Chapter 1028 – Lone Hiker

000

Look around.

What continues everywhere is a landscape full of gray trees, grass, and rocks.

In a forest full of giant trees that grow so thick that they reach the sky, he stands quietly and watches above his head.

“I’m hungry… I’m hungry…”

The young man, who had been walking around for a while trying to find people in the same situation as himself, eventually stopped and muttered absentmindedly.

All I have is some drinking water and three swords hanging from my waist.

The food was left in a bag that had been left somewhere.

Isolated in the forest, his name is ‘Cleon’.

He was an adventurer who was riding in a carriage headed to the Four Dragon Mountains.

001

The carriage that Cleon and the party are riding in made a ‘squeak’ sound and vibrated slightly. To be precise, the horse pulling the carriage was not an ordinary horse, but a ‘unicorn’.

In other words, the site of the excavation of artifacts near Eratus, where Cleon’s party first met Attis not long after arriving in the eastern country-

Because I rode a unicorn car sponsored by the company I rode to go there, I was able to complete the trip much faster and more comfortably than a regular carriage.

However, no matter how much he was a unicorn, he had no choice but to stop at the entrance of the mountain range.

Simply, it was because the mountain was quite steep, and the road was narrow for the unicorn to climb.

It would not have been possible if the thing tied to the carriage was untied and used for individual transportation.

You never know what might happen inside, and it was too dangerous and risky to take those precious unicorns into the mountain.

As a result, in half a day, the members of the expedition arrived in front of the huge, old bridge that could be said to be the entrance to the Sarong Mountain Range. One by one, they got off the wagon, stretched, or began to unload the ‘baggage’ that had been loaded on the wagon.

＂Arrived safely.＂

＂It starts from here.＂

When Kuon got off the carriage with a relieved sigh, Laila, who was following him, offered a word of help.

“To be honest, I thought there would be interference even on the way to the mountain range.”

However, as if there was some truth to Kuon’s words, Amelia helped Kuon.

“It’s an exiled church and a returnee… There’s no way we’re missing out on such a big movement.”

＂It may be as Amelia said, but… The Exile Church lost quite a bit of strength due to the failure of the previous attack… So if there is a chance, it is probably the returnees. Even so, compared to the heyday, the number of executives has decreased by two, so their power must have been greatly reduced.”

At Cleon’s last words, Amelia nodded her head as if she understood.

＂Wow-＂

And, an exclamation from the side.

Cleon and the rest of the party follow Sasha’s exclamation and look in that direction-

A huge split valley and the majesty of a huge mountain range visible on the other side.

And, Sasha was seen standing in front of the huge stone bridge that connected them.

She was looking down at the bottom of a foggy canyon, with no end in sight, like an abyss.

Is there such a thing as a fear of heights?…

“Sasha, it’s dangerous to stare at me like that.”

＂Ah, yes!＂

If Kuon scolds Sasha like that, Sasha will quickly pull her body off the cliff.

Even if Sasha’s physical abilities exceed those of an ordinary human, not even her bones would be able to stay still if she falls off that cliff.

If you don’t have flying magic, it’s right to fall quickly from such a dangerous position.

“I’m going next to a place like that… I don’t think I’ll go even if someone tells me to go…”

And looking at Sasha like that, Laila’s body trembled.

“What do you mean, a guy who went to hell and came back?”

When Cleon spoke to Lila as if she were going to kill him, Lila answered him by clearing her throat.

“Hell is hell, and a cliff is a cliff.”

Hmm, is that also true?

Cleon tilted her head as if he wasn’t sure what the difference was, but thought that if Lila’s senses were like that,

He nodded as he watched other members of the expedition slowly finish preparing to cross the bridge.

“Let’s move slowly, too.”

“Yes. When you finally cross this bridge, you will reach the Four Dragon Mountains…”

Amelia spoke as if she felt intimidated by the view across the bridge.

That’s because as soon as we crossed the bridge, we saw a narrow and unorganized mountain path immediately greeting the group.

Moreover, if you deviate from the path while climbing a mountain and accidentally slip-

The mountain was so steep that you thought it might tumble down into the valley right in front of you.

I heard that if you go over the steep hill-like part right in front of you, you will see slightly flat terrain.

Even so, just by looking at it, there was something that stimulated people’s fear somewhere.

“… There are monsters coming out from beyond, right? It’s also quite powerful…”

When Cuon spoke as if he was worried, Cleon nodded.

“If you think about that, we need to deploy an escort formation. Our group might also become a bit divided.”

“Oh, that’s right… I’ll be standing at the front.”

After hearing Cleon’s answer, Sasha nodded and said, ‘I see,’ and confirmed her position.

＂Quon and Laila, who can cover all directions, are in the middle of the line… I guess I’ll be at the front along with Sasha. If that happens-“

“Will Sir Melusine and I stand in the rear?”

Amelia also nodded her head as if confirming her position.

＂Me?＂

As her Schrödinger asks her as if questioning her own position, Cleon looks at her and silences her for a moment, then…

＂Schrödinger is also in the center.＂

＂Aren’t you just hitting me for a while? ＂

＂Could it is… Because they are agile, they can cover anywhere, and leaving a person capable of close combat in the center is a surprisingly reasonable strategy? ＂

At Cleon’s words, Schrödinger seemed skeptical for a moment, but then nodded as if he understood.

“… The responsibility is serious. There are many non-combatants in the expedition team.”

As expected, do you still have limited experience as an adventurer, or do you feel a strong sense of responsibility?

When Amelia speaks a little nervously.

“What. There’s no need to be so nervous. Because we are not the only combatants in this expedition.”

When Cleon looks away while saying that-

There, Quartz and her three students. The sisters of Bangui University were visible.

Well, since Quartz, the leader, is participating, it’s only natural that they also participate.

And beyond that, Kshats also seemed to be treated as combat agents.

Although she will not leave Fleur’s side to protect her.

＂Because there are so many people, the size may be a little bigger, but don’t worry. We have a ‘dedicated means of communication’, right?”

Lila spoke to Amelia, who still seemed nervous.

Contrary to Cleon’s expectations, her nervousness seemed to be because she thought she was apart from ‘Cleon’.

“Oh, that’s right. If you communicate through engraving…”

“Huh. If you do it well, you can also share your senses. It’s no different from the one right next to you.”

＂Then I feel relieved.＂

Amelia nodded her head at those words.

… The reason he was nervous was because he found Amelia a little more cute when he was away from her group.

So, on the way to the place where Artis is gathering people.

What caught Cleon’s eye was ‘Kshat’, who was standing next to the carriage they were riding in and had a rather serious expression.

And it was Fleur who was standing next to her.

If you look closely, Kshat was holding a small mechanical object in his hand and looking at it intently.

＂What’s wrong?＂

Before Cleon could speak to her, Lila approached them.

＂…＂

No, to be precise, I was curious about what they were holding, so I spoke out of curiosity.

Cleon quietly narrowed her eyes as she watched Lila behind her, but she walked closer to Kshat and Fleur after her.

＂Ah, Laila… Actually, there’s a bit of a problem…’

“Problem? We haven’t even entered the Four Dragon Mountains yet?”

“… I think it probably has nothing to do with the mountains. … Probably.”

Listening to Kshat himself speak with uncertainty, Laila tilts her head and turns her gaze to the machine she holds in her hands.

As expected, I thought it would be like that when looking at it from a distance, but it looked like some kind of artifact, and it was something Lila had never seen before.

＂That…＂

“Ah. This is an artifact that acts as a communicator. I have entrusted this pairing to a trustworthy person who works at Eratus’ underwater mansion.”

As Kshat said that, he tapped the surface of the machine a few times.

“With this, you can have a conversation no matter how far away you are from each other.”

“Hey. If it is an object that enables flame oxidation, it also exists as a magic tool. Considering the distance from Eratus to here, it could definitely be amazing. Also, one side is under the sea, right?”

Laila muttered with a little admiration, and Kshat also nodded her head after hearing that.

“Is it similar to the Ring of Convenience?”

Cleon, who wanted to pretend to know a little, said something, and Fleur nodded her head as if to help.

＂Shu Koo!＂

I still don’t know what they’re saying because of the gas mask.

＂You know very well! “

“Well, that’s about it…”

It was one of the few pieces of knowledge that Cleon knew well.

＂Hmm. So? What happened to that?”

When there was no answer to the story she was trying to hear due to Cleon’s intrusion, Lila cleared her throat to regain her concentration.

Then, as if Kshat had made a mistake, he followed Laila’s footsteps and rang her neck, then answered her.

“Actually, it was the first time I had been away from the mansion for this long… So we decided to keep in touch regularly in case something happened.  Of course, I’m also concerned about the employees in the mansion… But ‘him’ is in Eratus’ mansion.”

Kshat’s voice seemed quite serious as he said that.

Considering the flow of the story and Fleur’s background, she could easily figure out who the ‘him’ she was talking about was.

Former head of the Descartes family and Fleur’s grandfather.

It was about Oldburn Descartes.

And at the same time as the status mentioned above, he also has one more thing.

There was a secret position that was not revealed to the public, and that was that the sponsor of the returnee and the person responsible for it was an executive of the returnee.

It wasn’t something like ‘it happened to me’ or ‘I was threatened’ or something like that, but it was something that was deeply involved from beginning to end out of one’s own will.

The story goes that the wealth accumulated by the Descartes family was acquired through transactions with the Returners, and Oldburn is still a colleague of the Returners who still passionately supports them.

“But, even though the designated time came, I didn’t get a call twice…”

If you suddenly lose contact that you continued to exchange even after coming to Asteris, you will naturally become worried.

That is, even after coming close to the Four Dragon Mountains.

＂Maybe something… Something untoward happened.＂

Kshat muttered with a slightly darkened expression, and naturally Fleur shrugged her shoulders when she heard that.

“… Are you okay? Would you like to go back to the mansion even now?”

When Cleon spoke as if he was worried, Kshat and Fleur made eye contact, and then Fleur shook her head.

And Fleur carefully took off her own gas mask and opened her eyes to Cleon and the group.

“No. It’s okay. All employees have been informed of the code of conduct in case of an emergency. And… Even if something really happens. They are all prepared and working at the Descartes family mansion.”

Although Fleur’s voice is small, it is full of determination that can be clearly heard by everyone present.

Hearing her voice, Cleon must have felt a little relieved, and he nodded.

“There! The leader tells us to get together, but if we don’t get together, what are we doing?”

At that moment, Artis’ voice was heard from far ahead.

She was waiting for Cleon, Fleur, and Kshat, who had not yet finished moving, with her hands on her waist, with a group of people in front of her.

＂Hi!＂

Thanks to Artis pointing her out, Fleur is horrified by the concentration of her people and immediately puts her gas mask back on her face.

It still seemed impossible to take off the gas mask in a crowded place.

“Okay, okay, okay.”

Cleon sighed as he looked at Artis urging them on.

Her companions were walking in front of her together.

Then, Artis speaks while holding a map in one hand and a piece of paper with an unidentifiable drawing in the other.

“Ruler! Here is the most perfect and safest manned formation I have ever come up with! Everyone, please follow these instructions and form your formation!”

When she says that, people turn the paper around and move to the location as instructed.

“Artis thought?”

“The inspection was done by ‘Aaron’ from the Eastern Bureau, so if you have any complaints, let him do it!”

“You haven’t said anything yet…”

That’s what Cleon said to Attis, who tried to suppress her own question.

Well, to say it was Artis’ idea, the display was similar to what Cleon talked about earlier.

Perhaps it was because there were experts involved, but everyone seemed to be satisfied and at ease with the reasonable ranking.

Then, naturally, Sasha and Cleon will be at the forefront of the expedition.

“It turned out just as Mr. Cleon expected!”

“Ah. I thought this was the most stable arrangement. Because it’s natural that Sasha, who has good eyesight, will stand in front.”

As Cleon said that, he waited behind him for Attis to give the signal to start.

“If you see anything strange, you must tell me right away.”

When Cleon spoke to Sasha as if asking, Sasha tilted her head.

＂Is this something strange…?＂

Even if it’s strange, it’s my first time coming to the Four Dragon Mountains, so I’m not sure what to talk about.

“Huh. Naturally, there are animals and plants that shouldn’t be here… Signs of traps, things like that. The training at Fairy Village will definitely be helpful.”

＂…! Yes, that’s right! That’s right!”

And she, too, recalled her difficult ordeal in Fairy Incense and nodded her head vigorously.

[Sasha.]

＂Yes?＂

At that time, Ruben, the hunting god who had been quiet inside her, opened his mouth.

[I’m worried about the crow circling above her head.]

＂Crow…?＂

And Sasha will raise her head slightly.

Then, a crow was seen circling above the heads of the group.

“It’s true.”

[It’s not true. That crow has been following us since we left Asteris. It would have been difficult for you to notice since you were inside the carriage.]

“Yes!? Well, then, the probability is that it is a crow controlled by the enemy…”

[It must be very high.]

Sasha swallowed her saliva and took out the bow she was carrying on her back.

Cleon was listening to Sasha talking next to her, so he must have been looking at her quietly.

“First, I’ll drop that crow! It feels like I’m constantly being watched!”

When Cleon nods her head as if she gives permission to Sasha’s words.

An arrow was quietly caught in Sasha’s hand, her strings were pulled taut, and then-

Boom! With a cheerful sound, the arrow made of magical power flew through the air and fell straight into the crow’s neck.

＂Kkak-＂

The crow let out a short sigh, and at the moment the arrow hit, it stopped in the air as if time had stopped-

[!@!@$$!$*^!)@$]

＂What.＂

＂Eh?＂

Cleon and Sasha both reacted in shock.

It was because I just bent my neck in the air and looked straight at the ground – Sasha.

And, the moment the crow’s mouth opens, an unknown language comes out –

From her mouth, a vicious magic circle emerged, and black lightning flew out in a straight line toward Sasha, as if she was cursing Sasha for killing her.

The magic, like Selena’s magic of light, flew right in front of Sasha’s eyes as soon as it was created.

But.

Chin-!

And Sasha was pushed by something.

Sasha looked at what she had pushed away in confusion, and it didn’t take long before she realized that it was her hand and arm reaching out from Cleon.

And.

The moment when the ‘curse’ shot down from the crow hit the arm of Cleon, who had pushed Sasha away and took her place.

Shuung!

As the rotation of magical power enveloped Cleon, he disappeared on the spot.

＂Eh.＂

Sasha sounded embarrassed.

Other people at the front of the expedition who were watching the scene from behind.

“Okay, everyone ready!? Let’s go!”

Only the voice of Attis, who had yet to understand the situation ahead, echoed hollowly through the canyon.

002

＂…＂

Cleon himself, it took him several tens of seconds to first realize what had happened.

I didn’t feel any pain in my body, but the surrounding scenery had completely changed.

＂…＂

[Hey, Cleon?]

A voice came from Galatea at the waist.

[It looks like we were blown away somewhere in the Four Dragon Mountains…]

＂Why!＂