Chapter 24

Gackler Volcano. After visiting the village at its base, Alvis and his companions had come to the crater.

"Here it is..."

"Yes. This is the entrance from this side. There are entrances from other territories as well, but this side is the farthest from the Purification Ground. Perhaps that's why the Belphias Dukedom has been connected to the royal family."

"That's right."

At the entrance to the volcano, a signpost with a notice was erected. It wasn't that entry was strictly restricted, but it was something that should be known at the very least. If one were to get lost, it would be their own responsibility. It was said that high-quality minerals could be found in Gackler Volcano, but the area was vast and long, and the volcano was quite tall. To search thoroughly, one would need someone familiar with the terrain. If not, one might get lost and, even if they found minerals, they might not be able to return. However, the village at the base did not accept any requests for guidance. The reason for this was...

"Basically, this side is not suitable for mining."

"Why not?"

"...You'll see."

It was faster to see than to explain. Alvis followed Rakwell, who walked ahead. After advancing a little, Alvis understood. Indeed, it was not a place for mining.

Everyone imagined that they would climb the mountain since it was a volcano. However, the path was much steeper than expected. The guards, who were used to it, followed the guard captain and the lord. The Haswork brothers, who were participating for the first time, hesitated. Alvis and the royal guards were also observing the situation, watching those who had gone ahead.

There was a path, but it was narrow, barely wide enough for two people to walk side by side. The slope had a considerable angle. It was impossible to walk straight; one had to lean forward and step on the exposed rocks for traction. Even Iegan, who was well-built, did not cause the rocks to crumble, indicating that they were quite sturdy.

"Your Highness,"

"I'll go first. Din, follow me, and Rex, come after Ed and his brothers."

"Understood."

"Alright."

Since the Haswork brothers showed no signs of moving, Alvis went ahead. It felt more like climbing stairs than walking on a path, the only difference being the unstable rocks. However, it was not a particularly difficult path for Alvis. When he reached the top, he could see Rakwell and the others, who had been waiting.

"Alvis,"

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"Well, I expected you to handle it easily. I wasn't too worried..."

The problem with the Haswork brothers was understood without being said. Even Iegan seemed eager to move forward, but Rakwell was calming him, asking him to wait a little longer.

"Is the path ahead similar?"

"Yes, at key points. This side is more like the mountain's back... there are more sloping paths. It gets gentler as you go up."

"I see."

"Tell us if you're tired. There are places where we can take a break."

"No problem. Please follow the pace of my father and the others."

Alvis, and of course, Din and the others, would not want to rest unless absolutely necessary. Before that, the royal guards should not be inferior to the guards of a territory. In that sense, Alvis, a former royal guard, was no different.

Rakwell's expression softened at Alvis's attitude.

"Father?"

"Nothing. Let's hurry on."

"Yes."

Looking back, he could see the Haswork brothers and Rex approaching. Even though they were well-trained, walking on an unfamiliar path was more tiring than they had anticipated. However, there was no intention to wait for them.

They continued on a similar sloping path and, as it neared evening, they reached the middle of the volcano and decided to rest. They set up camp and spent the night. They wanted to move out in the morning to avoid encountering monsters in the dark, which could happen as they went deeper.

"I was also interested in fighting monsters."

"Your Highness Alvis,"

"Just a joke."

Unlike the expedition, the encounters with monsters were minimal. Rakwell had a crystal that repelled monsters, so weak ones did not come near. Although Rakwell's strength was not great, the crystal's effect was not wide-ranging. However, there had never been a monster that Iegan had trouble with, so they were unlikely to encounter strong ones.

"However, there's a possibility that the monsters have changed, as they did during the previous expedition."

"...That's true. We still don't know the full extent of that incident. Considering we are getting closer to the source of the miasma, it would be wise to be cautious tomorrow."

Before heading to Marana, the royal guards had gone on an expedition. At that time, they had encountered an unexpected attack. Although the monsters were not particularly difficult to fight, their appearance was unexpected. The same could happen again. Moreover, the number of guards for this purification was not large. One reason was that encounters with monsters were rare, and another was the possession of the monster-repelling crystal.

"Should I inform the minister?"

"...Yes. It's better to be prepared. If nothing happens, that's the best outcome."

"Yes. I'll go and inform him."

"Thank you."