Chapter 39: Setting Sun Forest
On the eastern border of the Peka Kingdom, in the Setting Sun Forest. Even though it was only half a day’s journey from the capital of the Border Marquis’s territory, the prosperous economy of Vist City had not brought any destruction to this land.
Even along the way, Verafia rarely encountered traveling merchants’ caravans or commoners. The few villages they passed had only scattered households with sparse populations.
The people they occasionally encountered were mostly adventurers like themselves, those who gambled their lives against death, licking blood off their swords to earn gold coins, or hunters who lived by hunting.
Within the Cyclone Wing Adventuring Party, Verafia slowed her steps and looked up slightly at the forest that had reached its edge. The evening breeze gently brushed her soft side locks, and in her pair of scorching gold eyes, the reflection of the prosperous demonic beast kingdom under the setting sun was cast.
Although situated within the kingdom, the vast and boundless Setting Sun Forest did not belong to human territory. Instead, powerful demonic creatures and beasts were the true masters of this land. This had never changed since the establishment of the human kingdom thousands of years ago.
Verafia, who had trained here before, naturally knew this. In fact, she had even had many interactions with the rulers of this territory from a hundred years ago.
Under the sunset and fishing lights, a ripple passed through the young girl’s eyes as she gazed upwards.
She could faintly sense the incredibly powerful auras of the lords and monarchs deep within the Setting Sun Forest at this moment, occasionally touching the familiar ripples on her spirit.
“Miss, the Setting Sun Forest is known throughout the kingdom as one of the three major demon beast settlements. It is home to a wide variety of demon beast creatures, and there are even dragons… Of course, there are no sun divine birds like you.”
Ig, who was by her side, noticed the expression on the young girl’s face. However, he merely attributed it to the little phoenix’s anticipation and slight nervousness about this kingdom belonging to demonic beasts, and he smiled casually as he explained.
“Father also mentioned that the true master of the Setting Sun Forest is actually a Dragon King of Black Flame… I remember his name seemed to be Gedohoya. Legend has it that this being, a hundred years ago, used his indestructible dragon’s breath to burn the Demon King’s crown in the final battle of the Demon Race War.”
“The King of the Black Flame Dragon Clan…?”
Ig smiled at the young girl, his pupils gazing into the distance towards the forest.
“Yes. Many people say that after King Lancaster accepted the throne, he did not completely incorporate this territory under the crown’s jurisdiction by leveraging the hero’s momentum and fame. It was out of consideration for the past cooperation with this powerful Dragon King and their merits in fighting the demon king’s army.”
“But in my opinion, perhaps our King’s strength is simply not enough to completely suppress this legendary Black Flame Dragon?”
“Gedohoya…”
Upon hearing the young man’s words, Verafia also softly uttered the name. She was actually not unfamiliar with this name.
However, a look of surprise appeared in Verafia’s beautiful eyes. The girl tilted her little face slightly, pondering.
“To be able to burn the Demon King’s crown? Looking at it that way, this Black Flame Dragon King seems quite powerful… Hmm, if Raniellant were here, could they beat it?”
Ig then remembered that the young lady phoenix seemed to have an immortal fire dragon by her side, whom she said was defeated by Lord Lothel.
Although it was a dragon guarding his young lady, thinking that Lancaster, who wielded the Sacred Sword, could only suppress the Black Flame Dragon, not kill it, the young man couldn’t help but feel a sense of pride in his heart.
Of course, Ig would not be arrogant enough to show it in front of the young girl. He casually replied a few sentences and then smiled, saying.
“Besides the Black Flame Dragon, there are also many demon beast lords in the Setting Sun Forest of Crystal Rank, Star Rank, and even Saint Rank… Of course, their territories are usually located very deep within. For our destination, as long as nothing particularly unlucky happens, we won’t encounter these powerful demon beasts.”
The mission location for the Cyclone Wing Adventuring Party this time was also located in the outermost area of the Setting Sun Forest, a place where most adventurers could ensure their safety. Generally, the most powerful demon beasts were around Gold Rank and Platinum Rank.
“Is that so.”
Verafia nodded her little head as if she understood and then looked up at the Setting Sun Forest under the setting sun, allowing a faint glow to adorn her delicate and exquisite face.
The girl then suddenly turned her eyes to Ig and smiled, abruptly tugging on the young man’s arm, almost making him stumble to the ground.
“Ig, let’s go! The powerful Black Flame Dragon King… Hmm, you said, after we find that little tree spirit, should we catch a dragon and roast it? With the bloodline of a legendary dragon, it looks delicious!”
Verafia rolled her big eyes, and her cute and pleasant voice echoed in the afterglow of the sunset.
—
The sky had descended into night. The pale cold light cast by the twin moons suspended high in the sky flowed like mercury across the earth, but it was dissolved by the orange glow of the campfire flickering in the night wind.
The flame of the campfire illuminated the night, and among the twenty-odd people gathered around, the aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air. The faces illuminated by the campfire’s light revealed relaxed expressions.
The group of people was naturally the Cyclone Wing Adventuring Party, who had accepted a Gold Rank commission to hunt the Azure Crystal Fire Blast Tree in the outer area of the Setting Sun Forest.
Although they were already in the territory of demonic beasts and not far from the designated destination, this elite adventuring team didn’t seem to have much to worry about. The entire camp was filled with a relaxed atmosphere after a day of fatigue.
However, amidst the laughter and harmonious atmosphere of most people, there was a small group of incongruous figures.
“Damn it, to look down on this young lady, damn, damn, damn!”
Verafia, who had been in good spirits earlier and clamoring to roast a dragon, now had her mood as gloomy as the darkening sky. She was squatting and poking the ground, which reflected the firelight, with a small twig, her little face radiating extreme anger.
Ig, sitting opposite the girl, wore a helpless expression.
Along the way, Verafia had several times tried to join the adventurers’ circle and chat with them. However, due to the previous incident with Reske, her image in their eyes was not very good. Therefore, after a brief conversation, she cautiously ended the dialogue.
This dealt a great blow to the pride of this phoenix young lady, making her resentful sitting there.
However, no matter what, Ig still felt that he had to appease this little phoenix, lest her resentment be directed at him in the end. So, Ig spoke.
“How can these vulgar commoners with their inferior eyesight comprehend your nobility, Miss? This will only be their own misfortune in the end. Miss Verafia, with your status, you shouldn’t stoop to the level of these commoners.”
—
A new month… Could I ask for a monthly ticket here?
Please, please, please QAQ
