The Mystic Dominator

Run for it!

　　The campfire's out?

　　This was not something that could be joked about!

　　Although the guards who stayed at the carriage camp were not rangers from some legendary story, they still had basic knowledge of the industry.

　　Putting out the campfire at this time of night was completely impossible!

　　It couldn't be that this group of people had combined their efforts and rolled up the cargo goods on the wagons and ran away, could it?

　　Or did the residents of the Black Mountain turn into highway robbers and take care of the guards over there?

　　Or maybe there was some kind of unexpected situation and the campfire was accidentally extinguished?

　　In an instant, all kinds of guesses emerged in Ronald's mind.

　　But the camp is really too far away, through the dark and gloomy air even a silhouette can not be seen clearly, want to immediately verify it is no chance.

　　So--

　　What the hell is going on here?

　　Just as Ronald's pupils tightened and unease flooded his heart.

　　Nessus, who was walking side by side with him, obviously also sensed something, and then followed Ronald's eyes and looked back.

　　Ka-

　　In an instant, a subtle sound of metal breaking issued from Nessus' hand.

　　Noticing the situation at the back, although this walker's face did not show any expression, his fingers that suddenly exerted force directly pinched off the pull ring of the lamplighter!

　　"......"

　　Yes, this guy noticed it too.

　　Walking side by side, there was no reason why Ronald, who was fighting for his life, couldn't notice this.

　　So there was silence.

　　Ronald and Nessus stared at each other eye-to-eye for a few seconds, and then turned their gaze forward again in silence.

　　As if nothing had happened.

　　But in their hearts, both of them were clear about the current problem.

　　--Going back to check on the camp was impossible.

　　Without any precursor, the camp guarded by professional guards turned dark in an instant, this was definitely not a scene that could be solved by a few traders.

　　--Speaking out to alert his companions was also not an option.

　　This kind of action would inevitably cause the ordinary people to be thrown into a panic, and when the group was in disarray, it was clear that they were alerting the possible 'dangers' in the surroundings, that they had already discovered the other side, and thus causing the enemy to attack directly.

　　Going back was not an option, nor was alerting his companions.

　　Then how to deal with the problem?

　　Ronald and Nessus, who had fallen silent, began to think of countermeasures, while the few people in front of them had yet to realise this.

　　Apart from complaining about the difficulty of the mountain path at night, their main dialogue still revolved around the matter of whether Gaines could sell the fruit or not.

　　"......"

　　After a few more breaths had passed, almost ten metres or so ahead, Nessus, carrying his lamp, struck up a conversation towards Ronald in what appeared to be casual conversation:

　　"Mr Ronald, do nobles like you like to hunt in general?"

　　"I've heard that quite a few nobles, nowadays, are using muskets to hunt instead of the bows and arrows of the past."

　　"......"

　　Before answering, Ronald took a closer look at Nessus' eyes.

　　The steel-blue pupils of the traveller's merchant swayed under the lamp's illumination, but the divine energy in them was condensed and deep, and the upper eyelids were raised higher than usual, which accentuated the other party's current state of mind.

　　In uttering these words, Nessus was very serious!

　　This guy definitely didn't open his mouth to simply make small talk, or to paralyse the danger around him, but was communicating information with himself, and discussing his next countermeasures!

　　"In my case, I've never used a novelty like a musket."

　　"That's something that only the great nobles in the city can enjoy."

　　"And when it comes to hunting, that's a memory from when my father was still alive, I won't have that kind of opportunity after independence."

　　After answering Nessus' question, Ronald didn't forget to ask the other party with the same serious eyes:

　　"Mr Nessus asking this, is it because he is very fond of hunting?"

　　Between the exchange of eyes, the lineman also confirmed that Ronald understood his thoughts.

　　With that, his eyes gradually calmed down and more of his attention began to be directed forward.

　　As if he was actually making small talk, Nessus also responded:

　　"Even a noble like you doesn't have time for pastimes, let alone a traveller like me."

　　"It's just that I brought some goods for hunting this time."

　　Saying this, Naisoston paused before continuing:

　　"Ah, yes!"

　　"I still remember one time when I was out on the road, I happened to come across a big noble out hunting, that scene I can't forget for the rest of my life."

　　"Could it be that you had the honour to participate in it ......?"

　　"Participate?" Hearing Ronald's enquiry, Nessus regretfully waved his hand, "I ran away at that time. Otherwise, if I was pestered over by those escorting knight lords, I'd almost have to hitch two or three months of profit."

　　"In that case ......"

　　"Then it is indeed only possible to run away."

　　"Isn't it?"

　　"......"

　　A few short exchanges ended, and with that, Ronald and Nessus finished exchanging information, and at the same time determined the next plan of action.

　　As for the content, it could be summed up in one word.

　　--Flee.

　　Actually in the dialogue.

　　Substituting hunting for the crisis he was now facing, Nessus opened his mouth in asking Ronald if he was able to fight, and if he had ever encountered this kind of situation before.

　　And Ronald's answer was that he had no experience in fighting, and asked the other party rhetorically about his abilities.

　　The result was unfortunate.

　　Nessus stated that he came with a weapon, but was also one without much fighting ability.

　　That's why the suggestion of escape was made at the end.

　　--Then there was the way of escape.

　　First of all, turning back and descending the mountain was impossible, and the danger of the extinguished campfire behind them was self-evident.

　　Crashing into it just like that was tantamount to self-destruction.

　　In that case, there were only two options left.

　　Run towards the mountain and use the terrain to try to escape, the extinguished lamps in the darkness of the night are a natural and powerful protection;

　　Or speed up and seek help in the town on the Black Mountain.

　　Although the town could be equally dangerous, according to Thomson, who had been here before, the inhabitants of Black Mountain were not particularly dangerous fellows.

　　Calculating these things in his mind, Ronald's heart was actually more inclined to head towards the mountains.

　　Although Thomson, who had been to Black Mountain in the team, had a good impression of the town, and thought that the inhabitants were simple and honest when they chatted idly.

　　But there was one problem that could not be ignored-

　　Just now, the road they encountered that had been destroyed by rain three days ago had not seen any repairs to date.

　　For a town in such a remote place, it was a bit outrageous that no one paid attention to the important roads.

　　This Black Mountain town was not like a safe place.

　　Therefore compared to the merchant's experience, Ronald still trusted his own deduction more.

　　The air of the cloudy night was low, with the help of the only three lamps in the group, the small group swayed and stalked in the darkness.

　　Especially at the end of the line.

　　To the two men who had already realised the crisis, the darkness around them seemed to be hiding a crisis everywhere, as if there was some kind of devouring beast ambling in it, ready to pounce at any time!

　　The light brought by the lamp was too small to support people's hearts.

　　Suddenly, someone among the merchants in front shouted out, a trace of panic mixed in the voice of doubt:

　　"What is that thing up ahead?"

　　"Gain, be careful!"

　　"What do you mean ......"

　　"Ah!"

　　After a scream, the group became silent.

　　Just not much farther down the road, Gaines, who was holding the fruit box at the front of the group, saw the end of the road.

　　The planned town was long gone.

　　In its place -

　　was a constantly churning, dark, thick fog that was lower than the pitch-black night.

　　No one could see the top, no one could see the bottom.

　　The twisted, viscous darkness was slowly spreading forward, something brewing something bizarre was in this fog, and the pitch blackness that surrounded it in all directions was as despairing as the desert that swallowed the land.

　　It was a cue from biological instinct.

　　It was dangerous!

　　Splat--

　　The fruit box in Gaine's arms fell to the ground, scattering the yellow fruit all over the place.

　　"I ...... I ......"

　　"Run!"