The wilderness trembled for several minutes after the temple collapsed.
Massive clouds of dust rose toward the darkening sky while ancient trees shook violently beneath the force of the destruction. The ground itself cracked in several places around the ruined mountain slope as gigantic sections of black stone disappeared beneath collapsing earth and roots.
Then gradually—
Silence returned.
Cold wind moved softly through the forest once more.
The ancient temple was gone.
Buried again beneath the wilderness.
The members of the Exploration Unit lay scattered across the damp ground outside the destroyed ruins, breathing heavily while trying to recover from the chaotic escape.
Several mercenaries remained flat on their backs staring at the dark sky above them. Mages sat exhausted beside shattered supply crates while scouts checked minor injuries under flickering lanternlight.
Everyone looked dirty.
Covered in dust.
Sweat.
Blood.
Yet despite that—
Relief filled the atmosphere.
They survived.
Kel stood near the edge of the collapsed ruins quietly observing the scattered expedition members beneath the cold wilderness wind.
His black coat moved softly around him while silver moonlight filtered weakly through drifting clouds overhead. Dust still floated through the air around the destroyed mountain entrance behind him.
For several moments—
He silently counted everyone.
Forty-seven.
No one missing.
Then finally—
Kel raised his voice clearly across the resting expedition.
"Is everyone alright?"
The wilderness remained quiet briefly afterward.
Then—
Voices answered one after another.
"Yes!"
"Still alive!"
"Barely!"
One mercenary laughed loudly while laying flat against the ground.
"My legs are dead but I'm alive!"
Several tired laughs spread across the group afterward.
The tension slowly broke.
Even Edwin Hale let out a long exhausted breath before adjusting his cracked glasses beneath dust-covered hair.
"No casualties…"
The mage quietly muttered almost in disbelief.
"…We actually survived that."
Nearby, one younger scout suddenly laughed uncontrollably from pure relief while another explorer collapsed backward against a tree trunk muttering prayers beneath his breath.
Because everyone understood how close death had been.
If they had remained inside the temple even moments longer—
None of them would have escaped alive.
Sairen's voice echoed softly through the soul-link.
"…Humans really celebrate survival loudly."
Kel calmly watched the exhausted expedition members.
"Because survival is never guaranteed."
Far away beneath the ruined mountain, the final remains of the ancient temple continued collapsing silently beneath roots and earth.
And somewhere within those buried ruins—
Vaelthor had finally disappeared peacefully.
The thought lingered quietly within Kel's mind.
The last guardian of a forgotten civilization.
Gone.
Yet not forgotten anymore.
The wind grew colder as night slowly descended across the wilderness.
The expedition eventually established temporary camp near a nearby stone clearing surrounded by massive trees and ancient roots. Several scouts secured the perimeter while mercenaries gathered firewood beneath dim moonlight.
Tonight—
No one complained about work.
Because the mood had changed entirely.
The atmosphere no longer carried fear.
Nor tension.
Only relief.
Wonder.
Excitement.
Massive campfires soon illuminated the clearing while warm orange light pushed back the darkness surrounding the expedition. The smell of roasted meat gradually spread through the cold air while mages heated preserved supplies and boiled medicinal tea using controlled flame spells.
And slowly—
The camp became lively again.
Louder than before.
Because now—
Everyone fully understood what they gained from the ruins.
Not merely treasure.
Knowledge.
Forgotten medicine.
Ancient history.
Combat artifacts.
Rare materials.
Theories capable of reshaping magical understanding itself.
Even the rough mercenaries recognized it now.
What they discovered inside the temple…
Would eventually change the South forever.
Perhaps even the Empire.
One mercenary raised a metal cup loudly beside the campfire.
"To the creepy ancient scholar!"
Several people immediately laughed.
"And to surviving collapsing temples!"
Another shouted.
"AND TO NEVER ENTERING ANOTHER ONE AGAIN!"
That caused even louder laughter across the camp.
Several explorers began sharing exaggerated stories already.
"You should've seen Garron's face when the ceiling started falling—"
"I WAS CARRYING THREE CRATES!"
"You abandoned me!"
"I prioritized survival strategically!"
"That's not strategy, that's betrayal!"
The laughter echoed warmly beneath the dark wilderness sky.
Kel quietly sat slightly apart from the main fires atop a fallen tree root while observing the camp calmly.
The orange firelight reflected softly across his face while cold wind moved through his black hair.
Several expedition members occasionally glanced toward him now with entirely different eyes.
Not merely respect.
Admiration.
Because without Heral—
None of this would have happened.
The temple would have remained a cursed ruin.
The expedition would have died.
Vaelthor's knowledge would have vanished forever beneath collapsing stone.
Even Edwin Hale quietly approached eventually carrying two metal cups of heated tea.
"You should drink something."
The mage offered calmly.
Kel accepted without argument.
Edwin sat nearby afterward while watching the lively campfires.
"…It feels strange."
Kel glanced toward him briefly.
"What does?"
Edwin quietly adjusted his glasses.
"A month ago…"
A faint smile appeared.
"…I genuinely believed we entered a demonic ruin."
The campfires crackled softly around them.
"But now…"
The mage stared toward the distant collapsed mountain.
"…I almost feel sad it's gone."
Kel remained silent several moments.
Then calmly answered—
"People fear what they don't understand."
Edwin softly laughed.
"That sounds exactly like something Vaelthor would say."
The atmosphere quieted slightly afterward.
Several explorers nearby had already begun drinking heavily while singing old mercenary songs beneath the wilderness sky. Others exchanged theories regarding Vaelari history or argued endlessly about magical applications from the ancient medicinal knowledge they obtained.
And for the first time since entering the wilderness—
The expedition genuinely looked united.
Not merely as hired explorers.
But as people who survived something together.
One young scout eventually stood near the largest campfire holding a raised cup.
Face red from alcohol.
Voice loud.
"To Heral!"
The camp immediately erupted.
"To Heral!"
"The crazy bastard who talks to ancient ghosts!"
"The only man insane enough to negotiate with a temple guardian!"
Several people laughed loudly while raising cups and roasted meat alike.
Even the mercenaries began chanting jokingly.
"HERAL!"
"HERAL!"
"HERAL!"
Sairen softly laughed through the soul-link.
"…You accidentally became popular."
Kel quietly sighed beneath his breath.
"Annoying."
Yet despite the complaint—
He did not leave the campfire.
Because tonight—
The wilderness felt strangely peaceful.
Above the clearing, dark clouds slowly drifted apart revealing countless stars shimmering across the endless night sky.
Cold wind moved through the massive trees surrounding the camp while orange firelight illuminated smiling faces across the expedition.
And somewhere far beneath the ruined mountain—
The final traces of the ancient temple slept peacefully beneath the earth once more.
But this time—
Its civilization would not be forgotten.