(EP-289.2) Depression #2
289 – Fairy's Depression #2
"This forest is long filled with witches who were exiled or fled. There are many souls of witches who went mad while researching taboos."
In this world where necromancy exists, souls and ghosts were very much a reality. So hearing ghost stories couldn't just be dismissed lightly.
"Well, I'm more afraid of wild beasts than ghosts. A forest this big has its masters."
Stella, holding a torch, knelt down. In front of her was a deep paw print.
The problem was that it was about the size of my torso. How could it be this big?
"Tartarus wolf. Judging by the size of the print, it's about three or four meters long."
A wolf that's 3 to 4 meters long?
The thought of such a creature roaming the forest was quite unsettling. It seemed Stella felt the same, as she lightly shook off her hands and said.
"We might be better off spending the night in the forest. Tartarus wolves hunt in packs. It'll become a hassle if medium-sized ones swarm in."
When it comes to forests and beasts, Stella was a professional. I decided to quietly follow the expert's advice.
If there's one thing I learned as a novice politician in Angmar, it's that when you listen to experts, you'll at least make it halfway through.
"I saw a shack on the way here. It looks like a place the forest keeper abandoned. It's nearby, so let's go there."
"Okay. I'm sorry for causing such trouble."
"No need for apologies between us. We all inconvenience each other sometimes."
Stella turned out to be more easygoing than I expected. Even if it was just an act, she seemed to be tolerant of others' mistakes, perhaps because she had lived a life of trouble. Ȓ𝒶𐌽Ò𝐛Е𝐒
I almost doubted whether this was the same Stella who once made me kneel before her.
"There it is, the shack."
As we continued walking, a shack shrouded in darkness came into view. It was more of a dilapidated ruin than a shack, with holes in the roof and missing windows.
Still, the fact that it had walls and a space to shelter us offered some comfort. It was better than being out in the open, and I wasn't in a position to complain.
When we opened the door, the inside was filled with thick dust.
I waved my hand through the cobwebs hanging all over and kicked aside some stones and debris on the floor.
The place wasn't large, just a few square meters in size, like most shacks. There was even a single bed—likely a space where someone once lived alone.
Stella started rummaging through the shelves of the hut like an adventurer on a search.
"It looks like the forest keeper used to live here. There are still plates and bowls left behind. There's even a fork and knife. If we look around, we might find some supplies we can use for camping."
As she said, there were a few remaining items like matches and oil on the shelves. Even though it was summer, the northern nights were quite chilly, so we decided to light a fire in the old stove to warm ourselves.
Only then was I able to take a proper look at the place. A bed. Shelves. A table. And a closet. Something about it felt oddly familiar.
It hit me then—it reminded me of the one-room place I had lived in as a child. The one I shared with my mother. The size was about the same.
"Theo-kun, what are you doing?"
Stella asked as she noticed me getting up.
Instead of answering, I opened the old closet. There were no clothes inside, but what caught my attention was the back of the closet door. I used to scribble on it.
From the sun, moon, and stars, to birds, clouds, and holding hands…
For a moment, I was lost in reminisce.
Meanwhile, Stella had already prepared a mess tin and washed it out with water from her canteen. She began adding various ingredients to it, setting it to boil. Looks like she was cooking.
Come to think of it, I was pretty hungry too.
"I have some ingredients as well."
I added some sausages and dried meat from my inventory into the mess tin. After letting it simmer for a while, the dish became quite appetizing.
Eating something warm in a cozy place helped release the tension that had unknowingly built up. Stella even took a swig from a small flask from somewhere.
"Ah, northern stuff really have a kick."
I could tell from the sharp smell that it was alcohol. It was strong enough that I almost wanted to cover my nose.
Seeing me frown, Stella, her face flushed red, asked.
"Theo-kun, you really don't like alcohol, huh?"
"I don't understand why people drink something that doesn't taste good. It's just bitter."
Stella chuckled at my words.
"It has a strange sweetness to it. But I get it—nymphs have sensitive senses of smell and taste, so it makes sense that you'd hate it."
"You seem to know a lot about nymphs."
"I didn't just get paid at Ark for nothing. I did a lot of research on both nymphs and elves."
Fueled by the alcohol, Stella began to ramble on by herself.
She would laugh to herself and mutter, "Ah, I shouldn't have presented that paper back then," or suddenly burst out angrily, "That bastard Professor Lurina stole my research and claimed it…."
That's how people get when they're drunk.
One of the reasons I dislike alcohol was because it makes people lose control . I've been surviving so fiercely losing control like that was something I wanted to avoid.
"Ugh, it's hot. Should we put out the fire?"
Stella asked while looking at the fire, seeking my opinion. But I still felt chilly and shook my head.
Stella chuckled in response.
"Then I guess I'll take it off."
I really thought Stella was about to start taking off her clothes!