the forest chasing after Sylvia.”
Thus, the First Elder commanded the hunting party to advance toward the forest.
The hunting party, already prepared to sacrifice their lives, had no hesitation heading into a more dangerous place now.
“I’ll change the mission as of this moment. The top priority is the rescue of Sylvia. The original goal of hunting the witch can be thought of afterward. Got it?”
“Yes!”
At the forefront, the First Elder spoke in a determined voice.
“Then let’s go. To protect our star.”
And so, Astra’s hunting party, now a rescue team, set forth toward their former homeland.
*
Armed with a solemn resolution, Astra’s hunting party entered the forest.
Watching them from a distance while remaining hidden, Beatrice couldn’t help but smirk as she muttered.
“What a laughable bunch. So weak yet so bold.”
Do they even know why they’re still alive?
As she sneered at Astra’s elves, Beatrice contemplated.
What kind of creatures were the Fury Beasts that inhabited that forest?
Like Evangeline, who attempted to burn the entire world for revenge 500 years ago, they were wild beings always burning with rage.
Even their once mighty ancestors had no choice but to abandon the forest in the face of Evangeline and her beasts’ power, yet these pathetic souls thought they could achieve something with their feeble strength.
Had it been in the past, the moment they stepped into that forest, they would have been incinerated without leaving a single bone behind.
Nonetheless, the reason they were still alive was simple.
The masters of the beasts didn’t want them to be harmed.
Beatrice felt it.
The beasts that would have charged out at a moment’s notice when Scarlet was hurt were now holding back their fury and retreating.
And they were even cleaning up other surrounding beasts that could potentially harm them, just so their master wouldn’t get sad.
It was truly a fascinating situation.
How could they hold such thoughts for those who had hurt them?
Scarlet Evande… was this Eva particularly special?
For a moment lost in thought, Beatrice recalled a scene she had just witnessed and muttered with a strange expression.
“No… but maybe it’s not quite like that.”
Beatrice realized.
Eva, who had just made the beasts withdraw.
The gaze that had briefly turned toward her before leaving was undoubtedly that of Evangeline, not Scarlet.
And that made it all the more intriguing.
That Evangeline had sensed her presence yet didn’t attack, and the words she had just spoken.
“Is she regretting hurting people?”
Through their shared thoughts, the conversation between Evangeline and the beasts was something Beatrice, as a witch, could eavesdrop on.
To think Evangeline, who seemed to act solely for revenge against the world, harbored such thoughts was surprising.
A newfound realization, yet it didn’t feel all that unusual.
Deep down, they were all fond of people.
Those called Eva by Beatrice were always such beings.
This time, as with last time, and even before that.
While reminiscing about memories of the past, Beatrice slightly closed her eyes and then opened them again, murmuring.
“Well, in any case, that’s not what’s important right now.”
Even the past Eva was an interesting topic; however, Beatrice’s primary interest was not that.
What was significant was that this Eva was in a slightly different situation than before.
The crucial point was that, until now, Evas had always been alone when in trouble.
When faced with an impossible situation, no one stepped forward to help.
She expected the same this time.
Seeing the beheading, she thought it would be the same as always.
Then Sylvia had appeared.
How that presence would act upon Eva now.
“Maybe this time, I’ll witness something different.”
With a deep yearning for something that would bring excitement to this dull world, Beatrice murmured.
*
This time, it felt dangerous, so I rushed out, but I won’t be able to help like this for a while.
After all the torment I’ve endured, I need time to rest too.
…It seems like I’m nearing my limit in staying awake.
I’ll pass it back to you, so please cherish your body a bit more.
Got it?
Scarlet Evande.
*
I faintly became aware, as if I had heard someone’s voice.
What was it? I feel like I had overheard something important…
While trying to recall a memory I shouldn’t forget, I focused my thoughts when suddenly,
“Ugh…”
A sharp pain surged through my nape.
Thanks to that pain, I vividly remembered.
The sensation of the blade piercing my neck.
As soon as my neck was cut, my memory had abruptly gone blank.
…Could it be that I’m dead?
“…”
Struggling to open my eyes, everything around me was pitch black.
Is this what they call the afterlife?
As I pondered that thought,
“Ah…! Miss Scarlet, you’re awake!”
Light seeped in as if a door opened in the darkness, and Sylvia entered through that door.
In a hurry, she checked my condition and murmured something as I stared blankly at her.
“…Where is this?”
“Oh, we’re inside the forest. I thought we should escape to a place that won’t be easily spotted, so I figured this place would be the least noticeable. The trees help obscure the view, after all.”
As I glanced beyond the place where Sylvia had just entered, I saw a blackened forest filled with the charred remains of dead trees.
While I was surveying outside, Sylvia shyly laughed and murmured.
“I’m sorry, Miss Scarlet. It must be uncomfortable, right? I couldn’t just lay you down in the middle of the forest, so I tried making a hideout by digging a hole among the trees, but since it’s my first time doing something like this, it turned out rather clumsy…”
Even as she explained, her words weren’t processing in my ears.
I was too overwhelmed, trying to make sense of this situation.
So, am I not dead after all? Did Sylvia take me here after saving me from a near-death experience?
Sure, I was glad to have my life spared.
But whether it was important or not didn’t matter at the moment, so I opened my mouth.
“…Why.”
Why, I asked.
With that question, Sylvia stared at me as if waiting for something to say.
With a gaze that seemed utterly unconcerned, I felt my frustration boiling over, and I shouted.
“Why did you come, you fool?!!!”
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