Chapter 122. Witch of the Black Forest (1)
“From here on, we must walk.”
“Glad to hear it.”
The Black Forest investigation team arrived at Tunnel 47.
The group of about 20 people, consisting of Blanc’s knights and Brotswav’s warriors, walked into the tunnel which had not yet been restored from the Death Worm’s aftermath.
As they passed a certain part of the tunnel, the investigation team was soon engulfed in darkness.
Because the Death Worm had destroyed the luminous pearls while forcibly breaking in, the end of Tunnel 47 was submerged in darkness.
“But why is it called the Black Forest?”
When Franz, who had to solve his curiosity to be satisfied, asked Sten, Blanc and the knights simultaneously nodded, expressing the same question with body language.
“Well, it isn't called the Black Forest for any particularly eerie reason.”
Sten stroked his beard, which had grown only half as much as his father's, and said.
“Actually, it is because everything in that forest is black. All the plants have been dyed black by the special iron content around there.”
The Black Forest is located in the Neyanpalgar Mountain Range.
Due to the geology containing a large amount of iron, the things growing there took on a black color and possessed hard strength at the same time.
“We almost left it neglected as if abandoned because hands get cut easily even on passing weeds, and it isn't easy to cut down trees that have become hard by absorbing iron, but…….”
They left it alone since it wasn't particularly helpful, but he said that lately, grotesque things would suddenly come into Brotswav from there.
“Even if plants could be like that, we didn't know moving animals and monsters would also be influenced by the Black Forest.”
Sten shook his head from side to side thinking of the Death Worm which had a black-dyed hard outer shell.
“There is a cause for everything.”
Blanc thought of the Death Worm that possessed an outer shell so hard his sword didn't work.
That was a development closer to evolution rather than adaptation.
However, a long time would be needed to achieve such development.
If it was true that it changed suddenly as Sten said, at least it wouldn't be a natural phenomenon.
“From this point forward is the Black Forest.”
From the point where the tunnel was ending, the ground the group was stepping on began to turn black.
“The saying that one gets cut easily was true.”
Franz bent his knees and swept the spread weeds with his hand.
Although he stroked carefully so no blood was drawn, his palm, shown to the group, was full of small scratches.
“Everyone, ensure no parts are exposed.”
Blanc quietly buttoned his gloves and instructed the knights.
Although the knights had changed into clothes made of tough dwarven fabric, there was no harm in being careful.
‘It really is black.’
Blanc quietly looked ahead and thought.
Although they said it wasn't created by supernatural phenomena, the unique atmosphere possessed by the black color made the forest look bizarre.
The wind brushed past Blanc’s hair.
At the same time, the grass and tree branches in the Black Forest shook in unison, making a strange resonance.
It was a resonance he hadn't heard in his lifetime.
The young bird sitting on Blanc’s shoulder also let out a screeching sound as if it didn't like that resonance.
“Because the strength and hardness the tree branches possess are different, they make sounds different from general forests. Honestly, it isn't a pleasant sound to hear.”
Sten approached Blanc, who was quietly looking at the Black Forest, and said.
“I will take the lead.”
Perhaps understanding the words that he would take the lead, the young Phoenix flapped its wings to express displeasure, but it couldn't be helped.
Blanc and the Phoenix were born with such fates and were existences that had returned.
“Let’s go.”
The Regressor and the young Phoenix stepped forward, illuminating the darkness of the Black Forest.
***
Since they were dwarves with boisterous personalities, they led the group’s atmosphere with gruff voices until the entrance of the forest, but.
“…….”
From a certain moment, even they had no choice but to roll their eyes and look ahead quietly due to the bizarre atmosphere emitted by the Black Forest.
“Was it originally like this?”
“……It wasn't an atmosphere this shitty to this extent.”
Sten answered Blanc while gripping the battle axe in his hand tightly.
A forest untouched by human hands for a long time.
Sunlight was only seen occasionally due to the dense trees, and weeds grown up to the waist were grabbing the ankles of the group.
However, the problem more than these things was the bizarre atmosphere covering the forest.
‘There is something.’
Blanc felt the gaze of something licking down his face.
It followed Blanc persistently, and it was blatant enough to be felt on the skin just by the gaze.
Even if not as much as Blanc, everyone in the investigation team was feeling that gaze.
“It feels like something is about to pop out.”
Sten said, looking at the darkness beyond.
“Jerome.”
“Yes, Count.”
Blanc, having called Jerome, rummaged through his bag and checked the banner of the Night Watchers.
‘It isn't shining.’
It was Ulrich’s Banner that reacted to the Void, but it wasn't particularly shining until now.
He couldn't be sure yet, but at least the eerie gaze watching the group didn't seem to be caused by the Void.
“Watch the banner. Report immediately if it glows.”
“Yes, Count.”
Having checked the banner, Blanc called Simon and put him in the lead.
In a place where vision wasn't secured like now, Simon, who saw the world with the Mind’s Eye, would see more things.
“Count, isn't that knight blind?”
As the blind Simon took the lead, Sten asked Blanc as if puzzled.
“He sees what we do not see.”
Although Blanc answered as if it was no big deal to his question.
“That statement sounds somewhat scarier.”
Blanc’s answer seemed to stimulate unnecessary imagination in Sten.
“We intend to go until the center of the Black Forest. That place doesn't have trees growing densely like here.”
A wide plain existed in the center of the Black Forest unlike the forest now.
Sten said to Blanc that they intended to go until where the river crossing that plain was.
“Understood.”
Blanc agreed with Sten’s words.
Blanc, who came to find Evil, and Sten, who came to investigate the Black Forest.
They had to at least find the cause of this situation and return.
However, the bizarre atmosphere exuded by the Black Forest was giving great pressure to the group.
“Phew…….”
Listening to Sten’s long sigh, Blanc and Simon stood shoulder to shoulder and took the lead.
The Black Forest where not a single chirping bird sound was heard.
“…….”
“There is something indeed. Count.”
However, it was not a quiet forest at all to Simon and Blanc standing in front.
Two knights possessing special senses.
Blanc felt a gaze going down as if licking him, and Simon felt the existence of something talking in whispers.
They weren't the only ones feeling strange sensations.
“C-Count.”
Blanc turned back at Rakshar’s call.
The Phoenix feather held in the Werewolf’s finger was shining faintly.
“SCREEECH-.”
At the same time, the young Phoenix cried out sharply as if warning.
An unknown violent movement began to be felt in the forest thought to be quiet and silent.
“Everyone, form formation.”
Blanc felt an unusual energy.
At his short and firm command, the dwarves quickly lifted their axes and guarded the surroundings.
“Cut!”
Since the dwarves were small in stature compared to humans, the warriors of Brotswav swung the axes they were holding wildly and began to cut away the weeds and bushes around them.
Thus, the dwarves created a circular clearing in an instant.
The warriors of Brotswav, having secured vision, glared at the darkness cast over the Black Forest with shining eyes inside their helmets.
However, the attack they were preparing for started not from beyond the darkness but from the air where their gaze didn't reach.
“Uh-oh!”
One of the dwarves floated into the air without being able to let out a proper scream.
It was the trees.
Tree branches moved flexibly like snakes, snatched the dwarf’s ankle, and went up.
Blanc quickly closed one eye and summoned the White Thunderbolt, but.
“Aaaagh!”
The branches squirming like a pack of snakes rushing at prey instantly entangled, grabbed the limbs of the dwarf floating in the air, and.
“Damn it.”
Tore him apart.
A rain of blood sprinkled down over the heads of the investigation team poured down.
“Uuugh!”
“Brother!”
Hearing a familiar voice, Blanc quickly ran there.
Franz was being lifted into the air not knowing what to do.
This time, Blanc’s thunderbolt, not missing the moment, struck down towards the branches.
“Hiiiek-!”
Franz, falling down as if rolling on the ground, placed a hand on his chest and calmed his startled heart.
“Dammit!”
Sten, not knowing what to do, was striking away the tree vines rushing at him.
The investigation team could only now realize.
What the identity of the dissonance surrounding them was.
The Black Forest itself was a monster.
The investigation team had walked into the monster’s stomach on their own without knowing that.
They had to get out of here.
“Sten! Which way must we go!”
Sten, hearing Blanc’s urgent call, quickly turned his head trying to catch the direction to escape.
However, no matter how much Sten looked around, the path he had grasped until just now was not visible.
Currently, the surrounding scenery had become dizzying enough that one couldn't even grasp where north, south, east, and west were.
Sten panicked at the surrounding scenery that looked as if seeing it for the first time.
The trees, the ground.
The Black Forest was moving itself, trying to ensnare the investigation team.
“Damn! I cannot get a bearing!”
Even Sten, who knew the geography of the Black Forest, couldn't figure out the path in a place that had moved into a mess.
“Aaaaaagh!”
Screams of dwarf warriors were heard here and there.
“How dare you!”
Fabiano’s whip burned with ominous characters.
“Behind!”
Tarania opened her blue jewel eyes wide and informed of the direction the trees were approaching.
Two Demon-breaking Knights possessing special compatibility against Evil were protecting the dwarves.
However.
‘At this rate!’
Even if Blanc and the knights here were excellent individuals, they couldn't cut down the entire forest endlessly swarming in.
But a situation where they didn't know which direction to advance to move right away.
“SCREEEECH-!”
Suddenly, the young Phoenix sitting on Blanc’s shoulder flapped its wings and flew up.
Perhaps disliking the brightly shining young one’s flapping, the trees of the Black Forest reached out hands trying to snatch the Phoenix, but even if young, a Divine Beast is a Divine Beast.
As the Phoenix, called a part of the sun, spread its wings wide, the darkness moving the Black Forest shrank back.
“SCREEEECH-!”
Blanc could understand because they had shared communion for a long time.
“Follow my bird!”
Blanc quickly shouted while pulling out a dwarf caught in the vines.
“Brotswav!”
Sten and Blanc quickly gathered their knights and followed the red light shining alone in the dark forest.
Things approaching piercing through the Phoenix’s light in between were.
POOOOF-!
“You bastards! Taste the reagent!”
Blocked by the explosive reagents manufactured by Franz.
Perhaps recognizing that he almost got dragged up and torn apart, Franz’s mouth became rough.
His specialty, powerful and throwable from a distance, was shining once again.
Blanc was following behind the Phoenix, cutting through the acrid smoke of trees burning by the reagents and the dark gaze looking at him.
‘Oh no!’
“Screeeech…….”
Although the Phoenix flew up with good momentum, it seemed it consumed stamina rapidly to make the light leading the group and avoiding the hands of dark things rushing from all directions.
The light the Phoenix was creating was getting weaker and weaker.
Darkness looked down at the investigation team, waiting for the frail light to go out.
“I hear the sound of water!”
Suddenly, the sound of a river flowing was heard by Simon’s sharp senses.
It seemed they reached near the river Sten spoke of.
“Advance!”
Blanc told the investigation team to advance and turned around himself, running at the very rear of the group.
Blanc threw a prepared blow towards the vines greedily snatching at the dwarves from the very back.
“My world shall burn white!”
When Simon at the very front of the group finally escaped the forest and reached the riverside.
BOOOOOM-!
A massive shock was conveyed along with a flashing thunderbolt from behind him.
“Sir Blanc!”
Sten, realizing Blanc’s absence, tried to enter the forest again pushing through the black dust.
Suddenly, a knight came out pushing through the darkness and dust.
He was dragging one dwarf who almost got eaten by darkness by the back of the neck.
Sten was deeply impressed by Blanc who jumped into the darkness himself for the warriors of Brotswav.
It wasn't a false reputation.
Although titles and achievements current in the human world didn't give much inspiration to dwarves, Blanc proved his value himself.
“Thank you!”
The warriors of Brotswav were all brothers born from the same rock.
Since Blanc who saved that brother was an existence who shared life.
“Since you saved my brothers, I too shall swing my axe for you, Sir.”
Hearing Sten’s words, Blanc spoke with a thick smile.
“Why don’t you keep watching first?”
He was a man who never let go of tension.