As I lifted my head, the setting sun painted the sky with hues of twilight. I paused for a moment, taking in the lush greenery and dense trees surrounding me. The recent rain had left the roadside grass adorned with tiny, round droplets, glistening like jewels in the fading light. The dew, capturing the sunset’s glow, blanketed the entire meadow, creating a breathtaking scene.
Technically, the path leading east from Mule wasn’t entirely uncharted. To the west lay the pitch-black forest, and to the north, a barren wasteland. The path we were on was somewhere between the road to the eastern city and the uncharted territories. It wasn’t a well-trodden path, but it wasn’t completely unexplored either.
“Are we there yet, Hyung?” Ahn Hyun asked, curiosity piqued as I stood still. I shook my head and pointed towards the endless horizon.
“Not yet. We just need to cross this meadow. Once we do, the Blue Mountains will appear, and we’ll reach our destination.”
“The Blue Mountains?”
“Yeah, from a distance, they look blue because of the way the mountains cluster together. That’s what they’re called on the map. It’s said to be the boundary between the small town of Mule and the uncharted region northeast towards Eden.”
Ahn Hyun nodded a couple of times, seemingly accepting my explanation without fully grasping it.
It seemed we were on the right track. Despite my unease about exploring the Scream Cave, a place I hadn’t visited in ages, I remembered this meadow clearly. I also recalled which entrance to take in the Blue Mountains and which paths to follow. It was the first ruin I discovered during my initial exploration, so the memory was vivid.
The group behind me remained silent, likely exhausted from the recent battle with fourteen stone gargoyles. They all looked worn out, eager for rest, but I decided to press on. Once we crossed this meadow, the Blue Mountains would be right in front of us, and the Scream Cave wouldn’t take long to conquer. The sooner we acted, the sooner we’d return to Mule.
With that resolve, I spoke without turning back. “It’s about time to set up camp, but we’ll keep moving. Prepare for a night march. We’ll rest for 20 minutes now. Use this time to make any necessary preparations.”
Surprisingly, no one complained about my orders. Even the younger members exchanged glances before settling down on the damp ground without hesitation.
The kids had grown physically, but mentally, they still had a long way to go. However, this expedition, especially the battle with the Radolfs, seemed to be a turning point. Previously, I handled most of the combat, but recently, they were pulling their weight. Initially awkward, they soon realized their skills were effective against monsters. They were no longer newcomers.
There was even a subtle rivalry forming. If they continued to grow like this, they’d be quite capable by the time we left Mule. The thought brought a soft smile to my face. I sat down and pulled out a cigarette. Jung Ha-yeon often pleaded with me to quit, saying it was bad for my health, but I couldn’t comply.
As I lit the cigarette, the camp became a flurry of activity, everyone preparing for the night march. Moving at night was risky, but in this open meadow, it didn’t make much difference. Besides, with the increasing frequency of monster encounters, camping now wouldn’t guarantee a peaceful morning.
Just last night, we were ambushed by mountain goblins while camping in the forest. Although the traps and alarms set by our three mages dealt with them, the fact remained that we were attacked. (Incidentally, An Sol and Vivian, who were on watch, had fallen asleep leaning against each other.)
In this open meadow, defensive spells were less effective. If a horde of gargoyles or Radolfs charged at us, we’d be in trouble. To avoid such nuisances, I decided on a night march.
As I finished my cigarette, I sensed someone approaching from behind. A small weight leaned against my back, and a familiar voice spoke in a languid tone.
“Kim Su-hyun, I have a question.”
“Go ahead.”
“Really? Thanks. Then I’ll ask.”
“Don’t thank me… and if you bite my shoulder, you’re dead.”
Vivian, who had been about to bite my shoulder, snapped her mouth shut with a clatter of teeth at my warning. I flicked her forehead lightly, and she squirmed, seemingly wanting more. I immediately regretted hitting her.
After a brief tussle, Vivian finally spoke seriously. “My bag was too heavy.”
”…….”
“When I checked, it was full of equipment I’d never seen before.”
I glanced at the kids. Ahn Hyun was massaging his legs, Yoo Jung was tossing and catching a stone, and An Sol was tending to her feet beside Ahn Hyun. After confirming they were occupied, I answered quietly.
“We had a tail.”
“When? Where? And what did you do?”
“Three days ago, while we were sleeping in the forest. I killed them all.”
“Hmm. I had no idea. But why did you put everything in my bag?”
“I didn’t want the kids to know.”
“Protecting them?”
“No.”
I firmly denied it. My reasoning was different. Their minds were still maturing, and I didn’t want to introduce unnecessary complications. They’d seen death before, but someone like An Sol might be shaken. I tossed the spent cigarette away and continued.
“They’re doing well, and I don’t want to disrupt that with new variables. They’re unpredictable. Besides, they’ve only been in the true Hall Plain for two months. They’ve had a taste, and monsters are enough for now. Too much too soon isn’t good. They can’t handle it all yet. And more importantly….”
Vivian tilted her head, not fully understanding. It was almost a monologue, so I didn’t mind. Our 20-minute break was nearly over. I pushed Vivian off my back and stood up.
“Soon enough, they’ll have their fill of killing. Users, vagrants… soon enough.”
Our night march went uninterrupted, proving my worries unfounded. Today marked the tenth day. Having boasted to Go Yeon-ju, I maintained a brisk pace. As a result, we successfully crossed the meadow.
Seeing the towering Blue Mountains in the distance, I sighed in relief. The majestic peaks, bathed in a beautiful blue hue, looked like they were submerged in the ocean. Having seen them before, I wasn’t impressed, but the others were momentarily captivated by their beauty before hurrying to catch up with me.
The group was silent, likely due to exhaustion. The effects of the forced march were unavoidable. Even Jung Ha-yeon looked weary. Entering the Scream Cave in this state would be suicidal, so I decided we should rest. But first, we needed to reach the mountain’s edge.
After a tedious 40-minute trek, we finally reached the mountain’s vicinity. I slowed our pace, and as the forest loomed like a vast sea, I stopped.
We’d walked through the night, and now the sun peeked through the clouds. I looked up at the sky, nodding a few times before speaking.
“Great job, everyone. The mountains you see ahead are the Blue Mountains. I’d like to enter immediately, but some of you seem exhausted, so let’s rest here. Eat, sleep, do what you need. And… Users Go Yeon-ju and Jung Ha-yeon.”
As soon as I finished speaking, I heard the sound of people moving around me. One of the two users I called approached with a light step, while the other shuffled over. I unfolded the map and calmly addressed the two women who had come to me.
“I’m going to scout the area for a bit. We need to find the entrance that matches our planned route. In the meantime, if you don’t mind, User Go Yeon-ju, please handle the meal preparations, and User Jung Ha-yeon, could you oversee the camp setup?”
“I’ll go with you.”
“Are you sure it’s safe to go alone?”
“I’ll be fine on my own.”
Though their questions varied, a single answer sufficed to address them all.
Leaving behind the concerned and slightly sullen looks of the two women, I set off. Once I found the entrance, it would be as good as having discovered the Screaming Cave itself. I knew the paths beyond by heart. With that thought, I pushed through the tall grass and moved forward.
It didn’t take long to find the entrance. It wasn’t exactly as I remembered, but back then, I distinctly recalled the massive trees forming a twisted triangle at the entrance, with bushes spreading out in a U-shape on either side. It was unique enough to stick in my memory. The caravan leader at the time had insisted it was worth investigating, and sure enough, we found the cave. Of course, that leader ended up getting killed by the creature inside with a single blow.
Anyway, combining my memories of the direction the caravan came from and the layout of the trees and bushes, finding the entrance wasn’t too difficult. I didn’t even need a third eye for this.
When I returned, I found the group already fast asleep. Impressively, Shin Sang-yong was keeping watch alone. I could easily imagine that no one else wanted to take the shift, so he volunteered. He was struggling to keep his eyes open, shaking his head to stay awake.
I approached him quickly, placing a hand on his shoulder. “You should get some rest.”
“Oh, Leader. You’re back… Haha. No, it’s fine. You must be more exhausted than us, leading the caravan. I’ll keep watch since I’m already here. Besides, User Go Yeon-ju assured us the area is safe, so…”
His words were considerate, but I gently pushed him toward his sleeping bag with a cheerful tone. “It’s almost morning, so one person on watch is enough. Visibility is good. Let’s switch now. You’ve done well on the night march.”
“But…”
Shin Sang-yong continued to protest until I was nearly annoyed, and only then did he finally crawl into his sleeping bag. He bowed deeply to me and pointed to the food Go Yeon-ju had prepared. I assured him I’d help myself and took a moment to survey the surroundings.
We were truly on the brink of reaching the Screaming Cave.
---------------------------= Author’s Note ---------------------------=
Hello, this is Ro Yujin.
I’d love to write, “And so, we arrived at the Screaming Cave,” but that wouldn’t be right, would it? :)
I injured my finger while showering today, accidentally slicing my left thumb with a razor blade. It wouldn’t stop bleeding for a while, which was quite alarming. Thankfully, it’s my left thumb, so typing isn’t too affected, but it still feels strange. Haha.
PS. Thank you so much to everyone who sent recommendations, comments, and coupons. (__) Why did I receive so many coupons today? Is it just my imagination, or do I hear whispers urging me to hurry up with Go Yeon-ju?!
『 Reader Replies 』
Oh, you’re the one who asked about the “recollection” part before! Congratulations on being first! It seems like it’s your first time being first, so extra congratulations. Keep it up… Just kidding.
Saramin: Private tutoring is great. Especially if the tutor is a pretty older sister. Ahem. Unfortunately, I never experienced such a romance during my school days. ㅜ.ㅠ
hohokoya1: Haha, thank you. I don’t plan for the Screaming Cave to be as long as the Ruined Lab. We’ll deal with what needs dealing with, get what we need, and then move on! I hope my beloved character Hanbyeol becomes as popular as Go Yeon-ju. :D
SanIkerJIN: Oh, I’m feeling better, but this sore throat just won’t go away. ㅜ.ㅠ Thank you for waiting. I hope you’re feeling better when you read this episode. (__)
Off2Love19: Yes, yes? I’m a guy. Why do you keep saying otherwise? ㅜ.ㅠ Please don’t do this. (ㅌㅌ!)
juan: Hmm, rather than Go Yeon-ju, maybe a storm with Ahn Hyun, or with Park Dong-geol… Haha, just kidding. Please don’t take it seriously! I mean it. Really.
FantasyGod: Haha, I was about to say thank you, but your username made me pause. Ahem. Some parts are original, some are modified, but I’ll do my best to ensure it’s enjoyable for you. :)
StrongestSaint: I’m so sorry. But I love you. (?!) How’s the pace today?! 10 out of 10?
Blami: Of course! Suhyun doesn’t just go with anyone. He’s a high-class guy. Your analogy made me laugh so much. ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ.
zoara2: I’m not going. Not going. Definitely not going.
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