Translator: CinderTL
The hesitant footsteps betrayed the speaker's inner confusion.
But in an instant, the footsteps regained their resolve, even quickening as they headed straight toward Roland.
The moment Roland heard the unusual sound, his body tensed.
He silently drew the Mithril Longsword from his waist, its blade gleaming coldly in the dim light.
Tracy hovered behind him, her gaze burning like torches, locked firmly on the direction of the sound.
A moment later, sparse bushes parted.
Through the dense fog, a humanoid silhouette slowly materialized.
A clear, hesitant voice followed.
"Apologies for the intrusion. May I ask... are you alive?"
As he spoke, the figure raised both hands above his head and stopped about five steps from Roland.
Even at such close range, the milky-white fog obscured his face, leaving only his voice to identify him as male.
Despite the apparent lack of malice, Roland's vigilance remained undiminished.
Gripping the sword hilt tightly, he replied in a low voice, "I suppose... compared to those wandering wraiths, I still have some warmth."
Upon hearing Roland's response, the figure visibly relaxed.
He kept his hands raised, cautiously advancing step by step, his voice suddenly urgent.
"Please, sir! I mean no harm! But you must leave here with me immediately!"
Before he could finish speaking, the figure let out a muffled groan.
As the distance closed, Roland's brow furrowed.
A delicate face, short dark-green hair, skin so pale it was almost translucent, and...
The dense waves of negative energy radiating from within.
He recognized this face.
It was Lyon, the youth who had stood beside the noble youth from the River Domain Nations when they boarded the ship at Far Ocean Port.
No...
Recalling the information he had overheard while rushing to Trevor's banquet, Roland's eyes narrowed slightly.
Perhaps he should call him...
Mason.
The son of Baron Gavin, who had conspired with the Church of Truth to assassinate King Monen.
"It's you..." Mason whispered, then abruptly stopped as if he had bitten his tongue.
He cleared his throat, masking his momentary lapse, and stepped forward urgently.
"Sir, nightfall is imminent! It's extremely dangerous to remain in the wilderness!"
His gaze flickered to Roland's hand gripping the sword hilt, but his face betrayed no panic.
"Please, you must come with me! My current shelter can withstand the monsters lurking in the mist!"
Before he could finish speaking, even before Roland could react, a sudden, icy pain pierced through his scattered mental power, triggering frantic warnings.
Within the dense, swirling mist, more shadowy figures radiating bone-chilling cold silently materialized.
Simultaneously, the once-silent jungle and nearby swamp erupted with rustling, crawling sounds and heavy dragging noises.
Approaching from all directions, they formed layers upon layers of encirclement.
Witnessing this sudden shift, the urgency on Mason's face instantly transformed into terror.
"Please, sir, trust me! I swear on my life..." His voice trembled slightly with desperation.
"I understand," Roland said, nodding slightly, his mind already calculating the situation.
Though Mason's motives remained a mystery, the recent battle had proven that camping in this mist-shrouded, perilous wilderness was tantamount to suicide.
Even if the man was setting a trap, a known refuge was still preferable to wandering aimlessly through this darkness alone.
As for the trap...
Roland's fingertips silently tapped the cold hilt of his sword.
"Very well then," he said in a low voice, his gaze as sharp as a hawk's.
"Please lead the way," Roland said.
Hearing Roland's agreement, the slightly frail noble youth let out a long sigh of relief.
He completely ignored Roland's cold, scrutinizing gaze fixed on his neck, continuing to hold his hands high to demonstrate his harmlessness.
Then, he turned and hurried into the denser fog ahead.
Seeing this, Roland and Tracy exchanged a glance before stepping forward to follow Mason closely.
Strangely, the wraiths that had previously attacked Roland now merely lingered nearby, as if wary of something, maintaining a distance from them.
Even more bizarrely, the monsters emitting strange noises all around seemed unable to detect their presence, shielded by this "veil" of wraiths.
They proceeded in silence.
Before long, under Mason's guidance, a desolate town shrouded in deathly stillness gradually came into view.
Broken walls and crumbling ruins loomed through the thick fog, and crooked houses resembled the skeletal remains of slumbering giants.
The streets were utterly deserted, the silence broken only by the peeling paint and shattered window frames that whispered of bygone days.
After crossing the empty streets, Mason led Roland to a slightly dilapidated yet exceptionally tall building.
"Please..."
After stopping, Mason turned sideways, perhaps out of habit, and gestured for Roland to enter first.
But noticing the young man's unwavering wariness and his rooted stance, Mason sighed with a wry smile. He had no choice but to push open the door himself and slowly step inside.
As the door swung open, the room's interior came into view.
The furnishings were sparse, and the layout was remarkably simple.
Standing at the threshold, Roland could take in the entire room at a glance.
After repeatedly scanning and sensing for any anomalies, Roland turned to Tracy behind him.
Seeing the pixie shake her head to signal safety, he finally followed Mason's figure and cautiously stepped inside.
Creak...
The door groaned shut behind them, its aged wood protesting the movement.
A roaring fire blazed in the fireplace at the center of the room.
The crackling firewood instantly dispelled the clammy chill brought by the dense fog.
"Please, have a seat."
As if to further ease Roland's suspicion, Mason gestured toward a chair, then retrieved fresh water and placed tea leaves in a teapot within Roland's sight.
Soon, the aroma of tea filled the air, and a steaming cup was pushed toward Roland.
"This... sir, please have some tea."
Roland murmured his thanks but didn't immediately touch the cup.
It wasn't until this moment, under the flickering firelight of the hearth, that Mason noticed Tracy hovering behind Roland, her head peeking out.
"W-what is that thing?" he blurted out, his voice filled with astonishment.
"Hey! You're so rude!" Tracy huffed indignantly at Mason's remark.
"I-I apologize, Miss..." Mason stammered, taking two involuntary steps back as he watched the pixie's delicate butterfly wings tremble slightly. His gaze then shifted to the young man seated in the worn chair.
Roland's eyes were now fixed intently on Mason's face.
Noticing Roland's sharp scrutiny, Mason scratched his cheek awkwardly and asked softly, "Is... is there something wrong, sir?"
"No," Roland replied, his knuckles tapping rhythmically against the hilt of his sword. His voice deepened as he continued, "I'm grateful for your assistance..."
Only after repeatedly confirming that there were no traces of demonic beasts or wraiths in the vicinity did he slowly add, "Mr. Mason."
(End of the Chapter)
---------------------------------------------------------
Continue Reading (𝙆𝙉𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏) on CinderTL• ⓒⓞⓜ
Read Ahead to Ch364 • 𝕱𝖗𝖊𝖊 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 • No Login
🎉 10,000 Chapter Discount is Live. Ends June 2.
---------------------------------------------------------