Building a Kingdom and Conquering the World

Chapter 19: The Forest

The Frozen Forest was one of the most perilous regions in the entire North. It was home to a diverse number of creatures, from Winter Orcs to hibernating Wyverns. Some legends even spoke of a mythical dragon's lair deep within the forest, a creature said to possess the power to decimate an entire army with a single breath.

The expedition team had already entered the outer layer of the forest, a place considered as the safest area for hunter and warriors of the Kingdom. The light from the Torch Trees provided them a safe path towards the weaker animals, such as boars and gazelles.

However, as they ventured deeper into the forest, the Torch Trees grew increasingly scarce. This made it difficult to navigate through unknown paths during nighttime, and the risk of encountering dangerous creatures increased exponentially with each step. The darkness and the limited visibility added to the dangers of traversing the inner layer of the forest.

During Garret von Stahl's reign, the Kingdom possessed extensive knowledge of the forest and ventured deep into it for hunting and to discover new species and territories. However, despite having a dragon-slayer as their leader, the kingdom was unable to discover the true limits of the forest. They could only peruse a finite amount of it.

"That cursed ancestor... He dared to sell our records and data of the Frozen Forest to those Central Region bastards."- Henry cursed, recalling the empty shelves of the castle's library.

For centuries, Stahl was at the forefront of research on the Frozen Forest in the continent, thanks to its proximity and the powerful army left by Garret von Stahl. Its library was filled with records of the kingdom's discoveries over the years.

However, in recent decades, due to economic, military, and societal issues, as well as increasing losses to barbarian raids, Henry's ancestor was forced to sell all their information to the empires in the Central Region, who eagerly acquired this knowledge. They had always been curious about the wonders hidden inside the Forest.

"Reconstructing this database is crucial, and I will need assistance to do so. Understanding the hazards within the forest is essential in order to be fully prepared for any potential dangers." – Henry thought while looking at Gedhe, who was leading the expedition group.

The barbarians were a nomadic community that had lived in the forest for generations. While they avoided venturing too deep into the forest, staying within a few miles of the outer layer, they still possessed a wealth of knowledge about its mysteries. They also were known for their knowledge of herbal medicine, as they did not rely heavily on the use of mana to heal their injuries.

This time, the young king was able to take note of Gedhe's physical characteristics without any distractions. The man was a towering presence, standing nearly nine feet tall, a formidable giant when compared to Henry's six feet. He was dressed in rough fabrics, but no shirt, and his red hair was unkempt, giving the impression of a wild and untamed beast.

Additionally, Henry could see an intricate tattoo of a wolf's head on his back, the red ink resembling blood, slightly glimmered with each step the man took, adding to his fierce appearance. The wolf's eyes were piercing, as if they were alive and watching the barbarian's back for any sneak attack.

"I can sense a faint flow of mana in that tattoo, constantly nourishing his muscles and providing him enough heat to survive the weather conditions."- Henry thought, observing the barbarian's tattoo from a distance. His gaze passed through the protective Luther who was standing between him and the barbarian.

He then turned his attention to Luke, who was struggling to walk through the snow, while trying to lift his long robes to avoid getting them wet. However, due to the deep snow, it was a futile attempt, as he was already drenched.

"Luke!"- Henry called out, catching his assistant's attention -"Forget about your clothes, they're already wet. We're already in the forest, so focus on observing and recording everything you see, from the path, trees and animals. Also, give me a spare pencil and parchment, I have something to document."

Luke looked between his robes and his king, torn between them. However, with a resigned expression, he dropped his robe and pulled out two feather pens and two parchments, handing one set to Henry with a sad face.

"My future image as a dragon robber has been tarnished by my king's orders."- Luke grumbled to himself while feeling the wet clothes against his skin. However, despite his frustration, he dutifully continued his work.

Henry couldn't help but flash a satisfied smile at his sulking assistant. He couldn't explain why, but he found it quite amusing to tease the small yet brave man who had eagerly accepted his offer to accompany him through this dangerous expedition.

"He deserves a raise."- Henry murmured, contemplating an increase in his assistant's salary, as he began to jot down questions and thoughts he had about the barbarians' tattoo. He was a curious and patient man. He would ask Gedhe everything when they stopped to rest.

In his previous life as a professional player, Henry had spent countless hours analyzing and developing new strategies, as well as training rigorously to perfect his skills. It was this type of dynamic mindset that had guaranteed him great success as a professional player.

"We're about to enter the inner layer, be aware!" Luther, the most experienced soldier, warned as he moved closer to Henry, acting as a protective shield.

At his words, the soldiers of Stahl's First Battalion tightened their grip on their weapons. They were well-trained soldiers, capable of facing the barbarians as equals, but were not accustomed to venturing deeply into the Frozen Forest, especially during the winter when the snow was deep and any movement faced some restriction, forcing them to use their small reservoirs of Mana to tread forwards.

Furthermore, they had only ventured into the Inner Layer a few times, making it an unfamiliar territory to them. The myths and stories of the hidden dangers within the deeper parts of the forest were a constant source of fear. However, knowing that the most experienced warrior of all and the bearer of the Sacred Flames were here, they rapidly calmed down.

As for Henry, he momentarily looked up from his parchment and observed the diminishing number of Torch Trees on the horizon. However, he soon returned his focus to his parchment. In any case, if any danger were to arise, the barbarians would alert the expedition or Luther would handle it.

In fact, he was not even worried about a barbarian rebellion because of Luther's presence and his own power. He was confident that the two of them could easily handle any threat posed by them.

However, the expedition's journey from this point on would not be as peaceful as their tour through the outer layer, where the animals avoided their large group. The deeper they ventured into the forest, the more unpredictable and hostile the environment would become. The lack of Torch Trees also meant limited visibility, making it difficult to navigate and increasing the risk of encountering dangerous creatures. The soldiers had to be alert and ready for any potential threats.

It wasn't long after they entered the inner layer that Gedhe, who was leading the way through the frozen paths, let out a panicked scream.

"Death Spiders!" - His rough voice was filled with desperation.