Chapter 112
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 112
Chapter Title: Night of the Moon's Cry (3)
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"There are a total of seven guard posts in the Quint Mountains, scattered across various points in the range. Our destination is the Fifth Post. It'll take a generous three days to get there."
"Three days?"
A groan escaped me involuntarily.
It had already taken two days just to get from Elgrace to here, and now we had to push through treacherous mountain paths for another three?
"We'll be moving slowly through the mountains, so it might take even longer. We can only travel during daylight hours, and if we run into magical beasts on the path, we'll detour around them as much as possible."
"Why detour? Wouldn't it be better to just take them out? To shave off some time, at least."
Shuren asked, as if he couldn't comprehend it.
"I like your spirit, young knight."
Makina chuckled softly.
"If the detour is too long, we might have no choice. But if possible, I'd like to avoid combat. You never know when one thing might lead to another. It wouldn't be a big worry if we had a hunter with us."
Makina's meaningful gaze landed on the Silver Guard Knight.
The Silver Guard Knight finished his meal without a change in expression and turned to Makina.
"I heard the Nameless Era ruins are close to the Fifth Post."
"Yeah. That's the problem."
"Could you tell us exactly what kind of issue is occurring?"
Makina pondered with a hum, then answered slowly.
"To our mountain guard unit, the Nameless Era ruins are a forbidden zone. We don't go anywhere near them except when guiding curious mages or scholars who come to see them."
Well, that made sense.
According to what I'd read in books on the way here, the Nameless Era ruins weren't just some ancient rubble.
They were built with bizarre magical devices and structures that current magic couldn't even analyze. Because of that, the interior was like a maze.
It was wise for ordinary folk to steer clear, since no one knew what might happen inside.
"So all I can do is relay exactly what your Prius mage told us. The ruins are 'contaminated.' That's why strange things are happening."
"What kind of strange things?"
When Shuren asked, Makina hesitated and glanced up at the night sky.
"Well, even if I explain it now, you'll find out soon enough."
"Contaminated..."
I mulled over the word.
By its meaning, it had to refer to that black smoke-like mana I'd seen from Vartan's corpse earlier.
"Did Fren really say 'contaminated'?"
The Silver Guard Knight's face noticeably hardened at the word as well, and he asked Makina to confirm.
Makina nodded.
"That's what he said when we first investigated near the ruins. He figured we'd have to go inside to find the source."
And so Fren entered the ruins... and never came back out.
Makina let out a small sigh, as if recalling the event.
"I should say this upfront. What happened to them was truly regrettable. If we had gone in with them..."
"The outcome wouldn't have changed."
The Silver Guard Knight cut her off calmly but firmly.
Makina looked at him with wide eyes, mildly surprised.
"They did their utmost in their positions. That's something to be grateful for."
"Hunter..."
Makina nodded heavily. The Silver Guard Knight changed the subject.
"What happened to the knight who made it out alive? Is he still at the post?"
"Ah, that one. Fortunately, he regained consciousness just before we left the post. He still couldn't talk much, but by the time we arrive, he should be better."
"That's a relief."
It was the best news I'd heard all day.
Once we reached the Fifth Post, we could hear the knight's story and figure out what had happened.
"Oh, and one more thing. This happened right before we departed too—one of your knight order's knights arrived safely at the post."
One of our knight order's knights...?
I looked at the Silver Guard Knight with a puzzled expression.
Surprisingly, he seemed flustered. His hand trembled slightly as he picked up his glass.
"Silver Guard Knight? Which knight do you mean?"
Shuren asked. Wedin and I waited for his answer too.
We hadn't heard of any other knight joining this mission.
After taking a sip of water, the Silver Guard Knight let out a small sigh.
"Hm. A knight who came over from the old Empire. I didn't expect him to come all the way here either... I'll explain later."
Someone even the Silver Guard Knight hadn't anticipated?
It was hard to understand, given that all the Silver Moon Knights moved under his command.
And enough to fluster him, no less.
"Squad Leader Makina, is there anything else we need to prepare before departing tomorrow?"
"Yeah. With more people at the post now, it might be good to stock up on extra food..."
The two began discussing plans for the mountain trek starting tomorrow.
Soon after, dinner ended with Wedin and Max polishing off their plates clean.
Shuren and Max headed to the stables to pack our gear, while the Silver Guard Knight and Makina went to the market district for more food and travel supplies.
I got permission to rest in the room first with Wedin.
Makina had reserved two double rooms on the third floor of the Echo Inn.
Wedin, exhausted from dealing with patients at the makeshift clinic, fell asleep the moment he hit the bed.
Ash and I entered the room a bit later. Not wanting to wake the soundly sleeping Wedin, I headed to the other room.
The inn room was simple. Two beds against opposite walls, a small nightstand by the headboards.
By the window overlooking Copet's streets sat a small table and two chairs.
For such a tiny village, this was a pretty decent inn.
The moment I entered, Ash leaped onto the bed. It was firm with just a thin blanket, but clean.
Ash seemed pleased too, curling up on it.
I hung my robe over a chair and gazed out the window.
Copet's night streets were still bustling.
The barrier that had fended off the magical beast attack was hastily patched with wood but held firm enough, and soldiers patrolled the watchtowers atop it frequently.
And towering peaks pierced the sky, embracing the little village.
No matter where I looked, those summits and dark ridges dominated the backdrop.
Starting tomorrow, we'd have to plunge into those deep mountains...
"It's better to discuss this beforehand."
The Silver Guard Knight, standing by the window, spoke in a heavy voice.
At the unusually serious atmosphere, I stopped stroking Ash's soft forehead and looked up at him.
After preparations were done, he'd called Shuren and Wedin into this room.
Seemed like there were things he couldn't say in front of Makina and Max.
With four people and one beast inside, the room felt cramped.
Still groggy Wedin sat on the bed, while Shuren leaned casually against the door.
"You all heard what Squad Leader Makina said. The ruins are 'contaminated.'"
Contaminated.
The Silver Guard Knight's grave expression made it clear the word carried more than its usual meaning.
"Fren had witnessed the same kind of 'contamination' before. So we can assume it's the same situation as then. Best to prepare yourselves ahead of time."
"A swarm of magical beasts?"
Shuren blurted out impatiently. The Silver Guard Knight shot him a sharp look.
"Dangerous mutated beasts, demons, and the fragments of red sealing spheres that spawn them all."
A chilling silence filled the room. Shuren and Wedin both looked rattled.
Unsure which question to ask first, I hesitated before finally speaking.
"Fragments of red sealing spheres? Here?"
"Surprisingly, yes. Our sealing vault doesn't hold every fragment. Recovering the ones scattered across the world is one of our missions too. Not an easy task."
The Silver Guard Knight sighed softly.
"When even a fingernail-sized fragment breaks and its mana leaks out, it wreaks havoc on the surroundings. It creates aberrant beasts and demons, contaminates the area, and causes anomalies."
His gaze carefully swept over us.
"So who knows what we'll run into in those mountains. Steel yourselves."
That was probably why Fren and most of the knights hadn't made it out of the ruins.
Mana leaking from a broken seal.
Just brushing the outer separation barrier of a sealing sphere fragment had shaken Elgrace's dragon vein, so if that power had spread from the ruins... it was hard to even imagine what was happening.
As we all fell silent, fretting over what lay ahead, Wedin spoke up cautiously, his face pale with fear.
"How did you handle the previous 'contamination' incident?"
The Silver Guard Knight frowned slightly.
"We didn't."
The bluish moonlight from the window seemed to drain the color from his face further. Or maybe it was the memory.
"A mineral beast, Magnos, mutated into a colossal size. Swords, arrows, magic—nothing worked. One stomp from it turned the village of Iellie into ruins."
"S-so what did you do?"
"Evacuating the villagers was the best we could manage. The Sage and Fren turned the entire forest into a forbidden zone, trapping the Magnos inside. The villagers could never return home."
We were speechless. In the heavy quiet, only the Silver Guard Knight's bitter voice continued.
"That was just one incident I witnessed. Countless more must be happening elsewhere where we couldn't intervene—or didn't have time to. And all from something as tiny as a grain of sand."
With that, he took a deep breath and addressed us, now thoroughly spooked.
"I said steel yourselves, not lose heart."
Reading the anxiety and fear in the air, he smiled faintly.
"We dive into the most dangerous situations and face the greatest threats. It's regrettable this is our first mission like this, but if we handle it well, we can face anything after. Right?"
Shuren sucked in a breath. He slapped his own cheek hard enough to sting.
"You're right, Silver Guard Knight."
Shuren shook off his unease and met the Silver Guard Knight's eyes squarely.
"It's a tough mission, but we can't back out. Gotta keep our heads on straight."
"Yes, that's the spirit."
Watching him, Wedin let out a deep sigh, looking thoroughly unenthused.
"If you all want to survive, you'll need me. Guess there's no helping it."
"Appreciate it, Wedin."
Wedin nodded reluctantly.
"Night's deep. Everyone rest up. Won't be much chance after tomorrow."
"Silver Guard Knight. What about the knight who arrived at the post...?"
Shuren quickly asked the Silver Guard Knight, who was about to dismiss us.