Chapter 23: The Crimson Core and the Forest’s Depths

‘Is this a Crimson Crystal Core?’

Votila noticed the label for a Crimson Crystal Core on the counter. However, the counter itself was covered in a thin layer of dust, as if it had remained untouched for a long time.

The Crimson Crystal Core appeared, from its exterior, like a small, red stone flower. Votila pried open the cabinet door and swept it out with his tail. The Crimson Crystal Core crashed to the floor, shattering into several pieces.

Excellent.

One of the ingredients for the formula had been found.

Votila then leapt to another counter, continuing the search for the remaining ingredients.

‘This is Delaman Root…’

‘This is Oragra Steel Ore… No, this isn’t needed.’

‘This is…’

Before long, Votila had rummaged through everything in the shop and its warehouse, managing to gather most of the required ingredients for the formula.

Only two items remained elusive: a Bloodpetal Herb and a demon core from a wolf-type beast.

The warehouse held quite a few demon cores, all acquired at low prices from the militia’s hunts in previous years. There was indeed one wolf-type demon core, but due to its age and improper preservation, it had lost most of its luster.

This improved formula likely omitted many rare materials, replacing them with the most potent common ingredients.

Using such a subpar material, even among common ones, would make it difficult to guarantee the final efficacy of the potion.

Therefore, Votila was reluctant to use this particular demon core, but if a new one proved impossible to find, it would have to suffice.

The potion also required a Bloodpetal Herb. Votila couldn’t find it in the shop, but he distinctly recalled Mulee Hua Apocalys handling a Bloodpetal Herb just a few days prior.

The Bloodpetal Herb possessed unique characteristics; it could not be separated from the soil for long. Once uprooted, it would wither within twenty-four hours, and replanting it would be futile.

However, Votila vaguely remembered Mulee Hua mentioning that Bloodpetal Herbs could be found deep within the forest when she was handling one.

‘It seems I must venture into the depths of the forest once more,’ Votila mused.

‘Should I ask Gasla to come along?’

‘No, if Gasla came, Mulee Hua would be alone at home, which wouldn’t be safe. Gasla must stay to look after Mulee Hua.’

‘Therefore, I will go alone.’

Without further delay, Mulee Hua’s condition did not allow Votila to hesitate. Every moment wasted increased Mulee Hua’s danger.

***

As night began to fall, Votila stepped out onto the street. The road was already devoid of pedestrians, with only a few streetlights shining brightly.

Once outside the town, the black cat’s silhouette merged with the night, weaving through the trees. Its destination was the lakeside where the previous battle had taken place.

Human eyes could barely perceive anything in the dark, but the night posed no challenge for the black cat. Its golden eyes reflected a faint glimmer in the darkness, allowing it to see clearly.

For ordinary people, the deep forest at night might be fraught with danger, but for the black cat, it offered greater safety. The pitch-black night became its best form of protection.

After consuming a few wild fruits along the way to sate its hunger, the black cat moved swiftly through the forest without making a sound—a natural advantage inherent to felines.

After an unknown amount of time and distance, the surrounding trees grew progressively taller and denser. Upon spotting several sleeping small animals, Votila knew he had arrived in the deep forest.

Many wild beasts resided here, but in the dead of night, most creatures succumbed to their biological clocks and entered a state of sleep, with the exception of a few nocturnal animals.

The forest outside the town was exceptionally vast. Dragons possessed an excellent sense of direction and territory, making it difficult for them to get lost.

Along the way, Votila encountered no real dangers. He merely came across a few nocturnal carnivorous beasts, which he was able to avoid in advance thanks to his keen eyesight and the dragon’s far superior aura perception.

Votila paused on the branch of an ancient tree to catch his breath. At that moment, he caught a faint whiff of something burnt and a scent of gunpowder.

‘What is this? Has something fought nearby?’ Besides the burnt smell and gunpowder, Votila also detected a faint magical aura dissipating in the air.

He did not linger on the branch. After scanning his surroundings, he leaped down from the tree, continuing his search for the Bloodpetal Herb in the woods.

A moment later, Votila caught the scent of blood. Beneath a broken, fallen giant tree, he discovered a brown bear. The bear’s eyes were wide and bloodshot, staring intently at Votila, startling him.

Only upon closer inspection did he realize the bear had long since lost its life.

Behind the brown bear were a dozen fine, deep wounds, extending to the bone. They appeared as if carved by multiple blades.

Observing the deceased brown bear, Votila felt a surge of doubt. Judging by the wounds, it was likely injured by wind blades infused with wind magic, as only such an attack could create these irregular, delicate cuts.

‘Was it done by a demon beast? Or a human Archmage?’

Some demon beasts could indeed wield similar magic, but if it truly was a demon beast, why was the body left intact? Beyond predation, Votila could think of no other plausible reason for a demon beast to attack an ordinary wild animal.

The brown bear’s body still retained some warmth, and its blood was fresh, indicating it had died recently, perhaps less than an hour ago.

‘If it was a human Archmage, what would they be doing in the forest so late?’

Votila shook his head, pushing these irrelevant thoughts aside. The priority now was to find the missing ingredients for the potion formula.

Without another glance at the tragic brown bear, Votila continued deeper into the forest.

The small lake in the heart of the dense forest, churned by the day’s battle, had significantly shallowed. To the east of the lake, the scorched earth, remnants of the crimson lotus’s blaze, remained, daring no beast to approach.

As he neared the lake, Votila heard the sound of voices and splashing water emanating from its direction.

‘Someone is at the lake, but why would anyone be there so late? Given the recent rampages of the demon wolves, this lakeside hasn’t been peaceful at all.’

Driven by curiosity, Votila approached the lake and peered through the branches and leaves at the water’s surface.

He saw a petite figure standing on the shallow shore. Long silver hair cascaded naturally down their back, glowing with a hazy aura under the moonlight. Their skin was as fair as a newborn’s, and their slender, jade-like arms playfully stirred the water.

Like a fairy of the lake, the young woman whispered to her reflection in the water.

“The target remains motionless… Hmm? A change in strategy is needed… Understood… Father. I will be careful.”

‘What is she doing so late, and who is she talking to?’ Votila wondered, unaware of a slight rustle beneath his paws.

The pointed, long ears, unable to be concealed by the silver hair, twitched slightly. The elf by the lake turned around, her gaze warily sweeping towards the dense forest where Votila lay hidden.

Her violet eyes glowed with an enchanting, captivating light in the night.

Seeing the elf’s flat chest, Votila recognized her identity.

‘This elf is Agnes!’

Involuntarily, Votila recalled a common human saying: ‘Curiosity killed the cat.’