Chapter 66
It was peaceful.
A sentiment that felt unbelievable—that I could actually feel and think such a thing.
Carlton now understood very well why.
The person sitting beside him kept bringing him little, special things.
Carlton blinked slowly.
A faint unease, something never seen before, flickered in his crimson eyes.
Never once had Carlton hesitated in seeking his lost memories and Vayne.
But now, things had changed.
If, when he regained those lost memories, the Belia within them turned out to be someone other than the one he knew now—could he endure it?
What would he do if the worst happened?
He had tried to stop Belia from coming here not only because he feared she might be hurt, but also because of this unease.
What if these emotions he was feeling were nothing but a trick?
Carlton’s hand tightened for a moment.
“I don’t know what’s beyond that barrier…”
“Hm?”
Belia turned her head to look at him.
“Whatever it is, I’ll still be Carlton, and you’ll still be Belia.”
Carlton smiled, trying to hide his unease.
It was awkward, but more sincere than any smile he had ever shown before.
Belia froze for a moment, staring at that face.
Then she placed her hand gently atop his, which rested on the ground.
Carlton’s eyes trembled faintly.
A cool breeze passed between the two of them.
“Right. I’m Belia, and you’re Carlton… No, wait. I’m the young lady, and you’re the Tower Master, right?”
Carlton, oddly reassured by Belia’s playful grin, felt his tension ease.
“What are you two doing without me?”
At the familiar voice, Belia came back to her senses.
She quickly pulled her hand away.
It was Karin, trudging across the grass toward them.
“Where did you go?”
Carlton frowned, looking up at Karin as he approached.
“Without saying a word.”
Carlton had been ready to accuse him of sneaking around doing something shady, though he had no proof—yet when his eyes met Belia’s, he cut his words short.
The killing intent radiating off Carlton made Karin avert his gaze.
“Ah, just checking out the barrier nearby.”
Karin answered quickly, then wedged himself right between Carlton and Belia.
“Eating something tasty without me, huh?”
Carlton and Belia shifted apart.
Ignoring their disapproving looks, Karin grabbed a piece of bread Carlton had been about to eat until Belia stopped him.
Even though it had fallen to the ground, he ate it happily, declaring it delicious.
Belia and Carlton both clicked their tongues at him.
“Wow, the view here’s amazing, isn’t it?”
“Yeah… it is.”
Belia nodded awkwardly at his cheerful question.
The next moment, Carlton used a spell to blow Karin back.
It was just a small gust, but unprepared, Karin toppled over.
“What the—! I was eating!”
“Your robe’s getting dirty. Let’s go.”
Carlton helped Belia to her feet.
“Clean up after yourself.”
“I wasn’t done eating!”
“Then finish and catch up.”
Just as he had when they came, Carlton lifted Belia into his arms.
Watching him vanish with her, Karin clicked his tongue.
“He’s bewitched. Completely bewitched.”
Picking up the dropped bread again without care, he munched on it while gazing into the dense, misty forest.
He had a bad feeling.
The beasts inside weren’t like those in the neutral zones.
In less than ten years, they had completely nested within the Misty Forest.
It was too unnatural to call it the law of nature.
Karin pulled out a small pouch he had used earlier that day.
He approached the lake and, without hesitation, emptied it over the water.
Strands of black hair, faintly imbued with magic, sank into the lake without a trace.
“I can’t trust this.”
His expression hardened.
“I wasn’t planning to go this far, but… things are worse than I thought.”
The waters of the lake flowed into small channels that ran throughout the forest.
The scent of prey carried by the water would stir the beasts.
Even for Karin, this was a heavy burden.
“It’ll be dangerous… but still…”
Though his face looked uneasy, his hand did not falter as he released the pouch into the lake.
He had already lived a life full of doing far worse; unease weighed on him more than fear.
It was his friend’s reaction he dreaded most.
“Well, I’ve got backups anyway.”
Karin fiddled with a handful of potions tucked into his robes.
With this many, he could save any human even at the brink of death.
“We have to be cautious.”
He muttered to himself the same words he had repeated to Carlton countless times before coming here.
Even though they had been in the forest for half a shichen, Carlton hadn’t revealed a thing.
It was because of the smiling face—one Karin hadn’t seen since the wastelands.
Carlton was family, a brother with whom he had shared pain.
That was why Karin couldn’t bear even the smallest risk.
He feared that Belia, this dangerous factor, might devour Carlton—his only friend and family in the world.
Karin’s face twisted bitterly.
He gathered up the pouch and turned around.
Something massive stirred within the dense fog.
That night, the forest echoed with the roars of beasts.
“Hold! Stop here.”
At Carlton’s command, the group halted.
Though the cries of beasts had robbed them of sleep last night, everyone looked in good spirits.
Since morning, there had been no attacks, and they had passed through the barriers with ease.
Thanks to the royal seal, they had come deep into the forest without incident, making for a surprisingly smooth journey.
To their left stretched a forest path, while to their right loomed a sheer cliff.
Though surprised to find such terrain in the forest, they accepted it as part of the Misty Forest’s strange nature.
At the front, Carlton and Perton compared the map to their surroundings, discussing the route.
Meanwhile, Karin stood alone, constantly glancing behind the group.
Since he had chosen to walk using magic, Belia rode alone behind the others, guiding her horse.
“The map’s old, so the paths differ somewhat, but heading east should bring us to the center of the forest.”
“We’ll need to descend the cliff, so for now let’s follow the path—”
Carlton stopped mid-sentence.
At the same time, Karin snapped his head toward the fog ahead.
Though nothing could be seen through the thick mist, neither of them moved a muscle.
“What is it?”
Perton followed Carlton’s gaze into the fog.
Carlton narrowed his eyes for a moment, then tilted his head.
Karin did the same.
“Something’s wrong.”
Carlton dismounted.
“What do you mean?”
Perton dismounted after him.
“The mist’s unusually thick, and the mana in the air…”
Carlton stretched out his fingers.
When they crossed the barrier, he had felt the air’s mana thicken sharply.
But now it was rapidly thinning.
If mana was fading, the mist should clear—yet instead, it was growing denser.
“The Misty Forest can change with the weather, so perhaps—”
Perton cut himself off.
As though they had rehearsed it, he and Carlton looked at each other.
Then, simultaneously, they shouted to the group:
“Split left and right!”
The formation scattered. At that instant, the ground shook violently.
“Prepare for battle! We’re under attack!”
Perton reacted swiftly.
The knights followed, drawing well-honed swords.
“Karin! Cover the rear!”
Belia was retreating to avoid hindering the fight when it happened.
The ground split open between the divided ranks.
Before anyone could react, something vast and black burst forth from below.
The group instantly surrounded it—then froze.
“Ghh—!”
The nearest knight gasped.
A beast, cloaked in black fur and glowing red eyes, glared at them.
Just one of it, and yet its presence overwhelmed them all.
Its glossy black coat was marred by countless scars.
As tall as a house, drooling profusely, it looked ready to devour them all in a single bite.
The predatory eyes sweeping over them froze the knights in place.
They were veterans with field experience, carefully chosen—yet none had ever seen or even heard of a beast this size.
Perton was no different.
“This… this is…”
He belatedly realized his hand clutching his sword was trembling violently.
Even after years in the order, he had never encountered such a monster.
Its size was staggering, but its aura was even more overwhelming.
Instead of charging recklessly as most beasts would, this one simply stared them down.
Its red eyes scanned them slowly, and not one of them dared to move.
Carlton included.
