The Forest Race Clonne

Chapter 82

When I opened my eyes again, the surroundings were bright. Just a moment ago, the sun was setting, but now the sky outside the window was a clear blue. Judging by the position of the sun, it looked like it was around noon. It seemed I had fallen asleep as if I had passed out.

Clicking my tongue, I got up and flexed my hand. It had been a while since I slept in a bed, and my entire body felt refreshed. …Perhaps a bit too refreshed.

As I made my way downstairs, the employee who was cleaning the room looked at me in surprise. The way they hurried toward me confirmed my sense of unease wasn’t unfounded.

“Oh goodness, you’re awake! You slept so deeply, we got worried.”

“How long have I been asleep?”

“This is the first time you’ve woken up in three days.”

…I hadn’t expected it to be this long.

Three days? Was it even possible for a person to sleep that long? My mouth hung open in disbelief. “I was really worried we might have to take care of your body. You must’ve been extremely tired.” The employee’s cheerful words made me rub my neck sheepishly.

Still, compared to the Awakening, this was mild. If I had slept for over a month here, I might have been buried for real. Thinking that I had avoided the worst, my initial astonishment quickly faded. The only thing that felt slightly off was sleeping without properly washing.

“Aren’t you hungry? You haven’t eaten anything for three days, so you must be weak. Would you like to have a meal right away?”

“Actually, I’m more thirsty than anything. Can I have some water, please?”

“Oh, sure! Please take a seat anywhere. I’ll bring it right away!”

I sat at a nearby table, and the employee soon brought a pitcher of water from the kitchen. As I drank from the glass, I felt my senses awaken, and a surge of vitality ran through my body. Being able to sustain myself with just sunlight and water had its advantages. However, not wanting to draw unnecessary attention, I ordered a light meal.

I requested a meal with as much meat as possible, excluding bread, grains, and all vegetables. The employee looked a bit puzzled but complied. Since becoming aware of my true nature, I have been reluctant to eat plants. It was one thing to share, but most of the ingredients used in human cuisine were often taken forcibly.

‘…Humans, huh.’

Anyone overhearing this might think I’d lived as a Clonne from the start. The thought made me chuckle wryly, as even I recognized my affected attitude.

The meal arrived quickly. It consisted of mushroom cream soup, perfectly grilled chicken, and soft-boiled eggs, just as I had ordered—without any vegetables.

“Enjoy your meal. If you need anything else, just call.”

“Thank you. By the way, have you heard any rumors about a wandering apothecary or healer in this area?”

“A healer? Are you hurt?”

“No, it’s not that. I’m looking for someone.”

If Semeion was still active, he might have continued working as an apothecary. With his distinctive appearance and skills, there were bound to be rumors. However, the employee shook their head quickly.

“I’m not sure. I can tell you about the local clinic, but I don’t know of any wandering apothecaries or healers.”

“No new healers at the clinic?”

“No, our village clinic has been run by the same family for generations. The current head doctor has been practicing for over fifty years himself.”

“I see. Thank you for the information.”

Though I was just getting started, it seemed things wouldn’t go smoothly. Sighing, I took a spoonful of the mushroom soup. The taste wasn’t bad.

* * *

My instincts were right.

It had already been a week since I’d arrived in the South, and Semaion’s whereabouts were still a mystery. Leaving Herna for other territories hadn’t helped; there was no way to trace his movements, nor even confirm if he had truly come here.

The increasingly cold weather was taking more of a toll than I’d anticipated. Trees in their winter slumber were of little help, even if they were awake.

“Have you seen Lord Semaion? Think carefully—Sir Semaion, the king’s first knight. Have you heard any rumors?”

—Well, I’m not sure. Who was that again… yawn…

“Knight Semaion. The king’s first knight. Think hard. Haven’t you heard any rumors?”

—Uhmm, I’m sorry. Can’t remember well. Just so sleepy this time of year… sigh…

“Are you unable to remember, or just refusing to?”

—Apologies… It’s just, in this season, my head feels so foggy…

“It’s important. Could you try a little harder?”

—…

“You’re already asleep, huh.”

I’d hoped for more from this tree, which still had quite a few leaves, but it seemed that was another dead end. I was beginning to accept that using the plants to gather information would be unfeasible. I had no choice but to feel disheartened, despite trying to prepare myself.

‘Maybe I should look into information guilds.’

They say that a skilled informant can locate a person with just a few identifying details. And if I handed over a portrait, the chances would only improve. It was a risky move, though. But instead of wasting time, taking a chance might be worth it.

For now, I decided just to keep it in mind and returned to the inn. The innkeeper, whose face had become familiar over the last few days, greeted me as I walked in.

“Welcome back. Any luck today?”

“Not really.”

“Ah, tough break. Weren’t you looking for a childhood friend you lost touch with?”

“Yes.”

“It’s already been a couple of days. If no one around here has seen him, maybe he’s not in our village at all?”

“That’s why I’m planning to check another territory tomorrow.”

“Haha, at this rate, you might end up covering the entire South!”

It was meant as a joke, but I couldn’t bring myself to laugh; it was starting to feel that way. The innkeeper scratched the back of his head, seeming a bit awkward at my silence.

“The closest territory to here would be Fortuna. But it might be a bit troublesome there. Security has tightened recently, and they’re keeping an eye on outsiders.”

“Has something happened?”

“Didn’t you see the posters? There’s been nonstop trouble with the Demonic Beasts lately.”

“Oh.”

This fact had surprised me as well. While I was staying at the Clonne’s residence, news of the Demonic Beasts had spread widely across human society. Apparently, the Imperial Family had issued widespread warnings, deciding that hiding the truth was no longer wise once the Demonic Beasts had begun to move openly.

Now, in every village, you could see posters with their descriptions. But honestly, I wasn’t sure how helpful that was, considering the Demonic Beasts could disguise themselves as humans.

“Have there been any incidents around here?”

“Not yet. But the rumors are so ominous that people are just being cautious. It’s the policy of Lord Seranta, and Fortuna and Laphilus, who are allied with them, are following suit.”

“I see…”

The mention of Seranta made me tense up for a moment, but I managed to brush it off smoothly.

“The three territories formed an alliance?”

“You really are behind on the news, aren’t you? That was years ago. They call it an alliance, but in reality, Fortuna and Laphilus have practically been absorbed. Both Lords swore loyalty to Lord Seranta.”

“I hadn’t heard of any territorial conflict.”

“Haha, it was just a peaceful agreement. As Seranta’s influence grew, the other Lords decided to get on his good side of their own accord.”

“…Pardon me, but did you say Seranta? The one where Count Lavant rules?”

“Haha, of course! Who else would the lord of Seranta be but Count Lavant?”

To be honest, I was a bit taken aback. The man I knew was a pure warrior who only knew how to wield a sword. For someone like him, with no political finesse, to subjugate the other Lords without a single battle…

Especially since these two territories were essentially the cornerstones of the Southern faction’s power. They call it the ‘Southern Alliance,’ but in truth, Seranta had practically taken control of the entire South. No wonder the First Imperial Prince went so far as to arrange a marriage with Duke Lakan’s wife’s niece.

‘Could he have hired a particularly shrewd advisor?’

The problem was that I had never heard anything about this until now. Even though it was a remote area, not knowing something as common knowledge among the locals was baffling.

There were two possibilities I could infer: either the alliance deliberately omitted reports, or there was a force controlling the information in between. Neither scenario was ideal.

‘I wonder if Duke Rouster knows about this.’

The thought made me chuckle dryly. Whether the Imperial family knew information that I didn’t was hardly relevant to me now. Thinking about reporting it reflexively was just an old habit.

“Oh dear, did I scare you? Even though there’s a crackdown, it’s mostly just checking identification tokens, so there’s not much to worry about.”

The innkeeper, perhaps interpreting my sigh as unease about the crackdown, quickly backtracked, cautiously watching my reaction. “You do have your identification token, right?” he asked tentatively. I responded calmly, assuring him I did. Only then did the tension leave his gaze.

“Well, you don’t look like a foreigner or vagrant, so I figured you’d naturally have an identification token. In that case, you shouldn’t have any issues.”

“Are people without identification tokens not allowed to enter at all?”

“Most likely. I hear they might even detain and interrogate such individuals.”

“I see.”

“Some think it’s excessive, but honestly, I’m a bit envious. With creatures that can devour people on the loose, how can we feel safe? Especially when they can disguise their appearance.”

“It’s only natural to feel uneasy. I understand.”

“Right? The resurgence of an ancient species… You see all sorts of things in life. Anyway, be careful too. Outsiders stand out more these days, and you might attract trouble. Some nasty folks accuse innocent people of being Demonic Beasts just to stir things up.”

I nodded with a bitter feeling. If these Demonic Beasts gained further influence here, even the fragile peace we had would crumble. A world where people had to distrust and repel each other to survive might soon emerge. And in such a world, the Demonic Beasts wouldn’t be the only threat. An era of chaos was approaching.