Crown of Thorns

35-36

CHAPTER 35

I could see an archaic castle made of gray. After leaving the soldiers guarding it behind, I gradually entered deep inside. Quickly permeating through a hall full of colorful decorations that did not match the village at all, I floated towards the direction of the sounds.

Unusual guests were in attendance. They were chatting quietly in front of a table full of all kinds of food. Their expressions were not very bright. In particular, Baron Behemen's face was crumpled, as if he would swear at any moment. It was because of the man sitting across from him. The man muttered to himself with a sour look.

"It doesn't look as dangerous as the rumors have said."

"It's because you don't know anything. People are dying in the untimely invasion of monsters. There are no men but the soldiers who guard the front wall. Isn't that right?"

"So you sent two kids this time? And kids that are no better than a dying skeleton at that?

"What, what do you mean skeletons. It seems that there was an accident in the middle of the road because it was so remote. Besides, they're not that young. It's because they couldn't eat properly that made them look like..."

"I mean, they don't even eat well enough for them to look their age. And well, I don't think that was going to happen were you to share a little bit of the food you have. And an accident... Every child who comes from here seems to be in some sort of accident. No one's ever been in good shape. Why didn't you mind them? We need more people, that's why we call for them, but they don't help much. You must've felt relieved when this didn't come back to haunt you."

"Well, that's..."

Baron Behemen kept his mouth shut as if he had nothing to say, though his expression was remarkably vile. His arrogance of stabbing the sky was revealed. It was as if he was inwardly asking, "whom do you dare to lecture?!". His eyebrows were severely distorted, but he soon tried to smile, and then he spoke.

"It's still a dangerous place anyway. I can't relax for a moment. There's no immediate way to live on the day of the monsters' invasion, I also have to buy enough time until I hear news from the country, and that's not a lot of support."

He then looked around for no reason and continued to speak in a low voice.

"So I'd like you to put in a good word for..."

A man with a bright uniform and a national symbol answered with a smile as if he could not understand Baron Behemen's words.

"I'd like to check it out myself first. Actually, I came to the Witch's Forest a long time ago, and I remember that it wasn't such a scary place."

Baron Behemen hurriedly waved his hand at the remark.

"Oh, no. What do you mean it's not a scary place? That can't be! With how dangerous of a place the Witch's Forest is? It's a place that you can't get in without a forest ranger. And the only one left is not coming back. He was a genius about the woods, but he ended up being eaten by monsters."

Then he glanced, but the man nodded as if he had become interested.

"There's even a forest keeper... It would be worse than a battlefield then, no? Although I'm the one in charge of the expedition, so I don't think it's going to be that difficult."

"I've heard that you've been active in numerous battlefields and monster hunts. You've made a great contribution this time, too. But as soon as you got back, you got assigned to the Witch's Forest. Since you're here, why don't you take a break? Why would you have to do such a dangerous thing..."