Chapter 124
【 Curse 】
“The forest is truly beautiful.”
“It is the land we’ve cultivated for countless years. As it holds the wishes of all, it cannot help but be beautiful.”
The Centaur replied as he guided the way.
The forest was so dense that one could easily lose their path.
However, the Centaur guided us with great familiarity.
“Come to think of it, I haven’t heard your name yet. May I ask…?”
“My name is Akkion. I am the chief of the Centaurs, gatekeepers of this forest.”
“Nice to meet you, Akkion.”
“I too am sincerely pleased to meet you, Gideon.”
The Centaur—no, Akkion—looked at me with a faint smile.
But soon after, he frowned, his gaze shifting behind me.
“By the way, Gideon. About your companion… perhaps…”
“…I apologize.”
“I don’t think that’s something you need to apologize for.”
“Regardless, I’m sorry.”
With a sigh, I turned around.
Behind me, Kara was enthusiastically satisfying her curiosity(?).
“Oooh, so these hands can be used as weapons too? Ah, and according to old tales, Birdmen are known to be warlike and often hold duels among themselves—”
“That custom vanished long ago. Of course, our race still tends to be combative, but… hey, stop touching my wings without permission…”
…Yeah, she was definitely satisfying it.
“Ugh, Miss Harpy! Don’t go! I haven’t finished examining yet. Wings instead of arms… and this under the armpit—”
“Eek?! Y-you! Where do you think you’re touching?!”
I was at a loss for words.
After that, I couldn’t tell whether Kara was fearless or simply too scholarly, but she soon approached the Centaurs as well.
“…I’ll apologize on her behalf, Akkion.”
“There’s no need. But that friend of yours… she’s truly fascinating.”
Akkion looked at Kara as if genuinely amazed.
“Most humans have feared and rejected us. But that human Magician doesn’t seem to. Has humanity’s perception of us changed over the ages?”
“It’s not that… She’s just an unusual one. Even among humans, she’s quite peculiar.”
“So that’s it? Indeed… peculiar she is.”
Kara continued touching and analyzing the Centaurs’ bodies without hesitation or fear.
Akkion silently observed her for a while, then suddenly approached her.
“Huh?”
Kara, who had been examining the Centaurs, was about to pick a strangely shaped leaf from a plant she had found.
Startled by Akkion’s sudden approach, she looked up at him.
“Observation is fine. But do not harm the forest. Some of these plants are valuable resources to us.”
“Ah, I-I’m sorry.”
“I’ll assign you a separate guide later. There’s an Elf who would get along quite well with you. With him—”
“An Elf? So there are Elves here!”
“…Of course there are Elves.”
“Hehehe, then please introduce me to that Elf later, promise!”
“…Hmm.”
Akkion tilted his head, looking at Kara as though studying a curious creature.
Then he turned and resumed leading the way.
“By the way, Akkion. Where are we heading now?”
“To the south of the forest—the communal dwelling district.”
“The communal dwelling district?”
“It’s a place where all races live together. It was built according to the wish of an old friend, who longed to see everyone coexist, regardless of race.”
“Wait, wait, wait. I have a question!”
Kara eagerly raised her hand like an excited student.
“From what I know, the races in the Protected Zone live separately in divided territories. How are they divided here?”
“Our land is divided into eight regions.”
As if it were nothing to hide, Akkion answered immediately.
“The northern rocky mountains are for the Birdmen, Harpies, and other flying races. The northeast holds vast plains for us Centaurs. In the eastern jungles dwell the Beastfolk, and along the southeastern rivers live the Merfolk and similar races.”
“And the southern area is the communal district I just mentioned…”
“The southwest belongs to the Dwarves, the west to the Elves, and the northwestern snowfields are home to the Giants.”
“So that’s how it’s divided.”
I nodded, listening attentively to Akkion’s explanation.
When I had played the game, I hadn’t paid much attention to the Protected Zone for Other Races.
Thus, this information felt quite new—and fascinating.
“Huh? Wait, wait, wait! Something’s off! Are those all the races? From what I know, there are far more than that…”
“You’re right, human Magician. The races I mentioned are merely the representatives of their regions. Many more dwell within each.”
“Of course, for example, the Thunderbirds must live in the rocky mountains, and in the Elves’ forest, aside from Elves…”
“We live there!”
A sudden voice chimed in from nearby.
It was a youthful, energetic voice.
Following the sound, I looked up—and there, atop a tree branch, was a tiny being.
The moment I saw it, I recognized what it was.
“A Fairy?”
“Wow, a real Fairy? W-wow! I can’t believe I’m seeing one in person!”
“Ku-ku-kuk, it’s been a while since a human showed such interest in us.”
The Fairy fluttered its small wings and flew to Kara’s shoulder.
“Human, what’s your name?”
“I-I’m Kara Barha.”
“Kara, huh? Mm-hmm. Anyway, as you said, we Fairies live in the Elves’ forest. Hehehe, if you’re interested, want to come with me later?”
“Of course! Definitely! The mysteries of other races—the origin of it all lies with Elves and Fairies, so naturally I must see it for myself—”
“Hey, Beron. Even so, we can’t let a human wander freely through our lands. That’s something we need to discuss with the other race leaders.”
Akkion spoke firmly, but the Fairy—called Beron—didn’t seem the least bit concerned.
“Oh, what does it matter? Besides, if I, the King of Fairies, give permission, that’s enough, isn’t it?”
“Principles are principles. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t ignore them.”
“Ehh, fine, fine. I was just excited to play with a human for the first time in ages… but anyway…”
Beron then flew over to me, circling above my head.
With great curiosity, he observed me closely.
“So you’re the human from the prophecy. The white hair is just like that womanizer’s, and your eyes… they resemble hers. No, not just resemble—they’re exactly the same.”
“That womanizer… is he my ancestor?”
“Right. He was an incredibly strong fellow. In all my years, I’ve never seen a man so loved by females of different races. Truly, he didn’t discriminate between species.”
…I had just learned something I definitely didn’t need to know.
Well, let’s pretend I didn’t hear that.
“The woman you mentioned earlier, could she be perhaps…”
“Ah, about that—she was one of our Elves in the past… keh?!”
Beron suddenly clutched his neck and twisted in pain.
He flapped his wings wildly before falling—quickly, I caught him in my hands.
“Keugh! Gaaah! Aaaargh!”
Beron screamed in agony on my palm.
Startled by his sudden suffering, Kara and I were taken aback.
But Akkion and the other races remained calm.
As if they had expected this.
“Kuugh… ah, it hurts so much… this damned curse… right, it always hurt like this. It’s been so long, I’d forgotten the feeling… ugh…”
“Beron, are you alright? Akkion, what was that just now?”
“I cannot say. But I believe Beron just showed you the reason.”
Akkion spoke with a heavy sigh.
“The beings of this land made a contract long ago. A contract—and a curse. Because of it, we cannot speak to you… no, not just speak—we cannot convey what you wish to know by any means.”
“Urgh, that’s why we’re relying on you. We believe you can break this curse.”
I was certain of it.
These races knew something crucial.
But for some reason, they were unable to speak of it now.
If that’s the case… resolving their problem comes first.
“What must I do?”
“That too… we cannot tell you. I’m sorry, but you must uncover everything on your own.”
“…I see.”
“Forgive us for being unable to help.”
Akkion’s tone carried genuine regret.
But I couldn’t blame him—or any of them.
They, too, seemed to loathe this situation.
“Ugh… guess I’ll need some treatment later. Anyway, before we set off again—Gideon.”
“Yes?”
“I’ve been feeling it for a while now. There’s something in your shadow, isn’t there?”
“Ah… my shadow?”
“Is there something inside it?”
“Well…”
I hesitated and glanced at Kara.
But I quickly came to a decision and spoke.
“Professor.”
“Hm? What is it?”
“I have a secret… could you keep it for me?”
“As long as it’s not something extremely dangerous, sure.”
“Mm, well… she’s not dangerous. Alright, Siri, come out for a bit.”
“Woof!”
Before my words even finished, Siri leapt out from my shadow.
Everyone was startled by her sudden appearance.
“Beron, that’s definitely…”
“Yeah, a Hellhound.”
“That monster—how could it be here…”
Akkion’s hand instinctively went to his sword, his face filled with caution.
But Beron quickly stopped him.
“Hey, hey, hey—hold on. I don’t think there’s any need to be that wary.”
“Why?”
“That Hellhound is bound to Gideon. In other words… she’s made a contract with him. She won’t attack without his command. Besides…”
“Woof! Woof woof woof!”
Siri happily ran around the other races, inspecting them curiously.
She looked so bright and friendly… it was hard to believe she was a ferocious monster—a Hellhound.
“Seems like she’s been raised with care and affection since she was a pup… she’s not aggressive like the Hellhounds we know.”
“Hmm, it appears so.”
Siri went up to Akkion, wagging her tail as she looked up at him.
Akkion smiled faintly.
“What’s this? Gideon, you’ve been raising a Hellhound?”
“It just sort of happened.”
“Oooh! I’ve heard Hellhounds are incredibly violent and nearly impossible to tame… what’s her name?”
“Siri.”
“Siri? Then… Siri!”
“Woof?”
“Come here!”
“Woof woof!”
Siri dashed toward Kara and jumped right into her arms.
She wagged her tail with all her might, licking Kara’s face affectionately.
“She’s still young… and like Beron said, she seems linked to you. You made a contract, didn’t you?”
“Something like that.”
“Wow, even so—she must’ve been raised with real love. I’ve never seen such a gentle Hellhound. Anyone else would think she’s just a big dog.”
“Siri’s a special one.”
I answered with a faint smile, then turned toward Akkion.
“Is it alright if I bring her along?”
“As long as you can control her well, I don’t mind.”
“Yes, I’ll take good care of her.”
“Good. Then… let’s continue.”
With Akkion’s guidance, we resumed our path.
Kara began conversing with the other races again, while I walked alongside the energetic Siri.
After who knows how much time had passed—
“This place…”
“The communal dwelling district. The land where all races live together. It was built by the will of my old friend—for the unity of all.”
As we emerged from the forest, a vast village unfolded before us.
Elves, Dwarves, Beastfolk, Harpies—countless races lived together in harmony in this unique town.
‘It’s mystical. There’s a mysterious aura here… but at the same time, I can also feel… the presence of a curse.’
After seeing Beron writhing in pain earlier, I couldn’t see this place—or its people—as purely peaceful or happy.