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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Silverriver
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The forest was quiet. Students occasionally visited, but only during the day. To truly appreciate the beauty of the northern forest, one had to come at night.
Trees stood like sentinels around the lake, reflecting the moon and stars. The occasional hoot of an owl, the scent of grass carried on the breeze… these were the forest’s charms.
In the original story, this had been Medea’s secret sanctuary.
But who cared? It was my sanctuary now. The trees, stretching from the cliffs at the northern edge, swayed gently, welcoming me.
Early autumn had arrived, and some of the trees near the lake were already changing color. The forest was dark, but the moonlight and starlight reflecting off the lake provided enough illumination to see.
And even without the moon and stars, there were other sources of light in the darkness.
-Hoo-hoo.
Owls, their heads cocked to one side, stared at me. Their brown feathers were beautiful. My gaze settled on a particularly unusual one.
Its entire body glowed, unlike any ordinary owl.
A cool breeze brushed against my skin. The temperature hovered between summer and autumn, the perfect weather for catching a cold if one wasn’t dressed warmly enough, especially in the northern forest.
I had come here to relax, but I couldn’t. The white owl had been staring at me since I arrived. I could feel its gaze whenever I looked at the lake. But the moment I looked at the owl, it would look away.
I sighed, wondering what it wanted. Should I speak first? I wouldn’t be able to relax at this rate.
As I considered this, the owl finally spoke.
“[Welcome to our forest.]”
Our forest? I sat up and looked directly at the owl. It no longer avoided my gaze.
“[There is a spirit who wishes to see you.]”
“Me?”
The owl nodded silently. I stared at its yellow eyes, then sighed. It seemed I wouldn’t be getting any rest.
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Owls perched on the branches above, their yellow eyes fixed on me. I asked the owl guiding me,
“Where are we going?”
“[A place where uninvited guests are not allowed. You are the third human to be invited here.]”
“The third?”
I looked around. The forest was filled with unfamiliar sights. A warm, comforting energy emanated from the trees, different from mana. The deeper we went, the stranger I felt.
The demonic energy within me was dormant, but my instincts screamed. Everything here was a spirit.
They all had different presences, but they were all watching me. I didn’t know why the spirits had summoned me. Perhaps it was because of my trait. But why hadn’t they reacted when I first came here?
The owl hooted, and the trees parted, creating a path for me. They actually moved, lifting their roots to make way. A clearing lay beyond the trees.
-Crackle. Pop.
A bonfire blazed brightly, creating a campfire-like atmosphere. I sat down on a log that had been placed near the fire.
“….”
Silence fell over the clearing. The owls simply watched me, saying nothing. The one who was supposed to meet me was nowhere to be seen. As I grew accustomed to the owls’ gazes, something emerged from between the trees.
“A wolf?”
Its pure white fur was the first thing I noticed, shimmering in the moonlight. It looked soft, inviting me to touch it. But I resisted the urge and swallowed hard.
I didn’t know what this creature was, but its aura was powerful. And its bared fangs suggested it was dangerous.
Thankfully, it quickly closed its mouth and sat down on a log. I stared at the wolf, its blue eyes captivating. I didn’t recognize it.
I could sense it was a spirit, but… had I encountered it before?
“[Relax. I mean you no harm.]”
“….”
“[I’m simply… curious. What have you done… to carry the scent of Lenox?]”
I stared at the wolf, wide-eyed. I had suspected it was unusual, but… did it know Lenox?
“You know Lenox?”
“[Of course. I was the one who allowed her and Iliad to create the dungeon.]”
“You allowed them to create the dungeon?”
“[Yes. And I also know that you emerged from that dungeon with the one who inherited Lenox’s will.]”
It had been in this forest since the time of Iliad and Lenox. It had even witnessed Agnes and me entering the dungeon.
I had suspected it was a powerful spirit, but… a High-Ranking Spirit? I glanced at the wolf.
Its aura, amplified by its status as a spirit, pressed down on me. I knew I couldn’t control it.
“[You’re not going to answer?]”
“Wouldn’t it be natural to carry Lenox’s scent after leaving her dungeon?”
I tried to deflect the question. But the wolf scoffed.
“[Don’t insult my intelligence. It’s been centuries since I last saw Lenox, but I haven’t forgotten her scent. A potent scent. The scent of Lenox’s soul, bound to something.]”
So that wouldn’t work. I considered my answer, then replied,
“Lenox helped me. But what does her scent have to do with you?”
“[Lenox helped you… has she vanished?]”
The wolf’s voice was tinged with sadness. Should I tell it? I hesitated, and the wolf spoke again.
“[Lenox and I… were acquainted. I mean you no harm. I swear it on my rank as the High-Ranking Spirit, Lepero.]”
A spirit swearing on its rank. I knew the significance of that oath, so I nodded. The wolf bowed its head. It seemed their relationship had been more than just a casual acquaintance.
‘To swear on its rank…’
A spirit’s rank, especially that of a High-Ranking Spirit, was sacred. It represented everything they had accumulated. If they broke an oath sworn on their rank, they would lose all their power. Their memories, their strength, their status… everything. They would revert to a low-ranking spirit.
So swearing on one’s rank meant an absolute, unbreakable promise. The wolf looked at me intently, then said,
“[I understand why Lenox chose you. You’re… different. Familiar, yet alien. You possess both the power to attract spirits and the power to repel them.]”
“What do you mean?”
“[Spirits are drawn to you, yet they also flee from the aura within you.]”
It was the demonic energy. I was certain. There was no other reason for spirits to be repelled.
Wait a minute.
“Low-ranking spirits seem to like me just fine.”
“[That’s because they’re low-ranking. They can’t properly sense auras. They simply see your mana as… sustenance.]”
“So I can’t form contracts with any spirits besides low-ranking ones?”
“[That seems to be the case. Even I feel a strong sense of revulsion when I sense your aura.]”
This was a double-edged sword. Was this the true nature of the Genius trait? I was blessed with a talent that attracted spirits, yet cursed with demonic energy that repelled them.
What a messed-up body. The wolf watched me sigh, then muttered,
“[You don’t need to form contracts yourself.]”
“Then who should?”
“[You have a High Elf with you, don’t you?]”
At those words, I remembered a name I’d almost forgotten.
Christina. Right, she was here too. She had been so quiet lately I’d almost forgotten about her.
“[She’s not ready to contract with me yet, but she seems capable of reaching the advanced level.]”
“What do I need to do?”
“[Just being near you will draw spirits. The rest is up to the elf.]”
So I was just… bait? I scratched my head and looked at the wolf.
“Why are you telling me this?”
“[Because Lenox chose you.]”
The wolf’s gaze intensified. Those blue eyes were unnerving.
“[The forest’s aura has been… disturbed lately. Something… unwelcome is approaching.]”
“Unwelcome?”
I tilted my head. The forest rejecting something? I had never heard of such a thing. The wolf bared its fangs.
“[There’s only one kind of presence this forest rejects.]”
Killing intent radiated from the wolf, a palpable desire for destruction. What could it be?
“[Those tainted with demonic energy. Demons, the Demon King… and the abominations that have forsaken life itself.]”
Wait…
Wasn’t that… me?
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