Translator: CinderTL
Roland stared at the noble youth before him, whose eyes were rimmed with red and shimmering with tears. He opened his mouth, but for a moment, he couldn't find the words to say.
He waited in silence until Mason's emotions gradually calmed, then spoke softly.
"I apologize, Mr. Mason. I didn't mean to reopen old wounds. It's just..."
He recalled the ghostly figure he had encountered at Far Ocean Port, his brow furrowing in thought. Finally, he asked, "I'm curious... what method did the Church of Truth use to save you?"
"To be honest, Roland..."
Perhaps because he had just poured out his long-suppressed emotions, Mason's demeanor toward Roland seemed warmer. He naturally switched to using Roland's first name and shook his head gently.
"I don't know the specifics myself. I only remember one day..."
He frowned, straining to recall the memory, a faint glimmer of gray relief flickering in his eyes.
"I felt my life draining away, drop by drop... I was so weak I couldn't even speak a single word. The last thing I saw was my father rushing into the room and kneeling by my bed... Then, I lost consciousness completely, plunging into a dreamless void."
"When I awoke again, I was lying in a carriage leaving Dawn Territory."
Mason's voice deepened.
"It was then... that I saw the bodies of the territory's people in the roadside ditches..."
A shadow of anguish fell across his face once more.
"As for the rest... Old Butler Laurie told me about it later, about the Church of Truth..."
He added wearily.
"Laurie didn't know the full story either. All he knew was... the Church of Truth had sacrificed those people to save my life."
"I see..."
Roland observed the raw emotion on Mason's face and nodded gently.
Though he hadn't managed to extract more details about the Church of Truth, he wisely chose not to press further, swiftly changing the subject.
"Mr. Mason..."
"Just call me Mason, Roland," the young man corrected, his tone carrying Darco's characteristic sincerity, which momentarily disoriented Roland.
"Alright, Mason," Roland replied, shaking off the momentary confusion. "I have some questions about this room, and..."
He recalled the scene in the dense fog, where wraiths had surrounded them but hesitated to attack, and thoughtfully stroked his smooth chin.
"Why didn't those demonic beasts attack you in the fog earlier?"
"Ah, that..."
Mason's face immediately clouded with visible unease at the question. He hesitated for a moment before replying uncertainly, "It was... thanks to the help of a lady."
"She claimed to be a witch, and then..."
Mason scratched his cheek, recalling his encounter with the beautiful woman. "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what happened. She just said... she sensed a familiar aura emanating from me, and then..."
The noble youth shook his head slightly, as if equally puzzled.
"She claimed to have bestowed a blessing upon me at birth. Since then, I've never been harassed by wraiths while wandering through this eerie, dense fog. As for other demonic beasts..."
He paused.
"Perhaps their presence deterred the beasts from attacking me. However, when night falls, those monsters become even more ferocious, and even the wraiths can't stop them."
"But staying in this house keeps you safe from the monsters, because..."
Mason's mind flashed back to that beautiful face, and he spoke with a hint of reverence:
"This house was also... uh... protected by the lady? In any case, the monsters in the Mistland won't approach this place."
"A witch?"
Roland's brow furrowed deeply at the mention of the term.
He wasn't surprised by the existence of witches.
In a world brimming with extraordinary power, where creatures resembling those from Dungeons & Dragons had recently been confirmed to exist, a mere witch hardly seemed remarkable.
What truly weighed on his heart were the accounts in the ancient texts.
In this world, witches bore a less-than-favorable reputation.
Despite the "witch" in their name, witches were not spellcasters.
Their description more closely resembled...
Practitioners of natural secret arts who worshipped specific deities.
And the deities they worshipped were often far from benevolent.
Driven by their faith, they had committed countless atrocities throughout history.
This had earned witches a widespread reputation for infamy across the continent.
With this thought, Roland tilted his head back and drained the remaining tea in his cup.
Through their earlier conversation, Roland and Mason had established a degree of familiarity.
Though not yet friends, Mason's character had earned Roland's initial trust.
After a few more polite exchanges, Roland cut straight to the point.
"Mason, what are your plans for the future? You can't stay in this dangerous place forever, can you? Would you... like to leave with me?"
Mason was Darco's good friend and possessed a decent character, which was one reason Roland wanted to take him along.
But the more crucial factor was the special protection bestowed upon him by the witches' blessing.
It could repel wraiths and even indirectly deter other demonic beasts.
With this protection, Roland's journey through the Mistland would undoubtedly be much smoother, allowing him to avoid the wraiths' torment and reduce encounters with demonic beasts.
As for a ship...
Even if the vessel by the shore was damaged, it wouldn't matter.
Though he hadn't thoroughly explored the abandoned town yet, Roland's extensive forging experience meant that crafting a small boat capable of carrying two people would be no problem, provided he could find the right tools and materials.
However, when Roland asked about leaving, Mason's face showed hesitation and unease.
"Roland, how do you plan to escape this place?"
"By sea, of course..."
Roland explained his plan in detail.
After listening, Mason slowly shook his head, slumping back in his chair as if all strength had drained from his body. His voice carried a note of despair.
"It's impossible, Roland... I don't know the exact reason, but every person who enters this cursed land seems to be branded with an invisible mark."
"That mark... makes you as conspicuous as a lighthouse in the night once you leave this region. All demonic beasts can easily sense your presence and will relentlessly hunt you down."
His face grew even paler as he recalled the memory.
"I once saved a group of fishermen. They, like you, wanted to take me away by boat... But as soon as the vessel left the shore, countless fishmen surged up like a black tide. If I hadn't been lucky enough to escape... I'd likely be buried at the bottom of the sea by now..."
Roland's brow furrowed deeply at these words.
"Then... why haven't you left this place yourself?"
"Because..." Mason sighed weakly. "The lady told me the blessing on me would only last about ten days."
"So every few days, I have to go to her residence to renew the blessing, just to... barely survive in this cursed fog."
He shook his head bitterly.
"I don't know how to sail, and ten days isn't nearly enough time to escape this desolate land on foot..."
Hearing this, Roland's frown deepened as he pondered the situation carefully.
(End of the Chapter)
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