He kindled a small fire on the spot; it was time for Glenn to resolve Little Leaf and Little Mushroom’s gnawing hunger.

  Though danger lurked everywhere in the surrounding wilderness, such threats meant little to him.

  This time, he refrained from making barbecue—partly because the environment was terrible, and partly because too much roasted meat was hardly beneficial to the body.

  From his pack, Glenn retrieved an iron pot whose base unfolded into a small stand. He set the pot over the flames and rinsed it with water. Then he took out various ingredients, and after a flurry of deft preparation, a pot of fragrant stew was already simmering—just waiting to be fully cooked.

  The two young girls sat nearby, gazing eagerly as the savory aroma drifted from the pot, each inhalation making them swallow unconsciously. Once again, they were utterly conquered by Glenn’s cooking.

  Why didn’t the teacher ever let Glenn cook back at the Mage’s House? This already smells far better than anything we usually eat… Little Leaf grumbled inwardly.

  Before long, they were finally savoring Glenn’s masterfully prepared dish—a feast that overwhelmed their senses once again.

  Predictably, they overate.

  As a result, during the following journey, both girls slumped bonelessly in the cart, unwilling to move.

  Naturally, in a place like this, troublesome magical beasts and lesser monster tribes appeared from time to time— only to be frightened away by Glenn’s overwhelming show of force.

  By the time the sky darkened and the stag-drawn cart finally reached their destination—this place known as Camber Ridge—it was already too late. Glenn would have to wait until morning to search for the residences of those three dark mages.

  Sensing the cart stop, the half-asleep girls blinked groggily at their surroundings.

  “Glenn… where are we now?” Little Leaf rubbed her eyes.

  “A place called Camber Ridge. Come on, we’ll have to spend the night here.”

  He jumped down from the cart and inspected the terrain.

  Finding a slanted rock wall, he began setting up a tent. The orange glow of a lantern illuminated the makeshift shelter, casting a warm contrast against the vast, silent wilderness—an unexpectedly peaceful sight.

  The girls were already exhausted, so Glenn easily coaxed them to sleep.

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  He, however, climbed a tall, straight pine tree, scanning the distant terrain. The descriptions he’d obtained from the three dark mages had already given him a general direction.

  After ensuring the path in his mind, he descended, lit a campfire, and leaned against the tree with his eyes closed.

  …

  A faint sound stirred him. Glenn’s eyes opened.

  With a sharp glance, he caught a fleeting shadow between the trees.

  Looks like the locals have discovered us… He understood immediately. Gripping the tree trunk behind him, he exerted a sudden force— and his body rose silently into the branches above.

  Deep in the forest, a burly, shirtless man—hairy of chest and beard—rounded a tree and abruptly realized the sleeper was gone.

  He tensed at once, scanning his surroundings.

  He wasn’t alone.

  High on another tree stood a slender male elf. Scars lined his bare arms, and the remnants of burn marks marred what once must have been a handsome face.

  He had witnessed Glenn’s graceful ascent into the tree. But when he blinked, the human was already gone.

  A troublesome opponent, he concluded silently.

  The hairy man hissed softly—their signal for communication.

  The elf looked down. His companion gestured: Where did he go?

  The elf merely shook his head. That was all the answer needed.

  With practiced rapport, both recognized the situation as dangerous and prepared to slip away.

  But Glenn had no intention of letting them succeed.

  A sharp blow to the back of the head—then another— and they were unconscious.

  When they awoke, they found themselves tied to a tree trunk, while a young man stood before them with two little girls.

  “W-wait! Don’t kill us! What do you want? Gold? We have gold! All of it is yours! Just spare our lives!”

  The elf yielded instantly.

  “Yes! Killing us won’t benefit you at all! Please—let us go!” the hairy man begged.

  They had survived too long in this cruel place to mistake money for its true worth. Wealth was meaningless; only life mattered.

  Glenn hadn’t expected them to be so sensible. It saved him unnecessary effort.

  “We’ll discuss the gold later. Do you know of three dark mages in this area? Tell me where they live and I’ll spare your lives.”

  At the question, the two exchanged puzzled glances. The elf cautiously answered, “We know them. Compli and the other two fourth-rank dark mages rule this place. Everyone in Camber Ridge knows of them.”

  “Good.” Glenn smiled. “Then you should also know where they live.”

  “We didn’t originally. But something went wrong in their laboratory. A prophet among us said Compli and the others died, and the laboratory went out of control. A monster was born inside… so everyone learned where their base was.”

  The elf studied Glenn’s expression but could glean nothing.

  Inside, Glenn felt his stomach drop.

  Out of control… does that mean everything inside is ruined?! He stifled the urge to bolt straight there. Calmly, he asked, “So you went to check? Did you take everything inside?”

  “No! Everything in the laboratory was devoured by that monster. A few people who approached were eaten as well! If we hadn’t run fast enough, we’d be dead too!”

  Terror colored his tone.

  Glenn silently cursed. This trip might be for nothing.

  Perhaps sensing his displeasure, the elf added hesitantly, “If you seek the dark mages’ wealth, there may still be a chance.”

  Glenn’s eyes sharpened. “Explain.”

  “I heard the prophet say Compli’s laboratory had a second level beneath the visible one. But to reach it, you’d have to get past the monster.”

  “It hasn’t left?” Glenn asked.

  “No,” the elf confirmed. “It seems that creature was made to guard the place.”

  Doesn’t matter. Everything in that lab will be mine. And I’ll use the locals as labor to haul it.

  Decision made, Glenn slashed through their ropes with a single swipe.

  He ordered the hairy man and the elf to lead the way.