Chapter 126: Hell (3)
ViiYRAbThe Mithrilcon sword that the dwarf had recommended I hand over very carefully if possible.Ml2E
0TRV2lAt first, I had planned to give it away only after someone proved they had reached the entrance to the Four Seasons Forest.y8kRI
EHEgy2kBut then a rather strange old man appeared and proved it in an even stranger way.39SI0n
NA3bFqaOn top of that, he seemed to be quite a famous person, because there were people who recognized him.j0Kr3Od
OWaThe master of the Heroine, Asella, who was currently considered a traitor and was on the run.im5xR
zbiThe fact that someone like him had been sent with the expedition threw the entire gallery into an uproar.THg
NUm3uO‘And it seems the head moderator knew him too.’Rqz4a
Ka7Woj0What caught my attention the most was how surprised he seemed.5wZk
boTCmaSo much so that he even stopped putting the exclamation marks at the end of every sentence.Pbc
o9MQK1And not only that.nf5G
7apRHe even sent me a private message asking for a favor.qU9Nc
9gy[HeroDontThrowAway: T-this… Mr. Grills!]bekX54q
HkmOGW[WildGrills: What’s wrong?]5gCrU88
StoQa[HeroDontThrowAway: Could I ask you a favor?!]mlaxa
AknM[WildGrills: What favor?]5Wi
9hIdy[HeroDontThrowAway: The gift you said you would give to whoever proved they belonged to the expedition!]hwwu
RG76sqt[HeroDontThrowAway: Could you give it to Mr. LudwigvanErold, the one who just posted?!]0Yn
IzbKy4[HeroDontThrowAway: I can guarantee who he is!]XmHpWG
c3XJ[WildGrills: Do you know him?]pmRI
2WFPS8[HeroDontThrowAway: Yes! I know him very well!]FTAjyx
9v5U1r[WildGrills: Well, if it’s a request from the head moderator…]pHPew
tK7[HeroDontThrowAway: Thank you very much!]bg2b
ExG[HeroDontThrowAway: The next time you do something worthy of a ban, I’ll grant you amnesty!]4v8qDLM
BvSOThat was how we ended up making a sort of deal.1NIl
zu1In my case, it wasn’t a bad bargain.rY262u
6HU4kAfter all, I could always forge another sword.IKO
tnKkHDMore importantly, I wanted the expedition to survive after entering the forest.YUjs
BRGVNAnd for them to manage to reach where I was.DlNO
hlgZYou could say it would be better to give them an elixir as well, but that was different.PiGON5L
LthfzThe elixir that DemonPrincess had worked so hard to create.cD5w27Q
f0ARGI had obtained it through a trade, yes, but it also carried her goodwill.kp46Z
0LStyIf I simply gave that token of goodwill to someone else, DemonPrincess might feel uncomfortable.9KB
cU2PThat’s just how the human heart works.Hjp
UNXq‘Besides, if they’re part of the expedition, they must be carrying all kinds of medicine.’O1owa
jiIMNEven if they weren’t on the level of an elixir, they surely had excellent remedies prepared.x91DhB
oFTGThen all that was left was to wait for them to arrive.8uE
40V6kWNo one knew how long it would take.6PMN3q
ZD7KIt was a place where space changed constantly.zijp
MkVAnd on top of that, the forest was as large as a small country.CnM
oZhJcRIf they were unlucky, we might never meet.tlea6
q2hBwYn‘They might also settle down somewhere, just like I did.’ETh1z
01PZMC4If they could use the gallery, finding each other would be dozens of times easier.ZLo9RD
sznki4sHowever, common sense said that it was impossible to use the gallery inside the Four Seasons Forest.8G7
ZHak3Eldorado was convinced that it was possible.bDzt
SsLKThough who knows.XEXw
amJMaybe I was the only special one.0mkmq
mK0cy‘Have they entered already?’WlkZbW
P6LOvvI checked the post made by the man who had introduced himself as Ludwig.T8t
fRWzDlSince I had given him the sword, he hadn’t posted anything else.tkSv0jo
lKuIt seemed he had received the gift and simply disappeared.bopycu
rznrIf he was really going to enter the Four Seasons Forest, he could have at least announced it.f3Okk
6BbFhwBut he hadn’t even done that.0qDN0Ld
ulyMaybe he really was an old man, and after receiving the gift, he had simply gone in without another word.Jdb
bQL‘If he had been able to use the gallery, he would have written something. What a shame.’3M1EHsv
c1k9Not five minutes had passed.bukwIY
5ThWpoMAn entire hour had gone by.pKmpHW
YiLAnd still, there were no new posts.4EPm
2VH2PPeople in the gallery also seemed curious about what had happened to Ludwig, but no one had a way to find out.M37w
ne7tterThere was, however, at least one indirect method.ikrlS
gOgF9tAsk the head moderator.DApXh
W6PZASBThe head moderator could see the real-time location not only of registered accounts, but also of anonymous users.kobJnDC
5oM73PIt was a privilege exclusive to him.jNxRp
lZpsrHThat could at least give me an idea.E3B
RnyEeIl‘I’ll ask him.’ZA8qGpE
ACLO57rHe seemed to know Ludwig, and it was important to me as well.08eRU
18quD0I immediately sent him a message.9dR
AsfUWHoping he was online.g7K13ME
m5tBYC[WildGrills: Head moderator.]c3j3FR9
ejd0Z[WildGrills: Do you know where the LudwigvanErold account is?]2tOOP5
gOXk7zB[WildGrills: Is he still outside the Four Seasons Forest?]ygXhxS
4DkV[HeroDontThrowAway: He’s still right in front of the entrance to the Four Seasons Forest!]Zc0
0DRL[HeroDontThrowAway: I sent him a message, but he won’t answer me!]LTZ
oD1LT[WildGrills: What do you think is happening?]zpCc
cSl[HeroDontThrowAway: I don’t know that either!]sm2D8E
7vaRt[HeroDontThrowAway: I think we’ll only know after a little more time passes!]yQjjKS2
wD8Did something happen?Z3xLou
uwlxThat was what I thought after hearing the head moderator’s explanation.ff66xc
jIYlR96Even in the gallery, people were saying that it wasn’t an investigation at all, but practically a purge.pKE
Eh12Because once they were sent into the Four Seasons Forest, the chances of them officially ending up as “missing” were very high.pxk5Ac
BfR7Pe’…Or could it be that, because he’s an old man, he doesn’t know how to send messages?’tW3DTwr
37FvIt wasn’t a completely absurd idea.C8vR
p6t1But there was no way to be sure.ApwS5
5LduBefore I could even start making a plan, the expedition first had to enter the forest.fzrtlTZ
b18ZdN‘No. What plan?’qQh76
7h6In a place where space changed however it pleased, what could I rely on besides luck?YenCYwU
GVem3s5If they were lucky, they might appear in the same forest where I was.MlReS
CEgAnd if luck abandoned them, they could end up on the complete opposite side.ejrdFI
wmQWnBesides, according to the head moderator, I was currently located in the center of the Four Seasons Forest.s3A2W8
MCAYg0The chances of us meeting were terribly low.4W9Tf
4vTE0But I had no choice but to trust.5vo
ujREs1‘For now, I’d better keep making charcoal.’Fzy
upVKAs long as the expedition hadn’t entered the forest, there was practically nothing I could do.SP5
ZlaHsh4Besides, I had my own tasks as well.h8e6Dm
evocFor the moment, I planned to focus on my own work.Ev7gz
JFfEYb‘Let’s see… the charcoal kiln…’J8UbH
XXgLfUp until now, the amount of charcoal I had obtained by lighting campfires had been insignificant.LBAQ
F4TLXbIt wasn’t even enough to fill a small container.ifUeO
6HZBAnd every time I forged a sword or another tool, I consumed an enormous amount of charcoal.ScI
2h8HI needed to find a way to produce it in large quantities.WFs8
GwehPI knew nothing about that subject, but I knew someone who did.DHn9k
LfGkPqx[StarlightPrincess: The most important thing for making charcoal is blocking oxygen.]gkPw3
FRjUrT6[WildGrills: Blocking oxygen?]dtRwmw
82Dzq[StarlightPrincess: Yes.]vAV3S
O6FzW[DemonPrincess: Charcoal is produced through incomplete combustion, and to do that, you need to isolate the oxygen.]do4Prqi
QnZ2X[StarlightPrincess: Would you like me to explain it in more detail?]MNW8
5j1Sh[WildGrills: No.]M0uao8r
AZygPE[WildGrills: That’s enough.]958k
lspc[WildGrills: Anyway, thank you very much.]IuoxHpw
I6q[StarlightPrincess: It’s nothing.]Dee
RWLlva[StarlightPrincess: Whenever you have questions related to alchemy, ask me.]qnGzXbe
pQqBbakThat person was StarlightPrincess, a true genius of alchemy.rUwyDp
XL7MThe same registered user who had taught me about smoking food before.Srw
wVEjIJGI could have asked AllFather, but that didn’t seem to be his specialty, so I preferred consulting StarlightPrincess.FV4M
SdS2cI didn’t even think about asking the dwarf, because metallurgy was his field.ggjCx8
V3TPILu‘So I have to block the oxygen…’eVQ
QKgZIf the oxygen was blocked, incomplete combustion would occur and, as a result, charcoal would be produced.UTshd
EEUWhile I was thinking about it, my eyes fell on the kiln.G4Q
hWPnb5BOr, more precisely, on the clay between its joints.wCN
Sb6It had already hardened and was acting as an adhesive.R2e6s4l
Nq6Yh7‘That’s it!’3innht
QAoTAn idea came to me.aju
JY2MOI immediately went to gather logs.5lYB4Co
UYN0The path that the boss gorilla had opened with a single punch.nZoM8Z
aw208svSince the fallen trees were still there, getting wood wasn’t difficult.zbXNGR2
GxMf‘I’ll explore that path later.’mwF35
ohYpI piled the logs up as if I were preparing a campfire.JVNg6Dw
laLEDyDAnd then.qy3
M2PrlI didn’t light them.G6I
LlZWFirst, I had to cover them with clay to block the oxygen.Mvn
GcahIf I simply spread the clay over the wood, it wouldn’t stick properly and would just slide off.bvsau
r2hJKSI‘I’ll make a framework with branches first.’PLrQYrZ
nfnYOSo I surrounded it with branches, especially dry branches that still had leaves on them.8CD
Nz3e91aThen I covered the whole thing with a thick layer of clay, shaping it like a kiln.dnxi60Q
Ni6But that wasn’t all.gRY
QsuvfLAt first, it had to burn strongly, so I left several ventilation holes.JgjYX
9uaudWxI also left an opening at the top.yUf
OVVfAvI planned to light the fire from there.hoA
vCLTvFwoosh!gjQk4
CnBQgJFinally, I inserted a burning branch through the top opening and checked that it ignited properly.QgnL
EEbThe upper part burned without any problems.ZOvZUb
X6TIThe important part was the bottom.e2V
g4VtThat was why I had made the holes.Dfi
GYLlv0hOnce I confirmed that the fire had reached the bottom, I sealed all the air vents and blocked the oxygen.6te
S8w“Cough! Cough! Ugh… It’s so spicy. I shouldn’t have checked.”NesrDs
tWZV880I opened a hole to see how the fire was doing, and all I managed to do was fill my lungs with smoke.wUdvy
Ob03IGWIn any case, I had confirmed that it worked.qaMg9
PbNKNow I could take care of other things.gyjY5
gk8Dch9‘I wonder how things are going.’Lda5vM
7ONAVJ1I entered the gallery to see if there were any updates.CaJQpp
CanuBut Ludwig hadn’t posted anything.FhwLb
gzs1The only thing circulating were rumors about the expedition.HL5t6p
hzSThat an internal conflict had broken out.EayDg
EvvL0That Grills’ gift was too powerful and had caused trouble.xeap6
P3LjThere were theories everywhere, but their credibility was close to zero.m1vTz
RGH‘An internal fight? When their chances of survival are already so low.’JFZCFZ4
o25Please, don’t fight.P3kxNHu
2He2JEnter on good terms and come find me.00r9MZN
TQIWell.5yyj9
HH2l2ZGIf I’m being honest, there’s no guarantee they’ll even make it here.9Dbj9z
rTaoxrrI’d better not get my hopes up too much.tPg8
knAd2yAfter checking the gallery a little longer, I closed it.LL5gYs
V7IThere was nothing interesting.XkVLZ1D
fzFBQS‘Wait, now that I think about it, even if they enter the forest, will they be able to reach this place?’vokMk
MWWiejSometimes a column of smoke rose into the sky, but that wouldn’t be enough.0tPUu9R
zXLNmIn this damned forest, even compasses don’t work, and it’s so hard to get your bearings that getting lost is incredibly easy.6DP2
YLAclI was fine because I already had experience and always traveled the same routes.YPdD
ll8fBut someone entering for the first time wouldn’t have that advantage.A9F
Ish6CH5‘I should make signs.’9DG0g5
u3nBThat way, they could find the path to where I was.RpYD2
nlKIt was a bit of a stupid method, but an effective one.E7MD
k3dVGI prepared the tools immediately.MaNtGc
5H8qKDSince there were no signs for sale in the auction house, I had no choice but to make them myself.LvrIY7o
U7M5dtpScritch. Scritch. Scritch.knx4f2I
Exn3azThere were plenty of trees.5pyLpvn
8f7PrI carved a sign using a dry log of an appropriate size.NvZEMp
lK83I made the board and the post separately, then assembled them together.26njO
RqWUr‘I’d better paint it white so it stands out.’25kRYqJ
2bpZsGwI had bought the paint at the auction house.Hkd7
yuzoWAnd it wasn’t cheap either.6VA
40BZIn the center of the arrow, I drew a house.4obzl2
kLqA square with a trapezoidal roof.TjmpZ
mvYvZJI even added a window.lSZyZg
SORSo that anyone could understand.7G1RS
EQrR2mtSomeone lives here!LnV6S
qx82It looked pretty decent.FX2HmBt
8ZrIt stood roughly between my chest and my neck in height.3CtwY
zDlThat way, it would attract more attention.3wa
2eNwHTitle) I made some signs in case the expedition passes by. I’m going to put them up now.AveNa0
TSo1WildGrillsqErNu
U3XMembers of the expedition! If you see this, just follow the arrow! It’ll lead you to where I am!0LWJ5
h8UtP└HeavenlyDemon: You made it very well. Just like your swords, you’re very talented with your hands.hVs
uwUrAKL└WildGrills: Thanks haha.lUIS7
Lrfero└Aren’t you getting your hopes up a little too much? lmao.q2VceC
3bXQ└I thought this guy was joking, but he’s completely serious lol.VFaIzsz
g9rOEEV└And what are you going to do if no one ends up entering the Four Seasons Forest?iLdjL
rBbCD└WildGrills: I’ll grab Wonmo and start crying.dVM
8w7└LMAO.xkx
2VRpEw└LOL.gW8MysO
JFeH└This guy is kind of adorable lol.stXkFMX
1489ZGJ└And what did Wonmo do to deserve that? lmao.2GGc
ypPjiF0└WildGrills: He’s my only method of healing.ROQ
4zXb0└Are you feeling that lonely? Want me to come?D8PSNPW
DXv└WildGrills: Really?bmGQ2
D359S1W└Of course not, I was joking lol.CudopO
LB2dqr└WildGrills: You bastard lol.qu50Fy
cEs└HeroDontThrowAway: If you really do end up meeting him, please treat him kindly! Mr. Ludwig is a truly good person!sE4L
EaikJzc└WildGrills: First, they’d have to enter the forest for that to happen. And there’s still no news that they’ve done so…E2q
y7d└HeroDontThrowAway: That’s true too! Honestly, I’d rather he didn’t enter!z1VdYg
jeR└WildGrills: You’re destroying my hopes.UmvEy
zVVGc└HeroDontThrowAway: I’m sorry, but I think it’s better to lose hope than to sacrifice a life for nothing!JSCz
VQSLhPx└WildGrills: Shit… T_T. I don’t even know how to respond anymore.CiH
X2K2zBc└I kind of feel bad for you, Grills… But the head moderator is right.1Y6
9oFJW└You’re the weird one. Normally, people enter the Four Seasons Forest and die within a few days…BYQM
3ewY└WildGrills: If someone is strong enough, the chances of surviving go up. My senior managed it too.c7J28
XOJOUe└Senior? You mean that skeleton?xri
HdSL└So you finally accepted him as your senior lol.B8z
22CEGFEven the head moderator was indirectly telling me to give up hope.WMt2Zj7
g489gBut I had no intention of giving up!qcd
OCdTs4hOf course, that didn’t mean I wanted them to risk their lives by entering.tZyT
VZwwFfvIt was just…Cusrd
vEqI was assuming that the expedition might end up turning into a group of castaways.CXw5oxA
ENm8VE‘Are they still waiting in front of the entrance?’RZ4xy5Z
craWSWhile thinking about that, I made even more signs.QubCnNW
GboLBHI planned to place them all along the path I had traveled so far.vrrw
z8a‘I want to talk to someone too.’iKNa
YkBfMnAfter two weeks, the loneliness was starting to get to me.iom
m0SzR***iipGP
j2yAnd while Grills continued making and setting up signs with all his goodwill.QW3O
47X1gcBoom!FpnAUX
v5cDwE“Aaaaargh!”MQa7f9
AN86A Holy Knight was sent flying toward the entrance of the Four Seasons Forest.ZYJ
gl3GJHe flailed his arms as though he was resisting with all his might from going inside.giB
uHXpBut the moment he crossed the forest’s entrance.3ZOt
OXrpUKCHe vanished without a trace.MIl
iSN“Fuu…”sxMD
r95The other Holy Knight who had kicked him inside, Ludwig, let out a long sigh.A2zk
W3q3DThen he slowly turned around and faced the surveillance group, who were watching him with open hostility.plh
AjJgJSwoosh.3uzrmAI
NwJGdLudwig raised the sword through which a green galaxy flowed.Vv8s
fiQiuQ9And, releasing a radiant Aura Blade, he asked,mfiU
m38“Is there anyone else who wants to go in?”Q1dga
trRmUAyJust as Grills had wished, Ludwig was gathering survivors with exemplary kindness.V1o
dOzA MC8Q
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