< 52. Baidian Mountains (1) >
#52
The first journey of the special adventure club began on the following Saturday.
The day I have to return is next Wednesday. Originally it was only possible to go out on weekends but it was possible to go out on weekdays if it was in the name of ‘club activity’.
They decided to go on a ghost horse according to Ronan’s opinion. Even by riding a nimble courser the two-day time could be cut in half.
Ghost horse rentals took place near the north gate of the island. Behind the staff of the Pale Horse Guild three strange-looking horses stood still as if they were statues.
“You mean that…?”
“There’s one more nightmare for Nimiral to have.”
Ronan frowned when he saw the ghost horse. Only the whites of the shiny eyes existed. Its smooth body without body hair was as green as a frozen corpse.
I felt like I knew why the ghost horse’s classification remained a monster rather than a fantasy species for a long time. After exchanging brief greetings the employee handed out goggles to each member of the group.
“These are people who made a reservation. “Please take this first.”
“Are they goggles?”
Ronan tilted his head. It was a well-made item that only Gryphon Riders could use.
“yes. It is essential when riding a ghost horse. “Without this it would be difficult to open your eyes.”
Well there must have been a reason why the imperial army messenger rode around. After listening to the brief instructions they took over the ghost horse.
“I’ve cast the location awareness spell so all you have to do is hold on to the reins. “I’ll say this again but never raise your upper body while running.”
“thank you. “Let’s go then.”
Ronan climbed onto the ghost horse with skillful movements. Ronan and Braum each rode one horse and Asher and Marya who were relatively light rode one horse together. Maryah asked Asher.
“Have you ever driven a cute horse?”
“Uh huh…! “I’ll be the rider.”
Asher answered with a lot of strength. He thought he had done well to learn horse riding after being whipped by Ronan the other day.
Although the old mule and the ghost horse were as different from the enoki mushroom and the mandragora that didn’t matter right now. Marya smiled unexpectedly and hugged Asher from behind.
“Oh it’s pretty good? Then please take care of me!”
“…!”
Asher froze. The feeling of pressure on my back was amazing. Asher who barely regained his composure lightly kicked the ghost horse’s side with both his feet as he had learned.
“Hey!”
bang! At that moment Asher’s head was thrown back. The acceleration was not gradual. The ghost horse was launched forward like an arrow that had left the field.
“Kwaaaaaak!”
“Aser!”
Asher’s scream was swallowed by the wind the moment it left his mouth. Marya with her arms outstretched took the reins together. Ronan who started a step late also cursed and grabbed the reins.
“There’s a damn degree…!”
It didn’t take long to realize the importance of goggles. Quaaaaa! A strong wind that I had never experienced before blew down with the force of tearing off the skin on my face.
The nearby scenery became an afterimage and disappeared. The distant scenery was rapidly receding behind. The ghost horse’s strange technique of flowing along the ground gave the illusion that it was really running in the sky.
“Bwaaaa-!”
Sita was flying right next to her at almost the same speed. The ghosts carrying the four people became the wind and raced down the northern highway.
When I raised my head I saw mountain peaks rising like spines in the distance. Today’s destination was the Baidian Mountains.
****
“Uhhhh! Wow!”
“Are you okay cutie?”
“ha ha ha! “You must have vomited while running like me!”
They arrived at their destination in less than half a day. The moment the ghost horse stopped the group got off the horse in a position that was extremely close to falling. The horses without manes returned the way they came as soon as they put down the group.
“Really fucking… this is ridiculous.”
When I raised my head the majestic sight of the Baidian Mountains came into view. I couldn’t believe I was in the system just a few hours ago. Sita who had lost the race against the ghost horse was lying on the floor out of breath.
“Biaaaaa…Biaaaaa….”
“I told you to follow me slowly so why bother?”
Ronan put the exhausted Sita in his backpack. Marya who had been patting Asher on the back opened her mouth.
“What do I do when I go back?”
“They say if you blow this they will come to you. “Wherever you are.”
Ronan took out a pure white stick from his pocket. It was a whistle calling for a ghost horse. He led his group and started climbing the mountain.
“How far do I have to go?”
“About a day. Have you ever camped?”
“Whahaha! I’m looking forward to it. “I’ve only heard about it but this is my first time seeing it in person!”
Each member of the group had a large backpack slung on their backs. The goal of this journey was to find Curse Eye while sucking honey from the ley line through a straw.
“Remember? If you find something like an octopus with one eye be sure to catch it. “They say it’s in a gloomy place like under a rock or under the shade of a tree so take note.”
“huh. “Was it a monster that eats curses?”
Ronan nodded his head. He told three people about his curse a few days ago. Braum shouted pounding his chest.
“Don’t worry! “I’ll take it back like a mountain!”
“Thank you Braum. But this is a place where a lot of monsters appear right? “If you don’t want to be bitten in your sleep lower your voice a little.”
“Uhm…! I get it…!”
Ronan took his group deep into the mountains. Although the terrain was rough the three people who had improved their physical strength over the past month climbed the mountain without any problems.
‘There should be no owner.’
The ley line of Baidian Mountain was located near some destroyed ruins. At the time it was occupied by an unknown mercenary group. Ronan was only able to leave after turning seven out of ten people into idiots because they were arguing over paying the toll.
After walking until night the group camped at the bottom of an unnamed valley. The bonfire that lit up among the four people relieved the chill. Ronan chewed some beef jerky and talked about the next day’s journey.
“Get enough rest. “I have to walk a long way tomorrow too.”
“Hmm but what kind of monster is coming out here…?”
“Various. The most terrible and the second most terrible. “Which of the two would you like to hear first?”
“Two second.”
“okay?”
Ronan suddenly turned around and threw La Mancha. The sword flew in a straight line and disappeared into the nearby grass. Pow! An eerie scream rang out sounding like meat being pierced.
“Keeeeek!”
“What?!”
Ronan approached the grass with his hands in his pockets. A green-skinned dwarf was struggling pierced through La Mancha’s sword body.
“Kyahiik…! Kaaaaak…!”
“I caught up with you without fail. “I’ll have to pick up the pace tomorrow.”
Deep. Ronan killed the dwarf who was still alive and threw him in front of the group. Braum who recognized the dwarf’s identity frowned and asked.
“Goblin…? Is that right?”
“ok. But do you see this?”
Ronan pointed the tip of his sword at the goblin’s back. There were clearly three or four circular scars that looked like they had been burned by fire.
“He is the one who is used as a slave by the surrounding orc villages. “Of all the monsters lurking in Baidian they are the second most terrible.”
Ronan recalling memories of his past life shook his head as if he was fed up. He explained that there were orc villages all over the mountain range.
Orcs whose basic physical abilities were superior to those of humans and who roamed in groups were something that even most mid-level adventurers feared.
“The biggest problem with those bastards is that there are so many of them. “You should see it pouring out of the cave.”
“If it’s the second time what’s the most terrible thing…?”
“Ogre.”
The faces of the group turned pale. It seemed like he never thought he would hear that name here. Ronan continued calmly.
“That’s a real fucking monster. “The leather is so thick that a knife doesn’t penetrate it easily and how strong it is…”
“Have you ever fought? “With the ogre?”
Ronan nodded his head. Of course it didn’t happen in this life. He must have been around eighteen years old when he discovered Bai Dian’s ley line. The battle between the young man and the monster was not concluded even after three days and nights.
“But it’s not just a fucking monster. “The reason the mountain range is not covered with orcs is because a few ogres periodically destroy orc villages.”
Even if a hundred orcs came they couldn’t defeat a single ogre. Now that I think about it I guess he’s wandering around here somewhere.
Ronan twisted his lips as he remembered the image of the two-headed ogre who was unable to win the match because his sword was not yet ripe.
“Anyway I don’t know about orcs but whenever I encounter an ogre I always vomit. “Because he is not someone you can deal with now.”
“Uh yeah. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
“Now that I think about it there’s a wyvern that’s as terrible as an ogre. He is walking well and if suddenly a shadow appears at his feet…”
The night ripened with stories. The four people took turns keeping watch for three hours. Fortunately no more monsters appeared after the first goblin.
The next morning. Ronan who was looking at the mountain from a cliff said.
“I found it. “I remember from here.”
The layout of the terrain was familiar. Ronan walked down the mountain path tracing his memories.
It was seen that the mana in the air was slowly becoming thicker. The group’s eyes widened at the sight of the ley line that appeared a few hours later.
“Waaaa…!”
“W is this a ley line? Ronan how can you get to a place like this…”
“Whahaha! This is awesome! “My mana is boiling over!”
Baidian’s ley line was located halfway up the mountain. The trees growing around were twisted grotesquely due to excess mana.
It was a much larger ley line than the Penardo Spring I visited before. Even the pieces of stone beneath his feet were filled with mana and were emitting light. The mana rising like a haze from the ground was dozens of times more concentrated than the mana normally felt in the air.
“Bwaaaa!”
Sita fully energized soared high into the sky. The mana stored in the ley line was seen being absorbed into Sita’s body.
As expected from Ronan it was a ley line that still had no owner. Ronan took off his backpack and looked at his companions.
“Every piece of stone is money so fill it up as much as possible. Please respond a lot. Asher can you explain?”
“Oh yes!”
Ronan left those words and walked deep into his ley line. He was trying to find Curse Eye who might be there. Suddenly the sight of the ruins I had seen in the past came into my mind.
‘Now that I think about it….’
He said he likes gloomy places so he might be living under the remains of a building. Before long the site of the ruins came into view. Ronan’s eyes widened.
“Huh?”
A rather decent-looking stone building stood where the ruins should have been. It was the same even when I rolled my eyes. The pointed roof and the pillars supporting the roof were impressive.
“So… I thought it was broken a long time ago?”
The fact that it was still intact meant that the building would be destroyed within four years. Ronan approached the building and patted the pillar with a puzzled expression.
Although there were signs of age there were no signs of collapse. It was the moment Ronan was about to enter the building. Someone’s voice came from behind.
“It’s a big deal. “I can’t believe guests come all the way here.”
“what?”
It was the voice of an unfamiliar man. There was no sign of it at all until it approached. Ronan reflexively pulled out La Mancha and turned his body. The startled man dropped the basket he was holding.
“Why are you doing this all of a sudden? Calm down…!”
He held out his hands as if to prove that he was harmless. Ronan seeing his man’s behavior raised his eyebrows.
“Elf?”
“yes? Yes as you can see it is.”
“…What are you doing here?”
Ronan lowered his sword. The middle-aged elf finally breathed a sigh of relief. He said picking up the basket that had fallen on the floor.
“I am a priest who serves Seniel. “You still look young so there must be a reason for you to come all the way to this rough terrain.”
