novelraw Chapter 157 : Fog Canyon
Chapter 157 : Fog Canyon
Chapter 157: Fog Canyon
Aelin finished copying the text written on the wall.
She straightened her stiff back and stretched her arms out wide to loosen up.
The jungle where she had faced living trees and the Demon Tribe.
The Dungeon she had entered to save those she had been assigned to guard was far easier than when they first came.
That was because they had entered through a safe path without traps.
“Let’s eat while we work.”
Robin brought sandwiches and water and sat down beside her.
The only ones inside the Dungeon were Robin and Aelin.
Sigbard and Serena were standing guard outside.
Aelin briskly removed her helmet and gulped down the water.
“You wrote quite a lot?”
“I finished all of it.”
She gathered the stack of papers together and handed them to Robin.
There was enough to publish a thin book.
Robin flipped through the pages one by one and was slightly surprised.
It had only been two hours since she began copying, yet she had already finished.
“You really worked hard.”
“I’ll write the interpreted version after we return. Writing against the floor strained my back.”
“What do you think, Aelin? Do you feel anything from the text?”
After taking a bite of her sandwich, she spoke.
“If I had to define this place, it feels like some kind of memorial hall.”
From trivial stories to unbelievable achievements, the writing was vast in scope.
She tried to gauge the intention behind its creation, but nothing else came to mind.
It was a massive biography recording the life of Spirit Mage Lexus.
That was what Serena had said.
“Are people still lingering outside?”
“A few. They must be very curious.”
When Robin first arrived,
Numerous Adventurers had surrounded the Dungeon.
Each had struggled to enter, but none had reached the end.
After all, they had been trying to enter through the wrong path from the start.
The entrance Aelin discovered was different from the one where they had gathered.
She had no intention of stopping whatever they did, but they withdrew on their own.
They had upheld professional courtesy.
Of course, some remained to watch, and there was even a team that suggested exploring together.
It sounded no different from asking to be carried.
Only after Sigbard clenched his fist did they shut their mouths and step far back.
“They’re no different from bandits who prey on the weak.”
“They might actually be real bandits. In an Uncharted Area, the strong make the rules.”
Aelin swallowed the rest of her sandwich with a sullen expression.
She usually wore her helmet, so her expression could not be seen.
Seeing her bare face made him chuckle.
“Why are you laughing.”
“I was just thinking that you can make expressions like that too.”
“Me? Why would I?”
“It’s nothing. I was just glad to see your face.”
Leaving Robin, who had only finished half his sandwich, Aelin stood up.
“Where are you going.”
“We’re done here. It’s time to leave.”
“We could stay a bit longer.”
Robin tried to stop her, but she quickly moved away.
The tips of her long ears were slightly red.
She hurriedly fixed her helmet and dashed out alone.
“Let’s go together.”
After checking to make sure nothing was left behind, Robin followed after her.
The memorial hall, its walls densely covered in writing, was swallowed by silent stillness.
Three days had passed since they left the Safe Area and entered the Dangerous Area.
They stopped by a Rest Stop, sold the by-products from the Monsters they had hunted, and took a rest.
Perhaps Silver-Ranked Adventurers had heard rumors about Robin, as more people began recognizing him.
“From Fog Canyon onward, a guide’s direction is crucial.”
“If you’re not careful, you could become a lost wandering soul.”
It was something he already knew, but hearing it directly from those with experience made it feel different.
Their vivid accounts suggested two things.
First, always be careful not to lose your way.
Second, beware of Spirit-type Monsters.
‘So Wraiths appear here…….’
Though the chances of encountering one were low, there were few Monsters as troublesome.
“How do you seniors deal with Spirit-type Monsters?”
“Most of us coat our weapons with holy water and kill them.”
“Or you can add a specialist to your team.”
Even within the Dangerous Area, there were Adventurers who specialized in hunting Spirit-type Monsters.
If you went with such Adventurers, there would be nothing to worry about.
Since their fees were expensive, Robin erased the option of hiring one.
‘I brought holy water, so it should be fine.’
If necessary, there was also the option of buying time and fleeing.
“Thank you for sharing your experiences. It helped a lot.”
“I was just telling stories to pass the time, but hearing you say that makes me proud.”
“Now let’s hear the young man’s story.”
He built connections while talking with the Adventurers at the Rest Stop.
At least within this place, they could interact comfortably without hostility.
He made sure to leave a good impression and remember their faces, as widening his network could return in unexpected ways later.
‘They don’t seem like bad people. That’s a relief.’
One by one, they rose to prepare for tomorrow.
Robin also returned to his room.
“GrrrRRRRR!”
Sigbard’s thunderous snoring continued as always.
He closed his eyes to the background of snoring and opened them to morning light.
The diligent Adventurers resumed their respective journeys.
Robin was one of them.
“I’ll pick up the pace until we reach Fog Canyon.”
“Don’t fall too far behind.”
Before he knew it, Aelin had grown accustomed to the role of guide.
Serena walked behind, tapping her staff, while Sigbard remained vigilant against sudden ambushes.
‘They’re starting to look the part.’
From behind, his companions were faithfully fulfilling their roles.
It had not been long since they began working as a team, yet seeing how much they had grown made him proud.
‘If they keep this up, it might not take long to earn a Gold Rank.’
They eliminated Monsters that charged at them first and kept their distance from Adventurers they encountered along the way.
True to its name as a Dangerous Area, the deeper they went, the stronger the Monsters that appeared.
As they crossed the desolate land and grew accustomed to the fading traces of human presence,
Aelin stopped walking.
“From here on, it’s Fog Canyon.”
She extended her hand and slowly moved it left and right, and the mist rippled like waves.
A canyon rising high above thickly spread fog.
Though there were still many unknown regions in the world,
The mist, sharply divided like a drawn curtain, was a sight they had never seen before.
“If you breathe in too much of the mist, it’ll make you sleepy, so be careful.”
“What? I didn’t hear anything about that.”
“I’m joking.”
“…….”
Serena chuckled and lightly shook her staff.
A gentle breeze blew in, splitting the mist to either side.
With the mist parted, the canyon did not look much different from the path they had walked so far.
If the hills surrounding the road rose higher, it would probably look like this.
“Ready? From here on, even I sometimes lose my way.”
Serena’s words were directed at Aelin.
Whether to go straight on the right path or take a detour.
As the guide held the power to determine the team’s fate, Aelin’s shoulders felt heavy.
“Let’s go.”
Confidence seeped from that single reply.
It would be a lie to say she did not feel burdened.
But she had not idled away her time.
While in the city, Aelin had steadily studied the Uncharted Area.
Since information about the Dangerous Area was not easy to obtain, she did everything she could.
She visited taverns where many Silver-Ranked Adventurers gathered and even paid the Guild for information.
She could proudly say she had laid the foundation required of a guide.
“If I wasn’t ready, I wouldn’t have come.”
It was obvious she was shining her eyes beyond the helmet.
And the same went for Robin and Sigbard.
Their curiosity toward the unknown quietly lifted its head.
“If something attacks, get behind me immediately.”
“That’s reassuring.”
One step.
As they entered the mist-covered canyon,
One courageous step was enough.
Whoosh. Whoooosh.
Wind blew ceaselessly around the four as they passed through the canyon.
It was thanks to Serena controlling a spirit.
Since it continuously consumed Ether, it could not have been a light burden.
Yet she followed along without showing any sign of strain.
‘No matter how many times I see it, it’s amazing.’
He had seen her handle invisible spirits many times, yet just when he thought he was getting used to it, she always showed another astonishing feat.
Breathing fire and creating water were astonishing enough on their own.
“…Do you have something to say?”
Compressed air from the tip of her staff tapped Robin lightly.
Air that was neither solid nor liquid swirled and formed letters.
[Hungry]
‘You could just say it…….’
Since it happened to be mealtime, Robin called out to Aelin.
The elf, who had been twenty meters ahead, stopped walking.
“Let’s have lunch before we continue.”
“Meal time? Nice!”
They moved slightly off the flat path and climbed a sloped hill.
Taking out simple provisions, they began eating.
“Aelin, is finding the way manageable?”
“Thanks to her. Without the mist, it’s not difficult at all.”
“Really?”
The wind ceased, and the mist slowly crept back in around them.
In an instant, visibility sharply narrowed.
“I can’t help forever.”
“That’s true.”
The now-quiet canyon filled with thicker and thicker mist.
All three keenly realized just how significant Serena’s presence had been.
“Serena, that’s stingy. We’re one team—clear the mist for us.”
“I can keep stirring the wind, but if I don’t rest, it becomes a burden for me too.”
“It’s fine. I’m grateful just for what you’ve done so far.”
Sigbard was about to add something but stopped.
There was firmness in Aelin’s voice.
They said meeting the right people was also a skill, but Aelin had started off with exceptional companions.
A barbarian with resilience that would not fall.
A Spirit Mage rare enough to be scarcely found even if one searched the entire Empire.
A swordsman who never missed what he decided to cut and a leader with inclusiveness.
Thanks to them, she was growing quickly, yet a corner of her heart felt uneasy.
“I’ve memorized all the necessary information, and I’ve finished assessing the terrain.”
“It’s good to work hard with a sense of responsibility, but don’t overdo it.”
“Overdo it? These are virtues a guide should naturally have.”
With that, she swallowed two pieces of hardtack at once.
She drank water to ease the dryness and put her helmet back on.
“Aelin is acting strange. Aelin, did you hit puberty or something?”
“W-What are you talking about!”
“Then why are your emotions running wild?”
“Are you going to keep saying weird things? H-How old are you!”
“That’s unfair. Don’t elves live much longer than other races?”
Their voices rose briefly in an unexpected debate about age.
Robin stepped between them to mediate.
“The Monsters will hear you. If you want to argue, let’s do it at a Rest Stop.”
“Robin is right.”
Unlike Sigbard, who calmly sat back down, Aelin fanned herself with her hand.
‘She’s wearing a helmet—does the wind even pass through it?’
It was a valid question, but he chose not to voice it.
Tap.
Wondering what it was this time, he turned and saw Serena chewing jerky without concern.
He roughly ignored it and was about to calm Aelin when—
Tap. Tap.
“Serena?”
“Yes.”
Serena showed no change in expression and remained focused on eating.
“You tapped my back. What is it?”
“What are you talking about? Tapping your back?”
“Is this another joke? Maybe you should prepare something more original.”
Robin made a light joke, but Serena looked genuinely confused.
“Everyone, stop.”
Aelin murmured, frozen in place.
It was an abrupt command, but Robin complied without hesitation.
Tap. Tap. Tap tap.
“Huh?”
“Someone tapped my back.”
“Me too.”
The only ones visible around them were the four of them.
‘Don’t tell me……?’
As his eyes met Aelin’s, she pointed at the luggage.
Robin silently gathered the baggage, and Sigbard also packed up.
Only Serena blankly watched her companions.
“We’ve finished eating, so shall we go?”
“I haven’t finished yet—”
They quickly covered Serena’s mouth and carefully descended the hill.
Letters were drawn on Robin’s back.
[Where are you going]
“Aelin.”
Before he could even ask if she could find a Rest Stop,
He felt more letters traced against his skin.
[Play with me]
“Everyone, duck.”
Sigbard and Aelin reacted instantly.
Robin forcibly pushed Serena’s head down.
Shaaang!
A semicircle of Fighting Spirit shot outward, and a faint shape gradually became clearer.
“Run.”
A Spirit-type Monster, a Wraith.
An annoying one had latched onto them.