After leaving the A rank party, I aim for the deep part of the labyrinth with my former students
We proceeded through the "Amber Forest" under Saisaria's guidance.
As she maintained close communication with the earth spirit Gnome, it seemed she was tracking Silk’s footsteps.
"…Something feels strange."
Saisaria stopped for a moment and turned back.
"What's wrong?"
"It's difficult to explain, but… there are no signs of hesitation in Lady Silk's footsteps. It appears as though she is willingly traveling with Ilwen Pearlwood."
"That can't be right."
Surprised, the words escaped my mouth without thinking.
Silk, who was always so responsible, would never follow that man without telling us. More than that, she had always seemed to despise Ilwen.
"There may be a reason—something she can't share with us."
"Then we just have to catch up to her and ask directly!"
"Yes. We’ll talk to Silk ourselves."
Marina and Rain nodded before looking at me.
Returning their nod, I turned back to Saisaria.
"As they said, we'll confirm it with Silk herself. Keep tracking her, Saisaria."
"Understood. This way."
Just as when we were scouting the island, Saisaria walked ahead with unwavering steps.
When Silk and the dark elf guides had disappeared together, I wasn’t sure what to do, but having her here was a great help.
For a while, we silently made our way through the Amber Forest.
The narrow trail had become overgrown with shrubs and ferns, making it difficult to see our footing.
Just then, Nene suddenly dropped down in front of me, halting our advance.
"There’s someone up ahead."
"Did we catch up?"
"I'll go scout. Stay hidden until I give the signal."
With that, Nene disappeared into the trees.
Saisaria, standing beside me, also focused her gaze in the direction Nene had gone.
"The voices of the earth spirits match as well. It is likely Master Tymus and his group."
"Finally…"
We had spent a significant amount of time tracking them, and exhaustion had built up among the group.
Although I had used enhancement magic to assist, traversing an unfamiliar jungle was grueling.
Jemie was even breathing heavily by this point.
"I'm back."
A few minutes later, Nene returned.
"I didn’t see Silk-san, but Tymus and his group were there."
"What about Ilwen?"
"Only Tymus and the other three were there."
Had he gone ahead? Were they acting separately? Or was he hiding somewhere?
Either way, it was fortunate that we had located at least some of the involved parties.
"Tymus was the one who called Silk out, right, Marina?"
"Yeah. He was the one who came to get her."
"Alright, we’ll approach them directly. First, let’s hear them out."
I briefly considered launching a surprise attack, but if Silk had a reason for her actions, we needed to understand it first.
"Let’s go…!"
I signaled the others with a hand sign, and we rushed toward our destination in one swift move.
Breaking through the trees, we arrived at a small clearing in the jungle, where the Dark Elf ranger guards reacted with visible shock at our sudden appearance.
"W-Why are you here!?"
"We’ve been following you! Where is Silk?!"
I raised my voice, pressing them for answers.
It might have seemed unlike me, but my forceful tone would clearly convey the emotions I held.
"We don’t know…! We were deceived."
"We never expected this to happen."
"Why did we…"
"We don’t understand—none of this makes sense."
Tymus and his group spoke up one after another, their words strangely vague, their expressions filled with confusion.
"Tymus, I heard you were the one who called Silk out. Was that Ilwen’s order?"
"No—wait, yes… Maybe? I did call her out. Or… was I called out?"
His sweat-drenched face twisted in fear as he shook his head.
Something was wrong.
He had been an opponent to us before, but he had never behaved like this.
"Yes, we… we were—"
"The forest…"
"The true forest…"
As I was distracted by the bizarre situation, someone gave my hand a small tug.
"Yuke. Something's… off."
Rain’s voice snapped me back to my senses, and I became aware of a faint pain throbbing in my cheek.
This wasn’t good.
Something bad was about to happen.
Perhaps Rain, who inherited my Stigma the strongest, had sensed it first.
"Activate checks!"
Acting almost on instinct, I pulled out a multi-enchantment scroll from my waist and unfurled it.
"Saisaria, step back! It’s coming—everyone, get ready!"
At my command, everyone drew their weapons and took defensive stances.
Then, in the next instant—
Tymus and his group… twisted.
Like the skin of a ripe fruit peeling away, or a butterfly emerging from its cocoon…
They shed their forms as they had existed in this world and transformed into something else.
"──……──ッ"
A whisper, incomprehensible yet echoing in our ears, came from what was once Tymus as it turned toward us.
Though humanoid in shape, it bore a resemblance to a plant.
If one had to compare, its form was closest to that of a wooden mannequin.
Its skin displayed patterns akin to tree rings, its hair appeared to be a bundle of fine vines, and various parts of its body sprouted leaf-like growths. Its eyes and mouth had become nothing more than smooth indentations.
Yet, the empty sockets where its eyes should have been locked onto us, brimming with unmistakable killing intent.
"What… is this? It's not a Shadow Stalker, is it?"
"It might be something similar to the tree spirits—the Treants—that Silk told us about."
However, according to Elder Elran and Silk, Treants were either more tree-like or trees themselves.
They were not supposed to take on a humanoid form like this.
"────……!"
Letting out eerie, scream-like whispers, the four transformed beings began to move toward us.
"If there's still any part of you left in there, stop!"
Even though I knew it was futile, I still called out to them.
But they did not stop.
"Here they come…!"
Marina lowered her stance, stepping in like the wind, and swiftly drew her specially crafted blade from its scabbard.
The flash of her strike cut effortlessly through the torso of the leading tree-being.
"──!"
"──……!!"
Perhaps some remnants of camaraderie remained, as the other three creatures let out strange cries, raising their arms.
"〈Glass Shield〉!"
I flicked my fingers, casting a protective spell on Marina.
The moment the spell activated, sharp, thorn-like protrusions burst from the ground, striking her and sending her flying.
"Wah—!"
"Gotcha!"
Though Marina wasn’t injured thanks to the protective magic, she was thrown violently through the air.
Nene caught her midair with ease.
Despite Marina wearing heavy armor, Nene carried her effortlessly—her strength was as impressive as ever.
"Be careful! These things are using spirit magic!"
"They’re probably controlling....mad spirits."
Even the 〈Energy Bolts〉 that Jamie and Rain had fired as suppressing attacks were being blocked by some kind of spirit magic.
If only Silk were here…!
"They're tough. We need to work together to immobilize them. I’m moving in as well."
Three enemies remained.
With three of us in the front line, we should be able to at least restrict their movements.
From there, Rain and Jamie’s magic should be enough to break through.
"Let’s go!"
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