Translator: CinderTL
After a brief rest, the group—four humans and a spirit—resumed their journey.
Perhaps because the control gem served as leverage, Vanessa became much more talkative than before, diligently fulfilling her role as their guide.
Even so, they were constantly harassed by demonic beasts that still retained some semblance of rationality within the mist.
There were viscous Mud Monsters, flame-spewing salamanders, and even bizarre spiders capable of short-range spatial jumps.
According to Vanessa, these were low-level creatures from other planes that had managed to breach the planar barrier due to the excessively high concentration of magic elements.
This explanation proved accurate.
Though the demonic beasts varied in form—none of which Roland had ever seen before—their strength was roughly equivalent to the Slaad Toad they had previously encountered.
With Freddy's assistance, coupled with Roland's cautious reconnaissance and meticulous planning, each of these monsters was systematically defeated.
During these extermination efforts, Roland deliberately showcased his full power to completely dispel any potential "scheming" the witch might harbor.
The result was that Vanessa grew increasingly silent during the journey, though her pace noticeably quickened.
Enveloped in a dense fog where sunlight struggled to penetrate, the concept of time gradually blurred.
Yet Roland roughly estimated that they had reached the edge of the Mistland in less than ten days since their departure.
But...
"Huff..."
Roland exhaled softly, retrieving two concentrated nutrient potions from his belt pouch. He tossed one to the burly orc beside him, then uncorked the other and tilted his head back to gulp it down.
As the liquid slid down his throat, the burning hunger in his stomach vanished instantly.
"Truly remarkable..."
Feeling his depleted stamina rapidly replenishing at an almost palpable rate, Roland smacked his lips and turned to address the purple-haired witch behind him.
"Miss Vanessa, the effects of this potion you concocted are astonishing. Once we leave this region, would you be willing to teach me its recipe?"
"Heh..."
Faced with Roland's warm smile, the witch merely offered an ambiguous smile in return.
Recalling the strength Roland had displayed throughout their journey over the past ten days, she couldn't help but murmur in awe.
"Instinctive combat skills, crude yet devastating flame spells, and..."
Vanessa was both astonished and deeply suspicious when she recalled the golden aura that had enveloped Roland during their encounter with the salamander.
What exactly is this guy's background? He's mastered the breathing technique so perfectly... he must be close to reaching the Transcendent Realm.
Vanessa considered herself exceptionally talented. By her early twenties, she had mastered nearly all of the Witch Heritage and even developed several secret arts to enhance her power.
But compared to this young man...
A transcendent before twenty? That's absurd.
Remembering Roland's seemingly harmless demeanor when they first met, Vanessa sighed softly, completely abandoning her last lingering schemes.
"Teaching you potion brewing isn't out of the question."
The Purple-Haired Witch slowly raised her head, her gaze passing over Roland to focus on the distance ahead.
"But more importantly... you should be thinking about how we're going to cross that mountain. Only then can we truly escape this cursed place."
Having reached the edge of the Mistland, the once-dense fog had thinned considerably.
This allowed Roland to easily discern the landscape ahead.
A towering mountain range loomed like an impenetrable wall, completely blocking their path forward without a single gap.
The mountain range stretched deep into the mist, its edges forming a barrier that seemed to completely seal off the Mistland.
Witnessing this, Roland asked with a grave expression, "Miss Vanessa, is there truly no other way out?"
"Haven't we tried several routes these past few days? What were the results...?"
Vanessa showed no sign of concern. The Purple-Haired Witch gracefully pinched her skirt and settled on a relatively flat rock nearby, saying leisurely, "Didn't you see it all with your own eyes?"
Before she finished speaking, Roland's brow furrowed deeply.
It was true, as Vanessa said. They had repeatedly changed course through the mist in recent days, yet they could never bypass this mountain range that loomed like a fortress.
Stretching from north to west, the mountains completely blocked any path in those directions.
Unless they forced their way over the peaks, there was no way around.
But forcing their way over...
Roland looked up at the sheer, nearly vertical rock face nearby and shook his head slightly.
Even setting aside the almost smooth, foothold-less cliffs, what if they were attacked by demonic beasts during the climb?
Even with his current strength, fighting in such treacherous terrain would be extremely difficult.
Once trapped in a situation with no way forward or back, death would be imminent...
With this thought, Roland let out a soft sigh.
"Since the north and west are impassable, we'll have to explore south along this mountain range..."
Hearing Roland's plan, Vanessa gently warned, "Don't say I didn't warn you—the strange phenomena in this region originate from a surge of magic elements erupting from somewhere in the south."
"I understand," Roland nodded slightly.
Venturing south was risky, but it was better than waiting here to die.
With this in mind, he immediately gathered the group and explained his reasoning and plan.
However, the outcome of the discussion...
Seeing his companions offer no objections, not even suggestions for improvement, Roland sighed helplessly.
Back when he formed the adventure party with Theresa and the others to complete the Apprentice Knight trials, he had often taken the lead. But even when Galvis and Avril agreed with the general direction, they would still offer constructive modifications.
But these individuals before him...
Mason, aside from the surging negative energy within him, was essentially an ordinary human.
Orc Freddy had a simple and honest personality, but his intelligence... was rather limited.
As for Vanessa...
Just as Roland turned his gaze toward the purple-haired witch, he felt a slight tug on his shoulder.
He glanced down and saw Pixie Tracy tugging on his shoulder armor, her crimson eyes sparkling with excitement.
"Roland! Roland! I can sense my partner's presence!"
"Your partner... is another pixie?"
"Exactly!" Tracy nodded vigorously.
"If we find the Pixie Queen, you'll definitely be able to leave this place! Back then..."
The pixie fluttered her butterfly wings and hovered before Roland, gesturing with her delicate arms.
"The Pixie Queen chanted some words I didn't understand, and then whoosh—I suddenly appeared near the surface of the sea!"
"A spatial spell?"
Hearing this description, Roland raised an eyebrow and glanced at the witch beside him, who was wearing a surprised expression.
(End of the Chapter)
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