Chapter 104

Eched skillfully peeled off the wet bark from the logs, selecting only the dry interior.

He prepared enough firewood for the entire evening and used the remaining logs to block the cave entrance.

Next, he gathered stones scattered around the cave, stacking them adeptly to create a makeshift stove where a water bottle could rest.

After placing the firewood inside the stone stove, Eched struck flint against the dry grass bundle she had collected, igniting a flame.

He blew gently on the smoking grass bundle, nurturing the spark before placing it into the stone stove.

His actions were deft, as if he had done this countless times before.

Soon, a robust campfire was blazing, its warmth spreading throughout the cave, bringing much-needed comfort.

Eched placed a water bottle filled with rainwater on the stove and added the scorched rice into it.

The impurities from the rain had already been washed away during the initial downpour, leaving the current rainwater clean enough to drink.

Under the intense heat, the scorched rice quickly began to boil.

The fragrant aroma of the rice stirred her forgotten hunger.

She took out the spoon she had packed carefully and accepted the portion of scorched rice Eched ladled into the bottle cap.

Blowing on it gently, she took a bite, and the warmth banished the last remnants of cold from her body.

Eched seemed to enjoy the scorched rice as well, eating it with surprising gusto.

As she savored the nutty flavor of the rice, a thought crossed her mind.

“Eched, when you leave for a place this far, you should tell me first.”

After all.

“Even when going to work, people say ‘I’m off.’ But for a long journey like this, where you’ll be away from home for a while, it’s even more important. How would you feel if I suddenly disappeared without telling you?”

At her question, Eched nodded solemnly. It seemed her example had helped him understand her point immediately.

“From now on, I’ll inform you before I leave.”

“Good.”

Indeed, the best way to learn is to put yourself in someone else’s shoes.

She looked at Eched, who had learned yet another lesson, with pride and finished off her rice.

By then, the sun had fully set, leaving the campfire as their only source of light in the cave.

She spread her robe near the fire and lay down on it.

The crackling of the fire and the sound of rain echoed through the cave.

Her stomach was full, her back was warm, and even her once-damp clothes were now dry and comfortable.

Exhaustion quickly overtook her in this newfound comfort.

“Eched, aren’t you going to sleep?”

She asked Eched, who was adding more firewood to the fire.

“I’m fine. You should rest.”

She knew Eched rarely slept, even under normal circumstances.

Unlike humans, Divine Beasts were said to be free from all mortal needs.

However, considering tomorrow’s grueling journey, she hoped Eched would get some rest.

After all, Eched wasn’t a complete Divine Beast at the moment, and he could still feel fatigue.

She wriggled to the edge of her robe, making enough space for Eched to lie down.

Patting the ground with her palm, she said, 

“Come lie down next to me.”

Still, Eched insisted on standing guard.

Yawning as sleepiness crept in, she muttered, 

“I’m cold…”

It wasn’t entirely a lie. While her face was warm from the fire, her back felt the chill of the wind.

As expected, Eched reacted to her words.

He reluctantly approached her, and she pulled him down beside her.

Lying down, Eched turned his body, so his back faced the fire, while his face provided her with warmth.

Despite the chilly air, the environment felt cozy, and she let out a satisfied sigh.

“I hope tomorrow goes as smoothly as today.”

Even if they encountered monsters, she hoped for a day without injuries.

“Don’t worry. I’ll protect you.”

His reassurance made her smile softly.

Feeling the comforting pat of Eched’s hand on her shoulder, she quickly drifted into the depths of sleep.

The next morning, she was woken by sunlight piercing her eyes.

Turning her head slightly, she saw the blue sky peeking through the small gaps in the cave ceiling, now free of clouds.

It seemed the weather had cleared completely overnight.

Though the fire had died out, leaving the cave chilly, she had woken up warm in Eched’s embrace.

Eched, though he didn’t show it, must have been quite tired, as he was deeply asleep.

The sunlight that had been on her face was now creeping toward Eched. Since it was still early, she hoped he could sleep a little longer.

Carefully, she slipped her hand out of his embrace and tried to shield his eyes from the sunlight.

Holding her arm up awkwardly, it quickly began to ache, but she couldn’t bring herself to lower it.

As she tried to adjust her position for better comfort, she suddenly felt a gaze on her.

Turning her head, she saw Eched, now awake, staring at her with wide-open eyes.

“You’re awake?”

Feeling embarrassed, she casually asked as she lowered her arm.

She tried to wiggle out of his embrace, but Eched didn’t release the arm he had wrapped around her waist.

“Eched?”

Eched stared at her face as if entranced, scanning her features thoroughly.

Being looked at so intently from such a close distance made her feel self-conscious.

“Eched, snap out of it.”

She wished he’d stop staring, especially since she had just woken up and probably looked a mess.

As she struggled to free herself from his embrace, a loud thud resounded from outside the cave.

Thud—! Thud—!

The ground trembled with heavy footsteps.

Eched glanced outside, grabbed his sword, and stood up.

“Stay here.”

Without hesitation, Eched left the cave.

Soon, the ground-shaking thuds became more frequent and intense.

This was followed by a monstrous scream and one final, earth-shaking crash.

Then, silence returned.

Eched came back, looking as composed as when he had left.

“It’s time to move on.”

It was time to embark on another journey.

She packed her belongings and stepped out of the cave.

Near the cave, the softened ground bore the imprint of massive footprints.

She scanned her surroundings slowly.

‘That tree looks like the one Eched cut yesterday, and those broken trees…’

They seemed to have been snapped when the monster fell.

She deliberately avoided looking at the monster’s foot sticking out from behind the leaves.

***

Today’s journey felt relatively smoother than yesterday.

Despite having faced monsters in the morning, their numbers and types were easier to handle compared to the day before.

However, the terrain grew steeper and more treacherous.

Climbing the slippery, steep inclines drained her energy much faster than yesterday.

If not for the training and sparring sessions she had recently started with Eched, she wouldn’t have lasted this long.

Though she wanted to sit down and rest, she clenched her teeth and pushed through, not wanting to burden Eched.

“Shaterian, we’ll reach a stream soon. Let’s rest there for a bit.”

Eched seemed to have an uncanny ability to navigate without a map.

She, on the other hand, couldn’t even tell if they were heading east or west.

True to Eched’s word, they soon arrived at a stream.

The recent rain had made the current strong, but the water was clear and drinkable.

She approached the shallow edge and filled her water bottle with the clean water.

As she did, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the stream.

Her dark circles were prominent from the accumulated fatigue, and her short pink hair was disheveled and messy.

Unable to bear the sight of herself any longer, she decided to wash her face.

‘But how is my reflection so clear in such a fast-moving current…?’

As the thought crossed her mind, her reflection curled its lips into a sinister smile.

A hand shot out from the water, grabbing her arm. She immediately swung her dagger at the monster wearing her face.

However, the blade only splashed water, leaving the monster unharmed.

When another hand emerged from the water, accompanied by the monster’s screech, Eched sliced off the fish-like arm in one swift motion.

The monster, which had been lurking in the water, quickly disappeared.

“It’s a nixie. It must have been carried here by the rain.”

Eched, who had approached her side unnoticed, gazed at the water.

A nixie—a water spirit capable of shape-shifting.

“Ah…”

So that’s why it had taken her face. Its true form was a scaly monster.

“Nixies are notoriously difficult to catch. They can’t come onto land, but they’re incredibly strong in water. Still, they’re timid creatures, so it won’t come back.”

While Eched’s words reassured her, she still felt uneasy.

She moved to a rock far from the water’s edge.

Despite her discomfort, she knew it was time to rest.

“Let’s eat while we’re resting.”

Who knew when they’d get another chance to do so?

As she rummaged through her bag, Eched shook his head.

“It looks like it’ll take at least five more days to reach Haltonea Forest. We should conserve our food.”