For a moment, Rei and his party thought the figures were enemies, but they breathed a sigh of relief upon realizing they were familiar faces.
The other group apparently felt the same way. Upon seeing Rei's party, they lowered the weapons they had ready.
"See? I told you they weren't enemies."
"You never said that!"
An adventurer reflexively retorted to Luno, who muttered in exasperation.
In truth, Luno had noticed someone ahead on their path using his Magic Eye, which could detect magical power. He had told his companions as much, but he hadn't said a single word about it being Rei's group.
"Huh? Did I not?"
"You didn't. Geez... Well, at least they weren't monsters."
Luno offered a vague smile and deflected the muttered words of the adventurer, whose tone was laced with considerable relief.
Both sides felt relieved knowing the other wasn't the enemy—but in this case, Luno's group was likely far more relieved.
After all, when they pushed aside the branches blocking their path and stepped forward, the ones waiting for them were the members of the Crimson Lotus Wings.
Fortunately, Rei and his party quickly dropped their combat stances, but if they had fought while still laboring under some misunderstanding... it was only natural that they genuinely felt they had been saved.
And so, it was understandable that they became somewhat harsher toward Luno for not telling them Rei's group was there.
"It's a relief that both sides are safe, isn't it?"
To dispel the subtle awkwardness lingering in the air, Vihera called out to them.
The adventurers had been in mortal danger just seconds ago, but there was no way they wouldn't be happy to be spoken to by a beautiful woman like Vihera.
Even while remaining wary of their surroundings, a moderate amount of tension left them.
...Though a few of them lost more tension than was appropriate.
"Yeah, we're glad you're safe too. Though we searched all over the area and didn't find anything in particular."
"That's right. It's the same for us over here. ...There were a few interesting things, but nothing that important."
"Right, right. It was like that yesterday when we came as guards for the woodcutters too. There's absolutely nothing that seems out of place. ...I just didn't expect it to be the same even after coming this deep into the forest."
"Come to think of it, you got here surprisingly fast. We thought we were the ones advancing the furthest..."
"Ah... well, that's..."
In response to Vihera's question, the Adventurer Man turned his gaze toward the Researcher assigned to their group.
Glancing around, he looked at the Researcher, who was watching Set with an interested gaze while waiting for the adventurers' conversation to end.
"That guy, the moment he realizes there's nothing to investigate, he doesn't hesitate to just head deeper into the forest. And so, we kept going and..."
That was how they caught up to Rei's party, the Adventurer Man explained.
Hearing those words, Vihera directed her gaze toward the Researcher.
He was looking at Set, but he didn't seem intent on forcefully doing anything.
Among researchers, there were some who, upon learning of Set's existence, would spout personal theories about how Set must be handed over to them for study. Fortunately, this Researcher did not appear to be that kind of person.
This was true for Rei's party as well, but... it was rather more fortunate for the adventurers escorting the Researcher.
If they were to offend Rei's party here, they knew full well what consequences would be waiting for them.
If word spread that they had mistreated Set, who had practically become Gilm's mascot character, living in Gilm would become quite uncomfortable in various ways.
As long as that was the case, the adventurers' hope was for the Researcher to stay quiet, and right now, that hope was being fulfilled.
A short distance away from Vihera's group, Rei was talking with Luno and Thresha.
"I see. So even your eyes can't pick anything up, Luno."
"Yeah. When we came yesterday, I more or less expected that much. ...Still, the fact that every tree growing in this forest possesses mana is a bit surprising. I don't sense any mana from the fallen branches on the ground, though."
"Huh. Is that because the broken branches and such are recognized as being dead?"
"I wonder."
"In the first place, in this forest where there are no animals or monsters, it's a little unnatural for branches to break and be lying on the ground."
It was probably because she was in the Treant Forest where every member of her party other than herself had been killed.
Even from Rei's perspective, Thresha appeared quite tense.
(I should warn her so she doesn't get caught off guard... but she's so tense I feel like it's actually having an adverse effect.)
Even as he thought this, Rei also felt it was understandable since she had come to the place where her comrades were killed.
Even if they were only acquaintances, having an adventurer he knew—and didn't dislike, as a prerequisite—die wouldn't be something he'd enjoy. So, as a basic precaution, he addressed Thresha.
"Thresha, I understand you're putting your all into this, but if you tense up too much, you won't be able to react when something actually happens, or you'll overreact and put yourself in danger."
"I... I know that, but..."
Even though she was being cautioned by Rei, who was clearly younger than her, Thresha didn't get angry.
It was because she understood that, even though she was older, both his skill and his rank as an adventurer were overwhelmingly higher than hers.
However, even understanding that, if asked whether she could do as he said, the answer was no.
Thresha also understood that she had to relax. She understood that, but still, without even realizing it, she found herself tensing up.
Because she knew what kind of place this was.
"...I do understand, though."
"She's right. She's actually loosened up quite a bit compared to the start."
Luno, who had been listening to the conversation between Rei and Thresha, chimed in, but Rei tilted his head upon hearing that.
"Why is that? If you're coming to the Treant Forest, you came here yesterday too, right?"
"Yes. ...But yesterday was strictly a guard duty for the woodcutters. Compared to that, today is a full-fledged investigation, so..."
She couldn't help but tense up.
Just as Rei was thinking that it couldn't be helped, the Researcher, who had been watching Set, spoke up.
"Excuse me, but is it almost time? Given that we need to leave the Treant Forest by evening, I'd like to investigate as much as possible."
"Ah... so that's how it is. Sorry."
Prompted by Luno's words, Rei shook his head.
Even from a short distance away, the adventurers who had been conversing with Vihera and Marina looked slightly disappointed, but they ended their conversation.
"Well, I doubt anything will happen during the day, but be careful anyway."
"Yeah. You too."
Rei and Luno exchanged a few brief words before moving on to their respective groups' activities.
Rei saw off Luno's group with a light wave, then began walking in a different direction with his own party.
"Still, it seems they didn't find anything either. ...During the day, it really is just an ordinary forest. No animals or monsters, though."
Rei muttered as they walked through the forest, and Vihera, walking beside him, nodded.
"You're right. If nothing is going to appear like this, why don't we just leave the forest? We could conserve our energy for the night. Or we could move our bodies to prepare for combat."
Vihera's suggestions were at two extremes, but it went without saying which one she was hoping for.
For the battle-crazed Vihera, training in combat in front of the forest was far more fulfilling than advancing through an empty forest like this.
Moreover, many adventurers of considerable strength had gathered here besides Rei's party.
...Though just how many of them would wish to fight Vihera and lose was something even Rei didn't know.
A fair amount of time had passed since Vihera came to Gilm.
And seeing Vihera's appearance and her outfit, which was like that of a Dancer or a Prostitute, the number of men who had tried to pick fights with her wasn't even enough to count on both hands... no, it wasn't even close to enough even if they used both hands and feet.
Because of that, it was fairly well known that Vihera was strong.
Being invited to a mock battle by such a Vihera, those who would accept...
(There probably are some.)
No one wanted to get beaten down by Vihera, but in exchange, those who did would be able to see her figure up close.
Also, depending on their own skill, they might even be able to touch her body.
If asked whether they could resist such temptations, it would be difficult for any man to sever that temptation.
"Grrrr?"
Set purred with a questioning cry, as if asking what they should do. Rei thought for a moment before opening his mouth.
"Yeah, let's look around a little more, and if there's still nothing, we'll head back. I don't feel like eating lunch in a place like this, either."
Normally, eating in a forest in spring would let you enjoy a picnic-like atmosphere.
But in this Treant Forest, that was impossible. ...No, it was more accurate to say he simply had no desire to do so.
If he was going to eat here, he'd honestly rather eat outside the forest.
Rei's feelings on the matter were likely shared by the others. No one voiced any objection.
When it came to the act of eating, even Byune, who was as greedy about food as Rei or Set, felt the same way. This probably showed just how eerie the Treant Forest was.
Normally, sunlight filtering through the trees was a place Rei liked to relax in.
"Since there are no objections, let's walk around a bit more."
Muttering this, Rei started walking, and everyone followed him.
Even while walking through the forest, Rei didn't let down his guard. But with Set around, it was a given that Set would sense danger far faster than Rei himself could.
Given that, it was only natural that he couldn't help but let his guard down somewhat.
"Hm? ...Hey, Rei."
Marina suddenly spoke up.
"What is it?"
"Look, that vine... does it look familiar to you?"
Rei turned his gaze in the direction Marina was looking and saw a vine wrapped around a tree.
The green vine, even from Rei's perspective, appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary vine.
However, since Marina, a Dark Elf who was knowledgeable about forests, had spotted it, it undoubtedly held some significance.
Rei stared intently at the vine, but as several minutes passed, he shook his head.
"No good, I can't tell. What is that vine?"
Not just Rei, but Vihera, Byune, and Set all turned their gazes toward Marina, prompting her for an answer.
Receiving those looks, Marina opened her mouth with an expression that said it couldn't be helped.
"Look, yesterday when we came to this forest, Fekts and the others were fleeing, and they were attacked by Treants from the front and vines from behind, right? This is that vine."
"...This is?"
Since dealing with the vines had been entirely left to Marina, this was the first time Rei was getting a clear look at one.
That was why, being told suddenly that such a vine had appeared right in front of him, it felt somewhat lacking in reality.
What's more, the vine showed no sign of moving at all, even with Rei and his party standing right in front of it.
It looked like nothing but an ordinary vine.
(No, if the true identity of the Treants is ordinary trees, then this is probably an ordinary vine as well.)
Thinking this, he tried touching it, but just as before, the vine showed no sign of moving even when Rei touched it.
A vine that was neither part of a monster nor a monster itself.
Even so, Rei didn't think Marina had mistaken this vine for something else.
As a Dark Elf, she was knowledgeable about plants, and before becoming the Guild Master, she had spent many years active as an adventurer and completed numerous requests. There was no doubt she had also gained a wealth of knowledge as the Guild Master.
And above all, because it was Marina's word, Rei didn't have the option of doubting her.
...Of course, if she were clearly mistaken, that would be another matter, but the possibility of that was extremely slim.
"Hmm, even touching it like this, it seems no different from an ordinary vine."
Vihera muttered while also touching the vine.
Beside her, Byune was touching the vine as well, imitating Vihera.
"Hm?"
However, just like Rei and Vihera, she probably couldn't understand whether it was truly a monster or not even after touching it.
She murmured softly and tilted her head.
"So, what should we do with this vine? Should I just take it with me?"
"Yes, please do that if you would. ...Ah, but rather than just cutting it at some random spot, please get as long a piece as possible."
"...This vine?"
"Yes."
He stared at the vine, and it was of a considerable length.
Finding what could be called the root of the vine would undoubtedly take a fair amount of time.
Even so, there was no way Rei could refuse a request from Marina when it might serve as an important clue regarding the Treant Forest... and so, Rei ended up having to search for the vine's root.