(EP-288.2) Depression #1

288 – Fairy’s Depression #1

However, the famously chic Countess Redney didn’t seem to mind such things and continued with the conversation.

“You must have quite a few stories from your journey here. If you have the time, I’d like to hear them.”

“Hm.”

We exchanged light stories about why we had come to Sandora and what had happened along the way. After listening to all of it, Countess Redney nodded.

“You’ve been through a lot. But there was a reason we had to block the teleportation gate.”

“A reason?”

At my question, Redney calmly explained.

“There was an attempt to cast a teleportation spell from beyond the wall. I don’t know what it is, but anything trying to come into the city from beyond the wall couldn’t be normal.”

Neither I, Stella, nor Mirna responded. Who knew what horrors would unfold if the beings lurking beyond the wall were unleashed into the city.

“That’s not the only concern; there are many issues in Sandora. Monsters are swarming all over the place, the number of soldiers is insufficient, and although we manage to maintain order with adventurers, it’s still not enough.”

Everyone was complaining about a lack of manpower. She was probably asking us, who came from the capital, for additional resources and funding.

We continued to discuss serious matters for a while. All I could offer was the standard response that I’d relay the message to the royal palace.

“Then, would you like to see the construction of the new arena? We are in the process of finishing it. And it should be completed in a few days.”

At Redney’s suggestion, we followed her to the arena located in the center of Sandora. The building, shaped like a colosseum, seemed well-suited to accommodate a large number of spectators.

“We expanded and renovated the existing colosseum. That’s why the construction was able to proceed quickly. Please inform the Spider Queen that the event will be held without issue.”

“Understood.”

And with that, the day’s schedule came to an end.

It was around lunchtime, and I thought I should unpack my things and either explore the city or rest. As I was heading towards the room prepared for me in the castle.

“Ah! You’re here!”

I turned my head to a familiar voice and saw a girl waving at me from the worn hallway.

“Comrade! You’ve finally arrived!”

“It’s Marmar.”

It was nice to see her doing well.

“Marmar, this is a gift for you.”

“A gift─!?”

As Marmar approached me, I pulled out a box of premium honey candies from my inventory and handed it to her. It was one of the two boxes of candy I had received from the elf elders.

“Th, this is…!”

After receiving the box of candies from me, Marmar eagerly began to devour them.

She stuffed as much as she could into her mouth and even filled both hands. She reminded me of my squirrel Keongkeong hoarding nuts in its cheeks.

It seemed that Marmar, too, couldn’t deny the imp blood in her veins.

After a while, as she continued to eat the honey candies with reckless abandon, Marmar suddenly looked down at her now-empty hands, as if coming out of a trance.

“Ahht—! I was going to share these with the other sisters, but I ended up eating them all!”

“It’s okay, I have another box. So, how have you been?”

“I’ve been great! The other sisters are doing well too! They’re probably out gathering herbs in the nearby forest with Professor Balan right now. Let’s go together!”

“Sure?”

After unpacking my things, I left the gates of Sandora with Marmar, Stella, and Mirna. Just a short distance away from the city was the Witch Forest.

A terrifying forest teeming with all sorts of monsters, heretics, and bandits. Of course, the forest near Sandora was safe enough that people could go for a walk.

“After spending several days in the carriage, it feels good to be in the forest.”

“There are many kinds of birds that you can’t see in the South.”

Both Mirna and Stella seemed to really like the Witch Forest.

I felt the same way. Perhaps it was because of the fairy blood flowing through half of me….

But there was something about this forest that felt familiar. Was it because I witnessed it in Aira’s imaginary world?

Swaaaaa-.

Rustle, rustle.

Just then, the sound of trees and bushes swaying in the wind reached my ears. At the same time, the refreshing scent of the trees wafted everywhere.

It was both fragrant and pungent.

Zap-.

For a moment, I felt something flash through my mind. It was a kind of déjà vu, or something like a sudden flashback.

━It’s a fairy tree. A tree that’s like a friend to fairies. When the wind blows, it makes a tinkling sound like chimes—.

It was a woman’s voice.

It was a gentle, soft voice, filled with affection. I remembered looking up at the tall tree, holding its leaves in my hand, and waving it back and forth.

However, there was something unfamiliar about it—like it wasn’t really my memory.

It wasn’t the memory of ‘Lee Seong-eum’.

It felt more like a memory imprinted somewhere in this body. Has this guy been here before?

Come to think of it.

They said he was found in a ‘log’ state in the Witch Forest in the North.

If things went well, I might be able to uncover some past memories and even find clues about Isaiah’s whereabouts.

As these thoughts crossed my mind, my body began to move deeper into the forest, as if it was drawn by something. I couldn’t tell whether it was my own will or the will of this body.

“Theo-kun, it’s dangerous to go any deeper! There might be dangerous monsters!?”

I heard Mirna’s voice trying to stop me. But I ran through the forest, unable to stop. I wasn’t sure why, but there was something beyond—something was calling me.

Edit by: faker