Chapter 26

Beyond the neutral zone known as "Fis’s Path" lay the ruins of the Sorcerer City Fis—the so-called Irlanto Outskirts.

A decade ago, ordinary folk couldn’t even dream of crossing this place. Now, adventurers had trampled it flat.

At the labyrinthine city’s end stood a colossal conical peak, half-buried under thick snow.

“Over that mountain gets us closer to Eilant,” Aile pointed ahead. “No adventurer’s crossed it since the Calamity. What lies beyond is unknown.”

*Could something worse than the Butcher lurk behind that peak?* Naya wondered.

She asked aloud, “If even Hunters’ tracking fails against the Butcher… where do we even start looking?”

“Forget the Butcher—even regular goblins have vanished,” Aile replied.

They wove through abandoned streets flanked by white-walled, round-arched sorcerer buildings, preserved almost perfectly, as if merely deserted. Goblins had claimed this place after the Calamity, but their numbers plummeted when adventurers flooded in. Not a single goblin appeared now—only occasional rival adventuring parties.

Leon, leading the group, halted abruptly. Naya bumped into him. He gestured toward a street corner—a goblin peered from behind a building, half its head visible.

It spun and fled the moment it saw them.

Aile frowned. “As if *we’re* the monsters.”

“…Chase it?” Naya asked.

“Nah.” Leon shook his head. “Head toward that mountain. Look for Butcher clues.”

Along the way, small furry mammals darted past. With goblins gone, wildlife thrived. *Is this the natural balance the Druids preach?*

Then—a snarling wolf blocked their path.

**Silverback Wolf. Challenge Rating: C!!!**

Its steel-bristle mane deflected blades. Once its fangs sank in—they wouldn’t let go without tearing flesh.

—Leon’s sword flashed. The wolf crashed bleeding at Ruri’s feet. She tapped it lightly with her wooden staff. It died instantly.

*That easy?* Ruri stared at the corpse, trembling. *This… is what relying on strong allies feels like.*

“You’re *still* here???” A female Hunter burst into view with her team.

“Gods! Every Hunter’s tracking spell—points to the base of that mountain!”

Shock rippled through them.

“Huh? Tracking didn’t work on the Butcher before!” Naya cried.

“It does now! Must be the full moon! Wolf God Alfinis’s power peaks under its light!”

*Full moon…?*

They looked up. Though dusk had just fallen, an unnaturally large moon hung low, blotting out a third of the sky. A chill ran down their spines.

“Why’s the moon… so huge?”

“Every adventuring party’s rushing there now! No time—we’re moving!” The Hunter dashed off.

“Leon, what now?” Naya pressed.

“Leon—” Ruri had somehow summoned her spellbook. She stared at its open pages, eyes wide with disbelief.

Ten years. Every lonely midnight, she’d opened it.

It had become ritual.

When abuse and shame crushed her, Ruri prayed magic would save her. Always in vain… The pages stayed stubbornly blank.

But now—

Ethereal words shimmered on the empty page:

**Level: 1**

**Spell Slots: 1**

**Spell Gained: Fireball**

**Uses: 1**

**Note: Deals 2d6 bludgeoning damage + 6d6 explosive damage to target and ancestors for eight generations.**

Ruri held her breath. *Is it… because we’re in the Irlanto Outskirts?*

Magic… had truly returned?!

To be continued.