Coronation of the Forest

If there was anything a librarian detested more than physical education, it was undoubtedly outdoor gathering classes.

When the Potions instructor announced that today’s lesson would involve venturing into the Silent Forest behind the academy to collect a magical ingredient known as Moonpetal Grass.

I had to exert nearly every ounce of my strength to prevent a despairing sigh from escaping my lips right then and there.

Dirt would stain shoes, bushes would snag stockings, and then there were all those unknown flying insects…

For me, accustomed to the dry, temperature-controlled, ink-scented sanctuary of a study, this was nothing short of torture.

Yet, I knew this was a mandatory credit.

To avoid repeating a year, to graduate smoothly, and then to retire to the countryside, I had no choice but to endure.

“Lady Lilliana!”

The moment groups were announced, Ella, clutching her gathering basket, flitted to my side like a small skylark.

After a morning’s rest and the effect of that peppermint candy, her spirits seemed to have recovered considerably, though her complexion remained somewhat pale.

“May I be in your group? I’m quite confident in identifying herbs!”

“…Mm.”

I nodded.

With an expert beside me, I wouldn’t have to consult the identification guide myself. It would be convenient.

“If it’s permissible, I would also like to join.”

A steady voice spoke. Beatrix, unnoticed by me, had also come to stand nearby.

She had already changed into light leather armor, and at her hip hung her knight’s sword, polished to a brilliant sheen.

Her gaze swept sharply over her surroundings, as if we were not headed to the academy’s rear mountain, but rather to the Demon King’s castle.

“I will be responsible for clearing the path and eliminating any magical creatures.”

She stated succinctly.

I glanced at her, looking as though she faced a formidable foe, then at Ella, who appeared utterly enthusiastic.

One would be in charge of navigation and finding herbs, the other of cutting through obstacles and felling monsters.

As for me, I merely needed to walk gracefully between them.

Perfect!

“Then, I leave it to you.”

I agreed with reserved dignity.

Thus, the most unusual group in Class S was formed.

The villainess stood in the center, the Saintess on her left, and the Knight on her right.

The moment the three of us stepped into the forest, the other students around us instinctively retreated, creating a wide path for us.

The Silent Forest lived up to its name; its trees were tall and dense, their canopy blotting out the sky.

Only dappled specks of sunlight managed to filter through the interwoven layers of branches and leaves.

The air was damp and cold, permeated with the scent of humus and moss.

This gloomy environment might have felt oppressive to ordinary people.

However, for me, whose constitution leaned towards chaos, it was surprisingly not unpleasant.

The atmosphere here bore a certain resemblance to the restricted section of the library.

I strolled along the forest path, the decaying leaf litter beneath my feet soft and moist.

To avoid soiling my hem, I subtly lifted the edge of my skirt, taking each step with utmost care.

“Lady Lilliana, please watch your step.”

Beatrix walked ahead, her sword still sheathed.

Yet, with a mere flick of her scabbard, she precisely cleared away any obstructive branches.

Her movements were swift and decisive, her eyes constantly scanning the ground as if a venomous snake might spring forth at any moment.

“There’s a patch of thorns to your right; please move to the left.”

She whispered a reminder, even extending a hand to shield my side, preventing the thorny vines from touching me in the slightest.

That solicitous attitude…

It was as if she were escorting a queen-to-be across a red carpet strewn with flowers, rather than traversing a muddy mountain path.

“Ah! I found it!”

Ella suddenly let out a surprised gasp.

She pointed to the base of a massive ancient tree, where several small blue grasses, emitting a faint luminescence, were growing.

“It’s high-quality Moonpetal Grass!”

Ella excitedly ran over, knelt on the damp soil, and began carefully digging with a small trowel.

I walked over unhurriedly, standing behind her and observing her movements, which were clumsy yet remarkably earnest.

“Leave three inches of the root.”

I casually reminded her, recalling knowledge I had gleaned from books.

“Otherwise, its medicinal properties will diminish.”

“Yes! I’ll be careful!”

Ella looked up, flashing me a brilliant smile.

A tiny smudge of dirt on her nose looked rather comical against her fair face, yet it also exuded a charming, guileless cuteness.

I instinctively reached for my handkerchief to wipe it away, but then remembered I had already given it to Beatrix, and so I refrained.

Just then.

“Rustle, rustle, rustle…!”

An unusual rustling sound emanated from the surrounding bushes.

“Be on guard!”

Beatrix instantly drew her sword, positioning herself in front of Ella and me.

Her golden eyes coldly swept across her surroundings.

Several thick, dark green vines, bristling with barbs, slithered out from the shadows like snakes.

They were Vampire Vines, a low-level but extremely troublesome magically corrupted plant.

They typically ensnared their prey, paralyzed them with venomous thorns, and then slowly drained their blood.

“The number… is a bit much.”

Beatrix furrowed her brow.

By her estimation, there were at least a dozen; if they swarmed, while she could handle them, Lady Lilliana behind her would inevitably be disturbed.

Ella also stood up nervously, her small trowel still dripping dirt, a faint light magic shield shimmering around her.

‘How troublesome.’

I gazed at the twisting, writhing vines, feeling genuine annoyance.

If Beatrix were to cut them down, their green sap would undoubtedly spray everywhere.

Soiling my skirt was a minor concern; if it splattered on my face, that would be truly disgusting.

Moreover, these vines were blocking the path back.

“…Step back.”

I spoke softly.

Beatrix paused, startled:

“But, Lady Lilliana, these creatures…”

“I said, step back.”

I took a step forward, crossing Beatrix’s defensive line.

‘I don’t want to fight.’

‘I just want these disgusting things to get lost, clear the path, and not splash their fluids everywhere.’

I didn’t chant any spells, nor did I assume any attacking stance.

I merely narrowed my eyes slightly, stirred the dormant sea of magic within me, and then…

I released just a tiny fraction of that aura, an aura originating from a Lord of Chaos, positioned at the very apex of the food chain.

In that instant.

The previously damp and cold forest experienced a sudden drop in temperature.

A pressure, deeper and more ancient than death itself, emanated silently from me, spreading outwards.

The Vampire Vines, which had been writhing menacingly and preparing to attack, froze as if struck by lightning the moment they perceived this aura.

Plants have no brains, but they possess instinct.

That instinct told them…

‘The creature before them was not prey.’

‘It was a natural predator.’

‘It was the absolute dominator… who, if not immediately obeyed, would uproot them and utterly annihilate them.’

‘An absolute dominator.’

“Rustle, rustle, rustle, rustle…!”

With even greater speed than they had appeared, the vines began to frantically retreat and curl up.

To demonstrate their submission, they even retracted all their barbs.

They pressed tightly against the ground, yielding a wide and level path.

The previously noisy chirping of insects ceased.

The wind stilled.

The entire forest, in that moment, seemed to bow its head to me.

“…Let’s go.”

I withdrew my aura, not even bothering to glance at the trembling plants again, and gracefully lifted my skirt to continue forward.

Behind me, there was absolute silence.

Beatrix remained in her sword-wielding stance, staring blankly at my retreating back, then at the magically corrupted plants that seemed to be shivering.

Her fingers, gripping the sword, trembled slightly.

It wasn’t fear, but a shiver from the depths of her soul.

‘This was the master she pledged allegiance to.’

‘No need for a sword, no need for magic.’

‘Just a glance, an aura, was enough to make all creation submit.’

‘This was…’

‘True power.’

Ella, meanwhile, had long been utterly entranced.

Clutching her basket filled with Moonpetal Grass, she watched the figure who, even in the dim forest, appeared to be surveying her domain, her eyes overflowing with intense adoration.

“So… so cool…”

She murmured softly.

However, just as we were preparing to leave the area.

“Ella! Watch out!”

A loud shout, brimming with righteousness, echoed from the trees to our side.

Immediately after, a dazzling golden sword qi, imbued with the aura of a savior, whistled through the air.

It viciously cleaved towards the several Vampire Vines that had already obediently huddled together, completely devoid of any aggressive intent.

“Boom…!”

The unfortunate plants were blasted to smithereens, their green sap splattering everywhere.

With swift reflexes, I conjured a small Chaos Shield, narrowly preventing the disgusting sap from splattering onto me.

The dust settled.

Alexis von Lumiere, clutching his Royal Sword, stood panting before us.

He had clearly been tracking us the entire way.

At this moment, he was looking at Ella and Beatrix, who were standing amidst the destroyed magical creatures, with an anxious, worried, and even slightly fearful gaze.

“Quickly! Get away from that woman!”

The Prince shouted loudly, his sword tip pointing directly at me.

“Don’t you see? Those monsters… those monsters aren’t attacking because they see her as one of their own!”

“She is a witch who manipulates darkness! If you stay with her, you will be devoured!”

His voice echoed through the silent forest.

I looked at the Prince, whose face was alight with self-righteousness as he believed himself to be saving lost maidens, then glanced at the scattered remains of the plants he had needlessly slaughtered.

Slowly, I adjusted my glasses.

My gaze held an undisguised pity, as if I were looking at someone intellectually deficient.

‘…Your Highness, you truly are quite dramatic.’

‘Furthermore, it seems you…’

‘…have thoroughly annoyed the two ladies behind me.’

Before I could even speak, I felt two distinctly different, yet equally chilling, surges of killing intent rise from behind me.

One was the cold intent of a sword.

The other, a tempestuous burst of light.

It appeared the Prince’s savior speech had, quite ironically, achieved the opposite effect.