Volume 1 – Forest of Evil Spirits
Warning: Volume 1’s translation is Hot Garbage!
I will be re-translating the entirety of volume 1 in 2023, maybe…
1
A calm spring-like breeze blew past the Prince in the palace where he lived. In the carefully decorated garden, flower petals fluttered about as the melody of golden chimes resounded all around, and where the ladies of the court, and the other courtiers that took care of the Prince wore their usual affectionate smiles. In fact, it was not just there in the garden but all throughout the whole entire palace that the people wore the same happy smiles. As though it were a reflection of the entire country’s easygoingness, the Royal Palace also showed a relaxed atmosphere.
It was in that relaxed atmosphere that Prince Jung would enjoy reading a book by the pond as the carp swam freely, all this while, he listened to the gentle sounds of the wind chimes, or the rustling of leaves from the blowing breeze. This was the routine that Prince Jung enjoyed daily.
It was in fact how he spent most days. Sometimes his brothers would come and say hello, teasing him that he never showed his face. Although they all had different mothers they were very close without any jealousy of each other.
Jung-eun’s mother died immediately after giving birth to him. Though it made him sad that he did not have a mother like the others, his brothers made up for it with their kindness. Not only his brothers but the gentle King as well. Even if the nannies had a dispute with him, they still kept their smiles. There was also Shaw, the bodyguard who took care of Jung-eun. They were all kind people, and it was a natural thing to love and to be loved. A peaceful world! There had never been a time before or after when the world fit so well.
Although he was still a young boy, Jung was always grateful for the peaceful world he enjoyed. He sincerely admired and respected his extremely wise and virtuous father who had created such a peaceful world. As long as his father and the Crown Prince, who resembled him, ruled this country, things would continue this way for generations.
Jung-eun had no doubts that the richness of this great nation would continue and that one day Crown Prince Ryeong would ascend the throne. Just as he knew that he would support the Crown Prince and help him in any way as his younger brother and servant, contributing to the succession and continuing the peace and prosperity of the country. That was the only purpose of Prince Jung’s life.
He never imagined that life at the palace would collapse at any moment, or that the King would be killed, and he never imagined that The Crown Prince and his other brothers would be captured. Absolutely no one, including Jung-eun, could have imagined what would happen. Not until that very moment…
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss. WordPress .com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
2
Swish….-
The faint sound of leaves fluttering whispered in the boy’s ears. Although the sound was faint, it was so vexing that it woke the boy. As lifted his heavy eyelids with great difficulty, the bright light steamed down into his blurred eyes.
Where was this place? Where was the nurse-maid? He wanted a drink of water right away because his whole mouth and throat were burning with thirst……
Those were his first thoughts when he awoke. However, to his surprise, this place where he was lying was in fact not the palace, and he jumped to his feet. Well, he wanted to jump up but his body felt too heavy, as though it weighed a ton.
He wondered what was wrong with him. It was too difficult to lift a finger much less get up. His body felt sore and constrained as though it had been crushed beneath a giant boulder. That was not all. His head throbbed in pain, his vision was blurred, and his mouth and throat were dry and swollen. The boy frowned and let out a small groan.
“Hey…”
It was at that moment that he heard a voice speak in a flat tone. It was the low sonorous voice of a man. He felt to urge to flee. He couldn’t be caught like this!
He felt fear surge through him and many horrifying scenarios filled his mind, but there was nothing that he could do at that point but lie there moaning. So he clutched at the grass down to its roots with his tattered, injured hands.
He was in a state of deep despondency. And as he thought of how he’d been caught this way, a sudden flood of tears poured down his face. Shaw was now missing and two of his escorts had given their lives! Unable to contain his emotions, he took a deep ragged breath.
Even if he were caught, he would look them straight in the eye. He would face them proudly as a Prince, not like a bug crawling on the ground! The boy looked toward the voice with firm determination.
However, as he looked toward the man, the canopy of trees, blue sky, and the forest floor swirled together in a dizzying blur and the man’s face couldn’t come into focus. And although he could hear a mummer like a man was speaking, his words could not be understood.
His limbs were lethargic and he was so severely dehydrated that he couldn’t fully regain consciousness. With all of that, the boy could not even manage a groan, and he passed out again.
<one line break>
He drifted in and out of consciousness for a long time. There were times he would open his eyes and manage some vague form of consciousness, but that was too difficult to maintain. Even when he would try to blink his eyes, he would lose his strength and pass out again. There were times when he did regain consciousness, however, he was not in his right mind. But the other times, he could see the figure of a man with an imposing build through his blurred vision.
But when he was able to open his heavy lids, whether it was dark or light, he always saw the man’s face. He was always by his side watching over him.
However, it did occur to the boy that the man might be keeping him close in order to keep him from escaping. That was very likely. But he still felt a strange sense of relief whenever he saw the large man’s hazy image.
Regardless, because of the relief the boy felt from the fact that he was not alone, he was able to fall into a deep sleep just knowing that there was someone watching over him. He didn’t know who the man was, or if he really existed, but that feeling lingered in his heart like an afterimage.
“… ….”
He didn’t know how long he was unconscious. The boy had been unconscious for a long time, and as awoke, he blinked his eyes and slowly looked around. He looked at the strange new environment that he was seeing for the first time.
The forest was so deep and boundless that all he could see were the trees as they pressed in from all around him. The tree’s canopy was so dense it blotted out the sky, however, the long rays of light that penetrated down from in between their leaves were so resplendent that he could take his eyes off their mysterious beauty.
Even the air inside the forest was so subdued and still that he wasn’t quite sure if he was still wandering through a dream. As he sat lost and alone in that isolated, uninhabited static space, it wasn’t unreasonable to have such doubts.
The boy looked around for a long time with vacant eyes, and then he suddenly wondered how he’d come to be lying there in the strange place. What had happened and where was this strange forest?
But soon, the boy started having vague recollections of jumping through the undergrowth and running through the trees of the forest with all his might. As he ran, he smashed into trees and tripped over roots and stones, but then he got up again and ran. He didn’t stop running even when he ran out of breath.
‘Just keep running’, that’s what Shaw told him to do. He ran frantically toward the West where the red sun was setting. He feared that if he collapsed like this, he would get caught by his enemies’ hands, and die. As he ran along in that way, he could hear the far-off noises of the chase.
The sounds of horses wailing, the boisterous noises from swords crashing into one another, and the shouts of men all mixed together. It resounded all around him as though they were clutching at his neck. So he ran forward without ever looking back.
His heart raced when he thought about Shaw being caught in the midst of that clamor and chaos. He clenched his fists as he struggled to hold back his tears and ran with all his might to get even farther away from the sound of the shaking forest.
‘Shaw… Shaw…’
He suppressed his tears as he called out Shaw’s name inwardly, that was all he could do. Having to run in order to live was unfair and caused so much resentment, but there was nothing else that could be done.
As he ran his mouth felt dry, and a bloody smell rose from his throat. The sun was already disappearing. He could no longer hear the hooves of his pursuers. Instead, he was now alone in the dense forest where even the moon could not be seen, and the darkness was so deep that one could not distinguish even one an inch ahead.
Slowly, I began to fear. Jung was now exhausted and crawling on legs that could no longer carry him, he crouched down among the large boulders, hugging his shoulders, and trembled in the rapidly chilling temperature.
His hands and hair, the fabric of his clothes, his shoes, everything was a mess. He had fallen and rolled on the ground countless times. His trousers and shoes were damp from where he’d fallen. However, he couldn’t see his own filthy appearance, which he had experienced before. The only thing he could focus on was surviving the immediate threat of the darkness, the cold, and his overwhelming hunger.
That night in the mountains was terrible! It was unbearably cold, and the surroundings were so dark and unknown, that you could imagine anything coming out to get you. Jung clenched his jaw to stop his chattering teeth, buried his head in his two knees, and closed his eyes.
He begged and prayed to the invisible Gods to allow him to endure this pain so that he could see Shaw again. That was the boy’s last memory…
If you’re reading this anywhere other than foolishtranslationss.wordpress .com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
3
“Shaw…!
He jumped up quickly, having fully remembered the nightmare that had passed. He quickly tried to call out to Shaw, but only odd foreign-sounding noises escaped him. He also felt an excruciating pain radiating from his extremities and he fell to the ground again from the pain.
“Ugh, ugh…!”
The pain was like nothing else he’d experienced in his life, it felt like his whole body was being torn apart. It was as though heavy weights had been attached to every part of his body, and his dry burning throat ached like it was on fire. For the little Prince who had idled all his days away leisurely reading books in the Palace, having to run through a forest with everything he had, was a shocking experience for both his mind and body.
He let out a low groan. He couldn’t even move, having to endure this pain took everything out of him. Suddenly he heard the faint rustling sound coming from something stepping on fallen leaves. Jung quickly pressed his soft lips tightly in order to stifle a moan as he hunched his shoulders in fear.
He was deep in the heart of a forest no one dared to enter. He was a soft child who was unable to defend himself, and this was the ‘Forest of Evil Spirits’. There was no end to notorious rumors about this place. It would not be shocking to encounter anything here!
His heart was pounding and he couldn’t breathe. He was so nervous sweat was pouring down his back. He slowly raised his hand and picked up a stone in front of him. It was difficult to control his exhausted body.
If he encountered a wild beast or one of the soldiers who had been chasing him, he would not be able to do anything with a single stone. However, Jung clutched the stone with everything and had as he held his breath and listened to the sound of the footsteps getting closer and closer.
“Hey you, are you awake now?”
Suddenly he heard a voice that was clearly directed toward him. It was the low subdued voice of a grown man. It wasn’t Shaw’s voice, and it didn’t seem like the voice of one of the soldiers either. It was good to hear another person’s voice, however, the pronunciation and tone were quite different from those of Kajang.
‘Who was this person so this deep in the forest’, thought Jung while still clutching the stone.
“Kid, I know you’re awake so stop being so nervous and get up”.
The husky voice sounded annoyed but it wasn’t getting any closer. Jung crouched and blinked his eyes as if puzzled.
“Hmmm…. Well, if you don’t get up by the time I count to five, I’m going to throw away this water that I brought”.
Jung couldn’t tell if he was serious or joking, and his husky voice started counting backward.
“Five, four, three, two…”
But before the man could reach one, Jung quickly stood up. Even the small movement brought him pain. He grimaced at the searing pain that felt like his flesh was being ripped apart.
Every part of his body was in pain, from his head to his toes. But the worst thing was the unbearable thirst. Even swallowing saliva made his throat hurt.
He managed to raise his upper body as the dirt and the leaves fell from him. Without even considering what kind of filthy state he was in, the boy stood up and took a step toward the man while looking him up and down.
He was the first foreigner that Jung had seen. It wasn’t just the man’s face and clothes, everything about the man looked foreign to Jung!
From the style of his clothes to the way he wore them, even the objects he wore, everything about him seemed unfamiliar. His skin was brown as though it had been tanned by the sun and he had brown hair that was loosely hanging down his shoulders. He looked very different from the people of Kajang, who had white-yellowish skin, black hair, and black eyes. It wasn’t just the skin color that was different, he was also much taller than the average man of the Kajang and with an imposing physique.
His attire was odd too. He wore shabby-looking trousers, and a long down jacket with a belt tied around his waist. There were three or four sheathed daggers attached to his side, and he was wearing a pair of shoes that were tied from the bottom part of his shin down to his feet with the leather cord. Jung wondered if his shabby disorganized way of dressing could be that of a thief. No, it all felt wilder than that!
Jung was at a loss for words as he looked at the man’s unfamiliar appearance. The man had been watching the boy scowling at him. He approached the boy with a half-smile and handed him a bottle of water.
He fixed his eyes on the beastly man as he warily took the water bottle that the man offered him. He quickly began to choke the water down. Nothing before or after had ever tasted as sweet as that cold water did then. He chugged it so fast that the water spilled down the sides of his mouth and ran down his chin, wetting the front of his clothes. He didn’t even notice.
He drank so vigorously that when he handed the empty bottle back to the man, he was breathless. This was far from the graceful way he had learned to behave at the palace.
“You were pretty thirsty!”
Said the man as he looked down at the boy and smiled softly. However, the boy still remained vigilant as he stared at the man while wiping his mouth roughly with the back of his hand.
“By the way, what are you doing with that stone in your hand? Is that any way to repay the benefactor who’s been nursing and caring for you?”
The man folded his arms and looked down at the boy as his smile deepened.
‘This is the man who had been caring for me?’.
The boy thought back on his hazy memories of the man who’d been beside him while he drifted in and out of consciousness. His memories were fuzzy, but this man must have been the man with a large physique. The boy dropped the stone he was holding in his hand.
“You..… really….”
The boy wanted to ask if it was really him who had been by his side? He also tried to ask who he was, where he was from, and what he was doing here? However, although many thoughts and questions flooded into his mind, nothing came out of his mouth. Before he could say anything, the boy lost consciousness and collapsed.
“What is-“
The boy faintly heard the man’s panicked voice, and he felt the man’s warm strong arms wrap around his waist and pick him up. He didn’t understand what was going on. He was lightheaded and he collapsed into unconsciousness again…
If you’re reading this anywhere other than foolishtranslationss.wordpress .com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
4
He heard the sounds of sobbing…..
He had a terrible nightmare! It was a terrifying dream that made his heart shrink and his body tremble. The Royal Palace had fallen! His father and his siblings had died!
An insidious stranger violently kissed him and tried…. Then the stranger hit him in his face, hard! After he cut out the stranger’s eye, the stranger became like a demon and he gave chase as he fled the kingdom.
Even Shaw who was always by his side was now gone. And he was chased and chased, and oh how he cried! He was terrified, and he didn’t know where to go or how to get away from him.
It was a nightmare like he had never experienced or could have ever imagined before. As the boy curled up, he sobbed. It was excruciating because he couldn’t escape this nightmare. His chest felt heavy and he couldn’t breathe, it was suffocating, but he couldn’t wake up. He was trapped inside the nightmare.
“Hey, kid.”
Suddenly a low resonant voice pulled him from his nightmare like a wish being granted. Then the boy blinked and moved his eyes confirming that he had indeed been set free from that terrible dream. He got up and let out a short breath. As he looked around the thick darkness that was surrounding him, he felt a different kind of fear.
“Hey kid, please…let’s get some sleep.”
As he shifted and stirred in the darkness, a sleepy, annoyed voice came from beside him. His shoulders stiffened and he looked toward the voice. He then realized that ‘the man with the large physique’ was lying next to him with his eyes closed and a scowl on his face. It was the same stranger who had handed him the water just before he had lost consciousness.
The boy looked at him. The flickering light of the bonfire crackling next to them darkened the man’s features, but he could see that he had a high nose bridge, shadowed eyes, a firm chin, and a strong outline that gave an intensity to his face.
A soft sigh escaped Jung’s lips. He had been staring at him for a long time, it seemed he had not escaped the nightmare. He wanted everything to be a dream but it just kept continuing on without end. This beastly man beside him was proof!
He felt disappointment and his energy seemed to drain from his limbs. The boy was unable to bear this drowning feeling, that he felt. He clenched his jaw to stifle the sound of his crying. He then crouched down with his legs crossed to stare into the yellow burning fire. He was really alone, he had no one. No matter how hard he thought about it, it just didn’t seem real.
As he sat there thinking about what to do next when he suddenly heard a long sigh from the man lying next to him. He could tell that the man was annoyed at being woken up. However the boy didn’t even look at him, he just kept staring into the bonfire.
“Are you okay now?” asked the man.
The boy nodded his head slightly, without moving his eyes.
“Alright then”
“… …”
“What’s your name?”
The boy licked his lips as he began to answer in a cracked voice
“I’m…”
“… …?”
“…Aran.”
He was about to give the name Jung, but then he stopped himself. Instead gave a nickname that he was called when he was young.
“Aran, that’s not a bad name” replied the man in a blunt tone.
“My name is Cain”
The man stated in a nonchalant way as he lay there flat on his back with his head resting on top of both his arms. Aran turned his head and finally looked at the man named Cain. The man who was obviously annoyed for having been woken up was staring back at him. Their eyes met and Jung, now Aran, continued staring into Cain’s eyes.
The unusual stranger named Cain, not only had a strange name but also had strange eyes as well. Rather than having black eyes synonymous with the people of Kajang, his eyes were much lighter. Though it was hard to see in the firelight, the color of his eyes seemed to be closer to silver-grey.
“What does it matter if they’re different from yours?”
The man asked sarcastically as though he could read the boy’s mind. Aran turned his head away without saying a word. He didn’t want the man to see that he was surprised, or that he was offended by being treated like an annoying child.
Cain narrowed his eyes and looked at the boy as though he was having fun. A brief silence passed between them before Aran suddenly opened his mouth.
“Are you the person who helped me, did you nurse me?”
“Yes. You were dying.”
“….Thank you.”
Aran did not like him very much but he was grateful to him. He wasn’t a very friendly man, but he saved his life and stayed by his side taking care of him. It was because of his care that Aran was able to rest enough to recover his strength. He was indebted to the strange man. Aran didn’t allow any emotion to show on his face, but he was embarrassed nonetheless.
“There’s no need to say anything.”
Mumbled Cain as another awkward silence followed. There was an unusually loud thump, thump, as the wood shifted in the fire.
Cain broke the heavy silence as he spoke in his low voice from behind Aran.
“You were probably the son of a nobleman from Kajang.”
This topic instantly made Aran nervous, it was as though he could see through him. He couldn’t control this feeling of trepidation as he wondered if the man already knew who he was. No matter how much the man had helped him, this was not a situation where he could not let his guard down.
“A poor little boy swept adrift and driven to this lonely place by the storm that blew through Kajang.”
“… …”
Cain’s gravelly voice continued from behind him.
“If I caught you and sold you to the man who devoured Kajang whole, would you fetch a good price?”
Aran lifted his eyes at the light tone.
“….Are you being serious?”
“Well, if I were a person who does anything to make money and you’re worth a lot, shouldn’t I do that?”
Dizzying thoughts swirled through his head. Aran stared hard into the man’s pale eyes. He couldn’t tell if he was joking or not.
“If you were going to sell me, why did you bother saving me?”
“Honestly, carrying around a corpse is of no interest to me. If at all possible wouldn’t it be better to bring in a person still looking good and intact?”
Aran stiffened at the words that he spoke. The man traced the stubble of his upper lip with his fingers all the way around to the hair on his chin. He didn’t know what this man did, or who he was, but he felt things had gotten dangerous. Was this yet another misfortune? Aran furrowed his brows slightly.
“Then I’ll kill you here and now and run away.”
Replied Aran boldly as he stared at the man.
“… …”
Cain shut his mouth, speechless. Although Aran was breathing calmly, inside his head he was busy contemplating how to escape from this man. What could he use to get away from this large man?
“Wooh, ha, ha, ha! What a cute little boy!”
In an instant a loud laugh rang out, breaking the tense atmosphere as well as the silence. The booming laughter echoed through the quietly sleeping forest for a long time. The bewildered Aran looked at Cain with narrowed eyes, as Cain was doubled over holding his stomach laughing like a fool.
“I haven’t heard anything so funny in a long time…… You’re a funny guy!”
Aran looked at the smiling man, who had tears in his eyes and frowned. From the beginning, this man had no intention of selling him! He worried him for nothing!? This man was just teasing him! When Aran realized that, his self-esteem was shattered.
“I not trying to make you laugh,” said Aran solemnly.
“Ah yes! Judging by the way you hold yourself and the way you speak, I was right about you being a highborn person.” Cain replied bitterly with a wave of his hand.
“…Are you joking with me now?” Aran asked furiously as if accusing him.
He didn’t like this way of playing with people! Cain shrugged his shoulders at the frowning boy, who was staring at him as though he wanted to kill him.
“Kid, relax a little. If I were really a bad guy I would have already sold you regardless of where you come from, even if you weren’t from Kajang. There are plenty of bad men in this world who like soft boys like you. And as I’ve already said, there would be no need to keep you with me for two days while nursing you back to health.”
“… …”
“But I am a good person so you’re safe, alright?”
Aran wanted to reply ‘I don’t know that’ but said nothing instead. Then he turned his angry gaze toward the bonfire that was getting rapidly getting smaller. As a boy who had never been teased by anyone, he felt demeaned by Cain’s attitude, his tone of voice, and the atmosphere created.
No one had ever teased, or made fun of him before just because he was young! It would have been inappropriate because he was a Prince. All this made his heart feel heavy again, knowing there was no one there to protect him anymore.
“You look like someone who’s lost everything in the world, and for you to have fled so deep in these mountains it must be true.”
His sharp silver-grey eyes, which seemed to be able to see through everything, landed on Aran’s cheek. Aran said nothing and just stared at the bonfire. Cain clicked his tongue…
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress .com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
(T/N: unedited past this point)
5
“Kid, you’d better start thinking really hard. I don’t know who you were before, but you’re on your own now. How are you going to get by all alone in this world? You’re no longer the son of a nobleman, now you’re just an orphan on the run”.
“… …”
“If you truly comprehend the situation that you’re in, then you should ask me for help. I can take you with me to the village where I live and help you find work.”
Cain said in a rather serious subdued voice, that was quite different from the teasing tone he’d been using just a little while ago.
Aran raised his eyes and looked directly at him. He was surprised, this was not something he had ever considered before.
“…Work?”
“Yes, because people have to work to make a living. Did you think you could keep on going through life without having to work?”
Aran couldn’t say anything in response so he just sat there with his mouth closed like a clam. Everything had happened so quickly and in rapid succession, that he had no time to even consider the future before now. But there was really no choice. What more could he do? If he didn’t follow this man it would be impossible for him to traverse this insurmountable mountain range alone.
Shaw told him to run West, but he didn’t know how far to go. In the meantime, he could die from starvation or exposure, or he could be attacked by a wild animal. How difficult and dangerous would it be for a young boy who knows nothing, to try to make his way out of this huge forest on his own? He already knew the answer. He had already nearly died in the darkness, of cold, thirst, and hunger. If it hadn’t been for this odd stranger, he would have died already.
“What kind of work can I do in the village where you live?”
Aran asked carefully. He was lucky to have met Cain for sure, but that didn’t mean he liked him. He just had no choice but to follow him. Cain was lying on his back supporting his head with his arms as he tilted his head towards Aran.
“There are many things you could do because I live in one of the largest cities in the Empire”.
“Empire? You’re from the Empire?”
“Yes” muttered Cain insignificantly.
It is said that desert Nomads live beyond the ‘Forest of Evil Spirits’, but they live on the outskirts of it. If you go farther West past them you will find a huge powerful Empire. It’s no exaggeration to say that the empire rules the entire Western continent.
The kingdom of Kajang-guk had maintained close diplomatic relations with the empire. Aran remembered that Imperial diplomats would occasionally visit the royal castle. Each time they did, the Kingdom would be presented with a plethora of rare items. ‘This man was from there?’. Aran couldn’t contain his surprise.
The fire was getting smaller and smaller so Cain got up on his feet and through some dry branches on it.
“You can help me with my work if you would like.”
Aran narrowed his eyes at Cain’s suggestion, which sounded more insignificant than the tossing of the branches on the fire.
“Do you mean that you will make me your slave rather than selling me to a slave trader?”
At Aran’s words, Cain stopped flipping over the logs in the fire and turned around. He had a look of disappointment on his face.
“How smart are you to have thought up things I’d never even considered? You have a good head.”
“… …”
“Well, it’s true that you have no one in the world you can trust, so it’s not bad to be suspicious for now… But first, you have to learn the difference between the trustworthy, and the untrustworthy.”
Remarked Cain in a light tone. Then he grabbed a branch and fumbled with the bonfire again. The fire that had gotten smaller and smaller for a while now suddenly began to burn brightly. The heat began to melt away the cold that had started to set in. Aran stretched out his cold hands toward the fire. He stared silently at his hands which looked so unfamiliar now. They were scratched here and there, covered in blood, sweat, and dirt, and looked black.
It was as if his dirty hands were telling him exactly what he had been through, how painful things were, and how hard life would be in the future. Aran stared at his hands which were still warmly lit by the fire, and slowly clenched his fists. If the only thing he could grasp was a stranger, then he needed to grab hold of him! He had to keep surviving until Shaw could find him.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress .com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
6
“Kid, we need to sleep now so stop arguing. You’ve been sleeping for two days so maybe you’re not tired, but I am!”
Muttered the man who’d lit the bonfire as he laid back down in his spot. Aran stopped staring at his hands and suddenly turned to him with a wide-eyed expression like he’d been struck.
“Two days!? You mean I’ve been asleep for two days?”
“Yes, I was afraid you might never wake up. You really were in bad shape.”
It had been so much pain that he couldn’t even open his eyes, but he found it shocking and extremely disconcerting to think that he had been wandering so close to death’s doorstep for two whole days! To him, it just felt as though he’d just slept a little longer than usual.
“So even if you’re not sleepy, lie down kid.”
Cain ordered in a low voice like he was at his limit. Aran, who had been looking down while trying to comprehend his situation, suddenly turned and looked at Cain.
“I’ve already told you my name, so why do you keep calling me kid?”
The man who had been wearing a thin blanket around his body suddenly stopped moving as if he were surprised once again and stared at Aran. Aran then frowned again as he opened his mouth and spoke solemnly.
“Didn’t I tell you my name was Aran? I won’t forgive you if you call me ‘kid’ again.”
“Gosh…well we can’t have that! Please lie down, my Lord.”
Cain let out a short sigh and tapped the spot next to him. Aran was offended by his openly sarcastic way of speaking, but he was tired of arguing so he kept his mouth shut as he laid down in the spot Cain had tapped.
“Because the nights are cold in the mountains.”
Cain said as he wrapped his thick, strong arms around Aran’s chest. Cain also covered him with his blanket and pulled it all the way up to his chin. Aran had never slept next to another person in his life, so his body instantly stiffened.
“Even if you don’t like it, just stay like this. Don’t get sick again.”
Even the slightest movement he made to get away was blocked at once. He barely exhaled, and his chest felt like stone. However, the man’s arms that were wrapped tightly around him, and his back that was being spooned by him, felt so warm that the chill that started to set in was slowly fading away.
It was also an oddly familiar feeling. Aran wanted to ask him if he had slept with him like this for the past two days, but he kept his mouth shut instead. He somehow already knew that he had without having to ask.
He felt weird about it, but it was thanks to this man his body had recovered this far. Also, his prospects for the future had already been decided and it was tied to this man, so he let it be. Aran was gradually getting tired so he closed his eyes while holding the arm that was tightly wrapped around his chest. He was fatigued just by having sat there and talked, probably because he still had not recovered all the way yet.
Cain’s breathing became steady as he drifted off to sleep. As Aran lay still feeling the warmth coming from behind his back, and Cain’s warm moist breath on his neck tickling him, he somehow felt comforted. He fell asleep faster than he expected
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress .com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
7
The Sun was shining bright when Aran opened his eyes. It was a very refreshing morning. He listened to birds chirping here and there, and the rustling of leaves in the gentle breeze. Although the morning dew made the air a little colder than it was last night and he could see his breath, it was still nice. Maybe it was because his body was in better condition and his head was clearer, that he felt a bit lighter and everything looked new.
Aran blinked and looked around, and then he slowly tried to get up. However, there was a heavy weight pressing down on his chest. When he turned his head he saw a large man in a fetal position, burying his head in the nape of his neck while clinging to his back. It was at that moment he had a sudden recollection of recent events, and the refreshing atmosphere became more unpleasant.
Aran spoke coldly from the confined posture.
“Get up.”
However, the man just wriggled his nose and stayed in the same position. Aran tried to gently wake him up but finally, he gave up, lifted his arm, and tossed it away with a frown. The arm was so heavy it made breathing harder, but he quickly got free of it and sat down.
Sensing that the warm body that had been in his arms had disappeared, Cain struggled to open his eyes and look around.
‘That stupid face!’-
Aran clenched his teeth at the thought that he had been swayed by this man last night!
“Damn it……! Waking a person up so early in the morning…….!”
Cain muttered angrily. But instead of getting up, the man pulled the blanket up over his head and curled up like a shrimp. Aran was so distraught that he snatched the blanket away from him.
“How long are you going to sleep!?”
Instead of getting up the man frowned harshly and shivered, probably because of the cold. Because of Cain’s strong facial features, his frown looked even grimmer. His hair was messy and his grimacing swollen eyes could not open properly.
“This……damn…….little kid!”
Cain shrugged his shoulders up high because of the cold and stared at Aran with half-opened eyes.
“Kid, I’ll offer you some advice…… I fucking hate waking up! I mean it, a person should sleep as long as they can. If you wake me up again, I can’t guarantee your safety!”
The man murmured gloomily as he snatched the blanket back from Aran’s hands, pulled it over his head, and laid flat on his back. Aran looked down at the scene with a bewildered expression. He was relieved by the sound of snoring that quickly followed and sat down again.
Even though he was only twelve years old this year, this was the first time Aran had met someone like this……!
‘Don’t wake me up in the morning… Does this make sense?’…
Aran ruminated….. ‘If you don’t wake up in the morning, when are you going to wake up!?’
A long sigh escaped the boy’s lips. What more could he say to the man who made such a terrifying scene, and through such warnings? Aran shook his head and gave up on the thought up. He sat on the dewey ground looking at the fire which had turned to ashes. He used the long branch that Cain used last night to poke the fire, he rummaged through the black ashes without purpose.
As he did that, he pondered to himself. Kajang had been overthrown, the father he respected was dead, and he was chased from the Palace, nearly to death’s doorstep, but yet the sun still rose and the birds were still singing the same songs. It was such a bizarre morning.
..If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress .com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
8
Of course, it was also surprising to be sitting where he was today. It wasn’t that long ago that he thought he would soon be dead, but instead, he met this strange man. He couldn’t help but ruminate over the recent tragedy, but also couldn’t just lay down and die, not after Shaw risked his life for him! Even though he would have to start a new life now, he would survive to see Shaw again. This will be his new goal in life!
“I’ve never washed my own hands, changed my own clothes, or made food before.”
He spoke to the deathly still air.
“But I also won’t allow myself to die because I can’t do anything.”
Aran tossed a spark from the ashes onto the ground and looked up at the densely growing trees that covered the sky. The blue sky that spread out like a painting could be seen in between the leaves of the growing trees. It was absolutely stunning! Even though his life had gone to hell the world was still stunning. Aran’s clear voice rang out like a promise through the forest.
“So you must teach me, Cain. Teach me to be strong enough to survive through this forest on my own.”
When he finished speaking the forest felt still and quiet. What broke the silence was a low voice from behind.
“Damn…. you should learn to talk differently. You sound like my grandfather. I’m getting up this time, but keep in mind there will be beatings in store if you wake me up tomorrow. So leave me alone!”
Cain got up from his spot grumbling like an old man. For some reason, the sound of Cain angrily shaking out his clothes so early in the morning, made Aran smile. At that moment the blanket that Cain had used earlier fell over Aran’s head and onto his body. Aran looked toward Cain with a puzzled expression from under the blanket that was covering his face. After a long yawn, Cain spoke to Aran in an indifferent tone.
“You’re going to wear that because it’s too cold for you. I’ll be fine but you can’t afford to get sick again.”
Aran nodded his head as he pulled the blanket around his shoulders. He was only wearing a thin silk robe, so he felt really cold. Cain had used the blanket all night, so it was covered with his scent. It finally dawned on Aran that he wasn’t a bad person. Aran, who had been fiddling with the dusty blanket with his fingertips, slowly opened his mouth.
“I’m hungry.”
When he thought about it, Aran couldn’t remember the last time he ate. While he was unconscious he wasn’t able to eat, so now that things have settled he realized he was ravenous.
“You slept for two days so, of course, you’re hungry. I occasionally tried to feed you mieum, but you weren’t able to eat it.”
Cain faltered like he was making excuses, but Aran was shocked. This stranger that he had never met before gave him that much care! Aran was staring at him as Cain turned his head with a puzzled expression on his face.
“I’ll have to grab something for breakfast.”
Aran stood in front of Cain, who was moving around like he was doing morning exercises.
“Teach me!” Aran demanded proudly.
Cain squinted his eyes that were barely awake at the bold straight gaze of the little boy whose head barely reached his chest.
“You mean you didn’t even learn how to hunt? Aren’t you at least 10 years old?” asked Cain curiously.
It was a natural thing for him to wonder about. The children of the nobility of Kajang learned swordsmanship and bows from an early age. The men enjoyed hunting and hunting contests. They held important annual events where they displayed their catches and boasted. It should have been natural for a child Aran’s age to wield a sword and bow. Of course, the same went for princes of Kajang who learned martial arts from an early age, except for the third Prince Jung. foolishtranslationss.wordpress .com
” I……”
“I was not allowed to hold a sword or bow”
Those were the only words to come out of his mouth. The reason for this was that an oracle’s prophecy was placed upon The Prince as soon as he was born.
In fact, the Aran was born in the seat of the Heavenly Celestial body (天 樞 星) ‘The King bestowed by the Heavens’ star (Tiashu-King star).
Looking at that alone, he could have been deemed a ‘Crowns Prince’, solely on the merit of being a king ‘gifted by the heavens’.
But strangely enough, the child also overlapped with (天 殺 星) ‘The Fortress of Heaven’, (The Tiansha-‘Killer Star’ or Black Whirlwind star).
There was a prophecy that stated that the country would be ruined if a child held both the prize of King and a Murderer, at the same time. So, Aran would never be allowed to become King regardless of how great his abilities were.
It was ordered that he should be banned from swords, bows, and all martial arts. It was meant to curtail the child’s luck, and prevent him from becoming a ‘Great Murderer’. All because of superstition, stemming from having been born under those celestial characters.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress .com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
9
When Aran was young he was unaware of the oracle, and he would cry a lot because he was denied the same training the boys received. But at a certain point, he realized that he had no choice and had to give up.
“I was not allowed to hunt.”
Cain looked at Aran, who answered indifferently, with a troubled look.
“You weren’t allowed, aren’t you a lively red-blooded boy?”
It was a poignant question, but Aran just kept his mouth shut as Cain’s short sigh scattered overhead.
“It was because I shouldn’t be taught.”
“You shouldn’t be taught? What is that supposed to mean? If you weren’t taught you should have picked it up on your own. Isn’t that your responsibility to learn?”
Cain shrugged as though he was overhearing any response the boy made. After that, he stopped relaxing and started organizing his surroundings. Standing next to him, Aran paid close attention to what he was doing. He couldn’t help with anything, so he just observed for now. Then Cain, who had just packed up his belongings, strode out the path. foolishtranslationss.wordpress .com
“I’m a growing child, I should eat breakfast! You talk like you don’t always eat breakfast!”
Muttered Aran to himself.
“Of course, I don’t eat breakfast when it’s time to sleep.”
“That’s your problem, it’s morning!”
“You’re noisy! I can’t tell if I’m around a child or my grandfather.”
Cain, who was holding a bow in his hand, got flustered. Maybe because he hadn’t gotten enough sleep. Whether Aran could tell or not, he let out a short sigh.
“Are you going to go hunting now?”
“I am……”
“If the hunter makes such loud noises, won’t all the animals run away?”
“Pretending that he wasn’t allowed to hunt…” grumbled Cain at Aran’s nagging.
Aran kept his mouth shut. Cain may have said it without thinking, but it touched Aran’s vulnerable spot, something he had an inferiority complex over.
“…… I once went to the hunting ground secretly.”
Aran, who was following Cain, spoke quietly.
“Ah, yes……”
Aran ignored Cain, who uttered sarcastic remarks like an immature child, as he recalled part of a vague memory. It was a sunny spring day. The hunting contests in Kajang which his Father, his older brother Crown Prince, and all the little princes attended, were such a big event that all the men in the Royal Palace attended.
The location it was held, was a small forest in the North. There are not as many trees as in this forest, and there was also a plain field covered in grass.
Without considering that it was treason to disobey the king’s order, young Jung wanted to see the hunting grounds at least once. He wanted to see the people shooting bows, and hunting animals.
He told Shaw, and Shaw secretly went to the hunting grounds with him. They arrived so late, that by the time they got there, there wasn’t anyone around. As Aran sat on the horse he looked around, unable to hide his excitement.
He was so young at the time that he was too small to ride a horse by himself, so he sat in front of Shaw on his horse. He remembered having more fun than at any other time in his life. He still vividly remembered Shaw’s words as he drove the horse into the depths of the forest and fired an arrow.
“When hunting prey you have to hide your presence as much as possible. You must get close to the prey without ever being noticed, and then you have to cut through the vitals at once.”
Shaw whispered sweetly as usual while he stroked Aran’s soft hair.
But Aran, who quickly became pale, bowed his head.
“But I’ve been told that I should never be allowed to hunt”
“Prince, I’ve already told you that I don’t believe in oracles. Don’t be discouraged if you can’t hold a sword just now. One day others will recognize you too, and things may change.”
Shaw comforted Aran with a smile. They may have been words to appease a child but Aran never forgot them. He told Aran ‘to raise his head and look forward and be confident’. As Aran recalled that moment, he could feel Shaw’s voice ringing in his ears.
But soon the low blunt bass voice erased Shaw’s friendly one.
“Don’t worry kid, you’ll be able to eat.”
Aran woke up from his thoughts and looked at Cain’s broad back. It was no exaggeration to say that the man’s shoulders alone were several times wider than his body. He had a huge solid physique that was the exact opposite of Shaw’s, as was his personality, his tone, his actions, and his facial expressions. He was a man who wasn’t reliable and didn’t act like an adult.
“I have to check a trap so please wait here for me. Something was probably something caught in them in the night.”
Aran’s eyes widened at Cain’s words and raised his voice in excitement.
“Trap?”
Aran asked in anticipation upon hearing about a trap for the first time. Instead of answering right away Cain glanced at Aran and scanned him from head to toe.
“There’s a valley with a little pond not far away from here, we should go there, if something did get caught, it would be better to clean and eat it there.”
Aran, who was slightly excited with the anticipation of whatever beast might be caught in the trap, looked at him again and followed soon after.
If you’re reading this anywhere other than Foolishtranslationss.wordpress .com, it was stolen from the translator’s website. Reading this anywhere other than the translator’s website ensures that the translator may never translate any other works. Thank you.
T/N- Title: ‘Forest of Evil Spirits’ could be interpreted as ‘Forest of Demons’. I went with ‘Forest of evil spirits’ because it sounded more ambivalent/non-comital/mysterious. If you like ‘Demon Forest’ better, mentally replace it, have fun! 🙂
Foolish Translations 
I’m loving this thank you
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Your welcome
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I want to cry🥺
Thanks for translate
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you’re welcome ( ´･･)ﾉ(._.`)
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