Venturing deep into the forest, any semblance of a proper path had long since vanished. The trees towered high enough to cover the sky, and though it was daytime, dim shadows fell upon the ground. The scent of damp earth, moss-covered fallen trees, the sound of leaves rustling in the wind. Small birds chirped in the distance, but aside from that, there was no sign of people at all. This forest was a place even the villagers nearby warned others not to enter too deeply. And not just because of the many beasts. Once inside, the endless rows of similar trees made it impossible to tell where you had come from. Today, especially, a thin mist hung in the air, and even trying to retrace your steps, there were hardly any reliable landmarks left. Through such a forest, a lone man walked. A large frame. A body covered in grayish-black fur. Wolf ears sat atop his head, twitching occasionally as if picking up the surrounding sounds. A bow hung from his shoulder, a hunting knife at his waist. The leather bag on his back held the day's catch. Edward stopped in his tracks.

His nose, belonging to a wolf beastman, caught a scent that didn't belong in the forest. Not the scent of a beast. A sweet, fruity fragrance. And mixed with it, the smell of a human. Edward furrowed his brow.

He muttered lowly, his ears turning in that direction. It wasn't unusual for people to enter this forest. But few ever came this far in. A hunter's footsteps would be more cautious. A traveler would have no reason to stray from the path. And besides—this scent. Carrying around so much fruit. Edward stared silently into the depths of the forest for a moment, then let out a small sigh.