Chapter 76
Humans and forests cannot coexist.
While trees may have played a crucial role in the advancement of civilization, forests were enveloped in death. Conversely, when civilization declines, forests revive. The forest is said to have declared that after civilization—after humans—fall, no one will come to cut us down anymore.
—Mother had said.
“This was once a witch’s forest,” Yuls said as they entered the oak forest. The carriage came to a stop. From this point onward, it was Woodpecker territory.
Before entering the forest, people made their preparations. Adi removed the uncomfortable dress, petticoat, and corset. Fortunately, Billy had prepared clothes to wear.
“We’re almost home now,” Bert said. For some reason, the Woodpecker people seemed more at ease here. Roy was the same. Adi looked around at the forest entrance. The newly grown broad leaves in light green were fascinating. They looked quite different from fig leaves. Such a comfortable forest, surprisingly.
Forests usually inspire awe. That includes fear. The Grimaldi forest was such a place. It wasn’t friendly to humans. It was savagery itself. But this forest felt welcoming.
Perhaps only Grimaldi had earned the forest’s hatred.
“The forest still bears many traces of the witch,” they said. The red-haired witch was said to have adorned her hair with bird feathers, tree fruits, and long ribbons. When the previous Woodpecker Duke first came down to receive this land, the witch was the first thing he saw.
“In the oak forest, there are separate paths for humans, beasts, and witches,” Bert said.
“Most people can’t take the witch’s path, but those who have received a witch’s blessing or carry their blood can use it.”
Adi and Roy looked at Bert. The others seemed uninterested, as if they already knew this.
“We’ll be taking the witch’s path. It takes four days to reach the cabin on the human path, but only five hours on the witch’s path.”
“Five hours?” Roy asked in surprise. Being from the south, Roy knew this was impossible, though Adi, not being from here, didn’t know the extent of the oak forest. Roy had never even heard of a witch’s path before. However… Roy looked at Yuls.
Deciding it wasn’t entirely impossible after all, Roy said nothing more.
“Is there someone here who has received the witch’s blessing?” Adi asked instead. Everyone silently looked at Adi. It felt like something had been said wrong. Then all gazes were withdrawn simultaneously.
“Something like that,” Bert answered. Adi wondered if those who were cursed could also pass through that path.
After detaching the horses from the carriages, each person took one horse. With three carriages, there were plenty of horses. They packed only the immediately necessary items onto their saddles. When Roy asked if it was alright to leave the carriages, they were told someone would come to collect them soon.
Yuls took the lead. The horses stepped onto the path without hesitation. It was impossible to tell what constituted the witch’s path. Whether it was just a shortcut called that, or if a separate path actually existed, remained unclear.
The forest was majestic. Starting from Dalkatir, the western peninsula of the central continent, the forest stretched upward through the country of Türingen above it, reaching all the way to Lipernsi in the Bellipera Empire.
Though the forest’s ecosystem changed with latitude, it was ultimately one massive forest.
However, the forest was intermittently broken. It had lost to civilization. Many parts of the forest had been logged and cultivated. The oak forest of Dalkatir was almost the only place that remained in its primeval state. Since the entire area below the forest was plains, there had been no need to cultivate this far.
Bird songs could be heard. A bird looking left and right, sensing human presence, made a piercing sound before fluttering away. No matter how bright it appeared on the outside, it naturally grew darker deeper inside. It was even more so as the sun began to set.
Adi watched the Woodpecker Duke walking ahead. He seemed free in this forest. Yuls appeared to be in good spirits as he breathed in the air.
Animals brushed past him. Though they seemed startled by the sight of others, suggesting they weren’t entirely fearless of humans, they approached Yuls naturally.
That red hair truly resembled a woodpecker.
A woodpecker that adorned itself brilliantly, as if to seduce. Though no sound was made, with each step through the forest, it seemed to announce its territory.
It was a beautiful sight that couldn’t have been imagined or dared to be contemplated. As if receiving the forest’s love. And he too seemed to love this forest.
Perhaps sensing the gaze, Yuls turned his head.
Like a magnificent bird.
“Your Grace seems comfortable in the forest,” Adi said. After a moment’s silence, Yuls replied, “Yes.”
“It’s easier to breathe here.”
Was it because of all the plants? Adi didn’t particularly feel it. But the Duke truly seemed at ease here. Rather than in that incomparably splendid palace, he seemed to prefer this place more, his gaze toward the forest filled with affection.
“…”
Something felt strange. Though he had always seemed distant, he felt even more so in the forest. It was as if he might melt into this place. It felt like facing something one dared not dream of. Why it felt that way was unclear. Just, how should this be described?
“The Woodpecker mansion has many plants,” Yuls said.
Adi thought the forest might steal the Duke away.
“Like the forest.”
Even though it wasn’t his.
“A mansion rather than a castle?”
“The castle fell during the war. We built the mansion anew.”
The Duke seemed quite attached to his territory. His smiling expression conveyed an inexplicable affection.
“We brought in all the craftsmen from under Woodpecker’s domain to build it. Since the leaves don’t fall even in winter, making it look like summer all year round, some call it the Summer Palace. There’s a garden, and a greenhouse too. You’ll like it.”
“If there’s a Summer Palace, is there a Winter Palace as well?”
“Of course not.” Yuls chuckled.
“There are many other mansions though. Some bear palace names, and others are called castles. But most have nothing to do with winter. Woodpecker doesn’t get snow, the plains stay green in winter, and the sea remains warm enough for active fishing. It’s a beautiful place. Warm and peaceful.”
At least as far as he knew. Even compared to other places, Woodpecker was peaceful. It suffered less from war. The forest surrounding Woodpecker protected it from others’ invasions.
Woodpecker was beautiful wherever you looked.
“But I like this forest best.”
Saying this, Yuls lifted his head to look at the trees. The wind blew, making his hair flutter.
“Being here makes me feel alive.”
For a moment, Adi thought Yuls seemed inhuman.
“Though it becomes dangerous after sunset.”
The sky was gradually turning red. The sun was beginning to set. At the sound of fluttering wings, Adi’s gaze shifted to see a bird flying away. While they often encountered birds, strangely no wild beasts appeared. Though something could be seen gleaming its eyes not far away, the beast didn’t seem to consider the humans walking this path as targets.
It was a peculiar experience.
As the sun began to set, Bert, Gavin, and Ivan wrapped cloth around trees to make torches.
Joel lit them. Despite being a healing mage, he seemed capable of various types of magic. Watching Joel explain that servants normally needed to know such things, Adi thought that couldn’t be true. At least, the servants of House Grimaldi weren’t like that.
After walking another hour or so, they came upon a log house. It was quite large for what they called a cabin. It seemed sufficient to accommodate at least eight people.
“Finally, we’re here,” Joel said as he stepped forward. Whether it was locked by magic or for some other reason was unclear.
“It’s a place suitable for lodging and meals. Woodpecker’s night watchmen use this place occasionally too. There are four rooms in total, and it can accommodate up to ten people. Though it could fit twenty if we squeeze in.”
People followed Joel inside. It was indeed spacious.
“Your Grace can have a private room, and the rest can split into groups of two or three,” Joel suggested. Bert, Gavin, and Ivan made indecipherable expressions. Their gazes focused on Adi. Adi looked back at them questioningly. That’s when Roy placed a hand on Adi’s shoulder.
“If we’re pairing up, want to share a room with me?”
The faces of Bert, Gavin, and Ivan grew even more rigid.
Lilina
Roy please 😭
Pair up with her and I can see the start of a doujin unfolding