## Chapter 409 – Kim Katt in the Forest
The extreme anger that had been swirling in my brain seemed to melt away as soon as they offered me what looked like a pretty nice necklace.
This bastard, for a fairy, seems to know how to communicate.
Besides that, I quite like the audacity of trying to bribe me. Yeah, if something goes wrong, you should quickly offer money and beg for forgiveness.
If you just give me money, there’s nothing I can’t forgive.
Negotiation is always welcome.
To think that problems can be solved through dialogue and compromise, maybe this world is still beautiful.
“Well, yeah. Fairies can be like that. Just be careful who you play pranks on in the future. No, just don’t prank humans at all. You guys might not think much of it, but the person on the receiving end could die.”
The fairies might think they’re just playing a prank, but from a human’s perspective, it could be an incredibly painful experience.
ㅡUsing hypnosis as a joke to lead humans into the forest.
The fairy who played that prank would laugh gleefully and leave, but the person left behind would have to be torn apart alive by cruel monsters in the darkness of the forest.
Differences in species. Differences in values. And differences in ways of life. Humans and monsters are completely different. If you come into contact with these ‘different’ beings in any way, nine times out of ten, a life-or-death battle will break out.
Because monsters are bastards who eat human flesh.
“I understand.”
“Did you hear that, fairies?”
The fairy who had been trembling behind them nodded. And then, *whoosh*, it flew away. Now I’ll never have to see that bastard again.
“Hand over the necklace.”
I walked up to them and received the necklace.
ㅡSparkle.
After receiving it and examining it… it seemed to be a necklace made of jade. Judging by the fact that there was a proper pattern embossed on the surface, it definitely seemed to be worth something.
“Merciful human. Please do not destroy the spirits anymore. And we implore you not to take their essence either.”
Essence, huh.
It’s a bit of a waste, but I can’t be stingy with someone who came to negotiate with a bribe. I readily nodded and replied. If I can avoid fighting those unidentified mage bastards, there’s nothing better than that.
Fighting might just screw me over.
Wizards always have a hidden card up their sleeve.
“I won’t touch the essence either. I hope we won’t get involved in this again.”
“We feel the same way.”
“But since I’m giving up the essence, I think you should grant me one more favor.”
“…What?”
The fairies were taken aback by my words.
Of course, I wasn’t planning on asking for something unreasonable.
“I got a little lost chasing the fairy, so do you know if there’s a human village nearby? Or a big road made by humans?”
They know this area well, so they’re the perfect people to ask. Let’s ask them.
“I want to get out of this forest as soon as possible. I’ll only cause destruction if I stay here, so wouldn’t it be better for you if I left?”
“…”
The fairies were silent for a moment at my question, then simultaneously pointed in one direction. It’s just trees there now, but it seems like there’s something if I keep going.
“No lies, right?”
I still don’t trust them much.
I asked again, fiddling with my sword.
“…It’s the truth.”
“If I determine that it’s a lie, I may hold all the fairies and spirits I encounter responsible.”
“We know. We want to resolve this peacefully. It’s not a lie.”
“Really? But I might get lost along the way. What about that?”
Going in one direction in the forest is quite difficult. Now that I’ve got the chance, let’s make sure to resolve it properly.
“The necklace will show you the way.”
“The necklace? It has that effect?”
“Yes.”
“Hmm…”
Well, they’re offering the necklace themselves and telling me all this. It doesn’t seem like they’re lying, so I immediately turned around.
“Then live well. Don’t appear in front of humans and get killed.”
“…We won’t.”
“Oh, right. Hey, I heard I’m a public enemy.”
Naias, that bitch.
It doesn’t make sense that I’m a public enemy. When I mentioned it, she replied.
“…Some of the fairies and spirits in the area are just gossiping. We’ll warn them again, so please don’t worry.”
“That’s very reassuring.”
I don’t know if those bastards will listen to reason, but let’s leave it at this. I’m being chased in many ways, after all.
I left the scene leisurely.
When I turned around, the fairies had also disappeared.
Are they a species that can move at high speed, become completely invisible, or teleport?
They’d have to be quite strong to use something like that. But considering they don’t use aggressive magic or spells, they might be specialized in support rather than combat.
As expected, you never know what those unknown bastards are capable of. Who would have thought they’d ask for a truce? Things worked out well.
“Hehehe.”
Even though it took some time, I managed to get the direction back and the fairies’ necklace. If the necklace is as valuable as I expect, I can make up for the loss.
It was a hard time, but it was a plus-minus-zero situation. In the end, I survived and gained some knowledge, so it’s all good.
ㅡSwish.
I took out the necklace I had put in my pocket.
“Shit.”
They said this would show me the way. The fairies wouldn’t have lied after making such a fuss. There must be a way to use it.
Thinking that.
ㅡTss.
A faint green laser-like beam appeared for a moment from the center of the pattern and then disappeared. The faint laser was pointing in the direction the fairies had pointed earlier.
…Magical energy?
“Hmm…”
This is a bit suspicious.
Is it really pointing in the right direction? If the fairies’ power is involved, it wouldn’t be surprising if it led me to a strange place.
Like a place with a super-powerful monster in the forest.
Cunning monsters could definitely do that.
“Well.”
But I always have my sword in my hand. There’s no other way but to blindly look for a path anyway. If there’s a problem, I can either get out of the way or kill them all.
It’s not that far from here in the first place.
Krasheim, Isvant, and Dodens Barony are nearby. Those cities maintain close commercial ties, so there’s a lot of traffic.
In other words, there are a lot of people moving around.
Even if it’s the unexplored area outside Krasheim, this place is practically the interior. So, a ridiculously strong monster wouldn’t appear easily.
If there was one, it would have been noticed a long time ago, and if it was noticed, it would have been subjugated immediately. The most powerful monster in the forest would be an ogre, but other than the ogre that suddenly appeared last time, there haven’t been any reports of one.
A ferocious monster like an ogre is noticeable just by its existence.
The amount it eats and the traces it leaves are enormous.
If I had to pick a high-ranking monster that an individual could encounter, it would be an owlbear or a troll. And maybe a mature drake or a cockatrice.
I could beat those bastards.
If I don’t fight, I can at least get out of the way.
Most people would cross the River Styx as soon as they encountered them, but for me, those medium-sized monsters aren’t a serious crisis.
Therefore, I headed in the direction the necklace was pointing, ready to deal with any problems that might arise.
* * *
There was nothing special on the way.
I kept an eye on the sky as I walked, but I didn’t see any harpies. Did they give up chasing me? They have their own lives to live, so they’ll give up if it doesn’t work out. I was worried that the orcs would find me, but that didn’t happen either.
In the middle, I even sliced up a small cockatrice I encountered and roasted it to eat. It didn’t taste very good, but it filled my stomach.
As I continued to move, the sun began to set, so I immediately made a hiding place nearby. Spending a night or two camping in the mountains is nothing.
I quickly made one and went inside, and it was night.
I held my sword and tried to sleep, preparing for a possible attack, but I kept waking up in the middle. It was fucking tiring and cold, but sleeping like this is better than not sleeping at all.
With only the will to return alive, I maximized my vigilance and took a low-quality sleep, and before I knew it, it was morning.
“Ugh, shit.”
There’s no particular problem. I crawled out, performed the Siljang Kwonbeop, started my morning stretches, and shook the fairy’s necklace.
ㅡTss.
A faint laser was emitted in the direction I had marked last night.
But the light was so weak, it seemed much weaker than yesterday. Is this rechargeable or something? Anyway, I couldn’t wash, so I felt uncomfortable, but I moved towards my destination again.
ㅡI walked for a long time.
But it was better than when I got lost in the jungle last time. I didn’t feel like I was going around in circles. There’s no terrain more familiar to me than these mountains.
As it became noon, I finally felt the reward for my hard work in finding the way.
“Fucking chaaaaaaang!!!!”
I found the road.
Between the forest and the forest, a straight road was stretched out as if dividing the boundary line. There were also traces of wagon wheels. It’s a road where people travel!
“Wow, fuck!”
Finally, I was escaping this goddamn place.
Whether I go forward or backward from here, a village or city will appear. Then I can go to Isvant through there. If I’m lucky, it’ll be directly connected to Isvant.
Those fairy bastards seemed like better guys than I thought.
If I meet them again, I’ll try to talk to them unless it’s a big deal.
I was happy, so I took out the necklace again and tapped it. It told me to go forward. I immediately put it in my pocket and moved as if I was going on a picnic.
“Shall we go to Jongno?”
Shall we go to Myeongdong, or shall we go to Cheongnyangni instead. I was so excited that I started singing. I still had plenty of water and enough rations left.
I couldn’t help but be happy.
ㅡClatter, clatter.
ㅡRattle, rattle.
It was when I had been moving for a long time again.
I heard something from the front, and when I looked, I saw the head of a horse. A wagon was coming. Judging by the fact that several wagons were coming in a row, was it an upbound wagon?
I stepped aside a little to show that I had no hostility. Soon, the wagon that was leading stopped in front of me. At the same time, the armed thugs on both sides placed their hands on their weapons and glared at me.
“Who are you?”
It’s natural to be wary of seeing someone in the middle of the road. And well, I look pretty messed up right now. It’s gentlemanly of them not to attack first.
“Are you a merchant?”
Looking at the flag and the pattern on the wagon, it’s a pattern I’ve seen several times in the city. It seemed like they were merchants.
“That’s right.”
“That’s good. I’m Katt, a D-rank adventurer belonging to the Isvant Adventurers Guild. I’m currently lost.”
I took out my D-rank adventurer badge from my pocket and showed it to him, and he nodded. He gestured to the armed thugs in the back, and they all returned to their positions.
“Excuse me, but may I ask where you are going now?”
“We’re going to Isvant.”
Fuck, I’m alive.
“Good. Can I come along?”
“Hmm… You want to receive our escort for free?”
The merchant pointed out sharply.
It’s not like they own this road, and it’s just that our directions happen to overlap, but from the merchant’s point of view, they might feel like I suddenly joined the group to travel safely. People tend to think selfishly.
But in reality, following an upbound wagon is safer from various attacks, so travelers sometimes pay to join.
It’s a bit of an ambiguous issue, but what can I do when this is the kind of place it is.
I’m the one who has to give in.
Since we’re moving at a similar speed anyway, I have to go all the way to the city with them. There’s no need to make them dislike me.
It’s not like I’m going to sleep here for a while and then start later, keeping my distance.
“It’s just that our directions overlap. Isn’t the road to Isvant that way anyway? And I don’t really need an escort. Rather, if bandits or monsters appear, I can take the lead and deal with them. I’m a D-rank adventurer. I can be of help.”
Let’s try to persuade them well.
“Well… I suppose so. Then do so. Feel free to follow us.”
In that way, I squeezed into the upbound wagon and returned to Isvant. I heard it’s about two days away. Ah, shit, I’m finally going back.
I miss all my women, especially Winia, who must be worried about me the most. I think I’m going to get hit when I get back.
