Older Brother

When Monica thought of a forest, the one that came to mind was the Thorn Forest on the Roseburg estate, which she had visited not long ago.

But compared to the Thorn Forest, the forest in Lane Field seemed more carefully managed, with the trees spaced farther apart. Perhaps that was because the timber was being harvested systematically.

The paths had also been cleared to make them easy to walk, so she could stroll through them without trouble in her outdoor clothes.

“Yesterday, when I encountered the spirit... um, it was by the spring.”

Monica was fairly good at remembering routes, so she reached the spring from the day before without getting lost.

This forest must have been a nostalgic place where Lin had lived for a long time, but Lin didn’t look around or lose themself in memories. Lin’s eyes remained fixed straight ahead.

In the depths of the forest, where Lin was looking, the trees rustled. Just like yesterday.

“You’ve come again, human... You loathsome Seven Sages.”

Monica sensed the rustling ahead spreading to the sides and behind them.

The clear malice she felt was even stronger than the day before. Monica braced herself, ready to cast a defensive barrier at any moment...