First Encounters in the Forbidden Zone
"You're the first human like you I've ever seen."
"Same to you."
"No one's ever come out of the Forbidden Zone alive."
"You lot living inside it don't look like you're doing too hot either."
"……."
Binraka's lips twitched at Adel's words, and he fell silent. For some reason, the savage felt like Adel's tongue cut deeper than his sword.
"Wait."
The boat pierced through several more fog walls before heading toward a massive island. As the barrier dissolved with a shwaaack……!!, other ships hidden until now slowly came into view.
Hmm…….
Adel glanced around. Besides his own vessel, there were three more of similar size, followed by a dozen smaller ones.
Quite the fleet.
The Forbidden Zone was typically thought uninhabitable, yet this group numbered at least two hundred.
These are the outer dwellers, they said. Who knows how many more are in the center.
Behind the accompanying warships, Pausa Gwahl's ship came into sight. He waved enthusiastically at Adel from the deck. Looking down, Adel saw dark bruises around Pausa's eyes. He'd clearly taken a beating from the savages.
"No deaths, I hope."
"……None."
"Good."
"You can say that after seeing those ships? Aren't you scared at all? Don't get cocky just because you killed Huptu. He was strong, but no match for our hundreds."
"Curious? Come at me then."
"……Pass. I know you're strong. But that line still reeks of bluff no matter how I slice it."
"Bluff?"
"Even the gnome who came before strutted in, claiming he'd conquer the holy site, and paid the price."
The Forbidden Zone?
Adel listened closely. It might be mundane to locals, but every detail was valuable intel to him.
"Paid the price how?"
"Exactly that. The holy site is no place for lowly humans. Only the master may enter."
Binraka pressed a hand to his chest in reverent worship, like a devotee receiving divine grace.
That sure sounds like the Forbidden Zone…… But weird. He's acting like he's gazing upon a god.
Yeah. Rifts are voids of nothingness.
Kalderet and Garon eyed Binraka curiously.
No god can live in a rift. Even the god of annihilation is a special case—he didn't spawn there; he just fled inside.
Right. Strictly speaking, Rune'r isn't even in a rift. He's under demon protection.
Who knows. Could be nothing. Humans love making idols. Especially un civilized savages.
A god dwelling in a rift…… I can't exist there myself, but better safe than sorry.
Adel nodded at Kalderet's caution.
"Interesting. Didn't expect a holy site in the Forbidden Zone. The continent's full of 'em."
"……Really?"
"Plenty of gods out there. Temples and sanctuaries to match."
"Multiple gods?"
Binraka gaped like a child hearing basic facts for the first time.
Makes sense. He's lived his whole life on this island. No clue about the outside.
His world began and ended with Cove island.
"Yep. The world's teeming with gods."
"A world of many gods……."
Binraka lit up like a kid lost in a fairy tale, hanging on Adel's every word.
Curious about the outside world?
Adel found himself intrigued. Unlike the other mute savages, Binraka spoke continental fluently. No schools here—he must've taught himself.
No outsiders come to the Forbidden Zone…… How'd he learn letters?
Curiosity about his background aside from the mission—Adel shelved it. No room for mercy here; the Zone demanded full focus.
Handle what's in front of me first.
"So what happened to them?"
"No idea. We just brought 'em. The inner folk handle it now."
"Hmm…… How many live there?"
"About a hundred…… But over a thousand elite savage warriors guard them."
"Compared to the brute I killed?"
"Huptu? He tried for warrior selection but failed. Got demoted to fog wall gatekeeper."
"Hmm……."
"Wait, why am I even telling you this?"
"Never asked. You just answered. Dying to chat in continental, huh?"
Adel smirked at Binraka.
"Kh-khm……."
Embarrassed, Binraka cleared his throat and steered a bit more aggressively.
"You."
As they neared the island, Binraka muttered ahead without turning.
"Watch out for the leopard."
"……Huh?"
Before Adel could ask, they docked.
Savages swarmed from other ships and the island, binding the Leviathan guild members the moment they landed.
"Quite the welcome."
Island savages joined the ship ones—unarmored, wielding monster bones and rusted scraps. But hundreds covered in bizarre tattoos exuded suffocating pressure.
Definitely different from the outskirts. Fiercer aura.
No God's Blessings or demon magic on them. Just giants rivaling Lugal Shazan everywhere.
Forbidden Zone effect?
Yet slimmer ones like Binraka existed too.
Or maybe just born that way.
Don't worry. You've got me.
Adel shook his head at his own paranoia.
"Move. Any funny business, you all die."
True to inner depths, the leader addressed Adel directly—in continental.
"Chief's son," Binraka whispered before disembarking.
Adel noted it, puzzled by the favor, and stepped off.
"You alright?"
He called to bound Pausa.
"H-how are you……."
"Smart not to fight back. Cove savages outnumber us. Too many to wipe in one go."
"Wipe them? You don't know what you're talking about! Watch your mouth. Leviathan may not be combatants, but my crew holds their own in battle."
Pale-faced, Pausa retorted.
"Yet they took you without a scratch. Those things are monsters."
"Wars send even farmers to the front."
"……What?"
"Word is, Leviathan relic hunts are all on guildmaster Piz Gwahl, while deputy Pausa Gwahl just counts coins."
"Wh-what……!!"
"So man up and follow. Can't have a deputy folding."
Adel patted his shoulder. Absurd to be consoled by this kid decades younger, but unbound Adel puzzled Pausa too.
"Another runt gnome. Looks like kin to the first one."
At the chief's tent led by the son, a voice rang as flaps parted.
Chomp— chomp—
"Gnome meat was tasty. Good timing."
Fluent continental, unlike the others. A man lounged on monster-hide throne, gnawing meat, eyed Pausa.
"G-gnome meat? N-no…… Surely not……."
Pale as death, Pausa stammered.
"No way!!! Lies!! You savage bastard!! How…… How……!!"
He thrashed, but bound, could only slump.
"Yeah, kidding."
"……What?"
"Pausa, calm down. Gnome thighs aren't that thick."
Pausa looked from the chief to the meat at Adel's words.
"Kekeke. Gnomes are fun to tease. Haul him away."
"Y-you……!"
Pausa was dragged off with the rest, leaving Adel alone with the chief—Belkan.
"Killed Huptu, huh."
"He struck first."
"You're invaders."
Adel sized him up. The meat-munching savage seemed unguarded, yet unsettling.
"Not here for you. No conquest plans. Just hunting Piz Gwahl of Leviathan."
Adel halted.
"You can hunt monsters or men here for all I care."
Belkan grinned at the stopped Adel.
"Piz Gwahl? That gnome?"
"Yeah. Where?"
"Dunno the weird-ship gnome."
"……Meaning?"
"Entered the holy site. Hasn't come out. We warned him—non-Cove folk don't return."
Belkan scratched his back with a clean rib bone.
"Holy site's where?"
"Cove's heart. Dormant volcano. Summit's the gate. Straight in—but watch for eruption."
"Surprisingly helpful for your looks. Thanks."
"Didn't say you could go."
Killing intent stabbed Adel's back as he turned to leave—like facing Lugal or Haien Temir, or worse.
"Strong, aren't you."
Adel turned.
"But you won't try to stop me, right?"
"What if I do?"
"Draw that sword, and you'd better have backup."
Shwaaak…….
Viscous winds swirled around Adel.
"I'm not alone."