Chapter 17. Demon Genevy
After being lavishly hosted by the baron in the small city of Franca for two days, Kang Ji-hyuk's group set off at dawn. They passed through two more cities over the next month. Finally, they arrived at the last village before entering the Monster Plains—a tiny hamlet with barely ten households. They spent their final night there and headed into the plains at first light.
Not long after departure, dawn began to break on the distant horizon. It was a truly dazzling sight, stirring awe for the grandeur of nature in everyone's hearts.
Aaah—
Grace's chest trembled at the thought that they'd finally reached this dreadful place. Her mind flashed back to two years ago, the expedition with hero Reyg and his seven companions.
...Until they'd first crossed this area, none of them could have imagined such misfortune would befall them. Everyone had been lost in happy daydreams of what they'd do after the expedition ended.
The orc Grendal nocked an arrow toward the sunrise, drew the bowstring taut with all his might, and released. The arrow whistled ping— through the sky and vanished into the distance on the opposite side. It was a ritual of sorts.
...A prayer that this expedition might end safely.
The fields, dotted with vegetation, soon brightened. The fresh scent of grass was invigorating. The weather was milder than in the capital, so they shed some layers. They walked for hours. No matter how far they went, only endless plains stretched before them.
"Hey, aren't we already in the Monster Plains?" Gid asked.
"Nah, the barrier's coming up soon. The Monster Plains are beyond that."
"Barrier?"
Gid's face twisted in confusion at Grendal's reply—what the hell was this barrier talk out of nowhere? Of course, even when the sun climbed high overhead, no barrier appeared.
"Fuck this shit—"
During a brief rest, Gid flopped to the ground and spat a thick curse.
"How long do we gotta walk our asses off like this?"
The captain answered this time. "We should see the barrier by tomorrow morning."
He seemed annoyed at having to walk now after riding comfortably in carriages. But with no roads fit for wagons, walking was unavoidable.
"Alright, let's move out again."
The group ended their short break and pressed on. With a long expedition ahead, their packs were heavy. Orc Grendal and lizardman Kayak shouldered far more than the others. Yael and Grace, with their relatively weaker stamina, had lighter loads.
They walked with hoods wrapped tightly around their faces. The open plains offered no shade from the harsh sun.
Thanks to her desert upbringing, Mahushu bounded along energetically. The sun, now at its peak, began to sink. Soon, a beautiful sunset painted the sky. The world turned crimson—a magnificent spectacle.
They unpacked before sundown. No twigs for a campfire, so they went without. By the time they'd laid out groundsheets and finished dinner, night had fallen. Fortunately, the cloudless sky let moonlight flood the plains.
They sprawled on the sheets and turned in. Not yet in the Monster Plains, no night watch was needed. Ji-hyuk and Grace stuck close, just in case of a seizure. She'd gone a full month without one this time—the longest since the incident.
Ji-hyuk was relieved to see her condition improving. Regaining some mental stability seemed key. Their efforts hadn't been in vain.
"Sleep well, everyone. The real thing starts tomorrow."
Before bed, Grace puffed on her pipe. Staring at the silver-lit plains, she exhaled a long, acrid plume. The thick gray smoke dispersed into the air.
Truth be told, she felt uneasy now. The long calm made it worse.
...The real ordeal was about to begin. She wondered how long her body would hold out—a flicker of fear.
Ji-hyuk made final rounds among the team, checking for issues, then returned. He patted her shoulder as she anxiously smoked.
"Don't worry. I'll always be right here. Your comrades will be too. Just think about that. Nothing else."
"Yes... got it."
Her subdued voice trembled slightly. They lay side by side. She stole glances at the captain's serene profile before slowly closing her eyes. His presence was immensely reassuring.
...No seizure came that night either.
The hero team rose at dawn, packed camp roughly with camouflage, and resumed walking. The morning air was chillier than expected.
As day broke, they spotted a long, towering barrier in the distance, stretching endlessly. By the time the sun had nearly risen fully, they reached its base.
Its majesty drew a thick curse from Gid immediately. "Whoa, fuuuuuck..."
Weathered by a century of wind and rain without maintenance, the barrier still held firm. Towering so high they had to crane their necks, its gate had crumbled. Instead, enormous boulders blocked the entrance—no gaps visible.
The others worried how to pass. Grendal dispelled it instantly. "There's an underground tunnel here."
The orc led the way; the rest followed. Ji-hyuk knew of it but had fuzzy recall of the location—perfect timing for a guide.
They soon found stairs descending. The narrow passage barely fit Grendal. Dirt piled on the floor, a musty stench hung in the air, and cobwebs draped the corners.
Eeek—
Yael, who hated bugs, hunched her shoulders and hurried. Traversing the long tunnel, they emerged on the other side.
The air felt ominously heavier—maybe imagination.
"This is the Monster Plains now. Stay alert."
They formed up properly. Trees grew sparse here. Grass reached ankle height, rustling crunch-crunch underfoot. Vast grasslands, scattered with unidentified monster bones—some still clinging to rotten flesh.
The name Monster Plains started to feel real. Occasionally, wild beasts fled at the sight of these uninvited guests. Pristine nature untouched by man.
Unlike the demon forest's claustrophobia, this felt more open. They walked and walked. Soon, the sun dipped low. Thigh-high grass swayed in the wind, whispering like rain.
"Rest here a bit."
Everyone groaned and flopped down. Sunset approached, but Ji-hyuk planned no camp tonight. They'd walk through the night.
In the Monster Plains, switch to night travel and day rest. Sleeping during peak monster activity at night was inefficient. In the demon forest, they'd moved by day and camped at night for navigation—dense woods made night travel risky for getting lost. Here, with clear paths, no need. Single watches by day conserved stamina.
He'd briefed them beforehand, so no questions. They ate heartily and rested till dusk.
Night fell swiftly. The air shifted entirely. As dormant monsters stirred, a chilling killing intent spread.
From then, the team walked with spaced torches. Grass rustled eerily against their legs. Breathing grew ragged with tension. Weapons drawn, they scanned all directions.
Distant, unknown monster cries echoed now and then. Each time, Grace whipped her head toward it, trembling slightly. Grendal, right behind, asked if she was okay.
"...Yeah, I'm fine."
Fortunately, no attacks till the second rest. Each break, Ji-hyuk crouched by Grace—head down, knees up—and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. A small gesture, but immense comfort. There, she overcame fear and anxiety.
...She couldn't show weakness, not with her pride on the line.
"Alright, let's go."
Fatigue etched their faces. But they couldn't stop midway—dawn was hours off. After the second rest, they moved again.
Soon, they sensed a monster approaching. Battle stances snapped into place.
"Yael, light—!"
The addict mage conjured a light orb, floating it aloft. A massive, four-legged beast emerged nearby—hairless black body like darkness, glowing red eyes like a hellspawn.
They formed ranks swiftly. It prowled, testing, then charged. Gid blocked with his massive steel shield. As it rebounded, counterattacks flew—Yael's fire and Grendal's arrow slamming its torso nearly together.
It wasn't dead yet. Mahushu flashed in like lightning, thrusting her short spear into its skull. The beast stiffened like struck by thunder and crashed sideways.
Perfect teamwork—no need for Ji-hyuk.
"Good work, everyone."
They checked for injuries, caught their breath, and moved on. By dawn, they'd fought four more battles. Grendal's skills sharpened with live combat.
"Fuuuck, sunrise."
Gid rubbed his drooping eyes, grinning at the horizon. Yawns cracked wide.
"Camp here."
"Huuah, fuck, thought I'd die of sleepiness—!"
Exhausted, they collapsed. Quick meal, sheets down, and they were out.
Still, watches for safety. "I'll take it, Captain. Sleep."
"No need. I can."
"No, I'll do it."
Lizardman Kayak insisted unusually. The captain chuckled, thanked him with shoulder pats. Others were already dead asleep. Grace drooled messily, mouth agape.
...He regretted she couldn't see herself like this.
Ji-hyuk lay, hood over eyes. Even iron stamina tired without sleep. Sensation dulled as he sank into depths. Soon, deep slumber claimed him.