Sketch of the Great Chasm

Medic: Examination complete. No obvious external or internal injuries. They should be fine.

Medic: But they’re all weakened. They need rest and recovery.

Aiton: …………

Aiton: Bring clothes and water.

Medic: Yes, sir.

After discarding my shirt—shredded to ribbons by the giant insect—and wrapping myself in fresh clothes, I finally noticed the chill near the lakeshore.

I drew my legs up. My feet were already numb from the cold.

By contrast, the water I sipped felt like it had been warmed against someone’s chest—gentle, nourishing my whole body.

Aiton: Ink River. Seventh Ju. Answer me: how did you survive?

Seventh Ju: …………

Ink River: …………

No one replied.

Preman: Enough. People fresh from trauma can’t give clear answers.

Aiton: Sir… is it over?

Preman had finished speaking with Priestess Hilcaly and rejoined us without my noticing.

Preman: Ah… they’re leaving too.

*Plop—plop—plop—plop—*

Seventh Ju: —!?

Splashes erupted from the lake’s surface, then vanished as quickly as they’d appeared.

From the sound alone, you’d think someone had jumped in to drown themselves.

Aiton: What was that…?

Preman: Just Priestess Hilcaly and her group. Returning where they came from.

*Huh?* So these Divine Officers emerged from the lake?

Preman: Forget them for now. Is the work here finished, Aiton?

Aiton: Yes. The other adventurer’s body has been recovered. This matter is closed.

Aiton: Though… the other four adventurers have been sentenced to public execution in Bao City after interrogation. They’ve likely departed already.

Aiton: Since there were no actual casualties, should their punishment be…

Preman: —Aiton. I gave you full authority over this.

Aiton: …………

Aiton: Understood.

Preman: New task. Take your squad to inspect the cave hidden in the cliff face across the lake.

Aiton: A cave?

Preman: Move discreetly. There might be more creatures like that insect. If you spot any, retreat immediately.

Preman: On your way back, retrieve the insect’s corpse for research at camp.

Preman: I’ll take these two back with my guard. I must return to the military camp swiftly to avoid unrest.

Aiton: Yes, sir.

Aiton led his ten-man squad into the jungle across the lake—agile, orderly. They vanished into the green within moments.

In minutes, only Ink River, me, Commander Preman, and his guard remained by the lake.

Preman: Quite the string of surprises these past days, eh, Seventh Ju?

Seventh Ju: …Ahaha. Seems so.

I forced an awkward laugh.

Preman: Your Wish Points have changed since we last met.

Preman: Same for you, Mr. Seasonal Wolf.

Ink River: …?

Preman: I know. Surviving a fall from that height, evading that insect’s pursuit… impossible without wishes.

Preman: You’ve endured what even my frontline soldiers rarely face.

Seventh Ju: Well… yes. We thank the gods for sparing our lives.

Preman: Let’s return to the labor camp first. You’ll get a few days’ rest before heading back to Bao City to recover properly.

Preman: Per contract, compensation will also be provided.

Seventh Ju: That—

Preman: Hmm?

Seventh Ju: Our teammates… can we see them first?

Preman: Of course.

Finally. We could leave this damned Great Chasm.

Preman’s guard carried me up the steep cliff face. Ink River and Preman scaled it themselves.

I hadn’t expected someone as slender and refined-looking as Preman to climb so easily. Just how many hidden talents did this Pioneer Team harbor?

Back atop the chasm, Ink River and I were loaded onto waiting beast-drawn carts. They jolted gently as we headed for camp.

These carts looked more suited for corpses than living people… though realistically, hauling our bodies up was the likelier outcome.

The cart rumbled into the Pioneer Team’s encampment. Near the laborers’ rest area entrance, figures stood waiting, straining to see something.

Half Moon Outflow: …………

Half Moon Outflow: They’re back… and not as corpses.

Li Weishe: AAAAAH—!

Day High: Thank goodness!!!

Before I could react, Li Weishe and Day High leapt onto the cart and crushed me in a hug.

Day High: Ahh, little Ju… you’re alive…

Seventh Ju: Alive, alive—but cut the man-hugs, okay?

Li Weishe: Only this way can we show our joy!

Seventh Ju: Then go hug Ink River.

Li Weishe: —I’ll pass.

Ink River: …………

Half Moon Outflow: Li Weishe, I wouldn’t mourn if he killed you for that.

Ink River: I don’t kill people over words.

Day High: Anyway… thank Xiv… *sniffle sniffle*…

Seventh Ju: Don’t wipe snot on my clothes!!

Ink River: Where’s Aibin?

Half Moon Outflow: His cuts were deep. Massive doses of numbing venom in his system. He won’t recover for a day or two. Still in the infirmary.

Ink River: What happened after you were knocked out on the bridge? Did they steal the cargo?

Half Moon Outflow: …………

Half Moon Outflow: We all woke up to soldiers arriving. The adventurers were unconscious too.

Half Moon Outflow: One transport crate fell off the bridge. Nothing else was lost.

Ink River: Oh…?

Preman: Don’t assume my soldiers knocked out those scum.

Preman hopped down from another cart and approached us.

Preman: Someone "dealt with" those adventurers before the soldiers arrived.

Preman: We haven’t identified who.

His gaze swept over everyone—lingering on me.

Preman: That’s enough, Seventh Ju. Time to send you and Ink River back to Bao City as planned.

Day High: Huh? Why are they leaving?

Preman: Compensation for severe on-duty injuries. Return to work in three days.

Li Weishe: What about us? Don’t we get compensation?

Preman: The military has legal floggings for slackers. Interested?

Li Weishe: …………

Preman: Heal up and get back to work. If you can’t handle scrapes, quit and find safer jobs in the city.

Preman: I need no cowards or idlers—even among laborers.

Day High and Li Weishe shrank under Preman’s hardening expression.

Preman: Say your goodbyes after your rest period.

Preman: Ink River and Seventh Ju—depart for Bao City now.

Preman: I’ve got plenty to discuss with you two… when you return.

Seventh Ju: …………

…………

…………

As the sun hung half-hidden in the sky, Bao City—the Sincere Kingdom’s frontier settlement—prepared for another night.

This night would be different.

The central plaza had been cleared. Uniformed soldiers cordoned off a large area, signaling what was to come.

Crowds packed every remaining inch of the square, thick as glue.

A woman wove through the throng at unnatural speed.

Her light steps seemed girlish, though she was twenty-six.

No hooded robe today—only plain, form-fitting clothes to hide her identity and face.

But strands of crimson hair escaped her hood, spilling down her shoulders.

Suddenly, the crowd erupted.

The woman jumped onto a crate at the plaza’s edge, peering toward the commotion.

She saw soldiers escorting four prison carts into the cordoned zone.

Everyone—her included—understood instantly:

—Public execution.

Crowd: It’s an execution!! I won! I won—!!

Crowd: Ugh… why so early? I thought those idiot adventurers wouldn’t strike this soon…

A makeshift gambling den had sprung up on one side. Winners celebrated, ready to bet again.

Poppy: …………

Poppy: What… is happening here?

Spectator A: Huh? Miss, just arrived today?

Spectator A: Betting on when fools would attack the Pioneer Team! Opened the moment they departed!

Spectator A: How many days before executions? How many adventurers? How many victims? Win big if you guess right.

Spectator B: Miss, next round’s starting. Place a bet?

Poppy: No… thank you.

Spectator B: Heh… After execution, they’ll desecrate the corpses. Can’t fathom why they’d risk it.

Spectator A: Brother, military tech or unknown artifacts could set you up for life.

Spectator A: Besides, without their stupidity, we’d have no fun!

Spectator B: Adventurers get what they deserve! I’d rather be a Pioneer merchant than one of them!

Spectator A: Trading’s harder than robbery!

Poppy: …………

*Got it…*

Soldiers dragged the adventurers from the carts, binding them to tall pillars. The crowd roared again.

This was the pre-execution ritual: displaying the condemned for public venting while notices were posted. Afterward, the real execution would begin.

The crowd parted for a soldier pinning notices to posts. Each sheet drew a swarm of readers.

Spectator B: Let me see—

Spectator B: “…Five adventurers attacked a contracted labor squad under military command. Convicted of robbery and murder…”

Spectator B: “…Six laborers victimized. Two died during the assault…”

Spectator B: “…One assailant died during the crime. The remaining four sentenced to beheading…”

Spectator A: Damn! I bet on five executions! Almost had it!

Spectator B: “…The condemned are…”

Spectator B: “…The deceased: Ink River. Seventh Ju…”

Poppy: ————!!?

Poppy: …………

Poppy: …

**BOOM—!**

Spectator A: Hey, hey—Miss, don’t push, don’t push… Ouch! How’s this lady so strong!

Spectator B: Aaah—! Don’t grab my hair! I’ll move, I’ll move…

The woman stepped up to the notice and carefully confirmed its contents.

Poppy: …

Poppy: …………

Poppy: .

Spectator A: Huh? Why’s she leaving again?

Spectator B: Is this lady crazy?!

Spectator A: Could it be… a name she knows is on there?

Soon, the notice-posting ended. The informed crowd quickly dispersed from the notice. They regathered beside the caution tape at Bao City Central Square’s center.

Execution Official: Time’s up! Prepare for execution!

The onlookers: Roarrrrrrrrr—!

Amid the carnival-like cheers, execution soldiers took the convict off the pillar. They hooded him and escorted him to the pre-set guillotine.

Adventurer A: …………

Adventurer A: ——!!

Adventurer A: Ugh—uh-uh—er… ugh…

Execution Soldier: Behave! Don’t struggle! No use regretting it now!

Adventurer A: Grr… er…

Adventurer A: …………

Adventurer A: …

Execution Soldier: Hmph. Finally got it, huh?

The convict’s neck was swiftly secured. The execution soldier whooshed out a gleaming blade. The execution ground’s tension instantly peaked.

Execution Official: In Xiv’s name, the divine reclaims its blessings—and these criminals’ lives.

Execution Official: Only in the divine light can their sins find redemption.

Execution Official: —Carry out the execution!

The soldier raised the blade. Its edge flashed blindingly.

The veteran executioner had already pictured the head falling. He’d even planned moves to dodge the blood spray.

Execution Soldier: …………

But his blade didn’t swing down. It lowered slowly instead.

Execution Official: …??

Execution Official: What’s happening??

Boos erupted from the crowd.

Ignoring the noise, the soldier propped up the limp convict. He yanked off the hood.

Execution Soldier: …………

Execution Soldier: Sir… he’s… already dead.

Execution Official: …What!??

Disbelief on his face, the Official rushed to the guillotine. He snatched the body to inspect it.

Execution Soldier: His tongue flipped over somehow. It blocked his throat—he suffocated.

Execution Official: …………

The Official checked the other three convicts. They’d just died the same way.

In broad daylight, beneath the hoods, unseen means twisted their tongues. At impossible angles and hardness, they choked to death.

The public beheading spectacle was suddenly ruined by this bizarre turn.

At the edge of the surging chaos, a woman with slightly disheveled red hair slipped away from Bao City Central Square.

A gentle breeze lifted her tightly wrapped hood, revealing her face.

Luckily, the crowd—distracted by the execution chaos—missed it.

Her expression was clearly etched with two words—

—brutality.