Reborn As A Maid

Chapter 54: Chapter 54 - The White Sword Hunter ( Part 8)

The rumble reverberated through the Emerald Forest like a distant rumble of thunder.

The leaves were trembling.

The birds were flying off from the treetops in panic.

Even the happy chirping of the forest insects died away.

The entire forest seemed to catch its breath.

Jennie slowly turned her back to the direction of the sound.

Her expression was calm.

But the crimson color of her eyes had sharpened.

"...That isn’t an ordinary monster."

The Herb Goblins gathered in a group behind her, their green faces filled with terror.

One of them nervously tugged at her cloak.

He was pointing somewhere into the forest, shaking his head fiercely.

"No?"

Jennie thought.

The little goblin nodded his head so hard that his huge ears started to flap.

"They don’t want us to go," Excalibur noted calmly.

Jennie smiled.

"Which means that’s exactly where the problem is."

She slowly kneeled down to the eye level of the goblins.

"Stay here."

The little creatures exchanged glances with each other.

Jennie summoned a few wind spirits.

They formed an invisible curtain around the terrified goblins, hiding them among the bushes.

It wouldn’t protect them from an attack by a big monster.

But it would hide them from wandering animals.

"There."

Jennie stood up.

"You’ll be safe until I come back."

The chief of the goblins put his hands over his heart and bowed deeply.

Although they couldn’t talk to each other...

Gratitude didn’t need any language.

Jennie slowly walked into the depths of the Emerald Forest.

Every step she was making...

Was changing the forest.

The bright-colored flowers were gone.

The trees were covered with cuts and scratches.

Some were just broken in half.

Others had huge claws scratches on their bodies, reaching meters up to the sky.

The ground itself was ripped apart.

The huge footprints full of rain water could be found everywhere.

Jennie slowly bent down and touched one of them.

"...Interesting."

Excalibur whispered. ƒreewebηoveℓ.com

"What can you see?"

"It isn’t just heavy," Jennie said.

She was tracing the edge of the footprint.

"The creature can control its weight."

"It moves quietly despite its size."

Excalibur understood it instantly.

"An intelligent monster."

Jennie nodded.

"The dangerous one."

She closed her eyes.

Her Mana Core started to pulsate softly.

Instead of releasing mana...

She extended her senses.

Wind spirits answered first.

A bunch of invisible creatures flew around her shoulders, happily spinning around in the air.

They were whispering thousands of voices only Jennie could hear.

One spirit tugged at her slightly, showing the way to the northeast.

Another was floating above the treetops anxiously.

Jennie smiled.

"Thank you."

She followed them.

The forest slowly opened and revealed a big clearing.

In its center there was the remnants of an ancient shrine.

Broken stone pillars lay scattered all over the ground.

A weathered statue which had lost its face many years ago.

Vines were covering the cracked pieces of marble.

Nature had taken this forgotten sanctuary centuries ago.

But...

Something was still living there.

An ancient power.

Mighty.

Lonely.

Jennie instinctively calmed her breathing.

"This place..."

Excalibur’s voice became solemn.

"It is old."

"Very old."

Not far from the shrine stood the majestic tree that Jennie hadn’t seen before.

Its trunk was shimmering in faint emerald light.

Crystal-like leaves were sparkling in the afternoon sunlight.

Mana was flowing through its branches like luminous rivers.

Jennie looked at it silently.

"The Worldleaf Tree..."

She whispered.

"I thought they were extinct."

Even Excalibur sounded surprised.

"One still exists..."

Under that sacred tree...

There were the remnants of countless herbs.

Their roots torn from the ground.

The ground itself was stained with fresh blood.

Jennie’s face got a harsh expression.

Something had attacked here not so long ago.

The low growl came from behind her.

She slowly turned around.

A great wolf stepped out from the shadow.

It was more than three meters tall.

Its silver fur was shining with the streaks of emerald mana.

The ancient scars could be found all over its muscular body.

One of its ears was torn many years ago.

Its golden eyes never left Jennie.

The beast wasn’t roaring.

It was looking at her carefully.

Judging her.

Jennie slowly bent down to lower her center of gravity.

Neither of them moved.

For a while...

Only the wind was talking.

Then Excalibur broke the silence.

"That is no ordinary beast."

Jennie nodded almost imperceptibly.

"I know."

The emerald crest was starting to appear on the forehead of that wolf.

A natural mana sigil.

The mark of the Guardian Beast.

Jennie’s eyes widened slightly.

"So..."

"You’re guarding this place."

The wolf suddenly jumped.

Not at Jennie.

But past her.

The blur of silver color.

Jennie turned around.

Giant black serpent jumped out from underground right in front of her.

Its jaws clicked together with enough power to destroy the stones.

The Guardian Wolf crashed against its body.

The collision shook the whole clearing.

BOOM!

The two monsters started to roll over the ground, tearing up the trees as they were fighting.

Jennie looked at them.

"...I have misjudged."

The wolf wasn’t attacking her.

It was saving her.

The serpent hissed angrily.

Its body was covered with dark crimson scales.

The purple venom was dripping from its fangs as long as swords.

The eyes of the beast were burning with madness.

Unlike the calm Guardian Wolf...

This creature radiated corruption.

Excalibur’s voice became serious.

"Corrupted mana."

Jennie frowned.

"So that’s why the forest is dying."

The serpent wasn’t hunting.

It was poisoning the nature.

Plants.

Animals.

Even the mana flowing through the Worldleaf Tree.

The Guardian Wolf fought fiercely.

Its claws were slashing the scales of its opponent.

Its fangs tore the pieces of flesh from it.

But...

Jennie noticed something unpleasant.

The beast was tired.

Its breathing was unsteady.

Many fresh wounds covered its body.

It was defending the forest all alone for a long time.

The serpent got its chance.

Its massive tail hit the ground and whipped.

CRACK!

The Guardian Wolf was thrown fiercely against the ancient shrine.

The pillars were falling around it.

The mighty beast tried to stand up.

But its legs were trembling.

Jennie’s eyes narrowed.

"Enough."

She stretched out her hand towards the dragon-shaped hairpin that she had in her silver hair.

Faint golden light started to glow.

The hairpin was slowly transforming.

The metal was spreading.

The ancient runes were awakening.

In a few seconds...

The legendary sword Excalibur was firmly holding in Jennie’s hand.

The surrounding wind spirits started to dance happily.

The forest itself seemed to sigh with relief.

Excalibur spoke quietly.

"It has been some time..."

Jennie smiled softly.

"Yes."

She took one step forward.

"I suppose..."

"It’s our turn."

The corrupted serpent slowly turned its monstrous head toward the new challenger.

Its crimson eyes met the calm eyes of Jennie.

For the first time...

The monster hesitated.

As if its instinctive nature recognized the sword that it was facing now.

The Sword King had appeared on the battlefield.