novelraw Chapter 134 : The Cabin
Chapter 134 : The Cabin
Chapter 134: The Cabin
Twin Tail Scorpion, Black Hornet, Mud Mole Rat, Venom Beetle.
The five adventurers succeeded in hunting every Monster they came across.
It was all thanks to Robin’s advice.
More precisely, the information written in Aelineira’s book had not been wrong.
“Here, it’s Emerald Herb.”
“That looks like Breezepearl Leaf over there, doesn’t it?”
“We almost passed up something this valuable. This is Serpentvine, right?”
Not only Monsters, but even medicinal herbs worth some money were discovered as if by instinct.
Even Mark, who had been active in the West for ten years, had to concede a point to that sharp eye.
He did have knowledge of herbalism, but that too was thanks to the information in the book.
‘This is reliable enough.’
Even if Robin discovered them, they went into Mark’s bag, yet he did not feel the slightest regret.
Mark, Cass, and Tracy served as a kind of secondary appraisal.
It was not easy—nor safe—to compare real herbs against descriptions written in a book.
They could easily be poisonous plants that merely looked similar.
In that sense, an experienced gathering specialist adventurer was an excellent means of verification.
“Haha! Thanks to you, Robin, we gathered in one go what would’ve taken a week to collect!”
“And what about Sigbard? It’s my first time seeing someone catch Monsters barehanded.”
Before the sun set. They encountered a beast-type Monster that looked like a mix between a wolf and a wild boar.
They had already unpacked their belongings to prepare for camping.
If they were careless, they might lose everything they had gathered so far, so they merely watched for an opening.
Then Sigbard stepped forward and beat it to death with his bare fists.
The reason he did not use his rod was simple. If he mishandled it, the hide could be damaged.
Thanks to that, they earned additional income and ate their fill of meat for dinner.
“It’s hard to believe you’re Copper-Ranked Adventurers. What did you do before this?”
“I trained with the sword, and Sigbard trained with the rod.”
“Mysterious fellows! Good. It’s foolish to reveal your own capital.”
It seemed the explanation would grow long if they elaborated, so he gave a vague answer, yet Mark viewed even that favorably.
After all, since they were steadily bringing in money on their own, it was only natural they looked good in his eyes.
“We barely did anything today. How about the two of you skip night watch at least?”
Cass suggested it, but Robin firmly declined.
Robin had not forgotten the one who struck him from behind during his first expedition.
Tonight as well, he planned to keep watch in shifts with Sigbard.
“At this pace, we’ll arrive by lunchtime tomorrow.”
“Good work, everyone. See you tomorrow.”
The night breeze, cooling the heat of midday, brushed past the five of them.
There were no issues during the night watch.
No Monsters or suspicious individuals approached, and everyone fulfilled their assigned duties.
‘They don’t seem to be bandits.’
The five rose before sunrise, finished preparing for the expedition, and continued westward.
And so, Robin arrived at his destination.
One hour after entering the forest.
“This is as far as I can guide you.”
Mark stopped walking and turned around.
It was not a place densely packed with trees befitting the name Great Forest.
Rather, it felt like an outpost before truly venturing inside.
From the outside it had not been obvious, but a forest was not necessarily crammed full of trees.
Just looking around, there was enough open ground to build a decent inn.
And at some distance from the forest stood a solitary cabin.
“If you go in any further, I can’t guarantee survival. Not many people even know about this place.”
“Thank you for guiding us. Is that the rest stop?”
Robin pointed at the cabin.
Mark shook his head.
“I heard from a Silver-Ranked Adventurer that it’s the dwelling of an Elf friendly to humans.”
“Have you ever met an Elf?”
“I only heard about it myself. I’ve never seen one in person.”
Elf.
They were rarely known to interact with humans, so little was known about them.
Beautiful appearances, lifespans of several hundred years, a race that loved nature.
What was known to the public sounded like something out of a fairy tale, and Robin’s own knowledge of Elves did not extend much beyond that.
“Quite a few enter the Great Forest hoping to see an Elf, but I haven’t heard any good news.”
“Even now, won’t you reconsider coming with us? Adventurers like you would be welcome.”
Cass and Mark brought up a matter already settled.
It only showed how regretful they were.
Capable and trustworthy adventurers were rare.
Robin politely declined, saying he appreciated the offer but had someone he was searching for.
“May we go inside that cabin?”
“I wouldn’t recommend it, but the consequences are always your own to bear.”
This was a free lawless zone.
If one had the guts, there was nothing to hesitate over.
After giving advice befitting an adventurer, Mark took out a Silver Coin from his pocket.
“Here, your share.”
“You don’t have to.”
“I have a conscience too. Even just selling the byproducts we gained thanks to you will fetch at least 10 Silver.”
Robin no longer refused and accepted the Silver Coin.
Mark, Cass, and Tracy each offered parting words mixed with advice.
Though it was the cliché warning to always stay vigilant and never let one’s guard down, it was also a guideline for survival.
“See you again.”
The sound of the three’s footsteps gradually faded.
Only when they could no longer be heard did Robin finally relax.
“I’m glad we teamed up with decent people this time.”
“Those arranged by the Guild seem trustworthy.”
Now that only the two remained without a guide, Sigbard headed toward the cabin.
He knocked twice and asked loudly.
“We’re adventurers passing through. Is anyone inside?”
“…….”
“If there’s no answer by the count of three, we’ll enter.”
It was a unilateral declaration bordering on rudeness, but Robin did not stop him.
He felt no presence from inside the cabin and thought it would be fine if they only rested briefly.
Though Mark had said it was an Elf’s dwelling, he did not take that at face value.
People liked attaching interesting stories to things.
The cabin’s owner could just as easily be a wanted criminal or even a cannibal.
Living in an Uncharted Area in itself meant one was not entirely aboveboard.
Creeeak.
Unexpectedly, the cabin had no particular locking mechanism.
Observing minimal courtesy, Robin spoke up.
“Excuse us.”
The cabin was spacious.
There was enough room even for five people to stay.
Robin looked down at the long table placed in the center.
Something woven from tree bark and leaves lay upon it, covered in intricate drawings.
‘A map?’
Tougher and slightly thicker than paper, upon closer inspection it resembled a map.
However, it was incomparably more precise than any map Robin had seen before.
In this era, maps were often difficult to interpret due to the lack of standardized drafting criteria.
A castle drawn in the middle of land represented a city, and what lay around it was not depicted in detail.
“Sigbard, come here and look at this.”
“What is it. Dots and lines scribbled everywhere.”
“It’s a map. Doesn’t it remind you of somewhere?”
“No.”
‘He didn’t even think about it.’
Sigbard quickly lost interest and went to look around elsewhere.
After examining the map for quite some time, astonishment slowly spread through Robin.
‘The Uncharted Area……?’
From the point at the very end of the map, a flat road extended westward.
Among the numerous branches, one matched the path Robin had traveled.
If that had been all, he would not have been this surprised.
“Is it possible to measure this vast land in such detail?”
The region marked on the map was a distance that would take a human ten days to walk.
That was only the width, and its area was larger than most territories.
The path Robin had traveled was only a very small portion of it.
“Sigbard.”
Robin lifted the map.
It certainly weighed more than ordinary paper.
“Let me know if you find another map.”
“Understood.”
The search of the two men’s hut gained momentum.
From the homeowner’s perspective, it was certain to be infuriating, but…….
‘I’m only looking around.’
Robin was filled with a strange excitement.
After all, wasn’t it possible that they might discover a treasure map?
‘Is this why people become adventurers?’
The romance of his childhood resurfaced vividly.
Aelin fired arrow after arrow in rapid succession.
The Goblins and Gnolls struck by the arrows collapsed helplessly one after another.
Her skill lacked nothing to be called that of a master archer, yet it was too soon to feel at ease.
There were simply too many Monsters rushing in.
“Aelin, fall back.”
A man holding a spear pushed Aelin behind him.
She had been about to tell him not to interfere, but upon seeing the man, she bit her lip.
“Zariel…….”
“There was no need for you to step forward.”
Dozens of soldiers appeared behind Zariel.
Without a single command, they moved as one and drew their bowstrings.
Shishishishik!
The rain of arrows that flew simultaneously halted the advancing Monsters.
Not a single arrow went astray, and even the Monsters in the rear faltered.
Aelin spoke coldly.
“Where I stand is my choice.”
“Did that exile coax you again?”
“That never happened. I came out here of my own will. And don’t refer to my teacher that way.”
“If not ‘exile,’ then what should I call an exile?”
Aelin’s expression hardened as she glared at Zariel.
Zariel cleanly ignored her and continued his task.
“Teach those creatures why they must not trespass on this land.”
At Zariel’s command, arrows were loosed without pause.
After watching with a displeased expression, Aelin nocked an arrow and joined the subjugation.
Whatever their disagreements, their desire to protect their kin was the same.
The Monsters could no longer advance.
“It’s over.”
The Monsters pierced with countless arrows formed a boundary line.
As Zariel intended, the boundary line carried a warning: any who approached further would die.
Anyone could see it at a glance.
He felt satisfied and turned to leave when Aelin’s voice stopped him.
“There’s still more.”
Several thick vines writhed and tangled together before rising into the shape of a massive sphere.
Sharp thorns protruded all over the vines.
“A vine Monster.”
“We have to destroy its core.”
“I know without you saying it.”
Zariel turned and commanded the soldiers.
“Raise your spears!”
Including Zariel, they switched their weapons from bows to spears.
They were preparing for close combat.
“Be careful not to touch the thorns of the vine Monster! If you’re pricked, you’ll be paralyzed!”
Zariel was the first to dash forward.
A blue light gathered on his spear as he slashed through the vines.
Five minutes passed as the soldiers joined in.
Thud.
Zariel’s spear pierced straight through the core at the creature’s center.
The creature, which had been flinging its vines in all directions, fell limply.
The vines, once tough like muscle, withered like rotting old wood, their vitality crumbling away.
“Any wounded?”
“None.”
“Good.”
Zariel passed by Aelin with a smirk.
She deliberately ignored him and moved away.
The man who had been watching from afar greeted her with a smile.
“Teacher, how was I?”
“Your archery was excellent. There are few now who could match Aelin at long range.”
Pride spread across Aelin’s face.
“Then I can leave the forest now, right? Right?”
“As I’ve said repeatedly, the Empire is dangerous…….”
The man stopped speaking and stared past Aelin.
Sensing something amiss, Aelin set an arrow to her bowstring.
Thud. Thooom.
With heavy footsteps, a Golem approached.
Composed of rectangular blocks of stone, the Golem stood over six meters tall.
Crunch!
The Golem trampled straight through the boundary line made of Monsters.
Already dead corpses burst apart, their blood staining the ground.
Someone was riding atop the Golem’s shoulder.
“Stop. Take another step and we will fire.”
Zariel and his soldiers had already finished aiming.
The one atop the Golem opened their mouth.
“No.”
Zariel immediately gave the order.
“Fire.”
Arrows flew toward the Golem’s shoulder, but its reaction speed exceeded expectations.
Ting ting ting.
Several arrows embedded themselves, and though the arrow Zariel shot even shattered part of the Golem’s body, none pierced through.
“Aelin, get away at once.”
“Teacher?”
The man raised a dagger and murmured.
“A member of the Demon Tribe.”
As if responding in agreement, a woman descended from the Golem’s shoulder.
A member of the Demon Tribe with purple skin and horns.
“I came because I wished to speak with the Elves. Who is your representative?”
“I am.”
Zariel stepped forward, leveling his spear.
The Demon Tribe woman looked him up and down and tilted her head.
“You don’t seem to have any intention of talking with me.”
“Of course not. I don’t know your purpose, but leave at once.”
“I seeee?”
The Demon Tribe woman raised both hands and clapped once.
“Yap!”
The surrounding trees withered, and vine Monsters burst up from the ground.
“If you intend to threaten us with such Monsters, you are mistaken.”
Rustle rustle.
It wasn’t just one.
Their numbers increased as though dozens of snakes were writhing together.
Two, three, five, eight…….
“Do you feel like talking now?”
“Stop your nonsense and get lost.”
“Can’t be helped.”
The vine Monsters increased in number by the moment.
Once they surpassed ten, a look of dismay settled over Zariel’s face.
“If I kill a few of you, perhaps you’ll reconsider?”
A smile spread across the Demon Tribe woman’s face.
“To be honest, this suits me better than polite conversation.”
Aelin’s eyes trembled.
The terrifying demonic energy froze her in place.
The vines lunged all at once.