It was very likely that there were people in this forest who had already cleared out the ferocious beasts, and in order to drive them away, they killed all the small animals that existed within the forest as well.
The Alchemist harbored such a conjecture in his heart.
He didn't have the ability to ascertain the truth behind what was happening before his eyes.
Faced with the current situation, he had certain guesses, and it was quite likely what he ultimately saw in reality.
If one were to follow this line of reasoning, then it might also provide an answer to the things Violet had instructed him to do earlier.
It must have been the mercenary group trying to forge a new path of exploration within the forest.
That's why they had come to such a place that seemed very unfamiliar.
However, as they ventured deeper into the forest, they might face enemies and all sorts of creatures.