The End of Your Arrogance - Chapter 38.1

A faint light caught Evelyn’s blurry gaze. Was it already time to depart? With a creaking body, she managed to crawl out of her sleeping bag. Rene, who was tidying up their belongings nearby, burst into laughter at the sight of Evelyn.

Rene picked up the robe next to him and placed it over Evelyn’s head. Sitting closely beside her, he recited an incantation. 

“It’s a repayment for the delicious meal we had last night.”

Evelyn’s legs, which had felt numb and unresponsive, suddenly became surprisingly light. Even the musty dirt and tangled hair emitted a refreshing scent, as if they had been cleansed.

“Thank you, Rene,” Evelyn said gratefully.

“It’s nothing,” he replied.

Feeling lighter, Evelyn sprang up from her spot. She quickly folded the sleeping bag and rushed over to Nikolas, who was organizing things on the other side.

His hair was wet, as if he had washed it by the riverside. The invigorating scent emanating from him pleased Evelyn, and she couldn’t help but smile.

“Hurry, hurry, we need to move. We’re leaving right now.”

Upon hearing the voice that was raspy and worn-out, Evelyn turned her gaze towards him. The man, his eyes bloodshot and his expression grimaced, seemed to be in distress.

Although she felt sorry for the man with sunken eyes, Evelyn pretended not to see him and headed outside. After all, she was now a hallucinogen of the Order of the Holy Knights.

The journey became increasingly monotonous. The landscapes that had initially stirred her heart now felt dreary. The only exciting moments were when they joined forces with the knights to hunt.

They mainly targeted wild beasts,, along with Ione and Navaron. Evelyn’s illusions had improved over time.

At first, she could only immobilize the prey in thin air, but now hunting dogs appeared. The dogs barked, driving the small animals towards a specific location. Ione and Navaron would be waiting there to catch the animals.

Rabbits, pheasants, and small, unnamed birds were the primary targets of their hunt.

Every time Navaron and Ione gathered the hunted animals, Stas would look at Evelyn with awe-filled eyes.

“If you think of those animals as humans, rounding them up and killing them all is truly a massacre, a complete annihilation,” he remarked with wonder.

“Oh, come on, Pia isn’t a dark sorcerer.”

Dark sorcerer.

Evelyn pressed her hand against her chest, where her heart would be. Once this journey was over and they returned to the Grand Fortress, there was something she needed to do.

*****

After riding non-stop for two days, they finally arrived near Bening Mountain.

“Your Majesty, today is finally the day,” the lieutenant said, his voice trembling.

As he had said, tonight the full moon would rise. It was still early morning, and they had to wait until nightfall.

“Let’s have a meal first.”

At Ilya’s words, the group sat down in a circle. Breakfast was simple. They all chewed on dried meat with displeased expressions.

“Pia, it may not taste good, but it’s better to eat plenty of it,” said Nikolas.

“Yes.”

Evelyn chewed on the dried meat that Nikolas handed her. She couldn’t even describe the taste, but she forced herself to swallow it with water.

She felt a persistent gaze on her, but Evelyn kept her head down and focused on her meal.

“Your Majesty, but do you really think it’s possible to enter the Dark Forest? We can probably reach the barrier of trees, but…”

The lieutenant’s words became unclear as he chewed on the dried meat.

The Dark Forest

A massive barrier formed by intertwining trees that had guarded this land since before the empire was established, reaching to the very end of the sky.

The Dark Forest was an enigmatic presence that defied human understanding.

“Well, we’ll see. They say the path opens when the full moon rises,” Ilya calmly replied.

“After the meal, we’ll cross the mountain and head to the entrance of the Dark Forest. 

Stas will stay here. In case we encounter any problems…”

“Nothing will happen, Your Majesty.” Stas spoke in a composed tone.

“Naz will send reinforcements. They should arrive by nightfall. Stay here and watch our backs.”

Stas nodded firmly, his expression resolute.

Ilya pointed with his hand at a red-brick building on a hill.

“Rene, search that building one more time with the Commander of the Holy Knights. 

We’ll meet at the entrance of the Dark Forest before the sun sets.”

“Alright, I’ll join you without delay,” Rene replied.

Nikolas looked at Ilya with a puzzled expression.

“Why should I go there?”

“It seemed like some kind of ritual was performed inside. As the Commander of the Holy Knights, you should know more about such matters than us,” Ilya explained, his reasoning sound.

Nikolas fell silent at the logical explanation.

When Ilya’s pale gray eyes locked onto him, Evelyn trembled involuntarily.