The wilderness night had grown colder.
Moonlight filtered through the massive ancient trees surrounding the expedition camp while orange firelight flickered across tired faces and scattered supply crates. The sounds of celebration from earlier had quieted significantly now, replaced by thoughtful silence and low murmurs.
Kel's words still lingered heavily within the atmosphere.
Who wishes to return in the first batch?
It sounded like a simple question.
Yet everyone understood—
It was not.
To step forward now meant admitting limitation.
Fatigue.
Fear.
Doubt.
And among mercenaries, explorers, and nobles alike—
Those things were rarely spoken openly.
The campfire crackled softly.
Cold wind passed through the clearing carrying the distant sounds of nocturnal creatures somewhere deep within the endless wilderness.
No one moved immediately.
Several explorers lowered their heads into thought while others stared quietly into the flames as if searching for answers there.
Some wanted to leave.
That much was obvious.
But pride restrained them.
Kel calmly observed the silence around him.
The firelight reflected faintly within his dark eyes while his black coat moved softly beneath the night wind.
Then—
He spoke again.
"If I call your names personally…"
His calm voice echoed through the clearing.
"…and order you to leave with the first batch…"
A faint pause followed.
"…that will become humiliation."
Several explorers visibly stiffened slightly hearing that.
Because he was correct.
Being removed by the leader implied weakness.
Incompetence.
Failure.
Kel's gaze slowly moved across the gathered expedition members.
"But if you step forward yourselves…"
His tone remained steady.
"…and explain honestly why you cannot continue…"
The flames flickered softly between moments of silence.
"…then there is bravery in that."
Several mercenaries slowly lifted their heads.
"Knowing your limits…"
Kel continued calmly.
"…is better than dying while pretending you have none."
The atmosphere shifted subtly afterward.
Not lighter.
More honest.
Sairen softly murmured through the soul-link.
"…You understand humans frighteningly well."
Kel internally answered.
"Pride kills more soldiers than monsters."
One older mercenary near the fire quietly lowered his gaze.
His left arm remained wrapped in blood-stained bandages from injuries sustained inside the temple.
Another scout rubbed trembling fingers unconsciously against a metal cup.
The wilderness had already broken many illusions.
Ruins.
Ancient civilizations.
Temple collapses.
Unknown monsters.
And they had only explored the outer regions so far.
Kel's voice echoed calmly once more.
"At least those who return now…"
A slight pause followed.
"…have a guarantee of life."
Silence lingered afterward.
Heavy.
Real.
Then—
Kel softly added—
"An intelligent person survives longer than a foolish soldier."
The words settled deeply into the camp.
Because unlike motivational speeches from nobles—
This did not glorify death.
It valued survival.
Several expedition members exchanged glances quietly.
The atmosphere no longer felt judgmental now.
Instead—
Reflective.
One younger explorer suddenly laughed awkwardly beneath his breath.
"…When you say it like that…"
He rubbed the back of his neck nervously.
"…it sounds stupid to keep pretending bravery."
A few tired chuckles spread around the fire afterward.
The tension loosened slightly.
Then finally—
Someone stepped forward.
An older scout.
Thin build.
Sharp tired eyes.
A deep scar running across his jaw.
Kel immediately recognized him.
Darren Holt.
One of the expedition's pathfinders.
Reliable.
Experienced.
Darren stood near the fire awkwardly before speaking.
"…I'll return with the first batch."
The clearing became quiet again.
Darren avoided eye contact initially.
Then finally sighed.
"My legs have been shaking since the temple collapse."
He laughed bitterly once.
"I can still fight."
A faint pause followed.
"…but I don't trust my focus anymore."
Several explorers looked toward him silently.
No mockery came.
Because honesty carried strange weight inside dangerous places.
Darren quietly continued.
"I've got a wife and two daughters back in the southern district."
His tired eyes reflected the campfire softly.
"…I already earned more wealth from this expedition than I ever imagined."
The scout lowered his head slightly.
"So…"
A faint breath escaped him.
"…I'd rather return alive than become another skeleton inside the wilderness."
Silence followed briefly.
Then—
Kel nodded once.
"Accepted."
No disappointment.
No judgment.
Only acknowledgment.
Darren visibly relaxed afterward.
Not because fear disappeared.
But because humiliation never came.
And once the first person stepped forward—
Others slowly began following.
A young mage came next.
"…My mana pathways are strained."
She admitted quietly.
"If I continue forcing high-output spells deeper into the wilderness…"
Her expression darkened slightly.
"…I might permanently damage my magic circuits."
Kel calmly nodded again.
"Accepted."
Then another.
An injured mercenary.
"My left shoulder hasn't healed properly."
He grimaced while rotating the arm slightly.
"…I can still swing a sword."
A faint pause followed.
"…just slower than before."
"Accepted."
One by one—
The atmosphere gradually changed.
What initially felt shameful…
Now resembled responsibility instead.
Not cowardice.
Awareness.
Even Edwin Hale quietly observed the process with thoughtful eyes.
He dismantled their fear of judgment before asking for volunteers…
The mage slowly adjusted his glasses.
And because of that…
His gaze moved toward the explorers now stepping forward honestly.
…they trust him even more.
Kel never once pressured anyone to stay.
Nor encouraged reckless bravery.
Because he understood something most leaders ignored.
Dead explorers brought back no knowledge.
No resources.
No future value.
Eventually—
Ten people stood near the fire.
Not weak individuals.
Experienced ones.
People intelligent enough to understand their own limits.
Kel calmly studied each of them.
Then finally nodded.
"The first batch is decided."
Several remaining expedition members quietly looked toward the chosen ten.
Not mockingly.
Respectfully.
Because now—
The choice no longer resembled retreat.
It resembled survival.
Kel unfolded another map beside the fire while several nearby mages moved closer automatically.
"You leave at dawn."
His finger traced the safest known route back toward the Southern Council Headquarters.
"You will travel through the eastern forest corridor."
"Avoid the black river region entirely."
"Do not camp near ruins."
"And if anything feels unnatural…"
Kel's eyes sharpened faintly.
"…leave immediately."
The selected ten listened carefully.
No one interrupted.
The wilderness had already taught them one brutal truth.
Instinct mattered.
Kel calmly continued giving assignments.
Supply division.
Artifact protection.
Emergency flare coordination.
Communication crystal management.
Meanwhile above the clearing—
The moon slowly drifted through dark clouds while cold wind moved softly through the giant trees surrounding the expedition camp.
The celebration from earlier had faded completely now.
Yet strangely—
The atmosphere felt calmer.
Stronger.
Because tonight—
The Exploration Unit truly stopped behaving like reckless adventurers.
And started becoming something organized.
Something disciplined.
Something capable of surviving the wilderness long enough…
To uncover its deepest secrets.