Chapter 116
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 116
Chapter Title: Night of the Moon's Howl (7)
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"Whoa, you're still at it."
A drenched Wedin appeared. He looked like he'd just taken a noisy bath in the pond behind the cabin.
"Training... right?"
I asked uncertainly.
The moment Shuren lunged at Max and staggered after being blocked by his long arms, the Silver Guard Knight lowered his stance and charged toward Max's legs.
"Yeah, they said it's training to subdue a giant without using a sword. But wouldn't it be better not to create a situation where you can't use your sword?"
As Wedin spoke, the Silver Guard Knight kicked hard at the weak spot behind Max's knee. Enraged, Shuren bit down on Max's thick arm.
"Urk!"
Max finally wavered and dropped to one knee.
Thud. It sounded like a boulder collapsing.
"Ah, Shuren bro, that's cheating. You bit his arm."
When Wedin pointed it out, Shuren groaned "Urgh," sweeping back his hair.
His face showed he knew he'd messed up.
"Shuren, weapons are prohibited."
The Silver Guard Knight addressed Shuren while helping Max to his feet. It wasn't scolding, but Shuren covered his face in embarrassment.
"Ugh, sorry. I got too heated. Max, you okay?"
"Doesn't hurt a bit."
Max brushed off his bitten arm without a change in expression.
His utter nonchalance made Shuren's face twist in complication.
"Alright, that's enough. Time to eat. We've still got a long way to go today."
With Machina's shout, the bizarre morning training came to an end.
After breakfast, we tidied up the cabin simply and started descending the mountain path again.
Wedin grumbled for a while about why we'd climbed up if we were just going back down, but soon he was too winded to utter a word.
I was in no better shape.
The aftermath from yesterday screamed from every part of my body.
I emptied my mind, staring only at Wedin's bag as I walked.
The scenery of the Quint Mountains grew more varied the further we went.
After crossing a peak of rounded boulders, a ridge thick with low shrubs appeared.
The easy-walking ridge path didn't last long, and we entered a forest of dense trees again.
Machina, considerate of Wedin and me, extended our rest breaks. Thanks to that, we made better progress than yesterday.
Though I still couldn't recover half my luggage from Max.
A little past noon, as we followed a city stream, we spotted a group of small, green-skinned gatra.
Machina's sharp eyes caught them from afar, letting us pass without a fight.
Variant green gatras were small but fiercely aggressive and quick, making them hard to catch, she said.
In the mountains, Machina sensed surrounding anomalies faster than any of us, guiding us safely.
She checked footprints in the dirt or sniffed the air, leading us away from magical beasts.
Crossing this range without mountain guards like Machina or Max seemed nearly impossible. We could barely make out the path ahead.
The afternoon waned, the hazy sun tilting behind us.
We traversed a narrow cliff path in a gorge.
With every left step, pebbles trickled down the sheer drop below.
Wedin's face paled as he hugged the wall; I pressed close to avoid stumbling.
Ash, ahead of me, had shrunk to a tiny size. She looked perfectly at ease on the narrow path.
"Ah, damn it."
Machina muttered a curse and halted.
The Silver Guard Knight, Shuren, and the rest stopped in a chain behind her. Wedin lightly bumped his head into Shuren's bag.
"What is it?"
"Look over there."
Machina pointed to a distant peak—the one at the end of our path.
Clouds were just parting from its summit.
We squinted up with grimaces, but distinguishing white rocks from pale clouds was tough.
Finally, the Silver Guard Knight pulled out a spyglass.
"Hm."
He peered through, sighed, and passed it to Shuren.
Shuren and Wedin reacted similarly. Last, I took it and checked the peak.
First thing I noticed: a yellow flagpole swaying atop it.
There was a cabin like our camp from last night.
And swarming around it were red birds.
Not one or two—over ten visible from here.
Even at this distance, their massive forms were clear... Facing them up close, each would be terrifyingly huge.
"A flock of faynax."
Max muttered, hand shading his eyes. Like Machina, he needed no spyglass.
"Was really hoping we wouldn't run into them."
I sighed, handing the spyglass back to the Silver Guard Knight.
"Machina, what should we do?"
The Silver Guard Knight's question left Machina pondering without quick reply.
The flock occupying our planned campsite was unexpected.
"We could Prius them out of there."
Shuren suggested, and the Silver Guard Knight calmly considered it.
"Faynax attacks are simple enough, but the peak's narrow—risky. One misstep and you're falling."
"No need to take that risk."
Machina cut in after thinking.
"There's a cave below that peak. Makeshift camp. Better to spend the night there."
"Detour?"
"Nah. Through the cave, we'll arrive sooner. But it's unused for ages—who knows what might be in there."
"Risk worth taking."
Machina smirked at the Silver Guard Knight's flat tone.
"Yeah. Better than fighting a flock on rocks."
We headed along the cliff to the cave.
It yawned at the gorge's deepest end, a massive mouth of darkness.
The slanting evening sun cast a red streak on the rocks, letting green plants sprout in a small clearing.
"No signpost here."
The Silver Guard Knight noted, scanning around.
True—no yellow flagpole like on the way.
"One on the other side. This place... well..."
"Not that safe?"
Shuren finished for her; she frowned slightly.
"Eh, 'risk worth taking' level."
Hope so.
Tense, we followed Machina into the cave mouth.
Cold air like a changed season hit our skin; musty old-earth scent stung our noses.
A few steps in, light vanished abruptly.
"Hm, no signs of passage, luckily."
Even in this dark, Machina inspected floor, walls, ceiling meticulously before concluding.
"No beasts living nearby or predators passing. Safe to camp."
We bustled to set up in the clearing.
Stream a bit far—Shuren and Max went together. Silver Guard Knight and Wedin gathered dry wood, lit a fire, prepped beds.
Machina handled food, like yesterday.
I asked Ash to scout, then stood at the entrance, erecting a barrier.
Blue ecronium glowed, floating lazily above the darkening sky.
It'd alert if beasts neared, with faint defensive function too.
Wonder if this is enough. Uneasy, I spread the barrier wider than usual.
Better detect approaches early.
Wooo...
Chill ran down my spine, goosebumps rising.
Turning, the cave mouth loomed black right behind.
Thought I heard something inside...?
Listening intently yielded only wind whistling deeper in.
Shaking off unease, I finished the barrier.
The feared night passed uneventfully, thankfully. We rose early, packed camp.
Tense sleep left fatigue lingering, body heavy, but no dawdling.
Machina whipped up three torches from campfire wood and cloth. Kept one, gave others to Shuren and Max.
"Pretty dark inside. Stick close."
"What's in there?"
Before entering, Silver Guard Knight peered in and asked.
"Hm, who knows."
Machina's torch illuminated the depths briefly.
Bright morning, yet inside remained dark and chilly.
The cave stretched endlessly narrow, barely wide for one.
"Rats, bats? Cave lizards maybe? Nothing major."
Machina entered first, followed by Silver Guard Knight, Shuren, Wedin, Ash. Then me, Max last.
Torch-bearers centered the light; lag behind and darkness swallowed surroundings.
Narrow, damp, dark path dragged on.
"Max, okay?"
"Mm."
Machina glanced back.
I peeked at Max trailing me.
Huge Max squeezed through barely. His head and shoulders crumbled weak wall/ceiling spots with crumble.
Max calmly dusted off.
"No issue. Passed this before."
"You're bigger now—that's the problem. Watch feet. Pit ahead."
With Machina leading, we advanced cautiously.
Torchlight revealed untouched natural cave.
Air cold, damp; distant drips echoed constantly.
Bluish moss blanketed walls; faint-glowing small mushrooms dotted spots.
Palm-sized spiders skittered floors occasionally, choking Wedin's screams.
Over an hour in, we entered a vast space.
Ceiling soared beyond torch reach. Voices echoed; unseen rustles from dark corners.
"Spacious."
Silver Guard Knight scanned warily. Machina swung torch around.
"Hm, was there a place like this?"
That instilled major unease in us who'd trusted her guidance here.
"Captain...? We're good, right?"
Shuren asked anxiously; Machina chuckled lightly.
"Should be. Been a while since I came. Max, remember this?"
"No. But only one path."
Meanwhile, Ash ahead puffed her fur silver.
Even with torches fore and aft, her glow was reassuring in the dark.
Wooo...
Wind again.
I looked around. Humming air currents nearby.
"Liberic."
Max's voice and thick hand halted me.
I turned puzzled.
"What?"
"Wrong direction."
Max stared down gravely; I couldn't grasp it.
"Huh? What do you...?"
Glancing around, I froze solid.
Cave wall blocked right before me.
Shuren ahead stood somewhere else entirely; Wedin, Silver Guard Knight, Machina halted ahead, staring at me puzzled.
Not far, yet I'd walked a completely different direction...