Cinderielle learned that the attack was a planned ambush to rob the caravan by hearing the conversations from afar. They weren't really trying to hide it either way, so Cinderielle gladly listened.
It seemed that they weren't random bandits as well. Instead, they were a group named [Void Witherwood] who had increased their activities in this area lately.
[Void Witherwood] was a group of outcasts who committed several atrocities to become stronger. They were one of the factions that taught that the System's ability to grant experience for killing was a call and a message, so most of their training was related to killing.
There were rumors that they could also teach Energy Gathering Methods related to killing.
Interestingly, Cinderielle learned that lately, they've suddenly increased their activities in this area because something seemed to have gone wrong. This information came from the handsome man who had tried to approach her before leaving.
'How does he have that information? Perhaps… Is he the reason we were actually attacked? Was the attack aimed at him? The moment his bodyguard showed formidable strength, they left at once as if they had confirmed something.'
She chose not to participate in the conversation and listened along the way.
Time went by quickly, and the place where she was going to separate from the caravan was getting close. 'Finally, the Golden Sap Forest! I wonder what will I find inside?'
There have been a few more assaults from beasts during the journey, but nothing difficult or intense. The most danger Cinderielle went through was the bandit fight that almost halved her Aether Mana reserves.
'Hm… I hope that this doesn't affect my exploration too much.'
Ariel, the woman who had been quite actively talking with her, approached with a smile and a wave of her hand. "Cinder, will you leave soon?"
Cinderielle nodded at her. After fighting together, they had come a bit closer, so Cinderielle was willing to explain. "Yes. I need to complete the mission soon since it is quite important. Honestly, I'm a bit worried now that I have a bit more than half my Aether Mana reserves. But I think I can do it. I've researched, and the highest-tiered creature in this Forest besides Trees has an F+ Rank Tier. Level 10s and above are also scarce and have clear territories. As long as I avoid those, I'll be fine."
Ariel agreed with her analysis but added something. "What you say is right. However, what do you think about me and the others accompanying you?"
Cinderielle blinked, confused. "Why would you do that? For your information, I won't share the bounty."
Ariel chuckled. "Don't worry, we aren't aiming for it. To be honest with you, it's a bit low even if we got it somehow." Ariel answered honestly. "We also have some things to search for in the Golden Sap Forest. At first, we were planning on going to the other city and gathering a person good with plants, a Sylvan if possible. Still, since you've appeared, it's an opportunity I'm unwilling to pass on."
Cinderielle finally realized why Ariel had approached her and had been so good-natured. She lifted her elegant eyebrow and asked. "Ho~, so you approached me because of that?"
Ariel shrugged. "Don't get me wrong. I do like you, and now I'm sincerely offering cooperation."
Cinderielle crossed her arms, looking down at the petite woman. "Yes, but your initial intentions weren't that sincere."
Ariel snorted and acted cutely, something the Sylvan thought suited her quite well. With her glasses and bob-cut hair, she looked pretty cute for an average-looking woman. "Don't be like that~. Haven't we fought a life-and-death battle together~. We are friends now!"
Cinderielle answered flatly. "Oh."
Ariel's lips twitched, and she coughed to relieve the awkwardness, returning to normal. "So? Do you accept?"
'Hm… Should I? Both my Sylvan Quest and regular quest are about exploring, so it shouldn't be a problem if I do so with other people. On the contrary, I've seen them fight, and I know a bit about their strength. While they are powerful, if I were to use my innate skill, escaping shouldn't be a problem.'
After pondering for a while, long enough to make Ariel a bit restless while waiting for an answer, Cinderielle finally agreed. "Okay, you can come with me. However, let me make it clear that if there is even the slightest suspicion, I will not hold back from separating."
Ariel's tense expression relaxed as a sincere smile spread on her face. "Perfect! I'll call my partners!"
Cinderielle looked at how the woman skipped away and shook her head. 'I'm quite younger, but it really doesn't feel like that.'
She walked toward the caravan leader and commented. "Mister, I'm separating here."
The man turned around and grinned. "Little Sylvan, thanks for your help back then. Here."
Cinderielle saw the man take out a small leather pouch with something inside and extend it to her. She took it and asked. "What's this?"
"Compensation, haha." The man saw Cinderielle's surprised look and laughed. "You've helped a bunch, so just take it. It's not that much."
Cinderielle looked between the pouch and him a few times and finally nodded. "Thank you. I'll always take into account your caravan for future needs."
The man nodded with a satisfied smile. "That's good, missy. Good luck!"
Ariel arrived at this moment. "Yo! We are leaving with her to do that thing."
The man snorted. "Sure, sure, sure. Go on and leave this old man alone."
A person behind him shouted jokingly. "Leader, did we become invisible now? You are ruthless."
The man snorted. "Shut up and pay attention. What if we are ambushed again?"
The people around laughed merrily.
Cinderielle took her belongings, and when the caravan passed through a forest patch that was not as thick, she jumped down, and another four people followed behind her. There were three men and Ariel.
"Well, let's go."
They all nodded and dove into the deep expanse of forest, not knowing that their findings would be much more than they ever expected.
As they walked deeper into the forest, their nerves tensed. Every sound that appeared around her grabbed their attention, thinking that a beast or something similar would appear from the nearby shrubs.
Cinderielle was much more relaxed than the four humans. Her innate titles and skills as a Sylvan helped her feel at home while walking through the forest.
As she walked, she spotted quite a few plants that were ready to harvest. However, she didn't do so, as her backpack space was very limited and not really suitable for storing harvested plants.
Ariel asked in a hushed tone. "Cinder, where are we going?"
Cinderielle shrugged. "Who knows? Let's find traces of beasts and follow them. I need to find traces of a beast tide or something similar, so I should go where most creatures are gathering."
Ariel was speechless. Cinderielle asked back. "What's your objective?"
Ariel paused and commented. "Investigate the reason for increased deaths during this last period of time. The mortality rate has jumped high enough that it has become an emergency, and that's not quite good."
Cinderielle asked. "Human mortality or Sylvan mortality?"
Ariel frowned a bit. "Does it matter?"
Cinderielle nodded. "If it is just human mortality, you can't really avoid considering flora. But if too many Sylvans have died, then it is quite clear that the origin of such events is a beast or something that isn't affected by a Sylvan's natural aura."
Ariel's eyes widened a bit, and then her face gained an embarrassed expression. "Sorry, I…"
Cinderielle waved her hand. "Don't worry. It is true that we Sylvans have a tendency to separate ourselves from others." Then she added. "Not without reason, though."
Ariel and the other three didn't comment. One of the men, a tall and slender one with an athletic body, asked. "Cinder, um, well. Can I call you like that?"
Cinderielle nodded. "Go ahead. I have no problem with being called by my name."
The man smiled a bit. "Well, I was wondering. How are you going to create proof of whatever you find here? Do you have one of those expensive recording devices?"
Cinderielle shook her head. "I'll just report what I see sincerely. If they don't believe it, that's on them. I'll receive my pay when my words are confirmed in either case, so it doesn't matter."
Another man asked. "What if things change by the time you take to return and present the information."
Cinderielle shrugged. "As I said, I'll inform them honestly. If they play games, I'll report them to my teacher."
Ariel lifted her eyebrow. "Ho? Quite interesting."
"What is interesting?"
Ariel smirked. "You have so much confidence in your teacher."
Cinderielle nodded. "Have you heard the name Eila Neoflora?"
Their eyes widened.
"No way! She is your teacher!?"
"She is one of the strongest Sylvans in Fortuna City, right?"
"One of!? I think she might be the strongest."
"Nah. That's a bit of an exaggeration."
"Tsk tsk. Are you sure?"
Cinderielle asked with a strange expression. "Weren't you all super tense just a few moments ago? What are you shouting about?"
Ariel and the others became embarrassed and coughed.
Cinderielle asked as she finally found some beast traces. "Is this your group's first mission?"
Ariel snorted. "What do you mean? We are veterans, alright?"
Cinderielle snorted back. "Then, it isn't showing. How about acting a bit more as such?"
Ariel pointed northeast from their position and voiced. "That way, if you want to find a group of beasts."
Cinderielle's eyes widened in pure stupefaction. "You can't expect me to believe you."
Ariel smirked. "Suit yourself."
One of the men coughed. "Cinder, I recommend listening to her. She has good instincts and sight. She has probably spotted traces."
Cinderielle looked at them skeptically but decided to trust them for once. "If you are incorrect, I won't listen to your calls again."
Ariel rolled her eyes. "Are you that confident that you won't make wrong judgments? If we apply your logic, nobody will listen to anyone by the end of the day."
Cinderielle got silent this time, as Ariel's words were reasonably certain. "Well, at least, I'll ask the reasons for your decision in detail."
Ariel easily agreed to her conditions.
They followed in the direction Ariel pointed at, and as she said, they managed to find quite a few traces. Ariel explained. "The vegetation in this area was clearly stomped, so that means quite a few creatures moved through here."
Cinderielle frowned. "Perhaps the beast tide is a real threat?"
One of the men commented. "We'll have to continue investigating."
Their group followed the traces, and soon, they heard a large group of creatures moving through the forest.
With stealthy steps, they discovered hundreds of beasts moving at once in a specific direction. Moreover, there were quite a few different races.
'This can't be a good sign…'