Forbidden Forest 3

Taro lowers the staff he was holding.

"Yes, it's been a while... But more importantly, I'd like to ask a favor. I'm asking for your help in treating these people. If we don't act soon..."

"Understood."

Upon closer inspection, there are many injured people...

I raise my usual staff once more.

Then, I touch the embedded healing gem and visualize a special pattern within the palm of my hand.

The pattern drew in magical particles from around it, channeled them through the gemstone, and enveloped the injured in a high-powered beam of light.

After a while, the light faded, and silence settled within the cave.

The injured had stabilized; the smeared blood oozing from their severed limbs had ceased.

"That's all we can do for now. Let's have a quick discussion."

I said that, freezing the cave's air and rapidly warming it using a fire crystal.

"Amazing... I'm so happy to see you again. Ah, I'm glad I didn't give up."

Lina's eyes welled with tears as she slowly approached, stepping forward with a trembling gait.

But due to exhaustion, she tripped and fell.

I managed to catch her just before she hit the ground.

Her body was extremely cold.

Hurry, strengthen the warmth.

"Taro, now isn't the time to be casually warming up. We're still being pursued by royal soldiers. We must hurry and escape this forest."

"You're right. Linna. Shall we begin moving now?"

Before Linna could respond, someone interrupted the conversation.

"Wait a moment. We can't go back to the city. Where exactly do you think we're heading?"

A female knight with one arm asks. Later, I found out her name was Ira.

She’s said to be assigned exclusively to guard Linna.

"Is it... the Empire?"

"Are you kidding?! We're subjects of the Kingdom. We can't enter the Empire. Miss, you still can't trust this guy."

"But... if we stay like this, everyone will freeze to death."

"That's..."

No answer comes.

"Then, how about heading to my place for now?"

Clara makes a mysterious suggestion.

"You... Why are you here like this?"

"That's my line. But you do have your reasons, don't you?... You're looking much better now."

"Yes, thanks to Lord Taro."

"Hey, what's going on? Are you two acquainted?"

"Acquainted? Well, she's my age, and we've met a few times back when we were kids at the palace."

"Clara, you're a noble!?!"

"Master Taro, you didn't know? Clara is an old, prominent noble from the kingdom."

"You're the only one who didn't know, Taro. And just so you know, Alex was also a noble by birth."

"Though he's fallen from grace."

I was speechless, my mouth hanging open.

They're nobles!?

No way—Kenny too!?

"I'm just an ordinary person. I used to work as a servant at Clara's place."

Now that I think about it, that's right.

While I was still in shock, Clara and Linah and the others were already swiftly moving the injured soldiers onto the cargo platform attached to the magitech wagon.

By the time I snapped out of my surprise, everyone had already been secured.

"Taro, create an air barrier here."

As Clara instructed, I erected an air barrier around the magitech wagon.

Immediately, it began to move forward.

There are a lot of things I'd like to ask, but first let's move to a safe location. Okay?

When I checked with Rina, she nodded silently in agreement.

As before, Clara drove while I kept watch.

There was nothing unusual on the way home—though that wasn't quite true.

We're not the only ones chasing after Rinna.

As soon as we exited the forbidden forest, we were swiftly, almost too swiftly, surrounded by royal soldiers.

"Stop right there!"

The fully armed soldiers shouted, raising their weapons.

The magic four-wheeler slammed on the brakes and came to a halt.

Clara and Kenny somehow produced masks and had already put them on.

The knights, led by Linna, covered their entire bodies, wrapping cloths from head to toe.

In the end, it was just me and Alex who made eye contact with the royal soldiers.

"Goodness me, this is troublesome. Such a formidable opponent appearing now... the only sorcerer in existence today."

"What is it?"

Alex stepped forward boldly.

Exchanging glances with Alex, we prepared for battle.

This time, no killing—start with an electric shock from the beginning.

I began concentrating.

"That's right. If you hand over those people behind you, we'd be quite satisfied, you know~"

"That's impossible. Do you really think I'd hand over anyone to savages like you?"

Alex declares boldly.

"Calling us savages, huh? But aren't you from the same country yourself? Come now, Alex Pascal, noble of old, long settled in the kingdom. Though now, it seems you're the only one left."

Alex's face twisted horribly.

Alex seemed to be a fairly well-known noble.

"That name is long abandoned. I don't want to be associated with those eerie weapons."

"How rude. This gemstone is a revolutionary invention. After all, it allows us to harness nearly infinite power. What else could you call this but a revolution?"

With an air of superiority, the man spoke, then pulled out a massive gemstone.

A magical stone made from a part of that person.

"You...!"

A low, involuntary groan escapes his lips.

"Ah? Oh, right. Forgive my tardiness, Lord Taro. I am Babylonian Neumann. I am a noble, you see. I conduct research on magical stones within the kingdom, and I am the one who developed this stone."

"You're the one who made this!?"

"Though you call it 'this,' I must say, your contribution made this development possible as well."

I couldn't understand those words at all, even though they came out of nowhere.