Chapter 77

I thought the expedition team would be stuck at the stone gate since they couldn’t find a way to open it.

But when we arrived, there was an eerie silence in front of the stone gate.

An unpleasant stillness hung in the air.

A human-shaped figure lay motionless on the ground.

The stench of blood and something sticky approached.

The smell of death. The aftermath of battle.

It was a sight that instinctively made one furrow their brows.

Armored soldiers sprawled about – it was certainly not a pleasant scene.

The stone gate had been forcibly broken open.

There were traces of magic; signs of burning and crackling destruction.

Faint light illuminated these marks.

I don’t know exactly what happened here.

Perhaps a trap was triggered while trying to destroy the stone gate.

The fallen figures suggested as much.

I slowly approached to check for breathing and pulses, hoping to find survivors.

The coldness felt through my touch was unsettling.

Like corpses drained of all life, filled with icy chill.

Even though I hadn’t been crawling around for long, they were strangely frigid.

Well…

There were no survivors among the cold.

I absentmindedly ran my hand through my hair.

Fidgeting with the potion in my bag before putting it back.

The next room should be full of traps if memory serves.

The anticipation makes me feel dizzy already.

No sounds of the exploration team could be heard, which was strange.

As I entered the trap-filled room, an axe creaked ominously in mid-air.

Its blade was covered in drying blood that dripped viscously.

I didn’t have the courage to look below.

Closing my eyes tightly instead.

I gripped my sword to steady myself.

A calm resolve filled my chest despite the situation being far from ordinary.

Still, I pressed forward…

Driven by inertia and mixed motives:

Curiosity, a bit of compassion.

A sliver of conscience telling me I should help any survivors.

These conflicting thoughts created a complex sense of chaos.

“Ugh…”

A soldier groaned weakly.

He was losing too much blood, missing limbs and crying.

Would a potion be enough to save him?

Before I could fully think it through, my hands were already opening the potion cap instinctively.

Gently pouring the potion into his mouth and onto his wounds.

If he can be saved, it’s only right to make the effort.

Even if some might call such actions hypocritical after killing others…

This world needs even such hypocrisy sometimes.

The soldier moaned painfully before closing his eyes.

Biting his lower lip lightly, I continued forward.

The crimson remains of blood, both burning and frozen.

Is this what hell is like?

Is this how expeditions always end – so cruel and demanding sacrifice?

Maybe…

Or perhaps it’s because human lives aren’t valued enough that leads to such tragedies.

Just then…

“!”

A shocking impact rang through my head.

Some powerful magical force struck me directly.

Staggering, I lost my balance.

My own mana surged forcefully to block the intrusion.

Giving me a moment to regain tension in my scattered mind.

Had I come unarmed, just standing there holding my sword…

I might have fallen right then and there to that chilling shockwave.

It appeared to be some kind of mental magic.

“Hah…”

Just as expected.

The expedition team’s silence had a reason.

People who couldn’t resist, all collapsed on the floor.

Magic was being emitted periodically.

Dun… Dun…

Very slowly, but continuing endlessly as if it would last forever.

My mana continued to deplete as I repelled the intangible magic invading my mind.

Looking around, everyone was down.

Not dead, but eerily still.

I started moving people out of range.

Carrying nearby victims one by one to safety beyond the magic’s reach.

With my increased strength, lifting them like sacks was no trouble at all.

Maybe if I did weightlifting, I’d break records easily now.

Even outside the magic’s range, people didn’t regain consciousness easily.

Perhaps due to being exposed to the magic for too long.

Still, I kept moving forward, carrying people away.

Dozens, hundreds of people.

Mechanically moving them like objects.

A man with a red helmet was also down.

Nearby, Bell with her spear firmly gripped had fallen too.

Did the magic dispel her transformation?

A tail she usually hides hung limply.

Though her appearance normally didn’t show it, she’s clearly a dragonkin.

Having moved them both, my transportation task was complete.

My mana was dangerously low, and I had to leave the rest to those regaining consciousness.

Fortunately, it seemed the magical shockwave hadn’t caused permanent damage as people began waking up.

Some dazed, others shaking off the effects and starting to organize.

“Lord Marco!”

Seeing the person I carried, a knight armored in silver approached with imposing steps.

“Ah, he’ll probably wake up soon, just like all of you did.”

“Thank goodness. Thank you. Did you… carry all of us here?”

“Yes, I found everyone down.”

“Thank you. We’ll never forget this kindness. Might I ask your name? We’d like to offer our gratitude…”

“It’s fine.”

I wasn’t looking for thanks.

And our first meeting wasn’t particularly pleasant either.

Though Lord Marco sent me off kindly,

His overall demeanor left me unimpressed.

Still, I couldn’t just walk past someone lying there.

My conscience whispered insistently in my ear to save them.

So I did.

Since it caused me no real harm anyway.

Smirking inwardly, I picked up Bell and slipped away quietly.

The knight couldn’t say anything more, focused on helping Marco instead.

Servants rushed about attending to the man who clearly led this group.

An important noble or leader indeed.

“Ugh…”

Groans of pain echoed from various directions.

Bell remained limp in my arms.

Whether she achieved her goal or not, I suspected meeting these people wouldn’t end well for her.

Naturally inferred from sneaking into the ruin without permission.

Thus, I intentionally separated her from the group.

The guards outside were rather lax.

They didn’t question us, apparently only tasked with preventing entry.

All personnel must have been devoted to the exploration.

The outside scenery reflected that assessment easily.

Shiver…

Breathing in fresh air made her tail sway slightly.

The tail movement, unseen in humans, was intriguing.

“Eh?”

“Mm-hmm.”

A shy, soft affirmative response.

She struggled to be let down, so I carefully placed her on the ground.

Wobbling briefly before regaining balance, she spread her arms wide and exhaled loudly while standing straight.

“Did you get what you wanted?”

“No. I need to go back.”

“Is that so?”

I handed her the spear we brought together.

Her yellow eyes lingered on me briefly before focusing on the spear.

Gripping it tightly with small delicate hands, she hugged it close.

“Thank you.”

“Yeah. No idea what you’re after, but good luck getting it.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Bell hesitated momentarily before bowing deeply and heading toward the ruin.

Everyone has their own story…

Whatever it may be, I wished for things to work out as I walked leisurely toward the city.

*

“Ugh…”

Fragmented memories.

Clutching his throbbing head, Marco stirred awake.

“I’m up…”

Grabbing his dry throat, he coughed twice.

“What happened?”

“We fell for a trap.”

Shaking his head to clear the foggy mind.

The ringing in his ears sounded distant.

“Where’s the mage? Mage!”

“I’ll fetch him immediately!”

Such a vicious spell.

We were chasing the dragonkin when it suddenly activated, incapacitating us all.

No idea what kind of magic it was.

As expected from a dragon ruin.

Thinking of the rewards proportional to the dangers calmed his mind somewhat.

“Did you summon me?”

“What magic rendered us unconscious?”

“I don’t know.”

“Then find out. That’s why I called you.”

“Yes, I’ll try my best.”

The headache worsened.

Heightened sensitivity made him clench his teeth involuntarily.

Marco grabbed his pounding head.

“How did he escape that place…”

That thought finally hit him.

“Hey.”

“Yes sir!”

“If the magic wasn’t dispelled, who rescued us?”

“A handsome man with a single sword.”

“Handsome…?”

A fleeting memory surfaced then disappeared – telling someone to move aside because he was in a good mood.

“Hmph.”

You never know how things will turn out.

With a faint smile, Marco stood up.

“Where is that man now?”

“He said no reward was necessary and left.”

“Left?”

“Yes. After moving all of us alone, he went outside.”

“Hmm…”

The mysterious man with the screech owl perched on his shoulder.

Definitely capable of something, judging from his confidence entering such a place.

Strange feelings swirled within Marco.

From feeling obligated to repay the favor as a noble,

To wanting to recruit such a talented individual.

Anticipating the grand tale of the expedition overcoming great peril in the dragon ruin.

“First, the ruin.”

“Understood.”

“Report results as they come in.”

“Yes sir!”

After saving the noble and leaving without a trace…

Was he disinterested?

Or simply avoiding entanglement?

While pondering, leaning more toward the latter…

Marco put his helmet back on.

The snug sensation pressing against his head.

The cool, stabilizing touch of metal.

The moment preparations to breach the ruin again were complete.

*

City.

Whereit.

This bustling, ominous atmosphere belonged to the city that organized the expedition.

Thanks to Marco, according to rumors.

The owner of the red helmet I met was probably Marco.

At least that’s what the villagers said when I described him, confirmed by a knight’s comment.

I’ve seen everything I needed to see here.

Perhaps I’ll visit again when I have surplus crops and want to expand trading partners.

With that thought, I casually buried a warp device deep underground.

Covering it neatly with stones where few people tread, making it untraceable.

It was quite an interesting journey.

Hardly a proper ending to meeting new connections,

And most encounters weren’t particularly pleasant.

Talking about Bell and Marco.

Will I meet them again someday?

Activating the device to return home.

Space compressed, everything turned into points and lines.

When the elongated space finally coalesced into various colors,

My view fully settled on my house once more.

The journey that ignored day and night.

Arriving home, I suddenly felt waves of fatigue creep in.

“Welcome back?”

Evan’s usual greeting.

“Hi! Came for dinner! I helped prepare tonight’s meal!”

With a “hem” sound, Anne proudly puffed out her chest.

Maybe because I just finished a long trip,

Their presence felt especially warm.

Wordlessly hugging – or maybe being hugged by – both of them.

Not sure which term fits better.

It was a natural reaction from pure joy.

“I’ll wash up first.”

Realizing I hadn’t bathed yet.

Worried I might inconvenience them somehow.

But seeing Evan’s startled expression and Anne’s smiling face,

Seemed they didn’t mind at all, fortunately.

“Go ahead.”

With Evan’s slightly deflated voice behind me, I headed to bathe.

Nothing beats coming home.

*

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