Chapter 13: Brian

The cold air of early morning brushed my cheek.

As I sat on the bench in the town square, memories of last night came back vividly.

My colleagues Marianne and Kevin were sitting next to me, but unlike usual, no one spoke.

“What on earth was that yesterday?” I muttered, asking a question I couldn’t find the answer to.

My voice, which had become listless, felt unfamiliar.

“I still can’t believe it,” Marianne said, fiddling with the star sign around her neck.

I could see her trembling fingers.

Even the usually calm woman was shaken.

“If it weren’t for that scent…we…”

“We would all have died.” Kevin sighed.

His words stabbed my heart.

Yes. We all almost died.

For a C-class adventurer to try to fight a troll… How reckless.

But at that time, I had no choice.

I couldn’t just watch the townspeople die.

“The cold air from the trolls alone froze all the crops, how much longer could we have endured?”

I unconsciously gripped the hilt of my sword.

The groove on the hilt that was embedded in my palm ached.

“If I had been stronger…”

I smiled bitterly at the words that came out of my mouth.

Seven years. It’s already been seven years since I chose the path of an adventurer despite my family’s opposition.

During that time, I stayed at C-class.

My brother, who was called a genius, has already joined the Knights of the Kingdom…

“Don’t blame yourself.” Marianne placed a hand on my shoulder.

I felt warm.

“If it weren’t for Brian, we wouldn’t have been able to face the trolls.”

“That’s right. It’s a miracle that we, a C-class party, were able to endure those guys.” Kevin nodded.

I was grateful for the comfort of my colleagues, but on the other hand, my heart felt heavier.

If I had been stronger, I wouldn’t have put them in such danger.

It was when I was immersed in this self-reproach.

“The A-class party is back!”

“It’s Arthur!”

“It’s safe now!”

I turned my head at the sudden commotion.

The A-class party that had left to carry out an urgent request was entering the village.

Arthur-sama, who carried a huge tower shield on his back, still looked majestic.

His sharp eyes were instantly assessing the situation in the village.

Behind him were the archer Lien-sama with hair as blue as the sea, the veteran wizard Oldin-sama with a gray beard, and the female warrior Hapel holding a huge greatsword.

‘If only I had that much power…. I felt helpless again as I looked at Arthur-sama.

If I had that much power, I would have taken care of yesterday’s troll in an instant.

Arthur-sama headed straight to the village square.

“What happened last night?”

I flinched at his sharp voice.

“The north of the village is a mess, the crops are frozen… This is definitely the work of an ice troll.”

I couldn’t help but admire his ability to perfectly assess the situation with just one glance.

As expected, he’s the leader of the A-class adventurers.

We should explain.

“Yes, two ice trolls and a group of goblins. But…”

“Pfft! You stopped the trolls? A C-class party? That’s ridiculous. Even a B-class party wouldn’t have an easy time dealing with ice trolls.”

Hafel snorted and interjected.

I was suddenly furious.

Why was that woman always like this?

She ignored us because we were C-class when we first met, and now she wouldn’t even listen to us.

“…It’s not that we stopped her.”

She gritted her teeth and spoke calmly.

Someday, I’ll break that arrogant attitude.

But right now, I had to hold back.

This was not the time to be swayed by my emotions.

Marianne must have noticed the anger in my voice as she continued speaking carefully.

“We were almost at our limit. Then…”

“A sweet scent began to spread. And the moonlight… The moonlight turned red.”

“Red moonlight?” Oldin’s eyebrows rose.

“Even if it’s magic, changing the color of moonlight…”

“We thought so at first. But all the villagers witnessed it,” Marianne said quietly.

The villagers gathered one by one and began to testify as she spoke.

Their voices, each sharing their experiences, were still filled with fear and wonder.

Lien stood upright, listening, and then opened her mouth.

“There must be something. We can’t ignore it, even with so many witnesses.”

Oldin stroked his beard and thought.

“In my 50 years of magic research, I’ve never heard of this phenomenon. It’s interesting.”

Even Oldin didn’t know about it.

What on earth could this phenomenon be?

It wasn’t a divine power like Marianne said yesterday.

Rather, it felt… ominous and dangerous… but mysterious at the same time.

“We need to investigate it,” Arthur said firmly.

“Perhaps this is a new danger that has appeared in Shia Kalt.”

This was his chance.

“We’ll go with you,” I said, taking a step forward.

“As someone who experienced what happened yesterday…”

In fact, this was an excuse.

If I could accompany an A-class party, maybe my skills would improve by one level.

That thought came to mind.

“Okay.” Arthur-sama agreed unexpectedly quickly.

“I think I need your testimony.”

My heart raced.

My first adventure with an A-class party.

This might be the opportunity I’ve been waiting for.

Could I finally escape this swampy C-class?

… Our party and Arthur-sama’s party began climbing the Shia Kalt Mountains together.

Normally, I would have been suffocated by the tension, but strangely, the mountain path was quiet.

“That’s strange.” Arthur-sama frowned.

“At this altitude, we should have encountered at least a pack of werewolves.”

He was right.

Normally, we should have encountered at least three or four werewolves at this altitude.

Today, of all days, I’m accompanying an A-class party…

I don’t even have a chance to show off my skills.

At Arthur’s nod, Lien-nim took the lead and looked around.

“There are no footprints. Usually, at this time of year, the snow is filled with the footprints of monsters…”

Lien-nim’s insight was truly remarkable.

I often walked this path, but I didn’t even notice the presence of footprints.

“It seems as if all the monsters have disappeared. Did they follow that scent yesterday and not come back?”

Marianne’s words sent a chill down my spine.

Was that scent yesterday attracting all the monsters in this vast mountain range?

“Don’t let your guard down.”

Hapel clutched his greatsword and looked at us with pity.

“Especially C-class. You don’t know how dangerous this silence is.”

“What do you know…” I barely swallowed the words that were almost coming out of my mouth.

You’re ignoring me even after coming this far.

I will definitely repay that arrogant attitude someday.

My fist clenched on its own, but I had to hold it back for now.

“Hapel.” Arthur’s firm voice rang out.

“They are our comrades. We must respect each other regardless of rank.”

Hapel bit his lip and turned his head.

It seemed that he did not dare to refute Arthur’s words.

Thank you, Arthur.

However, on the other hand, he was suspicious.

Why would someone like Arthur party with such an arrogant woman?

She must be an A-class person, but… with that kind of personality, she would rather harm the unity of the party.

Oldin walked around, examining things here and there with his cane and said,

“It is also strange that there is no trace at all. Usually, monsters mark their territory.”

Hearing his words, I looked around once more.

It was really strange.

Normally, there would be at least scratch marks on trees or rocks…

“Come to think of it, the trolls and goblins that attacked the village yesterday haven’t returned either.”

Kevin was right.

Where did all those monsters go?

I gripped my sword tightly without realizing it.

“There’s something… There’s something.”

The strange silence continued as we continued to climb further up the mountain.

This mountain path, which would normally be extremely dangerous, felt peaceful, like a walk in a park.

In fact, that made me more anxious.

“Wait a minute.”

Lien suddenly stopped walking.

“That smell…”

The scent that brushed my nose made me feel like my heart stopped.

That sweet yet deadly scent…

It was flowing down from the top of the mountain.

“This scent…” Marianne’s eyes widened.

“It’s the scent from yesterday!”

Memories of yesterday flashed through her mind.

The moment when I almost fell after failing to block the troll’s attack, the scent that suddenly spread…

The moment when the monsters followed me as if possessed…

Arthur hurriedly raised his shield forward.

“Everyone, get ready.”

As we continued to climb up the mountain path, a gruesome scene unfolded.

The corpses of countless monsters were tangled in the snow.

Werewolves, trolls, goblins, wyverns, chimeras… countless monsters had fallen.

‘This… this is ridiculous…

In my seven years of adventure, this was the first time I’d seen such a sight.

So many monster corpses piled up.

And even A-class monsters like wyverns and chimeras…

“What is this…”

Hapel gripped his greatsword tightly.

“This many monsters all at once…”

For the first time, Hapel’s voice sounded unsettled.

It was understandable, because even a party of S-class adventurers would have a hard time with a battle of this scale.

“There’s no blood.”

Lord Oldin pointed to a nearby corpse with his staff.

“It seems like all the bodily fluids have completely disappeared.”

Only then did he notice.

Even with so many monster corpses, not a single drop of blood could be seen on the snow.

‘Demons? Or warlocks?”

I had never heard of such a being in Sia Kalt…

But Lien-nim opened her mouth, as if she had the same thoughts as me.

“Could it be the work of a demon or a warlock?”

“No.”

Oldin-nim pointed to a nearby corpse with his staff.

“It’s a sign of a fight between monsters.”

Upon closer inspection, the wounds on each corpse were all different.

It looked like they had been stabbed by something sharp, hit by something hard, or bitten by small mouths…

However, none of them had any blood.

At that moment, Lien-nim’s breathing became rapid.

“Over there… look…”

Black shadows were writhing beyond the mountain ridge.

Hundreds of insect monsters were gathered together.

Hyperborean Ants, Blizzard Hornets, Frost Hoppers, Icicle Aranyas…

All kinds of insect monsters that could be seen in Sia Kalt were gathered in one place.

“That… that’s the culprit that created the corpses?”

The wounds on the corpses and the appearance of the insects matched.

Those small insects could cause such a large-scale massacre…?

“We must retreat!” Arthur shouted.

I also hastily drew my sword and prepared to retreat.

But where could I run to?

In this situation where I was caught by so many bugs…

“Wait a minute.”

Oldin raised his staff to stop Arthur.

“They’re not attacking.”

As Oldin had said, the bug monsters didn’t move, and just watched us.

However, their eyes were fierce.

It was as if they were forcibly suppressing their instincts.

“Look at that.”

Marianne pointed to the sky.

Before we knew it, the Isis Flies had flown in around us, fluttering their sparkling, transparent wings and circling us.

It was as if they were gesturing for us to ‘follow.’

Just as I was about to take a step as if possessed, I came to my senses at the sound of Lien-nim’s shout.

“Wait!”

Lien-nim pulled the bowstring toward the butterflies.

“We have to go back. This could be a trap…”

However, before Lien-sama could finish speaking, the surrounding insect monsters all simultaneously exuded a life-giving aura.

Hundreds of pairs of bloodshot eyes stared at us, glowing coldly.

‘Is this… is this really the energy of insects?

My legs trembled.

Even a single insect exuded a life-giving aura stronger than a troll.

But hundreds of such insects…

“… Do we have no choice?” Arthur-sama sighed.

It was just as he said.

We couldn’t deal with this many monsters.

Even if we had the knights of the kingdom, they wouldn’t be able to withstand that amount of people.

We slowly walked into the swarm of insects, following Isis Fly’s guidance.

The sweet scent grew stronger and stronger.

“There…” Marianne suddenly stopped walking.

“That’s…”

I followed my gaze and a breathtaking sight unfolded before my eyes.

In the center of the circle made by the insects, a single flower was in bloom.

The blood-red petals shone like rubies, and the pitch-black stems were smooth as marble.

The purple stamens, resembling a snake’s tongue, moved gently, releasing a sweet fragrance.

Dozens of black roots dug into the ground, supporting the flower like a throne.

It looked like… a monarch commanding an enormous army of insects.

‘That being from yesterday… was that flower?”

Marianne held the holy sign with trembling hands.

“This… Mikel-sama… This is definitely Mikel-sama’s grace.”

“What!?”

“Huh?”

“What?”

Everyone asked in disbelief.

I was no exception.

It was ridiculous for a monster to receive the grace of a god.

“It’s weak, but it’s clear.”

Marianne’s voice was filled with awe.

“I can sense Mikel-sama’s divine power from this flower.”

There was no doubting Marianne’s words.

She was a priest who had grown up in the Temple of Light, and even the saintess acknowledged her ability to sense divine power.

But suddenly the surrounding air became heavy.

“Ugh…”

An overwhelming energy that was hard to breathe emanated from the flower.

This was the first time I felt this kind of pressure.

It was as if a mountain was pressing down on my shoulders.

Kevin and Marianne also turned pale.

“This… This is…”

They doubted their eyes when they saw Arthur’s shield-holding hand trembling.

The leader of the A-class adventurers trembling?

It was unbelievable.

“S-class monster… no, more than that…”

Hapel’s greatsword clanked.

Fear flashed across her usually dignified face.

She felt exhilarated inside, but she didn’t have the luxury of feeling that way.

Lien and Oldin broke out in a cold sweat without even being able to say a word.

Oldin’s magical knowledge and experience accumulated over 50 years seemed useless at this moment.

‘Can something like this happen….!

Seeing the A-class adventurers she had always admired being overwhelmed like this felt unrealistic.

It was like watching a nightmare.

At that moment, one of the flower’s black roots slowly rose.

The tip of the root pointed to the center of the flower.

There, golden nectar was collected.

“This is…”

The nectar caught the moonlight and sparkled like a liquid jewel.

The sweet scent tickled the tip of my nose, and my mouth naturally watered.

But at the same time, I felt an instinctive rejection.

This was definitely poison.

Or something even scarier…

“…No.”

Oldin slowly shook his head.

“If you drink a monster’s fluid… you could die, or in the worst case… you could be brainwashed.”

“According to ancient records, most of those who drink a monster’s fluid…”

Before Oldin could finish speaking, the surrounding insect monsters moved all at once.

Hundreds of sharp claws, stingers, and fangs were pointed at us.

Is this… how we die?

When I left home with the dream of becoming an adventurer, I didn’t know that I would meet this kind of end.

But strangely, I felt more emptiness than fear.

After staying as a C-class adventurer for 7 years, this is how it ends…

“I guess I have no choice…”

Marianne held the symbol tightly with trembling hands.

Arthur let out a deep sigh.

“I’ll eat it first. If I…”

“No.”

Marianne suddenly stepped forward.

“I’ll eat it. If I have Mikel’s protection…”

“Ah, so that’s why.”

Only then did I understand Marianne’s intentions.

She said she felt Mikel’s divine power from this flower.

Then this honey… maybe…

Marianne, who received the flower honey with trembling hands, prayed for a moment, then sipped the honey.

In an instant, her eyes opened wide.

The fear and tension that had crossed her face disappeared in an instant, and she took on an ecstatic expression as if she had seen heavenly light.

“This… this…”

There was no longer any fear in her trembling voice.

The others tasted the honey one after another.

Oldin’s wrinkled face brightened in an instant, and a smile spread across Lien’s hardened lips.

Even Hapel’s arrogant expression softened.

Finally, it was my turn.

I looked at the golden honey at the tip of the root.

Was it the taste of death?

Or…

‘Well, I don’t have a choice anyway!’

The moment I took a sip of the honey, I felt like my reason was flying away.

This wasn’t just a simple sweetness.

It was like the first time I had tasted it since I was born.

No, it was a taste that should never have existed in this world.

It was sweet yet refreshing, soft yet intense.

The moment it touched my tongue, my entire body’s senses seemed to awaken.

The honey apples I had eaten as a child and the rare desserts I had tasted at royal banquets couldn’t even compare to this.

‘Is this possible…!’

Just as I was about to fall into ecstasy, a strong will shot through my head.

“Language!”

It was not words, but a feeling as if our hearts were directly connected.

It was as if someone was earnestly wishing…

“Tell me!”

That’s when I realized.

This flower… wanted to learn to speak.

“This…” Lien-sama looked at the flower with surprised eyes.

“It has consciousness. And it’s very clear…”

“It wants to… learn to speak?” Kevin muttered.

Oldin-sama stroked his beard.

“A monster trying to learn language… This is unprecedented.”

“But how…”

The words came out without me knowing.

“How can you teach a flower to speak?”

Arthur-sama thought for a moment.

“If we’re going to return alive… I think we’ll have to find a way.”

Everyone looked at each other.

Now, a completely new challenge lay before us.

An unprecedented event in history, the bizarre situation of having to teach a monster language.