They moved deeper into the forest, following a path Leon had already decided. The undergrowth crunched beneath their feet, and filtered sunlight created shifting patterns on the forest floor.

Loriel's eyes suddenly lit up, catching sight of something in the distance. "Oh! Is that—?" She darted forward before finishing her thought, her green hair streaming behind her as she practically bounced toward a fallen log.

She spotted them before I could even pretend to discover them.

Leon watched her excitement with amusement. He'd known exactly where the mushrooms were, of course—his spatial awareness had mapped them perfectly. But seeing her genuine joy at the discovery made him hold his tongue.

"I found them! I found them!" Loriel dropped to her knees beside the rotting wood, where a cluster of blue-spotted mushrooms grew in the damp shade. She turned back to Leon and Seraphine, her face glowing with triumph.

"Good job, Loriel," Leon said warmly, moving to stand beside her.

Her smile somehow grew even wider, a faint pink coloring her cheeks at the praise.

Seraphine observed the scene with narrowed eyes. No way. We just happened to walk directly to mushrooms within five minutes of entering? She knew Leon too well to believe in such coincidences. He's leading us right to them.

The realization should have annoyed her, but watching Leon indulge Loriel's excitement softened her reaction. Still, a competitive spark ignited in her chest.

Loriel carefully harvested the mushrooms, counting as she went. "Eighteen, nineteen, twenty... twenty-one!" She held them delicately, then looked around with confusion. "Um, we didn't bring any bags. How do we—"

"Don't worry." Leon extended his hand, and the mushrooms vanished from Loriel's grasp, disappearing into his spatial storage.

"Right! Your space affinity!" Loriel nodded, remembering his earlier display with the sword. The casual use of such rare magic still amazed her, but she was getting used to Leon's seemingly endless capabilities.

She's practically glowing from that simple praise.

They continued through the forest, Leon subtly adjusting their path toward the next cluster. This time, Seraphine stayed on high alert, her purple-tinged eyes scanning every shadow and depression where mushrooms might grow.

I'll find them first this time.

But Loriel's voice rang out again, high and joyful. "Found more!" She took off running before Seraphine could even process what had happened.

How?!

Seraphine hadn't detected any use of magic or special techniques. The girl had simply... noticed them first. Pure observation and enthusiasm had beaten her trained vigilance.

What struck her more was Loriel's speed. The green-haired woman moved through the forest with surprising agility, reaching the mushroom cluster in seconds.

Twenty-six mushrooms this time. Loriel plucked them with practiced care now, having learned from the first batch. Once finished, she turned to Leon with an expectant look, her hazel eyes bright.

"Good job," Leon said again, meeting her gaze directly.

Her face turned crimson. She spun away quickly, arms crossed. "I-I was telling you to store them! Don't praise me! You think I was expecting that? Hmph!"

She was definitely expecting that.

Leon stored the mushrooms without comment, though his lips twitched with suppressed laughter.

Seraphine found herself speaking before she could stop herself. "You did well, Loriel." The words came out grumpier than intended, tinged with reluctant admiration.

Loriel's eyes widened in surprise. Praise from Seraphine—her self-declared rival for Leon's attention? The grumpiness in the purple-haired woman's voice made it even better. She can't help but acknowledge how good I am!

Her chest puffed out with pride, not even attempting humility.

This girl... Seraphine watched Loriel's obvious preening with a mix of frustration and amusement. She'd lost this round, fair and square.

Wait. Had Leon and Loriel been flirting just now? That blush, that direct eye contact...

No. Stop it. She pushed the thought away. Leon had told her directly that he didn't have feelings for Loriel. She trusted him completely. Focus on what matters—finding mushrooms first next time.

Leon expanded his spatial awareness again, sending invisible pulses through the forest. The feedback revealed more mushroom clusters scattered throughout the area. With this search, they'd located one hundred and five total—more than enough to complete their mission.

Still no beasts, though.

The absence bothered him. Thornwood Forest's reputation came from its dangerous wildlife, particularly the lightning-affinity beasts that supposedly dominated the ecosystem. Yet his spatial awareness detected nothing larger than ordinary squirrels within a kilometer radius.

Either we're incredibly lucky, or something's keeping them away.

The mushrooms were almost secondary at this point. He'd chosen this mission specifically for the chance to encounter lightning beasts. Seraphine could potentially learn from observing them, maybe even develop new applications for her own lightning. The Adventure Guild rank increase was just a convenient excuse.

"This way," he said, leading them toward the next cluster. "There should be more in this direction."

Seraphine moved with determined focus now, practically radiating competitive intent. Loriel hummed happily beside her, still riding the high of her earlier victories.

They pushed deeper into Thornwood, the trees growing denser, the shadows darker. The mushrooms were plentiful, but the forest's famous danger remained conspicuously absent.

Where are all the beasts?

The silence felt wrong. No birds singing, no rustling in the underbrush, no distant roars or hunting calls. Just their footsteps and breathing, unnaturally loud in the stillness.

Leon's hand instinctively moved to his sword hilt. Something about this peaceful collection mission was beginning to feel like a trap. But whether they were walking into one or had somehow avoided it entirely remained to be seen.

"Leon?" Seraphine noticed his tension, her own hand crackling with subtle electricity. "What is it?"

"Nothing yet," he said quietly. "Just... stay alert."

Even Loriel's enthusiasm dimmed slightly at his serious tone. She moved closer to the group, her earlier competitive distance forgotten.

They continued forward, three supposed rookies gathering mushrooms in a forest that should have been trying to kill them. The mystery of the missing beasts hung over them like the forest canopy itself—dark, oppressive, and hiding secrets they'd need to uncover.

How is this forest so empty?

As they ventured deeper into the forest, an unpleasant sensation crept through Leon's body—a wrongness he couldn't quite identify. His skin prickled with warning, though his spatial awareness detected nothing threatening.

Something's very wrong here.

The lack of beasts had shifted from strange to alarming. Thornwood should have been teeming with predators, yet the forest felt abandoned, as if every living creature had fled.

They approached the next cluster of mushrooms. Loriel spotted them again, her natural observation skills proving superior once more. But this time, she didn't celebrate. The forest's oppressive atmosphere had finally reached even her optimistic nature. She harvested them quietly, efficiently, her earlier playfulness replaced by caution.

She knows when to be serious. Good.

Seraphine watched Loriel work with growing respect. Three times now, the green-haired woman had found their targets first—no magic, no special techniques, just pure instinct and awareness. The Saintess of Life... that title isn't just for show. This girl is extraordinary.

The unnatural silence pressed against them like a physical weight. No insects buzzed. No leaves rustled. Even the wind seemed to avoid this part of the forest.

And now, as they venture, they discover bones, which shouldn't be unnatural for a forest filled with different predators; however, the number of them is many.

Something was wrong in this forest.

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