Chapter 21: Through the Fangs of Mount T-Ezkran

The mountain we were currently crossing was the border between the Kingdom of Alita and the Londinium Empire, none other than Mount T-Ezkran.

Mount T-Ezkran was quite famous even across the continent.

For one, its enormity was unparalleled; it took an ordinary adventurer at least twenty full days to cross.

Because of how vast and immense the mountain was, it was incredibly dangerous.

Being so large and steep, this place was home to a diverse range of monsters.

At the bottom of the monster food chain were the commonly seen Kobolds and Goblins.

In addition, there were many Orcs, boasting incredible reproductive power and making up about 70% of the continent’s monster population.

In fact, up to this point, any skilled mercenary could easily hunt these monsters just by sheer numbers.

There were also professional hunters who specialized in hunting the monsters that dwelled here.

The problem wasn’t just those monsters.

At the top of the terrestrial monster hierarchy lurked the Ogre, a terrifying brute.

Then there was Trom, known for its relentless regenerative abilities.

Packs of Wolves roamed without restraint.

And dominating the skies was the dreaded Wyvern.

Just hearing their names was enough to strike fear—these monsters were known to inhabit this place.

Rumors also spread that rare and exotic monsters appeared from time to time, so it was no surprise that human foot traffic here was scarce.

Yet, ironically, people kept coming.

The reason was simple.

This was the fastest route to the Londinium Empire in the southern continent.

Although crossing the mountain took about twenty days, the alternative path around Mount T-Ezkran required over seventy days.

Moreover, the number of territories passed through and the border crossings made the trip even longer.

There were also tolls to pay.

Thus, merchants tended to hire a large number of mercenaries and brave the mountain route.

It was simply cheaper that way.

Commerce through Mount T-Ezkran proceeded quietly but swiftly.

The key to success in business was to minimize encounters with monsters and ensure safety.

But that was not our case.

“Ugh, damn mutts… they keep coming back even filthier than before.”

I couldn’t say anything pleasant.

It was because ever since that day, persistent visitors kept coming for us.

Those visitors were Wolves.

After thirty died on the first day, the Wolves steadily continued their attacks.

They came in packs of four or five, relentlessly assaulting us.

We hadn’t had a proper rest since, constantly moving and fighting.

The problem was, it wasn’t just the Wolves who kept coming.

Chitter!

“Caw! Caw!”

Orcs, the notorious pig-headed creatures, were approaching, dragging their burdens behind them.

Boasting incredible reproductive abilities, more than fifty Orcs had gathered around us.

“Hold your ground! We can definitely win!”

A soldier shouted.

Having marched for over ten days, we had firmly established our battle formation.

First, the mercenaries and soldiers formed a double-layered defense to protect me.

From that position, I cast spells without pause, while the mercenaries and soldiers engaged the monsters that came close.

This was our fundamental defense setup.

Jenny always held the spot directly in front of me.

Since protecting me was the highest priority, it was natural she stayed nearby.

Thud!

The Orcs charged at us, who had formed our defensive stance.

Among monster species, Orcs were relatively adept at wielding weapons.

They armed themselves with loot stolen from humans during raids.

As a result, Orcs carried a colorful assortment of weapons.

From polished swords to massive maces and wooden clubs, even some tossed stones found on the ground.

They charged recklessly without strategy or tactics, making them truly difficult opponents.

This was my first time facing Orcs.

While the mercenaries and soldiers attacked them from the front, I unleashed my magic.

“Fireball!”

The most powerful spell in my arsenal right now was the Fireball.

It was considered a wide-area magic attack.

Boom!

The Fireball hit an Orc, exploding on impact.

Surprisingly, only the Orc that got hit died instantly, while the surrounding Orcs merely shook off the flames on their bodies.

“Fire Spear, Aqua Spear.”

I summoned a spear of fire and a spear of water, then hurled the Fire Spear at the Orcs.

Thud.

The Fire Spear pierced through an Orc’s body.

It created a hole right in the middle of its abdomen, yet the Orc didn’t fall.

Green blood dripped from the wound, but the Orc’s rage overwhelmed its pain, causing it to recklessly charge at me.

Thud thud thud thud.

I threw the Aqua Spear next, aiming for the Orc’s head.

Only after the spear pierced through its skull did the Orc collapse.

“Always target the head.”

From then on, I made sure to target only the heads when casting magic.

Each time I threw one of the four elemental spears, I aimed for the Orc’s head.

-Level up.

-You have gained 5 additional skill slots.

The notification appeared after I had slain more than five Orcs.

“Nice.”

I invested more mana and excitedly cast more skills.

“Stone Edge, Rock Spear!”

While one soldier was distracted helping another, an Orc charged fiercely.

I stopped its movement with Stone Edge and shattered its skull with Rock Spear.

“Thank you.”

“Save the greetings for later. Watch ahead.”

My role was the main damage dealer.

Just reducing the number of monsters quickly and accurately with magic was enough to fulfill my duty.

I paid no mind to whether my allies were injured or killed.

That was how mages were supposed to be.

That was the nature of mages in this world.

However, I still cared about protecting my comrades.

I would be inconvenienced if even one of them was missing.

Those four mercenaries fighting nearby were the same.

“Dig!”

With my shout, a hole appeared, and one or two Orcs fell into it.

The number of Orcs steadily decreased.

Encouraged by my actions, the mercenaries and soldiers fought harder, preventing the Orcs from getting close to me, whittling down their numbers one by one.

After a thirty-minute fierce battle, I finally stopped casting magic.

“It’s over…”

Someone spoke weakly as they slumped down and gasped for breath.

“Rest after we move. It’s too dangerous now.”

The mercenaries stood up again and began to move.

I knew this routine well.

The scent of Orc blood could attract other monsters.

As we hurriedly packed up and moved, the envoy and soldiers approached me and bowed.

“If it weren’t for you, Mage, we would have died already. We thank you once again.”

“Thank you.”

“Truly, thank you.”

After every battle with monsters, the envoy and soldiers always thanked me so dutifully.

Despite their rough, bandit-like appearances, seeing this made me think that merchants truly kept precise accounts.

“Let’s move quickly.”

I accepted their gratitude but urged us to hurry.

Greetings could wait.

Right now, the best course of action was to get out of this place.

And so, our journey continued.

Despite constant attacks by Wolves, Goblins, Kobolds, and Orcs, we moved steadily without anyone getting seriously injured.

If all went well, we could be off the mountain by late tomorrow or the day after.

Perhaps this final mountain night would be the last we’d spend on the trail.

***

Stab, stab.

Wuwuuk, wuwuuk.

Everyone was resting and asleep.

The only sounds were the chirping of insects and the calls of nocturnal animals.

Tap.

Someone made a noise, poking another.

Soon, quiet shuffling sounds followed as four people got up from their spots.

They were the same four mercenaries who had provoked the Wolves earlier.

They glanced around cautiously.

No one else was awake.

Tonight’s watchdog was Mercenary 1, the red-haired one.

At this late hour, unless there was an intrusion, it was time for everyone to rest.

Each of the four picked up a nearby item — their weapons.

They had been waiting for this moment.

They had decided to deal with the one who had insulted and mocked them first.

They moved quickly, brandishing their weapons.

Then, pushing their swords forward, they lunged at the spot where the target would be sleeping.

Swoosh!

Four swords surged forward, and they believed they had succeeded.

“Shield.”

Kakakaking!

But contrary to their expectations, a transparent barrier appeared before their blades, stopping their swords from moving any further.

Then the one they had targeted stood up.

“Quite bold, aren’t you?”

He sneered.

In an instant, everyone nearby woke from their sleep.

Spotting the four mercenaries with swords and Solo, they quickly assessed the situation.

Kwack

A horrible scream echoed through the silent dawn.

***

We who woke up at dawn moved immediately.

Our group had shrunk—by four.

But no one said a word about it.

No, we acted as if those four had never existed from the beginning.

As the sun began to hide behind the mountain, we were finally able to descend completely.

And at long last, we discovered a village.

The tall wooden fences greeted us, a clear sign we had left the wilderness and entered human-inhabited land.

“Ugh, gah gah!”

Someone let out a stretch.

Probably one of the mercenaries.

One by one, others followed suit.

Though stretching in the mountains didn’t undo all our hardships, it still helped ease some of the tension.

We hurried to the wooden fence.

After a quick identity verification, our group headed to an inn.

There was no proper inn in this village.

Instead, a large open space was designated for travelers like us who occasionally passed through.

We took our places there and rested.

Sitting by a blazing campfire, the envoy approached Jenny and me.

“Um, Solo.”

The envoy sat beside me and began speaking first.

“My name is Arnold. I currently run a small trading company, but I have ambitions to build a large enterprise and dominate commerce across the continent someday.”

It was the first time I heard the envoy’s name.

“That’s why I have the desire to have capable people by my side. And I think Solo is just the right fit for that. Would you consider it?”

When he invited me to join, I responded immediately.

“I’m sorry.”

“I see…”

He cautiously withdrew without pressing further.

Although he left quietly, I could tell from his occasional glances that he was disappointed.

“No thoughts on it?”

Jenny asked me.

“None at all.”

I hadn’t even considered such things from the start.

How to put it—I had no goals beyond simply getting stronger for now.

“Should we?”

I gazed into the flickering campfire, pondering the question.

And for the remainder of the journey, I kept thinking about it.

Fortunately, after descending the mountain, nothing blocked our path, so we moved swiftly and finally arrived at our destination—the Londinium Empire in the southern continent.