Chapter 148
－Entol Kingdom: Knight Commander POV－
"Rest."
After making sure the knights around me had begun their break, I sit down on a nearby rock.
A short distance away, I can see former slaves from the Emperas Kingdom.
Last summer, slaves from the Emperas Kingdom came to our country seeking help.
Many suspected it was a trap, but the mages investigated their slave marks.
It was confirmed that the slave marks had indeed lost their power, dispelling the suspicion that they were spies.
Slave marks are quite powerful, so the circumstances of their being freed were investigated.
It was then discovered that the white light in the forest, which had become a topic of conversation in Entol, was involved.
Even after the mages had done everything they could, they still knew nothing about the white light.
Then they obtained a single clue from an unexpected source,
and the mages' excitement was tremendous... No, it was terrifying.
The slaves were questioned again in detail about what had happened,
and it became clear that the white light had been unexpected for the Emperas Kingdom as well.
They had been attacked by the white light while trying to investigate it.
But we still had no idea what the white light was.
To investigate it, a major survey of the forest was planned.
This would be the largest investigation of the forest in several years.
Reports from the regular investigations said that the forest was changing.
There were still reports of the white light, too.
I look at the forest.
It has indeed changed.
"Commander, a monster!"
A monster appears a short distance away.
It's big.
Everyone immediately takes up a battle stance.
"It isn't moving."
Strange.
Why isn't it attacking us?
Is it watching us?
Is it trying to make us lower our guard?
The stalemate continues.
I look closely at the monster, especially its eyes.
...Does it have intelligence?
But there shouldn't be anything like that in the forest now...
Shall I try?
My fingertips grow cold with tension.
"Sorry for causing a commotion. Please let me investigate the forest for a little while."
The knights around me grow somewhat restless, but there's nothing to be done.
There would be no point in doing this in the forest as it is now.
But those eyes bother me.
In the past, the familiars of the Forest Kings guarded various places throughout the forest.
Those familiars possessed intelligence and had good relationships with beastfolk and elves.
I have elven blood in me, so I'm long-lived, but I have never actually seen one of those familiars.
I only heard about them from my father, but he told me about them many times.
He always told me to check a monster's eyes whenever I encountered one.
"Grrr," the monster growls.
My grip tightens around my sword.
But the monster does nothing and disappears into the forest.
"...Did it really understand me?"
Everyone is left dumbfounded, staring at the forest where the monster disappeared.
Could it have been one of the familiars?
If so, had the Forest King regained its power?
"C-Commander... L-look!"
"Calm down. It isn't certain yet. Let's observe a little longer."
The forest's revival had been considered hopeless.
But couldn't this be called a glimmer of hope?
I want a little more proof.
"We're in the forest, so don't make too much noise. Once everyone has calmed down, we'll begin the investigation."
...
As expected, the forest has changed dramatically.
The influence of the Evil Eye has diminished considerably.
Moreover, countless rivers, said to be the forest's bounty, can be seen between the trees.
We investigated this area a few years ago, but it was pitch-black and stagnant, and there were no rivers.
"A-ahh..."
"Quiet! This is the forest, so keep it down!"
"K-k-k..."
That's my deputy commander, but I want to punch them.
I turn my gaze toward the direction my deputy commander is pointing...
I manage to keep from crying out.
Phoenix!
A figure with brilliantly colored feathers wreathed in flames.
There's no mistaking it; I've seen one in a picture.
That is a phoenix.
"Report to the kingdom immediately!"
The mages are preparing a dispatch.
The kingdom will receive the report shortly.
I had been worried about investigating the forest, but this has blown all that worry away.