Chapter 35: Into Blackwood Forest

The journey to Blackwood Forest took quite a long time, you could say.

Since Blackwood Forest sat on the border with the neighboring empire, the expedition team needed two days to reach the forest’s edge, and that was without any obstacles at all.

’Luckily, Arhan had arranged everything for the trip ahead of time. If not, I’m afraid we wouldn’t find the flower within a week... Well, even now, there are only five days left.’

Elias steered his horse closer to the team captain.

"Sir, I know the troops are tired. But our time is really running out. We have to race against the clock."

Feeling that Elias’s words made sense, the captain only nodded before shouting for them to head straight into Blackwood Forest.

"Once the sunlight can’t get through the thick leaves, everyone stays on alert!"

"Yes, sir!"

The entire squad answered in unison.

The team began to move with the captain leading at the front, followed by Elias, then Evelyn and Elysia, and then the rest of the troops entering the forest.

Though nearly half the troops felt nervous, the captain could understand, since he felt the same way himself. Entering a forest untouched by anyone, a forest dark even in the daytime and damp from the lack of light, who wouldn’t be nervous?

Not to mention they had no idea what kind of residents lived inside.

Elias glanced back to check on Evelyn and Elysia. Though their faces looked calm, their slightly trembling bodies made it clear to him that both girls were nervous too.

Elias actually wanted to calm them down and assure them that there was no need to be nervous. But considering he was so nervous himself that he felt like wetting his pants, he dropped the idea.

’They’re still just ordinary humans.’

* * *

After going deeper, just as people had said, the sunlight truly couldn’t enter the forest, since the trees towered high and their leaves were extremely thick. The temperature also dropped because almost no sunlight got in.

Anyone who came in here alone would probably bolt right back out with a face soaked in sweat and tears. They might even wet their pants out of sheer fear.

"Everyone, light your torches!"

Just before several soldiers lit their torches, Elias stopped them at once.

"Ah, wait a moment!"

Several soldiers and the captain looked at Elias with confused expressions.

"What is it, Elias?"

Elias took dozens of Magic Talismans out of his storage pouch. He then channeled mana into them until all of them glowed and floated above the entire squad.

"With this, everyone will see more clearly. The light’s range isn’t very large, but it’s better than a torch."

The soldiers and the captain gazed at the floating, glowing Magic Talismans above them with awestruck expressions.

"This is amazing."

"With this, our hands won’t go numb from holding torches."

"On top of that, the light is way brighter than a torch."

Several soldiers were amazed and in awe of Elias’s Magic Talismans. Elias could only sigh in relief that the Magic Talismans he’d found by accident turned out to be useful.

Evelyn and Elysia then moved forward a few steps before stopping beside Elias.

"Amazing, Elias. You’ve made this so much easier."

Elias turned to Evelyn at her praise. He could only smile awkwardly.

On the other side, Elysia looked at the Magic Talismans with an innocent expression.

"Where did you buy these Talismans?"

Hearing Elysia’s question, he scratched his head, the smile still on his face.

"I... made them myself."

"Really? Wow~ Elias really is great at all sorts of things~" said Evelyn, softly clapping her hands.

In the midst of that conversation, the expedition team started walking deeper into the forest again.

"That counts as something impressive. People who study this kind of thing usually make things for more important purposes, like protection or attack."

"If you mean attack and defense type Magic Talismans, I can make those, and I do have a few. But I prefer making support Talismans over those two kinds."

Elias then gave Elysia a Magic Talisman with a calming effect and a gentle lavender scent, before handing one to Evelyn as well.

He didn’t forget the soldiers either, tossing the Magic Talismans into the air for all of them. The Magic Talismans then stuck automatically to the soldiers’ bodies.

"For example, this Magic Talisman. It helps relax the mind and body. It works as a calming remedy, perfect for tense situations like this."

The soft scent of lavender began to spread around them. Slowly, the tension that had filled the group all along began to ease. Some soldiers who had looked tense at first loosened their shoulders, and their breathing became more even.

"This really helps, even though it’s small. You’re something else, kid. You’ve been a huge help to us."

Elias just laughed bashfully, scratching his head at the captain’s praise.

"Ahaha... Glad I could help."

’Making all those support Magic Talismans wasn’t for nothing.’

"With this, we’re even more certain we can find that flower!"

"Yeah! For Madam Valeria’s recovery!"

"For Madam Valeria’s recovery!"

Elias gave a faint smile at the cheers from the soldiers behind him. It was only a small bit of help from him, but at least their morale and spirits could rise from something this small.

* * *

A little while later, they’d gone deeper into Blackwood Forest. Elias was truly shocked by the state of the forest. The deeper they went, the colder it got, and the darker the surroundings became.

Along the way, they ran into several monsters, but those monsters were defeated easily. Well, that was because the monsters that showed up were only Grade D or lower.

Once, they faced a Grade D+ monster, but with the captain whose strength was roughly Grade C, plus Evelyn and Elysia the monster went down without much effort.

’Having strong bodyguards is nice, huh~’

Even so, Elias noticed one truly fatal problem.

"Where exactly does the flower grow?"

Evelyn answered Elias while wiping the monster’s blood off her sword.

"Father said the flower grows in damp, dark places, right?"

Elias furrowed his brow, rubbing his chin with one hand.

"Hmm, yes, that’s true, but... growing somewhere damp and dark isn’t enough of a clue. Because... this whole forest is dark and damp."

"...Now that you say it, that does make sense."

Elysia added after climbing back onto her horse.

"If so, we should’ve found it in some of the places we passed earlier. But since it’s a spiritual flower, someone may have already picked it, or a monster may have eaten it."

Elias nodded in agreement before looking up.

"Not to mention this forest is huge... I did tell Lord Arhan that I’d find it within a week. But the trip to the forest alone took two days.

My time’s been cut down to five days because of it."

’Suddenly I regret saying that to him.’

Elias could only close his eyes as a single tear rolled from the corner of his eye.

* * *