Published: August 25, 2025
Several hours had passed since stepping into the great tree sea. The journey had been smooth, and now, in the distance, what appeared to be an adventurer's base was coming into view. Around the base, the thick grass had been cleared away, and the giant trees seemed to have been felled, making the area noticeably open and prominent.
Was it magic that created this? The base was surrounded by a heavy wall that looked as if it were coated with concrete, so it was impossible to see inside. Still, the base was quite large and impressive. In contrast, the entrance gate seemed rather small compared to the wall itself—about the size of double doors you might find in a slightly larger shop.
Around the base, a few adventurers were visible, seemingly engaged in environmental maintenance.
“Time to get ready…”
Though the influence of the curse wasn’t serious, I was still alone. To avoid unnecessary problems, I planned to take precautions before interacting with others. The process wasn’t a hassle—I simply dispelled “Hide,” which I had been using to erase my presence, and instead unfolded “Holy Space” around my body.
Normally, light magic’s “Dispel” would be used to lift a curse, but my curse was impossible to remove by any human hand. Its effect spread outward from me, influencing those nearby, so it was more effective to block or reduce its impact rather than try to remove it.
“!? What’s that, a child… a child?”
“Hey, look!”
“Why would a kid be here…”
“Did they come here alone? Through all this?”
“Maybe they’re a dwarf or an Elf, just short or young-looking?”
“Even so, alone in a place like this…”
“Could this be some new kind of magical beast…?”
Since I had dispelled Hide and approached, it was natural they noticed me. But was my curse countermeasure really working? They seemed quite wary. They were watching me from a distance, murmuring among themselves, but they didn’t seem openly hostile—it just felt uncomfortable.
I decided to avoid provoking them and quickly pass through to the gate.
As I quickened my pace, a pack of raptors came charging from behind.
“Raptors!”
“Another pack! Be careful!”
“Damn! How many times has this been now!?”
“What’s going on in this Tree Sea!?”
“Stop wasting time talking! Let’s fight back!”
The adventurers hurriedly prepared themselves... They seemed anxious. I decided to settle this with dark magic. I fixed my gaze on the approaching raptors, tracking their positions.
“Gijaah!?”
Good, it worked. Maybe I had gotten used to it on the way here, but I was able to cast it without chanting. Most of the raptors turned around simultaneously. A few stumbled from the momentum but quickly fled after their comrades.
“…They ran off.”
“Was it that kid?”
“That’s the only explanation. The magical beasts are gone; let’s get back to work.”
The leader, who seemed calmer than the rest, glanced at me briefly and sent the others back to their duties.
I thought about greeting them, but they looked unfazed, and I didn’t really want to get involved. I passed by the working adventurers without causing any trouble and headed toward the base’s door. Just a few steps away, the door opened as if welcoming me inside.
“A new face. Get in quickly.”
A rugged soldier appeared from inside, holding one of the double doors partially open. He was probably on alert for magical beasts, as the door was opened just wide enough for a single person to pass. I slipped in quickly, and he shut the door behind me with equal speed.
At the same time, I felt countless eyes piercing into me. Apparently, the inside of the gate, which wasn’t visible from outside, was a spacious room.
Inside, large tables made from processed Heat Dissipation Tree wood were arranged, looking quite expensive. Alcohol and food were spread out on them. The many adventurers seated there, clad in gear, fell silent and appraised me carefully…but they had obviously been enjoying food and drink moments before. It felt more like a tavern than a city gate or a defensive facility.