Chapter 84

00084 A Thousand Miles in One Rush

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The party members were speechless as they beheld the grand research facility before them. Especially Shin Sang-yong and Jung Hyeon were gaping in astonishment. It seemed even they found it hard to accept the current situation.

“T-This is unbelievable. No matter how lucky beginners can be, this...”

“Ha. It’s... quite surprising.”

After regaining her composure, Jung Hyeon turned her gaze to An Sol, who was standing there with a blank expression. I smiled slightly and approached Sol, placing my hands on her waist.

“Our Sol is really a lucky charm.”

Even with my hands on her, Sol showed no resistance. She merely tilted her head, looking at me with innocent eyes.

“Am I a lucky charm?”

“Yeah, that’s right. Our Sol is the best.”

At that, Sol’s face lit up with a broad smile. I picked her up and swung her up and down a few times, as if she were on an airplane.

“Wow. Wow.”

Sol, clearly excited, raised her hands and let out a cheerful cheer. After setting her down for a moment, I turned around. It had been three days since we left Muel, and we finally discovered the ruins of the research facility.

*

We quickly finished breakfast and left the inn. Everything was fine except for the strange looks we received from Ko Yeon-ju, who came out to see us off at the inn’s entrance. The party’s atmosphere was stable, and our strength was further reinforced with the addition of two skilled mages.

“Still, I’m a bit worried.”

“About what?”

Yoo-jung was very close to Jung Hyeon. They had already dropped the formalities and were calling each other sister and brother. I was relieved that Yoo-jung, who had been unruly, now seemed to have a rein on her behavior.

Yoo-jung glanced at me and continued.

“Until now, Su-hyun and I have been hunting monsters outside and getting used to each other. But you and user Shin Sang-yong...”

As I listened to Yoo-jung, I felt my face heat up. I could hear Jung Hyeon’s laughter from behind, which made it even worse. I wanted to turn around and stretch my cheeks, but it was better to pretend I didn’t notice.

We passed through the north gate and headed straight north. If we went northwest, we would reach the Black Forest, but to the north, it was just a plain. Beyond that plain, a vast wasteland stretched out. This time, we planned to head in that direction.

I had already thought about this, so I quietly called Vivian.

“Vivian.”

Vivian was being bombarded with questions from Shin Sang-yong. She had been answering them with a haughty attitude, but when I called her, she looked a bit annoyed. Lately, she had been showing a rebellious side, enjoying her life. When I raised my hand slightly, she immediately stuck to my side with a bright smile.

“Yes. Su-hyun. Did you call me? Hehe.”

“Haha. I’m sorry for interrupting your conversation.”

“Then, be more careful next time... Hohoho. What did you want to say?”

I showed a cold smile as I saw Vivian break out in a cold sweat, then I got to the point. Vivian is 24 years old, the same age as me, but she has the memories of living as a spider for over 100 years. I had already done some basic research, but I still had some doubts.

“By the way, back then. Before you became a spider. Wasn’t there a research facility near the north of Muel?”

“Research facility? Yes, there was.”

Everyone’s pace slowed down a bit as they heard Vivian’s clear answer. I, too, spoke quickly, excited.

“Do you know where it is?”

“Of course, I don’t know the exact location. I don’t remember everything from back then. But if you keep going in this direction, you’ll find it. Didn’t you already know this?”

“...”

I slumped my shoulders as I heard Vivian’s answer, which turned my expectations into disappointment. However, at least I confirmed that the place I had in mind was correct, so it wasn’t a complete loss.

The ruins of the research facility were discovered during the time I was away from Muel, so I didn’t have many memories of it. I only briefly paid attention when I saw a report that another caravan from Muel had successfully explored the facility. Vivian, with a slightly displeased look, returned to her original position.

I can find it with the Third Eye. However, the problem I’m currently facing is the justification. It would be suspicious if a user, who is just starting out, could discover a dungeon that even experienced explorers couldn’t find. If we were fully settled into the clan, it might be fine, but they aren’t completely settled with our party yet. While children and Shin Sang-yong might think positively, things won’t go as smoothly as I’d like. From what I can see, Jung Hyeon will definitely have doubts.

Jung Hyeon will hesitate to join a clan that seems unsettling, and I don’t want to recruit a user who has doubts. I’ve already warned the children to keep quiet about the books and other matters, but the future is a concern.

Seeing my troubled expression, Sol’s comforting voice came from beside me.

“Brother, it’s okay.”

I wanted to snap, “What’s okay?” but I knew she would start crying, so I just gave a faint smile and turned my head.

After walking for a full day, on the second day, we managed to leave the plain. The further we moved away from Muel, the more the emerald green fields turned into a yellowish-brown color. After entering the wasteland, the party, which had been friendly, became quiet. Jung Hyeon and Shin Sang-yong, as well as the children, who remembered our previous actions, were looking around with cautious eyes.

As if to meet our expectations, a battle with monsters soon began.

We couldn’t march indefinitely, so we were taking a break. We were sitting quietly, drinking water and eating jerky when a group of monsters approached us, detected by my senses. What was unusual was that they were closing the distance through the ground.

“It seems the monsters will be here soon. Everyone, prepare for battle.”

The children looked puzzled at my words. At that moment, the ground around us began to bulge. The faster arrival than expected made me frown as I stood up.

“What, what is it? An earthquake?”

There’s no way it’s an earthquake. Though there was panic in their voices, the children didn’t just sit there. Ahn Hyun had already drawn his spear, and Yoo-jung was moving into formation. Seeing Sol already holding her staff, I spoke calmly.

“What earthquake? They’re land moles.”

“Land moles?”

“Ground moles.”

I answered simply and drew my sword. The moles, despite their small size, have a hunting instinct and were gathering around us in a circle. The bulging ground was spreading, indicating that we were surrounded. The number of visible holes was over ten, but when I expanded my senses, I could feel even more coming from below.

Soon, the ground split open, and a rough, sturdy hand emerged. As it grabbed the ground and pulled itself up, just as I had expected, a land mole appeared.

A light gray, round body with arms and legs like a human. Seeing this, I quickly planned to form a defensive formation.

At that moment,

“───. Stream of Aqua!”

Though I couldn’t understand the rapid incantation, Jung Hyeon completed the spell with just three syllables and pointed her staff forward. The water that emerged from the staff rose into the air, split into pieces, and rapidly descended into the ten holes around us.

The speed of her incantation, the method of dealing with the monsters, and the application of magic were all worthy of a perfect score.

Land moles live underground but, as monsters, primarily feed on human flesh. They are not the plump moles people imagine but rather have bodies like boulders, a height similar to humans, and sharp claws, making them tough opponents.

Their bodies are too hard for ordinary spears and swords to penetrate. The only way to deal with them is to use a weapon infused with magic or to crush them with overwhelming force. However, there is an easier method to deal with land moles.

That is to douse them with water. Jung Hyeon, upon seeing that the monsters were land moles, immediately responded appropriately.

The land moles, which had burst out of the ground with great momentum, were now drenched like wet rats. They began to change color to a dark red, and their initial momentum was halted.

Without missing a beat, Shin Sang-yong stepped forward.

“Ahn Sol, I will now prepare my magic. Please prepare a protective spell just in case. And when I cast my magic, please cast the protective spell on the land moles at the right timing.”

“Y-Yes?”

Ahn Sol stuttered at the request to cast a protective spell on the land moles. However, seeing Jung Hyeon quickly cut off her magic and start a new incantation, she hurriedly began her own incantation.

“───.”

Shin Sang-yong immediately began casting. The land moles, which had been hesitating, started to charge as they saw the mage casting another spell. They seemed to know their weakness and decided to charge quickly once they were wet. However, our caravan had another mage. A terrifying chimera alchemist who could withstand hundreds of land moles without a scratch.

“Ora! Aranea! O Web of Death, ruler of the 32nd Legion!”

Vivian, who seemed to have been prepared from the beginning, had a metaphysical symbol beneath her feet. As the magic circle glowed, a spider I recognized from before appeared. It was not an ordinary spider but a chimera-enhanced magic spider, Aranea, strengthened by Vivian.

“Aranea!”

At Vivian’s call, Aranea seemed to read her mind and opened its lower jaw wide.

“Sssssssss!”

Silver threads extended from Aranea’s lower jaw. These threads, which were actually spider webs, spread out like living snakes, skillfully avoiding our party and ensnaring all the charging land moles.

“Kurik? Kurik?”

The land moles tried to escape or cut the threads with their sharp claws, but it was futile. As the sticky threads tightened, the land moles could only let out pitiful cries.

Shin Sang-yong, who had just finished casting, aimed with his left hand and spoke.

“Ahn Sol, I’m going now. I’ll be careful, but please use it at the right timing.”

“E? Y-Yes!”

“Chain Lightning!”

As Shin Sang-yong’s incantation ended, zigzag lightning bolts began to chain together. The lightning, which had been advancing, struck the leading land mole, creating a spectacular scene.

“Kurururururururu!”

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