Chapter 75: In the Fog
ㅤThe investigation progressed smoothly.
ㅤSherry-san’s subordinate knights went around the villages outside the forest and interviewed the lumber drop-off points.
ㅤApparently, some villages were reluctant, but the incidents that occurred in the neighboring village and other villages had become rumors, and since Sherry-san wrote a certificate stating that the information would not be leaked to the tax collectors, most of the villages cooperated.
ㅤAt the same time, evacuation advisories were issued to residents who were likely to be victims of the Dream Weaver, and they were thoroughly warned not to listen to him even if he appeared in their dreams.
ㅤ
ㅤAs a result, a few days later, a map was completed plotting the main drop-off points and the direction of the water flow into them.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Hmm. Looking at it this way, it’s clear. The origin of the water flow should be around this area of the forest.”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san pointed to the map spread out on the table.
ㅤIt was an area where multiple lines extended from the drop-off points intersected.
ㅤ
ㅤWe are currently at Hamuto-san’s house.
ㅤSince it’s not spacious enough for everyone to sleep, Sherry-san and Lewis are staying at different houses.
ㅤHamuto-san’s living room is spacious and has a large table with beautiful wood grain, making it perfect for strategy meetings.
ㅤ
ㅤHamuto-san said,
ㅤ
ㅤ”That area is particularly foggy, and even locals avoid going near it. There are rumors that a woman’s singing voice can be heard from the depths of the fog.”
ㅤ
ㅤHamuto-san told Sherry-san.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Oh, a woman’s singing voice? Could it be a… g, ghost…?”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san, who is not fond of ghosts, turned pale.
ㅤ
ㅤ”No, no, it’s probably just a misunderstanding of birds singing or the murmuring of the stream.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Th, that’s right. In a foggy forest like this, irresponsible ghost stories are bound to be born.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”There used to be a ghost story about a giant’s shadow appearing in the depths of the fog, but recently, the woodcutters have agreed that it’s probably just our own shadows being projected onto the fog by the sunlight.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I see. So there’s a logical explanation after all.”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san patted her chest in relief.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Well, putting aside your fear of ghosts, sister, there might be a grain of truth in those rumors. If the Dream Weaver is hiding there, it wouldn’t be strange if some kind of presence was detected.”
ㅤ
ㅤLewis said, sniffing.
ㅤ
ㅤ”…Maybe there are monsters there.”
ㅤ
ㅤEveryone’s eyes turned to me at my sudden remark.
ㅤ
ㅤ”If the dungeon is partially alive, there might be monsters spawning in its central part. Monsters born in the dungeon might be mating with wild beasts in the forest, giving birth to second-generation monsters.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Hmm. In that case, just knights might not be enough.
ㅤMinato, although it’s a bit late, would you accompany us? Of course, we will prepare an appropriate reward.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Yes, that’s fine. I was planning to anyway.”
ㅤ
ㅤI owe Hamuto-san and the others for their hospitality.
ㅤTo be precise, it’s about five nights and ten meals.
ㅤOf course, I’m paying, but I can’t just say, “I don’t care about the Dream Weaver, goodbye!” knowing about him.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Then, let’s head to this location immediately. We’ll have Hamuto-shi guide us part of the way, and from there, we’ll follow the navigation of Minato, the thief.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Alright.”
ㅤ
ㅤIt’s a hassle, but it’s more of a hassle to get lost if I leave it to others.
ㅤ
ㅤSo, after having an early lunch in the village, we set off into the forest.
ㅤSeven of us: me, Hamuto-san, Sherry-san, Lewis, and three other knights.
ㅤ
ㅤAfter walking for about two hours, Hamuto-san turned back, and from there, I led the group.
ㅤ
ㅤThe fog is getting thicker and thicker, but with my thief senses and the minimap, I won’t get lost.
ㅤI had the knights hold onto a single rope together so that we wouldn’t get separated. Sometimes, a knight would trip over a bump on the ground, but they’ll have to get used to it.
ㅤ
ㅤ”This is unsettling.”
ㅤ
ㅤI heard Sherry-san mutter.
ㅤ
ㅤ”With this fog, even with our numbers, we could easily be separated. I see, it seems to be true that the Zamzaria Kingdom was routed without being able to do anything against the woodcutters when they invaded this forest.”
ㅤ
ㅤShe’s saying some rather ominous things.
ㅤ
ㅤ”The knights in the back are getting a little too far away. Can you close the ranks?”
ㅤ
ㅤThe rope is stretched taut, and the knights who should be at the rear are out of range of my minimap.
ㅤOnly confirmed allies or enemy monsters appear on the minimap, so they weren’t displayed in the first place, but I can tell if a monster appears where they should be.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Hmm, you’re right.”
ㅤ
ㅤWhile I stopped, Sherry-san called out to the knight behind her, and that knight went further back. I couldn’t see beyond that because of the fog.
ㅤ
ㅤSoon, the knight returned.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Th, this is terrible!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”What happened!?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”The rope has been cut in the middle, and I can’t see the two knights who were behind me and Assistant Lewis!”
ㅤ
ㅤ”What!?”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san raised her voice.
ㅤ
ㅤI asked the knight,
ㅤ
ㅤ”Didn’t you notice that the rope was cut?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”The rope is tied around my waist, and I’m wearing this armor…”
ㅤ
ㅤThe knight said apologetically.
ㅤ
ㅤ（Hmm… that’s a bit foolish. I told them to hold it in their hands.）
ㅤ
ㅤWith Lewis and all, is there a problem with the training level of the unit Sherry-san leads?
ㅤ
ㅤ”The question is whether it was simply cut naturally by getting caught on a tree or rock, or if it was cut intentionally.”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san said in response to my words.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Is there any reason to cut it intentionally?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Maybe Lewis-san sensed the presence of a monster or found something, and cut the rope to take independent action with the knights behind him without permission?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”W, well… Sadly, I can’t say it’s impossible, but I’d like to think that the surrounding knights would stop him…”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Isn’t there a possibility that they were attacked by monsters or the Dream Weaver?”
ㅤ
ㅤThe knight asked.
ㅤ
ㅤ”I don’t think we wouldn’t have noticed monsters. I told you to follow the route I walked exactly, right?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”Yes, I believe we were following it correctly.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”I don’t know about the Dream Weaver. It’s not impossible that he can use techniques other than entering dreams… but it doesn’t feel quite right.”
ㅤ
ㅤI wonder if the Dream Weaver can handle close combat like a warrior or erase his presence and approach like a thief. Considering aptitude issues, it might be difficult.
ㅤCould he approach me, with my thief aptitude of 6.9, without being noticed and take away two knights and Lewis without us noticing, even though we were right in front of them?
ㅤ
ㅤ”Maybe they’re already dead?”
ㅤ
ㅤSherry-san looked up at my words.
ㅤ
ㅤ”Ugh… I can’t deny that possibility. What should we do? Should we go back and check?”
ㅤ
ㅤ”…If the Dream Weaver killed the three of them, we might be targeted in the same way if we go back.”
ㅤ
ㅤ”U… hmm. That’s true… If it was the Dream Weaver’s doing, it also means this is the right path. Since there’s also the possibility that they simply got lost, should we move forward?”
ㅤ
ㅤAnd so, we continued through the thick fog, fighting a lingering sense of unease.