Even in a fantasy world, being praised by a superior was a satisfying feeling.
After years of training under the kingdom, most knights accepted the idea of dying for their homeland.
However, that didn’t mean they were mere puppets.
If they had to give their lives, most at least wished it would be for a just cause—one where their sacrifice was acknowledged and appreciated.
Mage Lian wasn’t finished.
“Though we can’t retrieve the remains of our fallen warriors to lay them to rest or give their families the closure they deserve, I promise you this—it won’t be long. Their sacrifice will not be in vain.”
His words carried weight, and the knight captain gradually calmed down. He straightened his posture before giving a salute, a small smile forming on his face.
“It’s our duty to die for the kingdom if needed, sir! I’m sure my brothers up there would agree with me, haha.”
Mage Lian gave a firm nod.
“Mhmm. Return and rest up. Try to calm your other teammates. We leave at daybreak tomorrow, so use this time to recover your strength.”
To be honest, Mage Lian would have preferred to leave immediately. However, it was already deep into the night, and if any unexpected variables arose during the journey, it could lead to unnecessary complications.
It was safer to rest, regain strength, and travel at first light.
After dismissing the knight captain, Mage Lian turned to the mayor, who was now standing respectfully with his head slightly lowered.
“Grand Mage—” The mayor hesitated as if unsure how to continue.
Mage Lian cut him off before he could speak further.
“No need to say more. You’re worried about the monster being too close to this town, aren’t you? But there’s no need for concern. That creature won’t leave the forest. At least, not anytime soon. Still, make sure to stay on guard.”
Truthfully, Mage Lian was merely speculating.
For some reason, he felt like he had been bullshitting a lot tonight. Experience new stories on My Virtual Library Empire
However, based on his own observations and the knights’ reports, the monster didn’t seem interested in leaving the forest.
Or perhaps, it couldn’t leave the inner regions of the Everlong Forest.
Whatever the case, it was good news—not just for him, since he had no confidence in confronting that creature, but also for the townspeople.
That said, there was no guarantee the monster wouldn’t leave the forest eventually. There was also the possibility that it might send its minions to attack instead.
Either way, staying vigilant was the only logical course of action.
The mayor, knowing there was little he could do about the situation, could only nod in acceptance.
With the conversation at an end, he offered to escort both Mage Lian and Michael to their rooms for the night.
Michael didn’t refuse.
Unless he wanted to head back into the forest—which he definitely didn’t—staying within the mayor’s residence was the best option.
There were several strong individuals stationed there, making it a much safer place to rest.
As for his undead left behind in the forest, Michael planned to resolve that issue during daybreak in the Land of Origin.
For now, he had no intention of heading out into the night—even if his vision far surpassed that of regular people.
Upon entering the room assigned to him and thanking the mayor—who repeatedly insisted it was his honor—Michael closed the door.
The room was one of the many guest chambers in the mayor’s residence.
Given the mayor’s status, anyone allowed to stay under his roof had to be someone of importance, and the room’s design reflected that.
The bed was far wider than anything Michael had back in the real world, though its comfort level remained unknown.
However, he didn’t immediately lie down—perhaps because of his current, dirtied appearance or for some other reason.
Instead, he opted to sit on the chair in the room, gathering his thoughts as he recounted the events of the last few hours.
For one, he was finally in a civilized settlement within the Land of Origin.
No more barbarian-style survival for him.
However, his biggest obstacle now was his lack of knowledge.
The absence of a language barrier wasn’t enough to integrate seamlessly into this world. But fortunately, it seemed he was on the right path.
Then there was the monster deep within the forest.
Though Michael hadn’t faced it one-on-one yet—and had no desire to, given his current strength—he was almost certain that the creature responsible for the deaths of the knight squad was the same entity he had encountered in that ruin.
“It seems I’ve unleashed something terrible. But at least we can confirm a few things about it.”
He began listing what he knew so far.
One.
It was a massive creature, tainted with the same eerie tentacles he had seen on the controlled monsters.
Two.
It had the ability to control monsters—no, not just monsters, but also humans. And this control wasn’t just a means of manipulation; it also appeared to be one of its primary ways of killing.
Then came the real questions.
What exactly is it? What was its history, and what connection did it have to that ruin?
What are the limits of its mental control? How powerful did someone need to be to resist it? And just how many creatures could it control at once?
Michael recalled his first encounter with the controlled beast and then the hundreds of monsters floating in the air under its influence.
Even if there was a limit, it was definitely not a low one.
For someone like Mage Lian, these two questions were crucial—one because of his duty to the kingdom, and the other because of the potential threat to its people.
For Michael, it was far more personal.
Then there was another question.
Can that monster leave the forest?
For Mage Lian, the answer determined whether the nearby settlements would suffer catastrophic losses.
For Michael…
Unlike the apocalypse in the outside world—something beyond his control—this disaster was entirely his doing.
To a significant extent, he was responsible for the deaths caused by this creature.
After all, it wouldn’t have been released from the tower if not for him.
