Chapter 269

Chapter 269

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Chapter 269

"Sir Aile, you've arrived. Have you thought about what I told you yesterday?" ViiSiit novelbi/n(.)c/(o)m for latest novels

"Yes."

Lorna, greeting Yuder a bit away from the mages busy reconstructing the shattered defensive barrier, lowered her voice as she surveyed the surroundings.

"What will you do? Would you like to join me today to see the ruins and other places? Or will you wait until all your companions return?"

"If it's okay, I'd like to go today."

It was an obvious choice, without room for hesitation. Upon hearing Yuder's answer, Lorna nodded in affirmation as if she had expected it, subtly surveying their surroundings.

"I thought you might say that. Please, follow me."

Thanks to Yuder's help with the mages all day yesterday, the atmosphere had considerably softened. However, if they found out he was joining her to the ruins, someone might suddenly object. As a result, Lorna took advantage of the others' busiest time to move, avoiding their attention.

"We'll need to join the others, but they're all people who've come from the village together, so you won't feel too burdened."

As she said this, two familiar mages waited behind a half-collapsed building.

"Ah, hello. When Lorna mentioned you might come along, we weren't sure, but you're really here. Did you rest well yesterday...?"

"Yes. Thanks to you."

Though the mages, who had fully experienced Yuder's Cavalry strength on the journey, didn't express their joy openly, their eyes revealed their relief at Yuder's participation. They soon began moving along a narrow path behind the collapsed building. The path wasn't naturally formed but had been crafted by felling trees and leveling the ground.

"It was fortunate that despite the numerous barriers breaking yesterday, a considerable number of barriers protecting this path remain intact. Of course, if monsters cause a disturbance like yesterday, it won't be much use."

Lorna, holding an offensive magic tool in her hand, spoke quietly. Her gaze was constantly surveying their surroundings.

"Exactly which places were you planning to visit today?"

"Five warehouses, the control points for the main barriers and amplifying barriers protecting the ruins, and Magic Spring Ruins... roughly these."

"That's quite a bit. Will you be able to check all of them by today?"

"That's why we need to hurry. Due to the monsters, I'm assuming quite a few of your barriers also got broken. We need to quickly assess the damage."

Just imagining the tenacity of the mages who, despite the rampant growth of the Great Sarain Forest that threatened to consume everything if neglected even a little, managed to maintain so many facilities, was overwhelming. As they walked, Yuder meticulously scanned the visible surroundings, recording the topography in his mind.

'This is a place with drastic changes in terrain. I can't see well because of the trees, but there seem to be many precipices that one could tumble down with just a slight misstep.'

"Is the path too rugged?"

One of the other mages, guessing why Yuder was looking around so much, awkwardly started a conversation.

'...It's not impossible, I suppose...'

"Over there, you can see the first warehouse."

Before the thought was concluded, Lorna, who had been leading the way, turned and pointed to a certain place. Just as she said, a warehouse sprang up suddenly in the forest. The mages quickly tucked away their interest in rumors and swiftly approached, scanning the surroundings.

"Huh, looks like those bastards haven't made it here yet. It's intact."

"There's not a single broken defense spell."

"Good. Let's move on to the next warehouse."

Fortunately, the warehouses, said to be arranged in a circle around the center of the Magic Spring and the magic circle, were mostly intact. But the mages, heading joyously towards the point where they could control the magic circle, were soon to realize that life was not always accompanied by luck.

"All the major defensive spells here are a mess... How about there?"

"It's worse here. It seems that more than half of the amplification circle is broken."

The mages moved around the massive magic circles drawn with magic stones, avoiding the broken ground and fallen trees. To Yuder, it was not clear how badly the situation was damaged, but the mages couldn't hide their shocked expressions, as if this place looked even more dreadful than any other disaster scene.

"We had just started to see a reaction from the magic power in the vicinity of the ruins on the amplification circle... What should we do if all this turned out to be futile?"

"Don't despair before you've even seen it. We need to go and assess the situation first."

"But look over there. The trail of monsters who broke the circle leads to the ruins..."

The eyes of a mage filled with minor fear were directed towards the forest, where the massive claw marks disappeared.

"It's too dangerous. We should report back about this and return only after the base restoration is fully completed."

"The monsters are likely gone from the ruins, leaving only their traces! If we retreat now, who knows when we'll have the leisure to return and examine it leisurely."

Yuder squinted his eyes and heightened his senses while the mages debated. He focused on sensing any signs from the direction where the monster tracks disappeared, but he felt nothing in particular.

'I don't know how far away those ruins are, but for now, there are no immediate threats. But it's not a bad thing to prioritize safety.'

"...Those who want to go back can return first and report. I will take responsibility and check the ruins myself."

At that moment, Lorna made a decision amongst the mages. Everyone else, it seemed, had decided that their lives were more valuable. Yuder squeezed himself in between the mages and spoke.

"I will accompany you."

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