Venturing Inside The Monster Forest

She recalls her conversation with Gio about the Monster Forest.

". . . mining or getting out the resources are already challenging enough. The fruits and other herbs need special equipment to store and preserve their life."

"Why?"

"They are considered high value not because they are rare or hard to find but because they don't survive long outside the monster territories. They wither away almost immediately. To store them, It requires a special container and leaves it there for a few days to preserve it."

"Can you store different kinds of fruits or herbs together?"

"No. They rot faster. You can only store one kind at a time."

". . .Their value must be incredibly huge"

"Yes."

****

At the parlour, They are facing together. Konrad, the count in the middle, Theo, on the right side and Gio on the left side.

'They are splitting images. . .'

"What is your proposition?"

"I have to live in the monster forest and survive for days. Be it the monsters or the poison, I can overcome it."

"Your point, child?"

"Your grace, Let me join the Venture."

" Finish your training."

"I can build resistance to every poison."

" What? "

"I think you will be able to live there longer than your trained knights." It came out cheekier than she anticipated. A frown is starting to form in the Count's forehead.

". . . "

"I can prove it here."

". . . "

"Sir Gio, Have you brought the fruit?"

Gio put a long rectangular wooden box at the table. She asks Gio to bring samples of fruits they successfully extracted from the forest.

She opened it and different kinds of berries, fruits and plants were inside. They don't smell fruity nor bad. She picked the familiar white pear shaped fruit.

"This fruit caused me blindness."

They have a rough idea on what she was about to do but only Gio retained his poker face.

She took a bite then another one and another.

"HAVE YOU GONE INSANE?"

'Was it Theo's voice? ' There was a strong grip in her arm and her cheek was squeezed.

"SPIT IT OUT!"

"Child, Spit it out!" It was Konrad's voice this time.

She swallowed.

*Ting

[Harmful Toxins Detected]

[Cleansing the toxins]

[5]

[4]

[3]

[2]

[1]

[All Harmful Toxins Eliminated]

'It worked.'

She opened her eyes and saw the frowning face of Theo. Konrad crumpled his beautiful face too.

"They don't work on me."

"Can you see this?" Theo asked as he raised hand as the flickering sparks danced in his palm then a star figure was formed.

She slightly frowned and answered. "Yes, it's a . . . star."

Theo removed his hands on her but still frowned down at her.

"Are you really okay?"

He looked. . . Concerned

*Bathump*

Her heart started to beat fast.

'Shit the poison? no wait, the system said Toxins were eliminated. Is this some kind of side effect?' She clenched her hand to stop herself from reaching for her thumping chest.

"I am okay. . . sir "

"Ahem! Ahem!" Konrad cleared his throat and he returned to his normal expressionless face. It's back to his deceiving youthful face. Theo cleared his throat too as he returned to his seat. Gio watches them nonchalantly.

'Looks like he doesn't care whether I fail or not.' She suppressed herself from smirking. She too also doesn't care about his opinion. The important thing is the Count.

"What is your point here child?"

Looking back at the conversation she had with Gio. He said they found her at Level 4 of Monster Forest.

It usually takes a day from Level 1 to Level 2, then another day and a half to reach level 3, additional 2days worth of travel to reach level 4 a total of 4 and a half days are spent reaching level 4, A total of 9 days including going back were spent inside the forest. Considering the health of the knights, 10 days is the standard maximum limit they set.

This is the product of years of years of exploration and research of Alexanders' Family.

She had been reading about nobles for days and it was enough to realize nobles' tendencies to keep their own findings a secret to try monopolizing the forest's resources. There is also this bidding, prohibiting others to touch the forest for a year. Each noble family only has a year to add information on their own research.

When she asked Gio when was the last time the Alexander's venture out he paused before answering.

'. . . Five years ago.' That felt like she shouldn't ask anymore.

She came back to her senses when she saw Konrad waiting for her answer.

"My point is I can build resistance against poison, making me the most ideal person to be a scout."

"A scout?" The count repeated

"Yes, Your Grace, Venturing is limited to 10 days per month but with me as scout I can stay there for longer."

"With the map it only takes 3 days and a half to reach level 4." Gio said.

'The map lessens the travel period? Did it reveal some short cut? It seems I can't use the travel time as an excuse then. . .'

"Level 4 is not fully explored yet right?"

"Yes. The next venture will focus on Level 4."

"The Map shows only the places the holder had already been in the forest, not the unexplored lands."

"Yes, but what is----" Theo's eyes widened.

Got it. She smiled internally

"I've been roaming around Level 4 before and I know where to find some of these plants."

"I see. You will have great additional manpower but finish your training first."

"Wait! Your Grace, I am a lot stronger now and. . . and I also study well."

It's true that she feels stronger but her level in the system didn't increase at all. Her stamina went up with 3 points and the fatigue built up is slower.

"You were rotting from the inside due to poison last time. What is your basis? You can last longer ?"

She swallowed dry saliva because she cannot counter Konrad's words.

"Then I'll die trying."

". . ."

"If my body can't take it I'll just die. Was that a loss to you?"

'I need to go to the Forest to test something out. Also something tells me to go back.' She is biting her molars as she held back her thoughts

"Child, Do you feel like throwing your life away?"

"I do not plan on dying, your grace."

Konrad stood up and rest followed.

"Then I'll consider joining you when you master the Julian language."

"Julian Language?"

Konrad frowned slightly at her words.

"What were you learning in your lessons?"

"I memorize books about royalties, nobles and festivities of Millano Kingdom and some neighbouring Kingdom."

' . . . memorize?' Konrad pauses for a while thinking then throws a glare at Gio who is already looking away.

"Those are the basics? They are important" Gio answered without looking at his father

"Yes, they were important 25 years ago." Konrad drops his tone several degrees colder.

She who watches it finally realizes the itchy feeling she had for the past days. She knows there's something wrong. The brothers didn't seriously mentor her. Even if she shortens the time of run laps and Theo's other instructions, he has no intention to advance while Gio obviously just wanted to . . . mess around by letting her memorize old books.

Her eyes, glued in the flooring, are slowly losing its shine as if she is slowly entering the abyss.

'If only I could ki. . .'

"Child." The Count's voice brought her back to reality.

". . . "

"Gio will 'properly' teach you the Julia Language, The Common Language used in South Land Territories. If you master it before the Venture. I will allow you to go." The count emphasize the word 'properly'

It took her a moment before answering. " Yes, your Grace."

"Gio, I trust that you will take my words seriously this time." Konrad warned.

"Yes, Father."

They both bow down as the Count and Theo walk out to the door.

'That's . . .?' She bent down and picked the white pear shaped fruit she took a bite earlier.

'After neutralizing the poison it tastes like an ordinary apple.' She dusted it off and took a bite again!

'You. . . "Gio, who remained in the room with her, looked at her with his brows sewn together.

"The poison doesn't work." She shot an uncaring glare and took a bite again and chewed the crunchy fruit.

"That already fell on the floor."

". . . " She swallowed her fruit and stared at Gio.

"Gross" Gio crumpled his face.

****

Konrad and Theo left the parlour and are walking in the light colored carpet corridor.

"Theo, I also trust that you are carrying my orders to properly train her are you?"

"I will act accordingly, father." Theo bowed at his father's back.

"Good."

Konrad glances at a moving shadow from the corner and proceeds to open the nearest room. Konrad and Theo entered the dark room with minimal sunlight passing through the gaps of the curtain window.

A black smoke started to pour out of nowhere until the person's figure became visible. He is wearing a black overalls and a plain black mask with pitch black eye holes, making it impossible to know its gender or features.

"Greetings! My Lord and the Young Lord" The masked man kneel down and bow his head.

"Report." Konrad spoke with his natural cold voice.

"The spear without a doubt contains the power of holy light but its origins are still unidentified. There were no reports of missing artifacts."

'A weapon that can change the eye's color.' Konrad was reminded of the scene where that child's eye suddenly changed to a golden color. It raised more questions in his head.

"The potion?"

"The potion. . .We fail to trace its origin. I apologize."

Theo was frowning. Konrad sighed and massaged his head.

"Theo, did you say that child used the same potion during your fight?"

"Yes, about five times. they were all the same color like the one she gave to us."

"I see."

Konrad look at the kneeling shadow knight and said

"Find more. discreetly."

The masked man bowed and smoke arose on his spot and he disappeared.

"Theo, When you were fighting her, when did the color of her eyes change?"

"It was dark at that time . . . around after sunset."

"You said her eyes were definitely yellow when you first saw her. Was it night time?"

"Yes."

". . .That child will attract too much attention."

Codeless resistance, weapon that contains power of Holy Light, and unidentified potion.

Konrad and Theo silently went outside the room and walked the corridor once again. Konrad stopped to look at the parlour's closed doors. Theo also looked in the direction of his father's gaze.

"That child, watch her closely. She wants something from the Forest"

"Yes father, will she be joining the venture?"

"Let's see."

****

She frowns her forehead as she tries to read a book written in Julian Language.

The Millano Kingdom belongs to the South Countries which use the Julian Language which is a commonly used language.

Gio is pretending to read a book. He is observing her as she crumples her forehead.

'She can't read it.'

She always wears a neutral face. She doesn't show much emotion but right now she is obviously looking frustrated.

'The usual emotionless eyes changed after being cornered like she didn't hesitate to kill.'

She was hostile and guarded after that day but she had been cooperative and attentive these past few days. Gio had been observing her for days but there was nothing worth it to report.

'Is her hostility gone or did she get better at hiding it? She is good at hiding things.'

She is hiding a lot of unusual things that make her a threat.

Aside from her black hair and the lost language there is nothing he can see that resembles her from his mother.

'What are you thinking of giving this person Kaleena's Code, father?'

'I will not let her get Kaleena's Code.'

She put down the book and stared outside the window. Her stare slowly becomes glare.

"Give up, you can't do it in Four days."

" . . . "

" . . . "

"Fuck!"

Her words rendered Gio speechless.

'Did she just curse?'