Chapter 71
“…When we get closer to the center, will the holy beast’s protection weaken? Enough for us to fall under the mist’s illusion?”
“Is this about the dream you had last night?”
“Yeah.”
Velia recalled the vivid red and blue eyes she had seen, so clear it felt real.
“Well… that’s not something I can give you a definite answer about.”
Carlton’s own magic was in shambles, so even the holy beast’s protection wasn’t something he could fully trust.
“For now, let’s move. If we find something here, we’ll know whether your dream was just an illusion or something else entirely.”
Remembering what Velia had told him about the dream, Carlton reached out his hand.
Velia took it, and they began to walk.
In the dim forest, their pace quickened bit by bit.
They had been walking for some time when—
Rustle.
Both of them stopped at once.
Even though nothing was visible, there was a clear presence nearby. Velia and Carlton tensed.
Grrrrr—.
It wasn’t a roar or a threat, but a low, rumbling growl from within the mist.
They didn’t need to strain themselves searching for the source.
The beast they had seen at the cliff revealed itself from the fog.
Its black fur gleamed as it walked straight toward them.
Its slow steps radiated pressure, carrying an aura distinctly different from other monsters.
In its murderous eyes flickered a trace of intelligence no other beast had shown.
Velia studied it carefully, just as it stared back at her.
As it drew closer, she could see the purple pupils glowing within its crimson eyes.
Without realizing it, Velia stepped forward.
Snap.
Carlton grabbed her arm.
“Those eyes…”
Grrrr.
The beast’s gaze shifted to Carlton’s hand on her arm.
The predator’s aura, heavy yet restrained until now, suddenly shifted.
The beast crouched, its crimson eyes blazing with menace.
“Don’t get any closer.”
Even as the tense silence stretched, Velia examined the beast and whispered with certainty:
“I think it’s the same one.”
“…From your dream?”
“Yeah.”
Carlton frowned.
Velia seized his moment of distraction to step forward again.
The beast immediately reacted.
It lifted its head, but instead of charging or baring its killing intent, it only studied Velia carefully, as though it had found something it had long been searching for.
The way it stopped in place, as if assuring her it wouldn’t harm her, brought the dream vividly back to Velia’s mind.
“It looks like… it has business with me.”
“With you? A monster?”
“Didn’t you say this one knows how to use magic? That’s why it could suppress yours.”
“…Yeah.”
Carlton swallowed the rest of his words. It was nonsense, but undeniably true.
Velia locked eyes with the beast.
“If the dream I had was an illusion, then maybe this beast is the one who created it.”
“That’s impossible.”
It was already absurd to think of a beast wielding magic, but one capable of mental sorcery? Out of the question.
Ignoring his denial, Velia continued to stare.
Then suddenly, she noticed something strange.
“…Wait. Its condition…”
At that instant—
Thud!
A dull blow echoed, and Velia covered her own mouth to stifle a scream.
Beasts burst from the forest, surrounding them.
The one that had been staring at Velia until now was bleeding.
It had taken a direct hit from the attack that came out of the woods.
Carlton immediately shielded Velia, then froze in shock.
Because the attackers were of the same kind.
Ten black-furred beasts encircled the lone crimson-eyed one.
Blood trickled from its purple pupil, struck in the eye by the ambush.
Even while under siege, the crimson-eyed beast’s gaze never wavered from Velia.
There was something almost sorrowful in its eyes, and Velia reached out instinctively.
“Ah…”
At her quiet exclamation, the leader of the pack turned its head toward her.
It too had crimson eyes—but with bright yellow pupils.
Snarl!
The leader’s eyes went slack the moment it saw Velia.
Drooling, it slowly turned its body toward her.
One by one, the others also fixed their gazes on Velia, as if entranced.
“Why… are they looking at me…?”
Panicked, Velia stepped back under the weight of so many yellow pupils staring at her.
“This… Karin!”
Carlton, equally shaken, quickly pieced things together and gritted his teeth.
This was the effect of a curse.
In ancient times, humans had used beasts to hunt each other, marking prey with a curse through their scent.
He suddenly understood why the aloof Karin had acted so strangely friendly toward Velia.
This was something only Karin could have done.
“Don’t move.”
Carlton whispered urgently.
If Velia turned or tried to flee, it would be the signal to start the hunt.
Velia, trembling, gave a tiny nod. Carlton gripped her shoulders, his jaw tight.
Even in the fragments of his past memories, he could never forget the beasts’ hunts.
Escaping them was nearly impossible.
And now, with his magic badly damaged from forcing it through restrictions, he was in no condition to outrun or outfight them.
“…Ah.”
Caught in this desperate situation, Carlton suddenly remembered something.
Among the pack, only one wasn’t drooling or entranced.
The wounded crimson-eyed beast still looked only at Velia.
Its eyes shone with loyalty and yearning.
“If it bit your hand back then…”
Carlton recalled Velia’s dream.
If it was true, then what she had experienced was a simplified form of a ritual.
“Don’t move. No matter what.”
At his whisper, Velia nodded slowly.
Carlton drew on his magic.
At once, the beast’s burning gaze shifted from Velia to him.
For a moment, its eyes blazed with killing intent—yet strangely, its aura felt subdued compared to before.
For the briefest heartbeat, their crimson eyes locked together.
Then silence shattered.
Carlton and the beast lunged at the same time.
“Kyaah!”
Carlton scooped Velia into his arms and leapt, just as over a dozen beasts charged at once.
Right before they could reach him, the lone crimson-eyed beast slashed with terrifying claws, holding them back.
“Raaagh—!”
With the beasts swarming their comrade, Carlton surged forward.
“We’re close to the center!”
“But that beast—”
“Later!”
Velia, thrown over his shoulder, glanced back at the crimson eyes watching her. Her chest ached at the sight.
It felt wrong to just leave it behind. She opened her mouth to protest, but the air around them suddenly changed.
“Cough!”
As they crossed some unseen boundary of the forest, Carlton froze.
Blood poured from his mouth.
They hadn’t come far, but the beasts vanished in an instant as Carlton collapsed.
“Carlton!”
Velia fell with him, scrambling up in panic.
“Why… what’s wrong? Carlton!”
He writhed in pain, his face pale as death.
“Carl…”
Velia shook him, then suddenly went still.
Her eyes lifted—and froze.
Right before her stood a single blood-red tree.
Its size was so immense it could have stood for hundreds, even thousands of years.
Its countless branches twisted and writhed as if they were alive.
Thick, tar-like black sap oozed around its base, spreading in all directions.
It was a grotesque, otherworldly sight.
And then—one of the massive branches stirred above Velia’s head.
“What’s at the forest’s center?”
“I don’t know.”
“Huh?”
“Even Carlton probably doesn’t. No one who’s gone there has ever come back. That’s why people say not to go.”
“But Carlton wants to.”
“He’s the Tower Master. He probably believes he can survive. Didn’t I tell you? When you get near the center, even knights won’t enter. Only Carlton does. So don’t get involved.”
“…Alright.”
“You sure answer nicely. Oh, but—there is something written in the imperial records about the center.”
“What is it?”
“Not much. It’s so old, no one knows if it’s reliable. But according to the text, you can’t enter the forest’s center.”
“…What?”
“It says only those who are chosen may enter. If someone enters without permission, they must pay the price. That’s how it’s written.”
