Chapter 1053 – First Night in the Mountains
000
Ultramarine blue sky.
Even in this place where the gray seems to continue forever, time passes, and when the sun begins to go beyond the horizon, night comes.
When darkness falls and dusk falls, ordinary people will wander around looking for places that animals cannot come to while they are sleeping.
Even the members of the expedition don’t need to do that.
Although they were liberated from the ground through the golem created by Kuon, the half-ghost army suffered damage that was close to annihilation, and the magical power of important executives, including Kuon, was depleted.
And, although I woke up from the dream, I decided that it would be difficult to move forward on the mountain today due to the slight aftereffects that remained despite escaping from the dream world.
As a result, the expedition decided to camp near the land where the battle took place.
Even Attis, who had been urging us to hurry up before and even after entering this mountain, decided that it would be necessary to take a break.
This is because it was true that the cost of the entire expedition was high.
“Phew… Okay. This is the end.”
As Laila said that, she placed the staff she was holding in her hand on his shoulder and adjusted his position by tapping the black stone she had placed on the ground a little while ago.
What she built was a fairly high-grade barrier stone that was airlifted from the kingdom through Herti.
It was mainly an item that could be used to form a barrier strong enough to be used to protect major government institutions or the mansions of great nobles.
If Lila had paid for the purchase herself, she would have had to sell quite expensive jewelry to cover the cost, as she would not have enough cash.
Fortunately, the exploration of the Four Dragon Mountains is a large project close to the national industry of the eastern countries.
It was decided that Herti and Duke Miyeom would each take half of the cost for the items needed for the expedition.
‘And Lila tapping that object with her foot…’
As Amelia thinks about the source of the item, she wonders if it would be okay to be more careful with the barrier stone.
Layla said ‘Keuu’ and straightened her back, showing off her slumped body to the point where she pretended to lean back.
Centering on the place where the expedition set up their camp, there is one stone each in the east, west, south, and north.
By drawing a magic circle and pouring in magical power, the technique of connecting each barrier stone was completed.
A four-layer barrier will unfold, and it will be able to keep everyone safe even if the entire party falls asleep inside it.
However, when drawing the magic circle, there may be errors in the details if Lila draws it with the tip of her wand, so she had to bend down at the waist and write many complicated and messy letters with her fingers. It felt like her back would break.
“It’s not something you should ask a pregnant woman to do~ No matter how you think about it.”
Lila said those words without thinking while patting her waist with her hand.
“Yeah, that’s true too! We’ll do it next time!”
“Yes, that’s right! If you transfer it to your notebook and draw it…”
After hearing her words, Amelia and Sasha would be embarrassed.
Although Lila herself does not usually show it, and it is still a time when she is not visible on the outside, Lila is definitely her mother’s reserve with her life inside.
… She doesn’t really have that feeling, since she’s usually flying around in the sky like crazy during battle and using fire myth magic.
When she suddenly appealed as a ‘pregnant woman’, both Amelia and Sasha were shocked and couldn’t help but panic.
And, looking at the reactions of those two people, Lila would burst out laughing.
“I’m kidding, I’m kidding. Now, the barrier installation is over, so let’s have a meal and go to bed.”
As Lila spoke, she led the two people to the side of the tent where Attis’ disciples were preparing her meal.
Then, you would have seen people there making food by throwing whatever ingredients they had into a large pot.
“It’s still a recipe that would make Kuon faint when he sees it…”
Lila may have looked tired, but the disciple who was turning the ladle in her pot was talking.
“Hehe, what are you saying? All the snacks served when we had a drinking party at the wilderness camp were all made with this pot.”
“Huh? But I think there was fried food at that time too…”
When Sasha reacts in surprise when she remembers that time, Lila speaks with her sigh.
“I know. That’s my grandmother’s magic cooking pot. It’s the latest model that came out last year, right?”
“Oh! Did you know! After all, Ms. Laila!”
“… What is that?”
When Amelia asked with a bit of suspicion, her pottery student spoke while flicking the glasses she was wearing with her fingertips.
“Let me explain! Grandma’s magic cooking pot is a magic tool from the cooking pot series developed by the kingdom’s traditional Anderson magic utensil store. When you put ingredients that match the cooking recipe stored in the magic pot and turn it, you can skip the recipe and cook. It is said to be a great product that is made using the principle of decomposition and reconstruction, which is the theory of alchemy, and the appearance and taste of the finished food are comparable to those made by Samsung chefs, and the latest model is quite expensive! However, in order to boost the morale of our Artis classroom—”
“Okay, okay! I know it all without you having to explain it like that!”
When Amelia’s eyes began to tingle at the explanation pouring out like a waterfall, Lila intervened between the two and forced the briefing session to stop.
Then, a ‘popping’ sound was heard and smoke rose from inside the pot, confirming that a large amount of fried rice had been completed.
“… Chureup”
Sasha looked at it and felt herself drooling slightly.
“Now! Then help me put this in a bowl and distribute it to the people!”
“Okay. But what about Artis?”
As Lila said this and looked for her, who had not been seen since she pitched her tent, the disciple answered.
“If you’re a professor, you always stay hidden while setting up the tent. You don’t even smoke the cigarettes you normally smoke.”
“I’m just saying that because I don’t want to spend my time pitching a tent… Okay.”
Laila reads Attis’ thoughts and sighs loudly again, before rolling up the sleeves on her arms.
“Okay then, shall we continue preparing the meal?”
001
“Huh… Huh? Ah. This? This is… A cigarette that emits smoke and smell so small that you can’t see it from that far away.”
As Artis said this, she lightly brushed off the end of a lit candle.
“Compared to the ones that bloom normally, they don’t taste as good… But to avoid the physical labor of setting up a tent, you have to hide.”
As she said that, Attis let out a bitter smile.
And she made eye contact with Aisha, who was squatting next to her and looking at her.
There was a veil over her mouth that had never existed before.
Beyond the light black veil, a special amulet was attached to her mouth like a mask, preventing her from opening her mouth.
The talisman is the talisman of ‘hidden and camouflaged’.
While holding it in her mouth, her presence becomes unrecognizable except to those she has designated in advance.
It was thanks to that amulet that she was able to remain without presence during various events after the departure of her expedition team.
Well, rather than having it in her mouth, it’s more like sticking it to her mouth.
“So, what do you think? Sticking an amulet to your mouth for a day?”
In response to Attis’ question, she lowered her head and shook her head.
She must have been so frustrated, she couldn’t breathe through her mouth, drink water, or eat food.
What was able to maintain her physical strength was not only the amulet in her mouth, but also the various amulets attached to her in places hidden by her clothes.
Nutrient tonic, physical strength recovery, hydration, etc…
But the most important talisman among them.
“Well, that’s all necessary work. Please be patient.”
As Atis says so, she raises her index finger toward her chest.
In her arms is a mask shaped like her ghost’s face –
At the same time, an amulet with special magical power was attached.
“From the living human body, energy, mental power, etc. Are emptied little by little over time, and the power of the ghost flowing from the mask is contained within it. By doing so, the power of the mask is maintained while maintaining the human body. You can control it… No, it’s different. You’re planning to use the mask with that power in your body, right? Even more so than when you were a nobleman. “
Attis muttered, dropping the cigarette in her mouth to the ground and stamping it out with her foot.
“To be honest… It’s a very dangerous idea. It’s so hard to think of it as sane. The body could not withstand the force and rupture. In theory, that is.”
“…”
“But you said you would do anything if you could participate in the expedition with us. So, the great shaman also cooperated. I welcome it.”
As Attis said this, she made eye contact with Aisha.
“By doing that. You want to end your relationship with ‘Darwin’ with your own hands. That’s right, right?”
Aisha nodded her head at her words.
It was just as Attis said.
For her, there was something she wanted to hear from Darwin somehow.
However, as someone who had lost the power of a ghost, just standing in front of Darwin could have been holding others back.
It is said that if you wear a mask, you can regain some of your strength, but I experienced it when I was captured with Schrödinger before that it was not enough.
Unless you save up a little bit of power.
And, to avoid her presence being discovered by Darwin, who is probably watching them.
In other words, Aisha was preparing by pushing herself to become the ‘secret weapon for Darwin’.
“That determination and tenacity deserve praise. Well, when it comes to tenacity, I can’t say anything about it to others.”
“…”
Aisha looks at Attis at those words.
Meanwhile, when you feel the fragrant smell of fried rice wafting from afar –
A ‘growling’ sound was heard from Aisha’s stomach.
“Ah, I’m sorry about something.”
Aisha drops her shoulders, aware that she cannot eat the delicious food, but Attis scratches her head.
“Whew… Okay. Then, should I stay here too? It would be better to wait until the meal is over, because then I won’t want to eat.”
“?”
Aisha shook her head.
It meant that there was no need to do that because it suited him.
“It’s okay, it’s okay. Me too, I’m at a level where I can’t even get food down my throat right now. So, candy is enough to provide energy.”
“?”
When Aisha looks at her with eyes asking, ‘Why?’, Attis says, ‘Hmm.’ She does, and she looks a little worried.
“I guess it’s similar to you.”
He answered with a sentence that he still didn’t understand.
002
“… It might rain.”
Looking up at the darkened sky, Cleon muttered.
It was right after passing near the summit of Chukyongsan Mountain and crossing over to Gwiryongsan Mountain.
“… I see.”
After Uni looked up at the sky, she agreed with Cleon.
As they live in the wild, it wasn’t that uncommon to get caught in the rain, but the problem was Nemeia, who was riding on Cleon’s back.
Due to Darwin’s medicine entering her body, her physical strength is weakened.
It was clear that if the rain lowered her body temperature, she would become ill, not be able to tolerate her medication, and there would be a higher risk of her dying.
“I think it would be best to hide from the rain somewhere. A cave or something…”
What Cleon was looking at as he moved his gaze while saying that must have been Laplace, who was silently flying a little ahead of the two.
Then, Laplace feels the gaze and speaks while looking behind him.
“It’s as if he’s telling me to come find him.”
“… Do you know this well?”
“Keu… You’re doing everything you can… But here, let’s try to help through the spirit of alliance.”
As he said that, Laplace slightly increased his altitude and flew to a slightly distant place.
“…”
Uni follows Laplace with her eyes.
Honestly, considering that Laplace was her original returnee and the one who threatened them time and again, she couldn’t completely trust him.
However, you have to go to the returner’s mansion, and without his information, you definitely wouldn’t have known what would happen to Nemeia.
Having to acknowledge Laplace’s contribution was something that bothered Yuni.
“It’s okay. If you have any other thoughts, I’ll cut you down right away.”
Cleon must have sensed Yuni’s gaze and spoke to reassure her.
Yuni couldn’t help but make an uncomfortable expression, as if she was a little reluctant to nod her head while replying ‘I see’ to Cleon’s words.
So, after a bit of awkward silence-
Laplace returned once again, making a flapping sound.
“I found it. A little distance away from here, there is a cave that was probably used by wild animals.”
“… Are there any wild animals within the original owner?”
“Nothing. In this mountain, ordinary animals cannot survive.”
In response to the question, Cleon made an expression as if he was wondering what that meant.
“Let’s just say it’s because of the guardian of this mountain. Well, considering that, we’re not that safe either.”
“…”
Cleon seemed to hesitate for a moment after hearing Laplace’s words.
Knock.
And he felt water drops falling on his head.
“… It’s starting to fall. There’s nothing we can do, because avoiding the rain is the priority now.”
Cleon said so, fixed the lion on his back, and took steps in the direction guided by Laplace.
