How To Live As A Third Son Of A Failure [EN]: Chapter 64

Living as the Third Son of a Wasted Novel – Episode 64

* * *

The journey to the Great Forest was smooth.

Except for Fleta’s sharp gaze.

“Are you out of your mind, Third Son? Druids, of all things!”

“It’s not like I’m plotting treason with the Druids, why the fuss?”

“That’s not the issue here.”

“It’s all to catch those attackers. Is this the time to be picky about methods? It’s not like they’re playing fair, are they?”

“So, you swore me to secrecy about what’s to come?”

“Yep.”

“I said I would remain silent within the bounds of the rules.”

“Right. You said you’d abide by the Great Forest’s rules, not that you’d comply with all the kingdom’s laws.”

“You’re really…”

To achieve a goal, one shouldn’t be too scrupulous about the means.

That was something Fleta clearly agreed with.

However, she only calmed down a little after lecturing me about how dangerous Druids and Elves were, and how humans were once treated by them.

But the chilly atmosphere remained. She must have thought I deceived her.

We continued our journey to the border between the Great Forest and the Duchy.

The surrounding security was tight. As expected of an area controlled by the Duke’s family, there wasn’t a single gap to be seen.

When Fleta, after meeting the captain of the guard, said she was there for inspection, they politely briefed her on all operational plans and recent issues.

It seemed she had come for inspections more than once or twice.

After skillfully handling the situation, she rattled off a list of points to improve and led us toward the Great Forest under the pretext of inspecting the walls.

“It’s better if they don’t know.”

“Right. Sometimes, not knowing is the best medicine. I was like that too.”

“Don’t try to rationalize it so subtly.”

“Are you still angry?”

“I was just displeased that you tried to use me.”

“You’re the same, though.”

“At least I don’t make you an accomplice to a crime. Good heavens, associating with other races, my father would be aghast if he knew.”

“Crime? You’d think Rahenna was eating humans or something.”

“Our ancestors who shed blood fighting them would lament in their graves.”

“It was a war. Both sides were perpetrators and victims.”

“……”

Fleta, who had been silent, eventually sighed.

“I’m really curious what information you need to go this far.”

“Well, if you want to catch a tiger, you have to go into the tiger’s den.”

“It doesn’t seem like the Elves are related to those attackers.”

“They are. That’s why we’re going.”

“Is it that eerily accurate hunch again?”

“You can think of it that way.”

“You’re a truly incomprehensible person.”

“Secrets are charming, so it’s a good thing.”

“Ha.”

Fleta turned her head away for a moment.

Luth raised his hand and spoke in a low voice.

“We’re at the entrance to the Great Forest.”

The plains that had stretched out before us had ended, and what lay ahead was a vast sea of trees, the end of which could not be seen.

All that was visible were trees. Their size was beyond anything I had ever seen.

Perhaps as tall as a 10-story apartment building.

The forest, so tall that I had to crane my neck to barely see the top, blocked out the sunlight and created only darkness.

“……I finally understand why they can’t catch the Elves.”

I deeply agreed with Luth’s words.

Who could handle them if they were running around up there, shooting arrows?

“The atmosphere is definitely unusual. It feels like they’re watching us.”

I also agreed with Ilia’s words.

It was as if giants were looking down on me with overwhelming force.

As the group, overwhelmed by the spectacle, paused, Rahenna, who had been lagging behind, moved her horse forward.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve visited my homeland.”

It was the most reassuring thing I had heard.

With Rahenna leading the way, we stepped into the Great Forest.

* * *

The inside of the Great Forest was terribly dark, and the fog made visibility despairingly low.

“I think it would be better to send the horses back.”

“I agree.”

After getting off the horses, Rahenna gestured, and the horses, surprisingly, nodded and gathered together before heading somewhere.

“They’ll rest and come back when called.”

It was time to move on foot.

Fortunately, Luth, Ilia, and I, who could manipulate mana and had good night vision, were fine, but Fleta was the problem.

Fleta, who almost tripped over a tree root, frowned and waved her hand.

“Light.”

As Fleta used magic to create a small light, Rahenna shook her head.

“How kind. You’re even illuminating the target.”

“……”

Without another word, Fleta canceled the light magic and chanted another spell.

“Show me. Night Vision.”

After blinking a few times, she began to walk familiarly.

As we slowly moved forward, Luth came to my side and whispered.

“It’s eerie. And the fog is thick. It’s strange. It doesn’t feel natural.”

“They must have used some trickery. The entrance is like a border for the Elves.”

“When will they appear?”

“What do you think, Rahenna?”

As I relayed Luth’s words, Rahenna replied calmly.

“They already know.”

“But is it okay to be so leisurely?”

“Are you saying we should be frantic? They won’t rush in anyway. They’ll try to assess our strength first.”

“Do we look threatening?”

“They’ll welcome the humans they want to kill with open arms, now that they’ve walked in themselves.”

“That’s good news. It’ll be easier if they come running at us with fire in their eyes.”

Snap!

Rahenna snapped her fingers, and a bird flew in from somewhere and landed on her palm.

After she stroked its head with her index finger, the bird chirped briefly and flew away again.

“What did you tell it to do?”

“You’ll see.”

That was when her words ended.

Thwip-

It was faint, but audible. Luth and Ilia, who were already tense, immediately drew their swords.

Shwing!

The sound of tearing through the air came at the same time as the sword was drawn.

Clang!

Deflecting the incoming arrow was not difficult for a knight.

But in a dark place with thick fog, it was almost miraculous.

However, Luth, who did it without much difficulty, opened his mouth in a low voice.

“It’s quite far.”

“It’s a kind of warning.”

“So, it’s starting now.”

“Fortunately, the fog isn’t only disadvantageous to us. Let’s move quickly for now.”

Thwip- Thwip-

This time, the sound came in quick succession, and we stood back-to-back, each choosing a tree in perfect order.

Thwack!

The half-dozen arrows that were stuck in the ground in a straight line felt eerie. Being attacked unilaterally by an invisible enemy was not a good feeling.

“This is difficult.”

Luth’s words spoke for my feelings.

It was difficult. I wanted to find a breakthrough somehow, but we had no way to find one. But I couldn’t just rush in without knowing which direction to go.

‘I’m starting to understand why the Great Forest is called hell.’

Flap!

That was then. Suddenly, four small birds landed in front of us.

“Mimic jays.”

At Rahenna’s words, a bird named Mimic Jay climbed onto the shoulders of Luth, Ilia, and Fleta.

“Follow.”

Chirp-

“Hide.”

Chirp Chirp-

“Run away.”

Chirp Chirp Chirp-

“Think of them as your guides and move accordingly. I’ll give you a separate signal when the encirclement narrows.”

After Rahenna told us how to communicate using the birds, she stepped forward and disappeared into the fog.

Chirp-

At the same time, the four jays began to flap their wings, signaling us to follow.

“Luth, spread your wings with me. Ilia, take charge of the main force with Fleta.”

“Understood.”

In an instant, we spread out horizontally and began to follow the mimic jays.

Before long, the group was hidden by the fog. The tension rose to my chin as I was left alone in an instant.

‘This tension is killing me.’

I pulled up my mana to the fullest in a long time.

High-purity, high-quality mana, not the low-grade mana absorbed through the mana tunnel, spread throughout my body, and strength surged.

Tap!

I kicked off the ground and leaped several meters, starting to follow the bird.

Chirp-

The mimic jay signaled me to turn right.

‘At this rate, the formation will be disrupted.’

I can’t see around me because of the fog anyway. I had no choice but to trust and follow.

Chirp Chirp-

‘Hide.’

Swish-

Three or four arrows flew and pierced the spot where I had been standing a few seconds ago.

How many times had I followed the jay’s guidance and hid when it told me to?

Tang-!

Now, the sound of the bowstring being pulled was clearly audible.

Dada-da-dak-!

At the same time, the sound of a woodpecker pecking at a tree pierced my ears.

The sound of the beak roughly pecking at the tree was moving in a straight line.

‘The Elf’s location.’

Sensing that it was a signal from Rahenna, I ran after the sound of the woodpecker that was closest.

‘Where is it?’

I could feel it getting closer and closer.

As I increased my speed, the passing scenery felt blurry.

Dada-dak- Dada-dak- Dada-dak-

Things were going too smoothly.

The sound of the woodpecker, which had been pointing in one direction, suddenly split into three directions.

‘Did they scatter?’

It seemed that the Elves had scattered as well, sensing that they were being chased.

But I couldn’t stop. I just chased after the jay wagging its tail in front of me.

“Blow! Gust Wind!”

At that moment, I faintly heard Fleta’s voice.

Whoooo-

At the same time as I felt the intense mana wave, a strong gust of wind began to shake the inside of the forest.

Saaa!

The strong gust of wind instantly blew away the fog without a trace.

“Light up! Light!”

Following that, a sphere of intense light rose high into the air.

Thanks to that, my vision cleared for a moment, and at the same time, I was able to confirm the identity of what I had been chasing.

“Found you.”

I could see three figures flying through the air, crossing the trees, divided into three directions.

They were wearing cloaks of greenish-black color that looked very active.

Tap!

They didn’t exchange signals with each other. But Luth, Ilia, and I instinctively set a goal for each of us and began to chase.

The figure who had been dodging ahead also turned his head back and glanced at me as his vision cleared.

That’s how my eyes met with blue eyes.

Under the hood that was blown off by the wind, pointed ears were clearly visible.

It was an Elf.

Tang!

It was a moment to take out an arrow, feed it, and pull the bowstring.

It was a distance of less than a hundred meters. The arrow rushed towards me as if it was magnifying in an instant.

But knowing where it would fly from, it was not a threat.

Clang!

After simply deflecting the arrow, I kicked off the ground again and narrowed the distance.

Tang! Tang! Tang!

Clang! Clang!

I knocked out two of the three arrows that were fired in succession, dodged the other one by crouching, and then stretched my legs straight and jumped.

Crack!

The branches that collided with my body as I leaped were brutally broken off. And at the end of it, I made eye contact with the Elf who was in a high place and was off guard.

I could feel the Elf’s eyes widening.

But as if proving that he was also a skilled warrior, he drew the sword he was wearing on his waist like lightning.

But I was already fully prepared.

Clang clang clang!

Sparks flew as steel met steel. The Elf closed his eyes tightly for a moment due to the intense impact, and in that gap, I put mana on my feet and kicked the branch.

Crack!

The thick branch that supported the Elf’s body broke off.

The Elf’s eyes shook violently as he fell, losing his footing.

“……!”

At the same time, the Elf who opened his mouth muttered something.

“What are you saying?”

[He’s calling you a boar? Hahaha!]

Listening to Aphen’s translation, I also began to fall to the ground.