Reincarnated As The Side Character

Maxwell and Gladiolus woke up just as the sun was rising, their minds set on the day's responsibilities. Following Sidgroth's strict instructions, they began their patrol around Calla Lily, a task that had quickly become routine yet still was of great importance. As they walked through the familiar streets, Maxwell couldn't help but notice the local officers joining in to assist. Whether their actions were driven by doubts about his capabilities or by a genuine desire to help, Maxwell didn't let it bother him. In truth, he was simply grateful for their presence, as it meant he didn't have to patrol the entirety of Calla Lily alone. The task felt more manageable with others to share the load.

Maxwell received a call from Sidgroth around twelve in the morning. After exchanging pleasantries and checking in on how Maxwell and Gladiolus were holding up, Sidgroth's tone shifted. "Listen, keep your eyes peeled. The Forbidden are back, and Malacosteus is still roaming about. He could start targeting the town's residents soon, so stay alert."

He hadn't forgotten about their previous encounter, it reminded him that he had intended to visit Malacosteus in the Elemental Forest, to speak with him more directly. Yet, he wasn't about to tell Sidgroth that; revealing such a thing could complicate matters. The last thing he needed was for Sidgroth to think he was out there chasing after trouble—especially with the Forbidden on the loose.

After their brief conversation, Maxwell and Sidgroth exchanged their farewells, and the call ended. Maxwell put his phone in his pocket. The threat of the Forbidden lingered in the back of his mind, but there was little he could do about it at the moment.

He glanced at Gladiolus, who seemed as alert as ever, ready for whatever the day might bring. Maxwell took a deep breath, then straightened up. He wasn't about to rush off just yet—he'd patrol around town for a little longer. It wasn't a bad idea to keep his presence known, and besides, it would give him a chance to clear his mind before heading into the Elemental Forest. He knew that would be a different kind of challenge altogether.

So, with a brief nod to Gladiolus, Maxwell set off for another hour of patrol, keeping his eyes peeled for any signs of trouble. Despite the heaviness of his thoughts, the routine of the patrol helped him focus—at least for now.

After about fifty minutes of patrolling, Maxwell felt like he had covered enough ground for the time being. He stopped at a quiet corner of the street, reaching for his phone. He hesitated for a moment before dialing Mari's number.

When the call was answered, he spoke quickly. "Hey, Mari. Are you busy right now? If you are, I'll keep it short and quick."

There was a brief pause before Mari responded, her voice warm yet slightly uncertain. "Just a little bit. What's up? Did you need to talk about something, Maxwell?"

"I just wanted to let you know, I'm heading into the Elemental Forest. I'll be gone for about two hours, maybe a bit more. But if anything happens, or if there's trouble in town, just give me a call. I'll come back as fast as I can, don't worry." Maxwell replied.

On the other end of the line, Mari's voice was quieter than usual, almost as if she was thinking carefully about her next words. "I–If it's not too much to ask... why are you going to the Elemental Forest? Is everything okay?" She sounded concerned.

Maxwell paused for a moment, choosing his words carefully. "There's something I need to check out in the Elemental Forest. I know how dangerous it can be, so I'll be as careful as I can. But I won't take unnecessary risks, don't worry."

Mari hesitated, and Maxwell could hear the concern in her voice. "R-right, well... just please be careful, okay? I'll keep you updated if anything happens here in town."

Maxwell couldn't help but smile at Mari's concern, though he tried to keep his tone light. "Don't worry, Sidgroth's training hasn't been for nothing. I'm more than capable of handling myself," he said, his voice teasing but reassuring. "I'll be fine. I better get going now though. I'll see you later, Mari."

He ended the call, slipping his phone back into his pocket as he began to make his way toward the outskirts of town.

As Maxwell and Gladiolus walked into the outskirts of town, the sound of urban life gradually faded behind them, replaced by the serene white noise of the open fields. Eventually, they arrived at the plains of Calla Lily. Maxwell paused for a moment, observing over the plains.

There was something nostalgic about these plains. He had never spent much time here since arriving in Calla Lily. This was the very place where he first awoke after being reborn into this world, disoriented and uncertain of his future. Gladiolus, sensing his companion's momentary stillness, nudged his arm gently.

Maxwell gave a faint smile, more to himself than anyone else. "This is where it all started, huh?" he murmured, his voice barely audible over the breeze. For a moment, the weight of his memories pressed down on him, but he shook it off.

"Come on, Gladiolus," he said, stepping forward. "We've got a forest to visit."

After roughly thirty minutes, Maxwell and Gladiolus arrived at the edge of the Elemental Forest. The trees towering over them, their leaves shimmering faintly with hues that shifted between vibrant greens and glittering blues. The forest gave off an aura of both beauty and danger.

Maxwell hesitated for a moment, taking in the scene before him. This was no ordinary forest—it was infamous throughout the region for its danger. The stories he'd heard about the Elemental Forest began to come back in his mind. If the elemental-infused wildlife didn't get you, the forest had a myriad of other ways to claim unwary travelers. The supernatural beings that roamed its depths, such as the elusive and often mischievous wisps, were just one danger. The very air itself was thick with unstable mana, capable of triggering unnatural reactions. He'd heard of travelers who had unknowingly wandered into a pocket of fire-infused mana, only to be caught in sudden, violent explosions. In other instances, water-infused mana had condensed into a suffocating mist, trapping victims in an endless labyrinth. There were even reports of lightning mana forming volatile storms, with arcs of electricity leaping unpredictably from tree to tree, striking anything in their path.

Maxwell glanced at Gladiolus, who stood silently by his side, his body blending seamlessly with the shadows cast by the towering trees. "Well, here we are," Maxwell muttered under his breath. "Sidgroth would probably kill me if he knew I was here... but then again, he's not exactly here to stop me."

Gladiolus let out a low growl, as if to assure Maxwell that he wasn't alone. Maxwell smirked, patting Gladiolus on the head. "Yeah, I know. Let's just stay sharp, buddy. I'd rather not be some wisp's plaything or get turned into mana dust today."

Maxwell and Gladiolus stepped cautiously into the depths of the Elemental Forest. As they moved further into the dense woods, the atmosphere around them seemed to change. The trees above were colossal, their trunks and roots creating a labyrinth of natural pathways. Strange, almost ethereal light filtered through the thick canopy, dispersing glow on their path. The light itself seemed to flicker across the forest floor, creating shadows that moved with an unnatural rhythm, as though the forest itself was alive—aware of their presence.

The deeper they ventured, the more the air around them seemed charged with an unsettling energy. Faint, crackling flickers of raw mana sparked intermittently in the distance, sending sparks of electricity darting around. At times, the very ground beneath their feet seemed to pulse with power, as if the Earth itself was alive. The unstable mana in the air was thick, almost suffocating. Maxwell could feel it pressing down on him, making his senses sharper and his movements more cautious.

Every step they took felt more like an intrusion, as if the forest was holding its breath, waiting to see if they would make the wrong move. The faint hum of magic echoed through the air, vibrating against his bones, a constant reminder that this place was unlike any other. He could hear the distant rustle of leaves—was it the wind, or something far more sinister? Strange, whispering sounds echoed through the branches above, voices he couldn't understand but could feel in his gut.

Maxwell's breath quickened slightly, and he glanced at Gladiolus. The shadowy beast moved beside him in silence, his eyes glowing faintly in the dim light, alert and ever watchful. The beast was noticeably tense, his every step careful as if he too sensed a malevolent force within the forest. Maxwell could see Gladiolus's muscles twitch.

"Now, if I were Malacosteus," Maxwell muttered aloud to himself, breaking the silence, "where would I hide?"

As he spoke, it dawned on him that the monster hadn't given him any details about where he resided. No shelter, no specific location to find him—just vague instructions to find him in the forest. That left Maxwell with no clear direction, no point of reference. He was left to wander aimlessly, his fingers tightened around the hilt of his mace, more out of instinct than necessity. He hadn't expected the forest to feel so... unsettling.

Maxwell sighed, realizing the task at hand was far more difficult than he had anticipated.

"I suppose I'll just have to keep moving," Maxwell thought as he began walking forward again. He glanced at Gladiolus, who gave him a low growl in response, as though silently agreeing with him. Together, they moved deeper into the forest, hoping that somewhere among the trees they'd find Malacosteus.

Maxwell and Gladiolus froze at the sound of a voice, which came from behind them.

"I'm glad that you two have decided to visit me in my home..."