In the end, neither Elcrid nor Setra returned. I found myself alone, once again.
("How am I supposed to deal with this mess?") [Solace]
I had attempted fixing the cabin with my mediocre skills, but it was a far cry to its original splendor. I knew what to do to fix it thanks to asking the Spirit Guide, which meant it was just my terrible craftsmanship holding me back.
("That… should do for now.") [Solace]
With the hole in the wall closed by replacing sections with new logs, I finally found time to rest and gather my thoughts. I sat on Elcrid's personal chair considering he no longer needed it, and found it more comfortable than expected.
("Now… What do I do from here?") [Solace]
My adjustment to |Unbound Mortal| is basically completed, yet I can't really consider leaving due to being cursed by the gods. Though I could call up Nakros for advice, I felt like I wasn't ready for something like that.
("Do I risk leaving the Misty Forest to find a way to remove the curse?") [Solace]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
After a week of pondering, I remained in the forest. I somehow felt like waiting for Elcrid to return. However, I assumed based off of Setra's reaction that Elcrid would not be making a reappearance. Instead, I spent my time reading whatever was inside the cabin. There were still books Elcrid had laid out for me to read out of boredom, I just didn't touch them yet.
("They're each about five hundred to eight hundred pages each. Might last me a bit.") [Solace]
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
As a matter of fact, I didn't have much time to read at all. Turns out, the barrier around the cabin had an effect of obscurement along with the ability to keep out the mist. Sounds great until you realize Setra tore through it to get here. Sure, I found out how to repair it thanks to the Spirit Guide, but my lack of skills were unable to fix the enchantment of obscurity.
("Maybe that's alright. I think it was only meant for hiding from Setra anyway.") [Solace]
Boy was I wrong. Once in a while, a monster or two would approach so I had to deal with them myself. They weren't very strong, it's just that they were pretty grotesque. Well, it was a good time killer though.
("This monster's shell is pretty hard. Maybe I can make something with it?") [Solace]
Eventually, I started to encounter other people. My first meeting was a group of people at the edge of the barrier, seemingly looking for something. Thinking they were lost, I called out to them.
"Hey! Are you guys lost?" [Solace]
The moment they noticed me, one of them pointed at me.
"There he is! Kill him!" [???]
"In the name of the goddess!" [???]
They charged at me, leaving me no choice other than to knock them out. Thanks to their rather low level, around sixty to ninety, it was pretty easy.
("What the fuck was that…?") [Solace]
I used threaded stems from dead plants to make some rope, a simple process if you have enough dexterity and strength. I then tied up my attackers before questioning them.
"Why did you attack me?" [Solace]
One of them spat at me. Luckily, I was able to dodge it.
"Okay, let's take a different approach." [Solace]
Obviously, I had to take rougher measures to get them to talk. Don't blame me for hitting them since they were the ones who attacked first.
"You're an enemy of the goddess!" [???]
"Okay, cool. Is that all?" [Solace]
It was then that I learned nearly every country had placed a bounty on my head. Demons wanted me dead for harming one of their civilizations. Humans wanted me dead for heresy against the divine. Beastmen wanted me dead for killing a divine beast. Ridiculous.
"And how much is the bounty?" [Solace]
From their specific land, it was about twenty million mel. Combined with the bounties across the world. Fifty billion mel.
"For real?" [Solace]
Maybe I should turn myself in for that money.
"Don't think you're safe! Everyone knows you're here! It's only a matter of time until the Templars come for you!" [???]
"Uh-huh." [Solace]
At some point they just started naming off groups that would come for me, so I knocked them out again.
("Now, what to do with these guys?") [Solace]
I had two choices, throw them out and probably let them come back for revenge, or finish them off right now.
("Logically, killing them here would be better…") [Solace]
Even so, it felt like I'd lose something about myself. Maybe I'd be losing a bit of my humanity, or some of my morality. I ended up sitting there in a dilemma, letting out a long sigh before deciding.
("I'll give them a second chance. I'll throw them out. If they come back for revenge, then that'll be their final choice.") [Solace]
I dragged them out, untied them, and hid them in a place safe from monsters before returning to the cabin.
("So let's get this straight. The obscurement enchantment interfered with the goddess' curse so that people wouldn't really know where I was. Now that it's gone, I'm getting hunted.") [Solace]
Sounds ridiculous, but that's my life now.
("...I should prepare.") [Solace]
I spent most of my time going in and out of the barrier, placing makeshift traps here and there.
("Everything's set up. All I have to do is wait for my next victim.") [Solace]
The next few days, I spent my time lurking in the forest. I hid behind shrubbery, remained in the trees, and tracked people hunting me. Honestly, it was way more fun than reading books. There was this particular group of five I liked watching. They fell for nearly every trap, causing me to stifle my laughter lest I get caught.
"Agh! My foot!" [???]
One of them had stepped over my small spike pit. I designed it specifically to puncture the target's foot to prevent them from walking.
"Ellie, we need a heal over here." [???]
Within this group of five, they each played specific roles. One tank, one mage, one swordsman, one healer, and a rogue. It kind of reminded me of my journey with the Hero's party.
("A well balanced party.") [Solace]
It appeared that the mage was the party leader, taking command in the back. Anyway, the rogue's foot was injured and the healer was moving forward.
"Let me take a look." [Healer]
As the healer applied their magic, the tank made a joke.
"You'd think that a rogue would be able to handle a few traps." [Tank]
The rogue made an annoyed expression.
"These traps aren't like any other. Crude, but effective. It's undetectable too because it was made without magic." [Rogue]
I couldn't tell if that was a compliment or not.
"Something like this isn't even worth mentioning. I'll go first." [Tank]
Stepping forward, he triggered another one of my mechanisms. A flexible branch I found swung out, whipping the tank's face. Luckily for that tank, his helmet snapped the branch in half.
"See?" [Tank]
The rogue grumbled in response.
"Let's continue." [Mage]
Overconfident, the tank marched forward. It wasn't until long that he fell into one of my pits.
"Wha-?!" [Tank]
I didn't make it very deep, leaving the tank stuck waist deep in the hole. The funniest part about it was that he couldn't get out due to his bulky armor.
"Let's wrap some rope around him and pull him out." [Mage]
It was funny to see their entire party pulling at a rope in an attempt to pull the tank out. Oh, right. Did I mention that I filled the hole with mud? The mud acted somewhat like a suction cup, making it more difficult to take the tank out.
"Would it kill you to lose some weight?!" [Swordsman]
"It's the armor!" [Tank]
Eventually, they did pull him out.
"Okay, enough with this. I'll go first." [Swordsman]
Famous last words. Not too far he stepped on a makeshift rake where it would swing up and strike his face.
"Ack!" [Swordsman]
He stumbled back, furious once he realized what happened.
"Alt! This treacherous scoundrel! Making these accursed traps! When I get my hands on him, I'm gonna-!" [Swordsman]
"Calm down. These traps were clearly designed to exhaust us." [Mage]
Not exactly. I just did it for fun. There's not a lot to do out here.
"Let's move cautiously. Toss stones on leaf piles and have our sturdiest up front." [Mage]
In the end, they mostly triggered my traps with rocks. There were a few extra times I got them, but it was the string trip based ones. Those ones take a bit of work to set up so I didn't put many of them. After many adversities, they arrived at the cabin where I awaited them.