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Before Ghislain could answer Gillian’s question, a few mercenaries laughed and pushed past them, stepping forward.

“Our employer suddenly got scared, huh?”

“There’s nothing out there. Why did we stop all of a sudden?”

“Just leave things like this to us and take a rest. Isn’t that why you hired us?”

They mocked Ghislain as they swung their axes.

There were always people in the group who couldn’t be controlled.

To them, Ghislain was just a young, inexperienced rookie. In their eyes, all they needed was to know their destination, and they could handle the rest on their own. His constant instructions were laughable to them.

In fact, the only ones who had actually prepared for battle based on Ghislain’s words were the Cerberus Mercenary Corps. The rest of the mercenaries stood idly, watching their employer make what they considered a fuss.

“Stop.”

At Ghislain’s cold command, the mercenaries who had been moving forward hesitated and stopped awkwardly.

“What’s out there anyway?”

“It doesn’t seem as dangerous as the rumors. Just lead the way already.”

“It’s not even that far, is it?”

Though the mercenaries grumbled, Ghislain’s expression remained stern as he continued speaking.

“Slowly come back here. If you stay there, you’ll die.”

The mercenaries frowned, unable to understand what Ghislain was talking about.

But, looking tense, Ghislain didn’t take his eyes off them, raising one hand.

“Prepare for battle, you idiots. When someone speaks, you should listen.”

At his harsh words, the mercenaries reluctantly readied their weapons.

Though they weren’t happy about it, they couldn’t outright disobey their employer’s orders.

Ghislain slowly lowered his stance, preparing to charge forward.

The mercenaries standing in front of him snickered and shook their heads.

They didn’t understand his sudden behavior, but seeing how tense he was, they figured they’d at least pretend to follow along.

“Hey, let’s go. Our employer sure scares easily.”

The mercenaries were laughing when Gillian and Belinda, who had been watching Ghislain with doubtful eyes, suddenly stiffened and turned their heads.

Kaor, too, cursed under his breath and drew his sword.

[We couldn’t have predicted that it would move. We felt nothing as we entered deeper inside, unguarded…]

It was then that the mercenaries finally sensed something moving.

[They attacked us.]

The vines wrapped around the trees began to swirl like a vortex.

In an instant, they shot toward the mercenaries ahead like lightning.

At the same time, Ghislain’s body sprang forward.

Just as a vine was about to strike one of the mercenaries, Ghislain’s sword flashed.

Swish!

The vine that had been aiming to grab the mercenary was sliced cleanly, oozing a sticky, black liquid.

“W-What the hell!”

Most of the group couldn’t react to the sudden attack. They were frozen in place, unable to understand what was happening, merely watching in shock.

But Ghislain, far from being startled, moved swiftly.

Swish!

Another vine that had been flying toward a different mercenary was severed once again.

However, dozens of vines were flying towards them, and Ghislain couldn’t fend them all off by himself.

“Arghhh!”

Several mercenaries, unable to dodge in time, were snatched by the vines and dragged away.

Ghislain grabbed the collars of the mercenaries he had just saved, hurling them back toward the rest of the group, and immediately charged towards the vines again.

He needed to save those who had been captured.

But the path was already blocked.

‘Tsk, am I too late?’

Dozens of vines closed in from all sides, aiming at him.

Ghislain gripped his sword tightly and leaped into the air, spinning his body once.

Slash!

The vines that had been surrounding him were all severed in one swift motion.

As the vine fragments fell to the ground, Ghislain landed lightly and slid backward in a crescent arc.

“Young Master!”

“My Lord!”

Belinda, Gillian, and Kaor quickly rushed to Ghislain’s side.

“Get yourselves together! Form up!”

At Ghislain’s shout, the dazed group snapped out of it, raising their weapons and swiftly assuming battle stances.

“Arghhhh!”

“Help me!”

The mercenaries who had been dragged off screamed and struggled desperately.

While the group hesitated, unsure of what to do, the trees connected to the vines began to stir slightly.

“What the hell is happening?!”

The bark of the massive trees split open, revealing something that resembled crushed mouths.

Having captured a mercenary, each tree began to shove them into these gaping maws and chew.

“Gahhhhhh!”

The horrifying sounds of bones crunching mixed with the mercenaries’ screams echoing through the forest. The other mercenaries, terrified by the sight of their comrades being eaten alive, cried out in panic.

“The trees are moving?!”

“Are they… Ents?”

As Ghislain listened to the mercenaries’ shocked voices, he shook his head internally.

Ents were more like spirits or guardians of the forest, not monsters.

They loved peace, sometimes imparted ancient knowledge, and often protected the creatures of the woods.

They would never be grotesque creatures that devour living beings whole.

The trees, having swallowed the mercenaries entirely, stirred again.

Two small openings appeared above the grotesque, gaping mouths like cracks.

Through those cracks, black eyes became visible.

Seeing those malevolent eyes sent shivers down the spines of the mercenaries.

[Those things were not Ents. They resembled Ents at first glance, but unlike Ents, these beings were sinister, ferocious, and disturbingly unpleasant. We gave them a name derived from the ancient tongue.]

As Ghislain looked at the trees before him, he muttered that name.

“Dirus Ents.”

[Fortunately, Count Balzac played a crucial role in defeating them, but by then, most of our soldiers had already fallen to their ambush. Having lost our advance party, we had no choice but to retreat to the outpost.]

Even the Ritania Kingdom, which had once attempted to conquer the Forest of Beasts by rallying all its strength in his previous life, had experienced failure due to the deadly ambush of the Dirus Ents.

[These creatures are spread across the Forest of Beasts as if they are its guardians. In essence, they are the gatekeepers of the forest. If you don’t know about them, you’re bound to fall victim to their trap…]

Recalling this description, a chilling smile crept onto Ghislain’s face.

“We’ve got a chance.”

No one could sense the presence of the monsters, even though they were standing right in front of us, for a simple reason.

Until they moved, they were nothing more than trees so that no one could have suspected anything.

*Kuo-o-o-o-o!*

Dozens of Dirus Ents let out monstrous roars as they began to move.

Thick branches intertwined with vines, descending like arms, while their roots, pulled from the ground, twisted together to form legs.

Seeing this, the faces of the mercenaries were filled with tension.

“The… the trees are moving.”

“That’s not even an Ent. What the hell is that?”

“Damn it, who would have noticed them just standing there?”

These creatures blended in with the forest, deceiving everyone by becoming one with the trees.

They were monsters that preyed on ignorance, exploiting gaps in perception.

*Kraaaaah!*

The Dirus Ents, having now taken a form capable of movement, roared furiously as they all glared at Ghislain.

Their usual tactic was to wait until their prey ventured deep enough into the forest. Then, when it was too late to escape, they would surround and attack, devouring their victims.

But once the prey noticed them and refused to come closer, the creatures had no choice but to uproot themselves and move.

Now that they were forced to exert unnecessary strength, all their fury was directed toward Ghislain.

*Kraaaaah!*

Once again, the Dirus Ents let out a piercing shriek.

“First row! Raise your shields! Block their attacks with everything you’ve got!”

At Ghislain’s command, the mercenaries in the front line lifted their shields.

However, their expressions were far from calm.

“Are we seriously supposed to fight these giant things?”

These creatures were practically made of the same wood as the trees that made up the Forest of Beasts.

Naturally, they were much larger than any monster that lived in the forest.

As the mercenaries, intimidated by their massive size, hesitated, the Dirus Ents shot out their vines.

*Thunk! Thung!*

“Ughhh!”

The mercenaries holding up their shields were either knocked down or shoved backward.

The sheer strength of the Dirus Ents, matching their enormous size, made it impossible for the mercenaries to hold their ground.

The mercenaries in the back quickly fired their arrows.

The arrows struck the Dirus Ents’ bodies but failed to penetrate their thick bark.

“W-what do we do?”

“They’re trees! Unless we chop them down entirely, it’s useless!”

While the mercenaries were panicking, Ghislain shouted once again.

“Everyone, throw your lanterns!”

The weakness of trees is fire.

Everyone knew it was a common truth, but using it here was a dangerous gamble.

“Young master! Are you crazy? Let’s just run away!”

“Sir! If the forest burns, we’re done for!”

Belinda and Gillian shouted in horror.

Even if they managed to defeat the creatures with fire, it would all be for nothing if the forest caught ablaze. It would only bring a far greater danger.

Having lost their habitat, the monsters would scatter in all directions, and the nearby Ferdium estate would be utterly destroyed.

That was why the previous Lords of Ferdium had abandoned any plans to burn the forest and turn it into farmland.

But Ghislain, unconcerned, threw a lantern and shouted.

“It’s fine! They’ll eat the fire! Throw them now! Archers in the back, prepare your fire arrows!”

*Crash!*

The lantern shattered against the body of a Dirus Ent, spilling oil down its side.

Seeing this, the mercenaries grabbed their lanterns and hurled them without hesitation.

“Ah, screw it! Just throw them already!”

“Who cares if the forest burns down? The employer said to do it!”

Though they knew the forest couldn’t be allowed to burn, their own lives came first, so they didn’t hold back.

*Kuooo!*

The Dirus Ents let out a displeased roar, wildly swinging the vines attached to their arms.

But the mercenaries in the front, with all their strength, held their shields up and endured.

Realizing that their vine attacks were ineffective, the Dirus Ents began to slowly lumber toward the group, their intention to crush the mercenaries evident.

“Fire!”

Ghislain shouted.

Flaming arrows shot out toward the Dirus Ents surrounding them on all sides.

*Kuoo-oo-o!*

In an instant, the oil-soaked bodies of the Dirus Ents were engulfed in flames.

They halted their advance, stumbling in agony as they were consumed by fire.

As the flames spread, everything began to be swallowed by the inferno.

The Dirus Ents that were further back rushed through the flames, but more lanterns and fire arrows were thrown at them, igniting them as well.

*Kuooo!*

The mercenaries swallowed hard as they watched the Dirus Ents scream in agony.

“A-Are we just going to burn them all and run?”

“I’m getting out of this estate for sure. If this forest burns down, it’ll be crawling with monsters. This place is done for. Our employer is out of his mind.”

“Wait, something’s wrong.”

*Chiiiiiiik!*

As the Dirus Ents writhed in pain, thick steam began to rise from their bodies.

“The… the fire’s going out!”

“What?! Fire doesn’t work on them?!”

The flames were being drawn into the creatures and gradually extinguishing.

The steam filled the area as the fire died down, obscuring their vision.

But soon, even the smoke dispersed.

*Gulp.*

The mercenaries, tense, swallowed dryly.

And then, when the Dirus Ents reappeared, they were horrified.

“W-What… is that…?”

The creatures’ bark had burned away or fallen off, revealing their inner flesh. The sight was grotesque beyond imagination.

Their entire bodies were now black, and their soft, slick inner flesh looked as if it were made of smooth, moist pudding.

Their eyes were hollowed into their bodies, and the sharp teeth visible in their mouths, combined with their slick, black skin, created a repulsive sight.

*Chiiiiik.*

Even more surprising was how they casually stepped on and touched the remaining embers on the ground.

As soon as the flames touched their black skin, they were snuffed out as if the fire was swallowed up and extinguished.

“The… the fire just…”

The mercenaries recoiled in terror.

Already formidable, the monsters had now transformed into creatures impervious to fire.

“R-Right. They’re not just ordinary trees.”

The mercenaries finally understood what they were truly up against.

They looked like trees, but they weren’t entirely trees.

While their outer layer was tough like bark, allowing them to move around and hunt prey, inside, they were living organisms that could devour and crush anything in their path.

*[Their outer layer is no different from hard bark. That’s why they’re vulnerable to fire, but the soldiers’ weapons wouldn’t have worked on them. Their inner layer, however, is different. It can resist fire magic as strong as a 4-circle spell…]*

“This place is crazy. We never should have come here.”

“If the first monsters we encounter are this bad, what else could be lurking here?”

“We need to go back. This whole idea of developing the land was impossible from the start.”

The mercenaries, terrified, lost their will to fight.

In contrast, Ghislain, recalling something, grinned confidently.

“Their flesh looks nice and tender.”

The mercenaries stared at Ghislain in disbelief.

The fire hadn’t even worked, so how could he still be so calm?

The more they saw of their employer, the more convinced they were that he wasn’t in his right mind.