I Have No Intention Of Training The Male Leads - Chapter 19 Part 2

Eve could hear the commotion from downstairs even before she opened the door. There seemed to be quite a few people. There might not even be any seats left in the dining area. After carefully locking her door, Eve went downstairs. 

As expected, there were no empty seats. Eve apologized and joined a table for four where three people were already sitting. Everyone in the inn seemed to be construction workers, judging by their dust-covered jackets and mugs of beer, chatting boisterously amongst themselves.

The people she joined were no different. They were discussing things like who slacked off today and who got hurt while goofing off, all while enjoying their beer. Their accents and ways of speaking were subtly different from each other.

Eve listened to their conversation quietly. When a plate of warm, coarse bread, beef stew with tomatoes, and a glass of clear lager beer was placed in front of her, she smiled brightly and thanked the server.

Taking a bite of the dark, grainy bread, she scooped up a piece of tender beef with her spoon and savored the rich flavors that filled her mouth, all the while paying close attention to the voices around her.

‘What? A hot spring? Wow, so that’s why they’re doing all this construction. Well, I guess the days of relying solely on dairy farming are over. Are they trying to turn this place into a tourist destination? No wonder the accommodations were so nice.’

A hot spring… If properly managed, it could be a gold mine. Eve thought enviously as she diligently scooped up the stew with her spoon. Soon, her plate was empty.

It seemed that young boys hoping to find work occasionally visited the inn, as Eve’s presence didn’t stand out much. Throughout her meal, some of the more nosy workers advised her to look for a different job, saying construction work was too harsh for a young lad like her, to which she responded with an ‘Ahaha,’ and a smile.

After finishing the last of her beer, Eve ordered another glass. She began to wander around the pub, casually mingling with the workers and searching for locals who could provide her with more information.

The workers found the young man, who approached them with a friendly ‘Hey, brother,’ endearing, especially since he was already slightly tipsy. They readily answered Eve’s questions without much thought.

“A white forest?”

“Yes, I heard there’s a place like that somewhere in the Great Forest.”

“What’s that…? Robby, you know anything about that?”

“Isn’t it the White Pine Forest?”

“Hey, the government cut down all those white pines ages ago for some project.”

“And there was supposed to be a massive lake.”

With only vague memories of the minimap from the game, recalling the exact location of the temple was nearly impossible. Eve roamed around, clinking glasses with the local workers, and brought up things she had seen in the game, like the ?white forest?, ?shimmering lights?, and ?a view overlooking a vast lake?, pretending she had heard about them from somewhere else.

“Well, we have plenty of lakes around here.”

“There’s one near that field of wildflowers. And what’s that… those glowing mushrooms?”

“Right, right! There’s a huge lake near that Moon Shroom colony. Yeah.” 

“Yeah, I remember seeing a strange, abandoned building near there when I went mushroom hunting.”

“Abandoned?” 

Eve’s eyes lit up. The man with a shiny bald head scratched his head in response to her question. 

“It was a long time ago, so my memory’s a bit fuzzy… but it didn’t look like a place anyone would live. It had a weird shape, with a hole right through the ceiling.”

“Yikes! Don’t banshees or something come out of places like that?”

Eve feigned fear, bringing up ghost stories, prompting the man to burst into hearty laughter and wave his hand dismissively.

“Nonsense! It was just an old, strange-looking building. I took a peek from the entrance and quickly left.”

“You said it was near the Moon Shroom colony?”

“Yeah, I remember it because back then, everyone in town was obsessed with picking those mushrooms…”

The conversation gradually veered off course, shifting to the topic of edible mushrooms found in the Great Forest. Eve gulped down her beer as two men engaged in a heated debate over whether or not White Stag Horn Mushrooms were edible.

Although she still had no clue how to navigate the vast forest, Eve found comfort in the fact that she at least had a starting point.

After finishing her meal, she dropped off a mountain of laundry before heading back to her room to get some sleep. Despite her afternoon nap, sleep came easily as soon as her head hit the pillow.

?

After arriving in the territory, Eve dedicated herself to gathering information. Pretending to look for work, she wandered around the area, and at night, she frequented old restaurants and pubs, mingling with the locals and engaging in conversations.

However, unable to acquire any substantial leads beyond what she had learned on her first day, Eve decided to pack her bags after a week and explore the Great Forest herself.

Conscious of the possibility of being followed, Eve pretended to be returning to her hometown after failing to find employment. The innkeeper and the cook, who had grown fond of her, packed extra food, like potatoes and canned goods, for her long journey.

The people of the North, though initially appearing intimidating with their large builds and stern expressions, were surprisingly warm-hearted. Thanks to their generosity, Eve had enjoyed countless free drinks during her information-gathering period. She smiled, remembering their kindness, and tossed a few potatoes into the campfire.

The flames cast a warm glow on her face. Eve poked the fire with a long stick, making sure the potatoes wouldn’t burn. Although she had already finished the sandwich she’d packed from the inn that morning, she was still hungry.

As night fell, Eve set up camp at a spot she had scouted out earlier and started a fire. She wasn’t particularly worried about wild beasts, but the nights in the North were surprisingly chilly, despite it being early autumn. She buttoned up her thin jacket and stared into the heart of the flames.

Edward had tried to steal the crystal, although it turned out to be a fake. Eve was certain that he knew about the ritual to summon the god. His knowledge of the ?Forgotten God? was probably far more extensive than what he had revealed to her. The books he had shown her were clearly just empty shells, with all the important parts omitted.

However, she hadn’t noticed any suspicious activity in the North. Perhaps William had deterred them, or they simply didn’t know the location of the temple where the god could be summoned.

Eve was leaning towards the latter. She had to complete her search before the man’s pursuit caught up to her. If Edward discovered her location, she would be apprehended as a noble killer, regardless of the ending.

However, Eve decided not to rush. This wasn’t nearly as challenging as navigating uncharted dungeons and battling bizarre monsters. Panicking and letting her thoughts cloud her judgment would only lead to failure.

Guided by the wisdom she had gained through years of hardship, Eve meticulously searched the forest, making sure to rest and replenish her stamina whenever needed.

After the potatoes had cooked through, Eve carefully removed them from the fire and peeled off the skin, revealing the fluffy, steaming insides. She took a bite, only to let out a hiss and exhale a cloud of white steam, her mouth burning from the intense heat.

Swallowing the remaining crumbs, she stared blankly at the dancing flames, lost in thought.

‘I guess I’ll make a wish, just like before. If he puts me through all this trouble and doesn’t grant me a wish, I’m going to stab him with a pitchfork. What should I wish for? Should I ask to be sent back to Korea?’

When she had thought this was all just a game, she had treated it as such, recklessly stirring up chaos. But fundamentally, she was someone who avoided hassle and prioritized her own well-being.

This world was no longer a game to her. Eve had come to terms with the fact that this was her life now. Only after the weight of reality sunk in did she begin to contemplate the future that awaited her after the ending.

She hadn’t anticipated becoming a fugitive, but she had always vaguely considered crossing the border someday. ‘Maybe I’ll buy some land with the money I’ve saved and become a farmer,’ she thought, trying to recall her balance in her Central Bank account.

Lost in thought about her savings, Eve suddenly sat up, grabbing the machete she had placed beside her. Although she hadn’t heard any footsteps, she could sense the presence of a living being nearby.

Without hesitation, she tightened her grip on the handle of the machete and removed the leather sheath covering the blade. A human silhouette emerged from between the towering fir trees. The slight friction of her hand against the handle produced a faint creak.

Soon, the elongated shadow stepped into the light. Eve raised her hand, ready to strike, but upon seeing the approaching person’s face, she relaxed her grip on the machete and let out a long sigh.

“How did you find me?”