The entrance to the Karahan Mountain Range was surprisingly well-kept.
It felt like a stroll.
Along the path leading up to the entrance, there were restaurants giving off delicious scents and makeshift shops selling equipment and consumables.
It looked just like the scenery from a game.
I thought it was just made for convenience…
But since it’s like this in reality, it’s a bit strange…
And as we walked along the path leading to the entrance,
there were many confident adventurers heading towards Karahan.
They seemed to be taking on various quests, and from the chattering I overheard, the rewards seemed quite juicy.
Their equipment looked pretty good too.
But their skills… well, they looked just okay.
Have my standards gotten too high?
On the flip side, there were also adventurers coming down from the mountains, utterly worn out, heading toward Ursphere.
But a smile graced their faces.
And the most important thing is…
there were many adventurers wielding great swords!
Maybe it’s because it’s a city?
Among the adventurers I saw in Loholan, there were none using great swords, yet there are tons here.
“Um, sis… Is this the norm?”
“Doesn’t it feel like a tourist spot?”
Hephaestus appeared flustered, while Rubia smiled gently.
“Yeah… it’s super peaceful…”
“Of course it is. About 90% of the adventurers in the city come to Karahan. The locals see it as a means of making a living. Of course, you wouldn’t see this kind of scene even halfway up.”
Rubia’s head was already darting around the surroundings before it quickly turned toward me.
“Noah, do you want to buy a snack?”
“A snack…?”
“Yeah, something to munch on while we walk through the entrance.”
Rubia pointed to the right.
There, they were selling sugar-coated fruits and jellies.
Normally, I would have nodded right away, but…
“Umm…”
I caressed the fragment embedded in Carpen’s great sword.
I really want to try it out, but…
I’m unsure about how to maintain it and what the aftereffects might be.
In the game, it was just treated as a status effect, so I didn’t think much of it.
But now that it’s reality, what will happen…?
The jelly… I want to eat it, but…
“Ah, I think I’ll pass.”
Hephaestus gasped.
And Rubia came up to me with an incredibly serious expression.
“Noah.”
“…Y-Yeah…?”
Rubia placed her hand on my forehead.
A warm energy flowed through my head, sweeping through my entire body.
“There’s nothing wrong with your body, but… are you worried about something?”
“Worried…?”
What is she talking about?
“Noah sis… are you in a lot of pain?”
“Ah, no…?”
Hephaestus held my hands tightly with both of hers.
“I’m fine, so… how about I rest a bit longer until you’re okay?”
“Wha…? What are you saying…?”
The expressions on Rubia and Hephaestus were filled with concern.
“Noah… Tylant is sealed. It’s been that way for over 30 years. So… don’t worry too much.”
“I… I’m not worried… um…”
I can’t say I’m not worried at all.
Even if the seal is certain, they’re not dead.
In fact… the seal was broken in the game.
And… Rubia sounds somewhat worried too, it seems.
“Anyway… it’s not like that… I don’t need the jelly.”
I abruptly turned my head.
“Let’s hurry… we need to get to the halfway point before sunset…”
I pulled Rubia and Hephaestus’s hands.
There was a bit of resistance, but with a little more force, they came along smoothly.
“Noah…?”
“A, and… I’ve made up my mind about things, you know…? So… I won’t be eating jelly for a while.”
Upon hearing my words, Rubia sighed softly and followed quietly.
And Hephaestus was fussing with her pockets, mumbling to herself.
“I bought it this morning… guess I’ll have to throw it away.”
Well…
If she already bought it, it would be a shame to throw it away.
But it can’t be helped.
Can’t waste money on that.
Just one piece should do.
Hmm, maybe two… no.
I’ll eat three.
*
A slightly cooler breeze brushed past my body, unlike before.
Contrary to the bustling entrance, a serious atmosphere lingered.
The adventurers who had laughed loudly earlier had long since disappeared, leaving only those silently making their way up.
We blended into that crowd as well.
“We’re almost at the halfway point.”
“Phew… yeah.”
I heard Hephaestus’s voice, looking a bit exhausted.
“Since it’s getting dark, we should probably camp here as planned.”
I nodded at Rubia’s words.
I don’t mind traveling at night, but Rubia and Hephaestus wouldn’t want that.
“That aside, how did it feel, Noah sis?”
Hephaestus glanced at the great sword.
“Ah… yeah. It’s definitely… way better than the one you gave me before…”
While ascending, I checked the sword’s performance and did some warm-up exercises by hunting a few monsters that were isolated.
I could feel that it had improved significantly in actual combat.
It feels sharper and sturdier?
But, um…
Honestly, I didn’t notice the sharpness that much.
It felt more like I was swinging down rather than slicing up the monsters…
So just… um…
“It’s sturdy…!”
“That’s… a compliment, right?”
“Yes, of course…”
“Then, what else has changed?”
Changed…? Uh… what did? Hmm…
“Ah…! It seems like the coating is good… the blood comes off easily…?”
“Huh? I didn’t do anything special for that.”
“Huh…?”
That can’t be…
It feels like blood sticks less to the great sword than before.
“You’re just making things up because you have nothing else to compliment!”
“N-No… it really… really is good.”
Hephaestus looked at me with a strange expression.
“I widened the surface area of the blade. Watching you fight, it seems like you slice and deflect more than dodge.”
“Ah… is that so?”
Listening to Hephaestus, I closely examined the great sword.
“And I tightened the cross guard better. Unless you’re trying to block something ridiculous like an avalanche with a great sword, it’s almost impossible for it to come loose.”
Hmm…
Umm…
“I see…”
I have no clue!
“…Yeah. I knew that, but… it’s a bit disappointing…”
Hephaestus sighed deeply.
I felt apologetic for no reason… uh…
Just as I was about to offer her some leftover jelly from my pocket.
“Oh, right, Noah. You didn’t use the fragment, did you?”
Rubia said as if she just remembered something.
“Uhh, yeah… sadly…”
There hadn’t been a situation to use the fragment.
Of course, I could have used it.
But there were only monsters that I could easily defeat, so there was no need to risk a penalty for nothing.
“That’s not a small matter. I’ve mentioned it before, right? There’s this… familiar yet ominous feeling coming from it. Of course, other fragments feel strange too, but Carpen’s fragment feels different.”
“Hmm…”
I touched the fragment embedded in the great sword.
I didn’t feel anything ominous…
It just made me want to smile. Hehe…
“But… using it when needed is certainly right, but I’m worried about any aftereffects.”
“It’s fine. Rubia will take care of it somehow… right?”
I looked up at Rubia and smiled gently.
If it’s the ‘thirst’ I remember, then Rubia can definitely handle that penalty.
Even if things go wrong, I won’t die!
“Uh… that’s true.”
Rubia reluctantly smiled.
“I trust you…”
I tightly held onto Rubia’s trembling hand.
“Haah… yes. I trust you too. But don’t push yourself too hard.”
Rubia grasped my hand in return.
A warm energy enveloped us.
The chill faded away, replaced by a cozy warmth.
Feeling a bit curious, I tilted my head.
“My hands felt cold.”
Rubia said with another… another ticklish smile.
“Ah, um… thank you…”
Why… why do I feel shy every time I see that expression?
It’s so weird…
“Should we make camp around here? Or go a bit further up?”
Regardless of my embarrassment, Rubia continued smoothly.
“I’m fine with anywhere.”
“Me too…”
“Then let’s camp around here. But rather than here…”
Rubia looked around and said.
“That place over there looks good. Do you see that rock?”
“Wow, it’s massive!”
“Whoa…”
There was indeed a huge rock that Rubia was pointing to.
By size, um…
It’s about the size of… 30 of me!
30 Noah centimeters!
Rubia led my hand.
Hephaestus trailed behind, wearing an extremely mischievous expression.
What’s with that?
Ignoring Hephaestus’s strange gaze, we arrived at the rock.
But…
“Up close, it’s even bigger.”
“It is… why is it this large?”
It’s not 30 Noah centimeters anymore.
It’s 50 Noah centimeters…
So, so huge!
“This spot is great. Hephaestus, can you set up the tent? Noah, please keep an eye around. I’ll prepare the meal.”
“Sure!”
“Yeah!”
Hephaestus started to rummage through her bag, pulling out the tent to set it up.
Rubia unleashed her divine power to raise a curtain and began to make a fire.
I, on the other hand…
“Wow… it’s… high…”
I crawled up the rock.
Sure, I could sit below and expand my senses, but…
This has its own romance!
After reaching the summit of the rock, I sat proudly.
I could feel Rubia’s curtain.
And I could picture Hephaestus joyfully finishing the tent.
Rubia wore a reluctant smile.
Just then, Rubia looked up at me and shouted.
“Noah—! Dinner is barbecue!”
Gasp!
“Y-Yes! Uh, um…”
I tried to shout as loudly as Rubia did, but I couldn’t manage that volume.
Then…
I raised my arms above my head, making a circle, and vigorously waved them.
Rubia grinned and nodded.
Hephaestus was still bragging about the tent.
Feeling a warm, cozy atmosphere like we were on a trip, I expanded my senses.
And then…
“Eh…?”
Not far away,
a woman with inching steps, bleeding, appeared walking toward us.
Behind her were
dozens of monsters chasing after her.
