Savage Forest - Chapter 112.1

Reyhald looked at the man leading them from the front with a sense of oddity as if the fact that someone from Nervana Forest, like himself, was following this man was strange.

‘It’s clear that we are born and raised in the forest, so why are we following his orders?’

It was indeed strange, but it was the truth.

Somehow, they had started to follow Tarhan’s commands very naturally.

It wasn’t just the man’s intimidating presence or his implied leadership that caused this obedience. Although, at times, even Reyhald couldn’t help but feel a bit intimidated by Tarhan, who would occasionally look down on him as if he were a fool.

‘He’s lacking in humanity. There’s no warmth in him.’

Reyhald grumbled to himself, watching Tarhan’s proud back as he led the group. He then nudged Leroi beside him and whispered.

“Actually, that guy might not be human. Maybe the rumors about him having Dimpir blood are true…”

“Reyhald, do you really think your whispers at this distance won’t be heard?”

Leroi moved a little further away from Reyhald, looking visibly annoyed before glancing at Tarhan and adding in a low voice.

“Just leave him be. What chance do you have to win against a man who looks like he’s about to die?”

Reyhald agreed with that sentiment.

The eyes that looked like they were about to die. Indeed, there had been no change in the intensity of Tarhan’s gaze since their time together in Aquilea.

“That’s what makes him even more chilling.”

Reyhald said, shivering as if in disgust. Leroi responded as if he understood Reyhald’s envy.

“He’s the man who led the allied forces. Do you think he could have achieved what he did without that kind of intensity?”

On the contrary, Reyhald pouted in response to Leroi’s nonchalant attitude.

“Zechariah’s becoming a complete fanatic for Tarhan.”

Reyhald clicked his tongue, watching Zechariah follow behind as if he were Tarhan’s devoted subordinate. It was clear that Tarhan didn’t dislike Zechariah’s devoted following.

As if hearing the comment, Zechariah muttered.

“Reyhald, that’s ugly.”

Reyhald pretended not to hear.

Despite his loud complaints, Tarhan ignored all of it, and because of that, Reyhald was getting increasingly frustrated.

‘What on earth is he thinking?’

The man, who closed his eyes even in his sleep, didn’t seem like he was alive. Usually, Reyhald would have resisted anyone, even the leader of the clan, but with Tarhan, it was different.

At that moment, Tarhan, leading them from the front, finally spoke.

“Was that always there?”

In an instant, the gazes of the four Nervana men shifted to where Tarhan was pointing.

There stood a massive structure. It was a dam made of spider webs. The flow of water, which traversed the forest, was completely blocked by this dam. The water had already accumulated and was sloshing over.

Cugnac explained.

“Oh, that’s the work of the skull spider. During rainy seasons, the skull spider creates such large structures to block the rainwater.”

The dam, woven intricately from spider silk, was a massive construction made with stones, twigs, and other materials stacked tightly together.

“Well built.”

“Indeed, it’s one of the reasons why the skull spider is called the guardian of the forest.”

Cugnac responded to Tarhan’s mutterings.

Zechariah spoke up.

“Since we’ve come this far, finding the skull spider should be a matter of time. We should be able to encounter either the skull spider’s molt or the creature itself within a few days.”

The group decided to split up and search both sides of the dam. At that moment, a tremendous noise erupted. It was the clamor of a troop of rock monkeys.

“It sounds like there’s a commotion on the other side.”

Cugnac quickly took a defensive stance and spoke up.

Indeed, the rock monkeys were hurling fruits and tree bark through the trees. The group assumed their usual positions and prepared to leave the area. Then, one of the rock monkeys began throwing stones in their direction.

“D*mn it, are we getting caught up in a territory dispute?”

Leroi muttered as he glanced at Tarhan.

Reyhald sighed as he grabbed a twig that had been thrown towards him with his index and middle fingers.

“D*mn these Yaru-like guys… Why are rock monkeys causing such a ruckus lately?”

“If Nihitan heard that, he’d have killed you.”

Cugnac replied immediately.

“He’s not here now.”

Reyhald retorted sulkily.

Tarhan silently adjusted his spear. Suddenly, there was a rumbling noise from the ground where Reyhald was standing.

It was a landslide.

Reyhald’s foot got caught on a jutting pile of rocks.

“Whoa…!”

Before he could react, his heavy body swayed. At that moment, a large rock, clearly thrown by the rock monkeys, hurtled toward Reyhald.

“D*mn it, Reyhald…!”

Leroi reached out, though there was nothing he could do. Reyhald’s body plummeted down the cliff in an instant. The four men froze. The cries of the monkeys, which were still hurling various objects at them, grew louder.

Tarhan came to his senses first. He urgently issued orders to his group.

“The terrain is starting to collapse. We need to evacuate. As for Reyhald…”