Chapter 70

Chapter 70

Alarm (2)

#70

Return Stone!

An ancient relic that supports teleportation.

Although an item that receives much love because it can move several people at once without caring about specs, besides being expensive there was just one disadvantage.

“Ueee! Ueeek!”

That is accompanying terrible motion sickness enough to die!

Because even in the game it was treated as a status abnormality openly it was never a matter to look down on.

The reason Bran asked about usage experience was also because of this.

Kale who was vomiting the insides while propping on a tree sobbed.

“Heuk··· heueuk··· please save me ee···.”

Raising the head a face smeared with tears was revealed.

It is a different dimension from ordinary motion sickness.

If crossing a stormy sea riding a fishing boat in a full drunk state would it be this kind of feeling.

The characteristic dizziness did not disappear even though about ten minutes passed after arrival.

“Star fuck··· uup.”

“R-Return Stone is this kind of taste···! Hehehe! Eoheotheot!”

The other companions were no different.

Ilark who was spitting out curses covered her mouth.

Although she was the owner of a steel-like body, problems arising inside could not be helped.

Benden was even lying down and letting out a laugh, because it seemed like a crazy person it was scary to talk to.

“Kiiing. Kiing.”

“······.”

Arazan was quietly closing her eyes and stroking Baihir.

Although looking peaceful on the outside she was also desperately enduring the rising nausea.

Because the moment opening the mouth it seemed the Star Shadow eaten the day before yesterday would pop out.

Ilark said.

“Th-thinking about it Kale··· if using Sanctuary wouldn’t it become okay?”

“Ah···!”

Kale’s eyes widened.

Because of the insides undulating he had forgotten even what he could do.

It was the moment he gripped the staff with trembling hands.

Paaaaat!

The light mass that spread centered on Kale wrapped the group.

“Haaa··· now it seems I can live a bit.”

“···Huu.”

Fortunately there was an effect.

Sighs of relief rang out from various places.

Although motion sickness was not perfectly resolved, still it became a level conversation can be done.

“S-sorry··· I should have used it earlier.”

“Sorry what. If it wasn’t you we would have had to linger more. Originally right after falling I couldn’t even think.”

“I agree.”

Arazan nodded.

The five senses that were lost also began to return.

The scenery that was only recognized as color was gradually becoming clear.

Trees with good size were growing at appropriate intervals.

The sky revealed through the gap of the tree ceiling was deep blue like paint.

Just moderately beautiful, a forest where no peculiar elements are seen.

Ilark tilted her head.

“···By the way we, did we arrive safely?”

“The forest seems right. Although I don’t know if it is the targeted Poran Forest.”

“Hehe··· I also cannot give a definite answer. Because I have never been near Letunir.”

Benden scratched the back of his head.

No matter how veteran an explorer he had not been to all places on the map.

Now the person who could give an answer was only one.

Looking around Kale let out perplexity.

“B-but where did Bran go?”

“······Eh?”

Silence settled.

Hurriedly looking around Bran was not visible.

Ilark gasped.

“Damn. I thought something was empty.”

“···Didn’t seem a person who would leave without saying.”

Arazan muttered.

Because of the stupid motion sickness they had forgotten that the most important person disappeared.

Although they called Bran’s name at the top of their voices no answer returned.

Benden carefully opened his mouth.

“Th-although a matter I really don’t want to imagine there is also a possibility an accident occurred while moving space. Perhaps to a completely different place from us···”

“Th-that would not be. Because I was holding from behind.”

Kale shook his head.

He was clinging to Bran like a koala until the moment falling in the forest.

So it would not be a space movement accident.

Although the fact that it is an emergency did not change.

Just as the group who became urgent was about to start a full-scale search.

“Kreureu.”

Baihir who was flaring his nose raised his body.

“What. What did you find!?”

The lying mane was standing like flames.

Staring at one place and growling it looked certain he sensed something.

Suddenly, Arazan who was looking in the same direction narrowed her eyes.

“Smell of blood.”

“What?”

“Quite thick. To the point it is surprising we didn’t notice until now.”

“What kind of··· heuk.”

Wondering what sound it is Ilark who was sniffing widened her eyes round.

In the wind blowing from the west the smell of blood was really sticking.

Suddenly disappeared companion.

Unnaturally clear blood scent.

Bang!

Drawing the axe Ilark rushed out.

“Damn, Bran!”

“I’ll follow. Depart first!”

This time too it was because of the side effect of the Return Stone.

The function of the sense of smell was lost so noticing was late.

The lushness of the forest or anything could not stop Ilark’s advance.

Booom! Bang!

Every time the double-bladed axe was swung three or four large trees were cut in half.

Baihir carrying the three followed her.

Arazan and Benden rolled their hands at the corner of their mouths and shouted.

“Bran! Answer!”

“If heard say any words!”

Only the echo rang out emptily.

The smell of blood was gradually thickening.

Unable to overcome the anxiety Kale clutched his chest.

“B-Bran···.”

Breathing became short so hard to breathe.

Separating from Bran without a precursor was the first time since leaving the Blackstone Fortress.

Fortunately it did not take a long time to the destination.

Booom!

The moment Ilark cut the tree a wide space appeared.

Her stopped face contorted tightly.

“Ssang. What is all this?”

“What.”

The remaining’s reactions were also similar.

It was a scenery quite different from expectation.

No blood pools with floating intestines or corpses torn to pieces were visible.

In the wide clearing some campsite was erected.

An extremely neat, somehow familiar structure campsite.

Benden’s eyes widened.

“This is··· Letunir expedition team’s campsite.”

The structure of the tent or various facilities matched what was seen on the Kargai Plateau.

Even the giant scale that can accommodate hundreds.

However, the reason they were flustered was not because here is Letunir’s campsite.

“······There is no blood?”

The source of the smell of blood could not be known.

Even though blood scent at a level that makes the head dizzy was still wafting not a single drop of blood could be found.

And it was not that there are living people either.

“P-people are also not visible.”

Not even a shadow of a beast let alone people.

Usually in a campsite of this scale it is general to leave standby personnel even when not using.

However this place was empty.

Leaving only the sound of wind.

“Look at this. The stew is still boiling.”

“Really. It seems not even an hour has passed.”

The more bizarre point was that traces that there were people until a little while ago remained.

Under the pot used for distribution the bonfire was still crackling.

A situation hard to even gauge what happened.

It was while the worry about Bran was deepening further.

“Th-there!”

Kale suddenly extended his finger.

The four and one turned their heads at the same time.

One familiar boy was walking out from the tent.

Finally escaping separation anxiety he shouted in the main voice.

“World, Bran!”

“Mm?”

Bran turned his head.

There seemed no place hurt.

Blinking his eyes while looking at the exhausted friends he waved his hand.

“Eh, came.”

With an optimistic expression no different from usual.

“But why does everyone look dead? Did you step on dog poop on the way?”

That appearance causing relief along with anger to the group was an unavoidable matter.

****

“How long has it been since coming here?”

“Not long. Now about 15 minutes.”

Bran said.

He smelled the blood right after moving space and ran to the campsite.

Unlike the other group because he almost did not receive the side effect of the Return Stone it was a possible matter.

“We couldn’t even open our eyes yet··· how did you move in that motion sickness?”

“Mm. I just could.”

There was no other method to explain.

It could not be said it is because the Mental Power value is high.

Ilark nodded.

“So. If you then it seems sufficiently possible.”

With this the question of how Bran arrived at the camp first was resolved.

Nodding Ilark continued.

“······So Bran. Can I really hit just one?”

“Spare me. From next I’ll say and go.”

Bran said.

His body was tightly wrapped by Ilark’s tail.

Since the biggest question was resolved, now it was time to open a hearing on why he disappeared without saying anything.

“Don’t do so and just one. If a friend suddenly disappears in the mountains and the smell of blood rushes what do you think comes to mind? Yes?”

“Would think fucked.”

“Exactly that.”

Ilark unfolded the middle finger she was rolling.

Tukwaang!

When the so-called flick hit the tree a thunder sound rang out.

“Ilark. Humans usually die if hit by that kind of thing.”

“Because you are sturdy it’s okay. If you dropped our hearts to the navel this much price has to be paid.”

It was a heavy price.

Although not dying the probability of change occurring on the head was high.

Might become a reverse unicorn?

Then, Kale intervened between the two.

“A-no··· I am okay.”

“Kale?”

“Fortunate that safe··· heuk, if that then it is enough for me.”

He was stuck next to Bran again.

With separation anxiety resolved the face was much more comfortable.

Although the heart was still pounding, since Bran was healthy it did not matter anyway.

“I also think there is no need to do that much.”

Arazan added a word.

“Instead. From next be more aware of your own importance.”

While staring at Bran with thinly narrowed eyes.

Although it sounded like a cool forgiveness at a glance it was felt that she was suppressing emotions.

I don’t particularly want to think about what happens if not suppressed.

Bran raised both hands.

“Sorry. I didn’t know everyone would worry that much.”

Honestly the mood was quite okay.

Although fussy all were actions because of affection.

Only sorry for causing unnecessary worry.

“But it is really not intentional. Because I thought you guys would not come to senses for much longer. The side effect of the Return Stone becomes severe the farther the movement distance and the more the number of people.”

All four came to senses much faster than he expected.

Even considering receiving Kale’s blessing.

With the level of our party he thought they would lie sick all day, but they magnificently escaped the expectation.

‘Everyone grew.’

Visiting the Kargai Plateau first was the correct choice.

Ilark also in the end passed by tightly hugging Bran and releasing instead of the killing flick.

Although this also was painful because breath was blocked it was better than the skull collapsing.

“So Bran. On earth what is this matter?”

Anyway, now it was time to move to the main point.

Arazan asked.

“Full of things that cannot be understood. Although evidence that there were people until a little while ago is plentiful no one is visible. As if this many personnel evaporated.”

“Right.”

“Not only that. This forest itself is extremely bizarre. No matter how much I concentrate the sound animals make is not heard.”

“Huee, come to think of it···.”

Benden flinched.

As her words the forest was excessively quiet.

Not even the chirping of birds let alone the song of grass insects was heard.

Despite it being summer when life flourishes.

“······But the most incomprehensible is this smell of blood. I don’t know where this terrible blood scent is wafting from when there is no corpse, no blood.”

Not only her but everyone was curious about the mystery.

Fortunate that he arrived at the scene first.

Because he gained the capacity to immediately resolve the friends’ questions.

Pondering where to start Bran opened his mouth.

“It is the cleaners’ doing.”

“···Cleaners?”

“Yes. Although a nickname··· wait a bit.”

Bran said so and lowered his body.

Staring at the floor carefully he picked up one grain.

“Come. Want to smell?”

And extended it to Arazan.

The sphere as small as a ladybug was sparkling in a brilliant red color.

Just as she was about to bring her nose to the grain.

Puhak!

Suddenly transparent gas poured out from the grain.

Familiar stench spread.

Arazan’s eyes contorted tightly.

“Euk!”

“Terrible right?”

Bran giggled.

Arazan could not answer because enduring the dry heave.

The smell of blood full in all directions was spreading from that grain.

“Because it is a mass that condensed people’s blood.”

“Condensed··· blood?”

“Yes. This campsite has the same beads as that scattered.”

Bran gestured with his chin toward the campsite.

The group’s eyes widened round.

Hearing his words the grains scattered in various places on the floor were seen.

“World. This was blood? Some magic or something?”

“Not magic but something like the cleaners’ habit. Those guys swallow the prey whole and then solidify only the blood and discharge. Even that perishes becoming gas if only a little time passes.”

“Th-that kind of creature I have never seen or heard.”

“Of course Benden. Because it is not a monster of this world.”

Bran nodded.

The cleaner is an otherworld creature like Star Shadow.

If he had not faced it in the game he would not have been able to even infer.

Judging from not even showing the nose it seemed they moved looking for the next prey.

“Someone killed all the expedition team members and attempted to destroy the evidence. Using the cleaners.”

“Wh-who did that kind of thing?”

“Probably the guys who made the royal capital into that appearance.”

“···Royal capital?”

“You didn’t see. Wait.”

Saying that Bran moved his steps to the outskirts of the campsite.

Drawing a horizontal sword slash the trees fell.

Kugugung!

Whether it was the edge of the forest a completely different scenery was revealed.

Beyond the fallen trees an open wasteland was unfolding.

“Th-that?!”

“Was it this close···!”

The companions were astonished.

A city as gloomy as a vampire’s castle, surrounded by high walls, was erected in the middle of the wasteland.

“Letunir.”

Benden muttered.

That is the Letunir Kingdom.

A rotten dictatorship country that is small and poor, but maintains power with the power of powerful relics.

Also the hometown of Urdin who is still fainted while tied to the wolf.

Originally only a stopover to go to Morken, a place he had no heart to visit even a millet···.

“B-but why that appearance?”

“Is it being attacked.”

"Th-that kind of cloud is the first time seeing..."

Something was going solidly wrong.

Black smoke was rising beyond the high walls.

Among the five spires called the finger towers where the royalty resides three had collapsed.

Rumble···!

A heavy blood-colored cloud was swirling above the royal capital.

‘Flustering. Although I knew this kind of thing would happen someday.’

Bran chewed his lower lip.

Originally it is an incident that should not have occurred yet.

The Abyss touching Letunir is originally after the erosion of the Outer God has progressed considerably.

The cause that can be guessed was only one.

“Perhaps.”

A plan change of the Outer God forces influenced by Bran’s group’s actions.

The situation he had been concerned about from the start of the journey finally occurred.

Bran said.

“Letunir might already have been destroyed.”

There was need to examine the royal capital.

Right now.