Translator: CinderTL
"Red String of Fate! Hahaha!"
Before Galvis could explain, Avril spoke first.
But the elf girl had only uttered one word before she could no longer contain herself, erupting into a cascade of clear, ringing laughter.
Her shoulders shook with mirth as her mischievous gaze darted between Roland and Galvis.
"I never would have guessed, Galvis..."
Avril finally stifled her laughter, gently wiping away the tears that had gathered in the corners of her eyes with her fingertips.
"You actually used that ability... on a man? Pfft, hahaha!"
She burst into laughter again before she could finish.
"Damn it, I told you..."
Galvis ran a hand through his hair in frustration, a surge of anger rising in his chest as he prepared to retort in a raised voice.
But when his eyes met the fleeting coldness in Avril's gaze, he felt as though he'd been doused with cold water, his posturing instantly deflating by half.
He quickly adopted a ingratiating tone, lowering his voice to explain.
"Esteemed Lady Avril, you misunderstand. This so-called 'Red String of Fate' is actually..."
Galvis took a deep breath, desperately trying to regain the bard's composure, though a flush of embarrassment still lingered on his face.
His fingers unconsciously traced patterns in the air, as if plucking invisible strings, and his voice took on its habitual, melodious cadence.
"The gift of Lady Shuni is no earthly entanglement of affection! It sows no love, only anchors existence itself! It is a 'Light Rope' guiding the lost, a thread connecting to the 'Echo of Life' beyond!"
His voice quickened, eager to clarify.
"Therefore, I can only sense Roland's location, distance, and whether the flame of life still beats in his chest! Whether he lives or dies, whether he is strong or weak—it is as clear as a lighthouse! Nothing more! By Shuni above, there is not a shred of that... uh..."
Galvis glanced at Roland, who had quietly retreated several steps as he spoke, and forced a wry smile.
"...that kind of entanglement!"
The bard spread his hands in a helpless gesture of "nothing more," emphasizing his point.
"I'm just a tool, meant only to confirm the well-being of someone important! Believe me, Roland..."
Galvis stepped forward, his expression earnest.
"Even if the object of my affection were a troll, it would never be a man!"
"I understand, Galvis. I just didn't expect..."
Despite his words, Roland unconsciously took a few more steps back and glanced at Theresa beside him.
"You're a chosen one too."
Before she could respond, he quickly changed the subject.
"So, we'll rest here in the barracks for the night. Tomorrow morning, we'll take the lift platform to leave as soon as possible. Everyone agree?"
His proposal met with no objections.
Roland then found Mason, Freddy, and Vanessa in the barracks and informed them of the plan.
They naturally raised no objections either.
Thus, Roland spent the most peaceful night he'd had since entering the Mistland.
It would have been even better if not for the thunderous snoring of the orcs.
The next morning, Roland woke up on time.
As planned, after Avril completed her work handover, the group set out west under the guidance of Galvis and Theresa.
The land, once a vast expanse of wetlands and swamps, had been transformed by the troops Derek had dispatched, who had carved out a crude road.
Along the roadside, wooden stakes were planted at intervals, each bearing a lamp that emitted a faint blue glow.
Seeing how the lamps dispelled the surrounding mist, Galvis explained before Roland could ask, "This is another of the Dwarf Kingdom's latest inventions."
"Is that so..." Roland nodded slightly, his curiosity about the legendary Dwarf Kingdom growing. A thought even took root in his mind...
The idea of venturing there to investigate.
Now that he had become an enchanter, his forging skills had reached their peak.
Yet while his technique was masterful, his knowledge of metallurgy had not kept pace.
"If I could master the Dwarf Kingdom's knowledge, with my current skills, I could probably forge some truly powerful equipment..."
As he pondered this, the silhouette of the towering mountains grew increasingly distinct.
A clamorous din drifted toward them.
Following the sound, they saw a newly established military camp at the foot of the mountains, bustling with soldiers coming and going.
As Roland's gaze shifted upward, he saw a massive steel structure embedded in the steep mountain face.
It wasn't a simple basket lift, but a heavy metal platform suspended by thick steel cables, its edges secured by sturdy guardrails. It rested firmly on a rock ledge extending from the mountain's base.
The central mechanism at the platform's core was the most striking feature.
Brass pipes and massive gears surrounded a cylinder tightly encased in metal.
Intricate patterns on the cylinder's surface flowed with a deep, pale blue light, radiating powerful and stable energy waves.
"That's its heart—the magic core," Galvis said at the right moment.
Roland stared intently at the magic core.
Enhanced by Material Empathy, he could clearly sense the immense energy meticulously contained within.
It was a perfect crystallization of magic and engineering.
"Whoosh!"
A low, steam-whistle-like sound rang out.
The core runes suddenly lit up, and the flow of light accelerated.
Gears clanked into motion, and the steel cables tightened with a groaning sound.
The platform moved.
With a weight as solid as a mountain, it began to climb the nearly vertical cliff face, slowly but steadily.
Roland gazed up at the steel behemoth ascending steadily into the mist, his heart filled with awe.
"Incredible," Galvis said with a smile, turning his head to ask.
"How about it, Roland? Ready to experience the dwarves' 'Heavenly Ladder'?"
Taking a deep breath, Roland nodded and stepped forward.
The guards at the camp entrance approached for the usual questioning.
Just then, Roland caught sight of a familiar figure.
"Instructor Reggie?"
He couldn't help but exclaim in surprise at the sight of the burly man.
Unlike his usual academic robes at the academy, Reggie was now clad in heavy armor.
"I didn't think you'd actually make it here, you little rascal."
Reggie extended his massive palm and clapped Galvis heavily on the shoulder.
"Looks like... your silver tongue wasn't just empty talk after all."
Having a familiar face certainly made things easier.
After a brief exchange, Reggie secured the group a spot on the next available lift platform.
While waiting, Roland detailed Graham's ordeal and shared all the information he had gathered.
Reggie listened silently for a moment before speaking slowly.
"Thank you for the information, Roland. I'll report it to Mr. Derek immediately. As for the reward... that will have to wait until after the war."
"Understood, Instructor Reggie."
As they were exchanging pleasantries, the ground suddenly trembled.
This vibration was entirely different from the tremors caused by the lift platform's activation.
It was deeper, more primal, as if some colossal entity were awakening in the depths of the earth.
The ground beneath their feet hummed like a taut drum skin, and the air filled with an indescribable blend of dust and ancient magic, cold and heavy.
The tremors barely affected those on the periphery, causing only slight swaying and a tingling sensation in the soles of their boots.
But Roland suddenly looked up, his pupils constricting.
The distant horizon.
Deep within the scorched wasteland, long shrouded in mist and the aura of death, a cataclysmic upheaval was unfolding.
The earth was being torn and lifted by an invisible giant hand.
Massive, blackened rocks and earth, entwined with ominous, deep-purple demonic light, erupted violently, forming grotesque mountain ridges.
Then, at the center of this forcibly torn and uplifted surface, the silhouette of a colossal city—its grandeur and desolation beyond words—began to emerge from the earth with unstoppable force.
It was as if skeletal remains, slumbering for centuries, were being dragged from their graves.
Countless sharp, twisted spires pierced the sky first, like the fangs of a mountain range.
They were composed of obsidian-like material, coated in dark red rust, and entwined with thick chains and fossilized thorns.
Broken archways and the skeletal frameworks of collapsed bridges rose next, outlining the city's macabre silhouette.
At the heart of the city, a deep purple pillar of light shot skyward.
It was as thick as a celestial column, its core churning with a pitch-black vortex that radiated a bone-chilling pressure, as if it were devouring life itself.
The very space around it began to slowly warp and twist.
In the next instant, a massive dark purple energy barrier rapidly expanded outward from the magic well, then closed in on itself.
The barrier's edges crackled with blinding purple lightning, completely sealing off the entire area. All that remained were distorted, grotesque silhouettes and an ominous purple glow.
(End of the Chapter)
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