Translator: CinderTL
Since their first encounter, Roland had detected no signs of deception from Mason, nor could he discern any motive for him to lie.
If Mason's words were true...
"Is the only way to escape this Mistland by land?" Roland murmured, lost in thought.
Retreating by sea would inevitably draw a tidal wave of fishman attacks. The sheer number of Warsaw Fishmen sent a shiver down his spine. He had struggled to break through their overwhelming numbers on land; attempting to do so on the open sea seemed impossible.
Though he possessed the Wave-Treading ability, allowing him to move and fight freely on water, sustaining this state in combat would rapidly drain his mental power.
And relying on this ability to escape...
While Wave-Treading was powerful, it was relative to ordinary land creatures. Competing with demonic beasts born and bred in the deep sea for speed on water would likely prove futile.
Choosing the land route, however, meant facing more than just fishmen. The wraiths lurking in the dense fog, nearly undetectable and invisible, posed an even more lethal hidden threat...
With this in mind, Roland took a deep breath and asked, "Mason, what conditions are required to receive the witch's blessing?"
Though he didn't explicitly state his intention, Mason clearly understood the unspoken meaning behind Roland's words. He shook his head gently.
"That lady... she sees no one but me. Even those I rescued who sought the same blessing were turned away. As for those who tried to force their way in..."
A flicker of terror crossed Mason's face, the answer unspoken but clear.
Despite this, Roland's desire to try remained undiminished.
Obtaining the blessing would mean he could move through the dense fog unmolested by wraiths, just like Mason. He could even use the wraiths' presence at night to avoid other demonic beasts.
This would be crucial for exploring the Mistland and ultimately finding a safe path out.
If the witch ultimately refused to grant the blessing...
Then he would find another way.
For now, staying in this witch-protected house guaranteed safety from demonic beasts and wraiths, providing a secure foothold. There was no need to rush.
As for daily supplies, Roland's gaze swept over the ample food and fresh water stacked in the corner of the room, and he nodded slightly.
Having made up his mind, he shared his plan with the noble youth before him.
Upon hearing Roland's plan, Mason didn't object. After agreeing to depart the following night, he simply reiterated his solemn warning:
"Remember, Roland, no matter what happens, absolutely do not provoke that woman."
Perhaps because they had gained a basic understanding of each other and confirmed that neither harbored malicious intent, the atmosphere in the room had noticeably relaxed compared to when Roland first entered.
With considerable time remaining until nightfall the next day, the two men busied themselves with various tasks, occasionally exchanging a few idle words.
Pixie Tracy, like a curious speck of light, floated and darted through the air, exploring every corner of the room as if embarking on her own miniature adventure.
Meanwhile, after obtaining Mason's permission, Roland strode without hesitation toward the corner where the food and water were piled.
Over a dozen days of drifting at sea, subsisting solely on fish, had long since grown tiresome.
Seeing the normal food before him, a powerful appetite surged through Roland.
As for Mason...
The noble youth sat quietly by the fireplace, deeply engrossed in the book in his hands.
The firelight flickered, and Mason's fingertip lingered on an illustration depicting a crescent moon symbol. His eyes lowered, he murmured almost silently:
"Though the night stretches long, my heart shall be your lighthouse, guiding you home at last."
His voice was as soft as a sigh, carrying an almost imperceptible longing.
A moment later, he turned the page, his gaze sweeping over a line of ancient script. His lips moved slightly as he whispered:
"...Not the eternal oblivion of annihilation, but the peaceful slumber of homecoming."
This second murmur seemed to touch a deeper chord within him, causing his fingers gripping the book to tighten slightly.
"Moonlight soothes all wounds, and tranquil slumber shall finally come..."
This final whisper carried a peculiar, serene strength.
Tracy, who had been floating and swaying on the chandelier, tilted her head curiously, peering toward the source of the voice.
Beside her, Roland, who had been enjoying his bread, paused mid-chew, his gaze involuntarily drifting toward the book in Mason's hands.
"The Veiled Moon Codex?"
Roland had seen this book in Bronson's collection before—a concise record of the Moon Goddess Selune.
However, after the Final Epoch, as the magic element faded, people's faith in deities gradually waned. Consequently, the book was quite dilapidated, and Roland had only skimmed through it briefly.
"Mason..."
Roland swallowed his food and asked with a hint of curiosity, "Do you... worship Goddess Selune?"
"Absolutely!"
Hearing the question, Mason abruptly looked up, his eyes gleaming with joy. "Roland, you know about Goddess Selune too?"
"A little... I know a little..."
Seeing Mason's fervent affirmation, Roland's expression turned somewhat peculiar.
His understanding of Selune stemmed not from personal faith in the goddess of hope, but rather because...
After acquiring the mysterious trait "Shar's Favor," Roland had delved into ancient texts about the Goddess of Night.
Beyond the horrifying calamities personally wrought by Shar, the goddess of darkness, the records concerning her sister Selûne were also remarkably detailed.
However, this wasn't due to sisterly affection; quite the contrary...
Shar's hatred for Selûne ran deep, to the very marrow of her bones.
It was an almost eternal, visceral animosity, a desire to utterly erase Selûne's existence itself.
And Mason, the man before him who worshipped Selûne...
Though the source of the dense negative energy within him remained unclear, if Shar truly existed, this power must be inextricably linked to the goddess of death.
How could someone carrying such intense negative energy devoutly worship Selûne?
Roland was certain that if Shar ever learned of this, the goddess would descend into a furious rage.
Dismissing this almost blasphemous speculation from his mind, Roland refocused his attention on the food before him.
For a moment, the room was filled only with the soft sounds of Roland chewing his food and Mason's gentle voice reciting ancient proverbs.
After satisfying his hunger, Roland walked around the room, carefully examining the outside through each window.
Confirming there were no suspicious traces of demonic beasts or wraiths, he let out a long sigh of relief.
But to be safe, he suggested Mason rest with him in the main hall.
Mason readily agreed.
After instructing the sleepless Pixie Tracy to keep watch, they settled down. With the witch-blessed man by his side and the crackling of the fireplace, Roland, who had been adrift at sea for so long, soon felt drowsiness creeping in.
Yet just as his eyes were about to close, he seemed to glimpse an anomaly.
The bright moon, previously completely obscured by thick fog, appeared to have grown brighter. Through the churning mist, its hazy outline struggled to emerge, casting a few faint silver rays...
Then, a deep slumber completely overwhelmed him.
(End of the Chapter)
---------------------------------------------------------
Continue Reading (𝙆𝙉𝙄𝙂𝙃𝙏) on CinderTL• ⓒⓞⓜ
Read Ahead to Ch368 • 𝕱𝖗𝖊𝖊 𝕮𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 • No Login
🎉 10,000 Chapter Discount is Live. Ends June 2.
---------------------------------------------------------