novelzi Chapter 86: Always Grasp Opportunities
Chapter 86: Always Grasp Opportunities
Chapter 86: Always Grasp Opportunities
With Nox around, leaving the swamp was far more convenient than when they had first arrived. No longer did Mervant have to endure the indignity of pulling a sled through the muck. Instead, the group rode comfortably atop the enormous white beast, enjoying the scenery as it soared effortlessly in the direction of their next destination.
Everyone was at ease.
Except for Liu Ji.
Since the small potatolings had become muscled, they had grown to two or three times their previous size. The basket that had once easily contained them now barely held the majority, with two outside. Liu Ji had no choice but to cradle one under each arm, resembling a farmer who had just returned from the market with two oversized gourds.
This left him feeling quite awkward. Riding atop a magical beast and flying over an otherworldly landscape should have been exhilarating, but the cumbersome load on his back and arms meant he had to focus intently on maintaining his balance, leaving little room to appreciate the view.
Yaine, who was in front chatting with their other companions, noticed his discomfort and so turned back to ask, "Hey, so you do get airsick?"
"Airsick? No, not really," Liu Ji replied, embarrassed. "I'm just worried about falling off..."
"Ah? Is that so?" Yaine leaned back suddenly, resting against him.
Liu Ji got a scare. He still had a basket of potatoes strapped to his back and no one behind. If she leaned against him, he might tumble out...
Huh?
Liu Ji turned and looked behind him. There was clearly nothing, yet he felt something soft and unseen supporting his back like an invisible cushion.
"See, you aren't going to fall," Yaine reassured him. "With Old Man Nox handling the beast, you're perfectly safe."
Liu Ji shifted his body to the left and right, realizing he was rather stable on the beast's back. "Ah... I guess you're right."
"Yes, so don't worry and just relax," Yaine said.
"Mm, I'll try." Liu Ji nodded, though relaxing was easier said than done, given their high altitude and sheer openness of the skies around them.
Still, he thought perhaps looking forward might help distract him from the height...
Osar and Girunini harbored similar hopes, although their motivations differed from Mervant.
They weren't motivated by money but in the creatures themselves. Mighty beasts were treasure troves of rare materials; their flesh and bones were invaluable to warriors seeking to temper their bodies.
For Girunni, the blood of beasts was a direct source of power. Although she hadn't expressed it, the defeat in their last encounter still rankled her, fueling her determination to grow stronger.
With these thoughts driving them, the group rode the majestic white beast, gliding steadily over the sprawling swamp below.
As they neared the other end of the swamp, they noticed the buildings below seemed to improve in condition.
There were many bridges and campgrounds leading to the Swirling Mire City on both sides. Although the bridges here were mostly damaged, their conditions were markedly better than those they had crossed on their journey to the city. Some ruins even had intact roofs, suitable for makeshift camps.
As they approached the edge of the swamp, they saw identical signs posted along the ruins, cautioning against venturing into the swamp.
This was a good sign.
It indicated that there were settlements nearby—perhaps even thriving communities. Signs like these were placed to protect unwary travelers from stumbling into danger.
And when the group finally emerged from the swamp and caught sight of a massive earthen mound, it confirmed what they hoped; civilization was near.
These sort of earthen mounds existed on the other side of the world as well. The Earthwalkers built these shaded structures above ground whenever they needed to interact or trade with other surface-dwelling races.
As they neared one of the mounds, Nox instructed the beast to hover midair before leaping down to investigate the situation while the rest waited with bated breaths.
When Nox returned, the tension in the air dissipated.
According to the Earthwalkers below, the city of Mir was still thriving and renowned for its monster hunting industry, just as it had been in the past.
In fact, in recent years, both the number of hunting parties and yield from hunts had increased steadily. If the group wanted to try their luck and earn some money, now was the perfect time to do so.