Chapter 8. Samura Gorge
The Sylph caravan, departing early at dawn from the great city of Parisia, arrived near the gorge entrance just as the sun was nearly setting. The mountain range, which had looked beautiful from afar, now exuded an eerie, foreboding aura up close.
Ji-hyuk scanned the mountains with his eyes. He immediately understood the rumors of chaos. The thick, murderous intent spreading through the surroundings was no joke.
This might be tougher than I thought.
The sensitive ones among them must have already sensed that the gorge's atmosphere was far from normal. Still, having taken the money, there was no backing out now.
The caravan quickly set up camp. Ji-hyuk's group unpacked as soon as they disembarked from the wagons. They lit a central bonfire and gathered around it in a circle. Soon, the sun vanished completely.
The three captains huddled together to decide the night watch rotation. They agreed to take turns fairly, one group per night. Of course, they drew lots to determine the order.
Ji-hyuk drew first, the orc captain second, and the beastkin captain third. He returned to his spot and announced it was their turn tonight.
Gid chuckled, unusually lucky. "We're not in the gorge yet, so one person should suffice. Yael, you take first watch. You've done it plenty before, right?"
"Yes."
She'd stood watch often during camps anyway. The group usually cut her some slack due to her weaker stamina. Overworking a mana-deficient mage could lead to disaster if fatigue prevented her from casting spells.
She flipped the hourglass. Sand began trickling down with a faint hiss.
The rest of the team sprawled on their bedrolls and drifted off. Snores rose in a ragged chorus.
Woooow—.
A mysterious beast's howl echoed from somewhere. Yael scanned the surroundings with tense eyes. The mountains weren't silent at night. The ominous killing intent rampaged even more fiercely.
The druggie feared this pitch-black darkness she couldn't see through. She wished time would pass quickly. But the sand trickled teasingly, grain by grain.
· · ·
Fortunately, the first night passed without incident. Even those who slept soundly without watch looked uneasy. Nightmares had plagued them.
Thick killing intent caused this problem. Uneasy sleep often led to nightmares.
"Should've jerked off before bed. You sleep like a rock without dreams that way," Gid muttered, chewing jerky with a sour face from his own bad dream.
Yael's expression wasn't great either. As a sensitive mage, she'd dreamed of a monster chomping her head off. It scared her—could it come true? She sometimes had prophetic-like dreams.
"Yael, you know your condition is top priority, right?" Ji-hyuk tossed the words at her as she listlessly chewed her food.
The druggie mage snapped her head up, round eyes fixed on her captain. "Pardon? Oh, yes."
"Put yourself first. No other thoughts. Got it? If you die, others follow."
"Understood, Captain."
"You've been practicing magic steadily, right? You're diligent, so I trust you... but."
"Yes, steadily."
Though her major was theory, she'd minored in combat studies, learning fire magic. It was Yael's sole comfort. At least more useful than pure theory.
The group broke camp before sunrise. The rented wagons turned back. Now, they had to trek the gorge on foot alongside the oxcarts.
Crossing Samura Gorge typically took a week. One might wonder why so long for a single gorge, but the range was vast and deep. This place was practically a demon realm. Unclassified monsters still lurked aplenty. That's why passage fees skyrocketed—high risk demanded high reward.
Outbaaal—!
The departure signal rang out ahead. Carts rolled forward. Escort and mercenary groups claimed their sections. Ji-hyuk and his four took the middle.
They entered the gorge entrance slowly. Towering trees lined the narrow path on both sides. The silent woods felt oppressively gloomy. Killing intent hung thick.
Even Gid clamped his chattering jaws, eyes darting warily. Everyone mirrored his tension.
Ji-hyuk didn't buy this unnaturally strong ominous aura as natural. Something was wrong. His gut rarely missed.
What the hell is it?
Suspicions abounded—too many to pinpoint. The continent crawled with lunatics. Top three: witches, demon cult, demons. This level of yin energy screamed demon ties. Some demons craved human sacrifices; others, monsters.
Let's pass smoothly, please.
Of course, no demon would ignore such tasty prey. It'd go berserk, naturally.
During a brief rest, Ji-hyuk gathered his team. "There's a demon somewhere here."
"Whaaat—?!" Gid and Yael startled. Gorsh and Kayak stayed calm.
"The rampaging monsters are probably ones turned into demonic beasts by it. Nothing else explains this aura."
"...So it's fucking dangerous?"
"It is. But follow my orders, and we'll cross safe. Stay sharp, no slacking. Got it?"
"Yes, Captain."
The group had unshakable faith in Ji-hyuk. With him, any hardship felt conquerable. The other two captains seemed to sense it too, prepping tightly. Veterans indeed.
Hopes for an incident-free first day shattered nicely. Before sunset, a monster pack charged.
Porters screamed, diving under carts. Hss—! Yael froze at her first close-up monster.
The other three formed up expertly, engaging. "Yael, Yael—!"
Ah, ah.... The druggie trembled in terror. Despite training, real monsters paralyzed her. Huge, savage, terrifying.
Escorts and mercs, prepared, won the skirmish easily. Ji-hyuk's group handled theirs too—Gid took minor scratches as tank.
Not perfect, though. Yael's performance was pathetic. Too disastrous for "first time nerves."
Ji-hyuk dragged her to a secluded spot, slamming her against a tree trunk, glaring fiercely. "What the fuck was that?"
"C-Captain..."
"I get first times, but you crossed the line. Forgot the slack we gave you? What's the point if you're useless?!"
"Sorry."
"Sorry fixes it? We lucked out with few monsters, but always? Fuck, tremble like that, and the team dies! Not just your life!"
"Sorry, sorry."
"Do better. This is your one pass. Next time, no mercy. I'll watch. Got it?"
"Yes..."
Yael bit her lip, head bowed. Ji-hyuk spun and returned.
Gid smirked at the approaching captain. "First time, go easy."
"First time sets the habit. Screw it up early, harder later. Nip it now."
Lizardman Kayak nodded agreement. Orc Gorsh looked resigned, trusting the captain fully.
The druggie mage returned soon, bowing repeatedly to the team. Sorry for the embarrassment.
Gid chuckled, waving it off. "Eh, you didn't faint. Guts there. You'll improve."
His words comforted her immensely. She swallowed tears. Tougher trials awaited; no crumbling now.
"Captain said it for your sake. Brush it off."
"Yeah, I know."
The caravan moved farther from the battle site to a shallow clearing. Not huge enough for all carts. They set camp. Ji-hyuk lit the central fire. The group huddled, warming up.
Gid wiped his sniffling nose. "At least solid sleep tonight."
Orc captain's mercs had watch. "Don't slack. Can't fully trust watches. Die unfairly, your fault."
Ji-hyuk warned. Everyone but Yael was veteran; they knew. ...Still, the night passed uneventfully.
Next day, procession continued. No monsters again. Tension mounted. Storm-before-calm vibe.
Beastkin captain's mercs watched. Ji-hyuk couldn't shake the gnawing anxiety in his chest.
Something's coming tonight...
The quiet unnerved him. Demon bastard plotting to lull them, obviously.
"Stay alert. No telling what hits tonight."
Ji-hyuk's warnings rarely missed. The team bedded tense, sleep shallow from unease.
...As predicted, late night chaos erupted.
"Rise! Rise—!"
Shouts blared. Group snapped awake like they'd waited. Something approached.
Ji-hyuk shook his head, spreading mana. Monster pack incoming.
Fuck.
They geared up, weapons ready. Ji-hyuk checked his team, then Yael—staff gripped tight, eyes resolved.
He grabbed her collar, face inches away. "Nail it this time."
"Yes...!"
Escorts and mercs divided zones, herding non-combatants center.
"Fuck 'em all—!" A cocky merc bellowed, fired up.
Monsters slithered out. Not one or two—mixed types swarming unnaturally.
...Impossible without demonic power.
Ji-hyuk drew his holy sword with a shing. Chilling energy seeped from the hilt into his palm—demon grudge embedded.
He shrugged it off. Such grudges never fazed him.
Fear stemmed from death. But after dying a dozen times and reviving, death's terror had faded.
Demons exploiting human emotions? Ji-hyuk was their nightmare. No tricks worked.
Alright, fucker, let's go all the way.
Had it let them pass, he'd ignore it. But charging? No mercy.
...Might as well test the sword.
A lunging monster met a single clean slice. The blade's performance was killer.