Ch.252Chapter 252: Lanos (4)

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As she inhaled the pungent scent of the mana herb, Iriana’s pace became surprisingly fast, using her recovered stamina as a foundation.

The smoke from the mana herb in her hand didn’t even reach her nostrils.

It scattered in all directions from the wind blowing against her and the breeze she created with her swift movement.

While the mana herb processed into leaf tobacco would be most effective if smoked properly by drawing in the smoke directly through the mouth.

She disliked that method and compromised by lightly inhaling through her nose, which made it questionable whether her stamina would be maintained without properly consuming the smoke.

Yet as time passed, Iriana’s increasingly energetic strides showed clear signs that her stamina had fully recovered.

A smooth return journey.

That was the thought running through Iriana’s mind as she continued her steps without pause.

Not the artificial darkness that rejected surrounding light due to the influence of twisted divinity.

But when complete darkness arrived naturally with the flow of time.

She had moved toward Night Haven expecting to occasionally encounter monsters along the way.

But things were going so well that she hadn’t faced any monsters.

She could use her recovered stamina solely for maintaining her quick pace.

…Well, it wasn’t that she hadn’t encountered any at all.

As she continued her journey, the light projectiles she naturally emitted through her activated Precasa made monsters flee as soon as they recognized Iriana running while emitting those beams of light.

It would be a stretch to call those encounters “conflicts.”

“…That vampire fellow ran away with his tail between his legs as soon as he saw me.”

As Iriana continued her steps, the somewhat bewildering scene she had witnessed earlier played in her mind.

It was an unexpected incident(?) that occurred while she was striding powerfully with her newly recovered stamina, naturally emitting light projectiles.

“…It was definitely a Pale Sanguin.”

Iriana’s brow furrowed briefly as she continued walking while piecing together what had happened.

The one who appeared to be commanding the monsters that fled at the sight of her during her powerful stride.

Even under the night sky, where identification was difficult without starlight or moonlight, the well-groomed black-haired protagonist stood out.

With pale skin even more noticeable than his hair, he had wiped away cold sweat that appeared as his face grew even paler upon seeing her, then fled.

“If he had no will to fight, I wouldn’t have engaged him either, so I suppose it doesn’t matter…”

Why did he flee in such a hurry?

She pondered this question inwardly, but there was no way to find an answer.

“…I don’t think that high-and-mighty Elder Vampire Lord would have fled so disgracefully… Did I see wrong?”

In the end, rather than a clear answer, she questioned whether she had misidentified what she saw.

The scene she had witnessed with her own eyes seemed absurd even to her.

In truth, the monsters and the Pale Sanguin leading them that Iriana encountered on her way back to the fortress were not a figment of her imagination.

If Iriana had passed through that area a few hours earlier, the monsters and Pale Sanguin would have certainly confronted her.

During those few hours, the legion led by Pale Sanguin had attacked Night Haven, confident in their numbers, only to be repelled by the garrison forces led by the enraged Lord Nightheart.

Thanks to Iriana’s efforts, the reinforcements that arrived late but with preserved strength had helped repel the fortress assault attempt.

Had this not happened, they would have certainly tried to prevent Iriana’s return at all costs.

While it was fortunate for Iriana to avoid unnecessary conflict.

It was also fortunate for the monsters.

No matter when or where they might have encountered her.

If they had blocked her path, their destruction would have been inevitable from the moment they faced Iriana, whose eyes were filled with vengeance for her comrades and subordinates.

In any case, while Iriana might have found it strange that seemingly healthy monsters fled rather than attacked upon seeing her.

In reality, thanks to the reinforcements she had protected at the cost of nearly her life entering Night Haven in time and breaking the enemy’s offensive.

It wasn’t strange that the demoralized monsters and Pale Sanguin fled upon encountering the Vice-Captain of the Imperial Knights, who was even more fearsome than the fortress veterans.

Perhaps the feelings of Sanguin, who returned to the Obsidian Palace with heavy steps after being thoroughly defeated today, were something like this:

The assault had failed despite confidently challenging with an army assembled from all available forces and the full might of the night kin.

His heart was heavy at the thought of facing his master’s fiery scolding upon returning, as the master would have just awakened from sleep.

And on the way back, he encounters the Malice of Ranos, far stronger than the old knight who had persistently tormented him at the fortress.

Even with full preparation, the odds of victory would be slim.

In his current unprepared state, confronting her would mean that even as an immortal, he would clearly not awaken from his coffin for decades.

To save face before his lord, the priority in this situation was not to act recklessly but to salvage the remaining forces and return.

Sanguin must have thought this as he wiped away cold sweat that shouldn’t flow and fled from the light that could incinerate him.

Of course, Iriana had no way of knowing this until she returned to the fortress.

“Just lucky, I guess.”

Unable to find an answer, Iriana could only express her impression after briefly recalling the situation in her mind.

Lucky. It was an expression with multiple implied meanings.

As mentioned earlier, it was her impression of the current situation where no significant conflicts had occurred on her way back to the fortress after such an intense battle.

“I can even enjoy this night sky.”

After pausing briefly during her journey.

She gently raised her head to observe the night sky, expressing her appreciation.

Clear. Despite the impure energy covering this land regardless of season.

The sky over this wasteland was typically gloomy, covered with black or ashen volcanic ash constantly emitted from the peaks of the Dragon Claw Mountains, though not violently active.

How could she not consider herself lucky to enjoy stars and the moon in a sky without a single cloud, let alone volcanic ash?

Hehe

Recalling this, a faint laugh escaped Iriana’s lips, forming a small curve.

“May we always face such a sky…”

She whispered a small wish to herself.

According to records, before the Great Holy War.

This wasteland, as part of the central continent blessed by heaven, still had a harsh climate but was said to have beautiful scenery characterized by distinct seasons.

If not for the possessors of divinity who descended to impose their twisted values and make this land their ideal.

She firmly believed it would still show scenery worthy of that reputation throughout the seasons.

Iriana’s small wish also implicitly revealed her desire to drive out those responsible for making the land like this.

“To achieve that, I need to return to the fortress quickly and take care of myself first…”

After expressing her small wish, realizing she needed to take care of herself to prepare for fulfilling it.

Iriana lowered her head and quickly resumed her journey.

Moving so fast that the explosive speed she had shown right after inhaling the mana herb smoke now seemed slow in comparison.

The moon and stars in the cloudless, sparkling night sky illuminated the back of Iriana as she continued her solitary journey.

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How long had she been walking?

The scenery before Iriana’s eyes, as she continued without rest, gradually became familiar.

Though it was nothing but featureless wasteland.

Upon discovering an area that showed clear signs of being well-packed for setting up temporary encampments for troops stationed for large-scale military training, Iriana said:

“Almost there.”

Finally, a word of relief escaped her lips.

…Despite her intense movement, she showed no signs of fatigue, though her expression of disgust at the smoke still rising from the seemingly inexhaustible mana herb was quite contrasting.

“Just a little more.”

The cheerful tone in Iriana’s voice, which seemed at odds with her expression, was overflowing with hope and relief.

And for good reason.

The reinforcement troops hastily assembled to respond to the unprecedented scale of magical beasts attacking Night Haven with the momentum to destroy it.

After losing nearly 40% of their commanding officers to a surprise attack by magical beast forces that emerged from an unexpected location.

She had volunteered as bait to stay in the rear so the remaining troops could somehow join the garrison forces at Night Haven.

Just hours ago, she had been swinging her sword in a trance-like state, prepared to risk her life against the horde of magical beasts surrounding her.

Now, just a little more walking would take her back to what she longed for—her other home.

How could she not be happy?

Perhaps due to the relief taking over her body, Iriana’s unceasing footsteps briefly halted.

“Haaah…”

She suddenly took a deep breath.

Thanks to her body being restored by the stamina-enhancing mana herb, she showed no signs of significant stamina depletion despite her intense movement, and her breathing remained very stable.

Her sudden deep breath might seem somewhat out of place.

“About an hour more of walking should do it.”

The words that came from Iriana immediately after finishing her deep breath provided the answer to why she had taken that breath.

She was analyzing the scents entering her nostrils during the deep breath to gauge her current position and the distance to her destination.

Even though she had confirmed the site where the encampment had been built, the lights of civilization from Night Haven’s urban center were not yet visible from the open wasteland.

For Iriana, whose body and senses were trained to a degree unimaginable to ordinary people, this distance was objectively measurable through smell.

“Just a little more movement and I’ll be close enough to locate by sound rather than smell.”

After finishing her deep breath, Iriana concretized the distance she had gauged with her senses.

“Then let’s go.”

She also spoke the words to move her body again after the momentary pause.

All the words from her mouth were gentle.

Despite running without rest, she seemed to have no physical problems, as her voice showed no signs of cracking even in this weather.

Though monster blood was caked on her clothes and armor, none had touched her face or hair.

Woong-!!

The light projectiles that gently enveloped her body as she continued her deep breathing served as an excellent guide in the wasteland, where one could easily lose their way without the guidance of the moon and stars.

With elements that would further strengthen her smooth return journey surrounding her, barring any unexpected changes, Iriana Ranos would reach Night Haven in about an hour.

As she was about to hasten her steps for the return, her ears caught:

Thud, thud

A sound that shouldn’t be heard in this place.

Footsteps.

They were very calm footsteps, showing no signs of hurry.

But even though this was the site of Night Haven’s garrison training encampment.

The sound of footsteps from a single person should not be heard at this time.

Startled by the sudden footsteps, Iriana turned her head toward the source of the sound.

“…Iriana Ranos.”

The owner of the voice that tormented her ears with an indescribable noise, unlike the calm footsteps, revealed himself.

“…!!”

The aura he emitted upon their encounter was chilling even to her.

“…I’m sorry, but for my purpose, you’ll have to accompany me to the Obsidian Palace.”

It was a…

Person in black armor who looked suspicious at first glance, making the audacious statement that he would divert her destination from the fortress she was trying to return to.

It seems an obstacle has finally appeared on Iriana’s otherwise smooth return journey.