"Paff!"
Accompanied by a radiant glow, Cale emerged over the magic circle. His eyes scanned the barren landscape.
"Fwoosh!"
The wind whipped around, and Raon's voice broke in beside him.
"Human! I heard it was the densest forest in Aipotu, so I thought it was tucked away somewhere, but I didn't expect it to be within the Empire!"
Indeed, the lush forest, the gateway to the Source of the World according to the White Snake Wisha's words, lay within Holy Empire territory.
"Swoosh!"
"Phew! So much sand!"
Cale and his group stood in a desolate sand desert.
"It's been a while since I've stepped foot in a desert."
Beside him, the Dark Elf Tasha smiled nostalgically as she touched the grains of sand. Her homeland, the Desert of Death, brought back memories.
"Just a little way out from the imperial capital, to the southwest, there's a desert the size of two large fiefdoms put together."
Cale responded to the information provided by the White Snake.
"Is this it?"
"Yes."
An inexplicable desert in the heart of the continent. And even more inexplicably...
"Is there a lush forest in the center of that desert?"
"That's right. Everyone finds it peculiar."
The White Snake paused, her voice becoming meaningful.
"However, if this place exists because there's a path leading to the Source of the World, then it's not so peculiar. In fact, it's quite a significant environment."
Cale nodded at her words, then abruptly turned.
"Nyaa! The sand is so soft!"
Hong and Raon wriggled playfully in the sand.
"Let's go down!"
Hong launched himself downhill on a gentle sand dune, bursting into laughter.
"Hahaha! This is fun!"
Raon followed suit, sliding down the dune slope. On watched the two with a curious look.
"Why is that guy laughing like that?"
Cale observed with some concern the seven-year-old Dragon who let out a loud "Hahaha!" instead of a simple "Hehe" or "Haha". Then he returned to the conversation.
"You said teleporting to the forest was difficult, right?"
The White Snake nodded.
"Yes."
She pulled out a map from her bag. A rough map of the desert, but with all the necessary details.
"Here."
In the center of the desert, a forest the size of a considerable fiefdom was drawn.
"If we teleport directly to this forest, we'll be detected by the enemies."
A huge castle stood in the heart of the forest. Suddenly, Cale remembered the Black Castle of the Forest of Darkness and asked.
"Is the entire forest patrolled by a Dragon?"
"Strictly speaking, it's not Dragon Ryan, but a magic circle he left at the castle that reacts to magic. Its range covers most of the forest."
That's why Wisha set the teleportation coordinates in the desert.
"Walking from here, we'll reach the forest edge in about a day."
Wisha was genuinely concerned about being discovered by Ryan. That's why even the location in the desert was fixed quite far from the forest.
Cale didn't object to this. Although, of course, he didn't like wasting time.
"We have comrades in secret bases all over the forest and the desert."
According to the White Snake, elves and dwarves allied with her were hiding at various points in the forest and desert to avoid detection by Ryan.
"So, if possible, I also want to avoid them being discovered."
Taking this into account, Cale couldn't show any objection.
"...I know time is crucial, but thank you for understanding us."
At the White Snake's words, Cale gave a kind smile.
"It's nothing. We're all collaborating."
A Human who had easily defeated Sisko, one of the Ten Divine Dragons, was addressing her with such courtesy.
Gulp~
However, Wisha didn't relax. The brief display of power that Cale had shown to Bishop Horns and her had terrified her.
'If Dragons were like that...'
If the Dragons planning to destroy Aipotu had shown the same attitude as Cale...
'No.'
There was no need for unnecessary assumptions. Wisha pointed to a spot on the map.
"This is where we are now. If we travel a day from here, we'll reach the northern edge of the forest. There we can meet up with a comrade."
After a brief pause, she continued.
"That comrade is an elf."
Her gaze shifted to the elf standing beside the Dark Elf Tasha. The elf in question was Healer Pendrick.
"Under his guidance, we'll head underground."
"Will we be able to reach the Source of the World once we're underground?"
"Yes. I'll explain the method in detail once we reach the underground cave. It'll be simpler that way."
Wisha handed the map to Cale, as he was the leader.
"Ah, that's not necessary."
Cale declined. He had already memorized the information. However, he didn't bother explaining and simply said to the White Snake indifferently.
"I guess we can trust Wisha-nim."
Wisha's pupils dilated for a moment.
"...Yes. Trust only me."
With a solemn expression, she tucked the map into her bag and continued.
"Both in the desert and the forest, Ryan's soldiers patrol constantly. We've already recognized their routes, so we'll move accordingly. I plan to push forward without resting as much as possible, is that alright?"
At that question, Cale glanced at the group of children.
"We're strong!"
"I want to run fast!"
"No problem."
Raon, Hong, and On responded one by one.
"Indeed, they have better endurance than me."
Cale thought naturally and looked behind Tasha and Pendrick.
"Are you two alright?"
At that question, Choi Han and Lock glanced at each other. Behind the Dark Elf and the elf were Choi Han and the Beast People. They had decided to follow Lock.
"Yes, yes! We're fine!"
Koukan, the wolf tribe hunter and the first Beast Person Cale met in Aipotu, hastily responded, then looked to his side.
There was Nia, the Wolf Tribe Chief, small in stature and wrapped in a cloak. Despite shrinking, she spoke up.
"I-I'm fine."
Lock's eyes flickered for a moment.
She had lost confidence and appeared shy. In the figure of Chief Nia, he saw himself when he first met Cale.
'At first, she was a girl brimming with confidence and assurance. I don't know what happened, but I feel a lot of pity seeing how the situation is consuming her.'
Koukan's words echoed in Lock's ears. Unconsciously, he opened his mouth.
"Are you really, okay? If you're feeling unwell, you can say..."
After finishing speaking, Lock involuntarily looked around. Cale, whose eyes met his, nodded indifferently, which eased him a bit.
At that moment, Nia said with a panicked voice.
"Oh no! I'm fine! I came uninvited, but I can perfectly take care of myself physically."
Indeed, Koukan and Nia weren't originally included in the group. They were only there by Nia's request.
"So, I suppose we're all alright?"
Cale, after confirming that even Gashan nodded, gestured to Wisha indicating they could depart.
'Hmm.'
However, his gaze briefly landed on Nia.
'May I join as well, albeit a shameless request?'
That Wolf Chief. She was similar to Lock, but also different. Nia was noticeably small, even compared to other members of the Wolf Tribe.
'Krrrruuung!'
'Go ahead, unleash all your strength!'
'Come on! Don't hold back!'
With the help of Lock and Gashan, Nia, who had exhausted all her strength and regained consciousness, remembered perfectly what she had done during her transformation. That's why she apologized to everyone and carefully asked to be able to observe Cale and Lock's group closely. Her attitude was that of someone who wanted to learn. Cale had no reason to refuse her.
'If she manages to fully control the transformation...'
If Nia managed to fully control the transformation and became the first Beast Person to do so in 200 years, it would be a great help for the balance of power in the future. That was his reason for the decision.
'Well...'
It was also true that the shy way she asked for things reminded him of Lock, making it difficult for him to refuse.
'If she becomes annoying, I can always send her back.'
He could use Raon's teleportation to send her back to the Black Castle. It wouldn't be a problem.
"Hmm."
Cale observed Lock, who couldn't stop glancing at Nia, and thought.
'They resemble each other in some aspects, but they're also different.'
'That chief reminds me more of...'
Someone came to Cale's mind. A leader who ruled a nation.
'She reminds me of Litana.'
The jungle chief. She was the one that came to his mind. She was small compared to the other inhabitants of the jungle, but she was an exceptional thrower and liked to be at the forefront. Somehow, Cale could see Litana in the timid and shy Nia. If Nia managed to overcome her shyness due to the current situation and return to her original personality, then...
"Hmm."
Lock and Nia. Maybe those two could be a good stimulus for each other.
Cale looked away from both of them.
Whoosh!
The wind swirled at his feet. And not only that. The wind surrounded everyone's feet.
- What's going on? Wasn't I the one supposed to do it?
The wind murmured in a rough voice, as if puzzled. That breeze didn't come from Cale's Ancient Power.
"It's not magic, is it?"
Tasha, upon receiving Cale's gaze, gave him a smile.
- Human, human! Tasha has become incredibly strong!
Just as Raon had said, flying towards him, Tasha had indeed become really powerful.
'It's reassuring.'
A smile inadvertently appeared on Cale's face. His allies growing stronger was a cause for joy.
The Crown Prince will also be glad about this! It's a pity we can't contact him.
The Crown Prince Alberu Crossman. Cale had sent him a message with the Divine Relic, but he couldn't contact him.
- Playing.
After a few hours, he received a one-word message.
It seemed he was playing that virtual reality game and couldn't receive the message.
"Let's go."
The group set off. Cale, who was about to follow them, paused for a moment.
'...It won't be possible...'
The Crown Prince Alberu Crossman.
'...He won't be obsessed with that game, right?'
It wasn't possible. That meticulous Crown Prince wouldn't spend the day playing without eating or sleeping, right?
Cale let out a laugh.
'I'm also thinking nonsense.'
He shook his head and hurried to follow the group.
'Right.'
The chilling sensation running down his back was probably due to the cool breeze coming from his companions advancing ahead of him, creating wind.
Cale tried to ignore the scorching heat of the desert, so different from the north, and lowered his arms, which had been raised.
"At this pace, we'll reach the edge of the forest by midday, not in a day! It seems we'll arrive by sunset!"
And with Wisha's words, they hastened their march.
* * *
"...The Emperor has called for an urgent meeting?"
"Yes, Your Majesty."
At the Prime Minister's words, King Dennis closed his eyes tightly.
Dennis, the young king of Har Kingdom, felt a headache coming on as he listened to the Prime Minister relay the contents of the message sent by the Emperor of the Holy Empire.
"Even though the second expedition group has also lost contact, the Emperor's attitude is strange."
"That's right. It seems this matter has become entangled with power struggles with the Church while the Dragon Lord is inactive."
A bitter smile formed on King Dennis's lips as he opened his eyes.
"There must also be a motive to try to intimidate me."
"...Your Majesty."
"Where will it be held?"
A kingdom in ruins. The powerless King Dennis of that place. The Prime Minister, serving him, closed his eyes tightly, then opened them and said with difficulty.
"...If possible, he wishes for the meeting to take place in the Empire."
"Ha. Is he ordering me to go see him? From the start, he's trying to intimidate me."
In this situation, King Dennis had no member of the royal family he could send.
"Sigh. First, Let's have a meeting."
Urgent meeting.
That topic became the main concern of Har Kingdom at that moment.
* * *
"Here we are."
Bishop Horns spoke indifferently, but his eyes gleamed with unease. A man, or rather, a Dragon, limping with a trembling leg.
"Seems like this is the capital. Quite flashy, isn't it?"
Rasheel observed the Central Great Temple of the Holy Empire in the distance warily.
"It doesn't have the same solemnity as the Church of the Sun God."
Beside him, Sword Master Hannah assessed the situation as she caressed the hilt of her sword.
"Haha."
Clopeh Sekka smirked with elegant poise.
"Hmm."
Horns, despite feeling an inexplicable unease, began to walk and said.
"...Let's go."
The three behind Horns, with their expressionless faces, followed suit.
* * *
The sunset reflected off the desert sand.
"Shhh."
Following Wisha's signal, the group stopped and fell silent.
A whisper.
Someone emerged from the forest.
An elf.
"It's a companion."
Cale's group finally managed to enter the forest.
* * *
If you find any errors or have suggestions, please feel free to provide feedback.
Thank you for reading!
[Author – Yu Ryeo Han]
[Translator – Anowa]
[Proofreader – Rai_Mayank]