Chapter 433: Meanwhile, in the Forest (Retze’s Perspective)
I let out a sigh as I hid myself in a shallow horizontal hole between the roots of a large tree, clutching a stone.
Dean and the others were nearby, but there wasn’t a suitable hiding spot for all of us, so we were scattered. We were all wrapped in the same cloak, which had the effect of evading the gaze of the Black Spirit, making it hard to tell who was who at a glance.
Moving around would diminish the effect, but thanks to this cloak, I could hide from the penetrating gaze of the Black Spirit, so I had no complaints.
This cloak was provided when we accepted the request, and after completing the task, it would become part of our reward.
As I watched the flurrying snow, I took off my gloves and rubbed my face, realizing how stiff it had become. It was already a cold season, and venturing deeper into the Demon Forest was not ideal.
The stiffness in my face was partly due to the cold, but it was also because I hadn’t been moving my expressions much lately. After days of keeping my voice low and my body hunched, it seemed we were finally nearing our destination.
It had been a little over a month since we left Kanum. I recalled the request from the Guild that had led me to shrink back here in the depths of the Demon Forest.
In a room at the Adventurer’s Guild, after signing an Oath Document stating, “Do not disclose the details of the request except for its completion,” I had listened to the Guild Master, whose face had hardened slightly as he spoke.
It was a common practice to have such an oath, as even if one declined, they would still be unable to speak of the request.
“Why not ask the adventurers from the Fortress City?” Dean had said after hearing the details.
The requester was the Lord of Fortress City Anoma, and the task was to “return the Spirit’s Droplet to the Spirit that produced it.”
Kanum was in a different country from the Fortress City. Moreover, the Adventurer’s Guild in Fortress City Anoma had a wealth of talent, including Gold Rank adventurers like Amedeo.
“It seems difficult to request help from a guild in the same city. Besides, the Spirit of the Droplet is said to be quite strong, and they want to be prepared in case of an attack,” the Guild Master had sounded somewhat weary, his voice tinged with exasperation.
However, Kanum and the Fortress City were close. If Kanum were to be attacked by Demon Beasts, they would naturally seek aid from their country, but the adventurers from the Fortress City would be their most reliable support. There was likely a letter from the Guild Master of the Fortress City as well. They couldn’t just dismiss it.
The Spirit’s Droplet was a crystallization of the Spirit’s power, given to someone it favored. It was similar to a Magic Stone in that regard, but unlike Magic Stones, it bore no ill will or negative effects, and it was considerably more powerful.
Normally, it was a valuable item that one would not part with easily. It was rare, and depending on its effects, it could not be exchanged for gold. — I felt like Gene had fed it to his Ex-Staff, but that was an exception. If people found out, many would scream in horror, but there was nothing to be done about it.
However, when the Spirit of the Droplet turned into a Black Spirit, those who possessed the Droplet or were near its location would become targets. In short, the Spirit that had brought the Droplet to Fortress City Anoma had recently transformed into a Black Spirit, and the request was to chase it into the Demon Forest and return the Droplet.
It would be best to use it up or break it quickly, but even if we broke it now, it would take time for the remnants of its power to dissipate, meaning those connected to the Droplet would still be targeted.
One way to avoid this was to break it near the original owner, the Black Spirit, and return the power.
And here I was, freezing in the depths of the Demon Forest. It was a hassle, as I was also tasked with escorting someone who could sense the presence of that Spirit, but things were going smoother than I had expected.
The person I was escorting was bundled up in the cloak with Ash. She was the third daughter of the Lord of the Fortress City, and despite her noble status, she didn’t complain at all. She seemed accustomed to rough living, and her legs were strong.
Moreover, there was supposed to be only one daughter of the Lord, and I had seen her before. Her hair color was different, so she was definitely someone else. The third daughter herself seemed earnest and not the scheming type, but something felt off, making me uneasy.
Considering the strength of the forces secured by the Fortress City, the Spirit was likely not just strong but quite formidable. Even accounting for its injuries and loss of power, it could still be a dangerous opponent.
As someone holding the actual Droplet, I wanted to encounter it and resolve this quickly before it regained its strength.
I tossed a caramel that Gene had given me into my mouth. For a brief moment, the sweet aroma wafted through my nose.
At this point, the number of Demon Beasts was high, and many of them were strong, leaving me with little time to secure food. I had been gathering edible moss and young leaves as I passed by, but they were unappetizing and hardly filled my stomach, so I honestly didn’t want to eat them.
If I let my guard down, I would think of Gene’s cooking—I’ve been quite poisoned by it. Not long ago, when entering the Demon Forest for a few days, I had the luxury of hunting, but resting on the cold, damp ground was the norm.
As I pondered this, I suddenly locked eyes with Dean and Chris. Still holding their gazes, both of them tossed the same caramel into their mouths.
Their slightly disgruntled faces and the act of tossing the caramel were oddly amusing, lifting my spirits for the first time in a while. I probably had a similar expression when they looked at me.
I should finish this request quickly and gather some food from Gene.