Chapter 20 : Black Forest

I ran for five days without rest. Only when I reached a small village on the outskirts of the empire was I able to stop.

“Finally escaped.”

This village was in the opposite direction of the Demon King’s castle to the west.

‘If anyone saw me now, they’d think the hero is running away from the Demon King.’

The real threat isn’t the Demon King, though.

‘This time, I moved according to the plan.’

A smile crept across my lips. I was particularly satisfied that I moved with careful calculations, rather than an impromptu escape as usual.

“Now, let’s clean up.”

The holy sword ‘Dawn’ gleamed faintly.

Even in the game, it was one of the top-tier weapons.

Thanks to Dawn, I had survived until now. But now, it had become a hindrance.

“You’re truly a good sword. But…”

As I lifted the sword, a warm energy passed through my palm. It almost seemed to ask, “Why?”

“You’re just too much of a ‘good sword.’ Too pure. Unity of everyone’s strength? Bonds of friendship? Those are luxuries now.”

It’s ironic. I’m running away from my party, yet I’m holding a weapon meant for party play.

The sword vibrated slightly. The resonating sound filled the inn room.

“Now, I have to fight alone. With the party, I’d be the strongest, but I can’t be with them, can I?”

The vibrations of the holy sword slowly faded, as though resigned.

What? Are you listening? No way.

Shivering, I recalled the holy sword.

“I need a new weapon. One suitable for fighting alone.”

I pulled out the Chaos Crystal from my inventory. As soon as I took it out, unstable magical energy swirled around. It was a material I had permanently borrowed from Goldenhaven.

Inside the swirling vortex, patterns like red veins moved constantly. The unsettling wriggling shape seemed alive.

“There are other powerful holy swords, but… to see the highest potential, it has to be a cursed sword. A weapon capable of drawing infinite power at the cost of my SSS-grade durability, my life force.”

Lastly, I took out the third item, Moonlight Dew.

“The problem is time. To stabilize the Chaos Crystal, I’ll need to refine it several times with Moonlight Dew… and during that process, an enormous amount of magic will be released.”

Refining would release explosive amounts of magic. Plus, one round wouldn’t be enough. It would take at least five repetitions…

“I’ll be found out.”

With that much magical reaction, even those on the other side of the continent will feel it.

“Furthermore, it’ll take at least a week to stabilize… Can I hold out without being caught during that time?”

Cold sweat ran down my spine. If I’m caught… no, if I’m found, it’s over.

“If it’s Aris, she’ll find me in an instant. Sylvia’s spirits will notice right away too.”

I looked at the moon outside the window.

“Seraphine’s divine power would detect me as well… Nia already knows my scent.”

A chill ran down my spine. I had to evade the tracking of dragons, spirits, divine revelations, and the beasts’ keen sense of smell.

“So what I need is a hideout.”

I spread out the map. Locations marked with red dots caught my eye.

“Magic blockade, divine power defense, spirit disruption, and above all…”

I pointed at a single location.

“A place where dragons can’t approach.”

A smile spread across my face. These were all potential locations I had found while running away.

But if I don’t act now, I won’t get another chance. Every time I moved, the trackers grew.

A bitter smile appeared. Reality was different from the game. No save points, no strategy guides… and above all,

The biggest difference was that I couldn’t control my party members.

As soon as I entered the forest, the air changed. The leaves darkened in the deepening darkness.

“The continent’s seven forbidden zones, the Black Forest…”

Every step I took, the leaves rustled. It was as though the forest was alive, reacting to my movements.

Chik-

Suddenly, a chill ran down my spine. Something was watching me.

Whip-

In an instant, something swooped over my head. I reflexively summoned the holy sword.

A pair of red eyes glowed in the darkness. A wolf, blackened, appeared faintly.

“Corrupted by the forest’s magic.”

Black energy rose from the wolf’s body. Its original gray fur was gone, and only the piercing red eyes gleamed in the darkness.

Grrrr-

It wasn’t just one. More wolves appeared from the darkness.

“Morning Light.”

The wolves recoiled at the light.

But soon, they lunged again.

I swung the sword. A silver arc cut through the air.

The first wolf collapsed. Its black blood soaked the ground.

The second wolf pounced from midair. Its sharp claws glinted.

“Too slow.”

I dodged to the side and slashed. The wolf’s body was split in two midair.

The third and fourth wolves charged at once.

Gray aura spread out, pushing the wolves back.

Thud-

Something fell at my feet. The body of a fallen wolf.

But its form quickly changed. Black energy swirled, and the wolf’s body slowly sank into the ground.

“This…”

Other nearby corpses did the same. They all absorbed into the earth with black energy.

The Black Forest devoured them.

“Indeed, there was a reason this place is called the Magic Wastes.”

Holding the holy sword, I surveyed the area. No more beasts were visible, but this was just the beginning.

The Black Forest, one of the seven forbidden zones of the continent. In the game, it was just an extra stage designed to provoke players. But facing it in reality, I could feel the true nature of this forest.

The land, tainted by black magic, breathed as a massive predator that devoured everything that entered. The blackened leaves, deprived of green, trembled, and I could feel the breath of a living monster with every sway.

This was the Magic Wastes, a place where the entire forest had become one monstrous entity.

There was no better hideout to escape the hero party’s pursuit. But to survive here, I’d have to endure.

“Probably, the deeper I go, the more dangerous it’ll get.”

I was rather pleased. The more dangerous it became, the less likely they’d be able to follow me.

I moved further into the deeper darkness. The holy sword emitted a faint glow, lighting the way ahead.

Crunch-

With a sharp sound, a tree root shot up from the ground. It writhed like a giant snake, aiming for my ankle.

“Annoying.”

I cut through it with the holy sword. Black sap splattered. The severed root writhed as if alive before vanishing into the earth.

Boom-

The ground beneath my feet cracked. I leapt away. When I looked back, the fissure had opened like a giant mouth.

“Disgusting.”

It was as if the entire forest was trying to eat me. There was no such setup in the game.

The tree roots surged again. This time, there were more of them. They charged from all directions, dripping black sap.

“Light of Dawn!”

The holy sword reacted. Silver light sliced through the darkness.

But something was strange. The light was weaker than usual.

“This…”

A realization flashed through my mind. This forest had consumed even the light.

Thud—

The ground trembled again. This time, it was a stronger vibration.

“This is really dangerous.”

I quickened my steps. The path leading to the center of the forest, where I felt something.

In the darkness, a small light appeared. It was a hut.

“If it’s there…”

I took a step forward.

Whoosh—

A black shadow darted past. I immediately raised my holy sword.

“Interesting.”

A cold voice echoed.

“To think someone wielding a holy sword would step foot in a place like this… what a strange occurrence.”

From the shadow, a woman emerged. Her pale skin glowed like moonlight, and her black dress was as dark as the night sky.

Her black hair cascaded down to her waist.

“She looks like a black-clad maiden.”

The witch of the black forest, Beatrice.

“The light of your holy sword has weakened, hasn’t it?”

She grinned, revealing sharp teeth through her pale lips.

“This forest devours everything. Light, life… and…”

Her eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Your soul.”

Suddenly, the surroundings grew darker. Only the faint light from the hut remained.

“Beatrice.”

“You know my name.”

“I came to find you.”

“Oh?”

A smile spread across her lips.

“How amusing. A hero has come all the way here to find me.”

Beatrice took a step forward. The hem of her black dress fluttered in the wind.

“Perhaps… you wish to become my disciple? To learn the witch’s magic?”

Her voice was sweet.

“Or… do you want to become my experiment?”

“I really hate experiments. Sorry, I’ll pass on that.”

“Then, hero, you’ve come to destroy my forest, haven’t you?”

Beatrice’s eyes glinted coldly.

“No.”

“Lie.”

She raised her hand. Suddenly, the ground trembled and countless roots shot up.

“Humans are always betraying. They start with lies and end in destruction.”

The black vines writhed like tentacles and approached.

“They fear what they don’t understand and destroy what they fear.”

“Wait, that’s wrong.”

“This forest, and I, are something you’ve created. Fear, hatred, and terror have made it…”

Whoosh—

A vine whipped like a whip. I blocked it with my holy sword, but more vines sprang up from all sides. They squirmed like a giant serpent, tightening around me.

“I’ll feed you to the forest. I’ll devour your soul too.”

The holy sword cut through the air. But even in the place where I severed the vines, more grew back.

Darkness poured down like a waterfall, a cascade of roots.

“It’s useless. This is my forest.”

The pressure was tightening more and more. The vines started wrapping around my body.

Before I could finish my words, darkness closed in. The vines covered everything in my vision.

‘At this rate…’

The pressure grew tighter.

But it was different from what I expected.

The vines were wrapping around me, but it didn’t hurt. In fact, it was ticklish.

“Huh?”

Beatrice’s voice was filled with confusion.

“Why aren’t you dying?”

The vines slowly withdrew, as if they couldn’t consume my body.

“This feels pretty good.”

I looked at my body and laughed.

“Thanks. You’ve removed all the dead skin and dust. I haven’t had a chance to wash for a while, running away.”

“…What?”

Beatrice’s eyes went wide.

“You’re like a doctor fish. You know, the fish that remove dead skin?”

“Are you… joking?”

“Oh, and now I see my toes are clean too.”

“You… what the heck…”

She took a step back. The intimidating aura she had earlier was completely gone.

Beatrice sighed.

“Why the heck did you come all the way here?”

“Do I need a reason?”

“Of course you do. This is a cursed land. The black forest devours everything.”

Beatrice looked at me with suspicious eyes.

“Tell me. What’s your purpose?”

After a moment of hesitation, I spoke.

“Let’s live together.”

“…What?”

Beatrice’s expression stiffened.

“What… what did you say?”

“I said, let’s live together for a while. Let’s cohabit.”

In an instant, the witch’s face turned bright red.

“Are you… crazy?!”

“Why? Isn’t it lonely living alone in this vast forest?”

“Well… that’s true but…”

Beatrice stammered. Her pale face grew even redder.

“But I’m a witch! The master of the black forest!”

“So?”

“So what?!”

She stopped talking. Her red eyes swayed in confusion.

“Co… cohabit? A man and a woman… like that…”

She fiddled with the hem of her black dress and lowered her head.

“To say such things on our first meeting… Isn’t that a bit rude?”

Her pure reaction made me laugh. Even though she was a witch who had lived for hundreds of years, she seemed surprisingly innocent in this regard.