Chapter 78 — The Road They Cannot Avoid

Narrator

The rain had stopped.

But the Kingdom of Heart did not feel peaceful.

Water still clung to the rooftops of the royal capital, reflecting the pale morning light like broken pieces of glass.

The streets were quieter than usual.

Guards stood at every major intersection.

Messengers moved through the palace corridors.

Doors that were normally open remained closed.

And behind those doors...

people whispered.

Because nobles were dying.

One after another.

And no one knew who would be next.

Inside the Royal Palace, the atmosphere was heavier than the clouds that had covered the kingdom the previous night.

At the center of the throne room sat the King of Heart.

Caelum Ardentis.

His eyes remained fixed on the large map spread across the table before him.

Several nobles stood around it.

A military commander.

Two royal ministers.

And the Queen.

Beside her stood their daughter, a young princess whose age was not far from V's.

Nobody spoke for several seconds.

Then the King finally broke the silence.

"How many?"

The commander lowered his head.

"Seven."

The Queen's expression tightened.

"Seven nobles..."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"Any witnesses?"

"None."

"Any clues?"

The commander hesitated.

"Very little."

Caelum slowly looked up.

"Very little?"

The commander swallowed.

"We have found traces at some of the locations. But nothing that gives us the identity of the killer."

A minister stepped forward.

"Your Majesty, perhaps we should increase the royal guard around the remaining noble families."

Another minister immediately answered.

"And reveal to the entire kingdom that we are afraid?"

The first minister glared at him.

"We are already afraid."

Silence.

Nobody argued with that.

Outside the great windows...

a single drop of water slid down the glass.

Slowly.

Quietly.

Then disappeared.

Caelum looked back at the map.

"The deaths are not random."

The room became still.

The King placed one finger over the marked territories.

"Every person who died held influence over a different part of the kingdom."

His finger moved.

"Trade."

Another mark.

"Military supply."

Another.

"Political influence."

He stopped.

"Someone is not merely killing nobles."

His voice became colder.

"Someone is removing pieces from the kingdom."

The Queen looked at him.

"And if they continue?"

Caelum's eyes remained on the map.

"Eventually..."

He paused.

"There will be nothing left to remove."

The princess quietly looked toward her father.

"Then we should leave."

Everyone turned toward her.

She continued calmly.

"Our journey to the Kingdom of Spades cannot be postponed forever."

The commander immediately shook his head.

"Your Highness, that is exactly why we should postpone it."

The princess frowned.

"Why?"

"Because the kingdom is unstable."

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Caelum looked toward the map again.

"The diplomatic meeting with Spades is too important."

The Queen spoke softly.

"And the route?"

The commander answered immediately.

"Death Forest."

Silence returned.

Even the word seemed to change the temperature of the room.

The princess looked at the map.

The forest was marked in dark ink.

A place where ordinary roads ended.

A place where nature itself seemed to reject those who entered.

"There is no alternative?" she asked.

The commander shook his head.

"None."

The Queen closed her eyes for a moment.

Then opened them.

"Then we go through Death Forest."

The princess looked at her mother.

The Queen's expression remained calm.

"But we will not go alone."

Restart Village

The morning sun had climbed higher by the time the message reached Restart Village.

Brald stood beneath the great banyan tree.

The messenger from the Kingdom of Heart finished speaking.

"...The royal family requests your assistance."

Brald remained silent.

Lily stood nearby.

Alistair was slightly behind them.

V and Tiami were also listening.

Even Kai had stopped talking.

That alone proved the situation was serious.

T looked up at Brald.

"Where are they going?"

"Kingdom of Spades."

"Why?"

"For a diplomatic matter."

"Why can't they use another road?"

"There isn't one."

"Why?"

"Because Death Forest is in the way."

T blinked.

"Why is Death Forest in the way?"

Brald slowly looked at her.

T stared back.

Kai quietly stepped away.

Smart man.

Brald sighed.

"Because that's where it is."

T thought about it.

"...Oh."

Lak, standing nearby, covered his mouth.

He was trying very hard not to laugh.

He failed.

"That might be the most difficult conversation I've ever witnessed."

T immediately turned toward him.

"Lak, why?"

Lak froze.

"No."

"Why?"

"No."

"Why not?"

"Because I'm trying to survive."

Brald unfolded the letter.

The request was clear.

The Kingdom of Heart wanted assistance from Restart Village.

They knew the dangers of Death Forest.

They also knew that Brald understood the region better than most outsiders.

But the letter contained something else.

Payment.

A formal reward for the village's assistance.

Lak's eyes immediately moved toward the document.

His expression changed.

"Oh."

Brald looked at him.

"What?"

Lak pointed toward the letter.

"They're paying?"

Brald nodded.

Lak's face became serious.

"Suddenly, I support diplomacy."

Kai looked at him.

"You didn't even read the amount."

"Money is money."

"You don't even know if it's enough."

Lak placed a hand over his chest.

"Kai..."

He spoke with complete sincerity.

"Never insult my relationship with money."

Kai stared at him.

"...You're hopeless."

"Thank you."

Brald looked toward the road leading out of the village.

He knew what the request meant.

This was not simply a royal escort.

The Kingdom of Heart was placing its trust in Restart Village.

And if something happened to the Queen or Princess...

the consequences would extend far beyond one journey.

Brald folded the letter.

"I'll go."

Lily's expression changed immediately.

"You?"

Brald nodded.

"I'll lead them through the forest."

Lily looked toward the dark mountains in the distance.

Then toward Brald.

"The recent dragon attack..."

"I know."

"You could send someone else."

"I could."

Brald paused.

"But if something goes wrong..."

His eyes hardened.

"I'd rather be there."

Lily didn't answer.

She knew him well enough to understand.

Once Brald made a decision like this...

it was difficult to change his mind.

She looked toward V.

Then Tiami.

"And them?"

Brald followed her gaze.

"V is coming."

V immediately nodded.

"I'm ready."

Lily's eyes then moved toward Tiami.

Tiami stood quietly.

There was no fear in her expression.

Only calmness.

Brald spoke.

"And Tiami."

Lily understood immediately.

"Because of the dragons."

Brald nodded.

"The attack we experienced recently proved that another encounter isn't impossible."

He looked toward Tiami.

"If a dragon approaches..."

Tiami calmly finished his thought.

"It may recognize me."

Brald nodded.

"Exactly."

He didn't need to say more.

A dragon seeing the Dragon Queen was very different from a dragon seeing ordinary travelers.

Tiami's presence could prevent a battle before it began.

Sometimes...

the strongest weapon was the one that never needed to be drawn.

Alistair finally spoke.

"How many soldiers?"

Brald looked at him.

"The Kingdom of Heart will send a small escort."

"How small?"

"Enough to protect the royal family."

Alistair's expression remained unreadable.

"Not enough to provoke the forest."

Brald nodded.

"That's the idea."

Alistair looked toward Death Forest.

"The forest doesn't care about numbers."

His voice was quiet.

"It cares about who enters."

A breeze passed through the banyan leaves.

Several leaves fell between them.

One landed on Brald's shoulder.

He brushed it away.

"Then we'll make sure we enter carefully."

Alistair nodded.

"I'll prepare what we need before departure."

Lily looked at him.

"You aren't coming?"

Alistair shook his head.

"No."

He glanced toward Brald.

"Someone needs to remain here."

Brald understood.

Restart Village couldn't be left without protection.

Not after everything that had happened.

V stood quietly.

He looked toward the mountains.

Death Forest was beyond them.

He had heard stories.

But stories were different from seeing a place yourself.

He looked at Tiami.

"Are you coming with me?"

Tiami smiled slightly.

"Of course."

V smiled back.

"Then I'm not worried."

Lily watched them.

For a moment...

she looked like she wanted to say something.

Instead, she walked toward V and gently placed a hand on his head.

"Be careful."

V nodded.

"I will."

She then looked toward Tiami.

"Take care of him."

Tiami smiled.

"I will."

Brald watched the two of them.

His expression softened.

Then he turned toward the village.

"We leave tomorrow."

Kai immediately raised his hand.

"Wait."

Everyone looked at him.

"Can I come?"

Brald looked at him.

"No."

Kai lowered his hand.

"Fair."

Nefi, who had been standing nearby, looked at Kai.

"You wanted to go?"

Kai nodded.

"Of course."

Nefi smiled.

"Then be careful."

Kai smiled.

"I will."

Lak looked between them.

He sighed.

"Unbelievable."

Nefi turned toward him.

"What?"

Lak pointed at Kai.

"That idiot could walk into a dragon's mouth if you told him to be careful."

Kai frowned.

"I can hear you."

"Good."

T suddenly raised her hand.

"Can I go too?"

"No."

Brald answered immediately.

T lowered her hand.

"Why?"

"Because you're too young."

"Why?"

"Because Death Forest is dangerous."

"Why?"

"Because monsters live there."

"Why?"

"Because..."

Brald stopped.

Kai whispered,

"She's winning."

Lak nodded.

"She's destroying him."

T looked at Lak.

"Why?"

Lak's face went pale.

"No."

T tilted her head.

"Why?"

Lak slowly backed away.

"I refuse to participate."

By afternoon...

the village had begun preparing.

Food.

Water.

Travel equipment.

Medicine.

Maps.

Weapons.

The small escort from the Kingdom of Heart would arrive before departure.

Brald checked everything personally.

V prepared quietly.

Tiami remained calm.

Lily watched them all.

Alistair made sure the village itself would remain protected.

Kai complained about being left behind.

Nefi told him not to complain.

T asked questions.

And Lak...

Lak watched all of it.

He looked at Brald.

Then V.

Then Tiami.

Then the soldiers arriving from Heart.

Then the distant mountains.

Then the road.

He scratched his head.

"The atmosphere is getting serious."

Kai looked at him.

"You noticed?"

Lak nodded.

"Yeah."

He looked toward the mountains.

"The way things are going..."

He narrowed his eyes.

"...it feels like an action-heavy chapter is coming very soon."

Kai frowned.

"What are you talking about?"

Lak immediately smiled.

"Nothing."

He turned away.

Then quietly muttered,

"I should probably stay alive long enough to read it."

Evening arrived.

The preparations were complete.

The payment had been agreed upon.

The Kingdom of Heart's soldiers would accompany the royal family.

Brald would lead the journey.

V would travel with him.

Tiami would travel with them as well.

The Queen and Princess would remain at the center of the escort.

Everyone knew the destination.

Everyone knew the danger.

And everyone knew...

there was no other road.

Brald stood at the edge of the village.

He looked toward the mountains.

The sunset painted them in deep crimson.

For a moment, the Death Forest looked almost beautiful.

Almost peaceful.

But everyone knew better.

Beauty could hide danger.

Silence could hide something waiting.

And a road could become a path to something no one expected.

Lily stood beside Brald.

"Come back safely."

Brald looked at her.

"I will."

She held his gaze.

"Promise?"

Brald smiled faintly.

"I promise."

Behind them, V tightened the straps of his equipment.

Tiami looked toward the distant forest.

The soldiers prepared their gear.

The royal carriage waited.

And Restart Village slowly became quiet.

Tomorrow...

they would leave.

Tomorrow...

they would enter the only road available.

Tomorrow...

Death Forest would open its gates.

But tonight...

they were still home.

And for one final evening...

the village remained peaceful.

The wind moved through the banyan tree.

One leaf broke free.

It traveled with the wind...

toward the mountains.

Toward the forest.

Toward the road that no one could avoid.

And somewhere far away...

another path was already moving toward Restart Village.

But nobody here knew that yet.

The decision had been made.

The journey would begin with the morning sun.

And beyond the mountains...

Death Forest was waiting.