Chapter 642: 506 "Chaldea"_3
If it had been the her from the past, by now on her journey to find the Foreign Magician, she would probably have already become both nervous and anxious, right?
But now...
"I already have like-minded companions."
Altoria looked at Reiger, who was sitting beside her.
"Hm?" Reiger noticed Altoria’s gaze and asked with confusion, "What’s the matter?"
"...No," Altoria shook her head and smiled, "It’s nothing."
The Altoria who said this had an obvious fondness in her eyes, a fondness that had not been there before.
She wouldn’t tell Reiger that, in fact, when she dreamt of her Panhuman History self last night, she also dreamt of him.
She dreamt of him turning into a sun once again, illuminating the path beneath her feet, escorting and protecting her.
Thanks to this, she was able to persist in watching the life of another self to the end.
Otherwise, she would have already been crushed by that heavy pressure.
...
Just as Reiger’s group set out on their journey, on the coast of a distant frontier forest, several figures appeared here.
They seemed to have traversed across from the other side of the sea, and upon landing, immediately plunged into a thick fog.
"...Is this the Britannian anomaly zone?"
A voice spoke up first.
"I can’t see anything, such thick fog."
Another voice followed.
"Wait for me, I’ll survey the surroundings first."
This was a childish voice; as it spoke, the sounds of operating instruments began to echo.
"The temperature is moderate, humidity normal. Given these values, this fog is probably not made from ordinary water vapor. Plus, the mana concentration in the air is highly unusual. If it’s this thick, many ancient mysteries must still linger in this land, so everyone should be careful, and not be careless."
The youthful voice reminded in a surprisingly wise manner, giving off a precocious feel.
"Yes."
"Understood."
The other two immediately responded, showing great respect for the opinion of the owner of the youthful voice, even completely following their advice and judgement.
But as the trio prepared to move, a fourth voice suddenly emerged.
"...I am very sad. Are you not aware of my presence right beside you?"
With these words, the first three were startled.
"...Eh?"
"You, you are...!?"
"Tristan!"
In response to the exclamation of the three, the owner of the fourth voice seemed to finally smile.
"Yes, Knight Tristan, at your service."
A beautiful sound of a harp followed, resounding through the thick fog.
The self-proclaimed knight Tristan played the harp, bringing joy to the three in front.
Unaware to them, the fog around them thickened further.
And, some shadows quietly approached, slowly making their way towards where they stood.
...
The Nameless Forest.
This was located in the southwest direction of Fairy Country Britannia, at the very corner of the island nation, near the coast.
It was called the Nameless Forest, not because it was nameless.
"A forest where one would forget everything about themselves, even their names, never to be recalled...?"
On the carriage, Altoria repeated the introduction brought by Alberon to herself in a murmur.
"Exactly," Alberon still sat on Blanca but had entered the carriage, coming to face Reiger and Altoria, saying, "Whether a fairy or a human, anyone who enters that forest will become lost in the fog and gradually forget everything during their wandering, until they can’t even remember their own name."
"That is the Nameless Forest, once you enter, there is no return, the forest where you lose your name."
It was the worst fairy domain in Britannia.
It was the most dreaded, the unwelcoming land of death.
At least, for fairies, it was as good as a dead end.
The reason was simple.
"Once a fairy loses its name, it will lose the meaning of its existence and even its concept. Eventually, they will either completely wither or become cursed Moors, wandering the lands of Britannia until they are vanquished and only then can they be redeemed."
Alberon spoke confidently.
"We are heading to such a terrifying place, how do you feel about that?"
What else to say?
Anyway, Altoria was holding tightly to her chosen staff, with a posture ready to resist.
The Nameless Forest had a great deterrent effect on fairies, and it evoked a sense of dread far greater than that in humans.
At least, humans, when they lose their memories and names, will not turn into Moors, will not become cursed creatures and fall into degradation.
But fairies were different, unless they wished to commit suicide, they wouldn’t dare approach the Nameless Forest.
"...Did that Chaldea really dock in such a place?"
Altoria revealed a troubled expression.
"I would love to say no, but sadly it’s true," Alberon shrugged and said, "According to the information I have, recently, there have been unidentified objects washing ashore only at the coast near the Nameless Forest. That’s likely Chaldea’s boat."
That meant unless they gave up the search for Chaldea, they must go to the Nameless Forest.
"Are you two okay with this?" Alberon asked Reiger and Altoria, "I myself have a way of not being affected by the Nameless Forest, how about you?"
Altoria hesitated.
She didn’t know if she would be affected by the Nameless Forest.
Reiger, however, was certain that these kinds of memory-interfering effects had no influence on him.
But as he was about to speak up, a strange disturbance suddenly occurred, drawing Reiger’s attention.