The Forest Part II

---------Garun’s Night------------

“……ahhh….so sleepy”

Every time it becomes dark, I get so sleepy. I really just want to go home and snuggle with my wife. Ah right , my wife of now 14 years who I just had married a few months ago. Life is great, even at night after I go back I can see her smile and feel my fatigue fade away.

My wife is the most beautiful in the village. Yep, that nicely unkempt hair, her shining eyes, those beautiful round thighs of hers. Ah I want to go back as soon as I can. But the shift isn’t going to end anytime soon.

Why couldn’t Guez just give me a few months off? I want to go and eat some good boar stew, have a bath, drink good alcohol and ravage my wife at night. I plan on having at least three kids you know, so I have to be there for her. Yep, I sure work hard, don’t I?

Watching over the trees is boring and I get have to do it when its night. It’s not like I can see what’s happening there anyway. I’m glad that I bought some alcohol with me today, I could drink away a little until my shift is done.

Ah… the smell is a little strong, but it’ll keep me energetic for night time with my wife. But seriously, I hate the new young guards that were appointed yesterday. Calling me “ Garu Daru”. I should teach them not to make fun of my name.

[ Author’s Note: Daru means alcohol, consequently also in my national language ]

I knew them from when they were kids, so I can’t exactly rebut when act overly familiar with me.

I drink to the last drop of alcohol. It felt refreshing. I’m not too drunk right now, so this much should be fine.

‘……….’

Huh!? What’s that?

I thought I heard a sound. I don’t think I should be able to hear anything from here. And it’s almost night time so everyone should be going back home. But it did feel like I heard something.

‘……..’

Again….so I’m not imagining it. Where is it coming from? I should be able to find its source if I carefully listen for it.

Wait…….it’s coming from below the wall. There’s nobody on the village’s side who’re calling for me.

So then that means…….it’s probably coming from the other side. But since monsters can’t get in, they’ll simply try to tackle the wall or try to crush it. But this sound isn’t loud enough for something like that.

I’m looking at the other side but it’s completely dark. I can’t make anything out. Maybe it’s just the wind.

‘……..’

Okay, now I’m getting a little scared. I’ve been in this post for over two years now and I’ve never had this situation occur during that time. I really hope it’s just the wind. Let me take a close look to what’s happening down there.

………….THE HECK?!

My eyes aren’t lying to me right? What’s that dark thing slowly coming towards me? Why the heck does it have red eyes?

….is …..is that ……BLOOD?!

Oh god…...this is bad, it’s almost half way up, and it’s coming right at me. It has claws……*gulp*…..

Was there a monster somewhere like this? I want to run away , but my legs won’t move. Damn it……..

I hope this is just a dream, that’s right I’m drunk. If I close my eyes it’ll go away. Okay, I’ve closed my eyes now. I can’t see anything. There’s no monster down there, it was just your imagination. When you open your eyes, there’s not going to be anything but the dark trees.

I slowly opened my eyes, I looked below again. Nothing ……

Phew….it was just my mind running wild. I’m too drunk, so I’ll ask someone else to take over. I want to go see my wife.

Huh?! Looks like someone’s on to my right. I’ll just ask them to guard in my place.

……….?!

OH GOD …….it’s the monster, it that monster that was just below a while ago. It’s close, too close, it’s coming closer. Its skin is black and shining. I haven’t seen anything like that ever in my life. It’s approaching me.

I need to run…..but my legs still won’t move. Is that blood on its hands? It’s also wearing clothes of a child, did it kill one?

It’s too close……..my mind, it’s blacking out…….everything’s so dark.

Eline……please forgive me……. I’m dying while failing at my job.

---------Orian’s POV-----------

……..huh?

What’s wrong with this guy? He fainted. That’s Grade A rude.

Fainting after meeting someone, did he just want to rest? I notice my claws haven’t gotten even slightly brazed while I was climbing here. Ah……I’m still wearing my defense form. I wonder how my form looks.

Ah! …….. poor guy, what’s worse is that he’s ……well …..a lot has gone down below there. Yeah, I saw nothing.

I managed to kill the Claw wolf and return, but it took a little more time than I expected. How can I go back home now? There’s the blood of that wolf on my clothes right now and my dagger is still deep red. I need to clean it.

I noticed the bottle of alcohol, nearing the fainted man. No, it’s not like I want to try right now anyway. I shouldn’t drink when I’m still a kid. Looks like its empty. How disappointing.

But I’ll take it. I need a bottle right now. I slowly climbed down to the village’s side of the wall. Looks like they’re still lighting the pillars, I need to head to the lake to clean myself.

Once I reach the lake, I use the bottle to gather up some water. I don’t want to contaminate the lake with this blood. I try to clean the bottle, so there’s no remnant of the alcohol when I wash my clothes with it. I take a small sip from the water, I get a light taste of it. It tastes bitter…..is it because I’m a child?

I clean myself, but my clothes are still wet due to that. I can just tell Olivia that I fell into the lake by accident. Luckily there’s only a small tear on my clothes. I can ask her to sew it back while I’m apologizing.

I take a look at the lake, I can still see my reflection even though it’s dark. Seriously, what is with this world’s light? I can guess why the guard was scared. I can’t see any of my hair over my head when the defense covers my whole body. Everything is covered by the graphite like material. If I use [ Mana Sight ] , it only looks like dense mana is covering my whole body. I undo the defense covering my head. The hair’s back…….. maybe the mana covers over it? My appearance is that of a child, which has been burnt to the color of dark ash completely.

No matter how many times I look at myself in full body defense, I look completely inhuman. Almost as if I’m a monster myself. If the people of this village found out, will they accept me as I am? Will mother look at me the same way? Will Targ and Gina still be friends with me?

I shouldn’t worry too much about it. I plan on telling them at some point. But if they decide to shun me, I don’t mind leaving the village behind after fulfilling my promise.

I return home, somehow trying to get rid of this gloomy mood hanging over me. I greet everyone back home. Dari isn’t here, but his footwear is still here, so he’s probably in his study room. Sara and Olivia have angry faces over them.

“ Where were you, Orian?” (Sara)

“…….”(Orian)

“Answer your sister, where have you been the whole day? And you’re soaked too” (Olivia)

“I was playing in the area across the lake. Since Targ and Gina weren’t there, I was just sitting there……..”(Orian)

“hmph….”(Sara)

“Oh! ….. Dear?”(Olivia)

Olivia was looking behind and Dari had come out. He must’ve been waiting for me as well. He arrives in front of me and he has a gloomy face for some reason.

“…….Orian, I’m sorry.”(Dari)

Dari hugs me. I’m a little confused, I couldn’t understand what was happening. While still embracing me, Dari continued.

“It’s my fault…….if only I had taken more care….if only I had told me to get on the carriage and rushed……if only I had picked a better day to return. It’s my fault Guez got hurt, your friend’s father who had to sacrifice himself. I’m sorry……”(Dari)

Ah…. I see now. He’s been pushing it all on himself, we were people who had to live in this village and not in the city. Maybe the village was made due to overpopulation within the city, but someone had to live here. Dari chose to trade with the city, so the living conditions here improved. He can’t be blaming himself, there isn’t another merchant in this village. There’s a blacksmith, many foragers and hunters but there’s only one merchant.

“ Dear….. it’s not your fault”(Olivia)

“But if only I had the path once, been more careful….. this wouldn’t have happened.” (Dari)

……..

“It’s not your fault, father.”(Orian)

“…..”(Dari)

“If it’s anyone’s fault, it’s the monsters right? They’re the ones who are pushing us this far, right? You can’t blame yourself……. Targ didn’t come because his father’s not here, Gina didn’t meet since Uncle’s injured. I’m scared….that next time you won’t come back home.”(Orian)

This was the thought that had been running through my mind, the whole time after I saw the Iron Boar’s strength. Even if I was able to kill a Claw Wolf, it was mostly luck since the wolf had lost balance due to confusion and I was able to easily pierce its neck. But such things won’t happen always. The people in the village will die, if the walls didn’t protect them. Just having built the walls and staying alive in this forest was a miracle.

After hearing my words, Dari had calmed down and looks like I was let off coming so late. Parents always spoil the younger one, don’t they?

I had changed my clothes to another spare, had my dinner and quickly fell asleep.

-------Day 2----------

I had to hide the bottle I got from that guard yesterday. I don’t think I can go to the forest today. I go and greet Targ again, but looks like he won’t be coming out for a long time. If this goes on, it’ll take at least a year before he comes out. Shut-in’s don’t really change even in another world. I remember having a friend like that. He went into cryosleep for a long time, because his favorite food branch closed down.

I went to check if Gina was free, looks like she’s busy taking care of Guez today too. I’m lonely again, I didn’t feel it much in my previous life but my emotions are a little different in this one. Since I already figured out I can’t go into the forest, I went to my secret place and started training again.

This time I hard to check the two skills I obtained yesterday. Both of them have too many problems for usage in combat the way they are. If I learned to use them better, then maybe I can improve.

…………

It’s getting dark. I spent the whole day training here today. Since the space is large enough, I didn’t make much disturbance to garner attraction. [ Weapon create ] didn’t improve much. I tried making a sword, pole and a gun. All of them failed, so that means the idea behind it is different. Maybe it’s because it has to be a weapon which could be an extension of my body. I suppose a claw will be enough for now, maybe I can learn better about it from other monsters.

But I was able to improve [ Force Rush ] , I finally managed to control it to a level where I can stop when I want to. I tried practicing using the immense force trying to direct it into my dagger and claws so I could make a piercing effect. It works well and my speed to reach anything is instant if it’s within 100mt radius, but in the least 2 seconds if it’s above that.

I checked [ Status ].

Force Rush improved to +4

An attack which provides tremendous use of force to decimate enemies. Only those who can control such a speed can wield this skill. With enough endurance and control the fourth level of force rush becomes the users speed and power.

I’m getting a basic understanding now on how skills work. For the first three levels it’s all about the amount of mana or power that’s used. But the fourth level needs to improve it further while also controlling it. This was the same with [ Enhanced Defense ] and [ Force Rush ]. The method changes to obtain the fourth level. This’ll be helpful for many other skills in the future.

Satisfied with today’s improvement, I return as the darkness falls on the village. Sara didn’t call me for any chores today, I wonder if she’s still upset about yesterday.

I wait for dinner, and join with everyone to eat. The atmosphere’s returned to the way it was and it looks like Dari isn’t blaming himself anymore. Sara doesn’t seem to be in a bad mood, maybe she was only concerned about me. Olivia happily serves us dinner and I head to bed.

-------------Day 3---------------

Today also was uneventful, I suppose Targ won’t come out of it for a while and Guez still needs a bit more time to heal. Even though Guez urges her to go with me saying he feels better, I tell her to stay with him until he’s completely healed. He has a sad face, but gives in after hugging me. This guy really likes me, doesn’t he?

I go back to the house and help Sara with the Griffons. Since I helped her finish the chores, she’s seems to be happy. I’ll get another chance to head to the forest tomorrow, so I already planned ahead what I needed to do.

I wanted to try out a idea I had from [ Weapon Create ]. I try to use the same application of mana as [ Enhanced Defense ] on the dagger.

…….It worked.

The dagger’s outside was covered in the same material when I used [ Enhanced Defense ] at the fourth level. Since the weapon was only enveloped in mana, its structure didn’t change but I could understand it was durable now and the dagger seemed sharper than before. Probably due to the blade having a stronger coating. As usual to check the change I checked [ Status].

Enhance Weapon Learned

Enhance Weapon improved to +1

Enhance Weapon improved to +2

Enhance Weapon improved to +3

Enhance Weapon improved to +4

Mana is used to improve the outer strength of the weapon. The weapons become more durable. The fourth level of weapon enhancement enables the weakest weapon to become the sturdiest.

I tried improving the claws the same way, but it didn’t work. I suppose that is so because the claws are also made from mana and will easily disappear if mana isn’t supplied. So [ Enhance Weapon ] works on already existing weapons.

I go and ask Sara if I could get a long stick. She wonders for a while and tells me to get it from the carpenter, since we didn’t have any at the house. I go and check the workshop in the village and I understand that the carpenter is the one who helped create the wall. He only builds small tables and chairs now. I ask him for a long stick and he gives it to me from his workshop. Seems he had a lot of spare ones and he gives me a thick stick which was being used reach far places.

He enquires as to why I would want one. I reply that it could be used as a practice weapon. Hearing me say this, the carpenter laughs it off and gives me a wooden sword. “ Use this then, it’ll come use to you in the future. “ he said while returning to work.

I don’t particularly like using a sword. Even the one I used on that God wasn’t originally mine, I had received it from the Data crystal and when nothing else worked on him, I just ended up using it as a last resort. But on the off chance it may be a suitable weapon in this world, I’ll train using it.

I apply [ Enhance Weapon ] on the stick and after mana covers it, it now looks like a pole made of strong steel. I practice with it today, to remember my knowledge of using it in my past. All the martial arts and moves that I had trained so that they served useful at close combat, I tried slowly practicing them one by one. Although, fighting with nothing but my bare hands was enough, I wanted to have the advantage of being at least some distance away from my opponent.

Even though there were projectile weapon like atom-blasts , plasma guns during my time. They were quite useless if one used an energy shield with their armor. So close combat helped me win several battles.

I trained for a few hours and I was able to get a good grasp on its use considering my current body. Since my body was still developing in the form of a child, I could still use the pole effectively to a good level.

I tried using the wooden sword with [ Enhance Weapon ] and what came out was weird. The sword wasn’t particularly sharp, more so it was blunt. It felt like I held a thicker but shorter pole which I could swing with one hand.

It must be due to the shape of the wooden sword not matching up to a real one. It was just basic swings with the sword at first. All I had to do was use a single hand for the purpose. It was obviously different than using a pole, it felt a bit more simpler. I didn’t want to hold the sword using both hands, it just felt weird to hold something so light with both hands. It felt like I could swing this sword similar to how one would swing a hammer. I wonder if I can find someone to teach it to me.

I’ll keep the sword as a secondary weapon in case. No change occurred in my [ Status ] after that. I thought using the skill on more weapons would take it to higher level, I suppose that way of thinking is wrong.

-------------Day 4----------

Today, I’ll have a chance to head to the forest again. I won’t make the same mistake. Once I’ve checked all I need to I’ll head back as soon as possible.

I didn’t go see those two today. As much as they’re my friends, it’s best to leave them alone so they can sort such things out by themselves. I’ll find them within the village anyway.

I noted the time, the guards would leave for a break. This time I didn’t need to use the dagger or my claws. I used the enhanced pole and jumped to half the wall’s length by pushing my weight onto the pole which was fixed to the ground. When my feet reached the wall’s surface, I used [ Force Rush ] and aimed myself to the sky. By controlling my speed, I was able to reach the roof of the wall and due to the skill’s force also take my pole with me as well.

In a matter of seconds I already landed outside into the forest. It felt like I was escaping a prison. For now my main aim was to search the rest of what was left of the forest and gather intelligence of various monsters. On that note I should assume the claw wolf to be the weakest, so I don’t get overconfident.

……….

I had returned quickly after I had completely gathered the information I needed on the area which I had left without completing. I saw more Iron Boars, but none of them were as fearsome as the one I had met earlier.

Would that mean that boar was a special one? Although other boars used the [Force Rush] skill on other monsters, the speed wasn’t to the level which I could compare with the other one. I assumed that would be due to the skill level and the boars I found today would have [ Force Rush ] of only first level.

I also found another monster which looked like a bug, it was twice the size of my fist. It camouflaged itself into the leaves of trees to hide itself. Luckily because of [ Mana Sight ] I could detect it. I thought it was dangerous and didn’t approach it. I found out later it was a herbivore, since it was eating dead leaves. But it has a dangerous defense mechanism. As I saw a Iron boar which simply came close to the bug due to curiosity, it released some sort white gas-like substance in the air near it. I saw the boar fainting.

I thought the gas would kill it, but after the bug escaped without hurting the boar. I went and checked it. It was alive but it was sleeping. Even though I saw the bug use somewhat little mana to use a sleep inducing agent. I couldn’t use it. So skills are also decided based on the species which use it.

When I saw the substance from closer, it looked more like powder than gas. I immediately thought of collecting it, since a sleeping agent would be useful to me. But it vanished before I could get near it. Once I returned home, I read from the book that what I saw was the monster called Somniferon. The leaf like appendages it had for camouflage secreted the sleep inducing agent.

The next time I head to the forest, I’ll kill it and extract the agent from it.

I have no ill intentions, for trying to get that drug. I really don’t.

Since I surveyed the rest of the surroundings, I went a little deeper so I could mark where I can start surveying the next part of the area from and returned using [ Force Rush ]. I managed avoid any monsters this time on the way back.

[ Force Rush ] doesn’t consume too much mana when compared to the rest of the skills, depending on its use. Although in battle, it’ll be very useful but I can’t use it repeatedly as I want. If I did my muscles wouldn’t able to handle it. I already checked that I could use [ Force Rush ] the moment I landed from an already previous used [ Force Rush ]. I could do this for four times currently and then I would feel cramps in my feet. As I age, I’ll be able to use it more since my body will be more developed.

Since I returned quite early, I met up with Sara and asked her when she would go forage outside again. She answered that if Guez had healed enough, she would go tomorrow with him. If not, then she’ll need to ask for another hunter to help her. I request her if I could also come with her. She gives me a doubtful look, sighed and allowed me to come. She warned me not to wander too far and also to get Olivia’s permission.

This was going to be harder than I thought. I went to Olivia who was cooking, and requested her. She was shocked to hear it, but gave me permission. Are they thinking I’m feeling lonely because none of my friends come to play with me now? That really hurts.

---------Day 5------------

It seems Guez is feeling slightly better, but isn’t confident in fighting monsters. He agrees to go, but also takes two other hunters to help. Gina also tries to come but Guez doesn’t allow her to. I tell her, we’ll be back as soon as we’re done with foraging.

I also carry with me the wooden pole, sword and also my dagger. Guez enquires if I wanted to train to fight monsters. I reply him that I want to go out of the village after I become 10 and I want to survive by myself. Guez stays silent not answering. We find the bushes and I climb onto the trees to inform if something would come this way. Guez seems impressed that I can do this much in my age. I look at the forest while activating [ Mana Sight ]. I don’t see any moving entities.

I see the path that’s used to get to the city. I feel dense mana in between the path. It slowly moves back and forth. I jump along the trees to get a closer look. I see the beast with thick fur checking the path. If I look closely enough it looks like a wolf, but it had two heads. It’s the Orthoros.

---------Gina’s POV-------------

Orian came yesterday and today as well to invite me to play, but I couldn’t go with him. Father is still injured and Orian says it’s alright. Father insists I go outside from time to time, but he can’t even get up right now. Targ is still sad about what happened from that time, Orian had informed me. Forgive me for being like this.

I wish this didn’t happen. I wish we were safe. I wish there weren’t any monsters. I just wish……..just it could be safe like before. I only have father left. And Targ…. He lost his father recently, it won’t be long if it continues like this. I heard many of the kids had lost their parents and siblings because of the monsters outside the village. I don’t really want the only family I have to be gone.

Orian, I wonder if he understands….that my father will die protecting the merchant of this village. Even if he won’t come back alive, he’ll make sure your father comes back to you safely as possible. I’m jealous, you have a kind mother, a sister who you could look up to and a father who comes back safe from the danger of the forest.

Why did Father need to travel to the city with that man? Why can’t he just stay here? What’s so important in the city that he needs to go? Why does Orian smile like that, is he simply happy because his father is back safe and alright? Doesn’t he care about Targ’s father, who lost his life? I don’t know what to do…….

…..

I wanted to go to the forest along with them, but father didn’t let me. Why does Orian and Sara get to go, but not me? I’m older than him.

I’ll go meet Targ, I’ll get some fruits to cheer him up.

----------------------------------------------

Re-edit: Author's note; Sorry mon, i uploaded this just before my internet went bust. i couldnt upload all of Gina's POV, sorry for late edit, forgive this author for dumb mistakes, since i was reediting. i also took the time to proofread some of it. if you find any mistakes, dont hesitate to point it out