第１０３４堀：静かすぎる森 (Part1)
Chapter 1034: The Forest That Is Too Quiet
The Forest That Is Too Quiet
Side: Agil
“……Well, I suppose I expected as much.”
“According to the records, this village was abandoned over two hundred years ago, after all.”
Shou-dono responds dutifully even to my mutterings.
Before my eyes lies an open space where nothing stands but a few wooden pillars.
“There’s absolutely nothing here.”
“It is a shame.”
“I wonder if monsters destroyed it?”
Aslin and the others seem somewhat disappointed.
Well, that’s understandable. We did say we were looking for a village.
However, as Shou-dono noted, it has been abandoned for two centuries. That is plenty of time for even the most sturdily built structures to become ruins.
If it were a standard wooden shack, it would likely have collapsed within fifty years, leaving little trace behind. Perhaps it is a stroke of luck that these house pillars remain at all.
“Instead of just staring blankly, shall we at least conduct a survey?”
“Hm? Ah, right. Let’s split up, at least in pairs, and look for any traces of the village.”
“““Okay!”””
And so, despite the feeling that there is nothing to be found, we begin our search for the remnants of the village.
“I see. So this is why it couldn’t be spotted from aerial reconnaissance.”
Shou-dono, who is in my team, mutters this under his breath.
“Hm? Ah, you mean the reports from Aslin’s monsters?”
“Yes. Those monsters should have high intelligence, so I was wondering why there were no reports of this village... but indeed, from the air, this just looks like a slightly cleared patch of land.”
“You’re right.”
Looking up, I see Aslin’s Igu-chan and Fe-chan patrolling the skies. If they had spotted a village, they certainly would have reported it, so it must have looked like nothing more than a meadow to them.
“But it really was a village once, wasn’t it?”
I mutter to myself while placing a hand on a decaying pillar.
Now it is nothing more than rotten timber, but the thickness of the pillar suggests that a sturdy house once stood here.
“However, it seems unlikely we will find any significant traces of monsters. There isn’t even a proper foundation left.”
“Well, when it’s this dilapidated... it’s true that after a hundred years, nothing but stone remains.”
It’s a bit lonely to realize that the things people create vanish so quickly. I suppose that is just the way of nature.
As I am lost in these melancholy thoughts, Aslin’s voice suddenly rings out.
“Everyone! I found a house!”
Hearing her, we all hurry over to gather...
“Oh, it is indeed a house, though it’s falling apart.”
“That one over there. Because it was built deeper into the forest, the trees likely shielded it from the wind and rain, slowing its decay.”
Yes, I agree with Milly.
The house Aslin and Firia found stood alone, slightly tucked into the forest away from the clearing.
“But it’s strange to have just one house built all the way out here on the edge of the village.”
“No, that’s not particularly strange. It’s common to build huts for sentries on the outskirts of a village. Right, Agil?”
“That’s true. Even in Weed, there are buildings for lodging and sentries on the outer perimeter of the town. It’s the same concept, though the scale is different.”
““I see!””
Aslin and Firia seem convinced. Buildings on the outskirts of a village are not rare at all. They are everywhere.
“Well, hopefully, we find something. For now, shall we check for traps inside or around it?”
“Agreed. A shack standing all by itself like this could be a den for bandits.”
“Yes. Let’s search thoroughly.”
The three of us are in agreement, so we don’t rush in; instead, we circle the perimeter to check.
Though, as expected, there is nothing in particular.
“The wall is broken, so I can see inside!”
“There is no one here.”
“Indeed. I don’t sense any presence or magical energy; I don’t think anything is lurking inside.”
Aslin, Firia, and Labyris seem to share the same opinion. We all agree it is safe.
“Then, I’ll open the door. I am a soldier, after all. My skills are... well, they’re subtle, but I have the experience, so I’ll be fine.”
I wish I could puff out my chest and say I’m the strongest here, but unfortunately, in terms of pure combat power, I’m not the top. In this group, the only thing I really have over them is my experience in war.
Regardless, no one made any rude remarks, so I walked up to the door and opened it normally.
Nothing. I enter the room with my sword drawn. There are no wire traps, and the floor doesn't seem particularly treacherous.
“It’s safe. Everyone, come on in.”
As I say that, everyone enters the shack.
“It’s just as dilapidated inside. The wall is broken, and there are three rooms.”
“And one of them is just a storage space. Judging by the situation, this was likely just a hut for sentries to rest in.”
As Shou-dono says, a small shack like this would only be used for storage or as a break room. It is not a space for long-term living. Well, it’s not impossible if you had to, but it’s the kind of place only someone very poor would inhabit.
“There’s nothing here.”
“There aren't even any shelves.”
“True. It really is just a rest hut. Oh, is this the remains of a desk?”
Labyris points to some debris that was likely a desk. Ah, and this over here looks like it was a chair.
I move forward to get a closer look, but...
*Creak...*
“Whoops, looks like I shouldn't go any further. The floor is rotting.”
If I kept going, I’d fall right through.
“Well, it doesn’t look like there’s anything else to find here. For now, let’s take a few photos and send them to headquarters.”
“Agreed.”
“Yes, that would be best.”
With that, we take photos of the shack, send the data, and immediately leave the village.
There’s no point in staying here any longer if we aren't going to find anything. If necessary, we can investigate more thoroughly another day. For now, moving deeper into the forest is the priority.
“Man, it would have been a nightmare if we didn't have a way to clear a path this easily.”
I say this while swinging my sword with ease. Several large trees in front of us are sliced through and topple over to the side.
“Indeed. Beyond the village, it’s just dense grass and forest; there isn't even a trace of animals passing through.”
“It truly feels like uncharted territory ahead. However, the documents state that monsters and beasts poured out from the depths in large numbers, yet it is strange that there isn't even a path where they might have traveled.”
“Now that you mention it, that is true.”
Usually, it isn't just people who traverse the forest. Monsters and animals move through it as well. And the paths they leave behind are what we call animal trails.