SML Ch 33

Chapter 33

The next morning, Reynald set out for the northern forest with Heide and Alex in tow. He had considered inviting a few other security squad youths to join them, but it was the peak of the farming season, and everyone was preoccupied with tending their fields—he couldn’t very well insist.

“It might actually be better to move in a small group. If we barge in with a crowd and the Swines catch wind of it, that would be a disaster.”

“True. Since we’re only foraging for herbs and honey, it’d be advantageous to stay light on our feet… Still, Heide, are you sure you’ll be okay? What if we’re spotted?”

“If it comes to that, I can carry Heide on my back and run. Besides, I can’t really tell spices and berries apart, so I need him there for proper gathering.”

Reynald nodded silently at Alex’s response and turned his gaze to the forest. Come to think of it, the Swines were likely just as busy during this season. If they, like the village youths or the Ratmen, made their living through agriculture, then this time of year they would be absorbed in preparing and sowing their fields. The Swines were probably out in the fields, not wasting manpower on daytime patrols. The forest should be relatively safe.

That would explain why the two seemed so cheerful, walking along as if out on a casual stroll. Perhaps they had done this sort of thing many times before. With a lighter heart, Reynald glanced around the area—but soon spotted something ominous. On a branch bearing small spring fruits, something thin and silvery shimmered in the sunlight. It glinted suspiciously—too neatly strung to be a spider’s web.

“Oh, right. Lord Reynald, do be careful. There are human traps in this forest.”

“Human traps? You mean that silver thread over there?”

“You noticed it! The mechanism is a little crude, but if you absentmindedly go picking fruit and trigger that string, it could slice your hand clean off.”

Wasn’t it normally humans who set traps for Swines in other territories? Reynald pushed that unsettling thought aside and nodded. From the Swines’ point of view, humans were just thieves sneaking into their forest and stealing resources. It wasn’t so strange that they’d want to keep intruders out.

Reynald stepped closer to examine the trap. The mechanism was simple: twist the fruit to pick it, the string gets disturbed, and a taut wire swings down with slicing force.

Only a human would bother reaching for fruit hanging at that height. Four-legged animals would eat what had already fallen to the ground, and birds would peck at higher branches.

‘Swines really are clever.’

Compared to the slightly dim-witted Ratmen, the Swines—though also monsters—were remarkably intelligent. Well, pigs are known to be smarter than rats or dogs, after all. Setting traps like this should be well within their capabilities.

Still, there was something troubling about this. No matter how smart Swines were, they were still monsters. They might be able to refine ore into crude weapons, sure—but this kind of fine, razor-sharp wire? That required a level of metalworking far beyond what monsters typically possessed. If they truly had that kind of technology, they’d have formed a nation of their own long ago.

‘This doesn’t sit right with me…’

While Reynald was mulling over the Swines’ level of craftsmanship, Heide was busy explaining what they needed to find in the forest: certain spices used in cooking, wild raspberries from the underbrush, a unique herb believed to grow only in this region—quite a diverse list. Reynald set aside his unease about the Swines’ tech and focused on Heide’s rundown.

“These are what we’re aiming to gather, but honestly, the most important item is something else—the beehives. Even the Swines are hesitant to mess with the hives here, so be extra careful.”

“They avoid the beehives? I’ve seen Swines use torches to smoke bees out of their nests during past expeditions.”

“That would work with normal bees. But the bees in this area are… a little different. I was startled the first time I saw them.”

Alex shook his head with a strangely uncomfortable expression. It looked like they were in for another bizarre encounter. Since the hive lay another thirty minutes’ walk deeper into the forest, they decided to collect spices and berries along the way.

Honestly, between the Swines and now these weird bees, maybe the whole domain was just odd. Reynald had just reached that conclusion, idly picking raspberries, when he noticed a peculiar glance. It was from Alex. Curious, Reynald met his eyes, and Alex was the first to speak.

“By the way, Lord Reynald…”

“Hmm?”

“The guests who are arriving in two weeks—who exactly are they?”

“They’re the sons of an old acquaintance of mine. The second son is twenty-three this year, and the youngest is the same age as you.”

So that’s what had been bothering him. No surprise—Alex was naturally shy, and strangers made him uneasy. The realization that Prince Serna and Alex were the same age made Reynald let out a wry smile.

Even though they were the same age, standing them side-by-side would definitely make Alex look older. Still, somehow, he didn’t seem like he’d be outclassed even next to royalty. Despite the scar over his eye that gave him a fierce appearance, there was nothing pitiful or meek about his aura.

“So why are such distinguished guests coming to a remote territory like this?”

“They’re probably just worried about me. As you know, this land is… well, it’s this land.”

Sensing Alex’s irritation, Heide quickly interjected to ease the tension. Only then did Alex give a forced chuckle and nod, seemingly accepting the explanation. When Heide added the bit about the anonymous sender of those oddly affectionate letters, Alex visibly relaxed and even laughed a little.

Reynald, however, didn’t laugh. That kid—he might be more perceptive than he looks. Truthfully, Reynald couldn’t afford to be too relaxed either.

‘If the princes actually set foot here, there’s no dodging the issue this time.’

Sending both Arun and Serna was, in its own way, the king making a bold move. When royalty themselves come all this way asking him to return, refusing without a compelling excuse would leave Reynald looking churlish. Even if those two had been his students in swordsmanship since childhood, defying a royal request was another matter entirely.

Technically speaking, he could refuse. Reynald had formally retired, and this was land granted to him—his own domain. There was nothing wrong with choosing to live quietly on his own land. The Red Dragon of Mount Rien was long dead; there were no national crises serious enough to force him back into service. So in theory, he had some room to resist.

And besides…

‘It feels too soon to leave.’

To be honest, Reynald wanted to stay in this territory a little longer. At first, he’d cursed the king for assigning him such a remote place, but the longer he stayed, the more it felt like home. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he belonged here.

The population was small, but the people were kind. Monsters were common, but the region had a relatively stable ecosystem. And most of all, every day brought something new and intriguing. It was the kind of place he’d like to remain in as long as possible.

‘Maybe I’ll ask for a postponement.’

If something truly urgent came up—something that only he could resolve—then they could call on him. Until then, maybe he could request to stay here on standby. That wouldn’t be too unreasonable. Sure, it’d technically be a reversal of his retirement, but it still seemed better than being dragged back to the capital immediately.

If he negotiated with the princes directly, he might be able to manage that much. Serna had always been especially fond of him since childhood, and at least they’d be able to speak plainly. Lost in such thoughts as he walked, Reynald was suddenly struck by a sharp, smoky scent. He lifted his head to find the source, and Heide spoke up beside him.

“We’ve arrived, Lord Reynald.”

“…What’s that acrid smoke?”

“It’s nothing serious. The bees are burning coal. Probably to melt metal.”

The bees are what now? Reynald questioned whether he’d misheard—but then his eyes confirmed exactly what Heide had described. He stared in silence at a coal pit burning beside the hive, smoke wafting steadily upward.

In the center of a large clearing sat a massive beehive. The hive itself looked fairly typical—but the surrounding scene resembled a human workshop more than an animal habitat.

It looked more like a forge than a nest. Crushed stones were piled in heaps along the edges of the clearing, and the bees were busy transporting them into a huge clay furnace shaped like a smelter.

After a moment of stunned silence, Reynald finally identified the species.

No way. That was here?

“They may look odd, but the honey is sweet! If we keep working bit by bit over the next few days, we should be able to harvest enough in a week.”

“I don’t think honey is the main issue with those bees…”

Trying to extract honey from blacksmith bees—he couldn’t decide if that was bold or just foolish. Still, considering the kind of high-quality ingredient it could become for royal guests, Reynald could only rub his forehead and let out a weary chuckle.

Footnotes:

• Swines (스와인): Anthropomorphic pig-like monsters in this world. They appear to possess a surprisingly advanced level of intelligence and even practice agriculture and metallurgy.
• Ratmen (랫맨): Another intelligent monster race, often compared to the Swines. They’re generally seen as less intelligent and more bumbling.
• Blacksmith bees (대장장이 벌): A fictional species of bee in this setting that appears to have advanced behaviors like smelting metal—a humorous yet unnerving twist on natural animal behavior.
• Reynald’s domain: Granted to him post-retirement, this rural region is populated by both humans and intelligent monsters, with a strange but stable cohabitation ecosystem.
• Serna and Arun: Princes sent by the king to retrieve Reynald. Their personal connection to him (as former students) complicates the situation, making it harder for Reynald to refuse royal summons.